>359 days to go...
 
>The knock came bright and early that morning. Anon had barely enough to to rub the sleep out of his eyes when it happened. Toothbrush hanging out of his mouth, and came to the door in his pajama pants that for some odd reason had a three diamond pattern all over them. Opening the door, a yellow Pegasus squeaked after seeing him, and hid in the bushes. Barely peeking out from the bushes, Anon sighed, rolling the toothbrush around in his mouth.
"I can see you, you know. If you want to talk, come in and sit in the living room, I'm gonna go get ready for work."
>Leaving the door cracked, Anon went back to the bathroom, trying to focus on the fact he just let a stranger in the door. Granted, he remembered her from his arrival on this world, but never came across her after the fact. He figured sooner or later, she was going to show up, though. Somehow, Anon had managed to meet four others, and failed in avoiding the first. Much to his dismay.
>After getting dressed for the day, anon came out to find the yellow pony sitting very patiently on the couch, though obviously very uncomfortable to be there.
>"He..hello, Anonymous...I'm Fluttershy...I..."
"Yeeeees?"
>"EEP!"
>She did a perfect duck and cover behind the couch, barely visible, save for her tail sticking out from one end.
>"I was told to tell you you could have the day off from Apple jack's...if you were willing to help me? That is...if you don't mind.."
>Staring at her for a moment in silence, Anon reached over to the kitchen counter, grabbing an apple. Taking a bit, he could see she was afraid of even bringing the question up.
"I can still see your tail."
>With a quick tuck, the pink tail vanished behind the couch. Anon rolled his eyes and wandered over to the arm of the couch, sitting on it while munching on the apple.
"I suppose I'd be willing to help you out, Miss Fluttershy, if I can. What exactly needs doing?"
>"Well.."
 
>A few minutes later, Anon found himself hip deep in chickens.
"Well, this isn't what I'd planned to do with my Saturday, but since I can't watch some collage ball...What exactly are we doing again?"
>"Oh, these chickens are dirty! So we are gonna give them a bath and clean those nasty feathers right off! They just love a good preening, right girls?"
>Several of the chicken clucked happily around Anon's feet, till one decided his shoe might contain a treat..and pecked him.
"OW. I need those. Just because I walk on the bottoms does not mean you can eat the tops!
>Giving the hen a gentle nudge, she did what could have been perceived to be the most dramatic chicken sigh ever, and pretended to faint, calling out with a few clucks to her fellow avians. To which they all looked up at the call, and directly at Anon.
>It was clear; this was the Rarity of chickens.
>A moment later, Anon was covered in head to to in a plethora of pissed off poultry.
"OH SHI-"
>Hands and wings went flailing everywhere, as the mass of beaks and feathers proceeded to pummel him senseless.
>"Oh my goodness! Anon! GIRLS!"
>The chickens all stopped what they were doing, and looked to Fluttershy. What Anon saw next was something he would never forget.
>It was like looking into the very gaze of an ancient horror, a Lovecraft vision that would forever haunt his soul. Many nights after the fact, Anon would wake up in a cold sweat, praying that the horror would just finally come and take him away, and leave his lifeless body on these forgotten shores.
"Sweet cranberry jebus, that's a creepy stare! Turn it off!"
 
>"Oh, Anon! I am so sorry! I usually only use the stare on the chickens! I didn't mean to frighten you!"
>Concerned, she placed a hoof on his upper arm, and Anon flinched a little, before scooting away to gather the chickens up into a pen for washing.
>Looking sad for a moment, Fluttershy cleared her throat, and spoke again.
>"Now remember...a good washing and then we can towel them dry and get rid of any broken feathers!"
>Holding the hose, Anon looked over at the chickens. Then to the metal tub for the bath...
>To hell with that.
>Turning on the hose on to a higher setting, Anon placed a thumb over the tip of the hose.
"Don't mind me, just watering the chickens."
>This cause yet another attack by the chickens, and this time, Fluttershy was not so uncomfortable about using the stare on the whole lot of them, Anon included.
>This was not to be the last fight between the human and Fluttershy's fowl friends.
>In the end, Fluttershy made the work worth the effort with a home cooked meal, and 40 bits in his pocket. But the whole affair was quite exhausting, to be honest. All Anon wanted to do at the end of the long day was crawl into bed and sleep it all off like a bad hangover.
>Meanwhile, at Pinkie Pie's apartment...
 
>The pink pony just sat there, staring at the mirror for a good long while. She'd liked the look of the special hoodie her new friend had given her! It was pink and soft and felt like a big hug! Just like the human that had given it to her! Pinkie had wished she was going to see him that day...in fact, she thought about going to see him after he was off work that day.
>She'd gone over to the Apple's farm to look for him, but AJ said she'd loaned Anon out to Fluttershy to help with chicken cleaning, and would likely be very busy and very tired all day.
>Pinkie sure wished she could cheer Anon up after work. Maybe she'd stop by with some dinner or a few cupcakes after work! That would be a perfect little mini party! Just Anon...and her!
>Looking into the box that the hoodie came in, Pinkie lifted up the thin stocking that came with it. Setting it to the side, and out of the hoodie, Pinkie slipped one on her front hoof. She looked it over in the mirror, before getting the other three out of the box and placing them on. Turning in place to get a full look at the dark pink and white lace, something seemed to be missing in her mind.
>Wandering over to the closet, Pinkie pulled out a dark pink nightgown that had a similar look and feel to the foot covers.
>Looking in the mirror, that was the look she was going for...but then she pulled a hair ribbon out of her dresser drawer, and tied her mane back in a pony tail.
>The effect was rather striking...sweet and sexy and seductive all at once.
>Nodding once, Pinkie started taking off all the items and placed the stockings, nightie, and ribbon back into the hoodie box, and set them under her bed. One day, she would find a special somepony to share that with.
>But for now...it was time to bring dinner to Nonny! She hoped he like carrot soup and cupcakes!