How Some Are More Fortunate

THUD

“Whoaaaaaa!”

THUD

“Whoops. Sorry, sugarcube, I didn’t see ya there.”

“Sugarcube?” Silver stood up, contemplating the new mare that stood before him. She was a tan earth pony with a blonde mane. Her cutie mark consisted of three apples.

“Yeah, Ah call a lot o’ ponies that. Just a habit, Ah guess. Hey, yer not from ‘round here, are ya?”

“No, I just came in from Trottingham.”

“Have ya run into a pink mare with a poofy mane?”

“FINALLY I can get an explanation! Yeah I did, and she didn’t say anything, she just gasped and ran off and I’ve been seeing her EVERYWHERE since then.”

“She’s probably just happy somepony new got here. Her name’s Pinkie Pie, and mine’s Applejack, by the way. She’s probably just planning ya a proper welcome. See, her special talent is throwin parties, and she does so just about every other day. She knows everypony ‘round here, and whenever somepony new shows up, she has to greet ‘em right.”

“Ahh. Well, it’s nice to meet you, although I wish it could’ve been a better way to meet…” He trailed off, staring up at the branch he had previously been sleeping on.

“Yeah, sorry ‘bout that. See, that’s how I get the apples outta the trees. Ah buck the trunk, and it shakes the trees, and the apples fall. Ah can’t tell ya how many times Ah woke Rainbow Dash up that way. Speakin o’ Dash, Ah ain’t seen that mare ‘round for a while. She was goin to Trottingham for a weather exchange, but the weather pegasi’re sayin she got lost on the way or somethin. They’re lookin for her, but it’s been a couple days now.”

“Sorry to hear your friend went missing.”

“Bah, she’ll turn up sooner or later. Believe me, that mare can handle herself.” Applejack’s face became crimson as she realized that Silver was laughing. “Not like that, Ah mean she can hold her own in a fight. Not that we’ve fought or anything, she’s just an athletic pegasus. Ah of all ponies should know.” Silver’s laughter doubled in strength. “Oh, shut up, you know what Ah mean.”

“Oh, I already know I’ll never regret meeting you.” Silver was still giggling uncontrollably as he spoke, wiping a tear away from his eye. “I’m Silver Dust, by the way.”

“Nice ta meet ya. Now, do ya have a place ta stay here in Ponyville?”

“No, but to tell the truth, I never had a place to stay in Trottingham, either.”

“Oh my. Did ya just stay at friends’ houses, or what?”

“I never really made friends, to tell the truth.” Silver noticed the sympathetic look he was receiving from Applejack, and fought to stave it off. He didn’t want anyone to feel bad for him. Not just because he didn’t want pity, but because it was unnecessary. “It doesn’t matter, really. I don’t dwell in the past. I’m just hoping the ponies here are friendlier than ponies in Trottingham.”

“Of course we are, sugarcube. It’s Ponyville. We’re all one big happy family.”

Silver smiled at the confirmation of the orphans’ rumors of Ponyville. “Glad to hear it.”

“Now, Ah want ya to know that you’re always welcome to stay here. If ya need a place ta stay, our door is always open.”

“Thank you. It means a lot to me.”

“Don’t mention it, sugarcube.”

Silver Dust smiled, glad to have a helping hoof in the new place. Friend? Perhaps. He didn't know enough to say about friendship yet, but he at least had a pony willing to help him out, and that was the closest he'd ever gotten.