>You are Anon and…
>“Oooooh yeahhhhh…”
>Uh…
>“That’s the spot. Now, harder!”
>It’s really not what it sounds like…
>Smiling and holding back your laughter, Moonlight purred like a cat while you scratched her back and ears.
>Last night had been one of the best times you’d had here in Hollow Shades.
>You’d told Moonlight and Pull Tab about your awful date with Cascade, and you thought they almost choked on their food when you told them about what happened at Cascade’s house.
>Most of all they made you feel like you had something that you didn’t in P0nyville.
>Safety.
>Stopping for a second to let Moonlight rest, she stretched. You smiled playfully.
“With all that purring I could have sworn you were part cat.”
>Blushed, her face turned a bright scarlet red.
>“I-I didn’t purr!”
“Yeah, you did! Just like a kitten! Meow. Meow.”
>Oh boy, did she really start blushing then.
>“S-shut up!” 
“Moonlight the kitty cat has a nice ring to it don’t you think?”
>She growled, it was adorable. You smiled.
“Alright, settle down. I’m just playing around.”
>Too late. 
>She wiggled her butt and pounced on you just like a cat would. 
>“I’m not a cat!”
>What she didn’t know is that humans have more strength than ponies. 
>Picking her up and  setting her down on your lap like a cat or lap dog you begin to stroke her mane and coat. 
“When Mr. Bigglesworth gets upset people… Die!”
>She shot you a confused look.
>“What are you talking about, Anon? And why did you call me Mr. Bigglesworth?”
>You could only laugh.
>After several minutes of explaining the movie, and teasing her about being a cat, you both settled down and put in a girly movie that she had wanted to watch.
1/6

>A scene came up later in the movie that made it feel too similar to your life.
>The character packed their bags and boarded a train in the middle of the night. 
>You could barely watch, it brought back the worst of memories.
>Getting up, you began to walk to the door when Moonlight called out to you.
>“Hey Anon, where are you going?”
>Smiling, you simply remarked with,
“Out to get some fresh air.”
>Outside was chilly, but not nearly as bad as you thought it’d be.
>Looking up at the moon with it showing only half of itself tonight, you remembered how you used to look at the moon in P0nyville. 
>“It’s a nice moon out tonight, isn’t it?"
>You jumped a little, but it was only Moonlight.
>Walking over and sitting down beside you, she looked toward the moon too.
>“When I was growing up I used to just look at the moon for hours.”
>A moment passed, and you sighed softly.
>“P0nyville on your mind?”
>Had she been taking lessons from the bartender?
“Yeah…”
>Her gaze shifted from the moon to you.
>“Anon, if you ever want to talk about it. I’m here.”
>She turned her gaze back to the moon.
>Getting to the door, you wanted to go back inside and pretend like nothing had ever happened, but at the last second you turned around.
>Sitting back down beside her you looked back up toward the moon. A chilly breeze blew by and Moonlight wrapped her wings around her body.
>You’d seen bat ponies do this all the time to keep themselves warm. 
>Eventually a couple minutes passed before you broke the silence.
“Moonlight?”
>“Hmm?”
“Have you ever been in a situation where no matter what you do nothing will ever change for the better?”
>“No, I haven’t.”
>You looked back to the moon.
“I have.”
2/6

>You burst through the door.
“I can’t take it anymore!”
>You stomped toward the pony levitating potions and empty beakers. 
“This time she almost got me, but next time? I don’t want to even think about it…”
>“Just go talk to the local guards or something.”
>You’d done that a hundred times and nothing ever happened. 
“All I’m asking is that you put a spell on her or something to make her stay away from me.”
>“I can’t do that and you know it.”
“Well what can you do? You’re the only one that actually seems to listen. Pinkie and Rainbow Dash are useless, Rarity went up on my clothes… again, and Applejack told me to just buck up and take it like a stallion. You’re the only one that actually understands and cares about what’s going on.”
>You sighed deeply.
“I can’t keep doing this Twilight. I'm afraid, afraid she'll finally succeed.”
>Sitting the beakers and glass down gently, she turned to face you.
>She bore a small sad smile.
>“Anon, I know we’ve been close friends for some time. We read the same books, enjoy the same foods, and I’d like to think we could be more than just friends…”
>That last part brought a smile and red hot blush to your face.
>The memories of lying on your back side by side gazing into the starry night were very vivid, or the hours and hours you and her laughed about the oddities of human culture.  
“…but,”
>she continued and your smile slowly began to fade, 
>“Fluttershy is my friend, and I cannot just use some magic on her just because I want to make her stop. I know how hard it is for you, but you’re just going to have to live with the fact that Fluttershy wants you. I know that isn’t what you want to hear, and I’m sorry.” 
3/6    

>Defeated, your eyes fell to the floor and you turned to walk out of the library. What more could you do? 
>You’d tried everything and even that wasn’t enough. 
>Reaching the stairs of Twilight’s private study, you looked over your shoulder at your cute purple pony with such a disappointed look upon her. 
>That was the look of failing a friend in need.
“I understand, Twilight.”
>Descending the stairs from her private study, you felt jaded as if your hands and feet moved on their own.
>You were on autopilot, or just going through the motions as they say.
>She’d never stop until she got what she wanted.
>On the way out something peculiar caught your eye on the community job postings. 
>‘Help Wanted: Strong and able worker to relocate immediately to Hollow Shades.’
>Suddenly, an idea popped in your head. 
>If you couldn’t get her to stop or anyone to help, then you’d escape. 
>Taking the flyer, you quickly got home before they released Fluttershy from jail.
>Calling the number, they were delighted to hear from someone about the job.
>The hours seemed decent, but the pay was mediocre compared to what you were making.  
>The company even went as far to look into getting you into an apartment or a home. 
>They gave you a dozen numbers for mostly apartments, but one house in particular was outside of town enough to be somewhat similar to the home you currently rented.
>She gave you the price, and you were instantly sold.   
>Calling back the company, you told them that everything was set and you were on your way as soon as the train departed that night.
>Packing your bags with books and clothes, you thought of telling Twilight of your plans, but you thought it best not to. 
>In the midst of your packing, you heard a knock at your front door. You knew not to even answer it. 
>Eventually the knocking went away and all your bags were packed and ready to go.
4/6

>The wait was dreadful, and long.
>You were filled with so much excitement and joy to finally escape that you thought you’d burst.
>At the same time you thought about how much Twilight had meant to you, and you’d be throwing all that away. 
>Sighing deeply, you took a piece of parchment from your room and began to write a letter to her.
To my dearest Twilight Sparkle,
I am afraid I can no longer deal with Fluttershy’s unwanted advances. I am leaving Ponyville to preserve my mental and physical health. I hope you understand, and forgive me for not telling you in person.
Love,
 Anon
>You rolled it up, and grabbed a peach from the fruit basket on your kitchen table and sat it down on top to hold it in place.
>It was dark outside now, and time for you to depart. 
>You had already gotten the money for your train ticket ready.
>Locking up your house for the last and final time was such an odd feeling.
>You started to recall all the little things that you had intended to fix, but never got around to it.           
>Oh well, no sense in worrying about it now. 
>Taking back roads to make sure none were following, you eventually arrived at the train station. 
>You walked up to the teller, and put your bits on the counter.
“One way ticket to Hollow Shades, please.” 
>The buck took the bits, and gave you a ticket.
>“You moving?”
>A smile spread like wildfire across your face.
“Nah, more like escaping.”
>“Uh, okay. The train ride will take a couple days, so get comfortable.”
>Before you got on the train you took one last look at P0nyville and smiled one last sad smile.
“Goodbye Twilight.” 
5/6

>You are Moonlight.
>Anon just finished telling you why he had left P0nyville.
>Tears streamed down your cheeks. 
>You felt so bad about everything that had happened to him. 
>You wish that you could do something to make it up to him for having to leave his close friend.
>“Moonlight, are you okay?”
>Your hooves spring out and hug him tightly around his chest.
>He flinched, but relaxed quickly enough. 
>You have no idea how long you hugged him for just feeling his warm breath on the top of your head.
>It was a feeling you hadn’t felt in such a long time, and you hated to see it end. 
>When you finally broke from the hug it was somewhat awkward.
>Scratching your mane, you smiled , albeit awkwardly. 
“Sorry about that, Anon. I guess I kind of got carried away.”
>He smiled. 
>“It’s alright, Moonlight.”
>This was your chance.
“Anon, can you call me Moony?”
>He flashed a big toothy grin.
>“Sure, as long as it’s Moony the kitty cat!”
>You shot him a wried look.
>That was not how you wanted him to use your nickname…
“For the last time, I don’t do anything like a cat!” 
>He started laughing, and eventually you did too.
>It was a beautiful night, and you couldn’t have been any happier.  
6/6