To Be Somepony

After tossing and turning for fifteen minutes, Ribbon had given up on finding a comfortable position to lay in her bed. The room had grown too bright and the mattress too hard for her to even enjoy closing her eyes. It had been the same way all throughout the night as she woke multiple times and had difficulty going back to sleep. On one occasion she let her head hang off the side of her bed just because she was bored and tired.

Getting out was out of the question, as she didn't feel like doing anything.

"Pathetic." she mumbled through her mane.

Then she heard hoof-steps outside her door, then the click as the doorknob turned and in came her father who didn't work Saturday's.

"It's time to wake up." he said.

"I know." she replied, half words and half just exhaled air.

"Any plans today?"

"Maybe."

"I'll let you know if I can think of any chores."

"Thanks."

She inched her way to the edge, then let one hoof dangle off. Another followed and she stretched he limbs which were stiff beyond possibility. The curtains opened and blinded her, making everything in her eyes turn white and causing her head to spin and fall back to the bed.

"Sleep much." her father said from the window.

"No."

"Well go ahead and get some breakfast; me and your mother are going to do some errands later."

"Alright."

"By the way, something came in the mail for you. It's on the table."

Her father left as she continued to stretch and adjust to getting out of bed. Her head spun and her joints wobbled, but she recovered and made her way out the door. Downstairs, her mother read the newspaper on the couch while her father was in the kitchen pouring another cup of tea for himself.

"Good morning dear." her mother said.

"Good morning."

She went into the kitchen and got her oats and milk, then went to the the table and began eating. The letter was where her father said, but she didn't bother opening in yet.

"So what are you going to do today sweety?"

"I don't know."

"Anyone of your friends free today?"

"Maybe."

"Maybe you'd like to come with us today." her father said as a joke, since they knew her for not being the most social with them.

"Hmph."

When she finished, she pushed her bowl aside and opened the letter. Inside was a notice concerning the entrance exam for the new college, and at the very was the mayors signature. Ribbon criticized it being stamped and not hoof written.

She read the entire letter then set it down.

"Whats it say?" her mother asked.

"Just a reminder of the college and the opportunities, along with a date for the deadline to take the exam. It's not for another month."

She left the letter on the table, cleaned her bowl and went back up to her room and into her bed again. Looking at her clock, she saw it was nine thirty.

"Looks like you owe yourself ten bits Ribbon."

When her parents left after a while later, she did what little homework she had to do for the weekend then tried drawing. But after just ten minutes she gave up and ripped the sheet out from the booklet and threw it away. Only recently had she tried to take up drawing, knowing it was a skill that would take a grueling long time to acquire, and knew she didn't have the patience for. The only drawings she felt proud of were those that were easy and she had simply copied from pictures in front of her.

"What to do." she sighed, then fell on her back onto the bed and looked up at the ceiling, "Maybe Sprinkle isn't doing anything today. The two of you could definitely figure out something. It not like you two are the most busy ponies in the world."

Out in the distance she heard the whistle of the train as it readied to leave Ponyville. It amazed her it could be heard all the way from her house.

"It's probably going to Canterlot. And what's in Canterlot? A whole lot of ponies who get to live the good life in their fancy homes and live without a care in the world. What do you have to do to even live there? Have a fortune probably, which I'll never have."

She looked at her clock.

"Eleven. Now I get to waste my entire weekend doing nothing, then go to school and regret it all."

She sat up and brushed her man to the side. The book still sat on her desk, mocking her just like the drawing she threw away. The hero on the cover looked so majestic and powerful in her eyes.

"What I'd do for an adventure as the hero, and get away from this kind of life. But then again... Its not all fun and games Ribbon. Things seem so much better on paper, but aren't the same in real life. Time for you to live in reality... time for you to get a job."

She stood up on her hooves.

"At least get out of the house and then maybe something will come up."

Downstairs, she made sure she wouldn't need anything as she left with no idea when she would come back. She went out the door, locked it, hid the key and made her way towards the market outskirts. Ideas of where she could worked rolled back and worth inside her head. Knowing places like where her dad worked were out of the question, since they required more work experience, she tried to imagine smaller jobs that wouldn't require anything than basic motor skills.

"Mom and Dad said you had to start small when looking for a job."

After trotting for a while through the streets and alleyways she made it to the beginnings of the market; a long street near the middle of town lined with stalls and shops. One thing she knew that she wanted was a job near the center, one that had plenty of business so she'd feel like she was part of something important and not some run down shack.

As she went down the street, looking for wanted signs in the windows of stores, it dawned on her how few needed any help. Most shops were so small they needed only the manager to run the entire floor, and not all were busy. The street she was on wasn't the busiest in the town, and as she looked around she noticed she was the only one, despite it still being early in the day.

She went through the shops on the other side of the street, found nothing then went through an alley and onto the next street which held more traffic. The shops were slightly more busy, and the feeling of the atmosphere Ribbon felt as she went passed the windows felt more energetic. Still however she didn't find any shop that was hiring.

All the way to the middle of town she didn't find a shop she wanted to work at hiring, and those that were didn't interest her.

"Stop being so picky. Work isn't suppose to be fun." she thought.

Looking up at the clock tower in the court house, she saw she had spent an hour looking for and passing up jobs, an hour she began to regret. A bench rested in the shade of a tree near one of the shops on which she decided to sit down in and rest. The wind began to blow and carried a warm breeze through the tree and made is leaves rustle a sound that helped her relax.

For fifteen minutes she sat on the bench and thought to herself, thinking of the shops and jobs she passed up, or the time she could be spending with Sprinkle and her friends. It angered and yet saddened to look at the situation she was in, looking for a job but also wanting to just relax and do nothing like the teenager she was.

"If only I could talk with Luna again. When I did, it felt so good to just gush out everything. All that talk of being something, that was nothing compared to the feeling of just letting everything go. But who can I talk to to get that same release; not my parents, it'd be too awkward and I'd hold back."

She looked around the market and all the ponies that passed by. Some glanced at her and her markless flanks, but she didn't notice nor would she have cared if she had. After a few more minutes of sulking she got up and continued looking, taking the street that led directly up to the market center where she was leaving.

Walking directing the middle of the street, she basked in how wide the street was and the feeling of being center where she could be seen. It almost felt like she owned the street, she her chest slightly puffed out and her head high like royalty.

As she strolled down the street, she saw a restaurant with and outdoor eating area in the front. Out behind it opened the fields leading away from Ponyville. There were other restaurants along the street, but she found it the most visually appealing with a second story on it. Looking closer, she saw a wanted sign hanging off the buildings sign that dangled from a decorative pole.

"Not a bad place. You could start out as a busgirl. It's not like you'll need to get high in the ranks anytime soon."

She walked through the door and into the waiting area where she was greeted with the sound of indoor conversations and dinging silver ware. The interior was rustically themed, which she preferred over more modern styles like Upbeat Manehatten.

"Welcome." the waiter at the podium greeted her. "How many?"

"Actually I was here to ask about the wanted sign."

"Ah, you interested?"

"Yes."

"Just give me a minute and I'll get the manager for you."

"Thank you."

She took at seat on one of the cushioned couches in the waiting room while the distinctive looking colt left and headed towards the back of the restaurant. Walking in, she had noticed he wore a fancy dress shirt with a tie and figured the staff needed uniforms, then noticed as another went around the table to take orders wearing one also. The idea was appealing to her, liking the since dignity and sophistication, and discipline.

The waiter came back with the manager, whose golden name plate indicated proudly on his vest.

"Hello, how are you today miss..?" he asked kindly.

"Ribbon, good thank you." she answered, getting up.

The waiter left them to return to his post.

"Now before we go to my office, may I ask if you've ever worked before."

"No sir."

"Don't worry about it, just a routine question. Now please follow me."

Ribbon and the manager went to the back of the restaurant and into the kitchen.

When she and her parents went out on occasions for dinner, and she sat and looked around while they talked, she always felt the kitchen was like a sacred area that few could ever enter, and that even catching a glimpse as somepony walked out with a tray of food was like a blessing. But she quickly followed the man directly into it and saw the inner workings. Three others in white chef uniforms worked over the stoves and sinks, doing what she looked to be impossible.

One seemed to be in two places at once as they attended a large stove with multiple cooking pans on the burners while quickly going to another area to check a large pot with with steam soup. Another went cutting away at vegetables while another finished preparing a dish and making the food look perfect.

RIbbon and the manager walked into a small hallway and into the office of the building. It was a small but well decorated and welcoming room with warm colored wallpaper and the light of the fields coming in from a large window behind his chair and desk.

"Please sit." he said and pointed his hoof at a chair in front of his desk.

She did and anxiously waited for him to begin talking.

"So tell me," he began, "you look rather young. Are you still in school?"

"Yes. But I'll be graduating school when summer comes."

"How are you're grades?"

"Three A's and one B."

"Any after school activities like sports or clubs."

"No."

"I see. Now, how would you describe your work ethic?"

"Umm... I do my best when it comes to getting things done. Like homework or chores for example; if I get started I won't stop until I finish."

"And would you say you do a good job?"

"I would hope so." she laughed but then felt ridiculous, "But I do do a good job, not try to rush it."

"Good."

The man leaned over and opened one of the drawers of his desk and pulled out a small booklet. He opened it to the calendar, where Ribbon looked with amazement by how filled it was with schedules and names.

"Lets see..." he sighed, "Now when are you available during the day?"

"After school, between around two and eight. I usually have a good amount of free time."

"And how big of a commitment can you give to this job?"

Ribbon didn't answer at first, but let the question sit for a second and tried to think of answer. A chilling thought that rolled in was the child and the toy, and how bashfully she had left the comfort of home to go find a job.

"We can of course give a certain amount of time working here to see if you can manage, but whether or not you stay here is ultimately up to you."

"Come on Ribbon, think hard. This is a big moment in your life, so lets be smart about it. If you chicken out, you'll never let it go and keep on beating yourself up."

Her eyes looked down as she thought, then back at the manager.

"It's hard to say," she began, "But I'll do my best to try and stay for a good amount of time."

"Mmhmm."

It felt like a teacher had asked her a question, which she answered wrong and now felt like the entire class thought her an idiot.

"Well let's see. I'll be able to start you on Monday, from two thirty to seven in the afternoons. You'll then have a week to decide whether or not you'll be able to commit."

"Okay."

"And you'll be starting out as a busgirl, since this is your first job."

"That's fine."

He leaned over again and pulled out a piece of paper and handed it to her.

"Please look over that and sign at the bottom, your parents too for legal issues. Then come back on Monday and you'll begin training. From then on we'll just wait and see."

"Thank you."

"Have a nice day now."

She got up from her seat, took a quick look out the window to admire the fields, then left the office. The meeting had gone by quicker than she expected. Leaving the kitchen and heading towards the front door, she folded the paper and tucked it behind her ear then covered it with her part of her mane.

"Stupid of you not to bring your bag dummy." she thought, but was hundreds of times more ecstatic to care otherwise.

Outside of the restaurant, she went back onto the street and kept going down the way she came.

"Hard to imagine he actually gave you a chance Ribbon. Don't go and blow it now."

Without the worry of looking for a job now, Ribbon was able to walk not the pressure of responsibility, but with the pleasure of a casual stroll. The air seemed fresher in her nostrils and her trot was smoother as she went down the middle of the street again.

The reality of what she had done began to dawn on her, and she felt proud of it. The idea that she was now becoming and adult, now had the opportunity to make a difference in her life, and now had something to hold over her friends in a amiable way make her swell with joy, but also with a subtle fear. Now she'd be obligated to herself to keep her word, instead of being able to let go like the teenager she regretted but still wanted to be.

As she drew closer to the city limits, she saw a wagon being pulled in her direction towards town. A large red colt pulled it effortlessly while the golden mare she met days before followed beside him. She idled her way off to the side to get out of their path but continued to watch. The mare glanced at her as they passed.

"Howdy do." she said, recognizing Ribbon.

She smiled and nodded back at her, then continued down the road.

After a short while of walking, and seeing how she was closer to the schools than her house, she decided to go by and get a drink of water from one of the fountains.

The towns clock-tower bells rang their deep, bass melody then once more to tell all of Ponyville it was one o'clock. She made it to the elementary school, took a drink from the fountain near the play ground then spied the swing set she had loved to play on as a filly. The memories of an easier time at school overwhelmed her with nostalgia, and she went over and sat down on one of the swings. She fixed the paper in her hair, then began to swing her hooves gently back and forth.

As she swung just a few feet at a time, she looked up at the mountains and watched as some of lower clouds separated as the two touched, and imagined being on top of one again then flying off and into the clouds.

"Is that Miss Ribbon?" she heard.

Ribbon looked back at the school house and saw a lavender pony anyone would know.

"Miss Cherilee!"

"Well how are you doing sweety?"

"I'm doing fine."

"Well that's good to hear. What are you doing here, it's Saturday."

"I didn't have anything to do today so I went for a walk and ended up here. What are you doing here?"

"I came by to check on the garden the fillies are growing as one of their projects. Those bugs like to get at them when no one's around."

Ribbon got off the swing and followed her favorite teacher around to the back. A large rectangular plot of ground had been turned over with sticks placed at equidistant points with strings linking each and sectioning off different crops. Small hoff made signs were stuck in and decorated by the fillies, signed with their names.

"We have a few more fillies this year than when you were in my class." Cherilee said, "But their all happy and cheerful just the same."

"Good to see your still the same too. If I had to deal with kids, I'd lose my mind in just a few days."

"Still the quiet one I presume?"

"Yeah."

Ribbon continued looking at the different signs and plants, then came to the end of the plot and noticed a sign different from the rest. Its wood had been painted blue with gold stars, and was titled "The Cutie Mark Crusaders".

"The Cutie Mark Crusaders?" she said allowed.

"Oh yes, their three of my students who have formed their own little club. Applebloom, Scootaloo and Sweetiebelle. I say, they can be quiet troublesome sometimes."

"Do you know why they formed the club?"

"Applebloom was being teased for being a "blank flank" when Scootaloo and Sweetiebelle stood by her side. The two didn't have their cutie marks either, so the three made a club dedicated to helping fillies get their cutie marks."

"Ah." Ribbon said quietly.

"Oh!" Cherilee then said, seeing Ribbons flank, "Oh my... I'm sorry. I had no idea."

"It's alright. It doesn't bother me."

"Oh... I see. Well, how about you come inside, see the the old classroom."

"That sounds nice."

They went in through the back door, where Ribbon immediately recognized the smell of glue and chalk. The walls however were covered with self portraits of different fillies, and the cubbies had different names taped on them. The room seemed entirely different that how she remembered, except for the long poster that held the alphabet above the chalkboard.

"Remember where you used to sit?" Cherilee asked.

"In the middle row, to the very left. But I remember wanting to move to the back corner."

Ribbon went over to her old seat and tried to sit down, but she could barely fit with it being so small. Both her and Cherilee laughed when she had to push to get out.

"So how's Mr. Longboard these days? I don't see him as often anymore."

"He's doing good. Has to deal with some idiots in the class but still manages to teach."

"Nothing new for him I guess. How are your grades in his classes."

"A's and B's"

"I thought so." she smiled, "Oh! What's that in your hair."

Ribbon took out the paper and on unfolded it.

"Its a job transcript. I went out today looking for a job and got one at a restaurant."

"Looking to make some extra bits I see. Well that's good, it shows your maturing."

"I guess."

"Saving up for anything big."

"I don't know yet."

"Well don't worry about it. Spend your money on what you want, enjoy your youth."

Cherilee sat down at her desk and began looking through the stack of homework as Ribbon went up to the chalk board. Some simple math on on it, along with weekly duties for the fillies.

Feeling the board with her hoof, her mind was flooded with old memories of elementary. Good and bad were mixed together, but the ones that stuck out were when she had embarrassed herself or when Miss Cherilee got angry with some of others. A pin then stuck in her heart, and she felt nothing but pity for the beautiful mare.

"Miss Cherilee?"

"Mhmm?"

"Have you heard of that new college in Canterlot?"

"I believe I did somewhere. Oh! In the mail I got something about it, and I guess Mr. Longboard got one too."

"Maybe you should go. You know. I bet you'd could become a better teacher there."

"Well, why would I? I love it here."

"Yeah, it's nice. But wouldn't be nice to go Canterlot, and get a doctrine for higher level teaching?"

"I suppose there is more money in it, but I know I wouldn't be happy though."

Ribbon went to the front of the desk.

"You think so?"

"Teaching has different kinds of enjoyment. But teaching kids your age, ones who'd rather be out the world, or even those who don't find any joy in learning just isn't why I became a teacher in the first place. I want to see kids blossom into something special."

"But think of the opportunities. You could do so much more in your life."

Ribbons tone grew slightly more serious.

"Ribbon, I know of the opportunities. But my life is perfect the way it is right now. I do what I love, I'm around those who I love, and it would break my heart to leave."

"I... yeah. Those are good reasons, but do you really want to stay in these walls for who knows how long?"

"I understand want you mean Ribbon, but that isn't how I want to spend my life. That just isn't how I got my cutie mark."

"That... yeah. I guess your right. Sorry." Ribbon apologized.

"Don't worry. I can see why you brought it up through. You want to go there, don't you."

"I don't know."

"You don't? Well, to me it sounds like the perfect place for you."

"What?"

"Sure. You were always serious in my class, and I can see you're already mature enough to move on. Maybe you should think about it more and tell your parents what you think and ask them. Perhaps... you'd even get your cutie mark there."

"Maybe."

Ribbon stayed quiet for awhile as she walked around the room and while Cherilee worked. When she finished, the two went out into the front and talked for a while about their lives, keeping anything to do with the college out of their conversation though. By the time they finished it had already turned three. Ribbon said goodbye when they did and began going back up the road.

The breeze picked up again, and she felt the paper flutter behind her ear.

"Get my cutie mark. Maybe."