"Toothbrush. Check. Book of Spells. Check. Suitcase. Check," Page Turner intoned, levitating the items as they came up on her list. She quickened her pace, even though she knew the train to Ponyville didn't leave for another half hour. Though Canterlot was a wonderful city, it was very busy and snobbish ponies lurked around every corner, just waiting for a chance to insult your sense of fashion. Ponyville will be a nice change from Canterlot, Page Turner thought, but she knew that this new move would only be temporary.
Page Turner was not your average Canterlot unicorn. Sure, she dressed like everypony else and even had a slightly snobbish tint in her voice, but looks meant nothing in a world full of colorful talking ponies, and accents never changed a thing. For one thing, she was never in one place for more than a year. For another, Page Turner had also been one of the few unicorns enrolled in Celestia's School For Gifted Unicorns. Though she hadn't ever met the princess herself, she still had been an excellent student.
Toot! Toot! Oh no! Page Turner thought. While she had been thinking the train had pulled in to the station. She hurried through the crowd of bustling ponies, getting jostled by some of the larger suitcases and bags. Page Turner blew a lock of pale blue and yellow mane away from her face, as was habit, and pushed on. About three minutes later, she finally boarded the Ponyville Express and handed the conductor her ticket. She quickly found her seat and pushed her white duffel bag under the chair.
"All aboard!" the conductor shouted, closing the doors to the train as the last pony got on.
Good, she thought, Now just a couple hours and then we'll be off this thing.
After checking to make sure her luggage was fine, Page Turner stretched back, happy that all was in order. She was a very organized pony and liked to know what was going on, and though she didn't know it at the time, this skill would help in the near future.
Three hours later, much to Page Turner's relief, the train pulled into the Ponyville station. The ride had been delayed for quite some time.
First, an elderly earth pony with a glasses and balding patches on his grey head had started a commotion when he misunderstood a serving pony offering him a drink and cried, "No, I don't need to tinkle, and stop shoving that cup in my face you little whippersnapper."
Next, a Canterlot pony with her nose turned up so high Page Turner doubted that she could see a thing in front of her face had proclaimed the food, "So out of style I couldn't even see Ponyville citizens eating it. Hmmph."
This outburst had caused quite an uproar until the conductor had finally shouted "Quiet!!!" Nopony spoke for a long time after that.
Luckily, that was now over and now Page Turner was busy carrying her luggage to one of the few hotels that Ponyville had to offer. The rusty old sign swinging above the door read "The Ponyville Inn" and though another sign under it said "Luxury Rooms- Everypony Wants To Stay Here," the hotel seemed to be deserted.
Oh well, Page Turner thought to herself,As long as the rooms are clean and the rates are under 300 bits a night, it'll do for now.
As soon as she found her room, number 240, Page Turner started to unpack her clothes, as well as the many odds and ends that she had picked up from her journeys. An oriental carpet on the cold, wooden floor from Saddle Arabia, an apple key chain from Manehatten, A rainbow picture from Winsome Falls, a pen advertising "the Salt Block" from Appaloosa, and other things all went in different places around the room.
"There," she said aloud, "This is starting to look a little bit more like home."
Now that she was all settled in, Page Turner decided to tour the city, and maybe meet some new ponies.
"Excuse me, do you happen to know the way to the nearest restaurant?" Page Turner tried for what seemed like the millionth time.
She had been trying to get directions to some place to eat for the last half hour to no avail. Though she didn't know it, Page Turner had actually been asking ponies that same question in what can only be described as a whimper. She was a shy pony by nature, and, since she traveled a lot, Page Turner didn't have the opportunity to make long-lasting friendships. So, nopony, unless they stopped for long enough to ask her to repeat her question again, could hear her.
Finally, a stallion with a light tan coat and two linked cherries as a cutie mark answered her call.
"A restaurant? You mean Sugar Cube Corner, the local bakery. A wonderful place, serves the best food in Ponyville. Owned by a young couple, Mr. and Mrs. Cake. There's also another young mare living with them, Pinkie Pie. A bit on the eccentric side, but she can bake!"
With that the colt scrambled off without another word.
Strange, Page Turner thought, Oh well, at least now I know where to get food.
Page Turner trotted happily toward Sugar Cube Corner. After making a brief stop at her hotel room to retrieve a reasonable amount of bits, she was finally on her way. She had asked the hotel clerk to give her directions to the bakery and he had done so, even providing her with a map of Ponyville.
Perhaps the ponies in this town aren't as strange as I imagined, she thought, but she still had a nagging feeling in the pit of her stomach. Who was this "eccentric" Pinkie Pie the stallion had talked about? Did she have something to do with why he rushed away so quickly? She pushed the thoughts away as the sweet smell of cupcakes drifted from around the corner.
Must be nearly there, She thought, the bits jangling in her purse.
A bell tinkled cheerfully as Page Turner opened the swinging door to Sugar Cube Corner. A round, chubby mare greeted her as she took in the beautiful sight of all the delicious treats that welcomed her.
"Hello there! I'm Cup Cake, deary, and welcome to Sugar Cube Corner," the pony, who was apparently Mrs. Cake said, her pink mane rising up several inches above her kind face.
"Um, hello there, I'm Page Turner," she said, a bit shyly.
"Oh, I haven't seen you in Ponyville before, deary, are you new?" Mrs. Cake asked, in a low whisper.
Before Page Turner could answer a bright pink mare burst in through the swinging doors that probably led to a kitchen.
"Did somepony say 'new'?!" she shouted.
"Now Pinkie Pie, you know what we told you about getting to ex-" intoned Mrs. Cake, a frightened look appearing on her chubby face. Before she could finish the sentence the Pinkie Pie, for it was of course her who Mrs. Cake had been talking to, took one look at Page Turner, who was standing in the corner, looking pretty scared, and gasped audibly.
Author's Note
Sorry the chapter's so short. Hey, I'm an amateur writer and this is only my second story. Don't hammer down on me to hard. Feel free to critique my work if necessary. I'm working on the next chapter and am totally open to suggestions. Enjoy!!
