~Narrator's POV~
They were staring at us, I can tell they were. Can't say I blame them though, it's not every day you find a pair of bird-like creatures taking the Friendship Express like the civilians of Equestria. But it's the only way to leave home without raising an alarm. I wish we didn't have to, but the Avians of Ornithia were not giving us much of a choice. Either we separate and leave, or our home and family gets burned down. This was to save what was left of the Ars Goetia family legacy.
My younger sister and I are taking the Friendship Express to a small town called Ponyville. They say it's a good place for anyone to start anew. Serene, tranquil, safe. Home to Unicorns, Pegasi, Earth Ponies and Avians alike. Let's just hope that the citizens of the town are more open-minded than back at Ornithia...
I tucked my arms under my travelling cloak, crossed my legs and looked out the window. A large and heavy cloud was raining over the mountain city of Canterlot and the Everfree Forest, another typical gloomy day. And just three weeks before the Summer Sun Celebration. Let's hope the weather lets up and everything goes smoothly for us.
However, my younger sister, Skye, has been fidgeting and scratching ever since we sat down. I guess her tunic has been itching her feathers and fur. I told her not to wear her best tunic outfit with the cloak.
"Ah! How do you cope with your travelling cloak, Rae?" She asked me in a whisper, "This thing is driving me crazy with itches and scratches! I think I might molt early this year!"
I sighed, resuming looking out the window, "I told you not to wear that tunic with your cloak, Skye. You need to wear something more casual."
"What? And look like the common folk?" Skye asked. She thought for a second and sighed, "Yeah. I guess you're right. No use showing our noble status anymore, now that we left home." Then she lifted her head and looked at me, "Aren't you nervous, Rae? I mean, we are going to start anew in Ponyville and it is a whole new place."
I shook my head, "Not really. But I am concerned about what the citizens of Ponyville will think of us." I frowned, "Ponyville is inhabited by Unicorns, Pegasi, Earth Ponies and Avians, like us. The least we can do is try to make a good first impression."
Skye nodded and leaned back against her seat across from me. She looked out the window and watched the rain.
The Unicorn train conductor entered the cart and called in a clear and loud voice, "Next stop: Ponyville! Last call for Ponyville!"
I blinked and stood up from my seat, "Come on, Skye. This is our stop."
Skye followed me and we grabbed our suitcases from the top shelves of the cart. Skye and I walked toward the door and waited for the train to come to a stop.
After a few minutes, the train came to a stop in a small, old-fashioned, but well-built station. The conductor blew the whistle of the train and the doors opened to let the passengers in and out of the train. Skye and I were pushed onto the platform, by the other passengers. Once on the platform, Skye and I recollected ourselves and walked down the dirt road toward the town. The rain had finally stopped and the sun was shining through the clouds, so it doesn't feel as gloomy anymore.
As we entered the town, the citizens of Ponyville that passed by were starting to stare at us. Skye smiled warmly and waved at the passing citizens, but the citizens pretended to ignore us and hurried to their homes.
Skye's smile faded and she lowered her head, "Well... Not even five seconds in the town, and everyone thinks we're weird. So much for a good first impression."
Just as Skye finished talking, a cheerful voice spoke from behind us, "Hi!"
Skye jumped and yelped in startle, as she hid behind me and I turned to what spoke. It was a female, pink Avian, just like us. She looked no older than Skye. Her mixture of feathers and fur were a bubblegum pink and her poofy hair and tail were a raspberry pink. Her large round eyes were light cerulean and she wore a blue and white striped shirt under a pair of pink overalls with the leggings rolled up by the knee.
I looked around and looked back at the pink Avian. I pointed to myself, "Are you talking to us?"
The pink Avian nodded her head, "Of course I am, silly. Who else would I be talking to?"
I slightly smiled and stepped toward the Avian, "Oh. In that case... Hello. My name is Raven, and this is my sister, Skye."
The pink Avian grinned brightly, "Nice to meet you. I'm Pinkamena Diane Pie. But everyone calls me Pinkie Pie, and I'm guessing you're both new to Ponyville." Then she quickened her pace, "I can tell you're new, because I know everybody in Ponyville! That must mean you don't have any friends yet, right?" She frowned, "That must be very lonely..."
As she continued to ramble, Skye and I looked at each other in concern and confusion. This Avian is very different from the others we have seen and met. She's more open-minded and bubbly for a Avian.
I looked at the pink Avian, Pinkie Pie, and raised my hand to her, "Whoa, whoa. Slow down there, Pinkie Pie." Pinkie Pie stopped talking and smiled at us, as I explained with a nod, "Yes. Skye and I are new to Ponyville. But before we start making friends, maybe we can start by finding a place to live and a job?"
Pinkie Pie nodded and waved her hand, "Oh, that's easy. There's plenty of places to choose from, if you're looking for somewhere to live." Then she leaned a little closer to us, "As for a job, I have to ask... What can you do?"
Skye and I looked at each other and Skye answered in uncertainty, "Well... We can bake and perform magic. Rae is more talented with magic, can understand and speak languages, as well as a talent for herbal teas, gemstones and astrology. I'm more of a historian and can draw."
"Baking?" Pinkie Pie repeated, then her smile grew bigger as she gasped with stars in her eyes.
With a sudden sprint in her step, Pinkie Pie pushed Skye and I down the town and toward a large gingerbread house with a large ice-cream cone on the top of the roof. The sign above the sugar pink door read 'SugarCube Corner', so I was guessing this was one of the local cafés.
Pinkie Pie pushed my sister and I through the door and toward the counter of the café. Standing at the other side of the counter was a tall and slender Earth Pony stallion. His fur coat was a light amber color with freckles and curly orange mane and tail. His eyes were green and he wore a baker's hat and apron over a light blue collared shirt and beige khaki pants.
The stallion looked at Skye and I and smiled warmly, "Hello, and welcome to SugarCube Corner. Is there anything I can get you two?"
Skye and I looked at each other in uncertainty on how to answer, until Pinkie Pie peeked out from behind us and beamed at the stallion, "Hi, Mr. Cake!"
The stallion turned to the pink Avian and sighed, "Pinkie Pie, what have you done now?"
Pinkie Pie tilted her head innocently, "Nothing." Then she gestured to Skye and I, "These two have just arrived to Ponyville, and are looking for a job and a place to stay. So I thought they can work and live here."
The stallion, Mr. Cake, looked at us up and down and rubbed his chin in thought. After a second of awkward silence, Mr. Cake asked, "Do you two have any skills in baking?"
Skye quickly nodded her head, "Yes! Rae and I have been baking since we were hatchlings." Then she put her hand over my shoulder, "Why, Rae is very good with herbal teas and other drinks."
I glanced at my younger sister with an embarrassed blush. Mr. Cake looked at me and then looked at the menu board, "Well, we could use some extra hands around the kitchen." He smiled at us and extended his hand, "You're hired."
Skye smiled and extended her hand to shake Mr. Cake's hand, but he withdrew his hand and added in a stern tone, "On the condition that you stay out of trouble. Agreed?"
Skye looked a little hurt from his condition. We don't look for trouble, trouble usually finds us, but we can try and stay away from it as much as possible and become good bakers.
With a straight face and an understanding nod, I extended my hand and shook Mr. Cake's hand, "Agreed. No trouble."
Mr. Cake's smile returned, "Welcome to the family. Let's get you started by showing you where you're staying." He turned to Pinkie Pie, "Pinkie, would you-"
Pinkie Pie's smile grew brighter as she zoomed up the stairs, leaving us in the café. Mr. Cake called after the excited Kenku, "Pinkie!"
Pinkie Pie returned and gave us a sheepish smile, "Sorry. I got a bit carried away." Then she decided to slow down a little and walked up the stairs, "The bedrooms are up this way."
Skye and I grabbed our luggage and followed the pink Avian up the stairs to a small living room with three bedrooms. Pinkie Pie cleared her throat and pointed to the room on the far right, "This is my bedroom. Yours are the other two. Please choose among yourselves and unpack. Once you're done, come downstairs and we'll get you started."
With that, she walked down the stairs, leaving Skye and I to pick out our rooms. Skye walked toward the middle room and opened the door. She looked around the empty bedroom. It looked very comfortable with a single bed, wardrobe, drawer and a desk. The colors were cool and calming, with shades of blues, greens and purples. Much like Skye's room back in Ornithia.
I walked over to the room on the far left, opened the door and took a look inside. Again, another comfortable room with a single bed, wardrobe, drawer and a desk. The colors of this room were calm and cool. Like a night sky, decorated with stars and galaxy designs. It reminded me of my room back in Ornithia.
I raised a brow in suspicion and confusion, it was like these rooms were built to mine and Skye's liking, like these Ponies knew we were coming here to stay. Did Mum contact these Ponies and made plans for our arrival? Was this all pre-planned? This is getting weird...
Skye placed her hand over my shoulder and asked me, "Are you taking this room? Because I pick the middle room."
I gasped in startle and turned to my sister. Recollecting myself, I nodded with a small smile, "Y-yeah. I'll take this room."
Skye smiled and walked into her chosen room. I took a breath and walked into my chosen room, I placed my suitcase onto my bed and started opening it. Once opened, I hung my clothes into the wardrobe and put my writing supplies onto the desk and everything in between. After a few moments of unpacking, the case was empty and I placed it under my bed.
I exit the room with a small sigh and waited for Skye to finish unpacking. It took over five minutes, but she got it done and met up with me. She and I walked down the stairs and met up with Pinkie Pie and an Earth Pony mare in the kitchen.
The mare was slightly shorter than Pinkie Pie and more of a stout build. Her coat was a light blue color with duo-toned pink mane and tail styled like cupcake icing. Her eyes were a brilliant rose color, and she too wore a baker's apron over a yellow and pink summer dress.
The mare and Pinkie Pie turned to look at me and my sister and smiled warmly, "Ah! You two must be the ones my husband hired." The blue mare walked over to us, "Welcome to the family. Grab an apron and we'll get started."
Skye and I nodded and grabbed an apron from the rack and got started with our first jobs as bakers for SugarCube Corner. I have to say, today has not been bad in Ponyville. Got a job, found a place to stay, and already made our first friends.
I can't wait to see what tomorrow will bring us...
