Chapter 6: New Resident

The next day, as Celestia promised, she had the entire town of Ponyville gather in the center. Everypony was curious as to why their loving princess would call them out so suddenly. The stage was all set as everypony stood and watched, waiting for the one who called for them. Twilight and her friends stood on stage, all of them nervous about the outcome of Celestia's announcement. At last, their moment of waiting was over as Princess Celestia came onto the stage and turned to address her subjects.

Princess Celestia looked at all her fellow ponies and just her very presence left everyone silent as she began to speak. "I'm glad that you are all here, my fellow ponies. A few days ago, everything was still the same everyday. All of you were working hard, some were having fun, eating treats together or just spending time with your friends. But now, we will be having somepony new joining us in our daily lives." Everypony started talking amongst themselves, confused and curious about the new person joining them. Twilight and the others gulped in response to this. Princess Celestia, understanding their concern, smiled at them to assure them that everything would be alright. They smiled back, but they were all still worried that things would get out of hoof, especially Twilight, Fluttershy, Rarity, Pinkie and Rainbow Dash. Applejack felt a bit nervous, but she tried her hardest to stay calm.

Princess Celestia looked towards her subjects once more. "Though it may take time for you to get used to him because of what he is, I would like for you all to help make him feel at home. Thus, I would like to introduce you all..." She paused and stepped aside, cueing Applejack and Rainbow Dash to open the curtain, revealing Von standing behind it. "Von." Loud gasps filled the air of the town. All was silent, everypony staring at Von and him staring back at the ponies. He had no idea what was going to happen. Would he be accepted? Or would they run away from him?

Finally, something broke the silence. A yellow filly, about seven years old wearing a pouch on the side of her flank, started to walk up to the stage. A pony, possibly her mother or big sister, tried to grab her until Von stepped down from the stage, causing all the other ponies to step back, except for the filly. Everypony in the crowd watched with fear as the filly and Von were right in front of each other. Von looked down at the filly, who smiled at him in response. All of the ponies continued to stay silent.

The filly reached into the pouch she was carrying and took out a cupcake and held it up to him. Von looked at it in confusion. "What is that?" The filly smiled. "It's a cupcake. You've never had one before?" She looked at him, feeling a bit sorry for him. Von shook his head and sniffed the cupcake. Just the smell was enough to send Von's mind running wildly. It smelled delicious. He never smelled anything like that before. He wondered if it tasted just as good as it smelled. The filly smile grew bigger seeing his reaction. "Want it? I have more back home." Von happily smiled and wrapped his tongue around the cupcake and pulled it into his mouth and began munching on it. This tastes so wonderful, he thought. Never before had he eaten something like this before. This is better than all those gems I ate, he thought. When he finished, he smiled at the filly and thanked her for the treat.

The crowd stared at him with wonder. The only dragon they knew that loved cupcakes was Spike, but now they were confronted by this new dragon. Yet, just like Spike, he was very friendly. He seemed to be more interested in making friends and eating cupcakes than harming or scaring anyone. The fear that the ponies felt subsided and soon, they all began to gather around Von and asked him many questions. His likes, his dreams, what he likes to do and more. Von was happy, but he felt overwhelmed by the barrage of questions so much, he fell down and passed out in a daze, smiling all the while.
Von woke up moments later, inside a bakery in Ponyville.

All around him, there were cakes, pies, cupcakes and all sorts of treats that he never imagined. The smell was driving him wild, as he wanted to eat his fill of all the baked goods. His mouth hung open, tongue out and was drooling. Pinkie Pie came bouncing over beside him and smiled. "Like it? This is Mr. and Mrs.Cake's bakery, Sugarcube corner. They leave me in charge while they are out doing important stuff, like taking care of the babies."

Von wanted to meet these ponies. They sounded friendly, but his mind was elsewhere as he gazed upon the treats. Pinkie Pie was delighted to have a friend that liked sweets as much as, if not more, than her. Von looked around and saw the crowd. They were coming into the bakery one by one, each of them wanting to get a treat but at the same time, they wanted to come and meet their newest resident in Ponyville. Applejack, Rarity and Rainbow Dash came in and Rarity went over to Von. "There you are, darling. Princess Celestia asked us to find you. She went back to Canterlot, so Twilight will give you her message." Von nodded his head. "Alright. I'll head there so--" Before he could finish talking, three fillies, a yellow one with a red mane, a white one with a purple/white striped mane and an orange pegasus, jumped him and shouted "CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS DRAGON CATCHERS!!!"

Von started struggling as the three fillies were attempting to tie him up. At that moment, Rarity, Applejack and Rainbow Dash snapped in anger. "Applebloom/Sweetie Belle/Scootaloo!!!" The girls shouted. The fillies stopped and looked at the ponies who called their names and got off of Von and walked over to them with their heads hung low. "Applebloom! Just what in tarnation do you think you're doin' to our friend?" Applejack said. Applebloom looked her in the eyes. "But Applejack! He's a bloodthirsty dragon." "Don'tchu talk about yer big sister's friend like that, ya hear?!" She yelled. "How can you be friends with a big dragon like him?" Sweetie Belle said. Rarity glared at her. "I'll have you know, Sweetie Belle, that Von is a sweet, gentle and friendly dragon. Furthermore, you should not say anything like that when we are all friends with Spike, who is a dragon." Over to the side, Rainbow Dash was scolding Scootaloo. Von was staring at her the whole time, questioning whether or not to think she looked cute scolding someone or scary.

All three fillies apologized to Von, who forgave them and laughed. After the fillies left, Von and the girls began walking to Twilight's house and he turned to his friends. "So...who were they?" "The 'Cutie Mark Crusaders', as they call themselves." Rarity said. Applejack continued for her. "They mean well, but they cause alot of trouble for us ponies." Von blinked. "For what?" "Trying to get their Cutie marks." Rainbow Dash said, bluntly. By the time they finished, they arrived at Twilight's and went inside.

Twilight looked towards the door and came downstairs to greet them. "Hey girls. Hi Von." Von smiled. "Hello, Twilight. So, I was told that you had a message from Princess Celestia for me?" Twilight nodded. "Yes. Though, this is quite embarassing for me. Um...she said that since I am more familiar dealing with dragons than any other pony...it would be best that you stay here with me." She said, blushing. Von's jaw dropped and all of Ponyville stopped and looked back to Twilight's the moment they heard a loud "WHAT?!" fill the air.

Next Chapter: Planning Estimated time remaining: 5 Hours, 15 Minutes