Welcome to Ponyville

"Aw come on," Spike said to Twilight as she sulked, "This doesn't have to be a bad thing. A trip might do us some good."

Twilight shrugged her shoulders as she looked out the side of their chariot, on its way to their new home. Truth was, they still lived in Canterlot, but for the next month or so, however long it took for Spike to finish his work, they lived in Ponyville.

The flight there was in silence. The further away they got from Canterlot, the more Twilight's heart began to race. The ponies there knew all of her issues. No, they didn't like her for these issues, but they at least appreciated her need for space.

These ponies though, they didn't know anything about her. What if they were loud? What if they tried to touch her?

“Spike, don't leave me,” Twilight said softly, catching the attention of her friend.

“What? Where's this coming from?” Spike asked, moving to sit next to her.

“The Princess wants me to make other friends, but I'm scared,” Twilight said, “No one here knows anything about me, but you do. You know everything about me.”

“Well, yeah. We pretty much grew up together,” Spike said.

“That's why I don't want you to leave me,” Twilight said, “Stay with me while we're here, please.”

“Don't worry Twilight, I won't leave you, ever,” Spike said. He was about to place his arm around her, but he hesitated.

“It's okay Spike,” Twilight said looking away blushing, “As long as it's y-you... I can handle it...”

Spike smiled and held Twilight. In her fantasy, she sat up and began kissing him passionately. He wrapped his arms around her, and she opened her mouth allowing his tongue to dance around hers. After a second, he pushed her onto her back and ran his claws on her flank as she rubbed her hind leg on his side. Wrapping her forelegs around him, she pulled him in, also giving me the okay to-

“Twilight,” Spike called out, instantly pulling Twilight out of her fantasy.

“Huh?” she asked, blushing madly.

“Looks like we're about to land,” Spike said. As Twilight looked at the approaching town, she had to admit, it was a nice little place.

-CRASH-

That kick, like all of her kicks, was strong enough to release all the apples from the tree. Even when she wasn't in her “true” form, she was still unbelievably strong, almost as strong as her older brother Macintosh.

She had been working for a while, so she felt now would be a good time to take a break. She took off her hat and fanned herself with it, and then trotted over to the fence. As she approached it, she saw Rarity walking over to her. Damn it, Applejack thought, why was she coming here?

She took a deep breath and continued her trek to the fence, greeting her ally with a smile.

“What brings ya around these parts?” Applejack asked.

“I was on my way to pick up Fluttershy,” Rarity explained with a shrug, “And when I saw you out here I thought I should let you know first.”

“Know what?” Applejack asked, lifting herself up to her hind legs and leaning against the fence.

“There's a Canterlot chariot landing in town square,” Rarity said, “Apparently some sort of official.”

“Damn it,” Applejack swore, “The mayor went ahead and sent for help from the Princess. That's gonna make things harder on us.”

“Mm, but I got a look at the ones who got out, and the mousy unicorn had something I think you'd be interested it.”

Applejack raised an eyebrow in question. To answer, Rarity smiled suggestively turned to the side and wiggled her flank a bit. Applejack understood immediately.

“Are ya sure?” Applejack asked.

“Positive,” Rarity sang.

“Let Fluttershy know,” Applejack said jumping over the fence, “Ah'm gonna keep an eye on our visitors.”

Rarity gave a half assed salute as a response before sauntering the rest of the way to Fluttershy's place. If Rarity was right, then this was both a good thing and a bad thing. Good because now they knew where the chosen pony was.

Bad because it meant Nightmare Night might be closer than they thought.

Twilight and Spike walked through the town, taking it all in. Spike seemed to really enjoy the small shops and more basic architecture, and all of the ponies who saw them looked really surprised that a dragon was calmly walking through Ponyville. As usual though, none of them were afraid. Spike had this air about him that was friendly and calming.

Twilight had to admit, she enjoyed the simpler design as well. This place was more humble than Canterlot, and she already enjoyed the smells a lot more. No cheap perfume, instead she smelled flowers, baked goods, and other wonderful things.

“Is that a smile I see?” Spike taunted.

“Shut up...” Twilight said looking away, once again blushing.

“Look out below!” a raspy voice called out from above. Spike reacted immediately, pulling Twilight aside instantly. The sudden embrace made her tense up, but the rainbow colored streak that flew past her landing in a nearby patch of hay made her happy that Spike rescued her.

“Ugh... that... was... awesome...” the almost assailant said. She was a cyan colored pegasus with powerful wings. Her mane and tail were medium length, straight, and rainbow colored. On her flank was a red, yellow, and blue thunderbolt coming out of a white cloud.

“Twilight, are you okay?” Spike asked Twilight, who was beginning to hyperventilate. She nodded quickly, and Spike let her go. As she began to calm herself down, the cyan colored pegasus trotted over to her.

“Hey, is she okay?” she asked, trotting over to Twilight and placing a hoof on Twilight's side. Her reaction was instant.

“DON'T!!!” Twilight screamed, stepping back.

“Whoa! What's up?!” the cyan pegasus asked.

“Spike is the only one allowed to touch me! Stay away from me!” Twilight screamed.

“Twilight, calm down!” Spike said putting his claws on her shoulders, “She didn't know. She's not trying to assault you, okay?” Twilight nodded, and Spike turned to the pegasus, “I'm sorry. She's Haphephobic, so she's-”

“Afraid of being touched, I see,” the pegasus said with a nod. She then walked over to Twilight, who was now sitting down on the ground trying to calm down, “Can I touch your hoof?” the pegasus asked. Twilight was shocked. Most ponies didn't know to ask first.

“S-sure...” Twilight said slowly. The cyan pegasus placed her hoof on Twilight's and slowly stroked it.

“There, see? That's not so bad, right?” she asked, “My name's Rainbow Dash. What's yours?”

“Tw-Twilight Sparkle,” Twilight said.

“Twilight, that's a cool name,” Rainbow Dash said, “Is he your caretaker?” she asked referring to Spike.

“Sort of...” Twilight continued.

“My name's Spike,” Spike said shaking hooves with Rainbow Dash, “Twilight and I were sent here to investigate the disappearances here in Ponyville.”

“Oh, okay. That makes sense. I didn't recognize you, so I figured you were from out of town,” Rainbow Dash said, “Why don't I show you guys around?”

“That would be great,” Spike said as Twilight stood up.

“Y-yeah. Thanks Rainbow Dash...” Twilight said softly.

“Pfft, ain't nothin,” Rainbow Dash said waving a hoof, “By the way, just call me Dash. Everyone here does.”

Dash trotted ahead as Spike went over to Twilight.

“See? Some ponies actually are considerate,” Spike said.

“That... surprised me...” Twilight said, now able to breathe easier. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all.

“So, Canterlot, eh?” Rainbow Dash asked as the three of them walked past a large pastry shop named “Sugar Cube Corner”.

“Uh huh,” Twilight said with a nod, “Spike was raised by the Princess, and I'm her personal student.”

“Majorly cool!” Dash said, “So, does that make you guys royalty or something like that?”

“Something like that,” Spike said, “I guess I'm a prince, but I was adopted so...”

Dash nodded, immediately understanding. It was sort of jarring for Twilight, who at first thought this Dash was just a braggart. While she did have a very high opinion of herself, based off of how she walked, Twilight found her very easy to talk to.

“How did you know about my... you know?” Twilight asked awkwardly. Dash shrugged her shoulders before answering.

“I read about it once. It was in a book on ponies and their fears, and I sort of took an interest in it,” Dash explained.

“Ahh, you like reading?” Spike asked with a knowing grin, one that scared Twilight a bit.

“Sort of,” Dash stated, “If it's something really interesting, then yeah. I tend to get bored with history books though.”

“Well, Twilight here absolutely loves reading, right Twilight?” Spike asked looking right at the mare in question. That confirmed it. Spike was trying to get them together. She just met this “Dash” though. She wasn't going to open up that quickly.

“W-well yes,” Twilight said softly, “But I sort of like history books.”

“Eh, to each their own I guess,” Dash said shrugging her shoulders.

“Howdy there, Dash,” another voice said, this one etched in an Applosian accent. Twilight looked and saw another pony trotting up to them, this one an orange earth pony with a long blond mane and tail, both tied up with a red ribbon, and wearing a light brown stetson. When Spike looked at her, Twilight noticed he frowned for some reason.

“Applejack,” Dash said, “These are the officials from Canterlot the mayor sent for, Twilight and Spike. Guys, this is Applejack.”

“Nice ta meet y'all,” Applejack said. She shook Spike's claw with no problem, but when she got to Twilight, Dash stopped her.

“Not a good idea, Applejack. She's has this thing about physical contact,” Dash explained.

“Oh?” Applejack asked raising an eyebrow.

“It's nothing personal, I just...” Twilight stepped away, starting to feel a little overwhelmed. Still though, it was nice seeing such a variety of ponies for a change. Canterlot was dominantly unicorn territory.

“Are ya okay, hun?” Applejack asked.

“Twilight, is this too much for you right now?” Spike asked.

“I want to go...” Twilight said softly, only for Spike to hear. Spike nodded and turned to Applejack and Rainbow Dash.

“Twilight's feeling a little tired,” Spike said covering for Twilight, “Think you could show me to where the mayor's office is? That way I can get us situated and then get started with why I came here in the first place.”

“Yer lookin fer Town Hall,” Applejack said pointing south, “Right down this road. Ya can't miss it.”

“Thanks Applejack,” Spike said, still looking at the earth pony as if trying to read her. Was there something off about her? She looked like a normal earth pony to Twilight.

“Where are you guys staying?” Dash asked.

“My mom arranged for us to stay at the library,” Spike stated.

“Perfect, maybe I could stop by sometime,” Dash said, looking right at Twilight, “Unless you totally don't want to bask in my awesomeness.”

“I guess... I wouldn't mind you coming over...” Twilight said.

“Sweet! Well, I'll be seein ya. Applejack, I'll stop by tomorrow in order to help out like I promised.”

“Ah appreciate it, Dash,” Applejack said, “See ya then.”

Dash waved to all of them, and took off into the sky at high speed. Twilight watched her fly off, then turned to Applejack, who was now staring at her intently.

“Um, can I help you?” Twilight asked.

“Just... checkin somethin, that's all,” Applejack said distantly, “Twilight, Spike, Ah wish ya'll luck in dealin with these disappearances.”

Applejack trotted off, leaving Twilight feeling a little uncomfortable. Why did that pony give off such a weird vibe?

“Spike? Who was that pony?” Twilight asked, hoping Spike knew something about her.

“I don't know, but she felt like Mom,” Spike stated seriously.

“She felt like the Princess? What does that mean?”

“I don't know, but... something about how she felt and what I saw didn't match up. I do know one thing, though. That “Applejack” has more raw magic flowing through her than any earth pony should.”

While it was true that all ponies in Equestria had magic, earth ponies had less magic simply flowing freely. Instead their magic was focused in their bodies, and even then there wasn't much. Spike, being a dragon, could sense these things.

And if that was true, just who was that earth pony, and why did she approach them. It looked like she was just there to see something. But what?

When Applejack turned the corner, she saw both Fluttershy and Rarity waiting for her, the latter looking out at the two visitors with a suggestive smirk.

“Well?” Fluttershy asked, “Was she the one?”

“She definitely has the mark,” Applejack said, “But lots of Cutie Marks look similar, and she didn't have the magic of harmony.”

“So if it is her, she hasn't awakened yet,” Rarity reasoned.

“Yer lookin at them awfully hard,” Applejack stated, “Somethin ya want ta share with yer team?”

“Not really,” Rarity said, “They're heading to Town Hall, right?”

“The dragon is,” Applejack said, “Looks like he's takin her to the library to rest up first.”

“That works fine for me,” Rarity said trotting off.

“Rarity? Where are you-”

“That dragon was able to sense Applejack,” Rarity reasoned, “That's why he was staring at you so hard. I want to gauge how much he knows.”

“Then why are ya headin in the direction of yer home?” Applejack asked.

“Quite simply, to freshen up,” Rarity said, turning to her allies, “No one said a girl can't have a little fun as well.”

Rarity sauntered off, probably to reapply her make up. She wasn't going to flirt with that dragon, was she? Oh wait, it was Rarity, and she clearly saw something she wanted. Of course she was going to flirt with him. They'd be lucky if that was all she did.

“Um, what should we do?” Fluttershy asked softly. God, she was so silent that sometimes Applejack forgot she was even there.

“Keep an eye out fer any nightmares in town,” Applejack said, “Ah'll keep an eye on the mare in question. Fer now, let Rarity do what she wants.”

“Got it,” Fluttershy said flying off. When she heard that there were other ponies she would have to work with, she was at first happy. However, Fluttershy was somewhat fainthearted, and Rarity was just... Rarity. Applejack hoped that the two of them would shape up soon, or that the next few members were actually bearable.

Author's Notes:

This is the last chapter I'm posting tonight. Any errors I missed leave them in the comment section and I'll get to them in the morning.

That means comment, please.