>You know, being the only human in Equestria isn't so bad.
>Sure, everyone looks at you funny and some ponies are a little scared at first.
>But then they all get used to the sight of you everyday and everything mellows out some.
>Most were pretty friendly with you even.
>Of course, it also helps that you enjoy singing as much as the others.
 
>It's always been something that you loved doing.
>When you were a child, you begged your parents to get you into choir.
>You’ve been hooked since.
>It’s sort of what got you through the tough time of adjusting to Equestria.
>You can’t recall how you got here in the first place, other than Princess Celestia offering you a place to stay in Ponyville until they could find a way to get you back home.
>So far, no such luck.
 
>That was about half a year ago.
>As of now, your only source of income was bussing tables at Sugarcube Corner.
>Wasn’t too bad actually, and you managed to earn enough to purchase a six-string guitar from the pawn shop.
>You’d never played before, but you had some help from this mare named Lyra.
>Of course, she actually played the lyre (you had to stifle a chuckle) but it still gave you a somewhat basic understanding of strings.
>Somewhat.
 
>So, you would play and sing from time to time in the comfort of your home, but you were known to hum and sing softly to yourself while you work.
>Not that you really noticed others taking note until this morning.
>Pinkie Pie walked into the kitchen while you were washing dishes.
>“Morning Nonny!”
“Morning Pinkie,” you say without looking up from the sink.
>“Oh! Thank you for doing up those dishes, Mr. Cake was working up quite the conundrum this morning with all those muffins!”
“You’re welcome. Wait, conundrum?”
>“Yeah, conundrum!” You can practically hear her smile when she says that.
>It’s adorable though.
“Um, I’m not sure if that’s what that means?”
>“Maybe, but it’s such a fun word isn’t it?”
“Yeah, I suppose it is, ” you say with a small chuckle.
>You tend to chuckle a lot.
>Nervous habit, perhaps?
>“You seem to chuckle a lot, Nonny.”
>Yeah, thanks for pointing that out Ponka.
>“That’s fine. I’m sure you’re just really happy to be here.”
“Washing dishes?”
>“Sure!”
“Heh, if you say so.”
> “In fact, you seem to chuckle almost as much as you sing.”
>You finally look up.
 
“Hmm?”
>Pinkie’s still smiling, preparing ingredients for what looks to be a batch of muffins.
“Really?”
>“Yeah, you sing and hum to yourself a lot actually.”
>Suddenly you feel pretty self-conscious.
>Not that you mind people hearing you sing, but you’re still a little unconfident in you voice.
>A little.
 
“Oh.”
>You go back to washing.
>“It’s okay. I sing to myself when I work too.”
“Okay.”
>“I mean sometimes there’s this one song that I just can’t get outta my head and then I start humming...”
“Uh-huh”
>“...and then I start singing really softly…”
“Yeah”
 
“...and soon I just keep going until Mrs. Cake or somepony tries to talk to me but then I can’t hear them because I’m too entrapped by the melody of the song I’m singing because I can’t get it out of my head…”
>At this point you’re only half-listening.
>“Pinkie!” you hear Mrs. Cake call from the other room.
>“Ooh, just like that! Coming!” She says dashing out of the kitchen.
 
>Your mind’s wandering and you can’t help but think about the fact that other ponies have been hearing you.
>You suppose it’s inevitable since making any noise in a public space will result in someone else hearing it.
>But you’ve always assumed that they weren’t paying attention or couldn’t hear over their own conversations.
>But then again, only Pinkie has acknowledged your singing. Maybe she’s the only one to take notice?
>Yeah, definitely.
>Otherwise other ponies would probably make some sort of comment or something.
>Unless they were looking at you.
>But they always look. They’ve been looking. You’re the only human in Equestria after all.
>That would explain it.
 
>Your mind at ease, you finish up the dishes and sweep up the floor.
>The doors will be open in just a few minutes. Better look sharp.
>As ever.
 
>Absentmindedly you sing to yourself an old song you listened to all the time back home.
https://youtu.be/BkEaNKMzB8I ("Point #1" by Chevelle)
>At first, it’s almost like a whisper, but as you keep going you reach near speaking volume.
“We need he-e-ali-i-ing aloe plant!”
>You almost forget that you’re supposed to be sweeping.
“You’re soothing ha-a-ands ru-u-un down my…”
>You’re pretty loud right about now.
“ba-a-ack!”
>”Ba-a-ack!”
>You suddenly stop and turn around.
>There’s Pinkie with a smile staring at you finishing up the muffins.
 
>One awkward silence later…
“Um...how long have you been standing there?”
>“Hmmm,” she puts on a thoughtful face for a moment.
>“About a minute, give or take a few seconds.”
 
>You’re just standing there with a dumb look on your face.
>And you’re blushing.
>B-Baka.
“Sorry. I didn’t disturb you or the Cakes did I?”
>“Not at all! You were fine!”
>Fine?
“Fine how?”
>“You were pretty good Nonny. What song was that anyway?” she asks, placing the muffins in the oven.
>Good? Really?
“Oh, uh, just an old song from back home.”
>Are you like, good-good?
>“Sounds like this one song that Rainbow Dash listens to. What was the name of it again?”
 
>I mean, you thought you were decent sure, but that was only because you made it through both elementary and high school choirs. You assumed you had to be “okay”
>“...‘Making the Socks’...”
>But “good?”
“Am I actually good?”
>“...‘Bear in the Socks,’ ‘Fair in my Rocks’...”
“Pinkie?”
>“...‘Shearing my Flocks,’ ‘Hearing my Socks,’ ’Rocking the Docks’...”
“Pinkie”
>“Yes Nonny?”
 
“You mean I’m, like, good?”
>“Well sure you are!” She happily states.
>She’s probably just saying that.
>“I’m not even saying that either!”
>You swear she can see into your mind sometimes.
“Wow. Never heard anyone say I’m-”
>“Anon!” you hear Mr. Cake call.
>“Oh, you better hurry,” chirped Pinkie, “the doors opened a minute ago!”
>ohshit.jpg
>You scramble to the shop where Mr. and Mrs. Cake are filling out orders.
“On it Mr. Cake!”
 
>Another day, another dollar.
>Well, Equestrian Bit actually.
>Same difference really.
 
>4 pm. End of your shift.
>“Thank you Pinkie Pie! See you around!,” Derpy says with a bag holding the entire batch of muffins Pinkie made that morning.
>“And thank you for enjoying my muffins!”
>That sounded lewd pone.
>“Bye Anon! Love your singing!,” Derpy adds, leaving the shop.
>You wave and let out a small chuckle.
>That’s the fifth pony to tell you that.
>You sang to yourself again, and for some reason customers were actually commenting on your vocals.
>And they seemed to like it.
>You’re not gonna lie, it was bizarre.
>You know you’re not Lou Gramm or anything but it does feel nice to know you’re at least competent at something.
>You make your way back to the kitchen and hang up your apron.
>Pinkie follows you in and proceeds to make some small talk before you go home.
“So what does Derpy want with a whole batch of muffins?”
>“Well,” Pinkie explains, “she works really hard as Ponyville’s delivery mare and can’t come in each morning to buy a muffin, so she just orders a bunch in bulk and has one ready for each day!”
>Oh. That makes sense you guess.
>“Unless she’s giving them out at the Helping Hooves Music Festival this weekend.”
 
“The what-now?”
>“Oh! You didn’t hear? The Helping Hooves Music Festival is a charity where musicians come together to raise money for our fillies and colts.”
>Aw, well that’s really nice. At least your town is charitable.
> “We’ve got singers and musicians from all over town to perform, including a children’s choir and a big fancy ensemble and-”
>pinkiegasp.avi
>“Hey Nonny!”
>Oh god
> “I just thought of something!”
>You’re not doing it.
>“The most possibly exciting idea I could ever have in the history of ever!”
>You’re fine with a few ponies enjoying your music, but you’re not prepared for an entire show for ponies to hear you.
>“What if…”
 
>Thinkofsomethingquickyoufool
 
“Er, did you say this weekend? Darn, I’m not so sure if I can make it.”
>Ponka suddenly stops.
> “Oh, really? Are you positively, most absolutely sure you can’t make it?”
“Yeah, sorry.”
>Her excitement seems to deflate somewhat. Looks like she bought it.
>“Maybe not even a teeny-weeny tiny bit?” She’s giving you sad eyes now.
>Dammit Ponka you’re killing me
 
>“Okay,” she sighs, “I’m sure you would’ve loved it.”
“Maybe some other time?”
>You feel pretty bad for fibbing but, hey, you’re not about to make a fool out of yourself in front countless ponies. Not even fellow humans.
>You grab your bits from Mr. Cake and head on home. Somehow you’re not in high spirits.
>Maybe you’re still self-conscious about your talents, maybe because sad ponies are too heartbreaking, or perhaps it’s because you lied to possibly your only real friend around here.
 
>You’re a dick.
 
>You head through your home to fix yourself some dinner.
>Obviously meat isn’t really an option, although Pinkie has said that you could probably get some fish from the market.
>You’re not much of a fish person though, and you don’t really know if the fish is for cooking anyway.
>...wait, of course it’s for cooking, what else do you use fish for?
 
>As you enjoy your salad, you start to wonder if you should’ve heard Pinkie out first before lying.
>Yeah, probably. Maybe she wasn’t even going to suggest you enter. Maybe she just wanted you to help with catering or something. You feel pretty bad thinking about it.
>You’ll apologize tomorrow. You don’t think you can honestly face her right now.
>Also you’re tired.
 
>You clean up and head upstairs to bed. Hopefully you’ll have better confidence tomorrow.
 
https://youtu.be/s1I7D5MsSvU ("Good Morning" Ringtone)
>Another day, another bit
>Not as catchy as “another dollar” but it’ll do.
 
>You rise up from bed and take a moment to wake up your brain.
 
>”C ‘mon brain, c ‘mon.”
>”Rise and shine”
>“We’re all friends here.”
>“Up and at ‘em.”
 
>And when that doesn’t seem to work you just stare off into space.
“Coffee”
>And mumble.
>A few minutes later you’re finally in the bathroom washing up before getting ready for work.
>It’s Friday, and you’ll have the weekend off.
>And you’re gonna have to fess up to Pinkie.
>You could probably keep quiet about it, but after that look she gave you and that disappointment in her voice, you just can’t live that down.
 
>The coffee should be done by now.
>You’re all dressed and ready.
>Pouring your coffee into a thermos, you mix in some milk and sugar and then head out.
>You hum yourself a low tune along the way.
>Man this is some bomb-ass coffee.
 
>A few ponies actually smile in your direction, smiles which you return.
>It’s kinda nice to live in a town where your neighbors are actually friendly.
>You hum a little louder.
>Things might go okay actually.
>In fact, you might go to this charity festival with Pinkie just to cheer her up.
 
>You step inside Sugarcube Corner to greet Mrs. Cake.
“Morning Ma’am.”
>“Good morning Anon. You’re going to have to excuse us, Pinkie is out right now.”
>Your spirits dampen when she says that.
“Oh, really? Where’d she go?”
>“I’m not sure. I think she mentioned having to get to the post office quickly or something like that.”
“Okay then. Thank you”
>You head inside the kitchen to retrieve your apron.
 
>Damn, guess you’ll have to wait until she gets back.
>Ah well, she can’t be gone all day.
 
>You go about your day normally, cleaning up tables and any other tasks Mr. and Mrs. Cake would want you to take care of.
>Such as right now.
 
> “Anon, can you make sure Pumpkin and Pound have had their bottles?”
“Sure thing Mrs. Cake.”
>Now, it’s not that you’re bad with kids, it’s just that you know fuck-all about kids. Let alone pony kids.
>Little Pumpkin and Pound Cake over in the kitchen corner do seem a bit unruly. Gee, you can’t imagine why.
“Hey little guys,” you say in a soft voice, “you had your food yet?”
>Pound looks at you with a face that says, “No shit Sherlock.”
“Alright, alright, let’s check if your bottles are full…”
>You check the fridge to find two near empty bottles, and they look like they’ve been used already.
>Huh, okay then.
>The twins are still unsettled though.
You call back to Mrs. Cake, “Yeah, it looks like they’ve been fed already.”
>“Oh alrighty then,” she says entering the kitchen, “thank you Anon.”
 
>Mrs. Cake lifts the foals onto her back and walks out of the kitchen. Maybe they needed a nap?
>You head back to the dining room to bus more tables.
>Humming another tune to yourself of course.
>Again, more ponies seem less timid around you. Not to mention they seem to brighten up when you come near.
>Maybe music in general just soothes ponykind?
>Sure makes it easy to be liked around here at least.
 
>Ah hell, happy ponies are about the cutest things you can think of.
>Any reason to have more is a good reason for you.
 
>You’re just about to go back to the kitchen to wash up these dishes when you hear a faint wailing.
‘The twins aren’t having it, huh?’ you think to yourself.
>Maybe you should go check?
>What would you do? They’re not your kids, how would you know how to make ‘em fall asleep?
 
>Still it’d be worth checking out you suppose.
>You get through your plates and cups relatively quick. You’ve always been good when it came to scrubbing, it just comes naturally to you.
>Now that you’re done with that, you proceed to mosey on upstairs where you find an exasperated Mrs. Cake leaving the bedroom.
“Everything okay?”
>With a heavy sigh she says, “No, no, things aren't okay. Pound and Pumpkin just won’t go to sleep.”
>You can hear the twins whining from just outside.
>“I’ve tried to lullabies, and rocking them in my hoofs, and story books, and they just keep fussing! I’ve tried everything!”
“Wow, uh, anything I can do?”
>Dumb question aside Mrs. Cake says, “That’s fine honey, I’m sure they’ll tire themselves out eventually.”
>Another sigh and she’s already downstairs.
 
>The babies are crying louder now, as if their Mommy Beacon just lost her signal.
>You shrug and take a peek inside.
>There they are, in their crib, curtains closed, blankie hanging of the crib’s railing, and still making a loud fuss.
 
>Should you really do something?