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Just Like You - Chapter 3

By: TechyConversant on Jun 19th, 2012  |  syntax: None  |  size: 12.77 KB  |  hits: 257  |  expires: Never
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  1. >Waking up is hard to do.
  2. >You didn't get much sleep after all.
  3. >Leaving the purchased apples on the stone slab, you left alone.
  4. >As soon as you returned to the castle, you stayed on the balcony for a few hours.
  5. >Looking out into the Labyrinth.
  6. >Maybe you'd catch a glimpse of her.
  7. >But she was gone.
  8. >Boy did you feel like the biggest jerk in the world.
  9. >Sleeping wasn't easy that night, but the morning came faster than you could have hoped.
  10. >But now's your chance to make it right!
  11. >Managing to get up, you rush downstairs to grab some breakfast.
  12. >A huge assortment of fruits is laid on the table.
  13. >Grabbing a banana, you start peeling it as you rush out the front door.
  14. >Until you're stopped.
  15. >"Good morning, Anon."
  16. >You turn back to see the Princess of the Sun.
  17. "Good morning."
  18. >"Where are you off to so eagerly?"
  19. "Uh...school...?"
  20. >The stern look on her face shows she isn't buying it.
  21. >Until the most unlikely, and unwanted, savior appears.
  22. >"Hi Anon~"
  23. >Cadenza.
  24.  
  25. >"Come on Anon, we're gonna be late for school!"
  26. >Okay, why the heck is she here?
  27. >More importantly, why does Celestia look so PLEASED by this?
  28. >"Why hello Cadance! This explains why he was rushing off."
  29. >No it doesn't.
  30. >"Don't worry, I'll walk him to school!"
  31. >What are you, a pet?
  32. "I can walk myself, thanks."
  33. >You brush past Cadenza as you make your way out the front door.
  34. >"Have a good day, Anon!"
  35. >Celestia bids you farewell as you makes your way down the colossal steps.
  36. >As you go for the left turn towards the gardens, you're stopped by a pink roadblock.
  37. >"Not today you don't!"
  38. >This mare.
  39. "Out of my way."
  40. >"Nope! You're coming to school today."
  41. "I wasn't gonna skip."
  42. >"Right. Now come on!"
  43. >Looks like Chrissy will have to wait again.
  44. >At least she has her apples this time.
  45.  
  46. >School is as boring as it always is.
  47. >You never get called on to answer questions.
  48. >The teacher just gives you awkward looks.
  49. >Some of these p0nies still aren't used to the way you look.
  50. >You're accustomed to it, however.
  51. >If by accustomed, you mean 'used to hiding'.
  52. >Who cares what they think anyway.
  53. >The day goes by and you learn nothing.
  54. >Any idiot can do math.
  55. >These p0nies apparently have the I.Q. of squirrels.
  56. >Once the lunch bell rings, you make your way outside, and sit on a bench, alone.
  57. >You wished it stayed that way.
  58. >However, as expected, Cadenza trots over to you near instantly, taking a seat.
  59. >She's followed by another p0ny, a white stallion.
  60. >Shining Armor, his name was.
  61. >He didn't talk much.
  62. >Kinda like you.
  63. >Made him tolerable.
  64. "Hey Shiny."
  65. >"Hey Anon."
  66. >Cadenza chirps up.
  67. >"Hiya Anon!"
  68. >You don't respond.
  69. >The split second pained expression is palpable.
  70.  
  71. >Being forced to deal with company, you eat your lunch silently.
  72. >Cadenza and Shiny talk about little things, with her constantly trying to include you in context.
  73. >"Oh, Anon might have an idea..."
  74. >"Anon, don't you like that?"
  75. >"We should play that some time, Anon?"
  76. >None of her advances are met with a response.
  77. >She's keeping you from doing what you want.
  78. >And what you WANT is to freakin' leave.
  79. >After your lunch of an apple, you walk back inside behind Cadenza and Shiny.
  80. >Taking your seats, your teacher decides to drop a bomb.
  81. >Surprise math test.
  82. >Well, it's a bomb to everyp0ny else, because you don't give a single care.
  83. >Math is easy stuff.
  84. >When the test is passed out, you see p0nies all over the room freaking out.
  85. >Not you though.
  86. >The test makes it's way to you, and after glancing it over, you know you could do it in 10 seconds flat.
  87. >It's more like 2 minutes, but the idea's the same.
  88. >Some multiplication, long division, nothing hard.
  89. >You flip the test over and pull out your notebook.
  90. >Doodles are a great way to pass time.
  91. >And you doodle the only thing that's been on your mind all day.
  92.  
  93. http://i.imgur.com/eDgsB.png
  94.  
  95. >If you had a cutie mark, it sure wouldn't be for art.
  96. >You made her too tall, for certain.
  97. >At least you got the holes right.
  98. >You think.
  99. >She also looks mischievous.
  100. >...
  101. >...that's about right.
  102. >A hole here, a hole there...
  103. >You could slap circles anywhere on it and it would still look right.
  104. >Time passes while you whittle away at your pencil, sketching your changeling friend.
  105. >A few minutes later, the teacher notices you've finished your test.
  106. >"If anyP0NY is done with their test, they may bring it up to me and are free to leave."
  107. >You felt the acid in her voice when she said any'P0NY'.
  108. >You get it, you aren't like everyone else.
  109. >She sure loves mentioning it though.
  110. >You stash your notebook back in your desk, an stand up, test in hand.
  111. >Being the first one done, as usual, you get a few stares.
  112. >Specifically from front-row Cadenza, who now rushes to finish her test.
  113. >You place the paper on your teacher's desk and walk out of the schoolhouse.
  114. >Goodbye, and good riddance.
  115.  
  116. >You pick up the pace slightly as you head for the castle.
  117. >The sun is still high in the sky, meaning it's not too late to see Chrissy.
  118. >You'll still get yelled at, for sure.
  119. >Especially after yesterday.
  120. >But it's better than nothing.
  121. >While you think happily to yourself, the train of thought is interrupted by a far off shout.
  122. >"Anon!!"
  123. >You have to be kidding me.
  124. >Will she ever leave you ALONE?!
  125. >You don't want to spend another day with tea-party princess, especially when you need to see Chrissy.
  126. >Think, Anon, think...
  127. >...got it.
  128. >Thinking swiftly, you rip off your jacket and throw it in a nearby bush.
  129. >Turning around, you notice Cadenza running towards you full speed.
  130. >She stops right in front of you.
  131. >"Anon, I'm NOT letting you run off again!"
  132. "Cadenza-"
  133. >"CADANCE!"
  134. "...Cadance..."
  135. >She smiles happily when you use her favorite moniker.
  136. "...I can't come over your house dressed like this!"
  137. >You point to yourself.
  138. >"What do you mean?"
  139. "We're having another tea party right"
  140. >"Well, we COULD..."
  141. >Hook, line, now reel it in.
  142.  
  143. "I need to look my best then! I need a good shirt, and my ja-"
  144. >You pat yourself down.
  145. "My jacket? Where did I-"
  146. >A theatrical slap to the forehead drives your point home.
  147. "I left my jacket back at the school!"
  148. >You look down to the ground.
  149. "I need that jacket or I'll look stupid..."
  150. >Come on, take the bait...
  151. >"Oh, I can get it for you!"
  152. >YES.
  153. "Really? That'd be awesome!"
  154. >You smile wide.
  155. >Damn good actor, you are.
  156. >Well, enough to fool her.
  157. >Celestia, on the other hand...
  158. >"I'll grab it and go back to my house, okay?"
  159. "Okay! I'll go change."
  160. >With a smile, she dashes off towards the schoolhouse once more.
  161. >Grade A Sucker.
  162. >Once she's out of view, you swipe your jacket and make a break for the gardens.
  163.  
  164. >You get closer to Chrissy with every step, as the Labyrinth appears once more.
  165. >Left, right, right, left, straight, left...
  166. >Like clockwork.
  167. >You make the final turn, and the statues come into view.
  168. >As does the pile of apples you left there last night.
  169. >She...hasn't even come back yet.
  170. >With a sigh, you reunite with the stone bench.
  171. >She must be really mad to not have come back at all...
  172. >That or she's busy!
  173. >But, she's never busy.
  174. >Ever.
  175. >You lie back on the slab, it being as comfortable to you as any bed.
  176. >Grabbing an apple from the pile, you take a bite.
  177. >Delicious.
  178. >Tastes better with company though.
  179. >After a few bites, the exhaustion from running catches up to you.
  180. >Your eyelids become heavy as you rest the half-eaten apple on top of the pile.
  181. >A little nap couldn't hurt.
  182.  
  183. >Meanwhile...
  184.  
  185. >Jacket, jacket, jacket, jacket...
  186. >You have to find his jacket!
  187. >Returning to the schoolhouse, every storage space is empty.
  188. >No bags, no books, but more importantly, no jacket!
  189. >He ALWAYS has it on, how could he have left it here?
  190. >He can be such an idiot.
  191. >At least he said he's coming to another tea party!
  192. >But you NEED TO FIND HIM HIS JACKET!
  193. >Where else could it be?
  194. >Ah, that's his desk!
  195. >You open it and find...
  196. >...no jacket.
  197. >DARN IT ALL!
  198. >You do notice a doodle he was drawing earlier that day.
  199. >When he finished that super hard math test early!
  200. >He's so smart~
  201. >What did he draw?
  202. >It looks like...a p0ny.
  203. >Made of cheese.
  204. >He has the WEIRDEST ideas.
  205. >You put the notebook back and close the desk.
  206. >Maybe he just forgot his jacket at home?
  207. >Oh well, you need to get back to your house pronto!
  208. >There's tea to be had!
  209.  
  210. >A few hours pass...
  211.  
  212. >The sun has started to set, as you creak open your eyes.
  213. >It's been a while since you've had such a nice nap.
  214. >*crunch*
  215. >The sound of a freshly eaten apple is heard.
  216. >Turning your head, you see Chrissy on the ground, eating an apple.
  217. >She looks up to you.
  218. >When your eyes meet, she turns away abruptly.
  219. >"Hmph."
  220. >Oh boy, it's like this, is it?
  221. >You sit upright, stretching slightly.
  222. "Good morning."
  223. >Maybe the joke will lighten her up.
  224. >No response.
  225. >Hm.
  226. "Toss me an apple?"
  227. >You hold your hand open to catch a tasty red morsel.
  228. >However, it goes whizzing by your face and into the bush-wall behind you.
  229. >Yikes.
  230. "Look, I'm sorry."
  231. >"I don't want to hear it."
  232. >She stands up, brushes off a few blades of grass, and walks away a few steps.
  233. >Oh no, she doesn't get to leave that easy!
  234. "Hey, I SAID I was sorry."
  235. >"And I SAID I don't want to hear it!"
  236. >She's nearly yelling at you.
  237. "Why are you so mad?"
  238.  
  239. >"Why? I don't know, maybe because you're a huge liar!"
  240. "I didn't lie about anything!"
  241. >"You said you'd be back with apples!"
  242. "I am here, and there are apples!"
  243. >"It took you a whole day?!?"
  244. >The back and forth keeps going.
  245. >Eventually, you take a step back.
  246. "I don't even have to come here you know."
  247. >"Oh, you're going to lie again? What happened to seeing me every day?"
  248. >Before you can get a word in edge-wise, she continues.
  249. >"It's because of that Cadenza girl, isn't it?"
  250. >Rolling your eyes, you sit on the side of the bench and bury your head in your arms.
  251. "I don't need to hear anymore of her."
  252. >"Is that so?"
  253. >With a flash of green, Chrissy's voice changes in an instant.
  254. >"I'm Mi Amore Cadenza, I like playing dumb games and hanging out with Ano~n!"
  255. >The mocking tone is perfectly matched to Cadenza's.
  256. >Lifting your head to tell her off, you notice something.
  257. >Her voice isn't the only thing perfectly matching Cadenza's.
  258. >Her neck and up is pink, with the head you normally know replaced with that of Cadenza.
  259. >You double-take.
  260. >You have to be seeing things.
  261. >Did she really just...change?
  262.  
  263. >Chrissy notices the weird looks you're giving her.
  264. >"What?"
  265. >You point, stammering out a few words.
  266. "Your....your head..."
  267. >With a questionable look, she runs a hoof through her hair.
  268. >She hold it out in front of her.
  269. >White, pink, and purple.
  270. >Not her normal hair color.
  271. >She shrieks and falls backwards.
  272. >"WHAT HAPPENED?!"
  273. "You...look like Cadenza."
  274. >As soon as you say it, her look of shock turns into one of pure joy.
  275. >"I...changed?!? I CHANGED?!?!"
  276. >She bounces up to her feet, and rushes over to you.
  277. >"I changed, I changed, I changed!"
  278. >It's so weird watching her saying this in Cadenza's visage.
  279. >"I've been waiting until I could change, and now I can!"
  280. "What do you think...well...changed...to make it so you can?"
  281. >"Maybe I'm just growing up!"
  282. >Seems logical.
  283. >"I gotta try more!"
  284. >She crouches down, her horn glowing a bright green, when suddenly the magic rushes over her whole body.
  285. >The black holed hooves are replaced with pink.
  286. >She sprouts feathery wings.
  287. >She IS Cadenza.
  288.  
  289. "Wow..."
  290. >"This is so GREAT!"
  291. >She stares at herself, turning to see her changed form.
  292. >Noticing your looks of amazement, she gets a playful smirk.
  293. >"Do you LIKE me this way?"
  294. >That question breaks your stunned expression.
  295. "What? NO! I've had enough of Cadenza."
  296. >"You suuuure?"
  297. >She steps towards the bench, pressing her hooves on your legs.
  298. >They don't feel like her harder, holed hooves.
  299. >They feel like a normal p0ny's.
  300. >"I bet 'I' want to see you more!"
  301. >She giggles, continuing to imitate Cadenza.
  302. "Please stop."
  303. >"But Ano~n..."
  304. >The mimicry of that whine pains your ears.
  305. >It's just. Like. Cadenza.
  306. >"You promised we were going to pla~y..."
  307. >She pushes you, your back falling flat on the stone bench.
  308. >Standing on top of you, she leans in close.
  309. >"Found you!"
  310. >Serious deja vu hits.
  311. >Just like when Cadenza tackled you yesterday.
  312. >Was she...watching?
  313.  
  314. >You don't say anything, not sure how to respond.
  315. >The devilish smile on Chrissy...Cadenza...her face only grows as she continues to pin you down.
  316. >Why are you nervous?
  317. >Last time Cadenza pushed you down you just threw her off.
  318. >But this isn't Cadenza.
  319. >It's Chrissy.
  320. >Why is this different?
  321. >Get her off you!
  322. >But...you don't move.
  323. >You just let her pin you.
  324. >As you just stare at her, the grin on her face wide...
  325. >You both freeze.
  326. >It couldn't be...
  327. >...steps?
  328. >You heard it.
  329. >She heard it.
  330. >Hoof-steps grow louder as something walks into the area.
  331. >Simultaneously, you turn your heads to the Labyrinth's exit.
  332. >You can see somep0ny staring at you two.
  333. >This isn't good...
  334. >Chrissy's been seen.