A Funny Thing Happened on the way to Trottingham

I would like to tell you my story.  Though there are many stories such as mine, I feel like mine is a bit unique.  Before I tell it to you, I must warn you...it is a love story.  The story of how I found the one who makes me complete.  If that is not what you are looking for, I understand.  Heck, I wouldn't want to read most tales of love.  But as I have said before, my story is a bit unique.  The story of how a lone man got thrown through the cosmos to a place that even fairytales could not accurately describe and found kinship.

Before I start, I would like to describe my past life.  The life I lost before coming here.  The life I had on Earth.  You see, I like to think of myself as a person of persuasion and charisma and as such, I searched for my calling in life.  I found that calling through power.  After my time in college, I headed out into the world to start a life of politics, but I had to work my way up.  I interned at many political offices.  It did not matter one iota which side the office was a part of, it just mattered that I made connections with the big wigs.  My career was the only thing that mattered to me.  I even missed my brother's wedding so that I could go to a cocktail party with a Governor.  Thinking back on that time in my life, I cannot help to laugh.  I thought all of my priorities were in order and they key to life was behind a solid oak desk.  Oh gods did I have it all wrong.

My story does not start at the beginning when I first arrived to this place called Equestria for I really could not explain it.  No one really can it seems.  The most I could ever find out, with the help of a very studious intellectual named Twilight Sparkle, is that it was a fluke, something that was never to happen, but did.  Nature finds a way I guess.  

Nor will I talk about the adjustment period to this new life.  That in itself would be a novel in its own right.  The depression, the sorrow, the realization that all I had worked for was for naught.  I grieved more for my lost position in life rather than my family.

No, my story starts about one year after my arrival for that is when my life took yet another turn, and I would say for the better.

Remember when I said all I cared about was power?  Yeah, still cared about it then too.  At this time, I was employed by none other than the Mayor of Ponyville, which was a quaint little agrarian town far removed from the rustle and bustle of a large city.  I have to admit, the town was and still is quite picturesque.  

One day in her employ, she brought me into her office.  Not to scold or berate me for my semi-cutthroat tactics which ensured her election, but to give me a new assignment.  I still remember the conversation like it was yesterday.

"You called for me Mayor?"  I asked

"Ah, Anon, come in, come in.  Have a seat.  We have much to discuss."  Her tone was different than her normal one.  This tone concealed her emotions.  I almost actually started to sweat!

She continued, "You're fired."

"...what?"

"I said you are fired anon, I do not need you to be my assistant anymore."  

I was flabbergasted.  I just couldn't believe it.

"I...I don't believe it.  What did I do wrong?  I mean, yeah okay I was a little forward with your campaign, but you won by a landslide."  

"And I have you to thank for that, Anon, but like I said I do not need you as my assistant anymore."  She said sternly eliciting some actual emotion now.

I was stunned.  Well, I was for about a second, then I got angry.  How could I be fired?  Me of all people.  Fed up and not wanting to talk more, I started to get out of the leather chair in front of her oak table.

Then the worst possible thing happened.  She started to laugh, fueling my anger even more, but just as I was about to do something her and I would regret, the mood changed drastically.

"Silly me, I bet that sounded rather mean, didn't it?  I really should work on how I should present good news.  Yes I am firing you as my assistant because I want to hire you as my local ambassador which means going to other towns to promote me.  Oh, and it comes with a pay raise."

"You know there could have been, like, a hundred better ways you could have told me that." I said relieved.

"Aww was Anon scared for a second?  I thought you were a bit tougher than that." She said smiling

"Yeah you caught me.  I am just a big softy.  But about the job.  I just have to spread your influence to some neighboring towns then?  Sounds easy enough.  What is my first assignment?"

"Well look at you.  So eager to get started.  Thank Celestia you got brought here.  Never had an employee like you before.  Tomorrow morning you are to leave by train to a town not too far from here, assuming you can pack that fast."

"You know me, Mayor.  I could be out the door in an hour.  But you still haven't told me where I'm going yet."

Opening her desk drawer, she pulled out a single train ticket and gave to me.  The ticket itself was not fancy at all, it being black and white.  I remember looking at it for a while and finding the name of the town I would never forget.  Trottingham.

 

 

I know it might sound weird or even a bit out of character for me, but I still have that ticket today.  It rests now in a scrap book and from time to time, when I feel down, I like to open that scrap book and look upon that now old and faded ticket.  But enough on the now.

"Trottingham, huh?  Never heard of it before.  Why send me to some no name town instead of a city like Filidelphia?"

"Anon, are you familiar with the term 'grassroots'." The old but still sharp Mayor said.  I could not contain myself and let out a hearty laugh.

"You know, sometimes I forget that you are one daft mare."

"Now you get it.  Start spreading influence to small border towns then move to the cities.  What, you think I lost my edge?  I have been doing this for a while now.  I still got some tricks up my sleeve.  You just make it easier to pull some of these 'tricks' off.  Now head home, pack, and get some rest.  The train leaves at 7am sharp and so help me Celestia if you miss that train, I will fire you for real."

She might have had an edge to her, but that is what made her a great boss.  Even more than that, though, was she was a good mentor.  She knew the system and I learned a lot under her.  

"The assignment is for 3 weeks.  That should give you ample time to do your work.  Every fourth day I expect a status update.  If you need to stay longer, fine.  Just keep me informed, got it?"  She said now in a clinical manner while shuffling through some papers.  She was back to her old self it seemed.

"Gottcha.  One question really quick."  I said with a smirk.

"This better be good.  Go ahead."

"So I got a promotion, and you didn't even get me a cake to celebrate?"  I said while trying to hold back my laughter.  

She lowered her papers, looked at me, and scowled with a smile.

"Get out of my damn office."  

We both laughed pretty hard at that.  But I had a job to do, so without any further stupid questions, I left.  As I was about to exit, the Mayor added one last thing.

"Anon!  Here.  Congrats."

At that, she threw me a hay cookie that was on her desk.  She knows how much a hate hay cookies.  Oh gods, she was an awesome boss.

The rest of the day and night was uneventful.  Just packing and getting everything ready.  Nothing to warrant talking about.  But the next day, well that is another story.  Despite the warnings from the Mayor, I almost missed that damn train.  If there one thing that I could point out the biggest difference from Earth and Equestria, it would be that the damn trains were always on time.  I don't even know how they do it without fancy electronics, but those ponies were on their game.

It took the train a couple of hours to reach Trottingham.  In the meantime, I tried to read up on the town from an info pamphlet in the tourist cabin.  Like I expected, it was a small town, though a little bit larger than Ponyville.  Right outside the town to the east were a couple of lush rolling hills while the west had more of a flat terrain.  The biggest shock was this town was not as agrarian as Ponyville was.  It actually was a medium sized trade hub with all types of exports.  I had to give the Mayor a little nod.  Securing herself in a trade town would be quite beneficial.

Then it hit me.  Sure I got a ticket, but I didn't have any reservations at any hotels.  I damned the sun and the moon.  The price for a three week stay without notice would be so damn high, granted that there was even a room available.

And just as quick as my journey had begun, I arrived.  Trying to secure a roof over my head, I quickly went to the nearest hotel.

"Sorry, no vacancies."  The first hotel said.

"No rooms for the night, I'm afraid."  Said the second hotel.

"We only rent by the hour."  The third, and frankly sketchy hotel said.  Yeah, I didn't want to stay there anyway.

It was the fourth hotel, though, that got me pretty damn mad.

"Ponies only, bub.  No rooms for you here."

I couldn't believe it.  Well, that was a lie.  It took a while for the ponies in Ponyville to warm up to me.  It was just it had been so long since I was met with such, dare I say, animosity toward me.

Dejected, I walked two blocks from that damn hotel inappropriately named the 'Welcome Wagon' and sat down on a park bench.  What a joke.  What was I to do.  I was supposed to stay here in this damn town for three weeks, and now I cannot even find a place to stay.

For the first time in my life, I actually did not know what to do.  I tried running every possiblility through my foggy mind.  Go back to Ponyville?  And feel the wrath of that Mayor?  No thank you.  Sleep outside?  Well, I could do that, but seeing clients after sleeping of the streets might not be the best thing in the world.  I guess I could have bribed a store owner into sleeping in a store for a good bit of money.  That seemed like the best choice, but it was one I didn't have to make.

Sitting on the bench with my face in my hands racking my brain on this issue, I felt a soft nudge on my shoulder.

"Hi Mister.  Are you alright?  You seem a bit sad."

I raised my head and looked at the pony talking to me.  But it wasn't just a normal pony.  No, she was...beautiful.  She had a soft face and a splattering a freckles dotted her cute nose.  Her mane was lush with a blue hue, and her eyes spoke of a soft and kind soul.  I could just not stop staring into those two beautiful eyes.

I think she noticed my trance and decided to break the silence.

"Oh where are my manners!  My name is Milky,  Milky Way!"  She said reaching out a hoof.

Milky Way.  That name brought so many feelings back to me.  It wasn't until years later that I realized something about her name.  I was cast away from Earth, away from home.  But even so, I found a new Milky Way....and a new home.  Fate is sometimes a strange mistress, isn't it.