>You stretch as you walk outside of the healer's house, feeling the beams of sun on your face and the slight breeze waft through your beard.
>It has been far too long since you've felt that.
>After taking a moment to enjoy the outside, you turn to your companion, who led you outside of the, what she called, hospital.
>The small unicorn who tortured you with questions all throughout the healing process, Twilight.
>She smiles slightly.
>"Does it feel good to be outside after all that time in the hospital?"
>You take another deep breath before starting to walk forward.
"Aye, like ye wouldn' believe, lass."
>Strange, considering that you lived under a mountain for most of your life, you should have been fine with the surroundings.
>The surface world sure has spoiled you.
>She turns from you and begins to lead you in a non-specific direction.
"So, lass, where'r we goin'?"
>Twilight waves to a pony as she walks by, the pony in question returning the gesture but staring in shock at you.
>"Oh, we're going to Golden Oaks Library!"
>You raise an eyebrow.
"Look, lass, I like readin' as much as the next dorf, but I dinnae care for it right now."
>Twilight shakes her head.
>"No, it's where I live. Well, me and my assistant Spike, anyway."
"Yer assistant?"
>"Yes! Only the best Number One Assistant ever!"
>You nod and continue to follow her to her house.
>Which turns out to be a massive tree.
>So not only is it a Library and her house, it's a huge tree.
>You're getting massive elfish vibes from this one.
>"Well, we're here!"
>She moves up to the door and, with a small application of magic, the doorknob turns and the door creaks inward, and you walk into it with the unicorn.
>The first thing you see is books.
>Books everywhere.
>"Spike! I'm home, and I brought Anon with me!"
>You hear the sound of claws on wood, and a small waist-high something approaches from a doorway up some stairs.
>"Oh, really? I was wondering when I was gonna meet someone else who has claws!"
>Wait, claws?
>A moment passes before you realise that the small creature was, in fact, a dragon.
>A small one, but a dragon nonetheless.
>Your body can't help but prepare your fight or flight instincts as the small drake runs down the stairs to Twilight.
>A small portion of you wants to dash over and protect Twilight from the dragon, which you almost allow to happen...
>But then it hugs Twilight, whom returns it.
>They hold it for a few moments before it breaks, and the small drake looks at you.
>"So this is Anon the dwarf, right Twilight?"
>"Yep! Oh, Anon, this is Spike, my Number One Assistant!"
>The drag- Spike raises one of his claws to shake, and you gingerly take it and shake it once.
>One of his eyebrows raise as he sees your hand.
>"Where's your claws?"
"I dinnae have any claws, lad."
>"Then what are they called?"
"Hands."
>"...huh."
>He inspects them for a few moments, before smiling and looking up to you.
>"Well, it's nice to meet you, anon!"
"Likewise."
>A weird gurgling sound appears, and you and Spike turn your heads to see a bashful Twilight.
>Spike begins to tap his foot.
>"Twilight, did you skip lunch to meet Anon?"
>"No!"
>He continues to stare at her, and her ears lower as she avoids his gaze.
>"...yes."
>He sighs and faceclaws(?) before walking over and grabbing her foreleg, then walking off with her in tow.
>Spike turns his head to speak to you as he walks past.
>"She has this terrible habit of forgetting to eat when she's super excited about something. I have to make something for her to eat real quick, so go ahead and read some books while you wait."
>You nod, and he continues to drag her to the kitchen, her protests ringing out.
>"Spike, I'm a grown mare, I can cook for myself!"
>"What about last time, then?"
>"That was a fluke!"
>You pick up a book, thumbing through the pages.
>"And what about the time before that? And before that? And-"
>"Alright, you've made your point!"
>You chuckle slightly as you overhear the conversation, and your current predicament.
"Hehe. I cannae read."
 
>Some time later, the lavender unicorn walks out with Spike in tow.
>She looks quite happy with whatever he cooked up for her.
>"Did you find anything you might want to read, Anon?"
>You shake your head.
"Cannae even read the cover."
>Her sense of logic seems to overload at you saying that.
>"W-wha? Y-You can't read? But everypony should be able to- I know!"
>A manic grin starts to consume her face.
>"I can teach you to read! First, we'll have to get the books for foals to start off with, then we'll work our way up to-"
>Spike grabs a hold of her neck and shakes her lightly.
>Her grin disappears as she falls back to earth.
>She blinks a few times to clear her mind, and she turns to look at Spike.
>"...I started to do it again, didn't I."
>"Yup."
>You cough politely.
"If I may change the conversation, lass...I was curious as tae where I would be staying for my time in...eh, where are we again?"
>"Ponyville."
>What an original name...
"Ah, thank ye, lass. Ponyville."
>She falls to her hindquarters before she rubs a hoof on her chin.
>"Well, there is a spare room upstairs that you can use, so I was thinking that you could stay here until you get back on your hooves. Feet, I mean."
>You nod, and she continues on.
>"Although, I don't get enough money from the princesses to cover more than me and Spike, so you'd have to get a job or something."
>She looks to you for a moment.
>"What's your Cutie Mark?"
"Me what now?"
>She rolls her eyes, as if dealing with a very obvious question.
>"You know, your cutie mark. The thing that tells you what you're best at in life?"
>Twilight points to her own.
>"Everypony has one...oh. Right. You told me that your kind don't have those."
>She blushes slightly in embarrassment, before shaking her head.
>"Well, I'm pretty sure that you could fine something to do. You seem like a versatile po- dwarf."
>Twilight pauses for a moment, before seeming to remember something, going rigid.
>"Spike?"
>"Yeah?"
>"This might seem a bit silly, but...did I forget to do something today? Something very, very, important?"
>"What do you mean, Twi- Oh, Celestia, no."
>Twilight begins to rush upstairs, and you hear a massive ruckus sound out as she seems to be moving furniture.
>You look down to Spike, who is ashen-faced.
"Uh..what's the little lass all worried about?"
>He shakes his head in shock.
>"She forgot that we had to leave to meet her parents for dinner in Canterlot. They wanted to catch up with their daughter and son over dinner."
"Wait, ye have ponies as parents?"
>"Well, technically their son. They helped raise me, after all."
>You open your mouth to speak to him more, but Twilight dashes down the stairs and picks him up with her magic, before starting to run up them again.
>"C'mon, Spike, we have to get ready and then catch the next train!"
>He sighs as he floats upwards towards the bedroom.
>"We'll be back around ten, you're free to stay here until we get back! See ya, Anon!"
>You wave to him as he disappears around the corner, and walk out the front of the treebrary.
>Well, since you've got to find a job, what better time than now?
>You begin to walk down the street, intent on finding some work.
 
>So, you've learned two things since you set out on a job hunt.
>One: Twilight and her friends must have alerted the town to your presence and intentions, because there is no mass amount of panic in the streets.
>Two: It's hard as hell to find work without a...ugh, Cutie Mark.
>As you walk down the street, a massive wave of air blasts past you, followed by a rainbow streak.
>The creator of it slides to a halt in front of you, striking a pose as they slide to a halt.
>You snort bemusedly at the display of showboating.
"Lo there, Rainbow."
>She breaks the pose and begins to trot up to you, a confident smirk on her face.
>"Sup?"
>She raises a hoof, which you stare at for a moment.
"Well, I'm tryin' to find a job right now. Kinda hard tae- why are ye holding your hoof up like that?"
>She shakes it in place.
>"C'mon, pound it. Don't leave me hangin'."
>You raise an eyebrow in confusion and curl a fist up and push it onto her hoof.
>She makes a small explosion noise, before lowering her hoof.
>"So, job hunting, huh? Any luck?"
>You motion for her to follow.
"Nay. Seems that most don't want to hire anyone that doesn't have a mark."
>She winces.
>"Ugh, that's gotta be painful. So, why are you finding a job anyway?"
"Got tae find somethin' tae work for so I can get money to pay for my food with. I'm stayin' at Twilight's, and she doesn't have enough tae pay for a guest."
>She nods.
>"Well, I'll put in a few good words for you if I can. It's the least I can do for someone that saved Scoots."
>Smiling slightly, you raise a hand and ruffle her mane with it.
"Thank ye, Rainbow. Though, I've got a question for ye."
>She flails her front hooves to get your hand off of it.
>"Don't do that!"
>She looks to you with her muzzle scrunched, before de-scrunching it and looking forward again.
>"...what did you want to ask me?"
"Ah, nothin' much. Just how welcome street performers are."
>She flaps her wings, taking to the air and floating near you.
>"Well, if you don't try to take over Ponyville, you're pretty welcome."
"Someone tried to take over Ponyville?"
>"Yeah. Some egotistical mare called Trixie."
"Said the pot tae the kettle."
>"Wazzat supposed to mean?"
"Nothin'."
>She looks suspiciously at you for a moment before continuing to follow.
>"Why did you ask that, anyway?"
>You stop, looking at your surroundings.
>Judging from the amount of ponies, it appears that this is the main square.
>Perfect.
>You take the small satchel of your back and toss it at your feet.
"Exactly what I asked ye about, Rainbow."
>You reach down and take up a small waterskin and a clear-cut glass cup, and fill it almost to the brim, and hold it up into the light to inspect it further.
>You verify the fullness of the cup, and hold it out in front of you.
>Rainbow looks at you with confusion in her eyes.
>"Uh...what are you doing?"
>You clear your throat.
"Balance is an important thing, Rainbow. Which I will be demonstrating in only a moment."
>One of the things you had to learn while on the road was how to perform for a crowd.
>Because people were most easily wowed by physical feats, you merely transitioned some of your training to an act.
>This one, the most rudimentary one of all, is to simply balance the cup as you move it around.
>You drop the cup, and the few ponies that stopped to watch it prepare to hear the shattering of glass as their eyes follow the cup towards the ground.
>Just before it hits it, you shoot your right foot out and catch it on the top of it, and begin to bring it forward and up.
>A couple of the ponies who stopped move forward to get a better view.
>You bring your leg even further up, making a 110 degree angle, tossing the cup up slightly and balancing it on your toes.
>A quick jump upwards and you catch it and balance it on your brow, moving back and forth as to not spill a drop of water.
>The small crowd of ponies stomp their hooves in a mimicry of clapping, drawing more and more passerbys towards you.
>You can't help but smile.
>More spectators equals more money, after all.
>You shift the pack on your back, now half filled with gold coins.
>They sure are generous, here in horseland.
>You only expected to get a couple handfuls of silver for your efforts, but now you can eat for months on end!
>Rainbow has since said her goodbyes and left, seeming to be slightly impressed with your skills of balance.
>Of course, she claimed the exact opposite to be the truth.
>She is silly, that one.
 
>You walk up the steps to the treebrary, opening the door and stepping inside.
>The lights are off as you walk around, and as your darkvision starts to take over, you see a multitude of ponies basically surrounding you.
>Their breaths seem held back, but eager.
>It seems they want to surprise you.
>But for what-
>You see a banner above everyone with some writing on it.
>It would be a nice gesture, if you could read their language.
>You walk over to flip the switch on the wall (which you learned in the 'Hospital' powered the lanterns), and suddenly a mass breath is taken in by the ponies in the room.
>"SURPRISE!!!"
>Your ears ring slightly as they all speak at once, and you rub them to get rid of the sound.
>Pinkie Pie bounces up to you, the smile ever present on her face.
>"Welcome to Ponyville, Nonny!"
>A smile finds it's way to your face.
"Thank ye, lass. I'm feelin' right welcome here."
>"So, whaddya wanna do first?"
>You begin to open your mouth to speak, but she interrupts you.
>"There's a lot to do, over there's the darts, pin the tail on the pony-"
"Pinkie."
>"-a table full of sweets and treats-"
"Pinkie."
>"Oh! Oh! And there's-"
>You clap your hand over her mouth, and look her square in the eyes.
"I need to ask you something, Pinkie. This is of grave importance."
>She nods behind your hand, and you remove it from her muzzle.
"Did you bring any alcohol?"
>She nods excitedly.
>"Yeppers! We've got cider from AJs farm, vodka from Stalliongrad, wine from Prance..."
>Your smile only grows as the list becomes longer and longer.
>Oh, ale, how you missed it so.
 
>You are Twilight Sparkle, and you are coming home from dinner with your parents in Canterlot.
>It was nice to catch up with your mother and father, even if they were once again pressuring you to find a nice stallion.
>Or in Spike's case, a nice mare.
>Too bad for your parents, he only has eyes for one of your friends.
>Poor Spike.
>Speaking of your little brother, he's asleep on your back.
>You feel the same as him, the entire evening has exhausted you.
>As you walk to your house, you notice the lights being on.
>How kind of Anon to turn them on for you and mind the house!
>You trot up to the doorway and up the small set of stairs, and open the door.
>It feels like you're hit with a wave of alcohol tinged air as it rushes outside.
>Ponies are passed out all over the floor, the stairs, even one in the window.
>There are only three beings left in some semblance of awareness.
>Anon, Pinkie, and Berry Punch.
>They all drunkenly turn to you, and slur out their greetings.
>You swear you can smell the alcohol on their breath from where they sit.
>The small group begins to stand up, but they all trip over each other and land in a heap.
>Said heap begins to snore.
>Loudly.
>You groan as you begin to clean up all of the ponies into different areas.
>It's gonna be a long night...