Chapter 1: Clean Slate

As tough as life can be, as simple as life can be, you never know when it is going to change, for better or worse.

Cloudsdale must be in a good mood today. Dual thought as he stared at the blank, purple sky. The morning sun was just coming over the horizon. The chilly autumn air gave Dual a real sense of calmness, almost enough that he could stop and start painting a picture right here, right now.

Dual was a tall orange stallion. He was sturdily built, but still on the thinner side. His mane was a black, wavy mess with white streaks in it, his tail fared the same. Dual also sported a pair glasses with red tinted lense. His cutie mark, a pencil and paintbrush crossing over each other. Dual discovered his talent for art very early, earlier than most ponies discover their talent, and he loved it more than anything. From day one he planned to make a living as an artist, only problem was, the world didn't seem have that planned for him.

Dual slowly walked along the rocky dirt road, his eyes glued to the beautiful horizon. His saddle bags full of art supplies were heavy and his back ached. In the distance he could see the silhouettes of a few houses just beginning to take shape, like the opening of a small town. Dual stopped momentarily for a powerful yawn. It had taken him a few days travel, but he finally made it to his new beginning, Ponyville.

As Dual drew closer and closer, more ponies began to materialize in his vision. Farmers waking up early to tend crops, merchants leaving town, dragging their stalls and wagons, and some ponies just out for an early morning walk. Everything looked so laid back and peaceful, Dual really liked it. As he reached the edge of town, more ponies began to appear and a few businesses started to open up for the day. He could have sworn he saw a shortl little dragon for a moment, but whatever it was disappeared into a large house built in a tree. Every so often a pony strolling by would smile a give Dual a friendly nod.

This place is just perfect for inspiration. I think this could really be a new opportunity for me. Dual thought to himself. A smile grin creeped across his face, but quickly disappeared again when his aching back flared up again. A single stream of sweat trickled down his cheek. It had been an exhausting week. Dual trotted over to a nearby public bench and bucked his saddlebags onto it and sat down heavily next to them. He let loose a long sigh as he slowly leaned back on the bench. A cool breeze began to blow and Dual inhaled deeply, smelling all the autumn smells, the loose leaves everywhere, and he swore he could smell a pumpkin patch out somewhere. He began envisioning a new painting. The fall colors swirling across the canvas, converging on the other side. Maybe a few dead trees in the back, some ponies playing in the leaves. Dual looked back up at the slowly brightening sky. The morning sun casted a comforting, pleasant heat on his body, like a warm fluffy blanket on a winter day. His eyelids suddenly felt as though they weighed a thousand pounds each. Slowly his head began to drift backwards as he closed his eyes,, when suddenly a loud voice startled him to the core.

"HI THERE!" A high pitched voice yelled into his ear.

"GAH!" Dual yelped as he jumped off the bench, crashing onto the ground hard. He groaned and slowly lifted his head up to see a very, very, VERY bright pink pony standing on the bench where he had been sitting. She had some of curliest, pinkest hair he had ever seen.

"You're new in town! I can tell because I know eeeeeverypony in town, and not only that, I'm friends with every pony in town! Like even the cranky old donkey who lives on the other end, he was soooooo cranky at first but then we became friends and everything was okie dokie! But don't ask about his toupee, he doesn't like to talk about it…" The pink pony continued rambling at a ludicrous pace.

Who the hell even is this? Celestia, she talks fast…. Dual thought to himself. He slowly scooted backwards a little bit, but every inch he moved back, it seemed the pink pony moved two inches forward.

"...Also there's a boutique in town owned by my friend Rar-" Dual cut her off with a hoof wave.

"Look, I-I'm sorry but, who are you?" Dual asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Oh! I should have said, I'm Pinkie Pie! I greet everypony new in town because I just loooooove every pony! I even show them my party cannon!" Pinkie then seemingly pulled up a cannon out of absolutely thin air. With the push of a button, confetti was launched out of the cannon, and rained down on Dual, who was unamused and confused, yet intrigued by such a strange character. There was a moment of awkward silence as Pinkie just stared at Dual, smiling and waiting for a reaction.

"Right…..So, uh…...Thanks, I guess?" Dual said slowly climbing to his feet. When he was standing straight up, Pinkie then shot straight up to him.

"So what bring YOU to Ponyville new friend?" She asked very excitedly. Dual didn't realize she was a few inches shorter than him until he stood up.

"I uh, I'm just kind of looking for a place to stay for now, maybe work on some new art." He said, scratching the back of his head. It wasn't the whole truth, but he wasn't exactly lying either. Pinkie's eyes widened ever more.

"You're an artist?! That's amazing! I love art! I'm not that good at it but it's still fun to try anyway! You said you needed a place to stay? You can stay at Sugarcube Corner! That's where I live and I'm ALWAYS willing to offer a spare bed to new friends! Would you like that? Would ya? WOULD YA? HUH?" Pinkie gradually got louder and more excited. She talked faster than anypony Dual had met before.

"W-well I'm flattered you'd offer that, I wouldn't want to be a burden…" Dual replied, though he was seriously considering the idea, he really did need a place to stay for at least one night. Pinkie suddenly grabbed his hoof and started dragging him down the road. For a small pink pony, she was real strong.

"Nonsense! Any friend of mine is welcome! I'll even introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Cake! They own the place, but they make the best baked goods in all of Equestria! Oh and you'll need to meet all my friends too! Applejack, Twilight, and Rarity who I was talking about before! Oh did I mention she owns a boutique?" Pinkie jabbered while dragging Dual down the road. Suddenly Dual tried to race back to the bench.

"Wait! Wait! My bags!" He yelled.

End of Chapter 1

Author's note:

So this first chapter is what you would call a "pilot" chapter I guess. This story was just a recent idea and I'm not sure whether I'm going to continue it or not. Any feedback at all is completely welcome, be it criticism, comments, or you're just having a bad day and feel like yelling at someone! Anyway, if I get some good response to this, I will definitely continue it, I've had a lot of ideas for it and I'd be more than happy to continue it. It may seem a bit short, but that's just my style, I enjoy short chapters. Also, I'm currently keeping the rating at T, but if people want me to switch to M, I'm willing to, but I'm not making this a sex or violence based story.