>Day… Unimportant in Equestria. >Long  enough, you guess. >This day in particular was rather gloomy. No rain, just cloudy. Rain is coming tonight, though. Just like the night before. >You sigh to yourself as you look through the window by front door of your home. >You’ve been going on daily walks for the past few months, at the request of Rainbow Dash and Applejack. >You didn’t like going out much. Before you came here, all those autistic bronies say they’d loooooooooove to meet their, ‘kawaii moe~ waifu’. >But, holy shit these ponies are annoying. >They can be cool sometimes. >They can even be fun. >But, they’re just mostly annoying. >You don’t know what they saw in these ponies. >You grumble under your breath as you toss on a light hoodie. >You weren’t in the mood to be pestered by Twilight’s studies, Rarity’s fashion, Fluttershy’s inability to form a sentence, Pinkie Pie’s… Pinkieness, Applejack’s apples, and Rainbow Dash’s horrible attempts to hide her feelings from you. >Yeah, it’s no secret. Ponies have the same tells as humans. >And Dash was AWFUL at hiding hers. >Always seeking your approval. Always glancing your way. And the blushing, Christ the blushing. >It’s an unending assault of bashfulness from her. >Bleh. >She’s probably on cloud duty today, so you’ll be safe. Maybe. >You quickly slip out of your front door and head towards the edge of Whitetail Woods. >You’ve chosen the Woods as your preferred hang-out area. >Not very dangerous, little pony traffic, and it’s beautiful during the autumn months. >Like now.   >You take in a deep breath of the fresh air. >The golden leaves hanging off the birch trees drip with last night’s rain. >The crisp smell of fresh water stream weaving through the terrain. >Yeah, Whitetail Woods is a cool place. >Also, you’re usually safe from the eyes of Ponyville citizens, from here. >Yeah, you like it her- >A small rainbow streak descends from the clouds, in your direction. >Mother of all fuck. >Rainbow Dash’s hooves meet the ground moments later. She stumbles as she lands, obviously excited about something. >You hold back an irritated sigh. “Hey, Dash.” >”Mrrf Phffh ffh!” >You just noticed she has a few piece of paper in her mouth. >You yank them out of her teeth. “Didn’t your mother tell you not to talk with your mouth full?” >”Sorry, dude, I’m just so excited!” “About what?” >You look at what you took from her. “Oh!” >Rainbow Dash had two tickets to the ‘Fillydelphia Slam Jam’. Box seats. Nice. “Wait, are these basketball tickets?” >”Basketball? What’s that?” “Er… Nevermind.” >”… Right. Well, the Slam Jam is a big fighting tournament that moves all over Equestria. This is probably as close as it’s ever gonna get!” “Oh, neat.” >You attempt to hand the ticket back to her. >She looks a little offended. “Something wrong?” >”Well…” She takes a step back. >Aaaaand there’s the blush.   >”I was thinking… You know…” >She traces a hoof along the ground. >”We could go. Together, I-I mean.” >You sigh. “Don’t you have, like, friends to go with?” >”But… We aren’t friends?” “I guess, but I mean like close friends. Pinkie Pie? Fluttershy?” >She rolls her eyes. >”Do you really think Fluttershy wants to go to this?” “Ehh…” >You wish she would. >”Look, I can only see Applejack, Thunderlane, and yourself wanting to go.” “Are you sure you wouldn’t rather ask them? You’ve known them for longer than you’ve known me.” >”Applejack wakes up too early for this and Thunderlane is a…” “Douche?” >”Yeah, he’s a douche.” “He is…” >”Sooooo, come on. I spent good bits on these tickets.” “… Fine, I don’t think I have anything better planned, anyway. When is it?” >”Tonight.” >Your eyes grow wide. “Tonight? Dash, there’s no way we’re making it witho-“ >”Without a carriage? Got it covered.” “That’s pricey as shit, you know.” >”No worries! Anything for my…” She gulps as a bead of sweat runs down her forehead, “Best bro…” >Dash you are so shitty at hiding emotions. >”And don’t worry about the hotel room cost either, I-“ “No, that’s waaaaaaay too much for one person-“ >”Pony.” “Fuck off. –Person to spend. I’ll cover half of the hotel and carriage ride.” >”Don’t you have, like, no money?” “Yeah. Neither do you.” >”I’ve been saving up for this trip! Come on, stop making this tough.” “I don’t like-“ >”Whatever! Enough talk, we have to go!” “… Now?” >”Yeah, like, right now!” “Dash I-“ >”Just go home, pack up a few things, and I’ll have the carriage swing by your house.”   >Fuck, what are you supposed to pack for a fight? >Do you wear something sporty? >Not like it matters, you’re just watching! >Okay, >Shirt, pants, underwear, socks, toothbrush, hair comb. >And you’ll bring your hoodie in case it gets cold. >… That wasn’t very hard. >Wait. You need your lods emone. >Aaaaand that ought to do it. >You hear a knock on your front door. Couldn’t have had better timing! >You swing the plastic grocery bag with your junk in it, over your shoulder. >What? It’s only one night. >Besides, you don’t have a suitcase. >You open the door, Rainbow Dash stand on the other side. >On the road behind her is a lavish looking carriage. >Being pulled by two Pegasi stallions. “Whoa, we can’t afford a Taxi, Dash.” >She snorts. >”You thought I would pull us all the way there? Nah, I need all my energy for tonight. It’s gonna be kickin’ rad.” “It’d better be, I’ll be missing some good sleep.” >”Phbbbt, don’t be such a square.” “You’re a square!” >”Nuh-uh!” “Yeah-huh!”   >After a short, pointless argument with Rainbow Dash, the two of you climb into the taxi and get comfortable. >Rainbow Dash gets comfortable way too close to you. >Keep throwing all that money around, Dash. I ain’t touchin’ that snatch no matter how much you do. “So, what, it’s cool if you miss work most of today and tomorrow?” >”Ch’yeah, my boss sold me the tickets. He said I could take the day off if I bought ‘em.” “Nice. Any downsides?” >”Buckin’ expensive.” >She looks at you longingly. >”A-Anything for my bro, though.” >Would it be too mean to roll your eyes right now? Because it sounds mean. >You know what? It’s time to do it. >You’re going to tell Dash that you’re not interested. >Tomorrow. After the fights. >Yeah. >The two ponies pulling wagon speak up. >”You have an address fer us?” >”Yeah! I—Uh, shoot. My ticket is in with my luggage. Anon you have your with you?” “Yeah, one sec.” >You reach into your pocket, diving through 20,000 leagues of change, gum, and lint. >With a little struggle, you yank the ticket out. >On it, the address of the fight is imprinted in metallic gold text. “931 Paddy’s Street, Fillydelphia.” >”Aight, aight, aight.” >Without another word, they took off, moving at speeds you wouldn’t dream of if it were Dash pulling. >Speaking of Dash, she scooted even closer… >You push yourself against the plush sides of the chariot, keeping an arm out to block Rainbow Dash from getting closer. >She catches the message and scoots about a foot away. >Good. Now you can just…   >Fall asleep and wake up hours later. >It is now hours later. >The clouds have gotten thicker. >And Rainbow Dash is snoozing on your lap. “Hey,” >You push her off, stirring her awake. “VIP section. You need a pass to get in.” >”Hmmm,” A sly grin forms on her face. “I think the ticket in your pocket counts as a pass.” >She winks at you. >Did she think you were being playful? >You weren’t being playful. >The scowl on your face said that much. >”Ooookaaaay, then.” >It’s shocking how Dash hasn’t taken the message quite yet. “Hey, drivers. How much longer?” >”Saaaaa’hm… Bout a half-hour, ya?” >”Cha’, bout that.” “Alright, thanks. >There’s a moment of silence before Rainbow Dash speaks up. >”… We’re getting there a little early.” >Here we go. “Yeah.” >”So we could do something before the fight starts.” “Uh-huh.” >”And I have bits to spare.” “Right.” >”… Anon, would you like to go out to dinner with me?” “We should probably reserve our rooms at the hotel.” >You keep your tone flat and uninterested. >”B-But it’s pretty far away from where they’re hosting the fights!” “We should make that our first stop, then.” >You lean forward to address the two pegasi driving. >”Wait! Umm…” >You lean back. >”I-I can rush over there once we’re dropped off! And you can… Get our seats! And the popcorn and the drinks!” “Yeah, that actually sounds like a good idea.” >”Cool, it’s a plan!” >Rainbow Dash hesitates to say something. >”… Thanks for coming with me, Anon.” “No probs, Dash. It’ll be fun.”   >The two of you arrive at the fight location shortly. >You expected a big arena with lights dancing everywhere, rock music playing, and a huge crowd. >Nope. >Just a warehouse with a banner that says, FILLYDELPHIA SLAM JAM. >And not a single person in line. “Is this it?” >”I guess so. I was expecting a huge arena with lights dancing everywhere, rock music, and a huge crowd.” “Spooky.” >”Huh?” “Nothing.” >”Well then,” she flings her small suitcase over her back, as well as your plastic bag of shitty clothes. >”I gotta find us a room somewhere. I never actually reserved anything so… yeah.” “That’s fine, just don’t get us a cum stained, 1 bed, motel room.” >”… C’mon, that’s gross.” >You scrunch your nose. >”It was kinda gross, wasn’t it?” >”Yeah man, just… Ew. Ew! I can’t get it out of my head now!” >She taps her forehead a couple times as if she’s trying to knock the thought out. >”I’m… yeah, I’m gonna go.” “Catch ya in a bit.” >”Don’t have too much fun without me.” >The only pony to keep you entertained is the bouncer outside. “No problemo.” >With that, she flitters off in a random direction and disappears moments later. >You walk up to where the line is supposed to start. >First in line. If this were Elementary School, you’d be ecstatic. >You keep your distance from the bouncer Earth Pony. The mother fucker looks ripped and mean. >Oh shit he’s looking at you. >… And then he goes inside. >Okay… >You lean against the side of the building and slide onto your ass.   >A few minutes later, a large group of assorted creatures emerges from the same door the bouncer went in. >Ponies, Minotaurs, Griffons, and Adolescent Dragons. >They’re all staring at you… “… Hello.” >”Yooooo…” A dragon says. “Something wrong?” >”HAH! DeeJay, you said this thing was big!” >”Man it’s like… Pony big. Minotaurs are bigger n’ anything.” >You brush yourself off and get to your feet. >You now stand face-to-face with the two Minotaurs. >”… Yooooooooooo!” the same dragon says. >”Oh-ho, shit.” A female Griffon speaks up. “This guy is big!” >”No kiddin’” Another Griffon interjects. “You here to compete, big guy?” >”He’d better not, I’m winnin’ that title, tonight!” A pegasus mare boasts. >”Whose bettin’ Sugarpop goes down first round?” The same female Griffion says. >There’s a collective chuckle, with yourself included. >”I TOLD YOU TO CALL ME RIPMUDER!” >Now everyone is laughing their asses off. >”AAARG!” She punches the ground. >It does nothing. >”I HATE YOU GUYS!” She flitters back inside. >The roaring laughter continues, but dies down to chuckles moments later. Then, silence. >”So… What are you?” “Human.” >”Cool, cool…” >A Minotaur pokes you in the chest. >”Where is your homeland?! I have never heard of a human before!” >He flexes for no reason. “I’m actually from a different dimension, or something. Can’t say for sure. One day I was home, then ‘Poof!’ I’m in Equestria.” >The same dragon begins to flip the fuck out. >”YOOOOOOOOOOO!” >He runs back inside, still screaming. >Another young dragon, a slightly older looking one, sighs. “I’ll go calm him down…”   >You and who’s left outside continue to converse. >Eventually a crowd begins to show up. The fighters, at least you think that’s what they are, pick this as a good time to duck back inside. >You all share some goodbyes before they disappear inside. >Rainbow Dash returns to your side minutes later. “Hey! You find a good place?” >”Eeeeh…” “Yeah, tonight’s sleep won’t be fun.” >”Lighten up, this is gonna be awesome!” “Yeah it will be!” >”Are you ready?!” “Yeah I’m ready!” >”ARE YOU READY?!” “FUCK YEAH I’M READY!” >”BUCK YEAH, GET HYPE!” “WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO-“ >”We’re not opening the doors for another hour.” The bouncer interrupts. “Aww.”