A Wonderful Life 1 [PiE]

>Your alarm clock blares its annoying.

>Doo doo doooo.

>Doo doo doooo.

>You blindly flop your hand on your nightstand looking for your phone.

>You find it and check the time.

>11:02 am.

>You groan and shut the alarm off.

>You slide out of bed and flip the radio on for background noise.

>"I just want to say hello again," sung the radio. "My sacrifice."

"Oh come on..." you grumble at missing the song.

>You shamble to the bathroom for your morning ritual.

>Shit, shower, shave.

>For clothes, you pick through a large quantity of plain grey t-shirts and blue jeans.

>It's hardly a tough decision of what you're wearing today.

>As you're getting dressed, the DJ begins talking recent events.

>You're not listening.

>Something about crime dropping in recent years.

>You check your fridge for something to eat.

>There's never anything to eat.

>You lock the door and head to the bottom floor and retrieve your mail.

 

>Ding!

>The doors begin to close.

>"Hold the elevator!" a voice calls.

>You quickly throw your arm out to stop the door from closing.

>A light blue pegasus with a silvery mane and light blue hair bow joins you.

>"Thanks," she says.

"Yup."

>The door closes and the elevator begins its descent.

>You stand on opposite sides of the elevator.

>You lean against the wall, your arms crossed and staring at the door.

>"So..." says the pegasus.

>You give her a glance but return to looking at the door.

>"How long have you lived here?" she asks.

"Couple years."

>"Wow. My sister and I only just moved in down the hall a month ago."

"Yeah I've seen you around. Sorry I've never said 'Hi' or anything. My mind's been occupied."

>"That's okay. I've been busy too. My name's Flitter by the way."

"I'm Anonymous. Nice to meet you."

>"... Are you se-"

"Yes I'm serious. Think of it as a stupid joke on my father's behalf."

>"Heheh. Okay."

 

>The elevator comes to a stop and you allow Flitter to step out first.

>You both go to your respective mailboxes.

>You watch as she flies up, and grabs her key from a loop around her neck.

>It amazes you everytime you see them hold something in their hooves.

>Your mother always told you not to stare, but this defied all laws of physics you have ever bothered to learn.

>You open your mailbox and grab the few envelopes inside.

>"I'll see you later," said Flitter as she went back to the elevator.

"Yeah. You too."

>The doors close and you turn to leave the building.

>Stepping outside into the daylight blinds you for a few seconds.

>The sounds of the city come to life.

>People driving their vehicles.

>Pegasi in the sky above.

>And those who can't fly hailing cabs.

 

>You step off, sifting through your mail as you go.

>Bill, bill, bill...

>Nothing you care about.

>Two of these aren't even yours.

"Damn mailmare," you mutter.

>You sigh and continue walking.

>It was fall in the city of Manhatten.

>The mornings were chilly but it was still hot during the day.

>It's your day off from work and you're on your way to your buddy's apartment.

>He'd told you he had something awesome to show you the next chance you could come over.

>Swear to God if he tried making homemade fireworks again...

>People and ponies walk around you, carrying on with their daily lives.

>You happen by a church with several protesters out front.

>A quick glimpse at the signs revealed they were protesting inter-species relationships with humans and ponies.

>You had no idea that was even an issue.

>You don't give them a second glance.

>Your buddy's place wasn't too far from your own.

>Probably 15 minutes or so.

 

>You ring the doorbell of his house.

"Dom! Open up, you fat fuck!"

>"Kiss my ass," is the reply from the other side.

"So open the door."

>"What's the password?"

"Open the door before I knock your monkey ass up and down the block."

>"You wanna go?"

"Yeah I do!"

>"Bring it!"

"Right now!"

>"Lets do it!"

"Lets go!"

>You hear the latch click and the door swing open.

>A 6'4", 240 pound man towers before you.

>"Haha, what's up, man?"

"You said you had something awesome to show me."

>"Oh yeah! Come in."

 

>You're greeted by two curious, really big puppies upon entering.

>Dom's apartment was a hell of a lot cleaner than yours.

>Probably because he constantly had company over and doesn't want to look like a slob.

>He had a 2 bedroom house to himself.

>In the living room, Dom points towards the tv.

>Or rather, the one sitting in front of the tv.

>A dark blue alicorn lays back in a bean bag chair, sipping on a cup held in her hoof.

>A controller levitates in front of her.

>The movements on the screen are quick and precise.

>You've played versus unicorns online.

>It never ends well.

>The alicorn stands and spikes her controller into the bean bag chair.

>"MVP!" she shouts.

>She turns around to find someone other than Dom standing in the door.

>"What's up?" she greets.

 

"So what is it you wanted to show me?" you ask Dom. "The pony?"

>"The name's Luna," she said as she walked over and extended a hoof.

"Anon."

>"... Cool."

"Yeah, yeah I- Cool?"

>"Quite."

>"Luna here is a master in shooters," Dom explains. "Speaking of which, how about a few rounds of Zombies?"

>"I'd be down for that."

>You shake your head.

"Nah. Maybe later. There's something I need to take care of."

>"So you're just going to let the zombie apocolypse happen?" asked Dom.

"Yes. I'll see you in Hell. Later Dom. Luna."

>"Nice meeting you," said Luna.

>You leave the apartment and start walking down the stairs.

>You're gonna have to ask Dom about Luna later.

>Hopefully it doesn't turn out to be something creepy.

 

>Hands in pockets, hoody on, head tilted towards your feet.

>This is how you walk.

>You avoid eye contact with other people so you can go about your day.

>There is one flaw in your concealment and isn't other humans, but ponies.

>The ones walking the opposite way past you will often smile up at you with a greeting.

>A simple "Hey" will sate them.

>It's not that you don't enjoy the short exchange, but more that you'd rather not converse with others, human or pony.

>Your friends and family have often joked about your secluded nature by calling you out as "the next big serial killer".

>You didn't mind; it was funny.

 

>You stop off at the local corner Burger King.

>Two ponies coming out were kind enough to hold the door for you.

>'That's wierd,' you thought.

>This is the last place you would expect ponies to eat.

>Standing in line behind two more ponies, you hear them order two whoppers, no meat.

>'That explains it.'

>Come your turn, the girl behind the counter asks for your order.

>You take note of the red-tipped bangs and ear piercing.

"Oh, uh.. There's a sign, on the front door, saying you were hiring."

>"You want an application?" asks the girl.

"I... Yes."

>"Escape while you can, but I can call the manager up front to talk. No need for an application."

"That's cool."

>Much to the annoyance of the man behind you, the cashier walks away to fetch her manager.

>When they return, the manager motions for you to come around inti his office.

>You can't help but feel extremely nervous.

>Your throat feels like if you were to speak, your voice would crack.

>"Take a seat," offers the manager as you enter the office.

>You do so, sitting straight up with hands on your knees.

 

>"So what can I do for you?" he asks.

"I would-"

>Voice crack.

>'FUUU-!'

"Ahem," you clear your throat. "I would like to apply for a job, sir."

>"Any prior experience in food service?" he asked.

"I used to help my uncle run a lunch wagon. Other than that, no sir."

>"Hmm..."

>He supported his chin with his hands on his desk.

>You swear you could feel him see right through you.

>"What made you consider Burger King?"

"I was just looking for a change of pace."

>Because it's totally not because you're desperate and it's within walking distance of your apartment.

>"You sure it's not because you're desperate and lazy?" asked the manager.

>'Yes.'

"No sir."

>'Way to dig yourself a deeper hole, asshole.'

>The manager narrowed his eyes at you.

>Your muscles tensed but you kept a stoic expression.

>"Bwahahaha!" laughed the manager. "I'm just messing with you kid. You wouldn't happen to be military, would you?"

"No sir.

>"Well you sure act it well enough. Anyways, we could use the bodies and one of our boys just walked out. You have the spot if you'd like."

"That'd be great!"

>"Well congratulations."

>He stood up and extended a meaty hand across the table.

>You met the baseball mitt halfway with a firm shake.

>"You start Monday."

"Thank you, sir."

 

>You leave the restaraunt and head for an apartment building a few blocks down.

>Knock knock.

>The door opens before you, a petite woman before you.

>"Oh. Hey, Anon," she says.

"What's up, Ananda. You texted me last night saying you wanted to talk?"

>"Yeah. Why didn't you respond?"

"I'm here now, ain't I?"

>"But I wanted to talk to you last night," she grumbled.

>You step past her into the apartment.

"Well I was tired and wanted to go to sleep."

>You take a seat on the couch in the living room; Amanda follows suit.

"So what's up?"

>"Well..."

>Your sudden appearance must have caught her off guard.

>"Anon I have a question."

"What."

>"What do you- Uh, Why- ..."

>She just sighed.

>"Anon I'm breaking up with you."

"What? Why?"

>"Because we never do anything, Anon. We never go out, you never give any gifts in return for what I give you."

"You mean gifts I don't want yet you insist on getting them anyways. By the way, that takes money I don't have."

>"That was actually my third point, but yes, no job."

"Untrue. I just got one today."

>"Oh pfft. Where is that, McDonalds?"

"... No..."

>"Whatever. It's like you don't even want to be in a relationship with me. I just don't know what to do anymore..."

>You sit in silence for a few minutes; Amanda expecting something to come out of your mouth.

>All you give her is a blank stare.

>"I think you should go," she choked as the beginnings of tears began to appear in her eyes.

>You stand and walk to the door.

>You turn around as Amanda softly says, "I'm sorry" and closes the door.

>You stand there for a minute and stare the door up and down.

"Well that sucks."

>You turn and leave the apartment building.

 

>Coming back up on your own building, you walk inside and stand in the elevator.

>Top floor.

>"Hold on!"

>Your arm catches the door as Flitter comes flying in.

>"Thanks," she says.

"No problem."

>You take a double-take at Flitter.

"Nice haircut," you comment.

>"Oh, uh, Thanks. You too."

>Her demeanor seems different.

>The ride up is quiet.

>The doors open and she trots off to her door.

>About halfway, you see Flitter leave the apartment.

"Oh hey Flit-"

>You look from Flitter to the pony who just left the elevator and back.

"Wait, what the fuck? Who the hell are you?"

>The pony stops and turns her head.

>"Uh, Cloudchaser? Who the buck are you?" she retorts.

>"Cloudchaser! Language!" scolded the real Flitter.

>"Yeah yeah," muttered Cloudchaser as she trotted past her into the apartment.

>"I'm sorry," apologized Flitter. "My sister's a little rude."

"Oh right. You have a sister. I thought she was you for a minute."

>"Oh, haha. Yeah, that happens sometimes."

>You notice the basket of dirty linens on Flitter's back.

>You didn't even know they wore clothes.

"Laundry?" you ask, pointing at the basket.

>"Mhm. Care to join me? I could use somepony to talk to while I wait."

>You shake your head.

"No thanks. Maybe some other time."

>"Oh okay. Perhaps later we- Oh shoot!"

>The elevator doors close as someone calks it to another floor.

>"I have the worst luck with these..." she grumbles.

>You laugh silently to yourself as she presses the button to call it back.

>You hope she knows the stairs are RIGHT there.

"Well I'm gonna take off. Later."

>"I'll be here," she says.

 

>You lock the door and throw your hoody over a nearby chair.

>First thing you do is walk towards your open window and look out.

"What's up, Nix. Have a good day?"

>You speak, of course, to your spiderbro; whose web was spun right over the space your window was.

>You didn't mind him.

>You were missing a screen and it was too hot to leave the window shut with no AC.

>He caught bugs and you stayed cool.

>Free bug screen; fuck yeah.

"Damn, you're getting fat," you comment.

>Nix just sat three and stared back.

>He had been here for weeks.

>No sense in getting rid of your one and only spiderbro.

>The rest of the day is spent gaming and raging online.

>Hardly what one would call an exciting evening, but you're content enough to leave your routine as it is.

>Besides, someone has to save the world from the impending Nazi zombie apocalypse.

 

>A knock on your door calls your immediate attention.

"Protect me for a minute. My pizza's here."

>A voice from the other end of the mic.

>"Hurry up fa-"

>You drop the controller on the coffee table and step to the door.

>You're disappointed to see there's no pizza.

>Flitter stands before you.

>"Good evening, Anonymous."

"Oh. Hey."

>What could she want?

>A cup of sugar?

>"Hey, uh... My sister and I were just wondering... If you... If you would like to come over for dinner tonight. You know, to get to know each other as neighbors."

"Oh... Oh! I'm, uh... I already have dinner plans tonight. Maybe later?"

>Flitter's ears dropped to the side of her head.

>"Oh... Okay then. Maybe some other time."

>She turned around and as she reached her door across the hall, the elevator door opened, revealing the pizza guy.

"Oh thank God!" you cheer.

>Flitter spots your "dinner plans" and makes eye contact one more time before shutting her door.

>Pay, tip, rush back to your game.

>Holy hell, you're alive.

"I'm back," you announce.

>"RUN!" shout 3 voices simultaneously.

>Hit hit dead.

>GAME OVER!

>A clown laughs maniacally at your humiliation.

>"GOD FUCKING DAMN IT!" rages a party member.

>You sit there in stunned silence.

"I fucking hate that clown," you mutter.

>You take a bite of warm pepperoni.

"Anyone for round two?"