Eppy-Unnamed

>Day Everfree Shenanigans in Equestria

>Be Anonymous the Day Walker

>You awake at half past six and shuffle under your sheets

>Pressed against you is the sleeping form of Rosewood

>Her red mane lays to one side as a smile parts her sleeping mouth

>A small sting from your shoulder helps you recall the antics of the previous night

>Carefully, you slip from her hooves and out your bedroom door for your morning routine

>After the traditional triple S, you lazily dress

>Head to toe, you feel like a new man as you smile into the mirror

>Your eye catches a sudden shining spot from your otherwise perfect face

>A small tear rests around your neck and you instantly scream in horror

"My face!"

>Within seconds, a sound of stampeding hooves barrels towards the bathroom and the door flies open

>"Anon! What happened?!"

>Rosewood stands in the doorway with a messy mane and bewildered eyes

"My face has been compromised! We need to fix it right now!"

>Rosewood looks up to you with no less confusion

>"Y-your face?"

"My face!"

>You point sternly to the rip on your neck and your face tenses

>"Anon... That's just a hole in your mask."

>You look at the pony that you -thought- loved you and frown as hard as you can

"My face is torn and that's how you treat me?"

>Tears well in your eyes and your lip stutters for the moment

>"No, no! I'm sorry, alright? Yes, I see the hole, but we can fix that."

>You sober up instantly as your very real condition is realized

"But, I don't know how to sew! Do you?"

>"Um, not really. I bet somep0ny in town would know! But, it's kind of early for everyp0ny else..."

>You scoff and hold your hand to your neck

"Damn nocturnal habits."

>"Well, I may know of somep0ny who could fix it..."

>Rosewood stops for the moment and holds her tongue between her teeth

"Go on..."

>"But, she's kind of different."

"All ponies are different and I swear you guys are evolving before my eyes. Almost feel like I should start catching them all."

>You smirk for the moment, but Rosewood looks through you

>"Well, OK, but you have to be really careful and do -exactly- what I tell you, alright?"

"Yes, alright, whatever! Let's just get a move on!"

>Rosewood pushes you from the bathroom

>"I need a shower first. You got -it- in my mane and on my ears last night."

"I told you to relax and accept it."

>Rosewood grunts at you quickly as the door slams shut

>Ages pass into the abyss as you await the return of your sharp-tongued friend

>The door opens swiftly and steam billows out as Rosewood springs forth

>"Refreshing! OK, are you ready, Anon?"

>The two of you leave with great haste from your small tree home and you grab the lantern from your doorway

>"Why are you taking that thing?"

"I cannot see in the dark like you."

>"OK, but just until we get there. You're going to have to turn it off."

"But, I..."

>"... You said you'd do -exactly- what I told you."

"Fine, fine."

>You huff and make your way to the ground floor with Rosewood in tow

>The trek is interesting in the early morning as you take a route previously unheard of

>The canopy of Hollow Shades holds back light rather well, but it still manages to be muggy

"So... Who are we meeting way out here?"

>"A friend, kind of. Well, more like an acquaintance, really. We worked together on a garden project that Princess Luna order a few years back."

"And she lives so far from town because...?"

>"She's kind of a recluse."

>The forest up ahead grows thicker and brambles line the trees with eerie effects

>Despite the strangest feeling of fear in your gut, you press on

>Rosewood's small frame allows her to easily slip around the narrow passages, but you find yourself slowed as you ease your way in

"This is, ugh... This is a terrible place to live."

>Rosewood's tone is quite serious as she speaks

>"Not too much further now."

>Within a few minutes, you emerge from the undergrowth into a nice clearing

>A lot of flowers are planted about and you can tell that someone is keeping them alive

>"Turn off the torch."

>You do as instructed and the area grows dim at once

>In the darkness, you rest your hand on Rosewood as you have in the past

>She makes a great seeing-eye pony

>"Just keep your voice down and be nice."

>You speak in a hush manner

"I am always nice!"

>Though you cannot see her face, you are certain you feel Rosewood's eyes roll at you

>Rosewood begins to move and you follow her with your left hand on her withers

"So, who is this pony?"

>"Her name is Peppermint."

"What does she look like?"

>"You will know her when you see her."

>You get some ominous feeling in your stomach as Rosewood provides another cryptic answer

>You enter the center of the sanctuary and are assaulted by a hundred different fragrances

>After a minute or two of gawking, Rosewood slides against your leg

>"OK, you wait here and I will go see if she is at home."

>You do not resist as Rosewood leaves you side and disappears into the advancing gloom

>Standing in the dark is always a little unnerving for you

>A tune plays in your mind to keep it from speculating as the sweet smell of fresh flowers dances about

>You wipe a bit of sweat from your brow, unsure if it was from the exercise or fear

>Before you realize, a soft, warm something slide beside you and you are instantly relieved

>You sigh with relief as you speak quickly

"Thank goodness you came back. Was she home?"

>There is no reply, but the curious feeling of a soft tongue on your hang

"Rosy, now is not the appropriate time for this."

>A voice not known to you suddenly replies

>"Hmm, who's Rosy?"

>Fear clenches to your chest as you quickly fire up your lantern

>Licking your free hand is a pony with insect-like wings, a furry tuft about her neck, and two eyes that refract and sparkle like a million shards of glass

>Upon seeing you in the bright light, the pony lets go a shriek and you follow suit

>You bolt off in Rosewood's direction as the strange pony takes flight after you

>The lantern bounces widely as you run through the thick darkness

>You turn your head to see the face of your assailant gaining on you

>In no time, the feel of something fairly heavy collides with your back and you fall to the ground

>The wet feeling of a pony's tongue runs along the top of your hand and the back of your exposed neck

>You always had a feeling you would die like this

>Well, actually, you imagined it would be a work-related industrial lathe accident

>A voice suddenly rings out into the darkness as you are assaulted

>"Hey! Take it easy with Anon, Peppermint!"

>Your ears instantly catch on and your courage bolsters

>You shove the fuzzy pony from you and sit up

>Raising your lantern, you get another look at your attacker

>Her eyes seem to follow you with some unexplained fascination as you stare back at her in anger

>Rosewood calls to you again

>"Anon! Turn off the light!"

"No chance! She attacked me, scared me out of wits!"

>"It's the light!"

>Thinking clearly for the moment, you snap the lantern off and let the cool darkness engulf you

>In the dim lighting, you see Peppermint shake her head vigorously and snap to attention

>"Whoa, trippy, haha!"

>Her voice comes out in a very mellow tone

>"I was like, just coming back from picking some honeysuckles and then, like, I was digging this smell from that thing over there. Right? So, like, then there was this tubular light and my mind was just blown, heh-a."

>A hoof points at you

>Rosewood smirks and cups her face in her hoof

>"Hey, Peppermint, it's me, Rosewood."

>"Haha, far-out! What brings you to like, my neck of the woods. Heh-a, neck..."

>Rosy points to you and begins to speak in a brisk way

>"This is my friend, Anonymous, and I'm sorry to bother you, but we were coming over to ask for your expertise on sewing."

>"Whoa, what a coinkydink! I was gonna come over today to like, get your help on making that awesome fertilizer."

>You stand to your feet and move closer to Rosewood

>"Well, that does sound like a fair trade. I'll mix up some of my secret formula and you could fix Anon's mask."

>"Totally, I'm like, all for small business fair trade and junk, heh-a."

>You watch Peppermint trot inside and notice her strange, moth-like features again

>Rosewood smiles to you and nuzzles your leg

>"I think that went well. I was afraid you two would not get along. I mean, she's different and all."

>You stare at Rosewood with a strained sort of look

>The thought of bat ponies use to be a tough pill to swallow, but moth ponies were just absurd

"No, she's fine, you know? It's just... Well, she's kind of..."

>"I know what you are thinking, Anon, and believe me when I say that it's been pretty hard for somep0ny like her in town."

"Well, it is not like it is strange or anything..."

>"I am glad you can see past the fact that Peppermint is a hippie."

>Your face twist into unnatural shapes as you pierce the darkness with your gaze

"That's it, right..."

>Today was a spooky day