Author's note: Hey there and welcome to my first ever chapter for my first ever fan fiction. I hope you enjoy it and the picture below. Also, since this IS my first one, please forgive me if the formatting is off or the picture doesn't show. The next chapter might not be out for a while so be patient ;P. Enjoy!
A New Mare in Town: Chapter One (1)
A cold breeze blew over the pony's teal/green flank. Her mane, streaked with all shades of green and blue, was now mangled from the long journey. Her wings barely aloud Destiny Anon to land safely, beside a grove of apple trees. The orchard was so large, Destiny decided it was best to give her weather-worn body a rest, and take the the scenic route. She soon found a path, which was a gift to her hooves, since they weren't used to dirt, gravel, and rocks.
While Destiny traversed the small trail, she let her mind wander off to the future, where she would soon have new pony friends and a brand new life away from that horrid orphanage. They had treated her so harshly there, that she barely managed to scrape up the means to purchase the plot of land she had. The area was small, but she was the type of pony that was able to "make-do" with less than enough. Destiny was already making the blueprints, in her mind, for her new home, which was in a secluded place and next to the Everfree Forest. Apparently, this forest was filled with dangerous creatures and a zebra from a far away land. That's okay, though,Destiny thought, courageously, I'm a strong pony and can protect myself. Also, if I make friends soon they can help protect my land!
A small scuttling noise came from the bushes, to Destiny's left, distracting her from her thoughts. When she glanced in that direction, though, there was nothing to be seen. It came again, but now to her right. Shaking her head, Destiny let the breathe she was holding seep out from between her lips. Don't let your nerves get ahold of you, she thought.
"Boo!" A small yellow filly with red hair had popped out in front of Destiny from her left.
"Boo!" Another filly had shown itself, but this one had an orange flank with a short, hot pink mane.
"B-b-boo..." The next little pony was much more hesitant with its cotton candy colored mane and white body.
The breathe Destiny had let out earlier was immediately drawn back into her mouth with each of these little surprises. Even the last filly had startled her.
"Aw man, Sweetie Belle! Why'd you have to go an' ruin it!" The orange one was very agitated now.
"I didn't mean to Scoot-a-loo! Honest!" Sweetie Belle responded, offended. Her curly cotton candy mane drooped a bit.
"Come on guys! Don't fight!" The yellow one tried, hoping to avoid a quarrel. "Unless you want a Cutie-Mark with boxin' gloves on it!" After the filly had finished they all started laughing and rolling on the ground.
Now Destiny was utterly confused. "Uh, girls. May I ask what's going on?" They all turned to Destiny.
"We were trying to earn our Cutie-Marks for being NINJAS!" The last part was spoken in unison.
"I'm Scoot-a-loo!" The orange one proclaimed
"...I'm Sweetie Bell!" The cotton candy looking one added in, now with more courage.
"...I'm Apple bloom!" The yellow pony inserted.
"AND WE'RE THE CUTIE-MARK CRUSADERS!" They all had yelled at the top of their lungs, almost bursting Destiny's eardrums, and making her turn her face away, lifting one leg, trying to escape the sound.
"Oh, uh. Nice to meet you, I'm Destiny Anon. But you can just call me Destiny."
"Your new! Huh?" Once again their voices rang loud and obnoxiously, but they had at least lowered the volume.
"Uhm, yeah..." Destiny said, a little hesitantly. Thinking for a moment, she realized something was missing... Her map! Where had she put it? Loosening her saddle bags and resting them on the floor, Destiny ruffled through all her belongings, which wasn't much. This made it easy for her to realize, "I lost my map!" The ponies that had been looking on in wonder now jumped a bit.
"We know our way around PonyVille, don't worry we can show you about!" Apple Bloom perked up.
"Yeah!" The other two agreed.
"Thank you! I am in your debt. So how do I get to Mr. Filthy Rich's Store? He is the one who sold me the land for my new home, so he would know where in PonyVille it is."
"Follow us!" Their voices rang together.
They all trotted down the path with Destiny quietly listening to the three ponies describe everything about PonyVille and all the different ponies that lived there.
"...And I can't wait 'til, you meet my sister, Apple Jack and my brother, Big Mac. Also you'll just love Granny Smith. Soon Zapapple season'll start an' you'll be able to witness the..." Apple Bloom was soon interrupted by Scoot-a-loo.
"CRAZY AWESOME RITUALS!" She paused to think, "They're almost as 'crazy awesome' a Rainbow Dash, who you'll meet soon..."
Destiny could barely focus on all the information that was spewing from their mouths. Her mind was still on the aspect of finally owning her own home. Maybe that 'Big Mac' guy could help me build it. He sounds strong and sturdy by name. Once again, Destiny's thought's were interrupted by the three jumpy fillies. It was a phrase they had said. Had they just said "Blank Flank"? That brought back the many memories of Destiny's days as a filly, where the rest of the talented ponies had made fun of her constantly, for her "Blank Flank". Even into adult-pony-hood Destiny had been ridiculed for that small patch of fur on her behind, which held no mark.
The words tasted sour in her mouth as Destiny inquired, "Did you just say 'Blank Flank'?" Everyone stopped in their tracks.
"Yeah..." Sweetie Bell conquered. "I said, 'You better be careful or Diamond Tiara might call you a 'Blank Flank'."
"What are you talking about? Why would she?" Had they seen the absence of my mark? Destiny wondered.
"We saw that you haven't earned your Cutie-Mark yet, but we didn't want to say anything, as to not offend you," Scoot-a-loo spoke slowly, glaring into Sweetie Bell's eyes. Sweetie Bell shied away.
"How...when did you see?" Now Destiny was ecstatic. She had promised herself she wouldn't show anyone that she wore no mark. Now her new life was ruined. It must've been when I took off my saddle bags to search for the map, she thought, the image flashing before her eyes in a greyish color.
"It was when you..." Destiny cut Apple Bloom off.
"I...I know," Destiny was clearly offended. "Could you do me a favor and don't tell anyone? I don't want to loose friendships because of that..."
"Sure...but you do know that you should be proud to be a 'Blank Flank', right? It means that you aren't stuck having just one talent yet, you still have a million opportunities to find your true talent!" Sweetie Bell finished joyfully at remembering what was once said to her.
"Uh, sure...but still...don't tell anyone. Cross your flank and hope to die? Stick a cupcake in your eye?" Destiny made a crossing motion over her heart.
They followed suite. And with their loud voices proclaimed, once again, in unison, "CROSS OUR FLANK AND HOPE TO DIE!"
"Good!" Destiny finished taking the first step onward.
"Anyways, so this 'ere apple orchard belongs to my family..." Apple Bloom's voice trailed off again as Destiny's mind took over.
I really hope they don't spill my secret, Destiny thought, I have to be more careful from here on out!
After a few hours of walking, which would have taken a few minutes flying if Destiny's wings weren't still tired, the small group of ponies finally arrived at one end of PonyVille.
"Alright, so Mr. Filthy's shop is right over here..." Scoot-a-loo was cut off by a man's voice.
"I prefer, Mr. Rich."
Everypony spun around and stared wide eyed, startled by Mr. Rich's creepy introduction.
"Good evening, Mr. Rich. I was just trying to find out where the plot of land that I bought is."
"Oh yes! Follow me."
Quickly, Destiny followed behind her new landlord, waving goodbye to her friends.
"See you guys later!"
"BYE!" They yelled together.
The only sound between Mr. Rich and Destiny, now, was the clopping of their hooves on the brick roads that lead through the small town. Soon the sound changed to the crushing of grass, while they neared another pony's house. It was a small house with a fenced off front yard that contained a small garden. Once closer, Destiny could hear the sound of animals. Perhaps it's coming from the dark forest over there, she thought, shivering and glancing at the ominous forest of darkness to her left. Destiny's attention turned to a pony just exiting the front door of the lonely house. The pony was of a pastel yellow color with a light pink mane. She was holding something white and speaking to it softly, but her words were incomprehensible.
"Alright, Miss...?" Filthy Rich had turned to Destiny.
"Destiny Anon, but just call me Destiny." She tried to smile a bit.
"Miss Anon," Mr. Rich peered at Destiny suspiciously. Then he continued, "You shall be living in the plot right next to Miss Fluttershy's house. I shall mark it with some white paint for you to know in which spaces you can build."
Destiny nodded her thanks to him, while he went to work with his bucket and brush. Having nothing to do, and in hopes of making a new friend, Destiny put on a smile, while trotting over to the yellow pony. Before grabbing her attention, Destiny made sure her saddle bags were in place, then spoke.
"Hi there! I'm Destiny Anon, nice to meet y..." She stopped when she had noticed Fluttershy had dissappeared and the pony's watering can had dropped to the ground, spilling its contents. "Um, Fluttershy? Uh, I'm your new neighbor and I just wanted to, uh, say hi." Destiny was discouraged a bit, but continued on. "Um, I noticed you have a lot of animals," Destiny glanced down at the white rabbit, which had his hands on his hips, beneath her hooves. " I was hoping, when coming here to PonyVille, to maybe...get a pet?"
No more needed to be said for Fluttershy to come galloping from her home in a rush. "A pet? What kind? I have parrots, dogs, turtles, fish, cats..." Even though Fluttershy seemed to be trying her hardest to speak loudly, it seemed to still come in a whisper.
Destiny let Fluttershy finish her list before speaking, "I think maybe something simple, like...I don't know...a dog perhaps...Actually, I need something that can fly...and keep me warm...and help, maybe write things for me, since my hooves are kind of wobbly."
Fluttershy almost exploded at this comment, "I have just the right thing for you. I was going to save it for myself, but since your my new neighbor, it'll still be near me. It can be your house warming gift, no charge!"
The ecstatic pony quickly went into her house, then came out holding a sleepy bundle. Destiny glanced inside and almost screamed because she was so excited. She had always wanted a baby dragon of her own. It had been one of her life long dreams and now it was reality!
"Fluttershy! I love you! I've always wanted one of those!..." Noticing the scared expression on the pink haired pony, Destiny lowered her voice. "I mean, I always wanted one of those! I think I'll call it Emerald." She paused noticing the dragon had opened her eyes. "...Like the color of her eyes."
"Coincidently," Fluttershy said. "That's what she likes to eat best of all."
Fluttershy then handed the small baby girl dragon over to Destiny reassuring her that she could keep the blanket as well.
"Miss Anon! I'm finished!" Mr. Rich waved at the teal pony who began to walk towards him, still craddling the gift in her hands.
"Thanks Mr. Rich! I'll get started right away!"
"Evening, Miss Anon."
As Filthy Rich left Destiny, she realized how much work was ahead of her and how little time she had. The sun was already setting and the area he had lined out was larger than even Fluttershy's house! Oh no...
