The next morning, I set off, map in tow, to find a proper place to shop for baking goods. Normally, I wasn't much of a cook or a baker at that, but after what Twilight had done for me yesterday, it was really the only thing I could think of for repaying her generosity. Soon, I found myself in Ponyville's open air market and began purchasing all the essentials necessary to bake a cake. Within the hour, I was back at my home, working hard on a triple chocolate delight cake. Eventually, the mix went in to the oven....and came back out, looking nothing at all like the picture in the baking book. Wonderful.

"Jeez, she'll be ever so grateful for the huge, round, chocolate-looking thing." I said dryly, while scrutinizing my work, or rather what could barely pass as something edible.

With about thirty minutes to spare before noon, I left my still relatively empty house, in search of the park. It was a beautiful day, Celestia's sun shining high in the sky, and a slight breeze blowing through the streets. After wandering around aimlessly, even with the map and help from some of the locals, I finally found the park. It seemed a bit like Manehattan's Central Park, just much smaller in scale. In the center stood a fountain, surrounded by benches, where a few mares sat, talking amongst themselves, while their children played in the distance. The scene really was calm and serene, which truthfully, is exactly what I set out to find.

Trotting through the park, I noticed a group of six ponies, and what was unmistakably a baby dragon, setting up a picnic site under the shade of a great tree. "I guess that's my group for the day."

"Blaze, over here!" called out Twilight, waving a hoof while walking towards me. "I'm so glad you could make it! We've been waiting on you to start!" She was wearing a huge smile on her face.

"Hey, yeah, thank you so much for the invite! I wouldn't miss this for the world. I umm...brought you something, but....well, it's not really made very well." I pull out the cake thing from my saddlebags and let Twilight take it from me with her magic.

Twilight took a look at the cake and then back up to me, a slight blush on her face. "Heh, why thank you Blaze, that's really kind of you, but really, you didn-"

"OOH! Is that a cake?! Yummy! I love cake! Looky, I brought some baked goods of my own!"

"Pinkie..."

"I've got cake and cupcakes and muffins and all that! Hmm...maybe next time I'll bring cookies and-"

"Pinkie!" Twilight yelled out in frustration! "I think he gets it..."

I looked over at the pile of expertly baked desserts, behind the two mares, and then at the pink earth pony standing in front of me now. Ow.. I think to myself. Way to instantly get upstaged by somepony you've never met. Then again, I wasn't really expecting much with this stupid cake.

The pink pony stared at me for a second, then scurried in even closer to my face. Her left eye looked as if it was protruding from its socket, inspecting me up and down. Instinctively, I backed away, but she seemed to follow me. After a very uneasy moment of silence, she finally spoke up. "Hey, I've never seen you before! Sooo, that means you're somepony new, which means, I've got to throw you a welcome party!" She began to bounce around, a huge grin on her face, extending from ear to ear. "We'll have streamers and balloons and music! I know, we can get Vinyl Scratch to DJ for you! She's just absolutely, positively, the bestest music pony ever! Oh, and I'm Pinkie Pie by the way! Ponyville's premier party pony! Oh, and also, I work at the local bakery, Sugarcube corner!" All this, she said, while still bouncing around and  on a single breath. She finally stopped to gasp for air afterwords.

Dumbstruck, I stood there, not knowing how to respond to that. Maybe these ponies are as equally crazy as the one's back home... "Umm...."

The five other ponies around us and Spike began to laugh. My head hung slightly and my ears laid themselves back. Twilight finally stepped up to me. "I'm sorry about that Blaze! Pinkie can be really...eccentric, but that's what makes her special. And sorry about the laughter. We weren't laughing at you, we were laughing at Pinkie and her craziness! So I hope that didn't make you feel bad or anything?"

Instantly, my ears sprung back into place and I said, as reassuringly as I could, "No no, of course not! I just wasn't expecting the barrage from her." I looked at Pinkie, who was now standing there, humming to herself, a silly smile plastered on her face. "Well, it certainly is a pleasure to meet you Pinkie Pie! I'm not usually one for parties, but if you're going to throw me one, then I suppose I have no objection to that." I said, as cheerful as I could.

Pinkies eyes lit up even more, as if that were even possible and she began to toss and bounce around, all the while continuously shouting "Yay! Yay! Yaaaaaaaaay!", over and over again.

My attention turned back to Twilight as she took center stage again. "You kind of get used to that after a while, so don't mind her, she's just being Pinkie Pie. Anyway, allow me to introduce you to the rest of my friends!"

One by one, the other ponies stepped forward as Twilight called their names.

"This is Rarity, Ponyville's resident fashion designer! if you ever find yourself in need of an outfit, she's the unicorn to go to!"

A unicorn with a clean, shiny white coat, radiant blue eyes, expertly done mane and tail, and three diamond cutie mark stepped forward, and bowed to greet me. "It certainly is a pleasure to meet you Blaze. Twilight was mentioning to us earlier that she would be having someone come to meet us."

The beautiful Rarity took a step back. Twilight called out again.

"Rainbow Dash here is Ponyville's weather pegasus, and-"

"The fastest flier in all of Equestria!", interrupted a cyan and rainbow colored pegasus. "And I hear you were a fire pony! That is so awesome!" She was clenching her cheeks together with her hooves, pushing her muzzle out.

I restrained myself from laughing at the silly face Rainbow Dash had made. "Great to meet another adrenaline junkie so far out in the country. Unfortunately, my days of fire fighting are way behind me..." I trailed off, my voice getting quiet.

Rainbow Dash stared at me, until Twilight came and nuzzled her away, but not before giving me an apologetic look. I guess she left 'that' part out. I thought to myself. Next to Rarity, I could see Spike was also a bit sad looking, as his head hung low. No need to ruin the mood. Let's just get this right along.

I turned to look at the one remaining pony. Wait, weren't there six ponies? She had a light orange coat with a long, blonde mane and tail, both held back by two red bands at the ends. On her head, she wore a brown Stetson. I took notice of her cutie mark: Three red apples. Wow, she's beautiful...and oh so familiar...

"Hey, you're Applejack"

"Ah don't reckon we've met before, mister?" replied Applejack. Confusion shown across her face as she furrowed her brow.

"Oh, right..." I could feel myself going red. I looked off to left. "Well, I mean, I've seen pictures of you before. I happen to be good friends with your aunt and uncle Orange back in Manehattan. They tended to sponsor the fire department quite often, and we found ourselves taking a liking to each other. They invited me over to their parties quite a few times actually, and that's where they spoke of you! Although, all that high class stuff doesn't really suit me."

From the back, Rarity groaned. Applejack smiled.

"Well then I s'pose that makes two of us then! It's a mighty fine pleasure to meet friends o' the family!"

"The pleasure's all mine Applejack!" I sounded giddy. And I'm still freakin blushing! She let out a small giggle. Cute..

"Say," Applejack spoke up again. "Being new an' all to Ponyville, Ah imagine ya don't have a proper job?"

"Well, no. I mean I just got here yesterday, so I haven't really thought about it."

"Hmm...well, if ya'd like, the Apple's could always use an extra hoof down at Sweet Apple Acres! Ah'm sure Big Mac would always appreciate the help! So whaddya say? We'd be more than happy to throw ya a few bit's for all yer hard work and whatnot!"

I contemplated for a few seconds, raising my hoof up to my chin. Being the city pony that I am...or was now, I didn't know how well I would fit in on a farm scenario. I could see myself using a plow to try and corral all the small animals there. But perhaps I could give it a shot. I did need the money after all, and what better way to get to know Applejack - er, I mean more ponies here.....Why the hay not.

"Alright Applejack, you've got yourself a deal!

"Yeehaw! Sounds like a plan mister!" she said while rearing, and kicking her front legs about, a huge grin on her face.

That certainly is a mighty cute smile she's got. My head trailed off. Wait, really...."mighty cute"? Seriously Blaze, you've been here a day and all this country stuff is getting to you already. But, that Applejack sure is something....Oh Celestia, shut up head.

"Alrighty Blaze, ah'll let ya know all them little details later."

I nodded slightly, keeping my head down, so as to make sure she didn't notice that I was still blushing a bit. Eventually, Twilight brought up my attention.

"Say, has anyone seen Fluttershy? I know she was here just a second ago"

At this, Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes and pointed towards Rarity, or not Rarity, but behind her. Sure enough, almost cowering, stood a yellow pegasus, her face burrowed in her pink mane. "Hey, Fluttershy! Care to meet our new friend?"

"I...umm...ok..." said the yellow pegasus, in a squeaky and barely audible voice.

"Hi," I said first, smiling gently at her. I knew ponies just like her. My sister had been just like her back when she was a filly. "My name's Blaze, and I'm new in town, so I was hoping I could meet some ponies to help me not feel so lonely around here." I looked at her, expectantly. She just sank back into her mane.

"Don't worry about it, she's like that with everypony she meets for the first time. She'll get used to you." whispered Twilight into my ear.

"Soooooooo, who wants cake!?"

I looked over to Pinkie Pie who had already begun to devour her own baked goods, frosting and bits and pieces of pastries, covering her face. Gee, I sure know how to pick friends. But at least they seem nice.

The rest of the day was spent talking amongst each other, listening to music, playing a few games, and eating overall. Pinkie took up her time by planning out what seemed to be an overly elaborate party, which would be attended by all of Ponyville. Fluttershy and Rarity were talking fashion, which was way out of my league, and I was still surprised to see Fluttershy speak. Rainbow Dash and Applejack were off at the edge of the park racing, and Twilight and Spike were both sitting right next to the tree trunk, reading.

As the sun set, and the few final goodbye's were made, I stood alone in the park, contemplating the day. It had been the most fun I had had in a quite a while. I had made seven friends now, on my second day in this new town. Not bad Blaze, not bad. Not to mention I already had a job lined up, as a farmhand over at Sweet Apple Acres, where ever that was. I'd have to look it up later.

At the thought of Sweet Apple Acres, my eyes lit up just a bit. I would be working with Applejack, the beautiful country mare who offered me the job in the first place. I could just imagine myself looking into those big, green eyes and her calling out to me, "Sugarcube!" No need to get all mushy, with the nicknames.

"Helloooo! You okay here sugarcube?"

I turned to face Applejack, a look of concern on her face. Oh crap, I thought. "I uh, didn't say anything out loud did I?"

"Well, ah think ah would've heard ya if you did silly." she chuckled lightly, her expression softening. "But ah just came back to ask ya when it is ya want to start working?"

I shot up immediately. "As soon as possible!"

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