Chapters "So yeah, that's more or less everything that's happened since I got to town." I said to my coworker.
"mm" he responded.
Grease Trap was one of Ponyvilles most experienced fixer ponies. Workhorse said I could learn a lot working with him. She must be right too, since he spotted my special talent right away and had me hold up a lantern while he worked on unjamming miss Rarity's sewing machine. Truly this stallion was an expert in his craft to be able to recognize that so quickly.
"so did you figure out what's wrong with it?"
"mm" he responded again.
Wow, he figured it out so fast, I hope I can be as good as Grease Trap one day.
"So what was it?"
"fabric."
Grease Trap snapped the sewing machine back together and I extended my wing holding the screws out for him. Once he finished screwing it back together, we went back downstairs to tell miss Rarity we were done working.
"fixed" grease trap spoke before he finished descending the steps.
"Already? darling thats just wonderful!" Rarity almost sung as we approached.
"Here" she began levitating something out of her cabinet, "For doing such a fine job." and she floated a fairly sizable gem to each of us.
"Miss, this is too much, I can't possi-"
"Darling I insist!" Rarity push the gem on me.
"th-th-thank you!" I nearly sniffed out. I had never been treated so generously before. Did she know I spent every last bit I had on that old rundown house on the edge of town? Or was she just rich or something? The boutique was fairly ornate an-*slam* (the sound of the door shutting)
"Wait, GREASE TRAP WAIT." I sped out the door to catch up, giving Rarity one last thankful smile before gently shutting the door and running to catch up.
"Where are you going?" I panted as I caught up with him.
"bar"
As the train entered the station, most of Ponyville was a buzz with word about the newcomer, a Thestral, a BAT PONY, had moved to Ponyville. The better part of the town, and even the newspapers became a battleground between the same foolish superstitious ponies who ran and hid from Zecora, and the overly enthusiastic integrationists, who heaped praise upon the newcomer (though most of them hadn’t yet learned his name).
Dimlight Echo was extremely tired after getting off the train from Las Pegasus. Exiting the train to the (always) unexpected brightness of day left him disoriented, but a sudden wave of sound penetrated his ears, the scream of a dozen ponies, if not more. He hasn't slept since yesterday afternoon and he was blinded, afraid, and just bolted. A sudden thud and impact felt through his spine ended his panic.
The Ponyville welcoming committee collectively gasped in horror as the newcomer they had spent all day preparing for… ran straight into the nearest wall full speed. He wasn't moving…
*****
By Luna, I think I ran into a wall again. I try to open my eyes, but its even brighter than before. Oh moon why is it so bright in here?!? It feels like… I'm lying in a bed? Oh god I'm in a bucking hospital. Again.
“Twilight he's awake!” a brash marish voice shouted, flying out of the room.
The sound of hoofsteps entering the room echoed in my ears, I still refused to open my eyes, it was far too bright in here.
“He just spoke! I heard him!”
Hoofsteps approached me closer, then a magical sensation overtook my whole body and I panicked. Before I could tell what happened I was tangled in a bedsheet lying on the cold tile floor.
“Ow” I said, more disappointed in myself than in actual pain.
“See! I told you!” dash yelled as I reached to cover my ears.
“Why is everything so loud and bright here?” I asked.
I came to a small town looking for a slow quiet life. So far, all I found was a place brighter and louder than Las Pegasus. Maybe this was just 1 big mistake. Should I just go back home? Im pretty sure I could get my old job back if I begged hard enough, being a lighting technician at a giant company wasn't that bad…
“Hellooooo, mr Thestral are you alive?” Dashes voice brought me out of my thoughts.
“Yes, for Luna’s sake im alive, can someone turn down the lights already!”
That was mean, I shouldn't have been so rude about it.
Less than 3 seconds later and I could feel the light level in the room lower through my eyelids. Thank Luna. Finally I could get my bearings.
“Is that better?” I heard the caring voice of, what did she call her? Ah well it doesn't matter. I finally was able to open my eyes and blink the whiteness away. It was still uncomfortably bright but that was nothing new to me. After a solid several moments of looking at the ground blinking in silence I looked up and… horn, wings, princess, here…..
*****
“Celestia's sake!” rainbow dash yelled “He passed out AGAIN!”
Chapter 1: Registration
“And that's how I completely missed my welcome to PonyVille party.”
“Awe, that sounds awful.” said the orange-brown mare behind the desk.
“Sorry you had such a rough first day.” She said, her red and yellow candy cane striped hair bobbed in front of her glasses as she spoke.
“I honestly expected it to go worse.” I said.
“Uuuhhhhh…….”
“Whatever, not important we have to get started on your profile!” The mare started excitedly.
“My… profile?”
“Yeah, it's like a resume but more personal, it's standard protocol in work houses in this part of Equestria so people know who they are hiring for a job.” she said while organizing a frightening number of papers behind the desk.
“Uh, are you sure? I… im getting kinda nervous I don't know if im up for all that…'' I said slowly sinking lower in my chair.
“Nonsense!” She yelled
SONG TIME (To the tune of Sinking Ships)
-Singing-
Show up! cause being there is half of what it takes
Date of birth and place of birthing. School and clubs and place of worship. interesting facts about yourself and reasons you are worth it. And now sign, on the line.
Show up! cause being there is half of what it takes
-Spoken-
“Wait, so you're saying I can get paid just for showing up somewhere and not doing any work?”
-Singing-
Show up! cause being there is half of what it takes
Credit score and current address, mate and children, type of magic.
SONG END
“So is that it then?” I asked the mare behind the counter.
“Nope, 2 more things, first i need a picture to put with your profile.” She said pulling out a polaroid camera.
“Ok just give me a second to- ACK!” I'm blinded by the sudden flash of the camera and fall to the ground, blinding the white spots out of my vision.
“PERFECT, i always get the best photos!” Her hoof extended right in front of my face holding a square, that's all i could see, but as i kept blinking, i found myself looking at the most flattering picture of me i've ever seen, the contrast between my blue eyes and red/orange hair, the bluish undertones of my gray coat, and an angle on my face i've never achieved looking in the mirror before. I was absolutely stunned. So stunned in fact that I completely forgot to be mad about a camera being flashed in my face.
“Wow” I said “That really is a good photo.”
“I know right!?!, now to the last part” she said while helping me up off the ground.
“The last part?” I asked, nerves creeping their way back into my voice.
“INTRODUCTIONS!” She yelled, and I flinched.
My hoof was seized and swung too and fro, no amount of resistance could have stopped it, though I didn't actually try to resist.
“My name is Work Horse, and you can come to me anytime you need work, I always have something for you to do! If you haven't made lodging arrangements we also have bunks here available to any local workers registered with the house. It also happens to double as the local orphanage!”
“Now that you're registered please follow me into the back and We can discuss what work opportunities we have for you this week.”
*hiccup* "Your my best, did I ever tell you that?" BerryShine said, holding onto GreaseTrap's shoulder to keep herself on her stool.
"yeah, you did." GreaseTrap responded in his usual monotone.
"You too are cute together." I slurred, spilling some cider on my floor when I tried to gesture at them.
"No" GreaseTrap replied almost before I finished speaking. "What???" whined BerryShine "How can you say that?!?" the raspberry pink mare almost started crying as she exclaimed. "AFTER ALL WEVE BEEN THROUGH!"
"We only ever drink together." GreaseTrap finished his mug of cider and motioned the bar pony for another round. "DOES THAT MEAN NOTHING TO YOU?!?" BerryShine seemed on the verge of tears or violence, and I couldn't tell which.
I leaned in close to GreaseTrap and whispered "is she always like this?" to which he gave an expressionless nod, not even looking my way.
I just focused back on my own drink, trying my best not to offend either of the 2 new friends id made today. It seemed like they did this a lot and I didn't want to get in the way of their friendship ritual.
*****
BerryShine had passed out a couple hours ago and the bar pony had taken her upstairs, apparently this happened often enough they had a room reserved for her. Me and GreaseTrap had kept drinking, while I told him stories about growing up in a little desert town and the time I spend working in Las Pegasus.
"-and there was this other time when a lightning cloud got lose inside the casino and-"
"What do you mean?" I asked. In response he gestured to the nearly dozen empty cider mugs on either side of where we were sitting. "Usually everypony else crashes out before now..."
"oh..." A long silence stood between us.
"You wanna get some food after the next round?" I asked, not really sure what to say.
"Yeah" he replied in his usual manner "Wafflehouse"
Author's Note
Sorry the last chapters were a bit short, I'm trying to balance updating frequently with breaking chapters at places that make sense.