Welcome to Ponyville

[Vilkas]

Welcome to Ponyville! Please enjoy your stay. I'm sure everypony will make lots of friends and perhaps even find love.

[The Family God]

Obsidian stood before a stove in a rather quaint-looking home, a pan yielding what could be described as stir-fried vegetables hovering over the red-hot coils engulfed in a crimson glowing aura. She could faintly hear light hoofsteps over towards the staircase leading to the bedrooms. Turning curiously towards the stairs, however, the mare gound that she couldn't see the source of the hoofsteps, her mind also registering that the hoofsteps had halted as she had turned to try and find the source.

With a chuckle and a smirk, Obsidian turned her attention back to the food she was preparing. "Good morning, May..." the mare commented, turning her head just enough to look to the stairs out of tge corner of her eye.

As her sentence ended, the shape of a relatively-insectoid filly appeared on the stairs, her visage hinting at mild disappointment. "Aww, how did you know?!" the filly asked Obsidian.

The mare giggled softly, "Just because you were invisible doesn't mean I can't hear you."

"But...you couldn't see me, right?"

Obsidian smiled warmly, "No, May, I could not see you. Very impressive spellcraft there."

The filly smiled widely, "Thanks, mom! I've been working on that spell all week," she added, picking up a set of saddlebags from the corner nearest to the door.

"It shows. Oh, and before you go rummaging through your bags, I've already packed a lunch for you. Added enough flavor for you to enjoy it as well as enough food to keep your friends getting overly curious."

"Oh good, you didn't forget this time," the filly chuckled, her form quickly being replaced by a unicorn filly after momentarily being engilfed in a puff of green flame. The filly then opened the door, stepping out onto tge concrete doorstep. "Bye, mom!"

Obsidian turned to the door, waving to the filly, "Bye! Have a good day at school!" she called, turning back to her food.

* * *

About an hour later, Obsidian stood outside a closed building, barely a stone's throw from the Carousel Boutique. Pulling out a key from her saddlebags, she could faintly hear a train pulling up into the station a fair distance from her. She rolled her eyes as she unlocked the door, turning on the lights and turning a sign by the window to indicate the workshop was 'open'. "Tourists..." she muttered, "This could be a long day..."

[evan..relic]

Geo stepped of the train and looked around, turning his head, he checked that everything that he had brought with him was still present in his saddlebags.

Content that everything was there, he pulled out a map, walked over to a nearby wall so he wasn't in the way of everypony else that was coming off of the train, he began examining the map, he wanted to find Sweet Apple Acres; the Apple family had asked for his help in solving a peculiar plague that was affecting their crops and it was one that they, with all of their skill, that they couldn't figure out.

Unable to get his bearings, and being unfamiliar with Ponyville so his directional abilities were useless for now, he looked around and spying a workshop, he walked in and looking to the mare, he asked politely, "Excuse me, where would Sweet Apple Acres be? The Apple family hired me to solve a particular conundrum."

[The Family God]

Obsidian looked over to the front door, pausing her current bit of metalwork, a sword with a heated tiP as well as a hammer floating in her aura. By the celestial sisters, the tourists are here already? she thought to herself idly. Setting her tools down, she turned to the colt and was about to revite her usual 'Welcome to the Ponyville Forge, what can I get for you?' when she heard the male speak before she could let a word out.

Registering what the male had asked of her, she rolled her eyes. Pointing out the window, she replied with "Travel down Mane Street for a bit until you hit a bakery called Sugarcube Corner, from there you should be able to see City Hall. In there they're giving out free maps for potential citizens. If you're just looking to stay for a short while, though, tourists can still get them for five bits each."

With that, she turned about, heading back to her work, once more picking up her tools and manipulating the flames of the forge to her liking. Noting that she probably wouldn't get much more company that day, and considering the sound of metal against metal was starting to grate against her nerves already, she spoke up again, addressing the colt, "If you don't mind me saying, you don't exactly look like much of an apple farmer. You just helping them out with the harvest, then?" she asked, trying to make small talk as she used her magic to mould the blade's hilt to her liking.

[evan..relic]

Nodding, "Thank you."

He took in her question, "The Apple family requested my help in helping them deal with a strange sickness that seems to affecting a number of their crops as I specialize in earth magics, I'm doing it free of charge as I realize that things might be rather lean for them. Normally I live up in Canterlot, but I'm more than willing to hit the dirt as it were, I'm not like Blue Blood, he's...well..." He trailed off, not wanting to speak ill of anyone.

"Depending on how much work there is, I may consider purchasing a home here as I rather enjoy this quaint feel, definitely a pleasant change from those...those...ponies in Canterlot."

Watching the mare mold the hilt, an idea struck him, "My magics also extend to locating metals under the ground, should I choose to stay, I'd be more than willing to aid you in gathering metals should your stores run low. Could potentially be a job."

Realizing, "Oh my apologies, my name is Geo. Geo Terra." He grinned slightly.

[The Family God]

Obsidian chuckled softly as the colt ended his speech. "Quite the talkative colt, aren't you?" she joked, "Let me just set down my things for a moment..." she hastily added, doing exactly what she had said she would, setting her equipment down near the forge and altering the heat of the flames to a less searing temperature.

"Where to begin? Suppose we could start with your apparent place of origin, Canterlot. So...you're trained in magic, so I'll assume you went to the school up that way...you know of Prince Blueblood's apparent temperament...you aren't even close to the prissy personalities one generally finds up that way, and you share Small Town opinions on Canterlot culture...my, my, my, seems like you've got quite a story to you."

[evan..relic]

He laughed, "Actually, I only really started talking after Discord's attack. Before that I was quite shy."

He nodded as he listened to what she said, "Correct. I went to Celestia's School when my parents noticed that my magic encompassed a rather wide range, basically anything organic, and I excelled at the classes. As my dad was high on the Canterlot pecking order, I met a great many personalities there, including Blueblood. My mother on the other hand, was actually from Ponyville and would bring me down here for rather tiny visits to get away from the...eh...snobs, I suppose the word would be, in Canterlot. This is actually my first real visit."

Realizing that he had been rambling for a few minutes, he backed up a step and blushed, he rubbed his front left leg on his front right, "Whoops. Sorry. I...I should let you get back to your work."

[The Family God]

Obsidian chuckled softly, waving a foreleg to point out the lack of customers. "Suppose you're right, you are holding up the line after all," she commented, her sentence thick wih sarcasm.

"Tell ya what, colt, you head on out, get your map and do your thing up at Sweet Apple Acres. After that, if you've got nohing better to do before six in the evening, drop on by here again, then we could discuss things further, perhaps even bringing up the topic of your potential employment," she commented, her tone indicating that she was closing the conversation as ahe moved back to her work near the forge.

[evan..relic]

Geo chuckled at the thick sarcasm, "If not, I'll come by tomorrow, I'm sure the Apple family will have a spare room, or if not, I think a friend of mine actually lives here in Ponyville, I think she might have a spare room if anything." With that, he walked out of the store.

Walking down one of the lanes, Geo contently sighed to himself, he had a feeling that he would enjoy himself here.

Following the mare's directions, he found himself at City Hall, at that point he begin to wonder whether or not to actually look into buying a house.

Shrugging, he walked up to City Hall while digging into his coins for the five bits for a map, he figured he'd need it if he did or didn't buy a house.

[Vilkas]

Elusive saw his chance, ran up to the new colt, and robbed him blind. He ran with incredible speed out of City Hall with the colts coins.

[evan..relic]

Geo froze as his mind tried to grasp what had just happened.

Finally grinding into gear, he ran after the colt, "Stop, theif!" He called. The eyes of the hooful of ponies followed him as he ran

He was clearly outmatched in speed, he slowed to a stop several houses away from City Hall, panting, "Well, ain't this a pretty bucket of apples." He said to himself grumpily.

He sighed, "Might as well see if any of the locals can point me to Sweet Apple Acres." He turned around and began asking.

Thankfully a mare that was chatting with her friend was gracious enough to point him in the right direction, he groaned as he made his way to the farm, My pop's gonna have a fit... He thought grimly to himself.

[Vilkas]

Elusive sat in front of Big Macintosh, trying to catch his breath as he exchanged the coins for what apples he could afford.

After grabbing the sack of apples in his mouth Elusive nodded at Big Macintosh and headed off to a cave not to far from Sweet Apple Acres where a group of orphans awaited him.

There were enough apples for the children to have one each, but there was none left for Elusive.

[evan..relic]

Geo came over the hill just in time to see the colt that had pilfered his money left, "You!" He hissed. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Big Macintosh, he shook his head and started to follow the young colt.

He peered out from around a tree nearby to the cave and silently gasped when he saw the orphans, an involuntary tear came to his eye, So there still are good hearts in the world...

[Vilkas]

Elusive ushered the children back into the cave and headed back to Ponyville.

He went to Rarity's shop and began working right away.

[evan..relic]

Geo looked up at the sky and gauged the time to be around noon, he was sure that the Apple family wouldn't mind if he was a bit behind schedule.

Mentally marking the location of the cave, he followed as closely as he could, he found the colt going into Rarity's shop, at this point he debated on whether or not to go in and confront the colt.

He dimly remembered his mother getting Rarity to make a dress for her the last time he had came down to Ponyville. Deciding, he walked over to the door and walked in, the bell chiming as the door opened.

((I can't roleplay Rarity worth shit.))

[Vilkas]

Confident the colt didn't recognize him, but still doing his best not to be in one place long enough for a good look, Elusive greeted the colt with a hearty "Welcome! Welcome to the best boutique in all of Ponyville! No! Dare I say it's the best boutique in all of Equestria!"

[evan..relic]

Geo glared at the colt, "Yes, yes you may..." Trying to keep his voice calm.

Looking around and seeing that they were alone, "You stole from me, didn't you? And don't bother trying to weasel your way out of it, I don't forget faces too easily."

[Vilkas]

(("I don't forget faces too well" -should be- "I don't forget faces too easily"))

Elusive shrugged and said "I have no idea what you're talking about. Perhaps you're mistaking me for that thief that's been going around Ponyville, stealing anything he can get. No dear sir, I am just a pony with a face everypony thinks they recognize. Now, Rarity is a close friend of mine dear sir, and it would serve you well not to accuse me of thievery"

[evan..relic]

((I'll fix it...))

Geo sighed, "I'm not trying to cause any trouble, but does a certain cave a little ways away from Sweet Apple Acres ring any bells?"

[Vilkas]

Elusive replied with the sweetest smile "No. Best not to question such things in any case. You may find a bullet to the skull in the near future"

[evan..relic]

The hairs on Geo's neck prickled at the colt's voice, "However, I'm not angry with you, if it was you, though I know I followed the same colt. Admittedly, I was at first, then I found out why you had done it. Those...orphans, I suppose they are. The you, assuming so, took my coins to pay for apples from Bic Macintosh to give to said orphans. I know what I saw, but I will leave following your next words, this I promise." He held up a hoof in a respectful gesture.

((Geo can be persistent when he wants to be.))

[The Family God]

The small alabaster mare stepped out from the back room of the boutique, a set of red glasses adorning her visage and a measuring tape loosely hanging from her neck. She turned to face the ponies a bit excitedly, "Oh, Elusive, you didn't tell me we had a customer," the mare spoke as if customers were a rare occurance, "Welcome to Carousel Boutique, good sir, just in case dear Elusive here forgot to extend one to you. Is there anything I, or Elusive, can help you with?" she asked, her glasses and measuring tape already being carried off on a quick journey to the backroom, carried in the same glow as her horn.

[evan..relic]

Geo shook his head, another plan was hatching in his head, "No, no, I was just looking around, and was just leaving. Good day Miss Rarity and to you...Elusive." He turned towards the door and walked out.

Retracing his steps, he made his way back towards the farm, speaking with Big Mac, he was led up to a field where a majority of plants were drooping and some of them were black and shriveled and in the distance, he could see a few trees that were looking worse for the wear, "Hmmm... I'll get to work immediately, Big Mac, I'll come up to the farmhouse later today with my results."

Big Mac nodded and walked away.

"I've seen more talkative ponies..." He trailed off, again not wanting to speak ill of anypony.

Pulling a notepad and quill from his saddlebags, he walked out onto the field and began looking, his horn glowing with a soft light as he prodded the dirt with said magic, Aeration's good, so is moisture... He quickly scratched down some notes.

* * *

Geo got up from his belly, and looked up to the sky, gauging the time to be around 5 or so, he read back over the notes he had made. There was one note that bothered him, the one that he had circled and underlined several times. He gulped nervously and debated whether or not to tell the Apple family what he found. Deciding he would tell them, he dusted himself off and put the quill and parchment away in his saddlebags and set off back up to the farmhouse.

He was greeted by Applejack at the door, "Well, howdy there Mr. Terra-"

Geo held up a hoof cutting her off, "Please, just Geo."

"Well then Geo, what'd you find out there?" He could tell that she was nervous as it tinged her words.

"Well, for one, the plants are definitely sick." He said slowly, gauging his words carefully.

"Well, we all know that, but what with?" AJ said slightly impatiently.

"Well, that's what got me concerned, this isn't an ordinary sickness, due to my sensitivities to magic, I'm afraid to say that there is some sort of magic affecting your crops. But as to the origin of the magic, that I do not know."

Applejack stared at him in disbelief, "Anything you can do Geo?"

"The fortunate thing is that this magic seems to be spreading extremely slowly, so it would be safe to say that I have time to formulate a plan of action against this malady." Geo said quickly, wanting to get it off of his chest, "Can you keep the exact details quiet for the time being?"

AJ, "That I can do. Please hurry though, the affected crops are useless to us."

Geo nodded, "I have a meeting with the Ponyville blacksmith soon, then I'll go to the library and start researching." He walked towards the porch and walked down the few steps.

"You mean Miss Obsidian? And thank you for this Geo." AJ called out.

Geo looked back, "I guess so and it's my pleasure." He launched in to a light canter down the path back to Ponyville. Finding his way back to the shop, he walked in and looked around, "Uh... Miss Obsidian? It's me, Geo? I'm back." He said.

[The Family God]

Ovsidian looked up to the door to her smithy, having heard the familiar jingle of the bell. Seeing who it was at the door she set down her gear, walking back over to the counter.

"Ah, Geo. Haven't forgotten about earlier," she replied, leaning over the counter a bit informally. "Judt as a forewarning, I've got to close up in the next half hour, so we had either best make this quick, or we discuss further on the way back to my home."

[evan..relic]

"It doesn't matter to me really either way, we can talk however long is necessary; I had a run in with the apparent Ponyville Pilferer on my way to City Hall." Geo shrugged nonchalantly, remembering some of the posters he had seen around town. "And what money I had is, well, gone."

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