Chapter Text
Chapter 1: The New Pony
It was a clear, sunny, Spring morning in Equestria, and the town of Ponyville is relatively calm and serene; the local ponies are either bantering of what they’ve been doing, having some innocent fun or even commenting on the Mane 6’s recent antics.
As if on cue, Rainbow Dash made a hard landing by the fountain in the town square after practising her flying to impress the Wonderbolts; after taking some much needed breaths, she wore a cocky grin as a familiar regal voice spoke “*Sigh* Dash, darling, must you make such a spectacle of yourself this early in the day?”
Dash turned her head to see an unamused Rarity approaching her from her boutique, which she replied with self-confidence “Heh! I gotta train hard and flat-out if I’m going to join the Wonderbolts! After all, everypony knows that hard work pays off.” Rarity rolled her eyes and thought that there’s a clear distinction between honest effort and plain showing off, but in light of their friendship, she thought better than to voice it aloud.
They were then suddenly informed by a Royal Guard to back away the eastern space of the fountain; they asked why that was the case, but the guard just told them to keep their distance. Just as they were moved somewhat forcefully to the northern part of the fountain, they saw a massive Griffin descending from the Northeast… and it was carrying a wheel-less carriage via a harness.
It then landed rather professionally on the eastern space of the fountain and they both have a clearer image of the Griffin and the compartment it was hauling: a massive Griffin, looking the size of a basic cottage (give or take 20 inches bigger), having a beautiful coat of white feathers on its head and a golden brown on its body; the carriage itself was attached to a reinforced harness on the Griffin’s torso, with a polished hardwood surface and golden window panels, door handles and door steps.
Rarity and Rainbow Dash saw the words ‘Griffin Services’ embroidered on the harness as a small crowd of local ponies gathered around the scene in awe, since it’s highly rare for a Griffin to appear, much less one hauling a wheel-less carriage. They murmured on whether a noble has arrived, if it was a new pony moving in or if it was a special package meant for this type of transport.
The door opened adjacent to the one facing the fountain, as the crowd awed at the passenger coming out of the carriage; neither Rarity or Rainbow Dash could see, since the carriage was blocking their sight, but they overheard the crowd, specifically the females, comment on how charming the passenger is.
They saw a red gem flicked high in the air and into the Griffin’s tip pouch, who made a single nod at its passenger, before it then flew off back in the direction it came from; they briefly saw the passenger as they went to the direction of the Royal Palace, but all they saw was that they had a white body.
A little later, at the Throne Room of the Royal Palace, Princess Celestia is currently writing to Twilight Sparkle about their next magical lesson, when one of the Royal Guards came into the room and announced with a respectable bow “Princess Celestia, you have a visitor: a new pony that arrived from the northern territories.”
Princess Celestia nodded in acknowledgement and responded “Send them in, please.” The guard bowed again and sent in the new pony, who came in to full view: A male young Alicorn (a rare sight), with a white body and mane (with silver streaks on the latter), a pair of light blue eyes, a pair of white wings, a weathered brown gem pouch hung around his neck and a cutie mark on his flank in the form of a halo resting on a cloud with wings.
He bowed reverently before Princess Celestia and spoke in a soft voice “Princess Celestia, it’s such an honour to be in your presence; I am Raph and I came to Ponyville from the stone capital of Stonehold, seeking a new life here.” Celestia couldn’t help but make a little blush, seeing how… pure the young male Alicorn is and soft his voice is; she thinks that he might be birthed from an angel, before she cleared her throat upon realising her thoughts are getting off track.
She then spoke regally “It’s a pleasure to meet you, young Raph; new ponies are always welcome here in Ponyville and I am happy to help you out.” She then summoned a property ledger from the Archives Room and spoke as she scrolled through the available vacant properties, before she came upon a promising choice: a standard cottage, close to the Sweet Apple Acres with the addition of the garden plot in the back.
She then showed it to Raph, who had a disinterested expression, especially at the cost of 500 gems; he then shook his head and noted “My apologies, Princess, but it doesn’t feel… fitting for me.” Celestia looked disappointed and shelved the Property Ledger, when Raph had a sudden thought and asked “What about that abandoned Water Mill at the southern portion of Ponyville?”
Celestia then looked surprised, not even thinking about that option; although the Water Mill isn’t part of the Property Ledger, she summoned the Utility Ledger (which is thinner than the Property Ledger) and flipped to the information regarding the Water Mill.
Although the latest information entails that the overgrown briar has been preventing the Water Wheel’s gear system from moving and that the debris from the weathered roof has cluttered the interior, it also indicates that the cleanup isn’t complex either. She then showed the details about the abandoned Water Mill to Raph, including the cost of ownership to the deeds is the total of 350 gems.
Nodding, Raph is in the process of opening his gem pouch, which Celestia held up her right hoof to stop him and assured him “It won’t be necessary for you to pay for the property; I will pay it in your stead.” Raph shook his head and argued soundly “I understand of your consideration, your Radiant Grace, but I do not wish to incur a debt with one of your position.”
Celestia nodded her head, understanding his reasoning and that it is an excellent counterpoint, before he gave 350 gems exactly to Princess Celestia, who magically sent them to the treasury in exchange for the deed to the Water Mill.
After witnessing Raph writing his signature on the Ownership Deed, Celestial placed the completed form inside a vacant envelope and sealed it with the… well, Royal Seal. After taking it gently, Raph made another gracious bow before he spoke “Thank you very much, Princess Celestia… I hope that we will see each other very soon.”
Celestia nodded and watched Raph leave the Royal Palace, which she thought to herself ‘What a considerate young Alicorn… He isn’t from royalty, yet he speaks rather regally of his age…’ She then looked straight, wondering what he did back at Stonehold.