>362 days to go...
 
>Morning in Povyville was honestly pretty relaxing.  Yesterday was spent making pastries with Pinkie, but today, the pink pony had suggested making an apology to the white pony known as Rarity. Apparently, she was somewhat upset about Anon unceremoniously chucking clothes into the town's fountain. To be fair, Anon had not been thinking all that clearly that day.
>It went something along the lines of "Thank you, white horse." Followed by throwing them at Spike like a rock, knocking him onto the fountain.
>Anon didn't really have an issue with Spike. The little lizard was just frickin' creepy. He had a habit of just popping up, when his input wasn't really needed. But Pinkie had explained he was really not all that old. 10, 12 at the oldest.
>So Anon chalked it up to "Creepy kid is about to go full hormone bomb. I'll let it slide."
>At any rate, to date was the visit to say sorry to Rarity, even though Anon wasn't particularly sorry. But it was better than having Pinkie bug him about it all day, every waking minute.
>Like she'd promised would happen if he didn't. And to be sure, she was walking with Anon. Not that she didn't trust him. But she didn't trust him.
>Knocking at the door to the Carousel Boutique, Anon heard a rather..prim voice calling from the back of the building.
>"Sweetie Belle, can you get the door, my dear? I just started applying the dye to some silks, and if don't want to be the same color as this dress, I need to keep an eye on it!"
>"Sure thing, Sis!"
>That..was a kid's voice. It hadn't occurred to Anon. Of course there would be kids. But Spike was the only one he'd seen. How...odd.
>When the door open, a smaller white pony smiles, her eyes just opening after giving the "Welcome to Carousel Boutique, How can I help you today?" speech.
"Hello kid. I'm here for Rarity. Is she inside?"
>Sweetie Belle looked up at the very...VERY tall creature. It was the one her sister was ranting about yesterday, she knew it!
>"OH MY GOSH! RARITY!"
>Sweetie Belle ran off, seemingly scared to pieces. Hushed voices came from the back, while Anon turned around.
"I think I'd rather have you bugging me all day, Pinks."
>A hoof pressed against Anon's stomach.
>"No. You need to do this, Nonny! Think about it! You are gonna be here a long time, silly! If everyone's mad at you, what good will that do?"
>Anon simply stared at her, as if to imply that that concept would not bother him.
>"And I won't quit bugging you about it till you do. And no cupcakes!"
>Damn, she had Anon by the short and curlies with that one. Those were no ordinary cupcakes. It was like they were laced with crack. Sweet sugary crack, covered in chocolate.
"Fiiine. One 'sorry' and then we go find something to do. Chit chat is fine, Pinks, but I gotta have something to do in this town, or I'll go stir crazy."
>Pinkie just winked as the door opened again, and Rarity looked up at Anon.
>"Yes?"
>Rarity just stood there, without saying another word. Pinkie thought to herself "oooo, she is REALLY mad."
"Miss Rarity, I deeply apologize for the disrespect I showed both you, and the gift you had given me. I appreciate the kind thought that went into it, as well as the work involved."
>Bowing, Anon looked at Pinkie out the corner of his eye. The look on her face?
>Priceless.
>Rarity looked over Anon, and sighed, turning to head back into the shop.
>"It certainly was an elaborate apology, Anon. But if you really want to say you're sorry, follow me."
>Blinking, Anon stood up. She'd read right through him. Damn, she was GOOD. There was no way he was going to get out of this that easy.
>A few minutes later, Anon was glaring at Pinkie, while covered in head to toe in pink silk and lace.
"This is at least 3 cupcakes, Pinks."
>Rarity nudged Anon a little, while sewing on more adornments, needles sticking out of her mouth.
>"Hush, Anon. You happen to be the right size for a young dragoness I was making a dress for. Something about courting a young stallion, and she wanted to look her best. And I was happy to help. For a modest fee, of course."
"Oh, of course. I think you just wanted to see me in a dress."
>"I have no idea what you are talking about, Anon."
>Rarity stifled a small laugh, smiling at Pinkie as she worked. Pinkie, on the other hand, had lost her cool ages ago, and was trying very hard to get her breath back.
>"Oh, Nonny, you look so pretty! You should wear lots more pink!"
"I dunno, I already have one pinkie accessory. That's all I need."
>Pinkie hushed up really quick, blinking at the comment. She was sure it didn't mean anything...but it was nice to hear.
>Meanwhile, Sweetie Belle had finally managed to come back in, watching everything going on.
>"Sis...what color are the dragon's eyes?"
>"Gold, Sweetie Belle. Why do you ask?"
>"Because those color gems won't go with those eyes."
>"Sweetie Bell, I think I know perfectly well how to match a gem to someone's...wait a second."
>Sweetie Belle was absolutely right! The color would have been all wrong for the dragon.
>But not for...
>"Oh my heavens...I matched them to Anon's eyes! I am so sorry, Anon! I have to do the gem work over!"
"Oh for the love of Pete! Seriously?"
>"Sorry..."
>Rarity's lip quivered slightly, and Anon sighed, his face dropping to his chest.
"Fiiiine. Just fix the dress."
>The white pony's eye lit up, and immediately, many of the gems came free, being slowly replaced by ones of the right color.  The whole time, Pinkie Pie was just one massive giggle-fit, trying very hard not to have an accident before excusing herself.
>A short time later, once the dress was finished and packed away properly, Anon stood in the middle of the shop, stretching his arms, when Rarity came from the back room, holding a box.
>"Here you are, my dear. Taking your measurements for the dress made this order somewhat easier to manage. Turned out I was only off by a small margin."
"What are you talking about..."
>Taking the box in his hands, Anon opened it, and saw several plain shirts and slacks, as well as a few pairs of jeans and what looked a lot like some formal attire.
"I....wow, thanks you, Rarity. But you didn't really have to."
>"Nonsense. We can't have you wandering around all out of fashion, Anon! It simply wouldn't do!"
>Taking the box under his arm, Anon bent down and hugged the unicorn.
"Well, for what ever reason you did it...thanks."
>"Anon?"
>The human stood up, looking over at the young filly sitting to the side of the room.
"Yes, Sweetie Belle?"
>"Could...could I bring you to school for show and tell? My friends would be totally jealous I got to bring a human to school!"
>Anon chuckled, before ruffling her mane a touch.
"We'll see, kiddo. Maybe in a couple weeks, when I'm not too busy trying to avoid getting tackled by Rainbow Dash, or helping Pinkie figure out the exact use for a hoodie. I swear, she loves it."
>Rarity tilted her head slightly.
>"Hoodie?"
"Oh, my coat...shirt thing that I was wearing when I first got here."
>Lifting it off the back of a chair, Anon showed the garment to Rarity, who gave it a once over with an analyzing eye.
>"Interesting. I might be able to make a cut for a pony. Should I make her one?"
>Thinking it over, Anon nodded, adding his own two cents.
"But keep it a secret for now? I think I'd like to surprise her with it. As a thank you for being so nice to me. I'll see what I can do about paying for it in a few days."
>"Well, if you are looking for work, you could always see if they need extra hands out at Sweet Apple Acres. Applejack is always busy this time of year. It's zap apple season."
"Zap...apples?"
>"I think it best that she show you, if you are interested."
"Fair enough."
>Pinkie Pie finally came out of the bathroom, looking slightly calmer than she was before, when Rarity asked Anon about any other clothing that humans had that ponies didn't seem to.
"Well, there is one thing. Socks."
>"Socks? What is a sock?"
"Well...these."
>Anon lifted a pant leg, showing off a simple crew sock.
"They help prevent issues with blisters. Ponies have fur that helps for that, but humans don't. I can come order a set in a few days, if you want."
>"Do...do they come in longer lengths?"
"Um, sure. ankle, knee high. Some women on my world even wear fancy ones with lace and such. But usually, there is little more comfortable than a nice clean pair of socks on your feet."
>"Interesting..."
>A drawing pad and pencil floated over toward Rarity, her mind working on the paper carefully, seemingly lost in her work.
"Um...Rarity?"
>Pinkie Pie walked over, pushing Anon toward the door, waving at Sweetie Belle as they left.
>"Bye, Sweetie Belle! Say Hi to the other Crusaders for me! Tell them to come by and we'll make cookies!"
>"OK, Pinkie! I'm gonna go find them right now!"
>Stepping out into the street, Anon had a very confused look on his face, and Pinkie chuckled.
>"When Rarity gets in the zone, she gets into it for hours. You may have fuled ideas for a few hours there!"
"Oh..well, I'm glad I could help, since she gave me all those clothes."
>Holding out the box, Pinkie looked inside and gasped!
>"Oh wow! She made you a whole new wardrobe?! Lucky guy! But then, she's never had to make clothes for a human before! She probably liked the challenge!"
"Really? All that work and she just gave them to me too..."
>"Well, she is the element of Generosity, Nonny!"
"The element of what, now?"
>"Generosity! Like...I'm the Element of Laughter, and Dashie is the Element of Loyalty-"
>Anon stopped in the street, giving the pink pony a quizzical look.
"Ok, I can see you as laughter. I'm guessing that's what the balloons on your butt are for. I didn't think the gems stood for generosity."
>"Oh, they don't! Rarity's cutie mark is because she can find any gem in the ground with magic! And mine is because I love throwing people parties!"
"Huh. Ok, I get that too. So..Rainbow's lightning bolt?"
>"She, like, crazy fast! She can even do..."
>Pinkie leaned in and whispered with a hint of a squeal.
>"A sonic. Rainboom!"
>Giggling, Anon just looked more confused than before, but shook it off, heading toward his new home away from home.
"By the way, Pinkie, I was wanting to head to some place called Sweet Apple Acres tomorrow? Could you show me where that is?"
>"Nope!"
>Blinking, Anon looked down at the pony, who was wearing her cheekiest grin.
>"I gotta work! But I could ask Applejack to come get you in the morning if you want!"
"Oh, you...Ok, that works just as well, as she's the pony I wanted to see. I'm supposed to ask about zap apples."
>"Ooooo...I love zap apple jam! Especially making it! Because I get to dress like a bunny!"
>Anon just stood there, now totally perplexed.
>"Also, Twilight told me she wanted to see you soon, if you got a chance, Nonny! She says she has some questions to ask you!"
"You can tell Purple Horse she can go jump into the fountain for all I care."
>"She...she's not a horse, Nonny."
>Pinkie looked up and Anon, shocked that someone could speak that way about her friend. But the look on his face said not to push the issue. Not yet anyway.
"Pinkie...I wanna thank you for being so nice to me, but Twilight is the one responsible for taking me from my world. I had a life there. And a family. It wasn't much of a life, but it was MY life. And now...I'm not gonna see it again. I will never see my parents, my friends..."
>Anon sat down on his front step, small tears forming at the corners of his eyes. He was trying really hard not to cry, and had been that way for a few days now. But bringing it up now...he had a hard time holding it back.
"I have to spend the rest of my life in a world full of horse and magic and being alone, Pinkie, and I am just not ready to deal with Twilight's crap right now."
>Walking slowly toward Anon, Pinkie wrapped her hooves around Anon's neck with a hug, and then did something rather unexpected.
>She kissed his cheek, where the tear had fallen, and whispered softly.
>"You aren't alone Anon. I will be your friend. As long as you will let me."
>Anon hugged her back, crying a little into her shoulder.
>Just before Pinkie's pupils swirled a little bit.
>"Anonny...is..is there salt in your tears?!"
"Um...yeah, I think so, why?"
>"Oh, that's not good..."
>And for the better part of the midday, Anon worried about a Pinkie Pie with a slight salt buzz.