Let the Odd Adventure Begin!

Odd stopped outside the small cottage she and her parents lived in. She sighed and wiped her hooves off on the front mat. Thankfully, Celestia and the pegasi had made the day warm and kept the skies clear. The mud on her coat had air dried during the short walk from the Everfree Forest and the dirt now fell off in small chunks.

Odd tried to fish her key out of her saddlebag before remembering that her parents never locked the door. “Ponyville’s crime rate is less than existent. The day when somepony breaks into our home is the same day when the sun rises of its own accord.” Her mother always said.

Pushing hard on the door, Odd stumbled into the front hall. Dozens of odds and ends littered the floor in various stages of repair. Will they never learn to clean up? It is always my job to clean up their messes. Isn’t it supposed to be the other way around?

Odd pushed whatever was in her way off to the side. She made her way through the many piles of junk to the stairs. She climbed up two flights to the top floor and entered her room. Grabbing a mane brush from her dresser, Odd trotted to the door that led to her bathroom.

Odd was pleased to see the mirrors hadn’t been replaced by her parents yet. Hopping into her bathtub, Odd began to bush the dirt out of her mane, tail, and coat. It took her a good half hour to get enough dirt off to feel even slightly clean. Knowing she needed to hurry, Odd didn’t bother to take a shower to get the rest of the dirt off.

Dumping the contents of her ruined saddlebag out onto the floor, Odd picked through the muddy papers and trinkets. She took what couldn’t be saved and tossed it to the side; the things that could be saved where shoved into another saddlebag.

Odd raced down the stairs and, after making sure to lock it, out the door. She cantered into town, keeping away from the busier shops and restaurants. It took her an extra five minutes to reach “Odds and Ends,” her parents’ junk store, but it was worth it. Odd wasn’t a very sociable pony, though she knew how to fake it, and hated to interact with anypony other than Zach and Zumma. Even her own parents got on her nerves.

Odd slowed down as she reached the store. The store’s door was wide open, on account of the warm day, and she was able to see inside. A strange, purple unicorn with a shaggy, darker purple mane was shifting through the stacks of items inside. Odd knew the identity of everypony in Ponyville and this pony was not one of them.

Putting on an indifferent face, Odd walked inside. She walked around like she was a customer, rummaging through the piles. Odd assumed this was the unicorn from Canterlot and if he was from Canterlot then he would no doubt know who she was. That made her wanted to get as much information on this pony before he learned of her true identity.

Working her way toward where the unicorn was at, Odd bumped into him with her backside. He went tumbling to the floor and Odd went tumbling after him. They ended up in a tangled mess with Odd squished beneath the unicorn.

“I am so sorry miss. Are you ok?” The unicorn said, picking himself up. He held out a hoof for Odd to grab.

“You don’t need to be sorry, it wasn’t you fault. I was the one the barreled into you. I’m just glad that we didn’t fall into one of those deathtraps.” Odd replied. She resisted the urge to smack the hoof away and grabbed it instead. The unicorn hulled Odd to her hooves. “I’m Odd by the way. It was a pleasure to ‘bump’ into you.”

“The name’s Dusk Shine and the pleasure was all mine.” The unicorn said, laughing. “Odd? That’s a very ‘odd’ name. Is it a nickname of some type?”

“I suppose it’s a nickname; more a title really. I gave it to myself years ago. I’m relatively proud of it.” Odd laughed at Dusk Shine’s little joke. “Do you have a nickname?”

“Yes, I do, Miss Odd. Most ponies call me Dusk. So if Odd isn’t your given name what is?”

“Well, Mr. Dusk, I’m sad to say that it’s a secret. You’re not allowed to know what it is. Besides, Odd is a much nicer name than what my real name is.”

A small bell rang in the background as the two ponies talked with one another. A door in the back of the store swung open and two pegasi stepped out; one a pastel green with a golden jewelry box for a cutiemark the other a blue-grey with a half-rusted wheel as a cutiemark. They went behind a counter and began to flip through some papers. Of course that was before they heard their daughter speaking with another pony.

The two pegasi rushed to where Odd was. They both hid behind one of the piles and watched their daughter. Odd talking with another pony; this was such a rare occurrence that her parents felt they had to observe it. Odd, being as aware as she was, knew her mother and father were hiding and decided that she no longer wanted to humor them.

“You two can stop hiding now. Frankly, it’s kind of creepy.” Odd yelled. “Come out and say hello to Dusk.”

The green pegasus stepped out first, pulling the grey pegasus behind her.  “Um… Well, hello there.” She said. “I’m Treasure Hunter and this is my husband Polished Steel. ‘Odds and Ends’ is our shop. It’s a pleasure to meet you Dusk.”

Hunter nudged her husband, signaling it was his turn. “We’re sorry for hiding like that. It’s just that Cloudwalker hardly ever talks with anypony for more than a few seconds. We felt we needed to be part of that moment but we didn’t want you two to stop talking so we hid.”

“So your name is Cloudwalker, huh?” Dusk said, giving Odd a small shove. “Not such a big secret after all. Now why does that sound familiar?”

“No reason; no reason at all.” Odd stated, giving her dad a death stare. She had hoped her rouse would’ve lasted longer than this. Although, Dusk didn’t seem like he was able to place where he’d heard her name before. Smiling evilly on the inside, Odd began to push Dusk away from her flustered parents and to the front door.

“It was nice to meet you two.” Dusk called over his shoulder. “I’ll defiantly be back with some bits to buy some of those old books. Keep them on hold please.”

Once they had made it outside the store Dusk began to walk under his own power. Odd and Dusk trotted alongside each other through the center of town. Odd forced herself not to run to one of the less crowded streets and keep in step with Dusk. Though she tried to keep her unease hidden, Dusk seemed to pick up on it.

“You don’t have to walk with me if you don’t want to.” Dusk said solemnly. “I understand if you’re embarrassed. I am the new pony in town.”

“No, that’s not the problem. I like talking with you; you’re quite entertaining.” Odd said. She sidestepped to get out of the way of a small group of talking ponies. “I’m just not very fond of crowds. I’m more of a loner, that’s all.”

“Oh, I totally get it. We can take a different route if you’d like.” Dusk said, nodding. “By the way, we’re going to the library. I’ll be staying there while I’m in Ponyville.”

As if on cue, both Odd’s and Dusk’s stomachs rumbled at the same time. “I have a better idea.” Odd giggled. “There’s a good café on the next block, I have a few extra bits with me, and you’re new in town; why don’t I buy you lunch?”

“That, my dear Odd, sounds like a wonderful idea.”