The cold weather sucked the colors of life out of everything as far as the eye could see, leaving only shades of white and grey along the busy streets of Manehattan.

Trudging through the snow, I kept my head down and clutched my cloak tight to my body, doing my best to avoid the eyes of as many ponies as possible as I hurried back to my apartment complex. The supermarket had been just as busy and chaotic as I remembered it to be, but by enduring the sea of ponies, I managed to get everything on my list without drawing too much attention to myself.

Except for when I accidentally knocked over the pillar of canned food with my tail; and when somepony bumped me into the display stand of potato chips. Other than that, it wasn’t too bad... I guess.

Letting out a weak sigh, I watched my hooves sink down into the snow with the weight of each step. The crunching of each hoofstep echoed in my mind, reminding me just how badly I wanted to be home right now.

Just a little further, Prism. Then you can have yourself a nice hot cup of tea and forget about this awful—

My thoughts came to a halt as a sudden impact knocked me back. I landed on my haunches with a soft squeak, spilling much of the produce from my saddlebags.

“Why don’t cha’ watch where you're walk’n, lady!” demanded an angry voice in front of me. I looked up to see a rather irritated orange stallion glaring back down at me.

“I-I’m s-sorr—”

The stallion gave a hard snort before walking right through me, knocking me onto my side and spilling the remainder of my groceries into the snow. I looked around me at the mess of what was once my neatly bagged shopping trip and let out a soft whine of frustration. After collecting the items and bagging them again, I carefully climbed to my hooves and continued on my way.

Not long after, my apartment building came into view. I quickened my pace and approached the door to the building; pushing a few buttons on the panel by the door, I let myself in. It felt nice to feel warm air again and to be out of the icy wasteland outside. Crossing the lobby, I reached the stairs and looked up at them.  My ears flattened and I let out a whimpered squeak; The inevitable climb of thirteen flights of staircases now laid before me. Adding the fact I had the extra weight of my groceries on me, didn’t help bolster my enthusiasm any either.

Stupid elevator.

* * * * * * * * * *

An eternity of wheezing and panting later, I reached the peak of the mountain of steps. Flopping down on my belly, I took a brief moment to catch my breath; before getting up and following the hallway. As I passed the rooms, I read each of the number plates aloud in my head.

Room 1301, 1302, 1303 and... 304!?

A rusty stain of a "1" was left on the door where metal should be. Looking down to the floor in front of my room, I found the absent number. My ears fell back as I sighed in defeat.

It was now official. Today just wasn't my day.

Well, I’m home now, so it can't get much worse... right?

Forcing a weak smile at my reassurance, I leaned down and picked up the metal number in my teeth and let myself inside.

"Hum, shweet hum," I mumbled to myself through my teeth before placing the horrible-tasting metal down on the large package from earlier.

Slowly leaning down to the floor, I grabbed the strap to the bags, lifting them off and resting them on the floor to either side of me. After a brief moment to collect myself, I crawled out from under them, then removed and hung up my cloak, and released my mane and tail from their restraints. Glad to be free of the bags and the chaos of the outside world, I let out a heavy relaxed sigh as I fell back against the large box next to me, slowly sliding down to my haunches.

Pausing for a moment, I decided that putting away the groceries could wait for now. I had more pressing matters to attend to, like a nice hot cup of tea. After being out in the cold and enduring the stress of crowds of ponies, it seemed to be the most appealing thing to me at the time. Jumping up off the floor, I trotted to the kitchen and prepared a kettle of water, before setting it on the stove to boil.

Turning from the stove, I looked up to the clock above my bed: it was almost 8pm.

I hope Wiggles isn't mad that dinner is a little late tonight... speaking of which, where is he?

“Wiggles, you awake?” I called out to the silence.

Scanning over the room, I found no visible signs of him, so I went to check the last place I saw him. Walking over to the sofa, I peered underneath, and sure enough, he was still there napping.

"There you are. Time to wake up, I have something special for you!" I exclaimed as I headed back to the saddlebags. Shuffling through them, I produced a large Golden Delicious apple and returned to the couch, gently placing the fruit on the floor.

Hopefully this will make him a little less upset.

"Look what I got. It’s your favorite!" I sang, drawing out the words enthusiastically.

Pausing briefly, I waited for him to come out before nudging the apple a little closer to the sofa with my muzzle. I waited a few moments longer before I lay down on the floor in front of the sofa. The stubborn bunny hadn't even stirred from the position he was in earlier.

"Look here mister, you've been napping since I left. You need to get up now, and besides it’s dinner time, I’m hungry too.”

I realized I hadn't eaten anything today aside from that bite of apple earlier, so it left me a little stressed. Adding on the fact I had to go out today didn't help my anxiety any either, but even after my statement, the rabbit didn't budge. Something wasn't right. Normally he's really sweet; he never ignores me like this.

"Mr. Wiggles... are you ok?" I asked softly. After once more receiving no response, I stomped a forehoof to the floor with a loud clop to get his attention.

Nothing... a cold chill crept down my spine.

"Mr. Wiggles, wake up! If you keep sleeping you’re going to miss dinner!" I shouted to him, but the bunny still gave no response. Closing my eyes, I focused intensely on the sofa; my horn, letting off a solid glow, enveloped it in magic. I strained myself as I attempted to move it, but it was no good, my bed wouldn’t budge.

Why now? Out of all times, why does my magic have to fail me now!?

"Mr. Wiggles! Wake up!" I screamed under the couch in despair as tears began to swell in my eyes.

I immediately sprang up to my hooves and began pacing back and forth trying to think of what to do. My mind was racing a million miles a minute and panic had fully set in. A sharp whistle from the kettle I left to boil made me jump, and snapped me out my daze. After a few moments, I managed to calm down somewhat and collect myself. I quickly positioned myself by the side of my bed as I reared forward, and with my full adrenaline-fueled strength, bucked the sofa.

The impact of the kick knocked several shards of paint from the wall and sent the sofa soaring into my sunset painting and a pile of art supplies across the room with a loud crash. Ignoring the disaster my bed had just caused, I hastily turned back to check on my friend.

There lay a motionless Mr. Wiggles, unfazed by the chaos around him. I went to take a step forward but fear froze me in my tracks.

This can't really be happening... I mean, I knew he was old, but... no, he can't really be... can he?

Mustering up every ounce of courage and willpower I had, I stepped forward to Mr. Wiggles, giving him a gentle nudge with my hoof. His body gave no protest, and was a bit chilled to the touch. Bringing a hoof to my muzzle I let out a shrill gasp at the horrible reality in front of me. My best friend, my lifelong companion since I was just a foal, lay lifeless before me.

"No... please Celestia, no..." I trembled as tears began to flood and overflow from my eyes. My legs felt wobbly and weak. I could no longer stand and collapsed to the floor. Tucking myself into a ball, I lay there and cried for what seemed like an eternity as doubt plagued my mind.

This can't be real; this is just a bad dream. He can't really be gone, not my Wiggles. I need to wake up, please wake up, you need to wake up right now! So this nightmare can just go away!

But that reality never came. I was still awake, the kettle was still howling, and my friend still lay there lifeless next to me. The cruel fate of my companion slowly sank in, and much as I wanted to deny it, he was really gone. I always knew this day would come, but I just didn't want to believe it was now here. I slowly, shakily got up. The muscles in my side ached from lying on the hard floor for so long. I wobbled back to the stove on weak hooves. I needed that tea more than anything in the world right now.

* * * * * * * * * *

Two days had come and gone since Mr. Wiggles’ passing. I ended up using a majority of my bits I had saved up to have him buried at the Manehatten pet cemetery. I wasn't just going to 'dispose' of him. I couldn't do that to a friend, especially one whom I had known since before I could remember, even if it cost me most of what I had. It was the right thing to do and I would manage, somehow...

Grey and Black.

That's all I saw as I laid my muzzle on the window sill, watching everypony go about their busy day far below, unaware of the tragedy that had befallen me. My eyes stung from so much crying. I cried myself to restless sleeps the past few nights, and eventually, I simply ran out of tears to cry. I felt empty inside, it was almost as if all my emotions had drained away along with them.

The disaster of the other day still plagued the corner of the room. Paints of all colors were splashed about the walls, floor and sofa. The canvas of my oil painting was torn and ruined beyond repair. Not that it mattered; the paint wasn't dry and had smeared from the impact. It was a lost cause to worry about it now.

At that moment, nothing seemed to matter anymore. Without Mr. Wiggles around, I realized for the first time just how alone I really was.

I have nopony I can really call a friend. Nor do I have a very special somepony, and as far as I am aware, I have no living relatives. I really am alone... aren’t I?

"All alone..." I whispered back to myself. The thought brought a cold chill down my spine and a terrible realization; something inside me snapped. Leaning back, I looked about the room at all my paintings, at my life’s work. Then down to my familiar cutie mark.

My special talent is art; well a lot of good that "special talent" did me, didn't it? I was a foal to think I could make it as somepony with my painting and sketches. My mother, my teachers, they were wrong!

"They were all WRONG!" I screamed out as a wave of anger washed over me. Clenching my jaw, I slammed a hoof to the floor as I got up from the window and stomped up to the nearest painting. Reaching up, I ripped it from the wall and threw it across the room. One by one, I tore all the paintings from the walls, throwing them into a pile by the hallway.

There was a sudden pounding at the door followed by some muffled complaints. I yelled back to the door for them to leave me alone, but the pounding only got louder. Seething with fury, my face quickly contorted with rage as I ran up to the door. My mane and tail erupted into magical flames as I threw open the door.

"GO AWAY!" I roared, shaking the walls and blasting back a mob of ponies to the wall across the hallway. Seven terrified ponies stared back at me, each with a look of horror frozen on their face.

"NOW!" I commanded, punctuating my message with a stomp of my forehoof that shattered the floorboards around me. The crowd immediately jumped up and disappeared back to their rooms in the blink of an eye. Turning back to my room, I kicked the door shut with a back leg. Panting for air, my blazing mane and tail extinguished as I slowly began to calm down and the strain of using so much raw magic hit me. I fell back against the door and slid to my haunches.

There really is nothing left for me now, is there? So why do I try so hard? Try to carry on in a world that thinks I’m some kind of freak? They all teased and laughed at me as a filly and called me such mean names, but they were right. I really am a monster; a freak. If there was a place for somepony like me in this world, I wouldn't be here like this. I would be happier; I would have friends, maybe even a family or a very special somepony to call my own.

"I wouldn't be left here all alone," I sobbed as hidden tears from somewhere deep down inside of me began to flow.

Life was meaningless now, with nothing to look forward to but emptiness and loneliness. Looking over to the pile of paintings, I felt a sting of regret. If my special talent would have been something else, maybe I would have had a real life. Others might have been more accepting of me. I would have a life full of happiness and joy, maybe even friends or a family. It all went wrong with this cutie mark.

My special talent was nothing special at all; it was a curse. Something had to be done to remedy this, and I knew just what that was. Peeling myself off the floor, I grabbed my cloak from the coat hanger and slowly put it on before picking up the nearest painting in my teeth. I carried it with me out the door, down the hall, and to the roof.

The air was frigid and cold, and the sun had already begun to set. Ignoring the chilling sensation the air brought, I tucked my cloak closer to my body while I walked across the cold cement rooftop. Reaching the center, I dropped the painting and turned back to get another. Over the course of the next few hours, I carried all my prized paintings and unfinished works to the roof and piled them all together. After finishing with the last one I looked down to the source of my misfortunes and felt my eyes begin to water again. I turned back and returned to my apartment once more to find the tools I needed to fix this mess. Looking about my room, I thought of what I could use, and then it hit me.

A brush; a fitting tool for a fitting end.

Crossing the room, I rummaged about the catastrophe of sofa, paint, and supplies for a large brush and some lacquer that may have survived the crash. Finding a tub, I popped open the lid with my magic and dipped the brush inside. Brush in mouth, I made my way to the stove and hovered the brush over a burner before igniting it.  The brush immediately took to flames.Taking the brush with my magic, I hastily made my way back to the rooftop.

Trotting back to the pile of paintings, I took a moment to admire the tool I had made. The fire of the brush was like a small beacon in the darkness of the night’s sky. Using my magic, I stroked the brush across a painting, then another, and another. The oil-based paints erupted into flames, quickly becoming a small inferno. I looked on emotionlessly as countless days and nights of wasted effort disappeared from my life on a cloud of billowing black smoke.

Tossing the brush into the fire, I turned away slowly, walking to the end of the rooftop and climbing onto the ledge that overlooked the city far below. Tears once again came to me as I slowly followed along the edge to the corner of the building. Looking over, I saw nothing but empty streets dimly illuminated by old street lamps.

Everypony must be home with their friends and families by now. I wonder what that must be like. To have friends and family to return to each day.

The closest thing I ever had to a friend was Mr. Wiggles, but even he has left me. As far as family goes, I have no siblings and I only ever knew my mother. My father left us when I was just a foal.

Staring down to the streets far below, I closed my eyes and steeled myself. Just one more step was all it would take to end this sadness and take me to a world far beyond this terrible existence. A place where I can find peace and happiness.

I’m so sorry mom. I couldn't make it like I said I would. I let you down; I let down everypony that believed in me.

Tears flooded my eyes once more as I went to take that last step, but my hooves refused to move. I began to cry loudly as I tried even harder, but still my body wouldn't move.

"Why can't I do it? It’s just one more step; then this can all go away," I managed to stammer out through all the tears and sobs. My resolve wavered as I slowly backed up from the ledge.

“I’m pathetic. I can't do anything right. So close to ending all of this and I couldn't even do that right... I’m such a failure.” I cursed myself as I slowly stepped down from the ledge.

Crossing the roof, I walked back to the fire that was still burning bright. I tucked my cloak close, then flopped down into the snow and nuzzled my face into my forelegs. I was exhausted; all I had done the past few days was cry and got very little sleep in between the fits. The heat of the fire was warm and welcoming, and slowly coaxed me into the depths of an uneasy sleep.

* * * * * * * * * *

Where am I? Everything’s dark, cloudy, and fuzzy.

"I hate winter!" huffed the voice of a young filly in the darkness.

Is this a dream?

"You always did like spring best, didn't you?" asked the voice of an older mare.

Wait, I know that voice...

"I love spring! It’s so full of color and life, not like winter where everything is cold and grey," exclaimed the filly

That voice too...

"Winter isn't all bad, dear. It’s needed so spring can come and bring fresh new life to the world," commented the older mare.

That's Mother’s voice.

"But why can't it be spring all year? Then we wouldn't need this gloomy old winter," asked the voice of the young filly.

And that’s mine.

Mother stifled a giggle.

"Think of it like a painting, Dear. Let’s say you had painted a beautiful picture of a field of flowers and now you wanted to paint something new. What would you do?"

This isn't a dream, it’s a memory... From a very long time ago.

"Well, I would change the canvas so I could paint a new picture."

"Right, now think of the seasons. The world begins a beautiful painting with spring and finishes it with autumn, but now it wants to paint a new picture, what does it have to do?"

"It needs to change the canvas?"

"Exactly. Winter is the world changing its canvas so it can paint a brand new spring for the next year."

"I never thought of it that way before..."

"This also applies for life, Dear. You begin your life painting a picture. It has beautiful details of color during the good times, and it has its blemishes or smears during our rough times, but overall it’s a beautiful picture."

"But what if you don't like the way the painting looks?"

"Well, if you truly don't like the way your life has painted its picture for you, it’s never too late to start a new one."

"How do you do that?"

"You just have to change the canvas. By maybe moving to somewhere else, seeing new sights or meeting somepony new. These are all good ways of changing your canvas. From there, you can begin your new painting. Who knows,  you may even like it better than your old one."

"So, what you’re saying is if life gets really bad, I should try and find change?"

"Yes, sometimes change can be a good thing, especially if you’re unhappy, but what’s most important is to never give up. Remember that, ok?"

"Ok Mommy, I will!"

When life gets really bad and you don't like the painting, you can always change the canvas. Find change in someplace or somepony new to start your new painting...

"Hey! Wake..." echoed a faint voice from far away

I need to find change.

"Wake up!" The voice that called out was now louder and sounded closer.

* * * * * * * * * *

It felt as if my head was swimming as I tried to figure out what was going on; I was being violently shaken. I let out a small groan in protest to the gruff voice that called out to me and my rude awakening.

"Miss! Are you okay?"

The shaking stopped as I slowly opened my eyes and looked up to the source of the voice. A large and well-built brown stallion dressed in a heavy black and yellow coat with a matching hat was looking down at me.

A firepony? What’s a firepony doing here, and where am I? Why am I so cold?

"Wait right here, miss. I’ll have a paramedic up here in a jiffy." The firepony turned away and pulled out a small, faintly-glowing black object from his coat and spoke into it. "We need a paramedic on the roof. We found a young mare in the snow. I worry she may be suffering from hypothermia and exposure to the natural elements." The firepony tucked the object back into his coat and turned to me again.

"We got calls saying they saw smoke coming from the top of this building. Miss, do you know what happened here?" the firepony asked with concern in his voice as he looked about the rooftop.

"I-I... I..." was all I could get out between the shivers. He must have noticed I was a bit scattered and shaken, as his tone changed to a more pleasant one of concern.

"I'm sorry, miss. I'll talk with you after the paramedic has checked you out and made sure you’re alright. If you need me I'll be talking to those ponies over there," he commented as he gestured to the crowd of my neighbors that had gathered on the roof.

After a few minutes of collecting myself, I lifted my head and took a look around. The sun had begun to rise and the remains of the fire where just ashes now. My head was pounding while my body felt stiff, and everything seemed a bit fuzzy and unclear. I took a few moments to gather my thoughts as I reflected on last night’s events.

That's right, I was on the roof, and...

I went wide-eyed as my confused expression slowly contorted into horror.

If that firepony finds out what really happened here, I will be fined and thrown in jail! I don't even want to begin to think of how many city codes I broke with last night’s events. There’s no way they will overlook them!’

I decided that staying here any longer would end up very bad, very quickly. Before I could hatch an escape plan, a light pink unicorn mare with a red mane came out to the roof carrying a large medical case in the air with her magic.

"Hey there!" she said cheerfully, setting down her case. "Do you know how long you were out up here?" she asked.

I turned to the mare and slowly shook my head, although in reality I knew all too well and hoped to escape before anypony else found out.

The mare looked me over a moment with a somewhat puzzled look on her face. "You're very lucky you were wearing that cloak. You would likely have froze to death out here otherwise. Now why don't you take it off so I can get a better look at you," the paramedic remarked, reaching out for my hood.

"NO!" I screamed before quickly scooting away from her. The paramedic was taken aback, not expecting my reaction in the slightest.

"But I need to make sure you’re ok."

"I'm fine... just leave me alone, please?"

"But, I—"

"Please..."  I begged the other pony as I began to cry.

"Hey, please don't cry." asked the paramedic softly as she reached a hoof out to me again. I let out a small whimper as I backed farther away from her.

"Will you at least let me get something warm for you to drink?" the paramedic asked with a concerned look on her face.

I slowly nodded back to her and she flashed a smile before turning back to her medical kit. It only took her a moment before she procured two glowing blue packages.

"Here. These are heat packs. Hold them close to warm you up some and wait here, I'll be right back. If you need anything feel free to ask one of those nice stallions over there," she instructed before gesturing a hoof to back to the firepony from earlier.

With that, she turned back and trotted inside. After she left, I looked back to the firepony to find him talking to a few very angry looking neighbors. If I was going to make my escape now was the time, while he was still distracted.

I quickly got up and was hit by a sudden wave of dizziness while my head pounded. Clearly I had stood up way too fast, but there was no time to delay if I wanted to get out of there before the firepony found out what happened last night.

Fighting my dizzy spell, I hastily entered the building and slipped back into my room. The place was a real disaster. The floorboards by the door were shattered and there were paint smears everywhere: on the floor, on the walls, and even a few flecks on the ceiling. Not to mention the sofa was still toppled over in the corner, in a now-dry, vibrant puddle of paints.

The landlord is going to kill me if he see this! I have to get out of Manehattan or I'll be spending the rest of my life in prison!

I quickly darted to the kitchen and opened a cupboard next to the sink, pulling out a small Foalgers Coffee tin. Popping open the tin, I pulled out my hidden stash of bits and began counting out my last month’s rent. I had just enough plus a little extra to hopefully cover a bit of the damages and not land me on the Equestria's Most Wanted list. Turning to another cupboard, I pulled out a small piece of parchment and a quill and hastily scribbled a note:

“Sorry for the short notice, but I will be gone by the time you get this.

Here's my last month's rent and some extra bits to hopefully cover some of the damages.

I'm so sorry about the mess, something really bad happened to me that would take a long time to explain. I didn't mean for things to end up like this, please forgive me.”

    -Prism

Looking back to what very few bits I had left, I let out a small whimper. It wasn’t nearly enough to find a new place. It was barely enough for food for a few days, but I was left with few options and staying here to end up in jail wasn't one of them. I left the stack of bits and the letter on the kitchen counter and took the pouch of remaining bits in my teeth as I headed back to the door. Before entering the hallway I looked over my shoulder back to the room.

This had been my home for a little over three years now. It was all I really knew and now I was leaving it for good. I turned to my coat rack and grabbed my cloak. Hastily putting it on, I then opened my saddlebags I had left by the door and stashed away my bag of bits. There was not much else in them by the looks of it, but I didn’t have time to pack, so whatever was in them would have to suffice. Throwing on my saddlebags, I crept up to the door and slowly opened it, poking my head out to check both directions of the hallway.

All clear.

I slowly closed the door behind me and quietly walked to the staircase.

"Hey you," came a rather stern voice from behind. I turned back to see the firepony at the end of the hallway with a rather unhappy look on his face.

Oh Celestia, it’s all over.  He caught me, I’m doomed! I’m going to go to jail and spend the rest of my days behind bars!

I felt myself begin to tremble as the stallion slowly walked up to me.

"Miss, where are you headed?" the stallion asked quizzically as he glanced to my saddle bags.

Come on, think, think! ...The paramedic!

"O-oh.. um.. t-the paramedic checked me out and asked me to meet her outside to have something warm to drink and a closer look at me, I may need to go to the hospital,"  I replied. The stallion narrowed his eyes at me. I smiled back sheepishly with a small squee.

“Right...” Replied the firepony with a look of suspicion on his face. “I need to have a word with you once the paramedic is done with you,” he added with a now stern expression.

"O-okay.. I-I’ll just be downstairs with her then." I answered, trying sound as natural as possible, with no hint of me making a mad dash out of town the moment I left his sight.

The firepony nodded before turning back to the roof again. I slowly slipped down the first flight of stairs. Once out of sight, I rushed down the remaining flight as fast as my hooves would carry me. My heart was pounding from fear and from a serious lack of exercise.

Reaching the bottom of the stairs, I quickly crossed the lobby to the door and peeked out. There was a fire and medical carriage off to the left with a few ponies gathered around them, asking the other fireponies what happened no doubt. Using this distraction, I slipped out the door and took off to the right, down the street and around the corner.

Pressing myself up to the wall I let out a sigh of relief, glad to be away from that mess. I was hardly out of the woods, though. I had to get as far away from here as possible. I galloped down the street without looking back. I ran for what felt like forever before I stopped to catch my breath. Turning back, I saw that I had only gone a few blocks. I let out a small whine. This running away thing was going to be a lot harder than I thought.

Slowing my pace, I turned another corner and thought to myself about what I should do next. I hadn't planned this far ahead.

So now that I am away from the authorities... what do I do now?

I’d never left Manehatten before, and I had so few bits. I needed to think of something quick or I’d starve to death. That is, if I didn't almost freeze to death again first. The idea of another cold night outside made me shiver and tuck my cloak tighter around my body; I really hated the cold. I needed to think of a plan, and fast.

I drifted, lost in thought as I walked the streets, turning corners here and there as I scanned the windows of shops with no real destination in mind yet. It wasn't until my eye caught sight of something amazing that I snapped out of my daze, distracting me from the task at hoof.

I rushed up to a shop's window, and there it was: the most beautiful dress I had ever seen. Now, I had seen many festive and beautiful dresses on mares walking about the city in trips to the grocery and art stores, but nothing like this; this was a work of art. It was a long flowing red dress with black trimming, embroidered with many gemstones. Sapphires, rubies, garnets, the colors and patterns of the gems were simply something else.

I shook my head, snapping out of the entrancement that the dress trapped me in. I didn't have time to admire a dress; I needed to think of what to do next. I began to walk away, but slowly came to a stop and looked back over my shoulder to the dress; it had me truly captivated. Flooding my mind with inspiration, it was almost as if it were calling out to me.

It couldn’t hurt to at least ask about it, and besides... Hiding inside of a store and not out in the open may not be a bad idea now that I think about it...

Having convinced myself, I turned back and paused in front of the door to the store. I knew I wasn't very good at talking to new ponies or entering places I had never been before, but something about the dress tugged at me; I had to know more about that work of art. Who made it? Where did it come from?

Swallowing hard, I slowly opened the door, only to be startled by a bell ringing as I entered. Taking a look around I found that there was a lot of very fancy and expensive looking clothing and bags. This appeared to be a very high class shop.

"Welcome to Snooty’s Finer Fashions! Where only the finest makes from the top designers are found." Came a voice in a very fitting tone for a pony named 'Snooty.’ Judging by this pony’s appearance and tone, I assumed this was the owner.

The yellow stallion had an elegantly-groomed white mane, and wore a well-tailored black vest with a small pair of reading glasses perched upon his snout. He turned to me with his nose held high and looked me over, his expression shifting into that of disgust.

"And how can I help you?" he asked in very snobbish, posh tone.

"I-I.. umm.. was.. w-wond—"

"My dear, I haven't got all day. I am a very busy pony you know," he interrupted before I could finish; he was very intimidating.

I took a deep breath before trying again.

"I-was-wondering-if-you-could-tell-me-more-about-that-red-dress-in-your-window!" I blurted out all at once, followed by a squeak and ducking down to the floor. The snobbish stallion raised an eyebrow at me.

"Judging by your... ensemble... I think it is safe to say it’s well outside your price range, my dear," he returned, quickly dismissing my question and turning to walk away.

"Wait!" I called out to him.

He stopped and turned back to me. "Now what?" he asked in a rather annoyed tone.

"C-could you please... at least tell me about the dress's... d-designer?” I forced out before looking up to him with pleading eyes. His eyes widened after meeting with mine and his attitude took a complete turnaround at my words.

"Well, I suppose I could tell you about her..." he mused in a rather chipper tone.

"Her?" I asked intently, tilting my head aside.

"Why, Miss Rarity of course. Don't tell me you haven't heard of Miss Rarity?" He asked, raising an eyebrow back at me.

I shook my head slowly in response. “W-what can you tell me about her?”

"Well, let me tell you she is only the finest dressmaker in all of Equestria! I had the wonderful pleasure of meeting her in person at a show in Canterlot. She's beautiful, stylish, and a true fashionista in all accounts," he stated in a dreamy tone with slow sigh. “She is also a bearer of one of the six Elements of Harmony. A very important pony without a doubt,” he added as he regained his composure.

"W-where is Rarity from? Canterlot?" I asked quizzically.

"Good guess, my dear, but no. You would think a designer of her caliber would live in a such a grand city, but that is not the case."

"Well, where is she from?" I again asked, listening intently.

"Ponyville," he spat snobbishly, almost as if the word itself was awful to mention.

"U-um, could you tell me... a little, about, uh, Ponyville?"

"Goodness my dear, why would you want to know anything about a dreadful place like that?"

"Please?" I softly begged, looking up to him again with pleading eyes.

He let out a deep sigh. "Very well, I simply can't say no to a mare in distress. Ponyville is a sleepy little farm town outside of Canterlot. Other than Rarity, its only worthy mention is Sweet Apple Acres, which I admit has some of the more delicious apples I have tasted. Even so, farming. Such dirty work." He shuddered at the mention of dirt while wiping his hooves off with a towel.

Ponyville... a small sleepy town. very different from the hustle and bustle of Manehatten. A big change, and that’s exactly what I need right now. ...I should probably ask how to get there first though.

"How do I get to Ponyville from Manehatten?" I quickly asked, looking at him expectantly.

"Well, I suppose the easiest way would be by train. The alternative, which I highly advise against, would be traveling through the Everfree Forest. The Everfree is not only simply dreadful, but quite dangerous for a mare such as yourself; for anypony actually," he answered, giving me a curious look.

Even I have heard stories of the Everfree Forest. Monsters, unnatural weather, and countless dangers all over. It’s a scary sounding place so... I think I’ll just take the nice and safe train.

"T-thank you so much for all the information sir, you’re a real gentlecolt." I smiled and bowed to the stallion.

"Anything for a mare in distress, my dear. Do be safe in your travels," he replied with a smile before turning back to the work he was doing before my interruption.

Turning back myself, I glanced over the dress once more before opening the door and leaving the shop with another ring of the bell. Once outside, I fell onto my haunches with a heavy sigh of relief. Encounters like that have always been very stressful, but curiosity had won over my introversion today. I also now had a plan and a destination: the Manehattan train station, and Ponyville!

I brightened with a smile before getting up and making my way in the direction of the train station.