//-------------------------------------------------------// The Artist and the Musician -by OverthoughtName- //-------------------------------------------------------// //-------------------------------------------------------// Prolouge: Shade //-------------------------------------------------------// Prolouge: Shade The train ride from Canterlot was a long one for sure. I hadn’t travelled much as a child, but now I was on my own in Equestria as a travelling artist. My name is Shade Sketch, but most ponies call me Shade. I grew up as an Earth Pony in Canterlot with my parents Chroma and Blank Canvas, both artists themselves. I had just finished Art College and now had to find my way in the world. After looking for months for a place to live and begin work, I was pointed in the direction of the town of Ponyville. It was a quiet town just to the south of Canterlot brimming with opportunities for a pony such as myself. I could open an art gallery, or just go freelance, but I had time to decide on what I was going to do with myself. I was lost in deep thought until… WE ARE NOW ARRIVING AT PONYVILLE STATION! ALL PASSENGERS READY FOR DEPARTURE! What felt like days of journey had finally come to end, and I was excited to enter the town I would soon call home. I grabbed my things from the luggage car and made my way off the train. As I blindly walked out of the station, I suddenly bumped into another pony coming off the train! //-------------------------------------------------------// Prolouge: Elegy //-------------------------------------------------------// Prolouge: Elegy The train would soon arrive at my new home in Ponyville. I never had traveled away from home before, so I was a bit nervous. My name is Elegy. I’m a travelling musician trained in the city of Canterlot. I had just finished classes at the Conservatory and now had to find my way in the world. I looked for housing and work for months, luckily my sister said I could live with her in Ponyville for now. She said that the town had many opportunities for a musical pony such as myself. I could open a music hall, or just play in a local band, but I had time to decide what to do with myself. I was beginning to get fed up with waiting for our arrival until… WE ARE NOW ARRIVING AT PONYVILLE STATION! ALL PASSENGERS READY FOR DEPARTURE! The journey from Canterlot was finally at its end, and I couldn’t wait to begin living in Ponyville. I grabbed my luggage and instruments from the car and made my way off the train. Walking gleefully out of the station, I was suddenly bumped into by another pony coming off the train! //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 1: A New Canvas //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 1: A New Canvas “Oof, who just ran into me?” Elegy asked. “Sorry about that, miss. I didn’t see where I was going and I’d like to apologize for that in any way possible.” I said. “That’s okay, I myself had no idea where I was going, being new here and all.” she said. “I’m new to Ponyville as well, what brings a polite mare like you to Ponyville?” he asked. “Well, I’m a travelling musician from Canterlot, my name is Elegy, and I never got yours.” “My name is Shade Sketch, though most ponies call me Shade, I’m a travelling artist myself. It’s great to meet you Elegy.” We really hit it off over the next half hour. We both talked about our lives in Canterlot, how our line of work is doing, and overall casual banter any normal group of ponies talked about. Elegy was a great mare, and she was so interesting to be around, ponies like her only came around once in Celestia’s reign. That’s when I asked. “Would you like to go for some coffee sometime?” She sat there, thinking over my request. She seemed to be looking over her schedule with the occasional ‘Hmm’ and ‘umm’. After a short period, she agreed to the date. “Sure, how about tomorrow though, as we both seem to have some unpacking to do.” “Well then, I hope to see you soon then. It was great to meet you Elegy.” “And you too, Shade.” I was the happiest stallion in all of Equestria right now. I moved into a great town, and I got a date in my first hour of being here! Nothing could possibly bring me down. I trotted along the streets of Ponyville. People going to and from shops and houses just enjoying the beautiful day set out in front of them. My new house was near a place named Carousel Boutique, a pony had given me the directions to where it was, and I was nearing what would soon be my new housing. I approached the empty house and was ready to enter, until a unicorn mare with a royal blue mane, and flowing magenta dress trotted on up to me. “Why, hello there. You must be the new neighbor. My name is Rarity, and I am the owner of Carousel Boutique. It’s nice to meet you… umm…” “Shade Sketch, though most ponies call me Shade. I’m an artist from Canterlot. It’s gr-“ “Canterlot! I absolutely love Canterlot. The sophistication, the fashion, and the regality of it all! You must tell me about sometime.” “Sure Rarity, anytime you have an hour to spare. Just not today, as you can see, I have a ton of unpacking to do.” “Well then how about tomorrow? Would you be free for a cup of tea?” “Sorry, not tomorrow either. I have a lunch date with a mare I met at the station, and just can’t turn it down.” Rarity stated to get starry eyed. “Ooo, a mare! Shade, you’re an artist and a ladies man. The complete package! So tell me, what is she like?” “Her name is Elegy. She’s a musician from Canterlot. She Came to Ponyville with goals and thoughts, not unlike mine. She’s very intelligent, polite, great sense of humor, and proud of who she is. Overall, just a great pony to be around.” “She sounds marvelous darling.” The fashion forward pony said. “ Well, if you’re ever in the neighborhood, feel free to stop on over to Carousel Boutique for a chat.” And with that, Rarity was off to her house, leaving me to mine. I stepped inside to the expansive room ahead of me. Just as it was detailed, the open concept of it all was beautiful to me. Looking at the array of boxes and bags that lay behind me though, I knew I had a lot of work ahead of me. I let out a sigh and began to prepare my new home. //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 2: Mixed Genres //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 2: Mixed Genres Moving through Ponyville was a great experience, the new people to meet, the sites to see, and the beautiful day that enclosed the deal. I had met a wondrous stallion and now I would get to see my sister, who I hadn’t seen in some time. The day couldn’t get any better than it already was! I soon arrived at the doorstep of my sister’s residence. Taking it all in, I knocked on the door and waited with a welcoming smile. The door flung open as a unicorn with a frazzled, messy blue and white mane answered the door quite irritated. “Who are you? Probably another adoring fan of mine, look, no autographs today kid!” The mare quickly said with a tone of anger in her voice. “Actually, I’m looking for my sister, her name is Octavia. You wouldn’t know where she is, would you?” I asked. “Oh! ‘Tavi told me her sis would be staying with us. Yo, ‘Tavi, your sis is here!” The mare shouted down the hallway. And as soon as it was said, my sister ran to door, knocking over the unicorn. Panting after her short, yet hard sprint to the door, she finally caught her breath. “Hello… Elegy… how are… you?” she said in-between breaths. “Oh Octavia! It’s been so long since you left Canterlot. I was hoping to catch up with you when I got here.” Then the elephant in the room hit me, knocked over on the couch. “So, who’s your friend?” Feeling better, Octavia responded “That’s Vinyl on the couch there. We live here together, but don’t worry, we still have space for another guest.” Vinyl, now awake from her dazed state smoothly said “ ‘Sup kid?” and crashed once again into the couch. “Don’t mind her, she had a concert last night and is still sobering up from a hangover.” Octavia quickly explained. “Hmm, living together eh? Never took you for that type of mare sis.” I slyly said before breaking out into a laughing fit. Octavia blushing at the comment wanted to interject, but found she couldn’t stop herself from joining in the giggle fest. “Would you two shut it just for a minute. I need some sleep, and your talking is taking me away from that.” Vinyl exclaimed. “Fine then. Elegy, how about you and me go for a night on the town? Dinner, a tour, we can catch up as we go about our night.” Octavia said. Vinyl sprung up at the offer “Whoa! Sleep can wait, let’s take to the town ladies!” “Perfect, how about I just unpack quickly and we can leave right away?” I said to the both of them. They both agreed to that, and then I was shown my room. Nice and spacious for all my things I brought along. I unpacked quickly and ran to the door, eagerly waiting to leave. “Okay, Elegy, Vinyl. First stop, The Mare and Griffon, the finest establishment in Ponyville.” Octavia said through her joyous smile, happy to spend the night with me. And with that, we were off to venture through the town. We arrived at the restaurant just around eight. We got a table large enough for the three of us and placed our orders. With the time I had until dinner came around, I decided to pick up the conversation. “So, Octavia, how’s life been since you left Canterlot?” I asked. “Quite nice actually. Peaceful, friendly, and quiet, say for the odd threat to Equestria.” Octavia said. “ I forgot to ask earlier, but how was the train to get here?” “You know just a regular train ride on the regular tracks, but now that you mention it, I met somepony at the station. Quite a nice stallion he was, we’re meeting for coffee tomorrow.” I explained. “Look like somepony is wubbing hard here.” Vinyl jokingly added in. “Oh Vinyl. Don’t be so hard on her, and anyways, the way you are around Neon leaves nothing to the imagination.” Octavia shot the remark to the DJ as she wore a sly smile. Vinyl, blushing from being found out, wanted to object, but to no avail. After a moment of awkward silence, she finally asked “So, what’s he like, I mean the stallion you met at the station?” “His name is Shade. He’s an artist from Canterlot who just moved to Ponyville. He is such a gentlecolt, a conversationalist, and a handsome colt to tie it all together.  We really hit it off when we met, and I get to see him again tomorrow!” I cheerfully said. “Well, I think it’s great that you found yourself a pony that’s just right for you. Now if I could only find one for me!” Octavia said before we began to burst out laughing. “You said it sister!” hollered Vinyl as she nearly flung herself away from the booth as we continued to giggle like little fillies. As we calmed down and relaxed ourselves, dinner came and so did the wine. Octavia poured each of us a glass and made a toast. “To new beginnings and friendship!” she said. We clinked our glasses together and ate our amazingly prepared meals. After a night on the town, we returned home to end the night. And what a night it was! Dinner, shopping, and a couple of drinks at a local jazz club really made my night. I was ready to relinquish myself to my bed, and so were Octy and Vinyl. I gave them my thanks for the night and awkwardly moved towards my room. I graced myself in the beauty that was my bed and turned in for the night. I was the happiest mare in all of Equestria right now and nothing could bring me down, especially because of my date tomorrow. I quickly nodded off to sleep to prepare for my day tomorrow.