- >Day Not Like It Used To Be. In Equestria.
- >Your home is little more than a futon and tattered clothing.
- >You can shower all you want
- >But you'll never be clean again.
- >She slimed you.
- >It's the only way you can describe it
- >And now a movie you liked as a kid is tarnished.
- >Because of Fluttershy and her...
- >Love Juices.
- >You just sit in the shower now.
- >The water on full blast.
- >Pounding your flesh as you hold your head in between your knees.
- >You had a friend back in grad school.
- >He was a bit of a psycho, but he never would've let this happen.
- >At least not to him.
- >And you're not him.
- >You're not even a man.
- >You're a number.
- >Eight-zero-eight.
- >And she's wrapping her hooves over your shoulders.
- >And she's running her tongue across the edge of your face.
- >"Mmm..."
- >You haven't eaten since a bad Holiday party.
- >And you have work in four hours.
- >You haven't slept.
- >You don't have any other clothing.
- >You can't dress for success.
- >"Anonymous, kiss me."
- >Please don't do that thing she does.
- >She bites on your hair and your eyes water up at the stinging pain.
- >You look back at her, shivering and shuddering, blearyeyed.
- >She opens her mouth.
- >You gaze into it.
- >"A good -boyfriend- would initiate a kiss."
- >You're better than this.
- >She kicks you in the spine and you wince.
- >No.
- >You lean in and open your mouth.
- >You're not.
- >You're not a good kisser.
- >You've kissed a girl. Once.
- >Ever. And she was a human.
- >And she was nice.
- >Close your eyes, it'll all be over soon.
- >You lean in for the kiss and you feel her hooves force your mouth into hers.
- >Her tongue goes down your throat.
- >You start to gag.
- >You open your eyes.
- >She's giving you the stare.
- >You feel smaller.
- >Weaker.
- >Is that...even possible.
- >Maybe...maybe she'll just keep it down there long enough.
- >And you'll die.
- >And wake up back home.
- >She slides her tongue back into her own mouth.
- >Before exiting the kiss, she bites your lower lip.
- >She pulls it a little distance away from your face.
- >She's grinning.
- >Oh no.
- >Please.
- >She bites, just a little pinch.
- >And pulls away quick.
- >You put your hands over your lips.
- >A little red spills on to the shower floor.
- >"Those lips are for me only, mister. That's my signature."
- >Time Turner was right--he's cool and popular, of course he was right.
- >This mare is absolutely crazy.
- >You're wearing the same clothes as the last two days in a row.
- >You have the coffee, the doughnuts, the fritters.
- >You arrive at the office at 6:30.
- >Anything to just...get out of your home.
- >You put everything in its proper place. Coffee in the Mayor's office.
- >She isn't even here yet.
- >Food in the breakroom.
- >You sit at your desk and eat your icingless doughnut.
- >And look at your word-a-day calendar.
- >Vacuous.
- >"Hey...Eight-zero-eight, you okay buddy?"
- >It's Time Turner.
- >You look at the clock on the wall.
- >It's 7:15.
- >"You...are just kind of...hugging yourself there, man?"
- >You look at yourself.
- >Your arms are wrapped around you in an embrace of much-needed support.
- >"Gotta...lil something on your face too."
- >You quickly stop hugging yourself and run your hands over your face.
- >You wipe the tears that were falling...and a crumb from your lips.
- >Please.
- >PLEASE.
- >Please let him mean the crumbs.
- >"Uh...other eye too."
- >At least he's not being a jerk.
- >Wipe the other eye.
- "I-I-I-i-i...uhm...hi."
- >He looks around.
- >"Hey. You sick or something?"
- >Take a breath.
- >Don't spaz out.
- "I-I...I...am f-f-f-fine...j-just...uhm.."
- >"Those the same clothes as yesterday? You know you've got a huge stain on your...everything."
- >"Don't let Mayor Mare see it, she's sort of a freak when it comes to public images."
- "...M-m-mister T-t-Turner...how come everybody h-hates me?"
- >He stifles a laugh.
- >It cuts you.
- >"I don't think anyone here hates you."
- >You look at your desk.
- >"Maybe stand-up for yourself once in awhile?"
- "B-b-but I'm t-trying..."
- >"Well, the crackling voice doesn't help either."
- "Oh..."
- >You rub the back of your neck.
- >"Eight-zero-eight, go tell the Mayor you need a personal day."
- "Oh no, I couldn't...I have to have perfect attendance."
- >"Eight-zero-eight, no-nopony cares. I mean, this isn't Canterlot or Manehattan."
- >"You can take a day off and...do the laundry-"
- >He mumbles "...maybe grow a pair--"
- >"And just relax. What makes you relax?"
- "I...used to think of Dungeon Mastering for some friends."
- >He gives you a look.
- >"--Whoa, buddy. I mean, I know it's always the quiet ones but I do not need to know about--"
- >He looks at you again.
- >"Oh. You mean like...not a--"
- >He makes a bouncy hoof motion.
- >"What's that, like a--Y'know, I don't really even care. Go do that. Just, get the day off, bud."
- "...are w-we r-really buddies?"
- >He sighs and bites his lip.
- >He notices you noticed that.
- >You noticed that he noticed that.
- >You notice he was looking at your cut lip.
- >"...Yeah. Sure. Just uh... why don't we keep that on the down low? So nopony has to know."
- >You made a friend today.
- >Maybe he'll let you crash on his couch if things get worse.
- >You gather up your courage.
- >It takes you until 9:00 to do that.
- >Including two trips to the bathroom for a psych-up speech.
- "Y-you're a-awesome. Y-you've got f-friends. You k-know advanced b-budgeting measures and z-zoning law.."
- >You subconsciously chew on your lip.
- >It hurts a lot.
- >You make sure your hair is sort of neat.
- >You run a hand over your scalp.
- >It hurts from where she pulled it earlier.
- >You try to clear your mind of all...bad...thoughts.
- >And you barge into the Mayor's Office!
- >...No.
- >You walk to the door, knock three times.
- >"Come in."
- >You slowly open the door and peek in.
- >"Eight-oh-eight, you got the coffee again. You don't have to do that everyday you know?"
- >You do.
- >Otherwise nopony will have any reason to talk to you.
- "C-c-c-could I t-t-talk to y-y-you?"
- >You take several sharp breaths.
- >Mayor Mare looks at you like you're a few steps short of a seizure.
- "I mean...can I talk to you sir?"
- >You step into the room.
- >She looks you over.
- >She sips her coffee.
- >"Eight-oh-eight, why're you dressed like that again?"
- >You look down at your shoes and mumble.
- >"I couldn't hear that."
- "I'm...s-sorry sir..."
- >She rolls her eyes.
- "I...wan---nee--...uhm..."
- >You swallow hard.
- "D-do y-you have anything you n-need d-done outside the o-office today?"
- >"You're not just trying to skip out on work are you? For shame!"
- >She laughs.
- >You cringe.
- >"Anonymous, I was...I was joking."
- >She smiles awkwardly.
- >You've made a mess of things
- >Again.
- >"You need some fresh air, is that it?"
- >You look around and expect to see Her.
- >You're getting a little traumatized.
- >Try to keep it together.
- "Uhm...y-y--well m-m-may--"
- >You just nod.
- >Mayor Mare looks at you, a little concerned.
- >"I've got Civil Employee Four-Oh-Four showing up to pick up census questionnaires, you can take those to her if you want. Maybe even help her out."
- "Oh....y-yes p-please sir."
- >Mayor Mare goes over to a file cabinet and pulls out a large black case file.
- >She tosses it on her desk.
- >"I cannot stress to you the importance of a census, Eight-zero-eight. We need accurate numbers."
- >You nod.
- >"You're a hard worker and I'm sure you'll do a good job."
- >"And"
- >"Not"
- >"Let me down."
- >You take the file.
- >It's heavier than it looks.
- "W-won't l-let you d-down sir."
- >You begin to head out of the office.
- >Time Turner gives you a head-nod.
- >"Day off?"
- "Oh...uhm...h-helping out F-f-four-oh-f-four."
- >He shakes his head and laughs.
- >"She's pretty fun. Just uh...don't spaz out."
- "S-s-s-sp-spa--"
- >"Yeah, just don't do that."
- >You step outside.
- >Heaving the heavy file.
- >The crisp winter air of day.
- >It's less repugnant and vacuous than the crisp winter air of night.
- >That word-a-day calendar is paying for itself.
- >Set the file down on the steps of the Town Hall.
- >You straighten your tie.
- >Try to ignore the huge red blotches on a good white shirt.
- >You force a smile.
- "T-t-today is g-g-gonna be a g-good d-d-day."
- >You feel an immediate sense of dread upon saying that.
- "Today...is going to be...a g-g-good day."
- >You take a breath.
- "P-p-please?"
- >A large carrier's satchel drops down next to you.
- THUD
- >You look up and see a grey pony looking at you with buggy yellow eyes.
- >She's got a bubbly little smile on her face.
- >"Hullo."
- >She's directly above you.
- "...oh...h-h-h-hi."
- >She swirls about and lands on the before you.
- >"What'cha doin'?"
- "Uhm...w-w-waiting for F-four-oh-f-four."
- >She presses her hooves against her face and makes an overjoyed look.
- >"Oh. Well that's me! That's great! That's great that you'd wait for me!"
- >She smiles again.
- >"I like you."
- "Oh...t-t-thank you."
- >"Who're you?"
- "I'm...uhm... Eight-zero-eight."
- >She gasps loudly.
- >"That's double of four-oh-four!"
- >You nod a little.
- "...yeah it is."
- >"That's so cooooool."
- >She laughs a little.
- >Then she serious's up.
- >Or tries to. Her eyes keep going googly eyed.
- >"Why're you waiting for me double-oh-four-oh-four?"
- "Uhm...I'm supposed to take the census with you?"
- >"Yay! It's so-so-so boring to do by yourself."
- >She looks at the file.
- >"Didya fill one out for yourself?"
- "Oh...uhm, no not yet."
- >"But it's fun!"
- "I'll do one, yeah."
- >"Your shirt smells like goof juice."
- >Awkward. Moment.
- >You let out a laugh.
- >It's more awkward than you meant.
- "I h-had a spill."
- >She doesn't mind.
- >"You fill one out for me, I'll fill one out for you; double-plus-four-oh-four."
- >She splutters her tongue.
- >"Because that's a mwyouthflul to say."
- "What?"
- >She makes a fart noise and picks up the file in her hooves.
- "Oh, the..uhm...forms."
- >She sits her butt on the stairs.
- >She slicks her mangy yellow hair back with her wings, emulating Mayor Mare's hair as best she can.
- >"ACKHCHEM...okay, so...what's your name?"
- "Oh...uhm...Anonymous. A-n-o-n-y-m-o-u-s."
- >She pulls a pencil from her carrier bag, puts it in her mouth, and scribbles it on the page.
- >"Are you...or wait...Sorry. Sorry everypony!"
- >She clears her throat.
- >"Are you now, or have you ever been a Unicorn, Earth Pony, Pegasus Pony or Alicorn?"
- "Uhm...none of the above."
- >She looks at you and her eyes shift awkward positions and shrink.
- >"Whoa...are you magic?"
- "Oh, no. I'm...not."
- >She checks something.
- >"Earth pony it is! It's okay, some of my best friends are Earth Ponies."
- >She looks down the list and mumbles and goes "blahblahblahblyblah".
- >"Oooh! Are you married?"
- "N-no."
- >"Do you have any kids?"
- "N-no..."
- >"Are you...in..a...ta...ta..."
- >She shows you the form.
- >"What's that say?"
- "Taxable union of any sort with which you need to declare within the coming fiscal quarter?"
- >"Blegh. That's boring sounding."
- "No, I'm...not anyway."
- >"Checkarooski dooski, Mr. Anony-mooski."
- >Your turn.
- "Name?"
- >"Derpy Hooves. No wait! Ditzy Doo...wait...uhm..."
- "Oh. I have room for both t-t-they sound..."
- >She's giving you a big smile.
- >Don't say...insulting...
- "B-b-b-bubbly."
- >She laughs and slaps her flank.
- >She then shakes it in your face.
- >Bubbles for a cutie mark.
- >Well, that's sort of funny.
- "Pegasus pony?"
- >She nods enthusiastically.
- "Married?"
- >She shakes her head in circles enthusiastically.
- "Is that...a yes...or a...no?"
- >She laughs.
- "All right...a-any kids?"
- >"I like Dinky."
- "Is...t-t-t-that a daughter or...son?"
- >"Oh, no. She's a lil'filly girl."
- >You just check off daughter.
- >You set the file back down on the steps.
- "Well, Derpy; where should we go first?"
- >She makes another sputtering fart noise with her tongue.
- >"Oh, the Mayor Lady never reads those anyway."
- >She loads the big file up in her carrier bag and flaps back up into the air.
- >Awkwardly.
- >But it's an endearing character trait you can appreciated.
- >Ponies in town don't seem to appreciate being bothered.
- >It doesn't help that you look so disheveled.
- >Well, maybe just a mess.
- >You probably need to be able to grow facial hair to look disheveled.
- >And Derpy making jokes and talking about her life-
- >--while entertaining and funny--
- >Does sorta get in the way of proper census taking.
- >"How come you look so sad, Anonymoose?"
- >And here you thought you were keeping it together.
- "The Mayor t-t-t-told me to not disappoint her...with them..uhm.."
- >You trail off in mumbling.
- >You try to straighten out your shirt and tie.
- >They're stained and worn.
- >You sigh.
- >"I'm being super dooper serious when I say she doesn't read'em, double-plus-Anonymous."
- >You try to think of something to say.
- >You close your eyes.
- >And take a breath.
- "J'ai une âme solitaire...if I conjugated that right."
- >Derpy swoons.
- >"You speak FANCY! I thought only big city people spoke FANCY! Wait--"
- >She tilts her head a little bit too much to the side.
- >"...are you from Canterlot? Yeah! That's why you're magic-looking!"
- "Uhm...w-w-well, it's something like that..."
- >You attempt to take census until the mid-afternoon.
- >All the while the topic of conversation being you.
- >And while it makes you happy to see somebody take interest in you.
- >You're still worried about how poor a job you're doing.
- >And you're a little worried that you're starting not to care.
- >You're being allowed to focus on yourself.
- >That's g--no that's selfish.
- >You're going to get yelled at by the Mayor for doing a poor job.
- >"Do you want to get some muffins?"
- >She says that in the middle of speaking to the couple who owns Sugarcube Corner.
- "...How about we finish this up first?"
- >You finish up taking as much census as Derpy deems necessary by 3:00 PM.
- >She has a nice enough house.
- >It's lived-in.
- >It's a home.
- >Maybe, at least recently, you just have a house.
- >"Hope you like muffins, Moose."
- >Well, you're now an animal.
- >Rather than a number.
- >That's a step up, but you're still not a man.
- >She opens a cabinet and it's literally filled to the brim.
- >With muffins of various shapes and colors.
- >Individually wrapped with little freshness tags in them.
- >You enjoy your lunch.
- "H-hey...t-thanks."
- >"Schnoprahblrum."
- >She talks with her mouth full.
- "I think I might go back around...r-redo the census."
- >She swallows a load of bran muffin and blueberries.
- >"Why?"
- "..b-b-because Mayor Mare might get upset."
- >"Why?"
- "..because I'm b-b-bad at my job."
- >"Why?"
- "I'm...just..."
- >Just enjoy the muffin.
- "Y-y-y-you ever...uhm..."
- >You take in the scent of the muffin.
- "...b-b-been in a b-bad relationship?"
- >You bite into the muffin.
- >Stop talking.
- >"I dunno, Double-plus-Moose."
- "...she scares me...and I d-don't even know her."
- >You take a breath.
- >Let the anger out.
- "She just...I...I..uhm..."
- >Stop it now when someone is willing to listen.
- "..m-maybe I just...don't know her well enough."
- >Derpy slumps back in her seat and pops another muffin in her mouth.
- >She just swallows it.
- >"Oh yeah. Oh yeah. Communication is important, Moose."
- >It really is.
- >But you're just too scared to speak.
- >And that's on you.
- >You make the rounds back around town.
- >Nopony is happy to see you again.
- >J'ai une âme solitaire.
- >But you're able to fill in most of the information by just looking at them.
- >No need to ask them what they are.
- >Visual indicators are sort of...obvious.
- >It gets dark out early.
- >You finish up another third of the file with corrected forms and new ones.
- >You return to Town Hall.
- >Nobody is around.
- >Set the big file on your desk.
- >Peel off the word-a-day calendar and sneak a peek at what tomorrow might bring.
- >"Ugsome - Dreadful, loathsome."
- >The good news is your word-a-day-calendar may be magical.
- >Or topical and appropriate.
- >The clock on the wall says it's only 5:35 PM.
- >You can cut out early--which is still later than everyone else--without too much guilt.
- >Maybe you'll go home and have a good night.
- >And maybe if you comb your hair the sun won't come up.
- >Maybes aren't useful.
- >You do some extra work and leave at 6:00.
- >You stop by Carousel Boutique.
- >You need new clothes, and while it's a little late..
- >Well, it's well past working hours.
- >Maybe if you apologize she'll try something in the morning.
- >You knock on the door.
- >It magic's open.
- >It's the purple unicorn.
- >She's talking to the tailor...seamstress?
- >You don't know the term.
- >Her voice is like ice cream on a hot summer day.
- >You can't pay attention to the words.
- >Sort of like how she's not paying attention to where she's going.
- >Oof.
- >Ouch.
- "..ow."
- >You got hit with some books as well it seems.
- >And you're on your back in the snow by the doorstep.
- >She's on your chest.
- >She gasps and looks down at you.
- >You wheeze and try to smile up at her.
- >You hope it doesn't come out too creepy.
- >Or awkward.
- "...h-h-hi there...f-fancy b-bumping into y-you."
- >WHAT
- >WHY WOULD YOU SAY THAT?
- >Wait. No.
- >Maybe she'll think it was cool.
- >Suave.
- >"Oh my gosh, I'm so-so-so-so Sorry!"
- >She pops out of existence and reappears back in the doorway.
- >You begin to get up.
- >You start gathering up the books she dropped.
- >She lifts you off the ground,
- >Magic.
- >It feels tingly.
- >"I'm so sorry, I was just not paying attention and uhm...are you all right?"
- >Play it cool.
- "I'm...f-..I mean, yeah. Just a fall."
- >You brush off your butt.
- "These things happen."
- >"Uhm...sorry, I'm kind of in a hurry."
- >She levitates her books away from you and smiles.
- >"Sorry!"
- >She leaves.
- >The White Unicorn sticks her head out of the doorframe and grins at you.
- >"She's a busy body."
- "I'll say."
- >You cup a hand over your mouth.
- "I meant that...in..t-t-t-the uhm....I need new clothing."
- >She's got a big grin on her face.
- >"Of course Darling, I still have an order you never picked up."
- >Oh yeah.
- >Scatterbrain.
- >No wait.
- >Positive thoughts.
- >You saw Twilight...
- >And Turner and 404 are your friends.
- >See, not creepy torch-holding, positive thoughts.
- >You go home with a few hangers of clothing over your shoulder.
- >Maybe things are looking up for you.
- >You unlock the door.
- >You jiggle the handle.
- >Stupid cold weather.
- >Must've frozen the lock.
- >You try it again.
- >Nope.
- >The creeping dread of your reality comes back.
- >You knock on the door.
- "F-f-flut...Fluttershy?"
- >The door opens.
- >She's there.
- >She looks at your face.
- >You had a smile.
- >Hers grows in malice
- >As yours shrinks in contemplation of future abuse.
- >"Anonymous, you're late. AGAIN."
- >She looks at what you're carrying.
- "Please...Fluttershy t-t-t-those are f-for w-w-work..."
- >"Why are you talking?"
- >She sneers at you.
- >You feel cold all over.
- >She bites your tie and pulls you down to eye-level.
- >"You're a disappointment, Anonymous."
- >Grow a pair.
- >You can feel the shivering in your spine.
- >GROW A PAIR.
- "..w-w-why's t-that?"
- >She releases your tie and smirks.
- >"You didn't apologize. And you didn't kiss me at the door!"
- >This psychotic charade is wearing thin.
- >Now is the time to strike!
- >She turns her ass at you and lifts her tail.
- >"N-now kiss these lips, mister."
- >Something in your back tightens.
- >Egads, a spine?
- >You walk away.
- >She pounces on you from behind.
- >Your clothing falls into a snow bank.
- >She slams your face into the cobblestone and black ice.
- >"You're GOING TO LOVE ME, Anonymous. YOU JUST HAVE TO LISTEN TO ME!"
- >Your head hurts.
- >You're getting dizzy.
- >Maybe if you weren't so weak.
- >Pathetic.
- >Worthless.
- >...man.
- >Fluttershy's a jerk.

