Chapter 1: Flat Share Reluctance!
The story of how Eternia and Sinistra ended up in their flat. The beginning of a wonderful (?) friendship (??)!
It all started with a rather inconspicuous advertisement in the "Dolltopia Times".
The house was rather old, small and had a crooked layout but it seemed to be in a fair state and had two storeys. The street is was located in was directly next to the city park and closed for cards. So the location was quite and still not far from the city centre. That was very convenient for the young woman.
"Well, the house looks okay from the outside!" Eternia muttered to herself as she walked through the untended garden to the front door. Through the window she was able to take a peek at a corridor. An open door led to the livingroom where she could make out the corner of a sofa.
"The info on partly furnishing is correct too. Very nice."
The young woman was pleased to notice she seemed to be the only aspirant for the flat.
"Even if I get competition, I'll get this flat!" she insured herself. "The owner sounded very old on the phone. I'll just twist him around my little finger with my looks and bamm! I'll have the contract in my pocket! He prefers female tennants, after all, I bet he's some Peeping Tom."
Eternia grinned smugly and rang the doorbell. Soon she heard footsteps on the other side and the door swung open.
"Oh, hello! You've got to be the aspirant for the flat that I talked to on the phone!" said the pony man delightedly. "I am Indi and just inherited this fine house. As you can see it doesn't fit my requirements very well, but you have just the right size! May I ask your name?"
"Hrk!" was Eternia's first comment. She took a staggering step back while the card house of her plan tumbled to shreds.
"Uh... you... you are the landlord?"
"That I am. Is something wrong?"
"Oh, no, no!" Eternia quickly regained her composure. 'Buck up! You need this flat!' She put on a smile. "I was just surprised that such a fine young man... err... stallion... err... owns a house."
"Ho, you're flattering me, young lady! Don't think for a second that such things will manipulate my decision!" the pony replied with a conspiratiorial wink.
"Manipulate you? I hope you don't think that I could be planning something like that!" said Eternia with her most innocent look.
"Aw, no, you never would!" said the pony with another good-natured wink. "So, may I ask your name again?"
"My name is Eternia."
"Ah, Eternia. Good day to you! Maybe you want to take a look at the house now?"
"I would love to do that. The advertisement didn't mention we're talking about a house and not a flat, though."
The pony sighed. "Indeed, the newspaper made a mistake when they noted my information down. Tending the garden is one of the tennant's responsibilities. Does that disqualify the flat for you?"
"No!" Eternia looked around. She didn't like working in the dirt much but this garden was small and wouldn't cause much work.
"Ah, I'm happy to hear that!", said the pony man happily. "You can arrange the garden completely to your liking in return. Surely a little space for sunbaths or parties with your friends is a plus for a young lady like you, isn't it?"
"Sure..." Eternia got a little lost in thought while looking around, until she noticed that the pony man stretched his neck to look beyond her. "Ah, good timing! It seems there comes another candidate for the house!"