“My name is Rainbow Dash. What’s yours? Rainbow Dash said as she made polite conversation.

“The name’s Night Rave. I’m coming from Manehattan. I heard of you, Rainbow. You were the one that made the Sonic Rainboom at the Best Young Flyer’s Competition last year, right?”

“The one and only. It’s always good to hear my fame spreading. I’m going to join the Wonderbolts soon. It’s only a matter of time. I mean, I am the fastest pony in all of Equestria and the only to make a Sonic Rainboom.”

I rolled my eyes. Talk about being modest. “Yeah, that sounds awesome. You’re clearly the fastest Pegasus I know.”

“Thanks! So you came from Manehattan? That rich, snobby city where everybody talks like Rarity? Not that you know her yet.”

“Yeah, but I’m not into the same rich pony stuff like they are. So I decided to leave the uptight city and settle down in a more… loose town,” I replied. Making lies about my past was beginning to get difficult.

“Oh well that’s cool to hear. I visited Canterlot once and the ponies there were SOOO boring. Even the guards. I tried to make them smile or laugh, but they would just stare straight ahead. And the ponies kept walking around like they were better than everyone else. You’re not like that, right?” Rainbow asked.

“Of course not, I’m not better than anybody… anypony else just because I’m richer than them.” Should I ponify my words? Would it be fine whenever I said anybody or everybody? Better to stick with the safe ponified versions.

Rainbow Dash smiled in approval. Her eyes drifted over to my flank. Her eyes widened and she gave me a confused look.

“Where’s your cutie mark?”

I froze in place. “Umm… well, you see…” What do I say? I still haven’t thought of an excuse for my blank flank. I thought back to how kind Zecora was to let my lack of a cutie mark pass by. Zecora. She used weird plants.

“Well you see, I’ve been travelling in the Everfree Forest for the past few days. I was running low on food and I stumbled on a plant called… White Blanksprout. It’s a rare edible flower that temporarily makes your cutie mark disappear. I was really hungry, so I decided to eat it. I could live for a few days without a cutie mark.” White Blanksprout sounded real enough right?

“White Blanksprout? I think I’ve heard of that somewhere. Oh, I have a zebra friend named Zecora who knows a whole lot about weird plants. We could visit there after you get settled in Ponyville.”

“No, it’s fine,” I said, not wanting to go back into the Everfree any time soon, “the effects wear off within a few days, anyways.”

“Oh, ok. So you’re some kind of… adventurer? You sound like you know a lot about the outdoors.”

I chuckled. “Yeah, I guess you can say that.” Anything to make Rainbow Dash think I was cool.

“That’s SO cool!” Mission accomplished.

“Oh by the way, do you know anywhere I can stay while I try and get a house here in Ponyville?” I had to find somewhere to live and Rainbow Dash should have some connections. It’s much better than having to pay for a hotel with money that I didn’t even have yet. Ironic since I’m supposed to be a rich stallion coming from Manehattan.

“Hmm… well I would let you stay at my place, but I’m assuming you can’t fly or walk on clouds. Fluttershy is a wreck when it comes to strangers, so that won’t work. Hmm…. Pinkie Pie lives in a cake shop, but I don’t think you would like to live with a mare like her. Trust me. Rarity would probably think you’re uncouth or something. Oh, I know! You could live with my friend Applejack for a while. She has a huge barn with plenty of space.”

I turned away and rolled my eyes. Like I would ever live in a barn. No offense to Applejack. I’m just not a farmer kind of person. “Umm, I’m not much of a city pony, but I’d still rather sleep in a bed.” I stated, trying to not completely reject her suggestion.

Rainbow Dash put a hoof up to her head. “Yeah, I see what you mean. I guess I wouldn’t like waking up in the morning on a bale of hay. Even if it would be breakfast in bed. Well I think my friend, Twilight, should have some extra space. As long as you don’t mind being surrounded by some old books when you wake up.”

The library? I would like to check out some books to learn some magic. And maybe some Equestrian history. Also, I would get a servant to get whatever I needed. Spike.

“That sounds fine,” I said.

“Great. Oh, look we’re here!”

I looked in front of me to see the large houses of Ponyville loom over me. Directly in front of me, I could see the town hall. Clearly one of the largest buildings in the town. Most of the other houses were oddly shaped and had thatched roofs made of something like straw. They looked a lot more colorful in person than on the show. I could see ponies milling around town doing whatever business they needed to do.

I was brought out of thought as Rainbow Dash bumped my shoulder.

“C’mon, I’ll show you around town. And then we can meet up with Twilight.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rainbow dash showed me how to get around Ponyville. We visited Rarity’s Carousel Boutique, but she wasn’t home. She told me the names of the ponies in town she knew. We were heading towards Twilight’s house when all of a sudden.

“Hey Rainbow Dash!”

“Oh hey Pinkie Pie!” A cotton candy pink pony came hopping in front of us.

“I was coming back from Twilight’s and then I saw…” She let out a sharp gasp. Her eyes suddenly grew very wide.

“Oh my gosh. Who’s your friend? I haven’t seen him around Ponyville. He must be new. Hey, what’s your name? My name is Pinkie Pie,” Pinkie Pie blurted out.

I remained speechless until my brain was able to process what had just been said to me. The pink mare could talk at the speed of light.

“My name is Night Rave. I just arrived here from Manehattan. I’m planning to stay here in Ponyville for a while. Nice to meet you.” I put out a hoof.

Pinkie Pie grasped in and gave a forceful hoofshake that caused my whole body to shake. Pinkie Pie let out another sharp gasp. A wide smile appeared on her face. Her bright blue eyes began to twinkle.

“You know what this means? A party! Ooh, and I can invite everypony in Ponyville. That way you can make a bunch of new friends. Not that your already friends with Rainbow Dash. Ooh! And since we just met we must be friends too! I’ll get the party preparations started right away!”

And with that, Pinkie Pie darted off. You know, if Pinkie Pie gets really motivated, she can probably go faster than Rainbow Dash. I should check this out sometime.

“Uhhh… yeah. That was Pinkie Pie, the Party Pony of Ponyville. She can be a bit… random. Don’t worry, she throws the best parties!” Rainbow exclaimed.

“Yeah a party sounds fun.” I loved partying back on Earth. The excitement, the dancing, the music, and of course the girls.

“Anyways,” Rainbow began, “Twilight’s home is right over there.”

I squinted my eyes to see a particularly large tree that looked as though it had been fused with a house. So, there was my new home. At least until I had a house of my own.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Sure Night Rave can stay here. I have a spare room upstairs for guests,” Twilight Sparkle said. Rainbow Dash had just introduced me to Twilight and asked if there was any room I could stay in.

“That’s great!” I said.

“Oh by the way Twilight, Applejack is planning a picnic. And it’s going to start. Like right now. I would’ve come here sooner, but I wanted to show Rave around Ponyville and got sidetracked. So we should get going, like now.” Rainbow Dash said as she opened the door to leave.

“Right now? Well I don’t have anything planned for the next few hours. Sure, I would love to have a picnic,” Twilight said. “Night Rave, just make yourself at home. I have a dragon here in case you need help with anything. Don’t worry he’s just a baby dragon, he won’t bite. Just make sure you don’t let him get into the gem storage. He’s already chubby enough as he is. Well see you soon!” I waved good-bye as Rainbow Dash and Twilight walked out the door.

I trotted up the stairs to check on my room. It wasn’t too difficult to find. It was a pretty small room with a bed and desk. There was a window over my bed and a small desk lamp. There was a closet by the wall for clothes. Not that it would be useful, since I didn’t have clothes or even the money to buy clothes.

I sat down on the bed. I chuckled to myself a little as I realized I was in the same position as Lyra on the park bench. So, here I was in Ponyville. I already met four of the Mane Six. They were great ponies and all, but I couldn’t shake off the feeling of not having my old friends here. I told myself I would feel better after I arrived. But it’s never easy to forget people that you cared for so much of your life. I lay down on the bed and cried myself to sleep.

I felt a nudge on my shoulder. I tried to ignore it and fall asleep. I was nudged harder. I turned to my side. I was suddenly being violently shaken.

“Wha now?” I said after being rudely awakened. I rubbed my eyes to see Twilight in front of me. How long have I been asleep?

“Good evening sleepy head. I just came by to tell you that Rainbow Dash wants to see you at Sugarcube Corner. I’m on my way there too. Are you ready to go?”

I stepped out of my bed and quickly fell to the ground. I forgot that I wasn’t a human anymore and that pony bodies aren’t made to stand on their hind legs. This body would take a while to get used to. I shook my head and stood up.

“Umm yeah. Lead the way.”

I groggily followed Twilight towards Sugarcube Corner. The sun was just beginning to set, letting way for Luna’s night. I was practically half asleep as I trotted. I really should not take naps. I felt absolutely terrible and Twilight looked all cheery and excited. Where were we headed again? Oh yeah

“Sugarcube Corner! Here we are!” Twilight exclaimed. “Why don’t you go first?”

I nodded my head and headed towards the door. I opened it and was enveloped in darkness.

“Umm…. hello?” I asked, reaching around me so as not to bump into anything.

“SURPRISE!!!”

The lights suddenly flashed on. All around me were ponies and cakes and decorations and so much more. A wide smile appeared on my face. I began to jump up and down. A party! Just for me too! With cake, ponies, presents, DJ PON3 Vinyl Scratch, balloons, and confetti! All my drowsiness quickly retreated. I was ready to party.

Pinkie Pie jumped in front of me. “Well what do you think? Tell me your honest opinion!” Pinkie Pie said with a bright smile on her face.

I was lost for words. “This is really great Pinkie Pie. I don’t know what to say. I never had anypony throw a surprise party for me before.” Tears began to form in my eyes.

“Hey, this is no time for tears. This is time to PARTAAY!”

I wiped the tears from my eyes. “You’re right Pinkie. And so, hit it DJ POn3!”

Vinyl gave a quick nod and started the music. Everypony else started to converse with one another or danced.

I was about to join the dance floor when I was tapped on my shoulder. I turned to see Rainbow Dash with Applejack.

“Oh hey Rainbow! What’s up?” I was close to screaming as I tried to get my voice heard over the blasting stereo.

“Hey Rave! I just wanted you to meet my pal, Applejack.” Rainbow Dash replied.

“Nice to meet ya! Rainbow’s been talkin a whole lot about ya since this afternoon. Sayin your some kinda adventurer or somethin.” Applejack said in her Southern accent.

Rainbow Dash blushed. “Well I may have said a few things about you during the picnic.”

“That’s not what I remember. You couldn’t stop talkin abou… oof!” Applejack couldn’t finish her sentence as Rainbow Dash elbowed her in the side.

“Anyways,” Rainbow said trying to change the subject of the conversation, “You should come meet Rarity sometime. She was busy today filling an order to be shipped for Seaddle or something. You know she’s a clothes designer? Well she’s not much fun at parties anyways. She likes the big fancy parties that the Canterlot royals have. They’re pretty boring if you ask me.”

“Yeah, I know what you mean.” I actually never went to a fancy party, but I might as well agree with Rainbow.

“Well hay it’s a party ain’t it?” Applejack interrupted, “let’s quit with the chit-chat and dance like there’s no tomorrow!”

Rainbow dash and I nodded in agreement and went out to the dance floor.

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