I woke up with Celestia’s sun shining down on my face. That was the first night in a week that I hadn’t stayed up all night reading. I never felt more refreshed in my life. But now that I finished with the reading, it’s time to start off my life. I can’t live with Twilight forever, I needed to make my own money and live in my own home.

I looked out at the sunny day outside. This was the beginning of the rest of my life.

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

I went downstairs to see Twilight making herself a bowl of Cheerilee-Os. I grabbed a bowl of my own and poured myself some. I sat down across from her and asked

“Do you know any places in Ponyville where I could work?”

Twilight brought a hoof up to her head and thought. “You know, I was wondering when you were going to go out and get working. Hmm… well if you’re any good at baking, you could work with Pinkie Pie at Sugarcube Corner.”

I considered the notion. Then I remembered I would be working with Pinkie Pie, wouldn’t be the most peaceful job in the world. “I’m… not much of a baker.”

“Well what about Sweet Apple Acres? The Apple family is always looking for some extra help around the farm.”

Hmm…. working on a farm picking apples from trees? Seemed simple enough. “Sure, I’ll head over there right after breakfast.” But I wonder if I would get good pay. I mean, the Apple family isn’t exactly one of the richest families in Ponyville.

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

I walked outside of Twilight’s tree and took a deep breath of fresh air. I took my first step when I realized my body started feeling fuzzy again. It was the same feeling I got whenever I teleported, but I wasn’t trying to teleport. My surroundings suddenly changed and before my eyes was the great Princess Celestia.

I froze in place. What do I do now? Why did the princess want to see me of all ponies? I trembled as I thought of what to do. In the end, I decided to bow down to her.

Princess Celestia just looked down upon me and smiled. “There is no need to fear me Night Rave. Or should I call you Kevin?”

My eyes widened. She knew who I really was?

“Yes, I do.” Princess Celestia stated.

My eyes widened even more. She could read my mind?

“Yes, I can.” Princess Celestia replied.

My eyes windened until they were almost bursting through my eye sockets. Will she give some privacy in my mind?

Princess Celestia chuckled. “I’m sorry Night Rave, but it’s something I do out of habit. Anyways, yes, I do know who you truly are. In fact, I’ve been expecting you.”

I gave her a confused look. “You have?”

“Yes, you see, I have connections to other worlds, like yours for example. I have enough magical prowess to look into other dimensions. I was forewarned of your death and your decision to come to Equestria.”

I remained speechless.

“I would have brought you here sooner, but I decided to let you enjoy yourself for a while before I brought you here.”

“So, why exactly am I here?” I asked.

“I am here to tell you not to tell any others of your world. Also, I would like to personally welcome you to my peaceful land of Equestria.”

“Thank you so much! And don’t worry, I’m not going to go around telling everypony that there are alternate universes and stuff.”

Princess Celestia smiled warmly at me. “I’m glad to hear that. I also brought you here to tell you I have a house here in Canterlot where you can live. Does that sound alright with you?”

Hmm… in one case I get to live in a large house surrounded by the best of pony society. I would be treated with respect from everypony outside of Canterlot. On the other hand, Ponyville had all of my friends. And it would be too much of a hassle to move between here to there every day.

“I’m grateful for the offer Princess, but I would rather live out in Ponyville where all my friends are.”

“I completely understand,” stated Celestia. “But, I could always give you a house in Ponyville. Of course, you would have to wait for it to be built.”

My jaw dropped. “A house. Free? Just for me? With no rent?”

“Of course,” Princess Celestia said. She gave me a quizzical look and said, “What is rent?”

I chuckled. “Umm…. nothing important.”

Princess Celestia just smiled. “Well, I apologize if I brought you out of something important Night Rave.”

“Oh it’s no problem at all. But if you don’t mind, can you teleport me to Applejack’s farm?”

“Yes, I can. Actually you’re already there.”

As soon as she finished the sentence, I was just outside of Sweet Apple Acres.

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

I stood in front of the large red barn. I’ve been waiting there for at least half an hour waiting for someone to come by. Finally, I saw Applejack come by with a cart full of bright red apples.

“Well howdy Rave! How ya been doin?” Applejack asked.

“I’ve been well. I was just wondering if I could… you know help around the farm.” I said. This was the first time I ever asked for a job. Did I need a resume or something? How much should I ask to be paid? When do I get paid?

“Well sure, sugarcube. We sure do need more help around here now that it’s gettin to Applebuck Season. But first ya need the Big Macintosh stamp of approval.”

The what?

“Hey, Big Mac! Git on over here! This colt here’s lookin fer some work!”

A large roan stallion came trotting over with three carts full of apples. I shuddered as he towered over me.

“Eeyup.” Big Mac began searching me. Looking me over with his large green eyes. After he had a satisfied look he lifted up a hoof and stamped me on the side. I was sent flying to the closest tree.

I shook my head to get the stars out of my eyes.

“Good goin Rave! Ya got the Big Mac stamp of approval!” Applejack said.

“Yay,” I said, still dizzy from my unexpected flight. I think I’m going to be sick, I thought.

“Well hay, ya can get started right now!” Applejack exclaimed happily.

I stood up. “Yeah, but can you tell me the pay first?”

Applejack’s smile faltered. “Pay? Hmm… how bout three bits an hour?”

My jaw dropped. “Three bits an hour! Isn’t there like a law for minimum wage or something?”

Applejack gave me an annoyed look. “Darn you and yer fancy mathematics. Fine, how bout seven bits an hour?”

I put a hoof up to my head. “How about ten bits an hour?”

This time it was Applejack’s turn to drop her jaw. “Ten bits an hour! That’s… let me see here… one and two there… that’s three times my first offer!”

I gave her a pouty face in hopes this would make her accept my offer.

“Ya sure do drive a hard bargain. But sincin Applebuck Season is acoming, I can let this pass by.” Applejack said.

I gave her a quick hug. “Thank you so much Applejack! I’ll make sure you don’t regret your decision!”

“Yeah, yeah. Now git on workin before I change my mind.”

I gave a quick nod and grabbed a cart. I trotted off into the apple tree forest. I looked up to the apples hanging off the branches of a tree. I sighed. Time to get to work.

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

I was literally crawling towards Twilight’s house. My hind legs were so tired from bucking the apple trees that they wouldn’t let me stand. I had never felt this sore in my entire double life! When I was working, I eventually got so tired that I used my magic to bring down the apples. It was much slower than bucking them, unbelievably, and now I didn’t have the magic to teleport myself home. Fortunately, I made a profit of 60 bits and I got a free saddlebag from Big Macintosh.

As I was crawling along the ground on my stomach, a mare came up to me.

“Are you ok?” asked the mare.

I looked up to see a light gray mare with a sunshine yellow mane looming over me. She helped me up onto my hooves. “Thanks, I’m fine. I just had a rough day at work.”

She smiled and nodded. “I know exactly what you mean. Back when I first started my routes, my wings were aching for weeks.”

I looked up into her eyes and saw that they were messed up. It was Ditzy Doo!

I chuckled a bit and winced. It even hurt to laugh. “I’m glad to hear someone know what I’m going through.” My legs began to wobble as they could no longer bear my weight. I fell down again.

“Do you need a lift? It won’t be a problem at all.” Ditzy said.

“Umm… that would be much appreciated, as long as it’s no trouble,” I replied.

She got under me and placed me on her back. She spread her wings and prepared to take off.

“Where are we headed?” Ditzy asked, “I know just about every building in Ponyville.”

“Twilight’s tree house,” I replied. She bent down and jumped into take off. I quickly wrapped my front legs around Ditzy’s neck to make sure I didn’t fall off.

Ditzy Doo laughed. “My name is Ditzy Doo. I know just about everypony in Ponyville. How come I’ve never seen you around?”

“My name is Night Rave. I moved here from Manehattan, so I’m new to Ponyville.”

“Night Rave? Don’t you have any family that sends you mail from Manehattan?”

“Well I…. I left Manehat…. Whoa!” I yelled as Ditzy made a sudden decline. I nearly fell off, but she soon landed on the ground.

Ditzy laughed. “Sorry about that. What were you saying?”

“I was saying that… I left my family on a bad note and I don’t think they’re going to write to me any time soon.” I said, able to make up a quick excuse.

“Aww, that’s too bad,” Ditzy replied. She knocked on Twilight’s door. Twilight opened the door.

“Oh hey Ditzy, what are you doing here? You already dropped off my mail.”

Ditzy Doo turned to her side and allowed me to slide onto the ground. “You uh… have a package.” Ditzy and Twilight shared a good laugh.

“Alright, I’ll take him off your hooves. Thanks for the help Ditzy!” Twilight said. She used her magic to lift me up.

“No problem. I’ll see you around, Rave?” Ditzy asked.

“Sure. I’ll see you around.” I replied as Twilight magically close the door.

Twilight shook her head and used her magic to toss me onto a chair.

“One day out and you can’t even get home by yourself?”

I shrugged. “I’m sorry. I’m just sore from bucking all those apples.”

Twilight rolled her eyes. “Here, let me fix this.” She placed her horn close to my body and it glowed. I felt a warm sensation and then a cold one around my legs. I stretched out my legs. They felt absolutely refreshed!

“Thanks a bunch Twilight! I feel great!” I said jumping out of the chair.

Twilight smiled. “You’re welcome. It’s just a simple muscle relaxant spell. I could teach it to you sometime.”

“That would be great.” I replied.

Twilight continued to smile. Suddenly her look of content changed to a look of fear. She let out a small shriek.

“Oh no! I forgot to give these papers to Lyra and Bonbon! I told them that I would give it to them today!”

I shrugged my shoulders. “No big deal. You can just give it to them tomorrow.”

Twilight grabbed onto my shoulders and shook me. “No I can’t! If I don’t send them before sundown, I’ll be… tardy!!” She began to hyperventilate. “And it’s almost nighttime! And…” She let out a gasp. Her look of worry reverted back to a smile.

“You can go over to Bonbon’s Café to deliver her papers, while I go to Lyra’s place to deliver these papers!” Twilight exclaimed.

“But can’t you just…”

“No! There’s no time! You have to go now! Bonbon’s Café is one block down from Sugarcube Corner! Hurry, before the sun sets!” Twilight magicked me out of the room and back outside. I looked back to see Twilight running in the opposite direction.

Ugggh… first I had work, now I have to run over to Bonbon’s before sundown? I sighed and sprinted off towards Sugarcube Corner.

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

I slowed down as I passed a few houses from Sugarcube Corner. I looked around until I saw a cream-colored pony with three pieces of candy as cutie mark brooming a patio.

I walked up to her and asked, “Are you Bonbon?”

She put down her broom and looked at me questioningly. “Yes I am. And you are?”

“My name is Night Rave. I’ve been sent by Twilight Sparkle to give you these papers.”

Bonbon looked over the papers and a wide smile appeared on her face. “This is fantastic! Exactly what Lyra and I were hoping for.” She put away the papers. “Thank you so much! I hope this wasn’t too much trouble for you.”

“Trouble?” My left eye twitched. All the work I had to do today came through my mind. “No trouble at all.”

Bonbon smiled. “That’s good to hear. Would you like to stay for a cup of coffee or a muffin?”

“Thanks for the offer, but I really should head on home,” I said.

Bonbon nodded. “Well thanks again. Hope to see you soon!”

I started to walk away until I realized the ground under was thumping. It sounded as though someone was playing a ridiculous amount of bass. I looked around and couldn’t believe my eyes. Right in front of the entrance to a club, I saw a particularly large roan-coated stallion.

I walked up to the club door.

“Big Macintosh?”

“Eeyup. How ya doin Night Rave?” Big Macintosh said casually.

“Umm… I’m doing fine, but what are you doing here?” I asked.

Big Macintosh looked at me and smiled. “This here’s my night job. If anypony causes trouble, I’m there to stop them. Tends to stop bar fights breaking out every night.”

“Really? Well I’ll just go and see how it is inside.” I was about to head in when Big Mac put out his hoof.

“Nnope. Ten bits per pony.”

“Ten bits! But Big Mac that’s an hour of work! Can’t you give me some sort of worker’s discount?” I looked up at him pleadingly.

“Nnope. Ten bits or I’m gonna have to ask ya to leave.”

I rolled my eyes. I took out ten bits and handed it to Big Macintosh. He counted up the bits and opened the door for me. I gave him an annoyed look as I passed.

I entered a large room with dim lights. All around me were dancing ponies. Up at the front of the room was the DJ PON3, Vinyl Scratch. She was bobbing her head to the beat of her music. Hmm… this was a perfect chance to try and earn my cutie mark! But I didn’t have any glowsticks with me…

“Hey Rave! What brings you here?”

I turned around to see Pinkie Pie jumping up and down with excitement.

“I just came here to check how this place was. But, what are you doing here?”

She gave me a confused look and said, “Well I only come here like every night! Every night I don’t have a party of my own that is. This place is the best for a party pony like me!” Pinkie Pie said gleefully.

“Every night? How do you have the bits to pay to come here every night?” I asked.

She turned her head to the side. “What do you mean? It’s free admission to this club.”

“But Big Mac outside said…” I facehoofed. Big Mac just tricked me out of ten bits.

I looked around me and saw ponies drinking and dancing and generally having a good time. I guess Pinkie Pie was right about this place being perfect for her. I looked down and my eyes widened.

“Are those glowsticks?!” I asked, looking down at the glowing tubes of light wrapped around Pinkie Pie’s feet.

“You bet they are! I have a bunch at home and they’re always so fun to use at clubs like these.” Pinkie Pie replied.

“Do you have any extra that I can use?” I asked Pinkie Pie hopefully.

“Yeah I have two right here!” Pinkie Pie pulled out two pink glowsticks seemingly out of nowhere.

“Thank you so much Pinkie Pie!”

“No problem!” Pinkie Pie replied. She bounced away and entered the dance floor.

A grin appeared on my face. I attached the glowsticks to their strings and wrapped them around my hooves. It’s time to give these ponies a real show. Time for them to know why they call me Night Rave.

Vinyl Scratch switched up the songs. Perfect timing.

I got onto the middle of the dance floor and began to swing the glowsticks around my hooves. The surrounding ponies backed away, afraid of getting hit by the swinging lights. Now that I had been given more space, I was ready to roll.

I brought out my front legs and started to glowstring like crazy. Even with hooves, I was still able to complete my wraps and do a 5-beat and so much more! The ponies around me began to cheer loudly for me as the song began to sped up. I was having the time of my life!

In the corner of my eye, I could see Pinkie Pie with her mouth wide open in shock. Out of the other corner, I saw Vinyl Scratch lift her purple shades to get a better view of my performance. If I smiled any wider, my face would have been tearing apart.

At last the song finished. I looked down at my flank to see my cutie mark, but it remained blank. I didn’t understand. This was my only unique talent I had on Earth. Why wouldn’t my special talent here be raving? I was definitely still as talented with glowsticks as I was on Earth, maybe even better. But my flank stayed as it was, blank.

I sighed as Pinkie Pie bounced up to me.

“Oh my gosh Rave! That was the greatest lightshow I’ve ever seen! You never told me you were that good with glowsticks! How come you didn’t do that at my first party? Where did you…” I tried to drown out her endless questions as I continued to ponder why I didn’t have a cutie mark. Was I going to remain a blank flank forever? If this wasn’t my talent, then what was?

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