"That'll be seven bits."
>The mare smiles as she fishes out seven, golden bits and lays them on the counter for you.
>You pick them up and bid her farewell, taking the fruit with her.
>The smell of exotic fruits has filled your nostrils for the past several hours.
>You run the exotic fruit stand in Ponyville, curtosy of the Hollow Shades Fruit company.
>It's mostly mangoes, but there are also bananas, lychees, and starfruits.
>Usually, you sell out the entire stand by the end of the day.
>You were already over half done your stocks.
>It wasn't even noon, yet.
>You wonder when -she- will give you a visit, today.
>She, who is standing around the corner of the building five feet from where you are.
>She, who's blue tail has been peaking out for the past two hours.
>She, who doesn't think you see her.
>Every time a pony passes by that corner, they give her a curious glance.
>You sigh.
>Another two hours pass, and your stock is almost completely depleted.
>Only a few mangoes are left.
>You're glad, because you can leave as soon as the last one sells.
>And the tail hasn't moved.
>Until now.
>Finally, you see the tail retract, and two bright, amber eyes peak from around the corner at you.
>You're looking straight at her with a bored expression, your head resting on a hand,
>She gasps and quickly pulls back.
>You sigh.

>Another hour passes and she steals several more attempts of peaking at you.
>When another customer comes and you are left with one, last mango, you can hear her wimper.
>Finally, a hoof reluctantly steps from around the corner.
>Five minutes pass before another hoof follows, until she finally, shakily exposes herself to you.
>She looks like she was crying.
>Her blue mane was unkempt and the grey fur on her face was slightly matted.
>She tries to put on a friendly smile as she approaches.
>Instead, she looks like she's sick.
>After what seems like a ten minute walk for a staggering distance of five feet, she reaches your stall.
>You tap your fingers on the wooden counter.
"Hello, how may I help you?" you say in a bored tone.
>You aren't paid enough to deal with this shit.
>She ignores your exasperation.
>"H-h-hello..." 
>Her chest is heaving.
>Her eyes are wide.
>You wait for her to say something.
>Instead, she beings to hyperventilate.
>"H-h... hah... haah..."
>You roll your eyes.
"Would you like to buy the last mango? Final stock sale is 50 percent off."
>"Heeh... haaah...!"
>She falls to the floor, belly up, heaving.

>After a big sigh, you grab the mango and make your way around the counter.
"Echo, are you okay?"
>She twitches her head to you.
>Her breathing becomes heavier, but she tries to make a gesture to you with her hooves.
>It just looks like she's pawing the air.
>You have no idea what she's trying to say.
>Tears begin to form around her eyes.
"Ugh. Come on, don't cry."
>"I-I... W-would you..."
>She trails off.
"Here, you can have the mango for free. On me."
>You hold out the mango.
>Her eyes widen and her breathing seems to come to a stop.
>For a whole minute, she just lays there and stares at the mango.
>Another day, another awkward experience with this mare.
>Before you retract your arm, she leaps up and swipes the mango into her mouth.
"Hey!"
>She sprints, darting around the corner.
>What the hell.
>Seriously.
>It was free, anyways.
>You sigh.
>Fucking Echo.