Sweaty Personhorses: Chapter V -IN PROGRESS-

>Just moments ago, you stepped off the train in Canterlot for official royal business
>Said royal business will not start until later this evening, however, giving you a little extra time on your hands
>Your friends have also planned to make the best of their free time
>Pinkie said she was going shopping in the market district
>Dash and Fluttershy would be at the gym after lunch
>Rarity and Applejack are meeting you for dinner at 6
>And Twilight is at the castle right now preparing for the meeting with the princess at 4
>Your watch now reads 11:18
>You still have a couple questions for Dash
>But you have no idea where to find her
>At least you know where she will be later
>Might as well wander the city and take in the sights

...

>It's been 30 minutes and so far all you've seen are snooty rich folk, expensive stores, and snooty rich folk running expensive stores
>Where do all the poor people such as yourself go?
>Feeling dejected, you make your way out of the...
"Bank District?"
>Oh
>As you leave, you pass by a quaint little restaurant
>A sign advertises a woman in a gray dress playing a violin
>Tempting, but those prices...
>Eventually, you come across what you believe is the entertainment district
>Neon signs advertising night clubs seem so dull in the morning
>Out of the corner of your eye, you spot several people entering one of the clubs
>You turn to get a better look
>A giant record with a comical scratch on the side reads "The Scratch"
>A smaller sigh below confirms it's a bar and grill
>A quick bite wouldn't hurt
>You open the door to reveal a dimly lit building
>Wisps of smoke fill the air from various ashtrays
>There are actually more people than you thought there would be
>Most are smoking or having a beer a little too early
>Most of the guys here brought their arm candy
>ALL of the guys, actually...
>Yeah, you are definitely not standing out
>...
>On stage, a young woman is checking her equipment
>No doubt for tonight's performance
>The turntable and amps make it obvious she's a DJ
>Oh wait, 'The Scratch'
>Duh
>You stand around awkwardly for a few moments, debating on if you wanted to go up and talk to her
>She probably wouldn't be interested in some nobody like you...
>Eh, worth a shot
>The stage lighting was a little brighter than the rest of the room, so you wince as you get close to all the reflective metal
>The woman sees you approach and gives you a nod as she takes off her headphones
>"Hey, you here for the show tonight?"
"When is it?"
>"Six."
"Er, sorry. I already have plans."
>"Tch. Bummer. But it's cool, man. We're gonna be open til eleven if you have some time."
>She goes back to her deck
"Hey, aren't you Vinyl Scratch?"
>Her eyes quickly raise to meet yours
>"Yeah! Heard of me?"
"You've played in town, right?"
>"Yep! I'm kinda shocked, you know my actual name! Usually I'm just called the DJ."
>You smile
"I thought it was you. I almost didn't recognize you without your goggles."
>"Heh, I get that a lot."
>Vinyl walks from behind her table and takes a seat on the stage lip
>She was wearing a white tank top with baggy blue pants
>As she gets comfortable, her black boots swing
>They reminded you of Gilda's
>"So you got plans, huh? Who's the lucky girl?"
>Vinyl playfully pokes you in the stomach with the toe of her boot
"Uh, girls, actually."
>She gives a mock gasp
>"You bad boy!"
>She lightly kicks you this time
"No, nothing like that! We're just going out to eat... as friends."
>"Uh huh. Suuuure. I'm not judging."
>She winks before getting up
>"Tell you what. If you aren't busy after your date, come on by. We can hang backstage."
"Really? Just me and you?"
>"Sure! You don't gush over me like my other fans. And you just seem like a chill guy in general."
>Huh
"Alright."
>"Cool! See ya tonight!"
>You turn to leave, but suddenly something clicks in your brain
"Wait, aren't you supposed to be a mute?"
>"Nah, that's just my stage gimmick."
>Shrugging, you take your leave
>You shield your eyes from the sun as they readjust to the brightness
>Jeez, your to-do list is just growing by the hour
>A sharp pang in your stomach makes you realize something
>You're friggin' starving
>Forgot to eat breakfast... again
>This is becoming a bad habit for you
>You think about grabbing something at the bar, but don't really want to eat alone
>Pinkie should be around here somewhere
>Maybe you could grab lunch with her?

...

>Canterlot's marketplace is definitely different than back home
>Most everything here is overpriced as hell
>A sign advertises cherries for 5 bits
"Can Pinkie even afford this stuff?"
>"Nonny!"
>As if on cue, the pure, raw energy and its host body skip over to you
>"What did I tell you about talking to inanimate objects?"
>She giggles
>How...?
"You heard- I mean, how was your shopping spree?"
>Ponko's eyes light up
>"Ooh, ooh! You shoulda been there, Nonny! The 'healthy' store had SOOOOO many things I've never heard of! Do you know what a... dietary supplement tablet is?"
"I think it's-"
>"Anyway, the lady wanted to charge me 30 bits for a pound of tofu! 30! And it wasn't even cupcake shaped! Can you believe that?!"
"I-"
>"So I just got some strawberries instead."
>You don't open your mouth in fear of being interrupted
>Pinkie just stands there with the same grin, expecting something
"Hey, did you wanna-"
>"Of course I'll grab lunch with you, silly!"
>Getting mad just ain't worth it
>"I know just the place!"
>You remember the restaurant prices on that sign and feel your wallet ache
>Pinkie notices the expression on your face and smirks
>"Don't worry, it's just a burger joint."
>She leads you to a modest little cafe she must have passed by
>Luckily, Pinkie was right about the prices, so you were able to order a decent meal
>The food arrives and the two of you eat in silence
>Both of you were hungrier than you thought
>You rip into your burger as Pank slurps down her shake
>Out of the corner of your eye, you can't help but notice her foot bobbing up and down on her knee
>Swallow your bite a little harder than you meant to
>Y'know, I bet those feet are nice and warm after this morning
>Not now...
>You shift your eyes back to Pinkie, but she's still engrossed in her milkshake
>And she DID say she wanted to do it again sometime...
>This never gets easier...
>Why not ease into the subject?
"So, uh, you must have walked a lot."
>Hold that spaghetti in, Anon
>Pinkie looks up from her shake
>"Well, DUH! How else would I get around? Ooh! I can hop or skip or even-"
"Aren't you tired at all?"
>"Hmm, maybe a little. But this choco brownie blast is giving me a major sugar rush!"
>She emphasizes by taking a huge gulp
>Darn Pinkie's childlike innocence
"I bet your feet are tired of being in those hot shoes. I could help if you wanted."
>Pinkie looks down at her pink sneakers
>"Oh! You mean one of your super awesome foot rubs! Sure!"
"Hey, not so loud..."
>She ignores your plead and plops both feet on the table
>"Ready!"
"Uh, h-how about somewhere a little more comfortable?"
>Pinkie plays with her curls as she thinks
>"The park sound okay? I think I remember seeing a bench under a shady tree."
"Sounds perfect."

...

>The park wasn't that far from the cafe
>And sure enough, there was a bench under a tree
>The bench was warm from the sun hitting it all morning, and the shade protected you from the sun directly overhead
>'Comfy' would be an understatement
>Pinkie joins you on the bench and swings her legs around to rest on your lap
>"Mmm, ready."
>Her voice already has that mellow tone
>Almost flirty
>You take her left shoe into your hand and begin unlacing
>Even with the shoe on, you can still catch a whiff of the prize inside
>With the knot undone, the pink sneaker slides off easily
>The wind was blowing directly in your face, carrying the aroma right to your nose
>The last time you were in this position, Pinkie was covered in cake and other sweet scents, but this was different
>It wasn't rank or sour, but not fresh and fruity either
>Just the natural smell of a hyperactive girl
>The pink ankle sock covering her foot was also damp
>Pinkie must be enjoying the cool air on her feet as her toes wiggled in her socks
>As if guided by an invisible hand, your fingers find her other foot and free it as well
>Now you were staring at both her soles, complete with small, dark smudges under the toes
>Wait, you can't give a proper massage with socks on, can you?
>Feeling bold, you slip your finger under the band of her left sock
>Pinkie doesn't protest, so you continue
>In a swift tug, the sock slides off her foot
>You set down her now bare left foot on your lap in a way that lets it press into your stomach
>After the second foot is freed, Pinkie opens her eyes and sits up
>"Wow! Just look at all those fuzzies!"
"Fuzzies?"
>"Yeah! Look!"
>She lifts her feet off your lap and practically shoves them into your face
>Sure enough, Pinkie's feet are covered in pink sock lint, mostly in between her toes
>"See 'em?!"
"Y-Yeah..."
>Your heart is nearly about to burst out of your chest
>Unfortunately, you make the mistake of fantasizing about cleaning the lint from her toes
>"Anon?"
"Wha- Huh?"
>"Your face is all red again. That always seems to happen when I talk about my feet."
>shitshitshit
"What? No, it doesn't..."
>"Yeah, it does! Sugarcube Corner, over at Applejack's, and right now!"
>SHITSHITSHIT
>Pinkie might be naive, but once she gets suspicious...
>In a last ditch effort, you squeak
"It's... hot?"
>Her incredulous look doesn't fade as she brings her feet up to rest on your chest
>Before you can ask what she's doing, Pinkie begins rubbing her big toe in circles around your chest
>She's obviously trying to get a reaction out of you, as her eyes never leave yours
>Her glare is actually pretty terrifying
>You had almost forgotten how vicious Pinkie can be when she interrogates someone, if Spike's story holds any water
>"I think you're lying to me..."
>That did NOT sound like the Pinkie you knew