- >Thursday.
- >Somewhere in a dark, secluded tree house library in the middle of town.
- >"Are you sure?"
- >"Positive. I saw them carrying blankets and stuff and they haven't left yet. It's more than just a sleepover."
- >"I see... Thank you for the update."
- >Be Anon.
- >You've been working for only 3 days, but it's still the hardest you've ever worked in your recent life.
- >It's a damn good thing Big Mac doesn't mind you using his wagon to haul apple baskets.
- >You're getting an expotentially larger amount of work done faster than carrying a basket at a time by hand.
- >You're still sore as hell though.
- --
- >A knock on the boutique door calls Rarity downstairs.
- >You and Fluttershy were sitting down for dinner.
- >You didn't feel like eating much, so you settled for a bowl of cereal.
- >Tonight was going just fine as far as you were concerned.
- >You look up to see Rarity make an appearance in the kitchen with her guest.
- >You nod at them in acknowledgement and go back to eating your cereal.
- >"Anonymous? Fluttershy? What are you two doing here?" asked Twilight.
- >"Hello, Twilight," greeted Fluttershy. "Anonymous and I are just staying here for a few days because Anon thinks our house is too stinky."
- >"Oh reeeaalllllyyy..." said Twilight, slowly turning her head towards you. "That's unfortunate."
- >"Yes it is, but only until we get some odor eater. Then we can go back home."
- "I'll have you know that I'm against this whole thing," you say to Twilight.
- --
- >"Hey!" exclaimed Twilight, her face lighting up in joy. "I just had the best idea!"
- >"What's that?" asked Fluttershy.
- >Twilight turned to Rarity.
- >"If it's alright with you, Rarity, how would the three of you like to have another slumber party!"
- >You start to choke on your whole grain meal.
- >"At the library?" asked Rarity.
- "No thanks."
- >"Here!" said Twilight.
- >"Hm... I suppose as long as we all stay upstairs and out of the shop,"
- "Please don't."
- "Then yes. I think that's a fabulous idea!"
- >Damn it.
- >"That sounds fun, Twilight," said Fluttershy.
- "Pass."
- --
- >The three mares turned to you.
- >"What?" they ask simultaneously.
- "I need to wake up in the morning, so I won't be partaking in your late-night fun. Sorry."
- >"I also need to work tomorrow, darling," said Rarity. "But a little fun is good for everypony once in a while."
- >"Yeah, Anon," said Twilight. "Maybe we can teach you what we learned about friendship at my first slumber party."
- >You raise an eyebrow.
- "What are you implying?" you ask.
- >"You're avoiding spending time with others, and that's not good for your relationship with others."
- "No I'm not. I literally have stuff to do tomorrow and-"
- >"You know, she's right darling," said Rarity. "You really need to spend more time with others."
- "But I really have to-"
- >You glance at Fluttershy for support, but she only nods her head in agreement with her friends.
- >You cease your defense and let out a deep sigh.
- "Fine..."
- >The three mares cheer.
- --
- [1 hour later]
- "Boooored," you moan into a pillow while lying face-down on the couch.
- >The three mares were sitting on an area rug in the center of Rarity's bedroom.
- >They were gigling like little school fillies.
- >They heard your whining and looked over to you.
- >"Well if you would at LEAST participate in some of these activities, you would have something to do," chastised Rarity.
- >You lift your face from the pillow and stare at them blankly.
- >You drop your face back into your pillow.
- >Your legs begin to feel wierd and you can feel you shoes trying to be forced from yout feet.
- >You roll over and sit up, grabbing a shoe with each hand and fighting against the purple aura.
- "I told you, you're not painting my toe nails!"
- >"Well we WERE going to style your mane, but as you can see, that's impossible after you butchered it," said Rarity.
- >"Yeah, Anon," said Twilight. "I can't understand why anypony would do that."
- >The fighting ceases and you drop your face back into the pillow.
- "It's my head. I'll do what I want," you muffle into the pillow.
- >"Did Fluttershy even know you did that?" asked Twilight, turning to Fluttershy as she asked you.
- >Fluttershy shook her head.
- >"I don't mind, Twilight. As long as it makes him happy."
- "Yeah."
- >You point a hand in what you think is Fluttershy's general direction, your face still buried in your pillow.
- "What she said."
- --
- >You feel 2 sets of hooves on your arm and a tug on your shirt.
- >You look up too late, and you are pulled off the couch by Rarity and Fluttershy.
- >Twilight uses her magic.
- >"Hold his hands down!" shouts Rarity, levitating over a bottle of nail polish.
- >They all laugh as you struggle to get free.
- >The invisible force anchors your clothes to the floor, imprisoning you within your own garments.
- "No! Get that stuff away from me! It stinks!"
- >Thirty minutes later, you are sitting on the floor with them, staring at your pretty new nails.
- "This is horrible."
- >"Oh grow up, Anonymous," said Rarity.
- >"I think it looks adorable," said Fluttershy.
- "Did you really have to go with purple?"
- >"Yes," laughed Twilight.
- >"This was a great idea, Twilight," said Rarity.
- >You slowly lift your head and glare at Twilight.
- >Right in the eyes.
- >She chuckles nervously and rubs the back of her head.
- >"So..." starts Twilight. "Who want's to play some more games?"
- >Rarity and Fluttershy raise their hooves and smile.
- >Your gaze never leaves Twilight.
- "Sure."
- --
- >Twilight pulls a slumber party manual out of her saddlebag.
- >"Let's see here..."
- >She starts flipping through the pages.
- >You look through a nearby window and out into the night sky.
- >It was starting to get pretty late.
- >You should probably go to bed soon.
- >You need to be up in the morning to help Applejack.
- >"Here we are!" piped Twilight.
- >You snapped your attention back to Twilight.
- >Twilight help
- >Fluttershy and Rarity leaned in from both sides to see what Twilight had picked.
- "What?" you ask.
- >Their eyes widened and they began to giggle.
- "What are you looking at?"
- >You crawl over to see what they're reading, but Twilight levitates the book out of reach.
- >She closes it and walks over to her saddlebag.
- >You watch her pull out an empty cider bottle and walk back over to the group.
- >Your fear grows when she places it in the middle of your circle.
- >Oh no...
- >"Let's play..."
- >Please, if there is a God...
- >"Spin the Bottle!"
- --
- "I'm out."
- >You stand.
- >"What?" asks Twilight.
- "I'm not doing this."
- >You start to walk away.
- >"Anon? Where are you going?"
- "I'm going to bed."
- >"But you can't just-"
- "I'm going to bed!" you call from down the hall.
- >"Don't be such a sour puss, Anon!" Rarity called back.
- >You close your bedroom door and lie down.
- >"Well, I never..." said Rarity.
- >"That was very strange," said Fluttershy. "He doesn't do that often."
- >"What do you think happened?" asked Rarity.
- >Twilight shrugged.
- >"I don't know. Hey! Wanna play a prank on Anon?"
- >You are shirtless in bed, wearing only shorts.
- >Just because fall was starting, doesn't mean the nights aren't hot as hell still.
- >You finally got comfortable and were about to drift off to sleep.
- >Suddenly, pillows.
- >Pillows and feathers everywhere!
- --
- >You are hit in the face repeatedly by 5 different pillows.
- >Fluttershy had one, Rarity and Twilight levitating 2 each.
- >The feathers sometimes poke through the case and prick your face.
- >You duck under your blankets and hold your own pillow to your head.
- >They realize you aren't fighting back, cease the attack, and hop off the bed.
- >Much to your irritation, they don't leave the room.
- >You lift the pillow of your face to speak.
- "Please go away so I can sleep."
- >"You promised you would stay up with us," said Rarity.
- >"Yeah, Anon. You can't just break a promise like that," said Twilight.
- >You bring the pillow back down.
- "I promised nothing."
- >"Maybe we should let him sleep," suggested Fluttershy. "He seems kind of cranky."
- "Please."
- >"Well... fine then," conceded Rarity. "You win this time, Anonymous. But don't expect to get of so easily."
- "Thank you," you mumble as you drift off to sleep.
- >The three mares close your door, but hang out right outside.
- >"Well that could have gone better," said Twilight. "I thought he like to do stuff like that?"
- >"He does," answered Fluttershy. "He must be really worried about work, or he's just that tired."
- >"I agree," said Rarity. "Something's on his mind that's making him act out."
- >Twilight shrugged.
- >"Well, there's one more thing we can try."
- >She trots into Rarity's bedroom, the other two following her.
- >Out of her saddlebag, Twilight levitates a plastic bag, filled with funny-looking blue flowers.
- --
- >Your alarm clock begins to blare, signaling the morning of your final day of work for the week.
- >You groggily rise from your bed.
- >Fluttershy is sound asleep beneath the covers beside you.
- >Huh... You never even noticed her crawl into bed with you.
- >At least you didn't have to worry about any of their party shenanigans for the rest of the night.
- >You reach for pants, but...
- >Oh yeah, you went to sleep with your clothes on.
- >You stand and rub your eyes.
- >You enter the bathroom and reach for your razor.
- >You try to grasp it, but you can't seem to get a grasp on it.
- >After a few tired and unsuccesful minutes of trying to grab your razor, you decide to just go to work.
- >It's not like missing a day of shaving would kill you.
- >Being in town meant you were already halfway to the farm compared to your house.
- >You got to sleep in longer, which was by far a bad thing.
- >You shamble your way to Sweet Apple Acres, taking your sweet time.
- >By the tie you enter the gate, you see Big Mac and Applejack leaving the farmhouse to start the day.
- >A friendly wave is all you need to start working.
- >Hopefully this day goes quick and easy.
- >You can't wait to just go home and crash.
- --
- >Your first priorities are to grab the wagon and pick up the baskets you didn't get to the night before.
- >You walk into the open barn door and grab the wagon.
- >As you go to walk away, the bars slip from your grasp.
- "Whoops."
- >You grip it harder and go to walk outside.
- >Again, the wagon slips away.
- >For the third time, you grab it.
- >You watch your hand as you pull on the wagon.
- >As much as you squeeze, your fingers slip off of the bar.
- "What is this a joke for the last day of the week?" you ask to no one in particular.
- >You grip with both hands and pull.
- >The wagon still slips.
- >They must have coated it with something.
- >Very well then.
- >You push on the wagon, turning it around.
- >You get behind it and push it out the door towards the orchard, the bars leaving lines in the dirt as they drag on the ground.
- --
- >Applejack raises an eyebrow as she sees you pushing the cart backwards towards the nearest apple bushels.
- >She trots over and meets you there.
- >"Heheh. What are ya doin' there, Anon?"
- "That's a nice little joke, Applejack. I'm gonna get you back for that later."
- >"Huh? What are ya talkin' 'bout, Anon?"
- "You know what."
- >Applejack shrugs and goes back to work.
- >Time to get started.
- >With four baskets per tree, you can easily fit 3 trees-worth of apples on this cart.
- >You bend over and grip the basket by the handles.
- >You lift and go to set it in the wagon.
- >You hands slip.
- "The baskets too?"
- >You try to lift another, and another.
- "What is this black magic!"
- >Suddenly, an idea!
- >You bend down, and using your forearms, lift the basket under the handles.
- "Aha! In your face, Applejack!"
- >Applejack glances over.
- >You're holding the basket up, triumphantly.
- >She slowly clops her hooves together, confused.
- --
- >After the third tree, your wagon is loaded and ready to go.
- >You spin the wagon around and give it a good shove.
- >This would be alot easier had the front of the cart not been dragging behind you.
- >You make it to the barn and begin unloading the baskets.
- >Unfortunately, you have to reach way forward just to get them.
- >And after that last tree, the bone in your forearm hurts pretty good.
- >You look around the barn and spot a coil of rope on the wall.
- >You haven't learned yet, and drop the rope to the ground.
- "..."
- >You stare at the coiled rope on the ground.
- "Are you serious right now..."
- >"About what?"
- >You spin around and spot Applebloom cocking her head at you from the doorway.
- "Hey Applebloom, come here. I have a favor to ask."
- >"Okay! What do you need, Anon?"
- --
- >Applejack is back tracking through the orchard.
- >She hasn't seen you in a while.
- >She wonders if you're slacking off and if she should stick a horseshoe-
- >Oh, there you are.
- >Lifting baskets... with a rope?
- >She walks over as you're loading the second basket of the tree.
- >"Uh... Anon?"
- >You look up and acknowledge her.
- "Yup?"
- >"Whatchya doin'?"
- "Nothing."
- >"Uhuh..."
- >You loop to rope around the next basket and toss it up.
- >"Y'all right, sugarcube? Yer actin' kinda funny today."
- "Just fine. Why?"
- >You toss the last basket up and step behind the wagon.
- >With great strain, you get the wagon moving.
- >Applejack walks behind you.
- --
- >"Anon, why are ya makin' work harder on yourself?"
- "I can't grab the tools because you covered them in lard or something."
- >"Come again?"
- "Nice prank, though."
- >"Anon, Ah didn't do anything of the sort."
- "Well one of you did,"
- >The wagon jams on something.
- >You take a step back and throw your body against it, moving it once more.
- "But that's fine. You're only helping me when race day comes."
- >"Anon, Ah ain't doin' nothin'."
- "Well then maybe it's a prank by Rainbow Dash."
- >"Ya really think Rainbow would do somethin' like that?"
- "I don't know. Probably."
- >"Ah think yer just paranoid. That, or workin' too hard. Would ya like to get somethin' to drink? It's pretty hot out here."
- "Nah, I'm good."
- >You reach the barn and push the wagon inside.
- "Besides, I got this."
- >You loop the rope and drag a basket off.
- >Applejack shrugs.
- >"If you say so, Anon."
- >Applejack trots out of the barn as you continue your work.
- --
- [Fluttershy's PoV]
- >You roll over in bed, throwing a leg over your lover.
- >Your hoof hits the sheets.
- >As you move your leg up and down the bed, you come to realize that Anon is not here.
- >You pull the blanket down from over your head and look around.
- >It seems he's already gone.
- >You groan in disappointment.
- >You didn't even wish him a good day at work today.
- >You roll back over and carefully reach a leg over the edge of the bed to find the floor.
- >It's much closer than you thought.
- >You remember it being taller.
- >Maybe it lost a matress or two last night.
- >You slide off the bed and walk towards the door.
- >A little breakfast can always-
- >BANG!
- >You knock your head against the top of the doorframe.
- "Ow..." you whisper so as you don't wake anypony else up.
- >You rub the bump on your head and take a step back.
- >The door is smaller than you remember.
- >You take a quick look around the room.
- >You just realized that you probably took up well over half the bed.
- >Not to mention the room was...
- "Oh no!"
- --
- >You look around much more frantically, and even go as far to compare your hoof to various objects.
- >You were huge!
- >You let out a shriek, albeit a very quiet one.
- >You suddenly stop and think.
- >How did this go wrong?
- >None of you touched the flower last night.
- >You touched the bag, but not the flower.
- >And if it made you big, then what could it have done to-
- >You quickly turn back to the bed.
- "Anon!"
- >You carefully lift the blankets and look under the bed.
- >There was no sign of him.
- >You prowl along the floorboards, searching for any sign of him.
- >You can only hope you didn't crush him while you were sleeping.
- >A shriek of pure terror echoes through the boutique, almost causing you to jump right out of your feathers.
- >You slowly open the bedroom door and peek through the crack.
- >It looks safe, but you can never be too sure.
- >You tread lightly as you move down the hall.
- >You peek into Rarity's room where the scream originated.
- >What you see horrifies you.
- --
- "R-Rarity?" you whisper.
- >A hulking figure in a dark robe stood in front of a mirror.
- >Rarity turns her head to acknowledge you and shrieks once more.
- >"Don't look at me!"
- >She curls up on the floor in front of the mirror.
- >You slowly walk up and touch her shoulder.
- >Her sobs are enough to tell you something's really wrong.
- "What could be wrong with you Rar-"
- >You don't finish you sentence as Rarity throws the hood off and turns to face you.
- >Upon seeing each other, you both shriek in unison.
- >Rarity had been donkey-fied!
- >Your screams are cut short by the loud crash of dinner plates and utensils.
- >Without a word, you and Rarity rush into the kitchen.
- >The cupboards were broken, there were shattered plates everywhere, and in the middle of the room, Twilight was staring down a fork that was resting on the floor in front of her.
- >"Twilight!" shouted Rarity upon seeing the state of her clean house. "What have you done!"
- >"Shh!" hushed Twilight. "I need to concentrate."
- --
- >You and Rarity watched as Twilight squinted her eyes and focused on the offending fork as if it just signed it's own death warrant.
- >Her horn began to glow.
- >A purple aura enveloped the fork.
- >Suddenly, Twilight flew up and crashed into the ceiling, knocking the next of many you had failed to notice when you first entered.
- >Twilight's concentration broke and she fell to the floor with a crash.
- >"OW!"
- >You and the hooded Rarity rushed to Twilight's side.
- "Twilight! Are you okay?"
- >"Yes, Fluttershy," assured Twilight as she rose to her hooves.
- >She turned and flinched the moment she saw the two of you.
- >"It appears the Poison Joke backfired on us," she stated.
- >"You think!" shouted Rarity.
- >Rarity pulled back her hood.
- >"I can't work today! Have you seen me? I look absolutely HORRID!"
- >Rarity pulled a regal-looking sofa over to her and she dramatically fell onto it, sobbing all the while.
- >You stepped over and lightly pat Rarity.
- "It's okay, Rarity. Lotus and Aloe have the remedy from Zecora, remember?"
- >"Fluttershy's right, Rarity," said Twilight. "We just need to make a stop over at the spa and we'll be good as new."
- --
- "Wait!"
- >"What?" asked Twilight.
- "We can't go without Anonymous!"
- >"Oh yeah. You're right. Well, where is he?"
- "I'm not sure. I looked all over the bedroom for him in case I might have squished him. He may have gone to work already."
- >"Well then, what are we waiting for? Let's go get him!"
- >"I. Will. Not!" declared Rarity. "I am not leaving this house!"
- >"No? Why not?"
- >"I look disgusting!"
- "I'm also a little unsure about leaving."
- >You shift on your hooves.
- "I mean, wouldn't everypony make fun of us?"
- >Twilight thought about it for a moment.
- >Both the boutique and the spa were in the center of town.
- >Not to mention you still need to go find Anon.
- >Twilight sighed.
- >"What if we run really, really fast? We shouldn't be noticed much this early in the morning."
- >You and Rarity trade glances and shrug.
- >"GO!"
- >The three of you run for the door.
- >Twilight is in the lead and goes to magick the door open.
- >She suddenly flies to the left and crashed into a pile of stacked chairs.
- >You and Rarity skid to a halt and watch the pile that Twilight just flew through.
- >Twilight manages to scramble her way from underneath the chairs and walk to the door.
- >With a sigh, she pushes it open wih her hoof and the three of you resume your mad dash to Sweet Apple Acres.
- --
- [Anon's PoV]
- >That's four.
- >You begin pushing the empty wagon from the barn and back to the orchard.
- >This rope is really starting to cut into your wrist.
- >You should probably cut it off soon.
- >"Anon!"
- >You stand straight and look around.
- >"Anon!"
- >Fluttershy's voice draws your gaze towards the front gate.
- >You panic when you see a giant yellow pegasus flying right for you.
- >You duck just in time to not be hit, only for Fluttershy to take out the wagon.
- >Aw crap.
- >Big Mac is not gonna be happy about this one...
- >Fluttershy rises from the mess of splintered wood.
- >"Heheh... Oops," she says embarassingly.
- >She walks up to you and you can't help but stare.
- >She is staring you in the eyes.
- >From eye level.
- "Fluttershy... I-I... uh..."
- >"Are you okay?" asked Fluttershy.
- "I-I, uh... I..."
- >"He looks fine, Fluttershy," said Twilight as she and Rarity trotted up.
- --
- >You turn around to meet Twilight.
- "Yeah, I'm fi- WHAT THE HELL IS THAT!"
- >You jump back and away from Rarity, shielding your eyes from her.
- >"Gee, thanks. Because that's what every lady of class wants to hear," said Rarity, sarcastically.
- "Rarity? What the hell happened to you two?" you ask as you turn around and meet Fluttershy again.
- >A memory creeps it's way back into your mind.
- >You spin around and glare at Twilight.
- "What did you do!"
- >"I didn't do anything, Anon. Calm down."
- "You're the only one I know capable of doing something like this."
- >"It's true, Anon," said Fluttershy as she nuzzled the back of your neck. "It was only a prank gone bad. Please don't be mad."
- "Huh? Oh, sorry. History dictates my assumption. What were you trying to do?"
- >"We, uh... were trying to..." Fluttershy trailed off, avoiding the answer.
- "Rarity, Twilight, what happened?"
- >"Well you see," started Twilight. "There's a little flower the likes to prank ponies."
- >"And you were being so rude last night, we thought we would try to loosen you up a bit with a prank," continued Rarity.
- >"But it appears the Poison Joke decided to prank us instead," finished Twilight.
- >You contemplate their story for a minute before you shrug.
- "Okay, I guess that makes sense."
- --
- >"Uh, Anon?" asked Rarity.
- "Yeah?"
- >"What is that?"
- >Rarity pointed towards the rope around your wrists.
- "Oh yeah. Well, for some reason, someone greased everything and I've been unable to grab a single thing all day. So I have this here rope to grab the baskets for me."
- >You bring your hands close to your face and examine your wrists.
- "Although that is really starting to look like a bad idea."
- >They three mares gasp when they see the red marks around your wrists.
- >"Anonymous! Take those shackles off!" ordered Rarity.
- >You try to slide your hands out, but Applebloom tied them pretty tight.
- "A little help, please?"
- >Rarity sighed and trotted into the barn.
- >She emerged with a large pair of secateurs, snipping the air as she walked towards you.
- >You took a few steps back.
- "Uh... R-Rarity?"
- >You bumped into Fluttershy, stopping your retreat.
- >You squeeze your eyes shut as the secataurs close down.
- >In 2 swift and painless snips, the rope falls free.
- >You open your eyes, Rarity had her head cocked, wondering what you were flinching for.
- "O-oh... Very well then."
- --
- >Applejack trotted up after hearing the commotion from the orchard.
- >"Why howdy y'all! What brings ya- What happened to Big Mac's wagon!"
- >Fluttershy cowers behind you.
- >"T-that was m-me, Applejack. I'm sorry," she whispered.
- >"Oh, heheh. That's alright, sugarcube. He's been lookin' for a reason to get a new one anyhow."
- >Applejack finally realized something was wrong with Rarity and Fluttershy.
- >"Uh... What is... Do Ah really wanna know?"
- >"Poison Joke," everyone said simultaneously.
- >"Ah. That makes sense."
- >Applejack turned to you.
- >"So Ah take it your're fixin' to ask for the rest of the day off?"
- "No. Why would I do that?"
- >"To go get cured."
- "I need to be cured?"
- >"Yup. So you're free to go. Just be back Monday mornin'. I'll deliver your first week's pay later."
- "Oh... Alright then."
- --
- >"Oh, and here's a treat for y'all."
- >Applejack kicks an apple to Fluttershy and Rarity.
- >Fluttershy catches it in her mouth, and Rarity with her magic.
- >Applejack tosses one to Twilight.
- >A purple aura envelopes the apple, stopping it mid air.
- >Twilight goes flying backwards and slams into a tree.
- >The apple falls to the ground.
- >You can't contain your laughter.
- >"It's not funny!" shouted Twilight as she staggered to her hooves.
- >You wipe a tear from your eye.
- "Haha... Yeah, it kind of is... Pfft ahaha!"
- >Applejack tosses you an apple.
- >You reach out with both hands, but the apple just stops upon hitting them and falls straight to the ground.
- >After staring at it for a second, you turn to look at Twilight.
- >She has the biggest shit-eating grin on her face.
- "Lets just go..."

