I hummed to myself as I beat my wings rhythmically. I couldn't really explain how flying was If I tried... even thinking about It I make a few wrong flaps... It's sort of like breathing I guess, instinct mostly. I was keeping low, just above the forest canopy. I was moving at a decent tilt from what I could gather, the wind in my face felt GOOD. I wanted to angle up and cheer as I took to the skies! But I held myself back, the last thing I needed to do was announce my presence more than I already had, I was on my way to the town where I had seen the kid walk off towards the last I saw her... I figured she'd be the less difficult thing to scratch off my To-Do list.

My idea was simple, though my Pegasi form was still a bit difficult for me to hold for long periods, I didn't plan on staying long. Pop in for a glance, make sure she was alright, and disappear again. It's not like I was worried or anything! No, I just wanted to make sure she had improved some at least. Didn't want to end up having to knock her back to solid ground again. Then I could get back to the big problems, political and Biological. Plus, while I was there I could use a few of these Coin things I swiped from the castle ruins to buy some food.

I carried a bag of them in one talon as I flew, I didn't know how much food was gonna cost around here so I brought twenty just in case. 'Might get me a bit of bread if I'm lucky...' Gah! Grumbling thoughts aside! The town was on the horizon, meaning I had guessed the direction correctly. I circled around and landed at the edge of the forest, Figuring it'd be a decent place to transform and walk up... And so that's exactly what I did. When I landed I pictured the Pegasi Mare thing I had been, Every detail, every muscle... Jeez, Shapeshifters must have it HARD if they have to do it to such detail...

I felt the magic and a lance of pain as my body reconfigured itself, and when I opened my eyes I was once more the strange-looking Pegasi mare. Though a bit different than the first form, I had changed it a bit since I used it the first couple of times just in case those mares in the fight recognize the pegasi. This one was less... Firey? I had shifted the mane to a more blackened hair rather than flowing fire. I managed to whiten the black sclera, and for safe measure, I deepened the orange of my coat to a more reddish orange than It was before. Though there wasn't Jack I could change about the mark on my flank for some reason... Like, It HAD to be that way... down to the Millimeter of the design.

Anywho, I was less Firey and off-putting, I'd also lost the fangs. I'd even managed to practice speaking! I couldn't get over the raspy girl voice, but I suppose I'd get used to it with time... I lifted a wing, tucked the bag beneath it, and then began trotting into town.

The town was rather cheery! Every pony trotting to and fro, always talking always moving. However, when I went to ask for directions. I realized with a bit of horror, That though I could understand every word of their sentences... I couldn't seem to make the same sounds they were! Sorta like with the writing... I could read it but I couldn't write the same way. A few of them looked at me rather leerily, but one of them seemed to understand the problem. They pointed at their mouth and then tapped their hoof, then rather exaggeratively tilted their head. Ah, Charades. The perfect fill-in!

I pulled the bag from my wing, tapped it, then pointed at my belly. And tilted my head as exaggeratively as they did. Tho their friends giggled the mare I was chatting with made an exaggerated "oh!" sound and then pointed down a street.

"Head down that road, take two lefts and a right! you'll find the best place in town!"

I politely dipped my head to her in thanks and then moved on. Though I was already sweating from the effort of holding the Pegasi form, it was still a manageable strain. It's sort of like taking an extra long walk. I made my way down the street, Took two lefts, and then a right. And standing in front of me was a big... 'Jeez, that looks like a gingerbread house...' Though, I supposed if I wanted food then that's the place to go. As I trotted up, there was a big sign emblazoned SugarCube Corner!! 'a bakery then, Perhaps I could get them to just gimme some bread? Not like I'm rolling in dough here...'

Sugurcube Corner was a cozy place, very sugary and sweet! And the pink mare at the coun- I froze. The pink mare at the counter was familiar... I've never seen her before, but I SWEAR I met her... I shook it off quickly, stuffing the feeling down. I trotted up to her and she very excitedly opened up with a greeting.
"Welcome to Sugarcube Corner! Sweets Treats an-" She broke off into a HUGE gasp that nearly took me off my hooves. "Oh oh! new pony! Eeeeeeeee! Welcome to Ponyville Orange lady! What's your name? I'm Pinkie Pie!"

'Oh... Dear... LORD... My worst nightmare... AN EXTROVERT!! Quickly! Think of a reply you dumb bird!' Oh, wait... Charades time. I tapped my ear and nodded, but tapped my mouth and shook my head no. Luckily Pinkie must be the fucking GOD of charades or something because she understood perfectly.

"OH! you can't speak? Oh oh! Don't you worry about it, new friend! I'm PERFECT with all kinds of wacky forms of communication! How else could I make as many friends as I do on a daily basis?!"

'Well isn't that just... Revolting.' I wasn't able to fathom talking to so many people at once, I could handle being in a busy town but actively ENGAGING with as many as possible? Never gonna happen. Anywho, I'm hungry. I placed my bag of bits on the counter and pointed at my belly, hoping she'd get the idea and just hoof me over a menu or something. But instead, she launched into a tangent about how many different kinds of sweets and cakes and sweets and 'Holy Mother of Stars just give me a menu PLEASE'. Eventually, she stopped talking long enough for me to just tap the bag and shrug. To which she smiled!

"Surprise you? well okay then! OOO! We still need to have your welcome to Ponyville party! Here, Fill this out while I bake ya something sweet!"

And she slid a form out onto the table and... 'Wait where the hell did she go?' I look both ways... She was just gone? okay? looking at the form I expected some sort of rating system like "Rate five stars" or "Tip me!" or something... but It was a Friendship form? 'What the....' It was literally a form asking for my name, and gender along with several things relating to food preferences, fears, that sorta of thing... 'Well... I suppose there's no harm in telling her a little about myself.' So as she got to work I took the form over to a table along with a quill and started writing.

Author's Note

This chapter involved a bit more of me using '_' to try and improve the quality of Current/Present thoughts. Trying to make it smooth, but It may have turned out jankier than I meant. I am TERRIFIED of trying to write Pinkie and carry her energy into anything because I am horrified by the thought of ANYONE being that outgoing. But I suppose I've gotta give it a shot. Please keep In mind that I am heavily relying on the fact that I've read this three times at 3 AM in order to spellcheck myself with grammar and stuff because I have no editor or anything. The next chapter is gonna be about as long as this, and then I'll try to start making them a bit longer. Feel free to shout at me If I make any glaring mistakes or any sort of pet peeve you have. Otherwise? Enjoy!

PS - Pun totally intended