Title:           Just Like You - Chapter 3
Author:          TechyConversant
Pastebin link:   http://pastebin.com/J2MgMHY0
First Edit:      Tuesday 19th of June 2012 12:53:26 AM CDT
Last Edit:       Tuesday 19th of June 2012 12:53:26 AM CDT

>Waking up is hard to do.
>You didn't get much sleep after all.
>Leaving the purchased apples on the stone slab, you left alone.
>As soon as you returned to the castle, you stayed on the balcony for a few hours.
>Looking out into the Labyrinth.
>Maybe you'd catch a glimpse of her.
>But she was gone.
>Boy did you feel like the biggest jerk in the world.
>Sleeping wasn't easy that night, but the morning came faster than you could have hoped.
>But now's your chance to make it right!
>Managing to get up, you rush downstairs to grab some breakfast.
>A huge assortment of fruits is laid on the table.
>Grabbing a banana, you start peeling it as you rush out the front door.
>Until you're stopped.
>"Good morning, Anon."
>You turn back to see the Princess of the Sun.
"Good morning."
>"Where are you off to so eagerly?"
"Uh...school...?"
>The stern look on her face shows she isn't buying it.
>Until the most unlikely, and unwanted, savior appears.
>"Hi Anon~"
>Cadenza.
 
>"Come on Anon, we're gonna be late for school!"
>Okay, why the heck is she here?
>More importantly, why does Celestia look so PLEASED by this?
>"Why hello Cadance! This explains why he was rushing off."
>No it doesn't.
>"Don't worry, I'll walk him to school!"
>What are you, a pet?
"I can walk myself, thanks."
>You brush past Cadenza as you make your way out the front door.
>"Have a good day, Anon!"
>Celestia bids you farewell as you makes your way down the colossal steps.
>As you go for the left turn towards the gardens, you're stopped by a pink roadblock.
>"Not today you don't!"
>This mare.
"Out of my way."
>"Nope! You're coming to school today."
"I wasn't gonna skip."
>"Right. Now come on!"
>Looks like Chrissy will have to wait again.
>At least she has her apples this time.
 
>School is as boring as it always is.
>You never get called on to answer questions.
>The teacher just gives you awkward looks.
>Some of these p0nies still aren't used to the way you look.
>You're accustomed to it, however.
>If by accustomed, you mean 'used to hiding'.
>Who cares what they think anyway.
>The day goes by and you learn nothing.
>Any idiot can do math.
>These p0nies apparently have the I.Q. of squirrels.
>Once the lunch bell rings, you make your way outside, and sit on a bench, alone.
>You wished it stayed that way.
>However, as expected, Cadenza trots over to you near instantly, taking a seat.
>She's followed by another p0ny, a white stallion.
>Shining Armor, his name was.
>He didn't talk much.
>Kinda like you.
>Made him tolerable.
"Hey Shiny."
>"Hey Anon."
>Cadenza chirps up.
>"Hiya Anon!"
>You don't respond.
>The split second pained expression is palpable.
 
>Being forced to deal with company, you eat your lunch silently.
>Cadenza and Shiny talk about little things, with her constantly trying to include you in context.
>"Oh, Anon might have an idea..."
>"Anon, don't you like that?"
>"We should play that some time, Anon?"
>None of her advances are met with a response.
>She's keeping you from doing what you want.
>And what you WANT is to freakin' leave.
>After your lunch of an apple, you walk back inside behind Cadenza and Shiny.
>Taking your seats, your teacher decides to drop a bomb.
>Surprise math test.
>Well, it's a bomb to everyp0ny else, because you don't give a single care.
>Math is easy stuff.
>When the test is passed out, you see p0nies all over the room freaking out.
>Not you though.
>The test makes it's way to you, and after glancing it over, you know you could do it in 10 seconds flat.
>It's more like 2 minutes, but the idea's the same.
>Some multiplication, long division, nothing hard.
>You flip the test over and pull out your notebook.
>Doodles are a great way to pass time.
>And you doodle the only thing that's been on your mind all day.
 
http://i.imgur.com/eDgsB.png
 
>If you had a cutie mark, it sure wouldn't be for art.
>You made her too tall, for certain.
>At least you got the holes right.
>You think.
>She also looks mischievous.
>...
>...that's about right.
>A hole here, a hole there...
>You could slap circles anywhere on it and it would still look right.
>Time passes while you whittle away at your pencil, sketching your changeling friend.
>A few minutes later, the teacher notices you've finished your test.
>"If anyP0NY is done with their test, they may bring it up to me and are free to leave."
>You felt the acid in her voice when she said any'P0NY'.
>You get it, you aren't like everyone else.
>She sure loves mentioning it though.
>You stash your notebook back in your desk, an stand up, test in hand.
>Being the first one done, as usual, you get a few stares.
>Specifically from front-row Cadenza, who now rushes to finish her test.
>You place the paper on your teacher's desk and walk out of the schoolhouse.
>Goodbye, and good riddance.
 
>You pick up the pace slightly as you head for the castle.
>The sun is still high in the sky, meaning it's not too late to see Chrissy.
>You'll still get yelled at, for sure.
>Especially after yesterday.
>But it's better than nothing.
>While you think happily to yourself, the train of thought is interrupted by a far off shout.
>"Anon!!"
>You have to be kidding me.
>Will she ever leave you ALONE?!
>You don't want to spend another day with tea-party princess, especially when you need to see Chrissy.
>Think, Anon, think...
>...got it.
>Thinking swiftly, you rip off your jacket and throw it in a nearby bush.
>Turning around, you notice Cadenza running towards you full speed.
>She stops right in front of you.
>"Anon, I'm NOT letting you run off again!"
"Cadenza-"
>"CADANCE!"
"...Cadance..."
>She smiles happily when you use her favorite moniker.
"...I can't come over your house dressed like this!"
>You point to yourself.
>"What do you mean?"
"We're having another tea party right"
>"Well, we COULD..."
>Hook, line, now reel it in.
 
"I need to look my best then! I need a good shirt, and my ja-"
>You pat yourself down.
"My jacket? Where did I-"
>A theatrical slap to the forehead drives your point home.
"I left my jacket back at the school!"
>You look down to the ground.
"I need that jacket or I'll look stupid..."
>Come on, take the bait...
>"Oh, I can get it for you!"
>YES.
"Really? That'd be awesome!"
>You smile wide.
>Damn good actor, you are.
>Well, enough to fool her.
>Celestia, on the other hand...
>"I'll grab it and go back to my house, okay?"
"Okay! I'll go change."
>With a smile, she dashes off towards the schoolhouse once more.
>Grade A Sucker.
>Once she's out of view, you swipe your jacket and make a break for the gardens.
 
>You get closer to Chrissy with every step, as the Labyrinth appears once more.
>Left, right, right, left, straight, left...
>Like clockwork.
>You make the final turn, and the statues come into view.
>As does the pile of apples you left there last night.
>She...hasn't even come back yet.
>With a sigh, you reunite with the stone bench.
>She must be really mad to not have come back at all...
>That or she's busy!
>But, she's never busy.
>Ever.
>You lie back on the slab, it being as comfortable to you as any bed.
>Grabbing an apple from the pile, you take a bite.
>Delicious.
>Tastes better with company though.
>After a few bites, the exhaustion from running catches up to you.
>Your eyelids become heavy as you rest the half-eaten apple on top of the pile.
>A little nap couldn't hurt.
 
>Meanwhile...
 
>Jacket, jacket, jacket, jacket...
>You have to find his jacket!
>Returning to the schoolhouse, every storage space is empty.
>No bags, no books, but more importantly, no jacket!
>He ALWAYS has it on, how could he have left it here?
>He can be such an idiot.
>At least he said he's coming to another tea party!
>But you NEED TO FIND HIM HIS JACKET!
>Where else could it be?
>Ah, that's his desk!
>You open it and find...
>...no jacket.
>DARN IT ALL!
>You do notice a doodle he was drawing earlier that day.
>When he finished that super hard math test early!
>He's so smart~
>What did he draw?
>It looks like...a p0ny.
>Made of cheese.
>He has the WEIRDEST ideas.
>You put the notebook back and close the desk.
>Maybe he just forgot his jacket at home?
>Oh well, you need to get back to your house pronto!
>There's tea to be had!
 
>A few hours pass...
 
>The sun has started to set, as you creak open your eyes.
>It's been a while since you've had such a nice nap.
>*crunch*
>The sound of a freshly eaten apple is heard.
>Turning your head, you see Chrissy on the ground, eating an apple.
>She looks up to you.
>When your eyes meet, she turns away abruptly.
>"Hmph."
>Oh boy, it's like this, is it?
>You sit upright, stretching slightly.
"Good morning."
>Maybe the joke will lighten her up.
>No response.
>Hm.
"Toss me an apple?"
>You hold your hand open to catch a tasty red morsel.
>However, it goes whizzing by your face and into the bush-wall behind you.
>Yikes.
"Look, I'm sorry."
>"I don't want to hear it."
>She stands up, brushes off a few blades of grass, and walks away a few steps.
>Oh no, she doesn't get to leave that easy!
"Hey, I SAID I was sorry."
>"And I SAID I don't want to hear it!"
>She's nearly yelling at you.
"Why are you so mad?"
 
>"Why? I don't know, maybe because you're a huge liar!"
"I didn't lie about anything!"
>"You said you'd be back with apples!"
"I am here, and there are apples!"
>"It took you a whole day?!?"
>The back and forth keeps going.
>Eventually, you take a step back.
"I don't even have to come here you know."
>"Oh, you're going to lie again? What happened to seeing me every day?"
>Before you can get a word in edge-wise, she continues.
>"It's because of that Cadenza girl, isn't it?"
>Rolling your eyes, you sit on the side of the bench and bury your head in your arms.
"I don't need to hear anymore of her."
>"Is that so?"
>With a flash of green, Chrissy's voice changes in an instant.
>"I'm Mi Amore Cadenza, I like playing dumb games and hanging out with Ano~n!"
>The mocking tone is perfectly matched to Cadenza's.
>Lifting your head to tell her off, you notice something.
>Her voice isn't the only thing perfectly matching Cadenza's.
>Her neck and up is pink, with the head you normally know replaced with that of Cadenza.
>You double-take.
>You have to be seeing things.
>Did she really just...change?
 
>Chrissy notices the weird looks you're giving her.
>"What?"
>You point, stammering out a few words.
"Your....your head..."
>With a questionable look, she runs a hoof through her hair.
>She hold it out in front of her.
>White, pink, and purple.
>Not her normal hair color.
>She shrieks and falls backwards.
>"WHAT HAPPENED?!"
"You...look like Cadenza."
>As soon as you say it, her look of shock turns into one of pure joy.
>"I...changed?!? I CHANGED?!?!"
>She bounces up to her feet, and rushes over to you.
>"I changed, I changed, I changed!"
>It's so weird watching her saying this in Cadenza's visage.
>"I've been waiting until I could change, and now I can!"
"What do you think...well...changed...to make it so you can?"
>"Maybe I'm just growing up!"
>Seems logical.
>"I gotta try more!"
>She crouches down, her horn glowing a bright green, when suddenly the magic rushes over her whole body.
>The black holed hooves are replaced with pink.
>She sprouts feathery wings.
>She IS Cadenza.
 
"Wow..."
>"This is so GREAT!"
>She stares at herself, turning to see her changed form.
>Noticing your looks of amazement, she gets a playful smirk.
>"Do you LIKE me this way?"
>That question breaks your stunned expression.
"What? NO! I've had enough of Cadenza."
>"You suuuure?"
>She steps towards the bench, pressing her hooves on your legs.
>They don't feel like her harder, holed hooves.
>They feel like a normal p0ny's.
>"I bet 'I' want to see you more!"
>She giggles, continuing to imitate Cadenza.
"Please stop."
>"But Ano~n..."
>The mimicry of that whine pains your ears.
>It's just. Like. Cadenza.
>"You promised we were going to pla~y..."
>She pushes you, your back falling flat on the stone bench.
>Standing on top of you, she leans in close.
>"Found you!"
>Serious deja vu hits.
>Just like when Cadenza tackled you yesterday.
>Was she...watching?
 
>You don't say anything, not sure how to respond.
>The devilish smile on Chrissy...Cadenza...her face only grows as she continues to pin you down.
>Why are you nervous?
>Last time Cadenza pushed you down you just threw her off.
>But this isn't Cadenza.
>It's Chrissy.
>Why is this different?
>Get her off you!
>But...you don't move.
>You just let her pin you.
>As you just stare at her, the grin on her face wide...
>You both freeze.
>It couldn't be...
>...steps?
>You heard it.
>She heard it.
>Hoof-steps grow louder as something walks into the area.
>Simultaneously, you turn your heads to the Labyrinth's exit.
>You can see somep0ny staring at you two.
>This isn't good...
>Chrissy's been seen.