>The jingling of keys rings through the quiet night as you unlock the door to your humble 1 bedroom apartment.
>Looking around for a final time to ensure that you aren't being watched, you step aside and allow entrance to the little mare who you would be sharing this space with for the time being.
>Like hell if you're going to pay a pet deposit, this is a sneaking mission, Snake.
>Luckily, it should be easy enough to go mostly unnoticed given her condition.
>Trotting past you slowly, she looks around the room with wide eyes for a few moments before planting her rump and staring at you.
>Staring back after locking your door once more, you heave a sigh
>You weren't exactly excited about having a new pet pony.
>A couple of months ago, your parents thought it would be a good idea to buy her for your little brother.
>Unfortunately, in an effort to pinch pennies, they adopted a mute earth mare that would only be all but ignored by that stuck up little shit.
>And apparently ponies are like rabbits, they just wither up and die if they get too lonely.
>So in their infinite wisdom, the burden has been passed to you.
>You have enough trouble feeding yourself...
>Sighing once more, you motion around the room with a hand, which she follows with bright, if slightly apprehensive eyes.
"So this is it. The kitchen is over there, that's the bathroom, and there's the belt that I'll smack you around with if I catch you in the fridge or messing on the floor."
>She seems to shrink in on herself as her ears flatten against her head in fear.
"...That was a joke. Kind of."
>Refusing to meet your eyes, she stares at the floor with a small frown across her muzzle.
 
>You've visited your parents enough over the months since this ones adoption, but you haven't had too much interaction with her outside of a passing greeting, so it only makes sense that she's still slightly wary of you.
>Sighing for a third time, you set a large bag on the ground and begin rummaging through it.
>You see her ears perk up out of the corner of an eye, and notice her gaze flicking up in interest before returning to the floor.
>Grabbing one of the balls that was sent along with her, you pull it out and toss it up and down in your hand.
>The reaction is immediate.
>Leaping up, eyes glinting with a frightening intensity, the little mare lowers herself into a pouncing stance as her back end sways back and forth.
>Smirking to yourself at the display, you tilt your head at her.
"Want it, then?"
>Her eyes never leave the ball as her muscles tense further.
>Letting it roll out of your hand and across the floor, you watch in amusement as she bounds forward, swatting the ball across the carpet with her hooves.
>Continuing to unpack the various things that were given to you for her care, you listen to the muffled pattering sound of her hooves bolting across the carpet.
>A few minutes later, a dull thud draws your attention back to the pony just as you finish putting the last item away.
>Sitting on the floor with the pinpricks of tears in her eyes, she holds her hooves to her head in muted pain.
>...
"Did you just run into the wall?"
>A sniffle and a sad look are the only reply you receive.
"...I'd say you're like a dog, but I think a dog would be smarter."
>Her muzzle scrunches in annoyance as she blinks the tears away, picks up the ball that had rolled off, and tosses it at you in frustration.
 
>Raising an eyebrow with a smile as you catch the ball out of the air, you watch the little pony rise up with a haughty expression, tilt her nose into the air with closed eyes, and trot off to presumably explore the rest of the small apartment.
>With that distraction out of the way, you launch yourself onto the couch and turn on the TV and gaming console.
>The clacking of buttons and sound of cartoony yelling fill the room as you begin to play.
>A few glorious rounds of Street Fighter ensue before you fight someone who actually manages to give you trouble.
>Whatever, when in doubt, SH-SHORYUUKEN.
>Leaning forward in your seat and inputting the commands ferociously, you counter a special move that would have been the end of you.
>As the screen proclaims your victory, you lean back with a puff to release the tension before looking to the side.
>Watching the screen from the floor beside the couch, the mare sits on her rump with her fore-hooves raised high in silent cheer.
>Hmmmm, it seems that she likes video games.
>Looking over to you with a smile that makes you feel a little bit more proud than you probably should from a simple game, she clops her hooves together quietly in applause.
"I'm awesome, I know."
>Rising up and brushing off a shoulder like a player, you make your way to the TV and unplug the console as an idea forms.
>Plugging in your Wii, you start it up, grab the necessary controllers, and sit once more.
>Looking back to the mare as she watches on with tilted head, you hold out a remote and nunchuk attachment.
"Want to play?"
>Sparkling eyes widen in joy as she nods happily before gripping the two controllers and inspecting them.
>Boxing should be simple enough.
>After taking a few minutes to start the game and show her how to play, you start a match.
 
>After another few minutes, you're thinking that this may have been a bad idea.
>Jab, jab, right hook, upper, and down she goes again.
"You really suck at this."
>Furrowing her brow in determination, she frantically tries to get her character to rise.
>She succeeds at the last second, and you begin what would most likely be the final round.
>Giving her a few quick jabs, you see her eyes close as she begins to violently flail about in an attempt to get some hits in.
>Rolling your eyes, you lower your remotes and let the randomly aimed hits take their toll.
>As your character falls to the floor, you make a small show of trying to get back up before the game screen announces the surprise winner.
>Glancing to the side, you look at the victorious pony.
>She's still flailing.
"Oi."
>Finally ceasing her movement, she cracks open an eye and looks at the screen.
>It takes a moment or two, but a smile begins to blossom on her face before she leaps up and begins prancing around the room in pride.
>Shaking your head with a chuckle, you turn off the console and stand up after cracking your back.
"Yeah yeah, you win, calm down spaz."
>She has the good grace to blush as she slides to a halt and looks back at you with a sheepish grin.
>The blush deepens as the sound of a rumbling gut echos through the room with more volume than you should think a little thing like her is capable of mustering.
"Dinner time, then?"
>Giving a shy nod, she follows at your heel as you make your way into the kitchen.
 
>Opening up the freezer, you look over it's contents as the pony watches on expectantly.
>About 5 minutes later, you close the door after confirming without a doubt that it is in fact empty.
>Opening the fridge, you repeat this process before once more opening the freezer to bask in it's cold, uncaring emptiness.
>A prod to your leg brings your gaze downwards to find the biggest, saddest eyes you've ever seen staring back at you.
>With a sigh, you walk to the pantry and rummage around a bit before producing a can of store brand corn.
>Opening it, you set the can on the floor and back away as the little mare gives it a curious poke and sniff before once more bringing her eyes to meet yours.
>Raising an eyebrow, you look back and forth between the can and the now almost offended looking pony.
"...What, you don't like corn?"
>She rolls her eyes at you and puts on a scolding expression before pointing to the stove top.
"Picky, aren't we?"
>Chuckling to yourself, you pick up the can and set it on the counter before reaching underneath to grab a couple of pots.
>Returning to the pantry, you pull out a couple of potatoes and begin to peel them.
"Mashed or fried?"
>She looks at the ceiling thoughtfully before looking back at you and making a flurry of little stampy motions which you assume to indicate that she'd like them mashed.
"Yeah, sounds good."
>As you prepare your simple dinner, you notice the pony swaying slowly and bobbing her head as if she's listening to music.
>You wonder what kind of music she would like, and resolve to introduce her to Norwegian black metal at some point.
>Divying up a couple of bowls worth of buttered, seasoned, and mashed potatoes with corn on top, you return to the living room and place them both on the floor before taking a seat on the floor in front of the couch.
>The pony sits at your side, and with that cue, the two of you begin to quietly eat.
 
>Giving a satisfied sigh as you finish your meal, you look to your side to see the little mare finishing up as well.
>Lifting the bowl into her fore-hooves, she licks out the last of the potato residue before setting it down and giving you a thankful smile.
"I'll go shopping tomorrow. Or maybe bug the apartment grounds workers and see if I can get a bag of grass clippings for you or something."
>She shoots you a pouty glare that's rendered completely ineffective by the bit of potato smeared on the top of her snout.
>Reaching over and wiping it off with your thumb, you chuckle as her eyes cross and a small blush smolders on her cheeks.
>An embarrassed huff passes her mouth before she picks up her bowl with her teeth and trots back to the kitchen, where a small clack tells you that it's been placed in the sink.
>Huh.
>That's nifty.
>Standing up as she makes her way back into the room, you yawn tiredly and give a longing look towards your bedroom.
>Given the infectious nature of a yawn, it's no surprise when the mare now standing at your feet gives off a slightly cute, if silent yawn of her own.
>You walk to the closet with her not a step behind and begin pulling out a comforter and some pillows.
>Setting them on the couch, you make a cozy looking little nest and look down to find her staring back at you with folded ears.
"Whelp, this is you. Make yourself at home, within reason, and I'll see you in the morning."
>With a small wave, you begin walking towards the bedroom with a tired, slouched gait.
>4 steps later, you turn around to find the mare an inch behind you, still staring up at you sadly.
"...Oh, uh. Goodnight?"
>Turning around, you take a few more steps and stop just outside your bedroom door.
 
>Glancing over your shoulder, you find the expected sight of a morose looking little pony staring back at you with glistening eyes.
"Look... It's not gonna happen. But I made you a nice bed, and the door's locked and everything. We only have like, 20 or so break ins a year at this complex, which is actually pretty good for this side of town, so there's nothing to worry about."
>Her eyes somehow get wider as the tears threaten to overflow.
"So I'll just..."
>Opening your bedroom door at your back without breaking eye contact, you ever so slowly make your way inside.
>As the sliver of light shining into the bedroom shrinks, the last sight you see through the crack in the door are those sad eyes pleading with you.
>And then the door closes, and you sigh in relief.
>Throwing yourself onto your bed, you close your eyes and burrow into the sheets, waiting for sleep to take you.
>Not a minute passes before a small, quiet scratching noise emanates from the door and quickly silences itself.
>Groaning to yourself, you roll over in an attempt to ignore it.
>Yet every 5 minutes or so, the sound repeats itself, getting quieter and quieter each time until it's almost inaudible.
>You were tired, and rightfully so, but 20 minutes of staring at the ceiling after you last heard the scratching, and you knew it couldn't be helped.
"...Damnit..."
>Rising from your comfortable bed, you stumble to the door and open it.
>As soon as it's opened enough, the little mare bursts into the room and dives under your sheets before shuffling around to stick her muzzle out and peek back at you.
"Don't get used to this."
>She only blinks at your warning tone.
>Heaving your nth sigh of the day, you make your way back to the bed and curl up beneath the sheets once more, leaving plenty of room for the pony.
>Drowsiness quickly overcomes you, and the last thing you feel before succumbing to sleep's embrace is a warm body sidling up to you, and the gentle breath from a satisfied, sleepy murmur against your torso.