I rubbed my arms, my sleeves pulled up to my elbows. "So...yeah, Marin was a bit crazy." I tugged at the tie in my hair. "I mean--"

Darcy's low snicker turned into a chuckle. "You called her Rainbow Dash? That's- you know she lives in town, right?"

I snorted. "Who, Marin? God I hope not."

Darcy shook her head. "Rainbow Dash. But, I think she's either married or seeing somepony."

I coughed roughly. "Look, I've had a crush on that mare since her old wonderbolt shoots. But it's just a crush, I'm not--"

Darcy turned to me, walking backwards down the road. "You a fan of hers?"

I bit my tongue. "Nnnyes. I'd be lying if I said no. But it's not like I really wanted to be with her. It was a childhood thing, growing up with heroes you can connect with. Getting older, hitting puberty and wanting to screw those heroes. It happens."

Darcy shrugged. "Do you want to meet her?"

I stuffed my tongue against my cheek. "If I met her I'd probably gush like a schoolfilly, so it's probably not a good idea until I've got a place to stay for a while."

"Hey--"

"Bahfucka!" I jolted forward, slamming against Darcy's front. "God damn!" I spun around, shoving off Darcy's stomach and turning to a satyr mare in a sweater. I looked the blonde mare over, brown sweater, grey coat, screwy golden eyes. "Excuse me, why the buggering--"

The mare ground her hoof into the ground softly. "I like your voice."

I stood off with the willowy mare. "Excuse me, foc--" I stopped myself before I drew attention to her eyes. "F-- Can I help you? You've already been incredibly rude and I'm in a bit of a hurry!"

The mare ground her hooves into the ground and swung her hands back and forth together. "I'm Misty... hi." She swung her hands wide, shaking her hips slightly. "That's all." She stepped back and sprinted off, her sweater billowing behind her as she ran.

I stared at the mare as she ran down the street. "Alright...what the hell?" I turned to Darcy, keeping my finger pointing towards the mare. By the time I turned around I was face to face with another few satyrs. A white coated pair, a boy with blue hair, a girl with blonde hair and blue streaks. "Alright...now who's th--"

The blonde wore a half awake expression, the boy sporting a pair of deep mauve glasses on his face. The girl walked up to me, looking me up and down. "...Darcy was right... he does sound funny."

I pulled my arm up to keep the lazy mare back. "Excuse me, Darcy, who exactly is this?"

Darcy laughed, towering over the growing welcoming party. "Techno-" she pointed to the man.

"Yo." He waved at me, smiling softly.

Darcy moved her finger to the mare. "And his sister--"

The mixed maned mare poked my shirt. "Say g'day."

I stared at the tiny girl, chest flat as a board, frame tiny, height joining the parade of small. "Are you making fun of my accent?"

The mare looked up at me, gazing up from under her half lidded eyes. "I don't know... probably a little bit."

I rubbed my face, squaring off with the mixed mane. "Really? Can I get a name before every prepubescent little boy wants to come harass me?"

Darcy and Techno backed off, talking amongst themselves while the mixed mane stared gormlessly at me. "Goldie, now say g'day. You sound Australian, it'll be funny."

I stared at the mare, befuddled by her sudden outburst. "What is Australia?"

The mare shrugged. "There's a guy in town who sounds like you, he said he was from Australia. Now say g'day."

"Good day?"

The mare grew a dumb smile. "Awesome...." She dug her hands into her pockets and leaned back. "Hey... you wanna come to my birthday party?"

I leaned back. "Wait...what? Why is everyone in this town so gods damned friendly!?"

Goldie shrugged. "I don't know.... Anyways, you wanna come?"

I looked off behind her, Darcy and the brother were talking on their own, leaving me to contend with the young mare myself. "Um... when is it?"

"November." Goldie stretched one of her legs, kicking a pebble down the path as she reeled it back. "So, you wanna come?"

I stared down at the short mare. "It's March."

"So? You wanna come or not?" Goldie looked around, her thin vest fluttering as she walked in place. "Oh man...they're gonna go all weird again."

"Who?"

Goldie snapped back to me with a frown, her wine colored eyes still only half open. "Darcy and Tech, they get all weird when they talk."

I shook my head. "How do you mean?"

Goldie shrugged. "Like, they get all, I miss you and junk."

I realized what she meant rather quickly. "Oooh, they were the dating couple? He seems a bit short for her."

Goldie laughed softly. "I know right? It's weird when the girl has to lean down for a kiss, right?"

"Right." I looked around, a number of ponies staring at the strange collection of hybrids around me. "So.... I need to get going, places to be, work to be done." I walked past Goldie, leaving her swaying her hands in her pockets. "I'll get back to you about the birthday thing when it gets closer, okay?"

Goldie shrugged. "Kay."

I shook my head and hurried off, grabbing Darcy by the arm and pulling her away from her old friend. "Darcy, need to go now."

Darcy stumbled backwards, still holding my back on her shoulder. "Whoa, hey!"

"No, don't start. Rarity's, now!" I pulled her along, ignoring the shouts from behind. "Yes, yes, nice to meet you too! Busy now, ask later!"

Darcy dug her hooves in, grinding me to a quick halt. "Hey, I was talking to him!"

I spun around, spotting the blonde mare, Misty, watching me from across the street. "I'm getting hunted here, meet and greet missile crap needs to stop."

Darcy put her free hand on her head. "Wait, what?"

I took a deep breath. "I've been here, in Ponyville, and so far I've met four satyrs a pony and a woman. Now, I don't like meeting people as is, so can we just go and get me set up?"

Darcy scratched her head. "Uh, sure.... You know, most of us went to school together...so, you meet one of us, you're gonna meet like five others really quick. Talk with a pony and you'll meet five other ponies, get it?"

I rubbed my face and let out a long groan. "I know, and I'll be happy to meet them when it's not so hot out, and when I'm not in a hurry! Now please, can we just go?"

Darcy frowned at me. "You know, if you didn't want to meet people you probably should have gone somewhere else."

"I've noticed! Everyone in this town is so god damn happy and friendly! Gods... Storm Side was so cold no one ever stopped to talk, and we liked it that way!" I crossed my arms and huffed. "But I'm here, trying to change, but throwing a wave of people at me isn't how I'm going to let it happen." I held my hands out. "I need to ease into it, alright?"

Darcy nodded slowly. "Alright. Well, I really needed to talk with him, so I'm gonna--"

"You ex? The little one told me." I took my bag from her. "He's a bit short for you, don't you think?"

Darcy shrugged. "I'm the tallest satyr in town. Everypony is short compared to me."

I tilted my head left and right. "I suppose. Are you two still friends?"

Darcy put her hands on her hips. "The best!"

"Well, then stop talking to me and go sort yourself out." I looked around, spotting a few buildings that could match the bill for Rarity's. "Now which building?"

Darcy turned, looking out over the market. "Circle one with the pillars."

I nodded and pulled my bag up. "Thanks--"

Darcy grabbed me as I tried to pass. "Hey, so... I'll come by and pick you up later, I'll show you around town proper and--"

"Yes, fine, can I go?" I pushed her hand off me and kept on. "Later, gonna go, meet ponies, bye."

Darcy held her hand in the air. "Uh... bye?"

I shook my head and charged off through the crowded market square, ponies and stalls filling the path to the shop. "Everyone here is too damn friendly. Hi, I'm Misty! Hi I'm Darcy, let me let you stay in my house! I'm Techno, I'm still friends with my ex! I'm Goldie, I like to make fun of accents!" I tossed my hands up. "Gods... I'm Glass, I like talking to myself!" I shook my head, angry at myself. "God damn it.... I hope Rarity isn't a ruinous ball of joy like the rest of these monsters." Next Chapter: Rarity Estimated time remaining: 3 Hours, 23 Minutes