Sweaty Personhorses: Chapter V -IN PROGRESS-

>Just moments ago, you stepped off the train in Canterlot for official royal business

>Said royal business will not start until later this evening, however, giving you a little extra time on your hands

>Your friends have also planned to make the best of their free time

>Pinkie said she was going shopping in the market district

>Dash and Fluttershy would be at the gym after lunch

>Rarity and Applejack are meeting you for dinner at 6

>And Twilight is at the castle right now preparing for the meeting with the princess

>Your watch now reads 11:18

>You still have a couple questions for Dash

>But you have no idea where to find her

>At least you know where she will be later

>Might as well wander the city and take in the sites

 

...

 

>It's been 30 minutes and so far all you've seen are snooty rich folk, expensive stores, and snooty rich folk running expensive stores

>Where do all the poor people such as yourself go?

>Feeling dejected, you make your way out of the...

"Bank District?"

>Oh

>As you leave, you pass by a quaint little restaurant

>A sign advertises a woman in a gray dress playing a violin

>Tempting, but those prices...

>Eventually, you come across what you believe is the entertainment district

>Neon sign advertising night clubs seem so dull in the morning

>Out of the corner of your eye, you spot several people entering one of the clubs

>You turn to get a better look

>A giant record with a comical scratch on the side reads "The Scratch"

>A smaller sigh below confirms it's a bar and grill

>A quick bite wouldn't hurt

>You open the door to reveal a dimly lit building

>Wisps of smoke fill the air from various ashtrays

>There are actually more people than you thought there would be

>Most are smoking or having a beer a little too early

>Most of the guys here brought their arm candy

>ALL of the guys, actually...

>Yeah, you are definitely not standing out

>...

>On stage, a young woman is checking her equipment

>No doubt for tonight's performance

>The turntable and amps make it obvious she's a DJ

>Oh wait, 'The Scratch'

>Duh

>Eh, why not

>The stage lighting was a little brighter than the rest of the room, so you wince as you get close to all the reflective metal

>She sees you approach and gives you a nod as she takes off her headphones

>"Hey, you here for the show tonight?"

"When is it?"

>"Six."

"Er, sorry. I already have plans."

>"Tch. Bummer. But it's cool, man. We're gonna be open til eleven if you have some time."

>She goes back to her deck

"Hey, aren't you Vinyl Scratch?"

>Her eyes quickly raise to meet yours

>"Yeah! You heard of me?"

"You've played in town, right?"

>"Yep! I'm kinda shocked, you know my actual name!"

>You smile

"I though it was you. I almost didn't recognize you without your goggles."

>"Heh, I get that a lot."

>Vinyl walks from behind her table and takes a seat on the stage lip

>She was wearing a white tank top with blue baggy shorts

>As she got comfortable, her black boots swing

>They reminded you of Gilda's

>"So you got plans, huh? Who's the lucky girl?"

>Vinyl playfully pokes you in the stomach with the toe of her boot

"Uh, girls, actually."

>She gives a mock gasp

>"You bad boy!"

>She lightly kicks you this time

"No, nothing like that! We're just going out to eat... as friends."

>"Uh huh. Suuuure. I'm not judging."

>She winks before getting up

>"Tell you what. If you aren't busy after your date, come on by. We can hang backstage."

"Really? Just me and you?"

>"Sure! You don't gush over me like my other fans. And you just seem like a chill guy in general."

>Huh

"Alright."

>"Cool! See ya tonight!"

>You shield your eyes from the sun as you exit the club

>Jeez, your to-do list is just growing by the hour

>A sharp pang in your stomach makes you realize something

>You're friggin' starving

>Forgot to eat breakfast... again

>This is becoming a bad habit for you

>You think about grabbing something at the bar, but don't really want to eat alone

>Pinkie should be around here somewhere

>Maybe you could grab lunch with her?

 

...

 

>Canterlot's marketplace is definitely different than back home

>Most everything here is overpriced as hell

>A sign advertises cherries for 5 bits

"Can Pinkie really afford this stuff?"

>"Nonny!"

>As if on cue, the pure, raw energy and its host body skip over to you

>"What did I tell you about talking to inanimate objects?"

>She giggles

>How...?

"You heard- I mean, how was your shopping spree?"

>Ponko's eyes light up

>"Ooh, ooh! You shoulda been there, Nonny! The healthy store had SOOOOO many things I've never heard of! Do you know what a dietary supplement tablet is?"

"I think it's-"

>"Anyway, the lady wanted to charge me 30 bits for a pound of tofu! 30! And it wasn't even cupcake shaped! Can you believe that?!"

"I-"

>"So I just got some strawberries instead."

>You don't open your mouth in fear of being interrupted

>Pinkie just stands there with the same grin, expecting something

"Hey, did you wanna-"

>"Of course I'll grab lunch with you, silly!"

>Getting mad just ain't worth it

>"I know just the place!"

>She leads you to a modest little cafe she must have passed by

>Luckily, Pinkie was right about the prices, so you were able to order a decent meal

>The food arrives and the two of you eat in silence

>The both of you were hungrier than you thought

>You rip into your burger as Pank slurps down her shake

>Out of the corner of your eye, you can't help but notice her foot bobbing up and down on her knee

>Swallow your bite a little harder than you meant to

>Y'know, I bet those feet are nice and warm after this morning

>C'mon, not now...

>You shift your eyes back to Pinkie, but she's still engrossed in her milkshake

>And she DID say she wanted to do it again sometime...

>This never gets easier

>Why not ease into the subject...

"So, uh, you must have walked a lot."

>Hold that spaghetti in, Anon

>Pinkie looks up from her shake

>"Well, DUH! How else would I get around? Ooh! I can hop or skip or even-"

"Aren't you tied at all?"

>"Hmm, maybe a little. But this choco brownie blast is giving me a major sugar rush!"

>Darn Pinkie's childlike innocence

"I bet your feet are tired of being in those hot shoes. I could help if you wanted."

>Pinkie looks down at her pink sneakers

>"Oh! You mean one of your super awesome foot rubs! Sure!"

"Hey, not so loud..."

>She ignores your plead and plops both feet on the table

>"Ready!"

"Uh, h-how about somewhere a little more comfortable?"

>Pinkie plays with her curls as she thinks

>"The park sound okay? I think I remember seeing a bench under a shady tree."

"Sounds perfect."

 

...

 

>The park wasn't that far from the cafe

>And sure enough, there was a bench under a tree

>The bench was warm from the sun hitting it all morning, and the shade protected you from the sun directly overhead

>'Comfy' would be an understatement

>Pinkie joins you on the bench and swings her legs around to rest on your lap

>"Mmm, ready."

>Her voice already has that mellow tone

>Almost flirty

>You take her left shoe into your hand and begin unlacing

>Even with the shoe on, you can still catch a whiff of the prize inside

>With the knot undone, the pink sneaker slides off easily

>The wind was blowing directly in your face, carrying the aroma right to your nose

>The last time you were in this position, Pinkie was covered in cake and other sweet scents, but this was different

>It wasn't rank or sour, but not fresh and fruity either

>Just the natural smell of a hyperactive girl

>The pink ankle sock covering her foot was also damp

>Pinkie must be enjoying the cool air on her feet as her toes wiggled in her socks

>As if guided by an invisible hand, your fingers find her other foot and free it as well

>Now you were staring at both her soles, complete with small, dark smudges under the toes

>Wait, you can't give a proper massage with socks on, can you?

>Feeling bold, you slip your finger under the band of her left sock

>Pinkie doesn't protest, so you continue

>In a swift tug, the sock slides off her foot

>You set down her now bare left foot on your lap in a way that lets it press into your stomach

>After the second foot is freed, Pinkie opens her eyes and sits up

>"Wow! Just look at all those fuzzies!"

"Fuzzies?"

>"Yeah! Look!"

>She lifts her feet off your lap and practically shoves them into your face

>Sure enough, Pinkie's feet are covered in pink sock lint, mostly in between her toes

>"See 'em?!"

"Y-Yeah..."

>Your heart is nearly about to burst out of your chest

>Unfortunately, you make the mistake of fantasizing about yourself cleaning the lint from her toes

>"Anon?"

"Wha- Huh?"

>"Your face is all red again. That always seems to happen when I talk about my feet."

>shitshitshit

"What? No, it doesn't..."

>"Yeah, it does! Sugarcube Corner, over at Applejack's, and right now!"

>SHITSHITSHIT

>Pinkie might be naive, but once she gets suspicious...

>In a last ditch effort, you squeak

"It's... hot?"

>Her incredulous look doesn't fade as she brings her feet up to rest on your chest

>Before you can ask what she's doing, Pinkie begins rubbing her big toe in circles around your chest

>She's obviously trying to get a reaction out of you, as her eyes never leave yours

>Her glare is actually pretty terrifying

>You had almost forgotten how vicious Pinkie can be when she interrogates someone, if Spike's story is any indication