Chapter 1: Welcome to Ponyville

My name is Ivory Coat. Don't let the name fool you though, I'm not at all as handsome as I sound. You see I'm an albino unicorn. What is this word 'albino' you ask? Basically it means I was born with absolutely no color pigmentation in my body whatsoever. Both my coat and my mane are white.

And not that nice shades of alabaster or egg white; I mean pale, bone bleached, haven't- been- outside- in- months kind of white. My eyes don't help either; they're a very bright shade of red. A lot of ponies used to think I was some omen of death, or i was about to keel over and drop dead myself.

I was certainly a shock to my parents when I was born. I mean, they were expecting a colt, just not one devoid of any and all coloring. The doctors tried to give my parents a bunch of super creative names like "pale" or "cream" or "eggshell", basically any bland name for white. Thankfully my mother (this being one of the very few truly good things she's ever done for me) insisted that I have a name befitting of Canterlot nobility. Thus Ivory Coat was born.

My upbringing was... well. One could call it marvelous, another could call it everypony's dream, a third could call it a typical noble upbringing and asking anypony after that is frankly a waste of time. I would call it terrible. I mean yes I grew up in a very nice and lavish estate. Yes, I had a butler who would wait on me night and day. And yes, I could honestly have just about anything I asked mommy and daddy for.

But I hated it. Why?

Because my parents were crazy. Not the funny eccentric kind either. No, they were complete unicorn supremacists; believing that unicorns were the dominant type of pony (right under Princess Celestia of course) and that some grand revolution would happen one day putting every other species of pony under our hooves.

I shudder to think what would happen if I had been born without a horn.

So yeah, they basically tried to brainwash me into believing I was superior in every way to earth ponies and pegasi. They sent me to Celestia School for Gifted Unicorns and pretty much forbade me from making friends with anything without a horn on its head. Not that it made much of a difference, most fillies avoided me like the plague.

Yeah, me looking like Death tends to drive most ponies away, so i had very few friends growing up.

Now you would think that the combination of few friends and parental influences would cause to believe that I was indeed the superior race. Well it didn't. Don't ask me why, don't ask me how, but it just didn't sit right in my stomach. I mean, walking down some roads in Canterlot I could see earth fillies and pegasi and unicorns all playing nice and having fun. How in Equestria is that wrong?

Perhaps the teaching of my parents never stuck because deep down I wanted a real friend who didn't care what I looked like. I didn't care where they came from or how they looked, just as long as they accepted me for me.

...I'm getting sappy. Let's talk about something else.

Oh yeah, I don't have a Cutie Mark. That's right my flank is blank. I'm twenty years old and devoid of a purpose. In Canterlot, if not having Cutie Mark doesn't keep ponies away from you, nothing will. My father (bless his cynical soul) said it was because my true purpose in life was to dictate and control the lives of the 'lesser ponies.'

Honestly, if that's my purpose, I'd rather have a bare butt.

Anyway, everything finally got to a point where i couldn't take anymore. I wanted nothing more to do with the stuck up nobility, the venomous whispers behind my back, or my parents mad fantasies of the 'Unicorn Revolution.' I dropped out of Canterlot University, grabbed my spare stash of bits and hightailed it out of there. Where was I going? No idea; as far as i could get with my bits.

Which I soon found out wasn't very far at all.

******

I was alone in my compartment. Typical. Then again the train wasn't even half full so I guess that was just me being a tad spiteful. I was slouched in my chair, watching the scenery pass by as the train made its way down the mountainside to its first destination: Ponyville. It was also, to my slight dismay, my final destination. You would think having rich parents would come with a huge allowance. No, I have rich parents, why would I need to carry money around? One of many flaws in my train of thoughts.

I had only managed to scrounge up a little less than three hundred bits. The ticket to Ponyville cost a hundred bits alone, and I knew I would still need food and shelter. So I resigned myself to being able to only get one city away from my parents. It was better than nothing, besides what were they going to do, come down here and drag me back home? I'd like to see them try. Not to brag but I'm pretty good with magic.

The train continued to rattle its way down the tracks. The downward slope was hardly noticeable; chalk it up to unicorn magic I guess. Other than staring at the green valley from my window, the train ride was pretty uneventful. Seriously, all i did was stare outside, examining what i hoped would be my future residency. Ponyville looked quaint enough, rolling green hills, colorful little thatched houses nestled all cozily next to an ominous dark forest.

... Well no town's perfect right?

The train rolled into a modest wooden depot; a far cry from Canterlot's marble and brass. I gathered my belongings, which was just a small sack on a pole (you know the ones hobos walk around with?) and made my way from the train and onto the platform. The station was fairly empty, I wasn't sure if it was because of the time of day or perhaps not many ponies came to Ponyville. Nevertheless, at the entrance- or rather exit from my perspective- was a large banner reading, "Welcome to Ponyville!" It would have been nice if it weren't painted in such a mass assortment of colors that my eyes wanted to puke.

The first thing I noticed as I began to walk towards the main hub of the town was the lack of stares I was receiving. Occasionally I would find one but it was quickly followed with a cheery smile. I couldn't believe my luck; less than five minutes in and I was already feeling at home.

I hate it when the universe is out to prove me wrong.

There I was more or less minding my own business when, wham, I was steamrollered by high speed pink object. I went crashing to the ground; my glasses flew off my nose and landed a few feet away cracking slightly as they did.

A side note, another disadvantage of being albino is having poor vision. Now I can see without my glasses, just don't ask me to read anything... at all.

"ohmigosh I'm so sorry are you okay I wasn't really watching where I was going here let me help you up." She offered a hoof out to me and I took it rising to my hooves. The second we made eye contact the pink spazz of a pony jumped into the air and screamed, "RUN IT'S THE DEATH PONY!" and took off like a bat out of Tartarus.

I looked around to see if anypony else saw what had just transpired. Unfortunately, they did, and were now looking at me with mixtures of fear and apprehension. Though to their eternal credit at least nopony else took off screaming.

I sighed and retrieved my broken glasses; the left lens now spider-webbed with cracks giving my eye a disorienting kaleidoscope vision. I let out another deep sigh and gathered my thoughts. Perhaps I can save up some money here and try again in a different town, I thought to myself. Provided I can find any work.

"Ahh shucks, y'all don' mind her, that's jus' Pinkie Pie being Pinkie Pie is all." I looked up from my self pity to see a orange coated blonde mare with an old Stetson hat smiling at me. "I reckon yer new in town, welcome to Ponyville; my name's Applejack, what's yers?"

I blinked a few times before stuttering a response. "Uhh h-hi my name's uhh I- Ivory Coat, nice to meet you too Applejack."

Applejack took my hoof and gave it a vigorous shake. That mare had some grip. "Well howdy to ya Ivory it's always nice seeing a new face in Ponyville. Though i gotta say, I ain't seen a pony quite like you before. Wait, you ain't sick or nothin' are ya? 'Cause ya do look a little pale."

Here we go, I thought to myself. "No Applejack I'm fine, thanks for your concern. I just have albinism which means I was born with no coat or mane pigmentation whatsoever. And no it isn't contagious."

"Well shoot ain't you intrestin'. I ain't never met an albino pony before."

"Yeah I get that a lot." Honest truth.

"Well I'll bet yer hungry after that train ride here, how about buyin' some of Sweet Apple Acres finest apples! Bucked right out the tree this mornin'!" She gestured to the cart of apples parked behind her.

Ivory's First Law states that food always comes first. Always. Unfortunately, I only had a little under two hundred bits and still needed a place ti sleep. Something told me that I would only be able to afford a room at a cheap motel if I was lucky. It was with a loud growl of my stomach that I realized I would have to break one of my fundamental rules of the universe.

"Sorry Applejack, I'd love to but I think I only have enough bits to afford my lodging for the night. Though an apple does sound good right about now." My stomach gave another growl in agreement.

"Well shoot then take a few; a welcome gift to Ponyville. And consider it an apology for Pinkie's behavior; I promise I'll have a talk with her real soon."

"Oh no Applejack I really couldn't accept-"

"Too late," she smiled, wrapping up a napkin full of apples and passing them too me.

"Oh... well, thanks. I don't know what to say."

Ain't gotta say nothin'. Jus' promise you'll come back ta buy some more."

I couldn't help but smile. "I promise," I said as I lifted the bag of apples up with my magic. "Thanks again Applejack!"

"Ah course! Y'all take care ah yerself now!" she waved.

As I continued making my way through town I noticed something again. When I had first walked into town, these ponies were ready to act like I was one of their own. Then that Pinkie Pie girl went and screamed and everyone was ready to give me the cold shoulder until Applejack treated me like I was equine. I hate to say that my first impression of these ponies was simple minded and easily manipulated. However, I was willing to take that over self-absorbed and snobby.

I puled an apple from my bag and gave it a quick examination. It was a beautiful red fruit with a perfect shine and polish. I could only hope it tasted as good as it looked.

To give you the short answer it did. That thing was good. Like really, really good. Like it should be illegal for apples to have tasted that good.

So happy was I munching on my scrumptious apple that I was not truly watching where I was going. Though in retrospect she crashed into me.

For the second time that day I found myself on the ground, dazed and confused. Although my glasses had stayed on my face that time, my apple had not been so lucky. It flew through the air and landed a ways away on the cobblestone street with a splat. I wanted to cry; not from the pain i was starting to feel from being crashed into so many times, but for the loss of my beautiful apple. I'm serious that thing was good you have no idea.

"Oh no, I'm so sorry, I wasn't paying attention where I was going. Are you okay sir?" I rolled over from my back and looked up to see a pair of uneven golden eyes staring back at me. I backed away just a tiny bit; this mare was a little too close for comfort. Upon seeing her from a less zoomed angel, I could see she was a grey pegasus with a light blonde mane and, oddly enough, a series of bubbles for a Cutie Mark.

"Uhh, yeah I'm fine no worries," I answered a tad groggily. I got to my hooves and began to dust myself off when I noticed a number of letters and mail pieces scattered about. "Hey, are these yours?" I asked her.

"Oh no, the mail!" She dropped to the ground and ambled about to pick up all of the fallen pieces. Feeling slightly responsible for the mess in the first place I decided to lend a hoof. Using my magic, I levitated all of the mail pieces of the ground and into a nice organized pile in front of the grey pegasus. She let out a sigh of relief and stowed the mail back in her delivery bag. "Thanks a lot mister; if I had lost any of those, Derpy Mail Mare's reputation would have been ruined."

"Derpy Mail Mare?" I asked.

She nodded vigorously. "Yep that's me Derpy Hooves or Derpy Mail Mare, 'cause my name's Derpy and I deliver ponies mail and I'm a mare! Get it?" Her smile was so wide it was if the last two minutes never happened.

"Umm, yeah I follow." I couldn't help but continue to notice her eyes. I know it's not polite to stare, I hate it when ponies do it to me, but they were just so odd. It was like wherever one was focused the other had to be looking in the exact opposite direction. It gave her sort of a distant expression, like she wasn't all entirely there. Forcing myself to ignore it I continued the conversation. "So you're the mail pony around here?"

"Yep, the one and only! I'm responsible for everypony in Ponyville's mail; and they all tell me I do a really good job at it, and that makes me happy." She paused, a slight frown coming over her face as she leaned in towards me. "Hey wait a minute, I don't think I've ever seen you around Ponyville before, and I know everypony in Ponyville!" She let out a loud gasp and her face split into a huge smile. "That must mean you're new in town! Oh hi new friend I'm Derpy... oh wait I already said that hehe, what's your name?" Like Applejack before her, Derpy took my hoof and gave it quite the shake.

"I'm Ivory Coat, nice to met you uhh, Derpy... friends?" To be honest, Derpy came across as a bit ditzy, but in a kind of adorable way. And she wanted to be friends already. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but I was under the impression that ponies usually hung out a while before announcing their friendship.

Derpy nodded and smiled while saying, "Yeah, you're new in town and probably don't have many friends so I figured you might want some more." Her face fell a little and she looked at me a sad eye. "You do want to be friends with me right? I mean, I understand if you don't, I know almost every pony in town but a lot of them say their too busy to hang out with me."

Well that certainly struck a chord with me. I knew the feeling of being an outsider. Technically I was an outsider ride now. Something told me Derpy's odd eyes and somewhat vacant expression were the reason for her lack of friends. I was really starting to have mixed feelings about this town; though the ponies seemed nice enough, it seemed exclusion was something that existed everywhere.

Well my train of thought went like this: why be alone by yourself, when you can be alone together?

I smiled at her. "Derpy, I would love to be your friend!"

Well that clearly made her day. That goofy smile of hers returned and she practically hugged me to death while squealing, "Oh yaaay! New friend, new friends, new friend, new friend, new friend!" She spun me around a few times before finally letting go. At that moment I was glad I had only taken a few bites out of that apple. Now fluttering in the air, Derpy held her face only a few inches from mine. "So new friend what do you like to do?"

"Well uhh, I like practicing magic, and reading, and I enjoy fencing..."

Derpy looked at me with a rather confused expression. She tilted her head to the side and asked, "Fencing? What's that, do you ride on fences?"

I laughed, "No, it's like sword fighting, but safer."

"Ohhh, that sounds really neat!"

"Yeah it is." Too bad it wasn't my special talent. I rather enjoy sword fighting. "So what do you like to do Derpy?"

She smiled again; at this point it was becoming contagious. "I like to deliver ponies mail, and fly! I love flying, It's so much fun! And I love to make muffins! And eat muffins! I love muffins! How about you?"

Just when I thought she couldn't lean any closer, the mare leans in to the point where our noses are pretty much touching. I could tell this was the question that would make or break the foundation of our friendship. Luckily I didn't have to lie. "Yeah, muffins are pretty good."

For a moment I was afraid I might of broken her. She dropped down to the ground with an expression like a million happy thoughts were dancing in her head. She leapt into the air, a giant giddy smile plastered on her face and screamed, " HE LIKES MUFFINS!" She then proceeded to grapple me and pull me into the air with her and then spun me around much faster than the first time. By now we had gathered a few onlooking ponies who were curios to see what Derpy was doing with the odd colored stranger. "Think of all the muffins we can share! Banana nut, coconut, blueberry, strawberry, poppy seed, chocolate..."

She spun me around, continuing her list for at least a good minute before suddenly stopping. Again, really glad I didn't finish that apple. I raised my head to see Derpy with a look of fierce concentration on her face. She was certainly thinking hard about something.

"Heeey wait a minute..." She accidentally dropped me to the ground as she raised a hoof to scratch her chin in thought. "If you're new in town... then where are you staying?" She blinked, suddenly aware that she was no longer holding her new friend. She looked down and gasped, "Oh no, I'm so so sorry I didn't mean to do it! Are you okay?"

I moaned a bit, rubbing my backside as I stood up. "Err, yeah I'm fine. No worries Derpy. As for where I'm staying well, I don't really have anywhere to stay yet..."

"What?" She zoomed down into my personal bubble again. Any other pony from Canterlot probably would have sprayed her with mace by now. "You don't have a home?"

"Umm, no, but I was just gonna-"

"Oh no, my new friend can't sleep on the street! Here come with me, you can have the spare bedroom at my house!"

I was genuinely shocked at her hospitality to say the least. I had only known her for ten minutes and she was offering to stay with her. She was either exceedingly nice, or downright crazy. The jury's still out on that one.

"Oh Derpy, thanks but I couldn't-"

She shook her head in defiance. "nu-uh, you're coming with me. Besides, we can talk more about muffins and you can tell me about fence-boarding" She grabbed my hoof and began to drag me along down the road. She was pretty strong for somepony her size.

Realizing I had little choice, I magicked my stuff up off the ground to follow after us. "Gee, thanks Derpy."

She smiled at me and said, "Of course! I just know we're going to be the bestest of friends."

I would soon find out, to my eternal joy, she was right.

Next Chapter: Chapter 2: Awkward Encounters Estimated time remaining: 19 Minutes