Mythd

Anon in kinderjail

Apr 29th, 2015
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  1. >Sitting in your free apartme....cell.. You look back on what got you sent to pone prison in the first place
  2.  
  3. >Your old pocketknife
  4.  
  5. >Turns out, weapons of ANY kind are strictly forbidden. Even the Royal Guards' spearheads are made of soft rubber, the shafts are made of solid styrofoam.
  6.  
  7. >Everyone thought you were trying to kill the Purple Acorn when you tried to show her metal from your world.
  8. >Wasn't your fault everything from your world was anti-magic
  9. >Wasn't your fault she didn't realize it was a blade
  10. >Wasn't your fault she tried to pick it up with her mouth
  11. >Stupid smart-horse
  12. >And now everyone is scared of you and won't let you near anything sharper than a beach ball
  13. >Serious debate went into whether you could have a bendy straw with your chocolate milk
  14. >They finally said you could have a sippy straw but needed a chaperone to watch you in the mess hall at all times
  15. >Enter Cookies n Cream
  16.  
  17. >Meals aren't so bad. Pony equivalent of restraining a dangerous prisoner is giving them the 'quiet time' necklace. Anyone wearing it isn't supposed to move quickly or meanly.
  18. >Doesn't work on you, of course
  19. >Shouldn't even work on the other inmates
  20. >shit isn't even enchanted
  21. >just a string with beads on it that spell out 'quiet time' 'happy quiet' 'shush good' and 'calm friendly'
  22. >You don't act out in the Mess anyway... that would get Cookies in trouble too.
  23. >Speaking of meals, Cookies should be here any minute to-
  24. >"Hello there Anon, are you ready for lunch?"
  25. >The 'quiet time' necklace is hanging from the emergency churro in her belt. In an emergency, the tasty treat is used to calm roudy inmates.
  26. "Yes please, I'm starved."
  27. >"Maybe if you didn't skip snack time, you wouldn't be so hungry. It really worries me that you don't eat enough"
  28. >aw.. she sounds so concerned for your health
  29. "Maybe I would join snack time if you served something other than hay biscuits and milk."
  30. >"Is there something wrong with hay biscuits?"
  31. "Humans can't eat hay" you say with a laugh
  32. >Cookies face shifts from mild concern, to realization, to abject horror
  33. >"SWEET CELESTIA'S SUNDRESS, WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ANYONE SOONER?!"
  34. >whoops, poor thing is having a panic attack.
  35. >
  36. >
  37. >She seems to be hyperventilating now
  38. >If this keeps up much longer, you'll be late for lunch
  39. >
  40. >Someone else will take the last pudding cup!
  41. >You've got to calm her down somehow!
  42.  
  43. >Best start by letting her know you aren't upset at the lack of edibles during snack time.
  44. "It's alright Cookies, I'm a big guy who doesn't need snack time"
  45. >You do, however, need that pudding cup with lunch.
  46. >"BUT WE ALL MISTREATED YOU! THIS IS PRISON BRUTALITY ON A SCALE NEVER SEEN BEFORE!"
  47. >she is actually crying. Why is she crying? How are you supposed to get that pudding cup if your chaperone is crying?! You can't go to Mess without her... You'll have pudding privilages revoked for the day!
  48. >Time for the big guns
  49. "Hey, I'm ok. You're ok. No need to cry" you say as you gently pat her mane
  50. >pony hair is soft
  51. >how can anything be this soft
  52. >Hey, it seems to be working! She stopped hyperventilating!
  53.  
  54. Be Cookies n Cream
  55. >What? petting? what? by prisoner? what?
  56. >what?
  57. >WHAT?
  58. >WHY IS THIS HAPPENI-
  59. >ooo that's nice
  60. >Oh biscuits! forgot to breathe!
  61.  
  62. Be Anon
  63. >Cookies takes a few deep breaths as you continue petting her mane.
  64. >Hrm...she still looks spooked.
  65.  
  66. >Time for the grand finale
  67. >You kneel down right next to Cookies and pull her in for a tight hug
  68. >The Fluffy is strong with this one
  69. >fluff for days
  70. >you continue to pet her back as you hold her
  71. "I'll take the EUC (Emergency Use Churro) as a snack if you want."
  72. >BAM! Now you get churro WITH your pudding
  73. >if there even is still pudding
  74. >Please let there still be chocolate vanilla swirl
  75. >why isn't Cookies answering you?
  76.  
  77. Be Cookies
  78. >Anon is HUGGING you!
  79. >Right here in the open!
  80. >And by Luna's Lungs, was that petting /nice/
  81. >Those 'fingers' of his.. wow
  82. >huh, wait, did he say something?
  83. "Mrglurmph"
  84. >turns out you can't really speak
  85. >probably because of the petting and having your face smushed into his chest (and that smell!)
  86. >"I'll take that as a yes. Now, lets get to the Mess."
  87. >Why did the petting stop?
  88. >Why did he stop?
  89. >Why is your EUC missing?
  90. >
  91. >
  92. >Oh yeah, Anon said something about taking it.
  93.  
  94.  
  95. Be Anon
  96. >Cookies seems much better, or at least calmer.
  97. >daw...she has a little thousand yard stare.
  98. >she'll be fine
  99. >the pudding though...
  100. >putting on the necklace, you step out of your cell
  101. "Cookies, you coming?"
  102. >She seems to snap out of her trance and quietly nods, following you to the Mess
  103.  
  104.  
  105. Still be Anon
  106. >There is still some pudding left!
  107. >AW YISS
  108. >NOTHING goes with pudding like churros
  109. >Cookies hasn't said a word since leaving your cell
  110. >Must still be worried about you
  111. >Daw
  112. >Welp, better show her that you are eating enough. You load down your tray with fruits, veggies, a few pistachios for good measure, and the holy grail of the Mess hall
  113. >Pudding
  114. >nothing, absolutely /nothing/ goes with pudding like churros.
  115. >and since you aren't allowed to have a spoon, either Cookies has to use a spoon to feed you or things get messy
  116. >Messy in the Mess
  117.  
  118.  
  119. Be Cookies
  120. >You've been through some real serious caca in the past
  121. >The great salt lick riot
  122. >Not enough snacks to go around that day
  123. >Lot of good officers had their feelings hurt that day. That day is actually the reason guardpones carry EUCs.
  124. >Never in your years of service have you even HEARD of an inmate petting or hugging ANYONE
  125. >Let alone a /guard/
  126. >Out in the open
  127. >And there he was, sucking the pudding off his churro right next to you like nothing happened
  128. >a realization hits you
  129. >he OWNS you. You let your guard down with him and are paying the price. The firm, lovingly tight price...
  130. >Part of you absolutely /hates/ that you let it happen. Anon probably planned it from the start, skipping snack on purpose to trick you!
  131. >Part of you, deep inside, can't stop crying
  132. >Part of you, even deeper down...liked it
  133. >Anon notices your gaze on him and gives you a grin, a spot of pudding coloring the tip of his nose
  134.  
  135. >you shudder
  136.  
  137. Be Anon
  138. >You notice Cookies staring at you and shoot her a grin.
  139. >Huh? Did she just shiver? She must be cold
  140. >You put down the 1/8 of churro left and scoot close to her. She's had it rough, and got you to Mess in time for pudding, she can use some of your body heat.
  141. >you give her a quick one-armed hug as she shivers again, then return to your meal
  142.  
  143. Be Cookies n Cream
  144. >It is night, day of the incident
  145. >Can't sleep
  146. >You were tough
  147. >You were brave
  148. >That was the reason you were Anon's chaperone. You were the only one who was brave enough to get anywhere near that monster
  149. >He had waited, scheming, to lure you out and /hug/ you!
  150. >You couldn't let things stand this way
  151. >There was no way you were gonna let him make you his cuddle-buddy
  152. >
  153. >
  154. >
  155. >You...were going to make him YOUR cuddle-buddy! Show that 'human' who is the boss!
  156. >Smiling a dark smile, you turn over and begin to fall asleep.
  157. >You were going to need your strength tomorrow...for cuddles
  158.  
  159.  
  160. Be Anon
  161. >It's late morning
  162. >Birds chirp outside
  163. >People are laughing and talking outside your cell
  164. >DAMN this world that doesn't know the meaning of sleeping in!
  165. >With a sigh, you give up on any more sleep and, as you make your way to your private bathroom you notice a letter that had been pushed under the door to your cell.
  166. "Hrm, musta been delivered while I was asleep..."
  167. >Picking up the letter, you notice the Royal Seal.
  168. >curiously, you open the letter and read
  169. >.
  170. >..
  171. >...
  172. >Long story short, Luna attempted to enter your brain while you slept.
  173. "What is this? 'You have been deemed mentally unstable'?! This is bullshit!"
  174. >"LANGUAGE, Anon! You just lost your complimentary chocolate tonight"
  175. >Stupid overly-sensitive colorful equines
  176. >The letter also says that your sentence will be extended until Luna declares you mentally sound.
  177.  
  178. >Snack time in the big house
  179. >You remembered to ask for something other than Hay biscuits, for poor Cookies' sake.
  180. >You got animal crackers and juice
  181. >Score
  182. >You've been biting off the heads and saving the rest for later. Old habit from when you were a kid.
  183. >you learned from the snack pony that Luna has been 'sick' ever since her 'expedition' into your brain.
  184. >serves her right for invading your privacy like that. Still, better if she hadn't gone in at all.
  185. >Now there is no hope of getting out of here...But honestly, why would you want to?
  186. >The other inmates are nice, and the guards mostly let you do your own thing. Even if everyone is afraid of you.
  187. >"Hello there prisoner 007"
  188. "Oh!"
  189. >damnit, dropped a lion/scorpion thing cracker.
  190. "Morning, Cookies, you startled me!"
  191. >She doesn't usually show up this early in the day. odd.
  192. >"Good to see you eating during snack time"
  193. "Yea, I remembered how upset you were yesterday when you learned I wasn't eating."
  194. >Something seems...off about her. Her tone is different from usual
  195. "You alright Cookies?"
  196.  
  197. Be Cookies
  198. >"You alright Cookies?"
  199. "What do you mean? I'm perfectly fine."
  200. >You couldn't let him catch on to your plan for revenge cuddles
  201. >You have to beat him at his own game
  202. >If the other inmates found out, none would take you seriously
  203. >If the Warden found out, you'd lose your job
  204. >The only way to reclaim your pride is to cuddle this mean monkey into submission! Lunch is still hours away, and the other prisoners in this block are all at the arts and crafts station
  205. >You have all the time in the world
  206. >Step one: Make him drop his guard
  207. "I've been wondering, do you have a special somepony?"
  208. >"I don't have a- wait, what?"
  209. >It's working, he's completely off-guard!
  210. >He'll regret dropping his guard around THIS guard!
  211. >Time to create an opening
  212. "Hey, what's that over there?!"
  213. >NAILED IT
  214.  
  215. Be Anon
  216. "huh?"
  217. >As you turn to follow Cookies' gaze, you are suddenly pushed to the ground
  218. >"You like hugging and petting upset ponies? Try being tickle hugged!"
  219. >Cookies is on top of you, legs clenched around your sides pinning one arm down. She starts to wriggle her tail around under your shirt.
  220. "Stop! I'm ticklish!"
  221. >She doesn't stop
  222. >there is a mad look in her eyes
  223. >A look you've seen before back home
  224. >Your friend, Incognito, would look like this when initiating a tickle or pillow fight
  225. >She wasn't going to stop unless you tickled her into submission
  226.  
  227.  
  228. >Challenge accepted
  229. >With one arm pinned down, the other one trapped underneath you, you can't reach much of her other than her left foreleg
  230. >Oh well, beggars can't be choosers. VIVA LE RESISTANCE!
  231.  
  232. Be Cookies
  233. >This is going better than expected!
  234. >He's on the verge of cracking!
  235. >You've all but won!
  236. >If anyone ever found out you did this to a 'helpless' prisoner, it would be you eating snack times in a cell
  237. >But it will all be worth it...
  238. >once
  239. >he
  240. >cracks!
  241. >Ha! He's trying to wriggle loose, but you'll be having NONE of that!
  242. >he can barely....
  243. >Oh no
  244. >Oh Cadence's Colorful Crystals, he's not cracking! HE'S FIGHTING BACK!
  245.  
  246.  
  247. Be Anon
  248. >Seems like the area around the hoof is extremely sensitive.
  249. >You can turn this around!
  250. >As your fingers dance and dig around the sole and frog, her grip starts to weaken
  251. >her tail moves more erratically, significantly hampering her assault
  252. >With a mighty shove, you manage to push her off enough to completely free the arm that was under her
  253. >[It begins]
  254. >You loop your free arm over her and begin to dance your fingers across her withers, down her sides and under her armpit
  255. >You continue your two-pronged assault on her sides and hoof as she falls from you, face a rictus grin as she struggles to keep from laughing
  256. >You got this. You were tickle fight champion back in the day. You've never lost once
  257. >Why start now?
  258.  
  259.  
  260. Be Cookies
  261. >HOW DID THIS HAPPEN!?
  262.  
  263. >Anon continues his relentless assault as you try and tumble away
  264. >You try to kick him away, but he easily overpowers your tickle-weakened limbs
  265. >His hands move to your belly and continue their cruel dance
  266.  
  267. >IT CAN'T END LIKE THIS!
  268. >YOU WON'T ADMIT DEFEAT!
  269. >Maybe if you can--
  270. >Too late
  271. >Anon is going for the kill!
  272. >TUMMY TICKLES
  273. >You have to fight it, you CAN still turn this around! YOU CAN STILL-
  274. >Pony.exe has stopped responding
  275. >Would you like to restart? [y]/[n]
  276. >[y]!
  277. >Cookies-n-Cream is downloading updates, please wait.....0%
  278. >
  279. >
  280. >
  281. >
  282. >.....1%
  283. Be Anon
  284. >Whoops
  285. >You broke her again
  286. "Cookies, hello? Are you alright?"
  287. >She just continues to stare at the ceiling, occasionally blinking.
  288. >She'll be fine, just needs a minute to catch her breath
  289. >You move over to the wall with her and begin to gently rub her belly apologetically.
  290. >What brought on this sudden, merciless sneak attack?
  291. >hrm...
  292. >
  293. >
  294. >
  295. "Wait...."
  296. >She asked if you had a 'special somepony'
  297. >then jumped on you...
  298. >
  299. >
  300. >
  301. >she must have a crush on you!
  302. "Daw..."
  303. >Adorable little guard pony
  304. >Actually though... she is really nice.
  305. >Been the only one to talk to you like you weren't a monster...
  306. >And she smells like freshly baked cookies (duh)
  307. >this could work!
  308. >except she's a guard and you're a prisoner...
  309. >hrm
  310. >Ah what the hell, what could go wrong?
  311. >You are jailed indefinitely twice?
  312.  
  313. Be Cookies
  314. >....99%
  315. >.....
  316. >....
  317. >...
  318. >..
  319. >.
  320. >100%
  321. >Why is the whole world made of ceiling tiles?
  322. >....oh, because you are looking at the ceiling
  323. >Why were you looking at the ceiling?
  324. >And just what was that /heavenly/ sensation on your tummy?
  325. >feels so good...
  326. >What were you doing again?
  327. >hard to think, so nice~
  328. >"You coming back to me, Cookies?"
  329. >What the what? ANON?!
  330. >What is he doing here?!
  331. "what are you doing here?!"
  332. >for that matter, where is here?
  333. >"This is my cell"
  334. >That's silly, why would you be in his ce-
  335. >oh HORSE APPLES
  336. >HE WON
  337. >he won, and you lost. He absolutely dominated you.
  338. >again
  339. >you might as well get used to the idea of being a laughing stock for the rest of your life
  340. >the guard pony that couldn't handle a single prisoner
  341. >and that's the best case scenario...
  342. >and now he's rubbing it in by rubbing your belly
  343. >you resign yourself to your fate, turning your face to hide your blush
  344. >Why can't anything ever go your way?
  345.  
  346.  
  347. Be Anon
  348. >She's cute when she looks so confused.
  349. >Still, good to see her back from her own personal 'Nam
  350. "This is my cell"
  351. >Why does she look upset?
  352. >She's probably just self-conscious
  353. >nervous that you will reject her
  354. >Weird how she just jumped on you though
  355. >probably just a pony thing
  356. >Time to make her feel better!
  357. "I know what you were trying to do"
  358. >A panicked look explodes across her features
  359. >"Please, I ju-"
  360. >You boop her nose to silence her
  361. >oh that scrunch
  362.  
  363. >BRAIN, this is heart. What the HELL is going on!? Why are my systems critical?
  364. >Heart, this is brain. We have a class ten cute factor going on out here.
  365. >Brain this is heart. God help us all.
  366.  
  367. >That scrunch has thoroughly derailed your train of thought.
  368. >all is quiet, save for the gentle sounds of mirth far away.
  369. >Seems like show and tell is really lively today
  370. "While you were 'out' I gave it some thought... You are my only real friend in this entire world. Everyone else has seen me as some kind of monster."
  371. >Her face morphs from panick scrunchie to confusion
  372. "When I first got to this world, the only person who would come near me is the princess of nerds. Even she only thought of me as a weird test subject."
  373.  
  374.  
  375. Be Cookies
  376. >what is Anon talking about?
  377. >he's never talked this way before. He's always been so... emotionless?
  378. >no, that isn't the right word
  379. >Is there a word for somepony made of steel in a world of cardboard?
  380. >"I didn't really care about anyone from this place, this whole world. Sure people were nice, but they were all so afraid of me that none of it seemed real."
  381. >Anon clears his throat and gives a nervous little chuckle, his hand moving from your belly to his own lap.
  382. >"I never really had a chance at a girl back home, and when I learned there were no other humans around... I just gave up on love entirely"
  383. >Oh Sombra's Saturday Sombrero, what is happening?
  384. >"But if you really want to be my 'special somepony' and you won't get in trouble, I can give it a chance. You really are a special pony after all." He chuckles again.
  385. >Wait, what?
  386. "You think I'm trying to make you my special somepony?"
  387. >His expression changes from awkward grin to mild confusion
  388. >"Why else would you ask about it and then jump on me?"
  389. >Is that really how 'humans' show interest in eachother?
  390. >weird
  391. >must be a human thing
  392. "I didn't..."
  393. >wait...
  394. >He thought you were special
  395. >only your parents ever thought you were special!
  396. >Stallions never like the tough prison-guard mare...
  397. >Stallions always go for the cute mares who can cook. Mares like your sister...
  398. >He must have been trying to show you he cared yesterday by ruthlessly hugging you!
  399.  
  400. >This, this was the best case scenario!
  401. >You make him promise not to talk about your cuddle sessions.
  402. >You get to keep your job
  403. >And you can't force a cuddle on someone who wants it...
  404. >You get to keep your dignity!
  405. >but really... a giant bald monkey?
  406. > he does smell nice~
  407. >and those 'hands'!
  408. >You suspect you've only begun to experience what they are capable of.
  409. >BUT HE'S A MONKEY
  410. >a monkey that is giving you the most confused, worried look...
  411. >He's adorable when he's nervous
  412. >It is settled, you'll give it a shot!
  413. "Promise not to tell anyone about....us?"
  414. >it felt weird saying that
  415. >his grin returns
  416. >"Of course not. Things may be relaxed here but I'm guessing this kind of thing isn't really allowed"
  417. "N-Not really..."
  418. >"Like I said before, I'm willing to try this if you are. You are the one in danger with this, not me."
  419. "What do you mean?"
  420. >"I mean what's the worst thing they can do to me? Revoke snack time? Double imprison me? I'll be fine."
  421. >Daw... he's worried about you
  422. "I'll be ok as long as we keep it a secret"
  423. >"I won't say a word, I promise"
  424. >awesome, you were in the clear!
  425. >
  426. >
  427. >now what?
  428. "Now what?"
  429. >he chuckles, "That is really up to you. Show and Tell is probably wrapping up soon, but everyone will probably go to the play."
  430. >Warden had gotten the Ponyville Players to show the musical "Daring Do and the Emerald Melon
  431. >"...and after that is lunch. So we have a good hour and a half before we have to worry about being anywhere specific. Unless you want to catch the show? Or have you already.... 'scene' it?"
  432. >That monster
  433. "bad inmate, puns are a no-no"
  434. >He chuckles again
  435. "Actually~"
  436.  
  437. Be Anon
  438. >"Actually~"
  439. >Cookies begins to nibble at her lip nervously
  440. >"Could you pet my belly again? That felt really nice."
  441. >That blush!
  442. >That lip nibble!
  443. >Dong expand + Daw... = Dawong expand
  444. >Dawong expand
  445. >Time to give this little pony -YOUR little pony- the tummy rubbing of her life!
  446.  
  447. Still Be Anon
  448. >Be waking up from a lovely dream
  449. >lovely by human standards
  450. >you actually caught Luna puking in your brain
  451. >serves her right.
  452. >Three days have passed since you and Cookies became an item, and you have settled into a routine with her.
  453. >light cuddles in your cell during Show and Tell before lunch, and serious cuddles around 'lights out'
  454. >Show and Tell was boring anyway
  455. >'this is the spoon I used at breakfast'
  456. >'this is the sock I'm wearing right now'
  457. >he always showed that one sock
  458. >only one sock
  459. >Hugging Cookies is much more fun
  460. >even though it is more dangerous for your heart
  461. >Finding an excuse to have her in your cell late was too easy
  462. >Some inmates need to be read a bedtime story to fall asleep.
  463. >The perfect excuse to cuddle in the soft glow of a night light while everyone else was visiting Luna
  464. >Cookies would even sneak you extra pudding cups at night
  465. >Getting up and stretching, you notice another letter under your door
  466. >Royal seal again
  467. >same as every morning now
  468. >same message 'thou art still insane'
  469. >stupid moon-horse
  470. >you glance at the clock, still some time before breakfast. Cookies' 'appointment' is still a couple hours away.
  471. >damn
  472. >oh well, might as well hit the gym or library until breakfast.
  473. >you shower, dress, and head out the door to your cell scratching your chin
  474. >too much stubble
  475. >hairy pones won't let you shave
  476. >thought that putting a razor sharp blade to your neck and moving it all around your face to remove hair was crazy
  477. >You decide to go to the library first, where all the books have thick plastic pages
  478. >Wouldn't want anyone to get a paper cut
  479. >You check out a history textbook
  480. >all of pony fiction could be summed up as 'dude/dudette was happy with friends and then made more friends. The end'
  481. >history at least had /some/action
  482. >you head to the gym with your plastic book
  483. >nothing like reading while walking on a treadmill. Working your brain and body!
  484. >Cuddles with Cookies are more fun though...
  485.  
  486. "Oh well, It'll be time soon enough"
  487. >Time walk nowhere and read about nothing!
  488. >Excitement!
  489.  
  490. Be Cookies
  491. >Your ears itch
  492. >you never really noticed how much they seemed to itch all the time until Anon's fingers and nails got to them
  493. >Those things could sate an itch like nothing else
  494. >you still couldn't believe your luck
  495. >everything is turning out alright so far!
  496. >no one has found out about you and Anon
  497. >and with any luck, it will stay that way
  498. >Your ears twitch as you pass the gate into the prison
  499. >Your pre-lunch cuddle quickie was still HOURS away.
  500. >And your nightly cuddlefest?
  501. >You don't even want to /think/ about how far away that is
  502. >You go to the guardhouse and suit up, making sure to grab the hottest, freshest, longest EUC available from the guardhouse bakery
  503. >Gotta be able to subdue dangerous inmates
  504. >there is one you wish you could subdue all night long~
  505. "No, bad Cookies"
  506. >You need to focus on your morning duties and rounds right now.
  507. >Time for all that later.
  508. >You check the duty chart
  509. >color-coded by guard coat colors
  510. >hrm...
  511. >You are patrolling the indoor playground for most of the morning, followed by the movie theater
  512. >You grab the kit specialized for playground duty, which contains everything from lollypops to life saving anti-booboo supplies.
  513. >Playgrounds could be dangerous
  514. >you double check the kit, making sure everything is in place, and head to the playground
  515. >You always liked patrolling here
  516. >The floor is padded with foam to help avoid life-threatening injuries like scraped knees
  517. >That padding meant your hooves hurt less at the end of the day.
  518. >Nothing left but to wait out the hours on duty until you could see Anon...
  519.  
  520. Be Anon
  521. >The morning dragged on, you couldn't focus on your exercise or book. Even though they were both absolutely /thrilling/
  522. >Breakfast is nearly over now
  523. > you had a good helping of pancakes and waffles
  524. >you made a waffle/pancake 'burger'
  525. >with fresh fruit and syrup
  526. >Cookies was with you at breakfast
  527. >she was still your mealtime chaperone, after all
  528. >Every now and then during the meal, you would catch her watching you a little more closely than was required by her position
  529. >You'd shoot her a wink every time
  530. >You knew it was dangerous to flirt in front of the entire mess
  531. >and your heart almost gave out every time from the way she would blush and focus on her own plate
  532. >but it was worth it
  533. >"Please put away your dishes and get ready for Show and Tell everypony!"
  534. >That PA system goes through the entire prison.
  535. >You and Cookies put your trays away
  536. >The entire time you were sharing the same thought
  537. >it WAS time for 'Show and Tell'
  538. >You'd show her your hands and she'd tell you where to rub...
  539.  
  540. Be Anon
  541. >Lunch is over
  542. >Time to shine
  543. >You head towards your cell, Cookies will follow in a few minutes
  544. >She won't be here for another five to ten minutes
  545. >Perfect
  546. >You move over to your bed against the back corner of your cell
  547. > Your bed was large by human standards
  548. >Stupid big by tiny horse standards
  549. >They had given you a dozen pillows along with amazingly soft sheets and three blankets
  550. >This place really was like paradise sometimes
  551. >You remove the pillows and blankets from the bed and begin to carefully arrange the pillows into a nest shaped roughly like a lopsided bowl with pillows against the wall
  552. >Perfect to lean against
  553. >You lay all but one of the blankets on top of the pillows, nearly completing the setup
  554. >All it needed now was someone to help you fill it
  555. >And you knew just the pony for the job
  556. >You took off your shirt and tossed it aside
  557. >Cookies couldn't resist you without a shirt
  558. >Speaking of which, she should be arriving any-
  559. >Several soft knocks at your front door interrupt your thoughts
  560. >The time for your mid day cuddle was upon you!
  561. >Huzzah!
  562.  
  563. Be Cookies
  564. >Be walking to your pre-lunch cuddle session
  565. >Be very excited to have your itch /finally/ scratched
  566. >Be also thoroughly annoyed with Anon
  567. >What was he thinking, teasing you like that during breakfast?
  568. >The others might have noticed!
  569. >Your relationship was /far/ from appropriate, after all
  570. >A guard sneaking cuddles with an inmate!
  571. >It was the kind of scandal that could end your career
  572. >The kind of scandal that could put you in prison for 'taking advantage of an inmate'
  573. >Never mind the fact that HE started it!
  574. >You almost don't notice the soft sound of knocking coming from around the bend in the hall.
  575. >You cautiously slow your canter and peek around the corner
  576. >OH HAY BISCUITS
  577.  
  578. Be Anon
  579. >You fling open your door
  580. "Hey, about time you-"
  581. >OH BISCUITS
  582. >That isn't Cookies
  583. >That isn't Cookies at all
  584. >or if it is, she is doing an /amazing/ impression of the warden
  585. "H-Howdy Warden, what brings you here?"
  586. >"Hello Anon it is good to...see... you
  587. >The warden is stunned by your bare chest
  588. >not because of muscle or fat, but because you've never been bare-chested in public
  589. >The Warden continues to stare at you for several seconds
  590. >You cross your arms self-consciously
  591. >She shakes her head and blushes slightly
  592. >"You've been absent from Show and Tell for a couple days now, is everything ok?"
  593. "Eeyup, everything is just fine. I'm a happy camper."
  594. >"You sure? I've heard you've been having trouble making friends. Coming to Show and Tell could help you make friends."
  595. "Nope, I'm good, no need for that. I have plenty of friends already!"
  596. >"Really? Who are they?"
  597. "Well..."
  598. >You can't say Cookies is your friend, that might make the Warden suspicious
  599. "None of my friends are in prison."
  600. >NAILED IT!
  601. >"Don't you get lonely here alone? And why don't your friends ever visit you?"
  602. >BECAUSE YOU ARE IN THE WAY
  603. "Because...they are very busy with their lives"
  604. >"You really should make friends here. Join in one of the activities going on right now! Just because your block is doing Show and tell doesn't mean you have to. You can join one of the other groups. There are groups knitting, doing book club, and I hear there's even a group playing with a ball in the yard. I hear the game is pretty intense"
  605. >If this goes on much longer, Cookies might get caught trying to sneak to your room!
  606. >You had to get the Warden away from your room by any means necessary
  607. "I'll try joining the book club for a while I guess.."
  608. >"Lovely! I'm sure they'll be happy to let you join"
  609. "Just let me get my shirt"
  610. >you shut your door and quickly put your shirt back on
  611. "gotta let Cookies know why I'm not here"
  612. >You grab a pencil and paper to leave a note
  613. >She'd probably be so worried otherwise
  614. >You leave the note on your bed and open the door to once again see the Warden
  615. >Her eyes light up as she starts leading you down the hall towards the library
  616. >Looking back towards your room, you spot a flash of movement at the far end of the hall
  617. >Cookies n Cream!
  618. >She is peering out from the bend in the hall
  619. >If she were human, she'd be staring daggers at the back of the Warden's head
  620. >She was doing the pony equivalent
  621. >Staring slightly dehydrated dandelions
  622. >You mouth an "I'm Sorry" to her and she bites her lower lip
  623. >Human souls were not meant to handle this level of Hnngg
  624. >Cookies disappears behind the wall as the Warden turns her head to face you
  625. >And begins to sing, not noticing your discomfort
  626. >About making friends
  627. >WHY DID THEY ALWAYS SING
  628. >That was another reason you liked Cookies
  629. >She never sang for no reason
  630. >And her singing voice was the perfect opposite of the Warden's singing voice
  631. >As the Warden walked and Warbled, you wished she wouldn't have wasted your time
  632.  
  633.  
  634. Be Cookies
  635. >HORSE FEATHERS!
  636. >HAY BISCUITS!
  637. >[ANGRY HORSE NOISES]!
  638. >Having nothing else to do, you head to the guardhouse to think of creative and new curses
  639. >and to take a shower
  640. >a really cold one
  641.  
  642. Be Anon
  643. >Be at the book club
  644. >Time has stopped
  645. >You could see a hummingbird's wings make delicate movements as it slowly flew past the window
  646. >The inmates were /still/ discussing the latest chapter in their book
  647. >All the character did was go to a florist's shop
  648. >All the book club did was discuss the symbolic importance of the flower's colors
  649. >/every/ flower
  650. >In a florist's shop
  651. >There's one flower you'd like to show these inmates
  652. >Very pretty flower
  653. >Flower that's a better singer than they are too
  654. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPs8SZZTg68
  655. >yeah...
  656. >that would be neat
  657. >you sigh
  658. >at least book club is only an hour and a half long
  659. >only an hour and twenty seven minutes and thirty four second to go...
  660.  
  661. Be Cookies
  662. >That itch felt like it was burrowing through your skull!
  663. >And because the Warden had stolen Anon, you had lost your chance to get it scratched during your break
  664. >You were stationed in the communication room, the heart of the PA system
  665. "Today's lunch special will include artichokes and oranges from Manehattan with cheese and dairy from the Udder ranch. It will be...
  666. >Oh you really /dislike/ whoever wrote this script
  667. "...udderly delicious"
  668. >That physically hurt
  669. >Oh hey, this is an interesting announcement...
  670. "Princess Twilight Sparkle, Princess of Ponyville and Leader of the Elements of Harmony has generously decided to offer a prize to the best behaved inmate by the end of the week. She will deliver the prize personally during lunch."
  671. >She's the princess that sent Anon to prison, wasn't she?
  672. >This prison
  673. >That she's going to visit
  674. >This could be bad...
  675. >Nah, you are just worrying yourself over nothing
  676. >What's the worst that could happen?
  677.  
  678. Be Anon
  679. >You can feel your will to live draining from your body
  680. >You couldn't feel your hands anymore
  681. >"The description of the flower first flower of the top row of the bouquet on the top shelf of the western wall, closest to the door was simply divine"
  682. >"I agree, I love the color yellow!"
  683. >You were going to die in this library, surrounded by idiots discussing flowers
  684. >"Please excuse the interruption, I have to use the little warden's room"
  685. >The Warden was leaving?
  686. >Now was your chance to escape!
  687. >You watch her step out of the library towards the hallway restroom
  688. >Showtime
  689. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAYhNHhxN0A
  690. >As soon as the other inmates put their noses back into their books, you carefully slid from your chair
  691. >Staying low so that their books blocked their fields of vision from you, you inch your way under your chair and away from the group
  692. >risking a glance back, you notice one of the inmate's isn't looking at his book,
  693. >He's staring at where you were sitting with a perplexed expression on his face
  694. >He takes a deep breath, no doubt to alert the Warden of your escape attempt!
  695. >NONONONONONO
  696. >"WAAAAAASCHUOUOU"
  697. >*sniff*
  698. >THANK YOU BASED GOD
  699. >He was only sneezing
  700. >All the other inmates comment on the power of his sneeze and he just blushes and giggles
  701. >As everyone returns their noses to their books, he really does notice you aren't sitting across from him anymore.
  702. >You hold perfectly still
  703. >He glances around the Library until he sees you
  704. >On the floor
  705. >Near the door
  706. >He just raises an eyebrow and slowly turns back to his book and the discussion
  707. >You'd have to remember to properly thank him for not ratting you out
  708. >But that would be taken care of in the future
  709. >For right now, escape!
  710. >You've made it to the door!
  711. >VICTORY!
  712. >*sink sounds*
  713. >The Warden is about to leave the bathroom!
  714. >The one you have to get past to complete your escape
  715. >DEFEAT!
  716. >no
  717. >NO
  718. >MommaNON did NOT raise no quitter!
  719. >You retreat back to the library, planning the next phase of your great escape
  720.  
  721. Be The Warden
  722. >You still have no idea why your parents named you that
  723. >What you do know is that you /really/ needed the restroom
  724. >You felt so much better!
  725. >You had been holding that in for a long time
  726. >You didn't want to miss a single second of book club
  727. >You loved discussing flower colors!
  728. >You leave the restroom feeling refreshed and hurry back to the book club
  729. >You were so proud of yourself for getting Anon out of his cell
  730. >He had spent the entire book club looking outside, deep in thought
  731. >Flower colors are serious business
  732. >You were glad he was taking it all so seriously!
  733. >Before you take your seat, you notice something wrong
  734. >There is an empty chair next to yours
  735. >Anon disappeared
  736. >...
  737. >Poor dear must be shy, and couldn't stay with the group without you!
  738. >You had to find him so that he knew it was ok to rejoin the group!
  739. >You didn't hear anypony pass the bathroom, so he must still be in the library somewhere
  740. >Time to find that silly 'human' and bring him back to the group
  741. >You put your nose to the ground and begin to sniff for him
  742. >Found his trail!
  743. >Only a matter of time, now!
  744. >Let the search begin!
  745.  
  746. Be Anon
  747. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lp6z3s1Gig0
  748. >You had managed to find a fog machine in the back of the library
  749. >Perfect to obstruct the Warden's vision
  750. >But that wouldn't help much
  751. >You knew about ponies' powerful sense of smell
  752. >Especially the Warden's nose
  753. >You had taken the last minute to prepare
  754. >You had speed in two circles, forming a figure eight shape between the shelves
  755. >after completing the circuit, you had retreated farther into the depths of the library
  756. >You watch the Warden sniff for your trail...
  757. >There! She found it
  758. >She keeps her head down and follows your trail until she gets to your diverged paths
  759. >Please take the bait!
  760. >Damn! No dice, she followed the real trail...
  761. >...the real trail that lead straight to you!
  762. >You have to lose her somehow
  763. >You creep from your hiding place and begin a high-stakes game of hide-and-seek
  764. >Luckily the same inmates who had left the fog machine behind must have had a party
  765. >that they didn't clean up afterwards
  766. >There was all sorts of stuff to help you escape, just lying in the aisles
  767. >Someone was probably going to lose dessert privileges over the mess
  768. >Hopefully they don't miss too much dessert
  769. >Their laziness has given you the keys to escaping this club meeting
  770. >You snatch up a soccer ball and roll it down an aisle...
  771. >This time she took the bait!
  772. >"Freeze!....ball...hrm.."
  773. >You hadn't stuck around, making your way to a record player
  774. >Some inmates read better if music was playing
  775. >You turn it on and skedaddle behind a bookcase
  776. >The warden rushes towards the back of the library, where the record player sits
  777. >You have almost completely outmaneuvered her!
  778. *click*
  779. >The music stops
  780. >She must have turned it off
  781. >"Come out Anon, it's ok, I'm here again! Let's just go back to the group so we can talk about flowers some more!"
  782. >You'll never take me alive!
  783. >Darn, she is heading back towards the door
  784. >There must still be some way to get past her!
  785. >...Oh, that might work!
  786. >Yea, this would be great
  787. >You saw it in a cartoon once so it had to be a good idea
  788. >You sneak behind the Warden, just a few steps behind as she moves back towards the door
  789. >Her head perks up
  790. >She's about to look back!
  791. >You dive behind a shelf
  792. >She sniffs the air...
  793. >...and keeps going towards the door
  794. >close call, the fog saved you
  795. >You creep out behind her again, carefully only stepping when she does
  796. >You've almost made it to the door now, if you can just distract her...
  797. >The door is to your left, so you carefully extend an arm and tap her right shoulder
  798. >You jerk your arm back and do your best to stick to the wall to avoid detection
  799. >No good, she's seen this trick before!
  800. >She looks straight at you!
  801. >THE JIG IS UP!
  802. >"Huh, weird, he must have gone to the back of the library again..."
  803. >She completes the turn and moves deeper into the library
  804. >How did she not see you?!
  805. >You let out a deep breath of relief and turn to the wall
  806. >What could have camofl...
  807. >...oh
  808. >The art club aparently decided you were the perfect muse
  809. >'The Wall of Anons'
  810. >Thank you based pone drawfags
  811. >Some of those paintings looked alive
  812. >Their eyes...your eyes... seemed to follow you
  813. >Creepy
  814. >You shake your head, no time to admire the perfection that is yourself!
  815. >You dash out the door and back towards your cell
  816. >It was the first place the Warden would look for you
  817. >You knew that
  818. >She knew that you knew that
  819. >She'd never suspect you'd be so stupid as to hide in your own room!
  820. >Making it the perfect hiding place
  821. >VICTORY, THY NAME IS ANONYMOUS!
  822.  
  823. Be The Warden
  824. >Be upset
  825. >Anon is missing all the pretty flower talk!
  826. >and so are you!
  827. >...
  828. >He'll come out when he's comfortable, and rejoin on his own soon
  829. >...probably
  830. >you just don't want to miss anymore discussion!
  831. >You had to know what everypony thought of the fifth flower in the third row of the bouquet in the EXACT center of the western wall of the florist's shop!
  832.  
  833. Be Anon
  834. >No need to keep that note you wrote earlier, since Cookies saw you leave with the Warden
  835. >'Dear Cookies, I've been abducted by a tone-deaf monster and taken to its lair in the library. If I don't survive, I dedicate my remains to science'
  836. >You rip up the note and toss its pieces in the trash
  837. >Nothing to do for now except stay hidden for a while
  838. >You suddenly hear Cookies' voice
  839. >"Today's lunch special will include..."
  840. >Oh, she's just reading the announcements
  841. >dang, for a second there you had thought she had snuck back into your room
  842. >no snuggles for you this time
  843. >you give a forlorn glance at the nest you had lovingly crafted on your bed
  844. >was it doomed to remain unused for cuddles?
  845. >"... with cheese and dairy from the Udder ranch. It will be... udderly delicious"
  846. >you could /sense/ her scrunching in distaste of that pun
  847. >like adorable mortar fire
  848. >You check your clock
  849. >fifty minutes had passed since you were kidnapped and forced to endure book club
  850. >another forty until it ended and you were 'safe'
  851. >wait, did Cookies just say that cryptozoologist wannabe princess was coming to visit the prison?
  852. >That will be...neat
  853. >What's the worst that could happen?
  854. >With nothing else to do to kill the time, you decided to finish off that history book you rented earlier
  855.  
  856. Be Cookies
  857. >Be done with announcements
  858. >Be assigned your least favorite job
  859. >Patrolling the outside of the prison
  860. >Couldn't let anyone sneak close enough to the prison to tease the inmates
  861. >Just because they were criminals didn't mean they had no feelings
  862. >Celestia, why did you make today so hot and bright?
  863. >You pull down the rim of your cap to help block the sun from your eyes
  864. >The hat actually helped muffle the itching a little
  865. >Not nearly enough though
  866. >Patrolling around like this always made your hooves hurt and your head ache
  867. >That itch wasn't helping any either
  868. >Nothing to do now but grin and bear it...
  869. >You tug down the cap again and continue your rounds
  870.  
  871. Be The Warden
  872. >Book club had ended several minutes ago.
  873. >Anon had never rejoined the group, and you were worried for him
  874. >It wasn't healthy to avoid being around others like this
  875. >You decided to check his room to see if he's feeling alright
  876. >You step up to his door and knock
  877. >"Hello? Who's there?"
  878. "It's me, The Warden."
  879. >"I'M NOT HERE"
  880. "Can I come in Anon? I'm worried about you"
  881. >"I'm fine!"
  882. "Since you didn't make any friends at the book club, lets join the knitting club for a while! I'm sure you'll meet somepony you like there!"
  883. >"I said I'm not here! Goodbye!"
  884. "Anon, I know you're in there. I'm coming in, ok?"
  885. >You hear frantic sounds from inside the room
  886. >you open the door to find his bathroom door ajar and the main room empty
  887. "Anon..."
  888. >You walk into his bathroom to find the shower curtains pulled closed
  889. >Poor dear is so shy, he's hiding in the shower!
  890. "Its ok Anon, everypony will be happy to see you and will treat you nicely"
  891. >you pull back the curtain to find the stall empty
  892. >As you do, you hear familiar frantic sounds from the main room
  893. >You look out his door in time to see him sprinting out the front door of his cell
  894. >He must have hidden himself under the bed!
  895. >You would not let him get away
  896. >You could not let him get away
  897. >You were not going to let this ape escape again!
  898. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmVIhPW9Miw&index=25&list=PL118467C23E137CDD
  899. >You gallop after him, reaching the hall just in time to see him disappear around the near corner
  900. >It was no use, you knew this prison like the back of your hoof
  901. >It was only a matter of time until you caught him!
  902.  
  903.  
  904. >some time later
  905. >How could Anon have this much stamina?!
  906. > Every time you got ahead of him, he'd just turn around and sprint the other way
  907. >hrm...
  908. >all paths lead back to the heart of the prison, the Mess
  909. >you could set your trap there
  910. >You rush to the mess hall to prepare
  911.  
  912. Be Anon
  913. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyNTYgUkwOU&index=27&list=PL118467C23E137CDD
  914. >Be winning
  915. >Also be out of breath
  916. >Curse that tricksy pony!
  917. >Every time you thought you had escaped, there she was again!
  918. >Not your fault these equines have no respect for people who are antisocial!
  919. >You were not going to experience the horror of another prison club
  920. >You can't hear The Warden following you, so you take the chance to catch your breath
  921. >As soon as you and your lungs are back on speaking terms, you start walking down the hall again
  922. >did you actually lose her this time?
  923. >As you came to an intersection, you decide to take the risk and return to your room
  924. >As you turn towards your block, you notice something in the mess...
  925. >someone had left a perfectly good pudding cup alone and defenseless on one of the tables
  926. >Your spontaneous mid-afternoon fleeing session did burn a lot of energy, and pudding sounds /amazing/ right now...
  927. >It could be a trap
  928. >one thousand to one that its a trap
  929. "never tell me the odds"
  930. >Time to get your pudding on
  931. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trGSdWhdnQE&list=PL118467C23E137CDD&index=13
  932. >You do your best to nonchalantly stroll towards the treat
  933. >A single drop of sweat rolls down the side of your face
  934. >Every fiber of your being was on alert
  935. >With a few nervous glances around, you deem the treat safe and move in to secure the kill
  936. >itsatrap.jpg
  937. >You cry out as a net falls down on top of you, pulling you to the ground and away from your prize
  938. >Soft laughter fills the mess and you turn to face the source
  939. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRvhrpcxGY4&index=36&list=PL118467C23E137CDD
  940. "Warden"
  941. >"Yes Anonymous. That was quite the workout you gave me! Have you considered joining our track and field clubs? You'd be amazing!"
  942. >What? Regular physical effort?!
  943. "HISSSSSSS"
  944. >"Now Anon, don't be like that. You really are too shy. You and I are going to sample clubs for the rest of the day together until you find at least one friend. First up is that knitting club I mentioned!"
  945. >This is it, this is how you die
  946. >not with a bang, but with a crochet needle
  947. >NO!
  948. >There must be a way out of this!
  949. >THERE! Someone was watching from the hall...
  950. >It was the same pony that didn't rat you out earlier!
  951. >This would be a long shot, but it was your last hope
  952. "He's my friend!"
  953. >"He is?"
  954. >"I am?!"
  955. >The Warden turns to look at the stallion in question
  956. >"Is it true that you are friends with Anon?"
  957. "You betcha! We're great friends!"
  958. >He looks back and forth from you to the Warden
  959. >"No we're not"
  960. >The Warden looks back to you with a frown
  961. "...He's just kidding! He has such a sense of humor!"
  962. >The Warden looks back at him
  963. "In fact, we are such great friends that I was going to share my dessert with him"
  964. >You give him an over exaggerated wink to make sure he gets the idea
  965. >His brow furrows in confusion
  966. 'Come on, understand what I'm really saying!' you think to yourself
  967. >His eyes light up as understanding dawns
  968. >"Eeyup, me and...."
  969. >"Anon?"
  970. >"Yeah him, we are swell palls"
  971. "What he said, we are the best of friends. Me and...uh...this guy, practically inseparable"
  972. >You both shoot The Warden big false grins
  973. >"...I guess, if you both say so. I'm proud of you Anonymous! Way to come out of your shell and make a friend!
  974. >VICTORY
  975. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WoN71bjXNkE&list=PL118467C23E137CDD&index=37
  976. >If you weren't in a net, you hug the glorious bastard!
  977. >no homo
  978.  
  979. Still Be Anon
  980. >The Warden had left a few minutes ago, probably to bother some other poor bastard
  981. >She had taken the pudding with her 'Don't want to spoil anyponies appetite' she said
  982. >Leaving you alone with your new 'best friend'
  983. >Might as well get acquainted
  984. "Thanks, she would've never left me alone if it wasn't for you"
  985. >"No problem man... say, you really gonna give me your dessert?"
  986. "Yea, it's the least I can do for the rescue"
  987. >"Awesome"
  988. "so... I never caught your name"
  989. >"Nope"
  990. >Well then
  991. >Man of few words
  992. >er...stallion of few words
  993. "so... what is it?"
  994. >"Sleepy Feathers"
  995. "Huh, not a very intimidating name"
  996. >"nope"
  997. "So what did you do before you ended up here?
  998. >"Made pillows"
  999. >That would explain the feather on a pillow cutie mark
  1000. "...What did you do to end up here?"
  1001. >"obstructing traffic"
  1002. "obstructing traffic?"
  1003. >"Slept in the road"
  1004. "huh"
  1005. >"eeyup"
  1006. "..."
  1007. >"..."
  1008. >well that was a bust
  1009. "well, I'll see ya around Sleepy"
  1010. >"Correct"
  1011. >It was impossible to read this guy
  1012. >Sleepy Feathers turns and slowly meanders out the western door, giving a loud yawn as he disappears from view
  1013. >That yawn was infectious
  1014. > As you stifle your own yawn, you consider your options:
  1015. >Read a book?
  1016. >You've had enough reading activities with that book club
  1017. >exercise?
  1018. >You're already pretty tuckered out from running from The Warden
  1019. >Shower?
  1020. >You check yourself for odor
  1021. >Not terrible... but the sweat would only make you more ripe if you let it
  1022. >Alright, item one on the agenda is a shower
  1023. >But after?
  1024. >You yawn again
  1025. >you normally didn't like taking midday naps but...
  1026. >it would be a good time killer until dinner, and you were tired
  1027. >Its settled, shower first then naptime
  1028. >You set off towards your room with a purpose
  1029.  
  1030. Be Cookies
  1031. >Be bothered by The Warden
  1032. >Who apparently had nothing better to do than join you on your rounds around the prison
  1033. >"... And then we talked about my /favorite/ flower in the chapter! Anonymous seemed to be really enjoying himself! He spent the entire time lost deep in thought!"
  1034. >You really wish she wasn't your boss
  1035. >"Poor dear is just so shy though!"
  1036. >No he isn't, and you've had the belly rubs to prove it
  1037. >"When I went to the little Warden's room..."
  1038. >she giggled. ugh.
  1039. >"...he disappeared! I refused to let him hide and not make friends"
  1040. >Oh poor Anon...
  1041. >"I spent the next two hours looking for him! Finally caught him using a brilliant strategy!"
  1042. >She probably just left pudding out
  1043. >"I set up a trap and baited him out with pudding!"
  1044. >nailed it
  1045. >"And wouldn't ya know it, my plan to help Anon make a friend WORKED!"
  1046. >You doubt it
  1047. >"I believe it's only a matter of time before he is happy and comfortable here! All thanks to me!"
  1048. >The Warden is partially correct. Anon /will/ be comfortable here
  1049. >But it will be because of you, not The Warden.
  1050. "That's very good Ma'am Warden. Is there anything else?"
  1051. >Please say no and go
  1052. >PLEASESAYNOANDGO
  1053. >"There is one other thing..."
  1054. >You must have been such a meanie in a past life to deserve this
  1055. >"... could you check in on him later? I think he's less shy around you"
  1056. >Being paid to spend time with your coltfriend? In the middle of the day?
  1057. >AllMyYes.jpg
  1058. "Sure, I guess I could swing around to his cell a little early"
  1059. >Oh wait... you are stationed out here until dinner...
  1060. >No, you'd do anything to avoid walking in big circles around the prison all afternoon
  1061. >and if you don't get scratchies soon, your head will implode from that Tartarus-bound itch!
  1062. "Ma'am, I'm stationed out here until dinner. Could you get somepony to cover for me so I can check in on Anon?"
  1063. >"Sorry dearie, Night Watch has the day off and Criminal Justice called in sick. I hope the poor Stallion is alright..."
  1064. >FOILED AGAIN!
  1065. >WHY DOES CELESTIA HATE YOU SO?!
  1066. >"Though I suppose... today has been quiet..."
  1067. >She gives you a big grin
  1068. >"... and I know how much you dislike patrolling around the prison..."
  1069. >No, she doesn't
  1070. >"... So I'll personally cover the patrol today. As a personal favor to you!"
  1071. >THANK CELESTIA
  1072. "Thank you Ma'am, I really appreciate this!"
  1073. >"Of course dear, now go make sure Anon is feeling comfortable "
  1074. "I will!"
  1075. >Yea you will
  1076. >'comfortable' is what you've nicknamed your tummy
  1077. >Anon will most certainly be /feeling/ 'comfortable'
  1078. >You hurry back to the main gate, trying not to look too eager
  1079. >Time to FINALLY get this itch scratched!
  1080.  
  1081. Be The Warden
  1082. >Be several minutes later
  1083. >You now remember why you don't do patrols
  1084. >patrols are boring
  1085. >and hot
  1086. >and boring
  1087. >and lonely
  1088. >and did you mention boring?
  1089. >Your hooves hurt
  1090. >the sun was in your eyes
  1091. >Celestia, why did you make it so hot and bright today?!
  1092.  
  1093.  
  1094. Be Anon
  1095. >Be in the shower
  1096. >You had decided you would head straight to bed after the shower
  1097. >had already set your alarm for dinner time
  1098. >Didn't want to sleep through Cookies' arrival and have her think you were ignoring her
  1099. >You forgot to lock your front door though
  1100. >You don't worry about it
  1101. >You never get visitors
  1102. >and these ponies would never enter your room without knocking first
  1103. >Even if they did need to visit, they'd probably hear your shower running and leave
  1104. >You are too wet and soapy now anyway, no sense getting your entire room wet due to a little paranoia
  1105. >and the shower is nice and warm
  1106. >put you back in a good mood
  1107. >You softly hum to yourself, lost in thought
  1108. >You haven't had the same urges to sing as these colorful equines surrounding you
  1109. >But that didn't mean you couldn't carry a tune
  1110. >You just couldn't summon backup music from the fucking aether
  1111. >Strange, strange musical magic horses
  1112. >You finish rinsing off the soap and linger in the shower for a while
  1113. >this place never ran out of hot water
  1114. >There was five hours between lunch and dinner
  1115. >The book club and warden escape had taken two and a half hours
  1116. >This shower had already eaten up ten more minutes
  1117. >You had about two hours and fifteen minutes before you could expect Cookies
  1118. >You sigh and turn, letting the hot water warm and massage your other side
  1119.  
  1120. Be Cookies
  1121. >Be at Anon's door
  1122. >You'd normally knock, but why bother?
  1123. >You confidently stroll into the room, letting the door softly close behind you
  1124. >wait... is he in the shower?
  1125. >And you were in the room next door?!
  1126. >L-lewd
  1127. >Maybe you should wait outside his room?
  1128. >Oh hey, the shower stopped!
  1129. >You'll wait here then!
  1130. >The time for cuddles was nearly upon you!
  1131. >HUZZAH!
  1132. >You hear movement from the bathroom
  1133. >Then the doorknob rattled
  1134. >As Anon stepped into the room, steam poured out from the bathroom behind him
  1135. >Shirtless
  1136. >with wet hair
  1137.  
  1138. >Brain, this is body, please respond
  1139. >....
  1140. >Brain, I need orders
  1141. >...
  1142. >Brain?
  1143. >"Hey Cookies! I thought you had patrols until dinner?"
  1144.  
  1145. Be Anon
  1146. >Someone entered your room
  1147. >without knocking
  1148. >You shut off the shower and step out
  1149. >You quickly towel off and pull on pants
  1150. >You'd left your clean shirt in your room
  1151. >Oh well, you'll just have to face the intruder while showing a little more of your natural perfection than usual
  1152. >You open the bathroom door and scan the room
  1153. >Oh, it's just Cookies
  1154. >wait, Cookies is here!
  1155. "Hey Cookies! I thought you had patrols until dinner?"
  1156. >You were happy to see her, but it would be really dangerous for her to leave her post
  1157. >"Er...no...I used to though"
  1158. "What do you mean?"
  1159. >Her eyes haven't moved a millimeter since they landed on you and her pupils were the size of pinheads
  1160. >Her face was bright red and she was biting her lip
  1161. >You loved it when she did that
  1162. >and she has her mane in a ponytail, coming out of the hole in the back of her hat
  1163. >U-unf
  1164.  
  1165.  
  1166. Be Cookies
  1167. >Get a hold of yourself, filly!
  1168. >He asked you a question!
  1169. >He is also beaming the biggest smile you've ever seen
  1170. "The Warden asked me to make sure you were feeling comfortable here and making friends"
  1171. >"How long can you stay?"
  1172. "How long until dinner?"
  1173. >His grin grows (somehow) even larger
  1174. >His eyes are practically sparkling
  1175. >"Time for cuddles?"
  1176. "YES PLEASE"
  1177. >He chuckles, a deep melodious sound
  1178. >Anon walks past you to lock the door
  1179. >"Can't be too careful. Who knows who might enter without knocking"
  1180. >You are too distracted by the promise of ear scritchies to be embarrassed
  1181. >Anon then walks to the bed and motions you over.
  1182. >Did he make a nest?
  1183. >out of pillows and blankets?
  1184. >Is that a thing humans do?
  1185. >that
  1186. >is
  1187. >ADORABLE
  1188. >You jump up onto the bed sit between his splayed legs
  1189. "Can you scratch my ears? I've had the/worst/ itch all day"
  1190. >"Only if you promise to put the cap back on after"
  1191. "Hm? Like a mare in uniform huh?"
  1192. >"Who doesn't?"
  1193. "Less talk, more scratching"
  1194. >Anon chuckles again
  1195. >You have finally arrived at the promised land
  1196.  
  1197. Be Anon
  1198. >You reach out and begin to scratch behind Cookies' ears
  1199. >Is...is her back leg kicking a little?
  1200. >No way....
  1201. >This requires further study!
  1202. >FOR SCIENCE
  1203. >As you continue to caress, massage, and scratch her ears, she slowly slumps down into you
  1204. >Back leg twitching slightly the entire time
  1205. >After several long minutes of this, the twitching slows and her contented sighs stop
  1206. >"That... was amazing, I mean really /really/ great"
  1207. >She has the silliest little grin on her face
  1208. "What do you mean 'was'? I'm far from finished"
  1209. >you scritch under her chin and she giggles
  1210. >Time to get this party started
  1211. >You pull her up into a tight hug, which slowly morphs into petting
  1212. >You can feel her heart beating
  1213. >She wriggles around in pure joy
  1214. >As you stroke her neck and withers, and she ends up with her back against your stomach
  1215. >You pick up her cap and put it back on her head
  1216. >She scrunched at the interruption
  1217. >"Why did you stop?"
  1218. "You promised to wear the hat, didn't you?"
  1219. >[Scrunchie intensifies]
  1220. >You chuckle and resume your petting
  1221. >Starting just under her neckline, your hands make languid strokes down her front and sides
  1222. >Every now and then she wriggles against you again
  1223. >Seems almost like she's trying to meld with you
  1224. >Like a fluffy, cuddly Voltron
  1225. >You scratch her chest fluff and she curls her tail around your leg
  1226. >You scratch the hard to reach places on her sides
  1227. >She melts
  1228. >If it was possible for a pony to be so comfortable that they became a liquid, it was about to happen
  1229. >Let's see if that's possible!
  1230.  
  1231. Be Cookies
  1232. >YOU
  1233. >LOVE
  1234. >FINGERS
  1235. >Anon's fingers are able to sate itches you didn't even know you had!
  1236. >Belly rubs, chest scritchies, and petting
  1237. >You could not be more comfortable than you are now
  1238. >...
  1239. >...
  1240. >...
  1241. >Ok, you were wrong, you could not be more comfortable than you are NOW
  1242. >...
  1243. >...
  1244. "Oh that's nice~"
  1245. >Instead of answering, Anon begins to nibble your ear and massage your hoof
  1246. >This is paradise
  1247.  
  1248. Be Anon
  1249. >Cookies is humming with pleasure
  1250. >occasionally giggling or cooing, depending on how you move
  1251. >She is putty in your hands
  1252. >You rake your fingers up her side against the grain of her short fur, leaving little lines on her coat
  1253. >she takes a deep breath
  1254. >You smooth down the lines in her fur
  1255. >She slowly lets out her breath with a contented sound
  1256. >She cranes her head back to put her cheek next to yours
  1257. >She rubs into you and you bury your face in her neck
  1258. >She normally smells like a fresh cookies
  1259. >She is also still carrying the smell of the outside world
  1260. >The combined effect reminds you of picnics as a kid
  1261. >You couldn't be happier in this moment
  1262. >You both share a wish
  1263. >That this would last forever
  1264. >Your ministrations slow as your breathing slows and deepens, mirroring Cookies' breathing
  1265. >As the minutes move cruelly forward, she falls asleep in your arms
  1266. >You follow soon after
  1267.  
  1268.  
  1269. Be Anon's Alarm Clock
  1270. >Be an inanimate object
  1271. >If you could see, you'd see Anon and Cookies spooning
  1272. >They had rolled once or twice while sleeping
  1273. >at first, Anon was the big spoon
  1274. >Then Cookies turned to face him and they slept like that for a while, gently breathing into each other's contented smiles
  1275. >Then Anon turned in his sleep and Cookies became the 'big spoon'
  1276. >She almost looked like a backpack
  1277. >Her legs were wrapped around his side, one just under his armpit and the other just below his hip
  1278. >Her tail had stayed curled around his leg the entire time
  1279. >She would occasionally twitch slightly in her sleep
  1280. >An ear flop here, a leg twitch there
  1281. >Anon had one hand holding the hoof draped over his chest, the other arm was stretched out in front of him
  1282. >Celestia had decided to take the afternoon off, and was setting the sun a few hours early
  1283. >meaning her gold and amber light was fading quickly, bathing the room in a soft orange-red glow
  1284. >It was the most idyllic, poetic scene any alarm clock could ever hope to be a part of
  1285. >If alarm clocks could have hopes
  1286. >It was the ultimate expression of contented lovers
  1287. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-ZqhRg3km4
  1288. >Anon immediately sits bolt upright
  1289. >Cookies' eyes shoot open and she stares at the ceiling, frozen with shock
  1290. >all four legs straight up in the air
  1291. >"Shit shit shit SHIT!"
  1292. >"ANON! Language!"
  1293. >"Sorry!"
  1294. >If alarm clocks could love their job
  1295. >You would
  1296.  
  1297. Be Anon
  1298. >Alduin, Vaas, Frieza, even Diablo himself...
  1299. >... Have /nothing/ on the pure evil that is your alarm clock
  1300. >From this day forth, it is your mortal nemesis
  1301. >You don't even bother hitting snooze, you remove the crystal battery
  1302. >THY FOE IS VANQUISHED
  1303. >However, its evil is merely slumbering, ready to take up the fight again when its power is replaced
  1304. >You can never destroy pure evil
  1305. >You look over to Cookies
  1306. >She is glaring at the demon-clock
  1307. >The fur on the side of her face had been smushed flat in her sleep
  1308. >...she had bed face
  1309. >bed face, with all four legs still sticking straight up
  1310. >"W-what are you staring at?"
  1311. >she begins to blush
  1312. "Please...stop being so cute, too much more D'aww and who knows what will happen to my poor heart?"
  1313. >She blatantly ignores your pleas for mercy
  1314. >Her blush intensifies
  1315. >"Why did you set that alarm anyway?"
  1316. "ACK!.... I warned you, humans are not meant to be exposed to such levels of adorableness!"
  1317. >Your hand clutches your chest as you feign a heart attack, huge grin on your face the entire time to show Cookies you were only joking around
  1318. >Her blush reaches a peak, her face scrunches up and her cheeks puff out in annoyance
  1319. >You chuckle and lean over to give her a hug
  1320. "I was planning on taking a nap before you arrived. I set the alarm so I wouldn't be asleep when you got here"
  1321. >Her scrunchie turns into a smile
  1322. >you boop the scrunch back
  1323. >you let out a laugh and she joins in
  1324. >You lift up the cap and give her one last ear scratch
  1325. >Her eyes close and her leg twitches again as she lets out a happy little sound, tilting her head into your hand
  1326. >You help her muss up her face fur to its normal position, and get completely dressed
  1327. >It was time for dinner
  1328.  
  1329. Be Sleepy Feathers
  1330. >Be waking up from a nap
  1331. >Today had been a good day
  1332. >Made a friend
  1333. >Who was weird
  1334. >Dude crawled on the floor during book club
  1335. >He also promised you his dessert
  1336. >So he can't be all bad
  1337. >You slowly force yourself out of bed with enough willpower to crush coal into diamonds
  1338. >You walk into your bathroom and rinse out your mouth
  1339. >Don't want nap-breath while eating with your new friend
  1340. >You yawn and nearly choke on the water
  1341. >being sleepy is dangerous
  1342. >That is why you slept so much
  1343. >Sleepy ponies make mistakes
  1344. >sleeping ponies can't get into trouble
  1345. >usually
  1346. >Finished with your post-nap preparations, you head to the Mess
  1347. >...
  1348. >You walk away from the counter, tray laden with food
  1349. >you usually sit alone
  1350. >Ponies don't like sitting with you because you don't talk much
  1351. >You are a good listener though
  1352. >Even if all the other inmates were too chatty
  1353. >Not Anon though
  1354. >He didn't pressure you to talk too much
  1355. >He seemed nice
  1356. >Speaking of Anon, there he is at his usual spot in the corner with Cookies
  1357. >She was paid to watch Anon eat
  1358. >Her mane seemed messier than usual
  1359. >She probably needs to sleep more
  1360.  
  1361. Be Anon
  1362. >You see Sleepy Feathers across the Mess and wave him over
  1363. >You had been dreading this moment
  1364. >The moment you gave up your precious pudding
  1365. >Sleepy Feathers trudges over to your table and sits across from you and Cookies
  1366. "Hi Sleepy"
  1367. >"Hello Anon"
  1368. >You silently hand over your pudding cup
  1369. >Sleepy nods at you
  1370. >Cookies' eyes go wide in shock
  1371. >"Why did you give him your pudding?" Cookies whispers
  1372. "I owed him a favor for bailing me out with The Warden"
  1373. >You watch as Sleepy sets your pudding on his tray, next to his own pudding cup
  1374. >Farewell pudding cup, you will be missed
  1375. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-Xrlf3taEo
  1376. >Let there be a moment of silence
  1377. >...
  1378. >...
  1379. >...
  1380. >...
  1381. >...
  1382. >"Hiya Cookies, Anon, and Sleepy!"
  1383. >The Warden has no respect for the fallen
  1384. >"How is your dinner everypony?"
  1385. >"Its good, Ma'am"
  1386. >Sleepy just nods
  1387. >Never before have you struggled so hard to wear a false smile
  1388. "Lovely, just peachy"
  1389. >"I LOVE PEACHES! I didn't know we were serving them today!"
  1390. "That's just an expression"
  1391. >The Warden's ears flop down
  1392. >"Oh...ok"
  1393. >...and now you feel guilty for some reason
  1394. >"So, anyway, will you two be participating in the competition for the mystery reward from the Princess?"
  1395. >Sleepy shakes his head
  1396. >"Aw, why not?"
  1397. >"Too much effort"
  1398. >"Oh sleepy, you joker"
  1399. >The Warden giggles and turns towards you
  1400. >"What about you Anon?"
  1401. "Well, seeing as she's the one who had me put here, I doubt I have much of a chance at being the best behaved inmate"
  1402. >"Are you sure about that? The Princess entrusted me with judging everypony, so you could still win with some good deeds"
  1403. >The Warden beams at you
  1404. "I'll keep that in mind"
  1405.  
  1406. Be Cookies
  1407. >"I'll keep that in mind"
  1408. >Despite the tartarus-bound alarm clock, you were /still/ in the afterglow of the cuddle session earlier
  1409. >A feeling even The Warden couldn't spoil
  1410. >The Warden sits next to you and leans in close
  1411. >"So how'd your little chat with Anon go?" she whispers loudly
  1412. >What chat?
  1413. >Oh yea, The Warden wanted you to talk to Anon about being friendlier
  1414. >"I'd say it went very well"
  1415. >You turn in surprise towards Anon to see him sporting a toothy grin
  1416. >Your face scrunches up and he chuckles
  1417. "Yea... Anon agreed to be friendlier, he might even give Book Club another try"
  1418. >Anon turns to you with the biggest hurt expression you'd ever seen
  1419. >"GOODIE! Tomorrow's book club will discuss how the main character 'Daisy Doodle' chooses a flower to buy. It'll be intense!"
  1420. >D'aww, Anon has a little thousand yard stare...
  1421. >... was book club really that bad? Poor Anon, what did you just get him into?
  1422. >Sleepy just smiles and nods
  1423. >"It's been fun catching up with you all, but I've got to check in on the other inmates too. Enjoy dinner!"
  1424. >Sleepy nods in synch with Anon
  1425. "You too ma'am"
  1426. >The Warden practically jumps up and trots away
  1427. >"Cookies..."
  1428. "Yes Anon?"
  1429. >"Why do you hate me?"
  1430. "Is book club really that bad?"
  1431. >Sleepy shakes his head 'no'
  1432. >"Let's just make a few little rules about book club"
  1433. "OK..."
  1434. >"Rule number one: we do not talk about book club"
  1435. "What's rule number two?"
  1436. >"we do NOT talk about book club"
  1437. >Well then
  1438. >They were simple rules, at least
  1439. >easy to remember
  1440. "Alright, I'll follow the rules"
  1441. >"You'd better. I'm the rule breaker, not you"
  1442. >You giggle and turn to your meal
  1443.  
  1444. >The rest of dinner passes without incident, you and Anon making light conversation
  1445. >Sleepy would occasionally nod or shake his head to express his opinion on the topic
  1446. >Sleepy had saved dessert for last like a good colt
  1447. >Anon's eyes were glued to the pudding cup the entire time
  1448. >With dinner ended, you and Anon said goodbye to Sleepy
  1449. >Sleepy just waved goodbye
  1450. >Anon turns to you
  1451. >"So, I think I'd like to go to bed early"
  1452. >B-but what about your after dinner cuddles?
  1453. >You shoot him a pleading look
  1454. >Maximum puppy sad puppy eyes
  1455. >Anon just grins at you
  1456. >Come on filly, gotta take it to the next level
  1457. >Pout that bottom lip!
  1458. >Anon chuckles again
  1459. >"However, I don't think I can't sleep without a bedtime story"
  1460. >Huh?
  1461. >He winks
  1462. >oh
  1463. >OH
  1464. >Your smile goes from ear to ear as you nod
  1465. >"Shall we go to my room then?"
  1466. >You shake your head
  1467. "I'll need a minute to grab a book for your story"
  1468. >"But I wasn't-"
  1469. "Meet you there!"
  1470. >"But I-"
  1471. >Anon's words fade into the general din of the mess as you rush away
  1472. >You look back to see a scrunchie on his face
  1473. >You almost stop to get a better look
  1474. >No wonder he thought it was cute when you did it
  1475. >You lose sight of Anon as you continue to hurry away
  1476.  
  1477. Be Anon
  1478. >Well that didn't go as planned
  1479. >Oh well, reading cuddles are just as good as vanilla cuddles
  1480. >With nothing else to do, you make your way back to your cell
  1481.  
  1482.  
  1483. Still Be Anon
  1484. >Be in your cell
  1485. >You had made your nest with two blankets, but you had a third sitting beside your bed
  1486. >You pulled it partially over the nest from before
  1487. >Blankets make cuddles warmer
  1488. >Cookies was sure taking her time
  1489. >It did not take that long to get to the library
  1490. >Maybe the librarian was out?
  1491. >nah, too early for that
  1492. >what could she-
  1493. >You hear a soft knock at your door
  1494. >must be Cookies
  1495. >better be sure, don't want a replay of The Warden abducting you
  1496. "Who's there?"
  1497. >"Mrglrmph"
  1498. >Well then
  1499. >That didn't work
  1500. >That could have been anyone
  1501. >The mystery guest starts to open the door and you half expect a murloc to waltz in
  1502. "Hi Cookies!"
  1503. >She had finally arrived!
  1504. "Why didn't you say it was y-"
  1505. >She had been carrying something in her mouth
  1506. >That's not a book she's carrying
  1507. >That's not a book at all
  1508. >That's a pudding cup and a spoon!
  1509. >She places the items on your nightstand with a small 'pleh' sound
  1510. >"I couldn't bear the thought of my Anon going to bed without dessert"
  1511. >She has the brightest blush on her face
  1512. >and the most adorable smile
  1513. >"And I wanted to say sorry for making The Warden think you were going to go back to book club"
  1514. >This mare, man
  1515. "This is fantastic! You are the best!"
  1516. >You give her a big hug and she wraps herself around you in return
  1517. >You release the embrace and open up the pudding cup
  1518. >That glorious chocolate smell was the second greatest smell in the world
  1519. >First place was Cookies' smell
  1520. >You move to grab the spoon
  1521. >Cookies blushes and looks away from you, yet still manages to sound stern and in-control of the situation
  1522. >"ah-ah-ah, you aren't allowed to use cutlery"
  1523. "Then how am I supposed to eat this? I don't have anything to dip into it"
  1524. >"You might not be allowed to use spoons, but I am"
  1525. >What is she getting at?
  1526. >...
  1527. >oh
  1528. >OH
  1529. >Her blush intensifies as she sees realization hit you like a brick
  1530. >She picks up the spoon again and jumps up to the side of the bed and looks at you expectantly
  1531. >You pick up the opened pudding and sit next to her
  1532. >Holding the spoon lengthwise in her mouth, she dips her head forward and the spoon slides perfectly into the pudding
  1533. >She carefully lifts her head so the spoon is parallel with the bed
  1534. >You both lean forward and you take the other end of the spoon into your mouth
  1535. >Cookies glance darts back and forth between your eyes and the floor
  1536. >You both withdraw and you lick your lips
  1537. >Cookies' eyes widen slightly at the gesture and she dips her head to get another spoonful
  1538. >The process repeats itself several times, each time she feeds you she seems to become a little more nervous
  1539. >by the time the pudding cup was nearly empty, she would tremble a little whenever you took the spoon into your mouth too
  1540. >This must be really intimate for ponies
  1541. >She must /really/ like you
  1542. >You'd have to show her that the feeling is mutual
  1543. >As soon as the pudding was gone, of course
  1544.  
  1545. Be Cookies
  1546. >You can't believe this is happening
  1547. >You had to call in a couple favors for this pudding cup
  1548. >And had risked discovery when you brought it to his cell
  1549. >And when you had first entered the room, you were worried you might be taking things too far too fast
  1550. >Last thing you wanted to do was scare away the one colt you'd ever been in a real relationship with
  1551. >But Anon hadn't been freaked out by your forwardness
  1552. >He looked like he was really enjoying himself!
  1553. >So why were you still so nervous?
  1554. >He really was cute
  1555. >Even with you feeding him, he managed to get some pudding on the tip of his nose /somehow/
  1556. >You'd have to help him clean himself later
  1557. >But you didn't bring any napkins
  1558. >That was really stupid, you should have been prepared!
  1559. >What if Anon got his sheets or clothes dirty because of you?
  1560. >You HAD to clean his nose before that happened!
  1561. >but HOW?!
  1562. >...
  1563. >...
  1564. >...
  1565. >You could get it off by kissing his nose...
  1566. >He did seem to like it when you acted forward
  1567. >And his culture was different from yours
  1568. >after all, his culture thought it was ok to cuddle outside of relationships
  1569. >But then again....
  1570. >You continued your internal debate the entire feeding
  1571. >With the cup finally empty, Anon sets it on the nightstand
  1572. >You carefully place the spoon inside the empty cup
  1573. >You turn and face him, as he smiles at you
  1574. >It's now or never
  1575. >BUCK IT
  1576. >YOU ARE ATTRACTIVE
  1577. >HE LIKES YOU
  1578. >TAKE THE CHANCE
  1579. >Your head darts forward and you give him a little peck on the nose
  1580. >MISSION COMPLETED
  1581. >mission success?
  1582. >His nose is clean, first objective successful!
  1583. >Was he ok with you doing that?
  1584. >His eyes are wide with surprise
  1585. >please be ok with it
  1586. >pleasebeokwithit
  1587. >PLEASEBEOKWITHIT
  1588. >He laughs and pulls you into a hug
  1589. >MISSION SUCCESSFUL! ONE HUNDRED PERCENT PERFECTION!
  1590. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3suGfhnT2Sg
  1591. >You beam a smile at him and he gives you a predatory grin
  1592. >wait, what?
  1593. >Oh my!
  1594. >He picked you up!
  1595. >Anon walks on his knees to the well-worn nest and flops on his side, taking you with him
  1596. >you give a small cry as you fall and he chuckles, face buried in your fur
  1597. >He pulls a blanket over the both of you and begins a ruthless cuddle assault
  1598. >this
  1599. >this was happiness
  1600.  
  1601. Be Anon
  1602. >Be some time later
  1603. >Be with a thoroughly cuddled pony
  1604. >You had your back against the wall, cushioned by pillows
  1605. >Your arms were wrapped around Cookies
  1606. >Cookies had her back pressed against your belly
  1607. >The blanket was pulled up under her chin
  1608. >She did a happy wriggle against you and turned her head to face you
  1609. >"Say Anon, you never talk about where you came from"
  1610. >You had been worrying about this
  1611. >Prison was heaven
  1612. >The Equestrian army was for show
  1613. >perfectly 'normal' human dreams were treated as signs of severe mental illness...
  1614. >Cookies just looked at you expectantly
  1615. >"Please? I want to know more about you"
  1616. >You could never say no to that face
  1617. >Alright, lets avoid the bad stuff, just tell her about your family and human tech.
  1618. "Well, I'll start with the basics. I had a mother and father, pets, and a sister"
  1619. >"Were they nice?"
  1620. "Not by pony standards, but they loved me and I loved them. We took care of each other"
  1621. >"What do you mean?"
  1622. "Well, for example, when I was little I didn't want to learn to ride a bike but my dad insisted"
  1623. >"What happened?"
  1624. "I hated it because I kept falling and hurting myself. At one point I hid in the bathroom and locked the door, refused to leave for half a day!"
  1625. >You chuckle at the memory
  1626. >"But if you kept getting hurt and hated it, why did he make you continue?"
  1627. >Cookies looks like she's on the verge of tears
  1628. >damn, ponies are sensitive
  1629. "He just wanted me to have the skill. He always pushed me hard. Helped me in the long run."
  1630. >"It did?"
  1631. "Helped me get my first job"
  1632. >Cookies sniffs, that was a close one
  1633. >"What did you do?"
  1634. "Do you have computers here?"
  1635. >"You mean like arcade cabinets?"
  1636. "yea, kind of. Where I come from, we use computers like unicorns use magic."
  1637. >"Don't you have magic in your world?
  1638. "Nope"
  1639. >"REALLY?!"
  1640. >Eyes like saucers, she looks like you just told her there was no atmosphere on Earth
  1641. "Eeyup, no magic. Our magicians and illusionists have some neat tricks but they are all just that...tricks, illusions"
  1642. >"It must be so... dark.. where you come from. "
  1643. >She scrunchies
  1644. >"No, that isn't the right word..."
  1645. >You give her a squeeze
  1646. "Anyway, my people use machines and computers like unicorns use magic"
  1647. >"You can use arcade machines to move objects? You're pulling my tail"
  1648. "No I'm serious! We have machines to do almost everything. From medicine to cooking to entertainment to..."
  1649. >You were going to say 'fighting'
  1650. "...music. We even have machines to build OTHER machines"
  1651. >"So what was your job if machines and 'computers' could do everything?"
  1652. >You smile
  1653. "I fixed computers. Even assembled a few"
  1654. >"Really? Was it hard?"
  1655. "Easy to put the pieces together, not so easy to know which parts to use or how to repair them. Usually just easier to replace a broken component entirely"
  1656. >"Wow, so you're like what a powerful unicorn is here?"
  1657. >You chuckle and shake your head
  1658. "There's tons of people better at it than I was, and these machines were so complex that no one could know EVERYTHING about them. When a unicorn uses a spell, they know how to create and use every part of that spell, right?"
  1659. >"I think so"
  1660. "Well, human machines are so complex that no one human knows everything there is to know about how it was made."
  1661. >"If no one knows how they work, then why DO they work?"
  1662. "Because different humans know how make the individual pieces and other humans like me know how to put them together so they work."
  1663. >"Kind of like an orchestra?"
  1664. "What do you mean?"
  1665. >"Well, everypony knows a different instrument that the others probably can't play. They use music composed by another pony and they are 'put together' by a conductor"
  1666. "That is actually a really good metaphor, couldn't have said it better myself"
  1667. >Cookies smiles and scoots herself into you
  1668. >Now was your chance to change the subject!
  1669. > before she asked questions about your world you couldn't tell her the answers to
  1670. "So I've heard the basics of how this world works from Twilight, and I've read the books in the library about this world's history and sciences but there are a few questions I still have"
  1671. >"Such as?"
  1672. "well, why don't pony families always share a last name?"
  1673. >"Is that common where you're from?"
  1674. >Damn, back to earth
  1675. "Yes, family names are important in my world. Some people would...be very protective of their familial name. Now answer my question"
  1676. >Smooth
  1677. >"Well, parents will name their children with the family name. If the family is really tight then they'll keep the exact same name. If they want more individuality, its common to use a similar name to your family name or one that relates to your cutie mark"
  1678. "Like 'Sparkle' and 'Shining'?"
  1679. >"Exactly!"
  1680. "And if the pony wants to have a lot of individuality?"
  1681. >"...Then they'll just create a new name for themselves, though that is a rarity"
  1682. "Huh."
  1683. >"mhmm"
  1684. "How about you?"
  1685. >"W-what do you mean?"
  1686. >Your hand disengages from her belly to touch gently at her flank
  1687. "Did you rename yourself after your cutie mark or did you keep a family name?"
  1688. >"I renamed myself after my cutie mark, but my name is still similar to my family name"
  1689. "So how'd you get your cutie mark? And why did you become a prison guard? Most guards here have something related to law enforcement as their mark, like sheriff stars or handcuffs"
  1690. >"Well, the story starts with my sister getting hers"
  1691. "Alright, and?..."
  1692. >You smile encouragingly at her as she turns her head to you with a blush
  1693. >"My family owns a pastry shop in a little village. My sister got three cookies as a cutie mark when she won a baking competition."
  1694. "Did you participate?"
  1695. >"I got fifth place. My cookies were hard as rocks. My sister always was a better cook than me."
  1696. "Still, fifth place isn't bad"
  1697. >"There were only six ponies in the competition. The sixth didn't even show up, so I got fifth by default"
  1698. >ouch
  1699. >poor girl seems down... better get her back to how she got her mark
  1700. >You give her another squeeze
  1701. "So how did you get yours?"
  1702. >She turns to rub her face into your chest
  1703. >"I so desperately wanted my cutie mark , and was so depressed when my sister beat me AND got her cutie mark that I didn't bother trying to sell my cookies after the competition. I packed up and left while my sister was selling all of her cookies."
  1704. >you pull up your hand to scratch behind her ears and she lets out a little sigh
  1705. >"While I was walking home, I stopped by the old ponies home to visit my Grandma. Nana Chocolate Clusters could always cheer me up."
  1706. >She gives a little laugh
  1707. >"When I got there, it was snack time and they had run out of treats. My Grandma suggested I share my cookies with everypony who was hungry. I tried to tell them my cookies were no good but my Grandma just told me they were fine because I had made them with love and determination. They would be good cookies because I had poured my passion into them"
  1708. "And did the senior ponies enjoy your baking?"
  1709. >"Buck no, one of them broke their dentures!"
  1710. >you felt bad for laughing, but she laughed too
  1711. >"I was ready to give up entirely on ever getting my cutie mark, but my grandma wouldn't let me lose hope. She kept trying to chew through that petrified pastry."
  1712. >She smiles fondly at the memory
  1713. >"I didn't want to disappoint her, so I went to grab something to help her wash it down, I ended up spilling an entire pitcher of milk over the tray of cookies"
  1714. "So the cookies were ruined?"
  1715. >"Exact opposite. They became just soggy enough for the old ponies to eat, while still remaining solid enough to be picked up"
  1716. "So your special talent is making soggy cookies?"
  1717. >She laughs and turns enough to poke you with a hoof
  1718. >"Not quite, my cutie mark represents my willingness to help others and make their lives easier"
  1719. "That's...beautiful, actually"
  1720. >her heartbeat speeds up
  1721. >"T-Thanks..."
  1722. "So how did you end up working as a guard, and not a nurse or aide in the old ponies home?"
  1723. >"well, I figured that if anypony needed their lives to be better it would be the criminals that everypony else either dislikes or is too afraid of to help"
  1724. >this mare, man.
  1725. "You really are something special"
  1726. >she giggles
  1727. >"so are you"
  1728. "Only because I'm an alien. You, however, have a heart of solid gold!"
  1729. >She wriggles in closer to you
  1730. "And a butt with soggy cookies permanently marked on it!"
  1731. >She laughs and pokes you again
  1732. >life is good
  1733.  
  1734.  
  1735. >The two of you continued talking on and off for a few more hours, until lights out when Cookies had to leave for her own home
  1736. >on her way out, she sets down the empty pudding cup and spoon on the floor and turns to you
  1737. >"Hey Anon..."
  1738. "Yea Cookies?"
  1739. >She looks away from you, blushing
  1740. >"You really are special, not just because you are unique. I mean, you are special to me"
  1741. >You smile warmly at her
  1742. "I love you too, Cookies"
  1743. >She makes a squeaky sound, hurriedly picks up the trash and darts out of your room
  1744. >That mare, man...
  1745. >That mare
  1746. >You fall asleep with a grin
  1747.  
  1748. Be Anon
  1749. >Be next morning
  1750. >Life is good!
  1751. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6Sxv-sUYtM
  1752. >Even sang a little in the shower
  1753. >You practically dance down the halls
  1754. >Some inmates would point and murmur to each other about your odd behavior
  1755. >You couldn't care less
  1756. >because, life is good
  1757. >Yes, you are happy!
  1758. >You nod to Sleepy as you pass him in the hall
  1759. >He didn't see it
  1760. >He was napping under the drinking fountain
  1761. >Oh well, his loss
  1762. >You come to a turn in the hall
  1763. >You let your left leg wrap around your right and then snap it forward...
  1764. >...at the perfect time to coincide with a ninety degree spin on your toes
  1765. >You let yourself fall forward onto your left foot, turning the motion into a little skip as you continue to walk down the hall
  1766. >It's good to be loved
  1767. >Nothing could bring you down right now!
  1768.  
  1769. Be The Warden
  1770. >Be worried out of your mind
  1771. >You were on the verge of tearing out your mane!
  1772. >You had heard rumors that Anon was acting oddly and moving erratically
  1773. >Obviously he was severely ill!
  1774. >You had to find him, but he was wandering the halls seemingly at random
  1775. >every time you thought you were on the right track, somepony would tell you Anon was on the other side of the prison!
  1776. >You were about to call a full on search with all the guards and even the inmates for bonus brownie points when you heard the sounds of irregular footsteps behind you
  1777. >ANON!
  1778. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iV2ViNJFZC8
  1779. >Oh sweet Celestia, it was worse than you thought!
  1780. >"Howdy Warden!"
  1781. >He's never greeted you so warmly before...
  1782. >HE NEEDS IMMEDIATE MEDICAL ATTENTION!
  1783. >You desperately try and pull Anon towards the nurses office
  1784. >"Warden, what are you doing?"
  1785. "Don't worry Anon, you'll be ok! YOU HEAR ME?! YOU WILL MAKE IT"
  1786. >"Silly color horse"
  1787. >ITS GETTING WORSE
  1788. >you need to get him taken care of NOW
  1789. >"Is widdle Warden horsie worried abouwt po wittle hooman?"
  1790. >HE'S LOSING THE ABILITY TO SPEAK!
  1791. >Anon just laughs as you continue panicking
  1792. >You /somehow/ manage to corral him into the nurses office
  1793. >after more gibberish and flailing limbs, of course
  1794. >Poor dear must be so scared!
  1795. >"Morning Warden, what brings you and Anon here?"
  1796. "Nurse Honey Heart! Anon is sick!"
  1797. >Anon scoffs
  1798. >"No I'm not"
  1799. "Yes you are!"
  1800. >The nurse steps between you and Anon
  1801. >"I'll be the judge of that"
  1802. >"I'm telling you, I'm fine"
  1803. "He's delirious!"
  1804. >"Quiet! Both of you! Now, what are the symptoms?"
  1805. "He's smiling and greeted me first this morning!"
  1806. >The nurse just stares at you
  1807. "HE DOESN'T USUALLY DO THAT!"
  1808. >"Alright, any other symptoms?"
  1809. "His arms and legs are moving crazy-like!"
  1810. >"They are not 'crazy-like'"!
  1811. >The nurse presses her hoof to her face
  1812.  
  1813. Be Nurse Honey Heart
  1814. >Be examining Anon
  1815. >Who keeps telling you he is just fine
  1816. >So why are you examining him?
  1817. >Because The Warden thinks he's sick
  1818. >And The Warden writes your paycheck
  1819. >You probably wouldn't be able to help Anon if he was sick
  1820. >You don't mean to sound racist, but The Warden might have better luck with a veterinarian
  1821. "Heart beat is a little slow, but he is bigger than a pony so that is no cause for worry..."
  1822. >You have him stick out his tongue
  1823. "Teeth are healthy and mouth shows no signs of infection"
  1824. >You press a hoof against his stomach
  1825. "Does this hurt?"
  1826. >"nope"
  1827. "How about when I press here?"
  1828. >"Nada"
  1829. "anything here?"
  1830. >"You sunk my battleship!"
  1831. >The Warden jumps and points at Anon, panic plain as day across her face
  1832. "What?"
  1833. >"Nothing, human joke"
  1834. >You sigh
  1835. > this is going nowhere
  1836. >You grab a bottle of sugar pills from one of the cabinets
  1837. "Warden, do you know what a Placebo is?"
  1838. >"No, what is it?"
  1839. "Powerful medication, Anon should be fine if he takes these pills each morning. His symptoms should stop "
  1840. >You looked Anon straight in the eyes, to make sure he got the idea
  1841. >"Wow! Thanks so much! I owe you one for saving Anon!"
  1842. >Anon just rolls his eyes
  1843. >The Warden bounces out of the room, singing about the joys of modern medicine
  1844. >Several inmates join in
  1845. >Anon leans towards you
  1846. >"I can't believe she bought that"
  1847. "Thanks for not telling her I was lying. She'd have me here all night trying to 'heal' you if she hadn't fallen for that"
  1848. >"Neither of us wants that"
  1849. >You laugh
  1850. "Just try not to do whatever it was that got her pulling you into my office in the first place. Doctor's orders"
  1851. >"Doctor who?"
  1852. "Actually I'm only a nurse, but you get the idea"
  1853.  
  1854.  
  1855. Be Anon
  1856. >You miss people understanding your references
  1857. "Well, thanks miss Honey Heart"
  1858. >"You can just call me 'Honey'"
  1859. >Well that could get all kinds of awkward real fast
  1860. "Compromise, how about Nurse Heart?"
  1861. >She laughs
  1862. >"That'll do. Now if you'll excuse me, I have paperwork to take care of"
  1863. >You nod and leave her office
  1864. >Well that was a good way to waste an hour
  1865. >Better get back to your room
  1866. >Cookies will be there soon to chaperone your breakfast
  1867.  
  1868.  
  1869. Be Cookies
  1870. >Be happy
  1871. >Also be super nervous
  1872. >Anon said he loved you!
  1873. >EXCITEMENT!
  1874. >But what if you screw up and he starts hating you?
  1875. >PANIC
  1876. >No, don't panic, you got this.
  1877. >What if you don't?
  1878. >BUT YOU DO
  1879. >....right?
  1880. >As your internal debate continues, you notice The Warden hop-walking towards you
  1881. "Morning Ma'am"
  1882. >"Hiya Cookies! Guess what!"
  1883. "What is it, Ma'am?"
  1884. >"I SAVED ANON'S LIFE TODAY!"
  1885. "WHAT!?"
  1886. >"Anon was really sick but didn't realize it. So I made him go to nurse Honey Heart to get better"
  1887. "H-How bad is it?"
  1888. >"It was really bad, he was talking in gibberish!"
  1889. "REALLY!?"
  1890. >What if /you/ made him sick?
  1891. >Could your nose-kiss have infected him?
  1892. >"Yea! He couldn't move normally either, his legs were wiggling and wobbling EVERYWHERE!"
  1893. >OH SWEET CELESTIA, YOU ALMOST KILLED YOUR COLTFRIEND!
  1894. "Where is he now?!"
  1895. >"He kept saying he was perfectly healthy, but I knew better! I made nurse Honey Heart give him pills to make him better!"
  1896. "Thank you, good job, now where is he?"
  1897. >"Which is good, I knew he wasn't feeling well the moment he greeted me"
  1898. "WARDEN!"
  1899. >"Y-Yes Cookies?"
  1900. "Where... is... ANON?!"
  1901. >"Last I saw, he was still at the Nurse's office"
  1902. >You don't bother to thank her for the information
  1903. >You just rush to the nurse's office
  1904. >You don't bother knocking when you arrive
  1905. >You push the door open and your eyes dart around the room
  1906. >No Anon
  1907. >One nurse
  1908. >One nurse who might know where Anon went!
  1909. "Nurse Honey! Do you know where Anon is? I heard he's sick!"
  1910. >Nurse Honey Heart puts a hoof to her face
  1911. >"Anon is fine. I however, could use a stiff cider"
  1912. "What?"
  1913. >"Anon wasn't sick, he just seemed more energetic than usual."
  1914. "Then why did you give him pills!?"
  1915. >"Those were sugar pills, placebos, they won't do anything"
  1916. >Ok, alright, so Anon isn't dying because of you
  1917. >That's good
  1918. "Do you know where he is now?"
  1919. >"No, but he left about ten minutes ago"
  1920. "Well... thanks for the information"
  1921. >Anon could be practically anywhere in the prison...
  1922. >But he is healthy, so that removes some of your panic
  1923. >Nurse Honey just stares at you, and slowly raises an eyebrow
  1924. >"Is there anything else? No mysterious rashes or itching? Sneezing? Coughing?"
  1925. "No, I'm healthy"
  1926. >"Then what are you still doing here? I've had enough distraction already with Anon and The Warden, I'm already looking at staying late without further interruption"
  1927. "Sorry... I'll leave you to your work"
  1928. >"Thank you"
  1929. >She gives a curt nod as you leave
  1930. >She could be so rude, despite her sweet name
  1931. >No wonder she couldn't keep a private practice
  1932. >That was a mean thought, you'd have to be nice to her later to make up for it
  1933. >But for now, you had to find Anon
  1934. >In addition to wanting to check on him yourself...
  1935. >...It was almost time for breakfast
  1936.  
  1937. Be Anon
  1938. >Be in your room
  1939. >Mental note: don't dance in the halls
  1940. >or near The Warden
  1941. >or anywhere really
  1942. >You were not exactly known for your amazing moves back home
  1943. >You check the clock
  1944. >Cookies should be here by now
  1945. >What could be taking her so long?
  1946. >Maybe you better go look for her?
  1947. >You step out of your room
  1948. >The hall is completely empty
  1949. >one light flickers off
  1950. >eerie
  1951. >You start walking towards the Mess, maybe she would already be there?
  1952. >As you turn the corner, you are knocked to the ground
  1953. >"OHNOANONAREYOUOK?!"
  1954. >Only slightly dazed, you notice Cookies standing over you and you chuckle
  1955. >ah, it was Cookies who ran into you
  1956. >A very distraught Cookies
  1957. "Anyone catch the Cutie Mark on the bus that hit me?"
  1958. >"I'MSORRYI'MSORRYI'MSORRY!"
  1959. >Wait, what did she say?
  1960. >She is practically shouting
  1961. >"IDIDN'TMEANTOHURTYOUI'MSORRY!"
  1962. "Woah woah, slow down there. I'm fine, I'm not hurt"
  1963. >You gently push her aside and stand up
  1964. >You strike a pose with jazz hands
  1965. "Perfectly healthy, not a scratch on me"
  1966. >"But you could have gotten really hurt!"
  1967. "Even if I had been, it was an accident. No biggie"
  1968. >"Y-you don't hate me then?"
  1969. >You do a double take
  1970. >She was serious
  1971. >Poor girl was one wrong word away from waterworld
  1972. "Don't be so silly, how could I ever hate something as adorable as you?"
  1973. >Danger averted, tears neutralized
  1974. >"I was worried that I made you sick..."
  1975. "Why would you think that?"
  1976. >"The Warden said you were sick, then the nurse said you weren't! I was really worried and I couldn't find you!"
  1977. "I've been waiting in my room since leaving the nurse's office. I was a little worried that you were getting so late"
  1978. >"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to worry you..."
  1979. "So why did you think that /you/ made me sick?"
  1980. >"Because....I... I..."
  1981. >She takes a breath
  1982. >" kissedyournoselastnight!"
  1983. >You chuckle and scratch her ear
  1984. "If pony saliva made me sick, don't you think I'd have gotten sick a long time ago?"
  1985. >"What do you mean?"
  1986. "Ponies carry /everything/ in their mouths. I don't even want to know how you ponies clean dishes"
  1987. >You beam a grin at her
  1988. >She gives a weak little smile
  1989. >She's still feeling down
  1990. >You glance around the halls
  1991. >Everyone is already at the mess
  1992. >You two are alone
  1993. >you kneel down and give her a peck on her forehead
  1994. >She practically melts
  1995. >You didn't know a pony /could/ turn that color
  1996. >...neat!
  1997. >"I...but....you...wait....what?....I don't.....huh?"
  1998. >Fascinating!
  1999. >She can't complete a thought
  2000. >Will that happen every time you do that?
  2001. >You'll have try it again in a more private setting
  2002. >...for the sake of scientific research, of course
  2003. >The sign of a good study IS repeatable results, after all
  2004. >Your stomach grumbles
  2005. >Oh yea, breakfast!
  2006. >The sound was enough to knock Cookies out of her stupor
  2007. >"You must be starving! Come on, let's get food in you!"
  2008. >you pat her head and nod
  2009. "Yes please!"
  2010.  
  2011. Be Sleepy Feathers
  2012. >Be confused
  2013. >Where are your friends?
  2014. >Anon and Cookies always beat you to the mess
  2015. >You had secured a nice table near the heaters
  2016. >Being warmed while eating is very relaxing
  2017. >Not knowing where your friends are isn't relaxing
  2018. >Maybe they overslept?
  2019. >You might have to go looking for them
  2020. >Which would cut into your nap time
  2021. >...
  2022. >Maybe you should see the nurse about how much you sleep
  2023. >Nah, you're fine
  2024. >Besides, that would be a lot of work
  2025. >Oh hey, there they are
  2026. >You watch as Cookies escorts Anon to the lunch ponies to get their meals
  2027. >Huh, they seem...off
  2028. >Anon is failing to hide a slight limp
  2029. >He must have slept on his leg funny
  2030. >Cookies looks frazzled
  2031. >She must need a nap
  2032. >That must be it
  2033. >No other explanation
  2034. >They move away from the counter and scan the mess
  2035. >you wave them over
  2036. "Morning"
  2037. >"Why good morning Sleepy, glad to see you bright-eyed and bushy-tailed"
  2038. >You nod back at Anon
  2039. >He used weird expressions
  2040. >"Yes, good morning Sleepy"
  2041. >They sit across from you
  2042. >They start eating and talking about nothing in particular
  2043. "Hey Anon."
  2044. >He looks surprised that you spoke
  2045. >"yea?"
  2046. "What are human beds like?"
  2047. >He laughs
  2048. >"Of course you would ask that"
  2049. "What is that supposed to mean?"
  2050. >"eh...nothing, forget about it. Well, for starters, human beds are bigger"
  2051. >Cookies perks up, curious about Earth and Humans in general
  2052. >"What else?"
  2053. >"You know how the bed in my cell is three times normal pony sized beds?"
  2054. >"sure"
  2055. "Well, that bed is on the smallish side by human standards"
  2056. >How can any one being handle so much bed?
  2057. >"My bed here is also significantly softer than I was used to back on earth"
  2058. >"But you have the hardest bed in the prison!"
  2059. >"Really? First time I sat on it, I thought I was sinking"
  2060. >Anon laughs and you smile
  2061. >So humans make beds that are giant and hard
  2062. >You prefer soft beds
  2063. >Anon opens up his pudding cup and dips in a carrot
  2064. >That reminds you...
  2065. "Thanks again for the pudding the other day"
  2066. >"Don't mention it, it was worth it to get The Warden off my back"
  2067. >You nod
  2068. >The Warden usually had too much energy for your tastes
  2069. >Speaking of tastes, Anon had pudding again as his breakfast dessert
  2070. "Do you always get pudding?"
  2071. >"Yup, I really enjoy the stuff. Though I do love cookies too"
  2072. >Cookies chokes on her milk
  2073. >She coughs and throws Anon a glance
  2074. >Anon just laughs
  2075. >"Chocolate chip cookies go great with pancakes, you know"
  2076. >Huh, Cookies looks frazzled again.
  2077. > Choking on something will do that to a pony
  2078. >Anon smiles and loudly sips his juice
  2079. >"Hey Cookies"
  2080. >"Yes, Anon?"
  2081. >"Would you mind reading me another bedtime story tonight? Last night was the best night's sleep I've ever had"
  2082. >Huh, Cookies is blushing a little
  2083. >She must not be asked to read bedtime stories much
  2084. >"S-sure thing Anon"
  2085. >You focus on your meal as the others do the same
  2086. >There is some light conversation, but the rest of breakfast passes without any major incidents
  2087.  
  2088. Be Cookies
  2089. >You'd have to remember to scold Anon for pulling that stunt in the mess
  2090. >Saying he loved 'cookies'....
  2091. >Not that you didn't love hearing him say it
  2092. >But still, that was dangerous
  2093. >You made your way back to the guardhouse, where you are now
  2094. >Let's see, where did The Warden post you today?...
  2095. >Lifeguard duty, nice!
  2096. >The pool was indoor and the room's temperature was carefully regulated
  2097. >No pony would be there for at LEAST an hour
  2098. >Everypony /did/ just eat breakfast, after all
  2099. >You pick up the lifeguard's pack and head towards the changing room
  2100. >Couldn't be a proper lifeguard without a swimsuit on
  2101. >Once properly attired, you head to the pool
  2102. >Even from here, you could faintly smell the chlorine in the pool
  2103. >You unlock the glass door and trot over to the lifeguard's chair
  2104. >With nothing to do for now, you pull out a book from the lifeguard's pack and start relaxing
  2105. >Easiest post first thing in the morning...
  2106. >More Anon tonight...
  2107. >Today would be a good day!
  2108.  
  2109. Be Anon
  2110. >Maybe you overdid it with that tease during breakfast
  2111. >You'd have to apologize to Cookies later
  2112. >You walk back towards your cell with Sleepy
  2113. >Turns out he's in the same cell block, just around a different corner
  2114. >"What are human pillows made of?"
  2115. >well that question came out of left field
  2116. >....
  2117. >well, it WAS Sleepy who was asking
  2118. >So not totally out of nowhere
  2119. "They are made of.."
  2120. >What were pillows made of?
  2121. >You knew they usually had a cotton case
  2122. >but what were they filled with?
  2123. >poly-fiber-whatsit blend probably
  2124. "Cotton and synthetic materials"
  2125. >Nailed it
  2126. >"Doesn't sound comfortable"
  2127. "Why do you say that?"
  2128. >"'synthetic' is such a harsh word, harsh things have harsh names"
  2129. "sure..."
  2130. >"Not like down feathers, they have a soft name. I make my own pillows. They are softer than a good dream. I've even modified the design to block out sound so I can sleep even when ponies are being loud around me"
  2131. >That actually sounds nice
  2132. "I'd love to try one of your pillows sometime. They sound great"
  2133. >"They are, each one is hoof made and carries a part of me"
  2134. "Sounds like you really work hard on them, pour your heart into making each one?"
  2135. >"Yes. I also meant they are padded with my own down"
  2136. >wut?
  2137. "What?"
  2138. >He stretches out a wing and carefully extracts a single downy feather with his mouth
  2139. >"Feel thith"
  2140. >Just roll with it
  2141. >you reach out a hand and gently pinch the down
  2142. >That was soft
  2143. >really soft
  2144. >Like a tiny cloud
  2145. >not made of water droplets
  2146. >So nothing like a cloud
  2147. >Damn, it's so soft you can't even think of a good metaphor
  2148. >A whole pillow made of this stuff?
  2149. >And his wings must feel like blankets wrapped around him at all times
  2150. >No wonder he was always so tired
  2151. >Bit weird sleeping on a pillow made from your friend
  2152. >But if a whole pillow is /anything/ like a single feather...
  2153. "Now I really want one!"
  2154. >Sleepy smiles
  2155. >A smile that says 'of course you do'
  2156. >"It will cost you"
  2157. >Of course it would
  2158. "Name your price"
  2159. >"Your next three pudding cups, but only because I like you. I'd normally charge seven"
  2160. >Is he for real?
  2161. >Screw that, there is no way you are giving up THREE meals worth of desserts!
  2162. "That's too rich for my blood, no dea-"
  2163. >Wait...
  2164. >You stop walking
  2165. >Can't walk when serious decisions are being made
  2166. >A pillow like that would make a great gift for Cookies
  2167. >A gift to apologize for teasing her earlier
  2168. >A gift that would earn you stupid amounts of brownie points with her
  2169. >especially once she knew what you gave up for it
  2170. >Sleepy just watches you, with a perfect poker face
  2171. >He has nerves of steel!
  2172. >...and wings of angel farts
  2173. >Screw it, there will always be more dessert
  2174. >You'd pay the piper's price, but it will be something to make Cookies happy
  2175. "Fine, you got yourself a deal"
  2176. >He extends a hoof
  2177. >You shake it
  2178. >With the deal struck, you continue towards your cell block
  2179. "So how long will it take to make the pillow?"
  2180. >"A couple days at least"
  2181. >As you approach the bend in the hall near your room, you hear a pair of voices
  2182. >"-ook Club!"
  2183. >You could recognize that voice anywhere
  2184. >The Warden
  2185. >"I really, honestly, have no idea where Anon is"
  2186. >You didn't recognize that voice, however
  2187. >probably just some poor inmate
  2188. >...That The Warden cornered to ask about your whereabouts
  2189. >For an '-ook club'
  2190. >This can only end with tears
  2191. >Your inner child is already crying
  2192. >ABORT RETURN MISSION, HQ IS COMPROMISED!
  2193. >without missing a beat, you silently pivot on your heel and start a brisk walk in the opposite direction
  2194. >As you do, you and Sleepy wave goodbye to each other
  2195.  
  2196.  
  2197. Be Cookies
  2198. >Be engrossed in your book
  2199. >It's a war novel
  2200. >The last great incursion into Celestia's kingdom
  2201. >Also known as the Great Pillow Fight
  2202. >The sheer brutality of it cost thousands of pillows their stuffing
  2203. >It really was a fascinating read
  2204. >You are interrupted by the sound of the door to the pool room opening
  2205. >What? Everypony knows you aren't supposed to swim right after a meal, who could-?
  2206. >"Howdy Cookies"
  2207. "Anon! I wasn't expecting to see you here"
  2208. >You day just got a little brighter
  2209. >"I wasn't expecting to see me here either. I'm hiding from The Warden because /someone/ volunteered me for book club."
  2210. >oops
  2211. >he can't really be mad about that, can he?
  2212. >you did say you were sorry, after all!
  2213. "I said I was sorry..."
  2214. >Anon grins
  2215. >"Don't worry about it, I'm just giving you a hard time. Say, why is the pool empty?"
  2216. "It's only been fifteen minutes since breakfast, everypony knows you need to wait at LEAST thirty minutes after eating to go swimming. Most ponies will wait an hour, just to be safe"
  2217. >"Really? So we have the room to ourselves for an hour?"
  2218. "Yup!"
  2219. >You smirk
  2220. "Why do you ask, inmate? Thinking of cuddle-assaulting an on-duty guard?"
  2221. >Please say yes
  2222. >"I might... If it weren't for that glass door. It'd be too easy to be caught by someone just wandering by"
  2223. >aw horse feathers
  2224. >He's right
  2225. >"However, I might take a swim while the pool is empty"
  2226. "You can't do that! You just ate! You might cramp!"
  2227. >"I like to live dangerously"
  2228. >You give Anon an uncertain look
  2229. >"Relax, it'll take more than a lot of water to take me down. Are there any spare swimming trunks?"
  2230. >You point towards the stallion's changing room
  2231. "There should be a few spares in there, but they were designed for ponies. There might be a few designed for minotaurs though"
  2232. >Anon taps his fingers to the side of his head in a little salute and walks into the changing room
  2233. >Alone with a wet, shirtless Anon?
  2234. >You'll have some of that, yes please!
  2235. >Even if you can't touch...
  2236. >You can still look
  2237. >In fact, it is your job to look
  2238. >Your day just got a whole lot brighter
  2239.  
  2240.  
  2241. Be Anon
  2242. >Be in the changing room
  2243. >Be the wrong shape for all these spare trunks
  2244. >And why did they ALL need a hole in the back?!
  2245. >...
  2246. >Oh yea, tails
  2247. >Ponies had those
  2248. >And so did minotaurs
  2249. >Screw it, worst case scenario: Cookies gets an eyeful
  2250. >And you had a gift in the pipeline that would more than make up for any mental trauma
  2251. >It'd better, you were losing a metric assload of pudding over it
  2252. >You manage to find a pair of trunks that fit well enough
  2253. >You pull on the trunks and tie them tightly
  2254. >The hole fits perfectly over your tailbone
  2255. >You grab a towel from a closet in the changing room and walk out
  2256. >Cookies looks up from her book and stows it away in a waterproof bag
  2257. >Lifeguard can't be reading while someone was in the pool
  2258. >Especially if they are at risk of cramping
  2259. >You toss your towel onto a lawn chair
  2260. >Cookies is watching you like a hawk
  2261. >You smirk
  2262. >Might as well give her a little show
  2263.  
  2264.  
  2265. Be Cookies
  2266. >Be watching Anon
  2267. >Ever since you first laid eyes on him, you'd been interested in how he moved
  2268. >How he was able to balance on those two long legs
  2269. >How he turned and how his fingers wriggled
  2270. >Part of the reason you had volunteered to be his chaperone at mealtime
  2271. >Even after spending so much time with him, his body could still surprise you as he moved in completely new ways
  2272. >The first time you saw him scratch his back, for example
  2273. >apropos of nothing his arm had flipped around as he contorted his body to reach an itch
  2274. >It was the kind of maneuver no pony could ever hope to recreate
  2275. >Pony joints just weren't built for that
  2276. >You watch as Anon tosses his towel onto a chair and smirks
  2277. >You know that smirk
  2278. >That's his 'I think I'm more clever than I actually am' smirk
  2279. >His 'I am going to tease Cookies' smirk
  2280. >That is a dangerous smirk
  2281. >You watch as he begins to contort and stretch
  2282. >You've never seen him stretch before!
  2283. >This'll be good
  2284. >He starts with some pretty basic arm stretches, holding his left arm across his chest and pulling it farther with the crook of his right arm
  2285. >Then the other side
  2286. >After holding the pose for a few second, he...
  2287. >woah...
  2288. >weird
  2289. >He flipped his right arm around the back of his head, forearm pointing down behind his back. His left hand pushing down on the right's elbow
  2290. >Just look at how his muscles move under his skin!
  2291. >He flips arm positions
  2292. >Neat
  2293. >Looks like he finished with arm stretches
  2294. >He places his left hand on his hip, the other straight up...
  2295. >and leans sideways, right arm pointing left
  2296. >How does he balance standing like that?
  2297. >He reverses to stretch his other side the same way
  2298. >He glances over at you and his smirk returns tenfold
  2299. >You can feel the heat in your cheeks increase exponentially
  2300. >Anon spreads his legs and begins to lean to his left
  2301. >His left leg bends and bends as his right leg stretches straight and long
  2302. >Never breaking eye contact
  2303. >He holds the position for several long seconds
  2304. >with a small grunt he stands straight again
  2305. >...and leans the other way
  2306. >You hear the door opening as somepony walks in
  2307. >It was The Warden
  2308. >"Anon, there you are! I thought you were interested in joining book clu-"
  2309. >Anon's left leg reaches full stretch
  2310. >A resounding *CRACK* echoes around the empty room
  2311. >Anon's expression contorts with surprise and a little pain
  2312. >"OH CELESTIA HE BROKE HIS LEG"
  2313. >You KNEW those movements weren't natural!
  2314. >The Warden's eyes go wide with shock, then slowly cloud over...
  2315. >Anon's gaze shoots to The Warden
  2316. >...and she promptly falls flat on her side, stiff as a board
  2317. >You were on your own
  2318. >Anon stands straight, and shakes his left leg
  2319. "Anon, are you alright?!"
  2320. >He just laughs
  2321. >"I'm fine, just cracked my leg is all"
  2322. >BY TIREK'S TIN TEETH, HE FRACTURED HIS LEG!
  2323. >Don't panic!
  2324. >DON'T PANIC
  2325. >First things first, gotta get Anon off that injured leg!
  2326. >How can he even /stand/ with an injury like that?!
  2327. >You jump out of your chair and rush to Anon's side
  2328. "What are you doing still standing?! SIT! That is an ORDER!"
  2329. >Anon gives you a confused look and walks over to a chair
  2330. >Walks over to a chair
  2331. >walks
  2332. >Just what kind of creature could snap bone and just casually walk around?!
  2333. >Anon sits down and you set about trying to find where the fracture occurred in his leg
  2334. >You press against his leg, trying to find a spot that didn't move right
  2335. >There! Right at the knee, a huge chunk of bone was just /floating/ in his leg!
  2336. >Anon's eyes flicker between you and The Warden, confusion and trepidation clear on his face
  2337. >He must be in such pain that he's going into shock!
  2338. >Gotta keep him lucid!
  2339. "You are going to be FINE! We'll get through this together, just stay with me!"
  2340. >"What are you talking about? Cookies, The Warden is right there!"
  2341. >Good, he can focus on details still!
  2342. "That's right Anon, The Warden is there! FOCUS ON THAT! I'll go get help for your leg!"
  2343. >"Wait, what the what? I'm fine, just cracked my leg is all"
  2344. "FRACTURES ARE SERIOUS! Especially leg fractures! You are delirious, so DON'T MOVE. I'll be back soon with help!"
  2345. >"What? I didn't- My leg is fine! see?"
  2346. >Anon stands up and does a little jig
  2347. >You can only stare in horror
  2348. >If he kept this up, he could injure himself beyond recovery
  2349. "INMATE ANONYMOUS, SIT BACK DOWN IMMEDIATELY"
  2350. >He complies and sits back down with a sigh
  2351. >"I'm really fine, human joints sometimes just pop like that"
  2352. >Wait...what?!
  2353. >"Watch this, I'll prove it"
  2354. >Anon then proceeds to press his hands together...
  2355. >*SNAP*
  2356. >*CRACKLE*
  2357. >*POP*
  2358. >Each finger has it's turn, letting out a sickening sound as it's siblings apply pressure
  2359. >You let out a little whimper
  2360. >Anon finishes the final digit and then wiggles his fingers around
  2361. >"See? No harm done. I'm Just fine. Humans call that 'cracking our knuckles' because of the sound it makes"
  2362. "But what about how loud it was?! And you were in pain! And I felt a loose bone in your leg!"
  2363. >"Knees are a lot bigger than finger joints, and make a bigger sound. I was just surprised when it happened. I didn't really get any warning! Sure, big joints can hurt a little when they crack but it's nothing I can't walk off. As for the 'loose bone' in my leg, that would be my kneecap. It's supposed to be like that"
  2364. "R-Really?"
  2365. >"Eeyup, remember how it was my left leg that cracked?"
  2366. >Anon punctuates the question by moving his kneecap under the skin
  2367. >"Well, watch closely"
  2368. >He repeats the action, with his other leg
  2369. >It looked like he had hidden biscuits under his skin he was playing with
  2370. >"Cracking joints are perfectly normal for humans. Even joints in legs. Back home, I had a friend who could even crack his neck on command!"
  2371. >Anon chuckles
  2372. >You feel sick
  2373. >"Now, what are we going to do about her?"
  2374. >Anon points to The Warden
  2375. >"We can't just leave her like that"
  2376. >He's right
  2377. "I'll get a couple guards in here to take her to nurse Honey Heart"
  2378. >"That could take a while, and I want to swim! How about I carry her there?"
  2379. "That'll work, but at least put a shirt on first. I'll watch her until you're ready"
  2380. >Once Anon redresses himself appropriately, he picks up The Warden
  2381. "Alright, I'll escort you there"
  2382. >You weren't sure Anon really was ok, and you wanted to make sure his leg didn't go out from beneath him
  2383. >He tucks The Warden under an arm as you both leave the pool room
  2384. >You re-lock the door on the way out
  2385. >Couldn't let anypony in the pool while the lifeguard was away
  2386. >As you both walk through the halls, curious inmates begin to follow behind
  2387. >When you finally reach the nurse's office, you have a small crowd following
  2388. >"Will The Warden be alright?"
  2389. >"I hope so, she's so nice!"
  2390. >"Everypony in the Book Club is waiting for her, I hope she gets better soon!"
  2391. >The crowd continues to mumble and express worry for the fallen leader
  2392. >Anon pushes into the office and you follow behind
  2393. >The crowd tries to file in as well
  2394. >The nurse's office was not designed to hold thirty ponies and a human
  2395. "Sorry folks, you'll all have to wait outside. We'll tell you how The Warden is doing as soon as we can"
  2396. >The crowd grumbles but disperses
  2397. >You close the door and look around the office
  2398. >Honey Heart isn't here
  2399. >Anon set The Warden down on a table
  2400. "Where is the nurse?"
  2401. >Anon shrugs
  2402. "Well...now what?"
  2403. >"We've done all we can. She'll be fine, and Nurse Heart will probably be right back"
  2404. "We can't just leave The Warden here without /some/ explanation!"
  2405. >"hrm... you're right...."
  2406. >Anon furrows his brow
  2407. >"I got it, we'll leave a note"
  2408. "Good idea"
  2409. >"You should get back to your post, I'll meet you back at the pool miss lifeguard"
  2410. >Anon winks at you
  2411. >Why must Anon be such a tease?
  2412. >And why do you like it so much?
  2413. "Alright, I'll see you there"
  2414. >"Yea you will!"
  2415. >You duck your head to hide your blush as you hurry back to the pool room, past a few lingering inmates
  2416. >After waiting for a few minutes, Anon walks back into the pool room
  2417. >"Now where were we?..."
  2418. >His smirk returns
  2419. >He tosses his shirt on top of the same chair his towel has been lying on
  2420. >...And he begins to bend and stretch his core
  2421. >"Also, I liked how forceful you were earlier. You can order me around anytime"
  2422. >He wiggles his eyebrows at you
  2423. >You feel yourself blushing again
  2424. >This human could be so ridiculous sometimes
  2425.  
  2426.  
  2427. Be Honey Heart
  2428. >Be coming back from the little fillies' room
  2429. >Your morning coffee always went straight through you
  2430. >You notice a few inmates loitering around your office
  2431. >"Thank goodness you're back!"
  2432. >"Something is wrong with The Warden!"
  2433. >"Anon and Cookies brought her here a few minutes ago"
  2434. >"Please help her!"
  2435. >It was too early for this
  2436. >You nod to the inmates, promising to do your best and enter your office
  2437. >The door closes behind you and you look to the examination table to see The Warden lying perfectly still
  2438. >With a note taped to her face
  2439. >You use your horn to levitate the note over
  2440. >'Out Of Order'
  2441. >....'signed, with humblest apologies, Anon'
  2442. >Oh for buck's sake
  2443. >It was too early for this too
  2444. >It was /always/ too early for this
  2445. >You walk over to the table and shine a light into The Warden's eyes
  2446. >Her eyes contracted
  2447. "Good, so she doesn't have a head injury..."
  2448. >You carefully bend her leg
  2449. >It maintains its new position just as rigidly as before
  2450. > Even her mane and tail were rigid
  2451. "Probably just in shock from....something"
  2452. >Easy enough to wake her up, just need some smelling salts
  2453. >You open up a cupboard and levitate a small metal capsule over to the table
  2454. >You magically twist off the cap and shake the capsule under The Warden's nose
  2455. "Now, Warden, how are you fee-"
  2456. >Her eyes snap into focus
  2457. >She takes a deep breath
  2458. >"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA"
  2459. "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA"
  2460. >"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA"
  2461. "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA"
  2462.  
  2463.  
  2464. Be Sleepy Feathers
  2465. >Be trying to nap
  2466. >keyword: trying
  2467. >Until just recently, you /were/ napping
  2468. >But then somepony started screaming
  2469. >Didn't they know some ponies were trying to sleep?
  2470. >Ponies could be so inconsiderate sometimes
  2471. >You pull one of your homemade pillows over your ears and the sound immediately disappears
  2472. >Ah, much better
  2473. >You wrap yourself up tighter in your blankets and fall back asleep...
  2474. >Completely missing muted sounds followed by nurse Honey Heart screaming
  2475. >"OH CELESTIA ITS EVERYWHERE"
  2476.  
  2477. Be Mop Bucket
  2478. >Be the janitor
  2479. > Sitting in the boiler room
  2480. >With a copy of your favorite magazine
  2481. >'Levitated Mares'
  2482. >This is the yearly fluffy issue
  2483. >Life is good
  2484. >You lick a hoof, and turn a page
  2485. >Your facial hair made wetting your hoof difficult
  2486. >you always had more hair around your face than most Stallions
  2487. >Which led to your nickname
  2488. >There is a banging on the door and a guard rushes in
  2489. >"Scruffy, we need you! The Warden just woke up and started screaming and then got sick all over the nurses office!"
  2490. >No pony could do what you did
  2491. >You were one of a kind
  2492. >You annihilated filth of any kind
  2493. >As was your sacred duty
  2494. >Even if some ponies enjoyed the filth
  2495. >You put down the magazine
  2496. >pick up your equipment
  2497. >and leave your lair
  2498. >May filth on all floorboards tremble in fear
  2499. >Scruffy was on the prowl
  2500.  
  2501. Be Anon
  2502. >Be finished with your stretches
  2503. >Time for some swimming!
  2504. >you head for the diving boards
  2505. >There are three of them
  2506. >One barely above the water's surface
  2507. >One a few feet up
  2508. >The last one is by far the highest
  2509. >About eight feet tall
  2510. >For grounded ponies, that must seem stupidly high
  2511. >Good for a human though
  2512. >You head for the 'high' dive
  2513. >"Anon, what do you think you're doing?"
  2514. "...I'm going to dive?"
  2515. >"But that is the high dive!"
  2516. "You have excellent eyesight"
  2517. >She scrunchies as you climb the steps to the diving board
  2518. >"Beginners shouldn't jump from there!"
  2519. "Don't worry, monkeys are better swimmers than horses"
  2520. >Cookies watches as you bounce a little on the board
  2521. >You prepare to jump
  2522. >You never got to swim much back on earth
  2523. >You still knew proper diving technique, though
  2524. >You start your jump
  2525. >"Wait! Anon! STOP!"
  2526. "Wha-"
  2527. >Cookies threw off your concentration
  2528. >You lept off with poor form
  2529. >your body is parallel to the water's surface
  2530. >...This will hurt, won't it?
  2531. >You crash into the pool
  2532. >A mighty wave rises from where you impacted
  2533. >...yea, that stung a bit
  2534. >As you surface, you see Cookies already in mid air
  2535. >"DON'T WORRY ANON, I'LL SAVE YOU!"
  2536. >She was coming straight at you
  2537. >You quickly duck back underwater to avoid being smashed by Cookies
  2538. >You hear her submerge above you
  2539. >You feel her quickly maneuver herself underneath you
  2540. >And then she pushes up
  2541. >Forcing you to the surface
  2542. >Not really having a choice in the matter, you resurface
  2543. >Cookies pushes you all the way to the shallow end of the pool
  2544. >To push you all the way across the pool, while underwater...
  2545. >She can really hold her breath!
  2546. >Once you are standing on solid ground, Cookies finally resurfaces
  2547. >She gasps and takes in a huge breath
  2548. >Looks like you were wrong
  2549. >Horses are better swimmers than monkeys
  2550. >She is completely soaked
  2551. >Being underwater tends to do that
  2552. >Her mane is clinging to the back and sides of her head
  2553. >Her normally neat ponytail manestyle has come slightly undone
  2554. >Leaving a wet strand of hair running down the front of her face, right between her eyes
  2555. >"I warned you about how dangerous the high dive is!"
  2556. >You didn't have the heart to tell her she was the one that messed up your dive
  2557. >She's been through a lot of panic today
  2558. >You'll let her have this one
  2559. "You were right, I'm sorry for worrying you"
  2560. >"Just please be more careful"
  2561. "You got it. You really helped me out there. You're my little hero"
  2562. >You punctuate 'hero' by scratching her ears
  2563. >She leans into your hand
  2564. >She looks up at you with the kind of smile that leads directly to diabetes amputations
  2565. >You smile back and retract your hand
  2566. >Can't have someone see you fondling her ears like that
  2567. >She blushes and you both move to the edge of the pool
  2568. >She pulls herself fully out of the pool as you sit back and enjoy the sight
  2569. >The water has tamped down the fur all across her body, making her look ever so slightly smaller than usual even as the swimsuit hugs her form
  2570. >She looks back at you and catches you staring
  2571. >You give her a winning smile
  2572. >She blushes a little more fiercely
  2573. >U-Unf
  2574. > and then does something unexpected
  2575. >She shakes herself dry
  2576. >like a dog
  2577. >Ponies do that?!
  2578. >Water rains down on you as you stand stunned
  2579. >She finishes shaking and gives you a coy little smile
  2580. >The combination is too much, the dissonance between actions too great
  2581. >You burst into laughter
  2582. >Cookies expression changes from blushing and flirty to annoyed and disgruntled
  2583. >Her cheeks puff out as she scrunchies
  2584. >...Which only makes you laugh harder
  2585. >She turns and trots back to the lifeguard's chair and towels herself off
  2586. >You'd have to rub her belly extra tonight to make up for laughing
  2587. >Totally worth it
  2588. >You climb out of the pool and move back towards the deep end
  2589. >Your belly is a little pinker than usual from that belly flop
  2590. >Oh well, at least you got to see Cookies with wet hair because of it
  2591. >....Totally worth it
  2592. >Arriving at the edge of the deep end, you jump right back into the water
  2593. "CANONBALL!"
  2594. >"Augh! ANON! I just got dry!"
  2595.  
  2596.  
  2597. Be Cookies
  2598. >This whole lifeguard thing wasn't going as planned
  2599. >Well, you /did/ save somepony by swimming
  2600. >So /technically/ it was going as planned
  2601. >Just not as /you/ planned
  2602. >Still, at least Anon is out of the pool again
  2603. >Shirtless
  2604. >soaking wet
  2605. >His hair clings to his head and face
  2606. >The water makes his body shiny
  2607. >U-Unf
  2608. >And he called you his hero while scratching your ears
  2609. >This is why you can't stay mad at him
  2610. >"CANONBALL!"
  2611. >A pigmy tidal wave crashes over you
  2612. >re-soaking you
  2613. "Augh! ANON! I just got dry!"
  2614. >He resurfaces and gives you a sheepish smile
  2615. >"Sorry, didn't think that would splash you"
  2616. >You sigh and begin to re dry yourself
  2617. >"I promise I'll try and splash less and make less of a fuss"
  2618. "Thank you"
  2619. >Anon turns in the water and begins to swim across the pool
  2620. >You climb back into the lifeguard chair
  2621. >Now that Anon promised not to drown himself or splash you, you can enjoy the view
  2622. >And what a lovely view it is~
  2623. >Though, there is something odd about how he jumped into the pool just now
  2624. "Hey Anon, why'd you yell 'cannonball' when you jumped into the pool?"
  2625. >He freezes
  2626. >Which doesn't work well under normal circumstances
  2627. >In a pool, it's a great way to soak your head
  2628. >Anon quickly resurfaces and wipes the water from his face
  2629. >"A cannonball is a ball of metal or stone launched from a cannon"
  2630. "Why would you need to launch a ball made of something like that?"
  2631. >"...Sometimes you just need a big heavy ball somewhere else"
  2632. >Humans are weird
  2633. "Why not just roll it?"
  2634. >"That would be too slow"
  2635. "Why not have it levitated over?"
  2636. >"No magic, remember?"
  2637. >Oh yeah
  2638. "But isn't it dangerous to launch something like a cannonball?"
  2639. >"That is why cannons are usually used for...forceful partial building deconstruction efforts"
  2640. >Humans are weird
  2641. >You both just watch each other for a few moments
  2642. >Not an awkward silence, but one of silent companionship
  2643. >Anon lets himself sink a little
  2644. >So that only his eyes and forehead are above the waterline
  2645. >He begins to slowly drift along, occasionally lifting his nose enough to take a new breath
  2646. "Anon...What are you doing now?"
  2647. >He tilts his head to keep a low profile while simultaneously lifting his mouth above the water
  2648. >"Ssshhhhh....I'm an alligator. You may call me Alliganon."
  2649. >You laugh
  2650. >"Be very quiet, I'm waiting for prey"
  2651. >You roll your eyes and watch Anon drift for a little longer
  2652. >Oh hey, weren't there pool toys in the pool room's supply closet?
  2653. >Perfect 'prey' for Anon
  2654. >You hop off the lifeguard chair and trot over to the supply closet, near the shallow end
  2655. >This is a pretty big closet
  2656. >Pool noodles for days
  2657. >inflated floaty chairs and pool animals too
  2658. >You just start tossing them into the pool, one by one
  2659. >Anon just lurks in the deep end of the pool
  2660. >watching
  2661. >waiting
  2662. >Scheming
  2663. >A inflatable pig, little more than a glorified ball, slowly floats towards 'Alliganon'
  2664. >Alliganon sinks slightly lower, only his eyes and forehead above the surface
  2665. >He begins to make his move
  2666. >You watch, mildly amused, as Alliganon stalks the pool toy
  2667. >When he gets close enough, he completely submerges
  2668. >For a moment, all is silent and still
  2669. >Not for long though
  2670. >Alliganon springs out from directly underneath the toy, launching it into the air
  2671. >"ALLIGANON FEEDS NOW!"
  2672. >Alliganon struggles to submerge the pool toy
  2673. >And continues to fail miserably, snarling and growling the entire time
  2674. >Every time Alliganon gets on top of the toy, it rolls
  2675. >Dunking him back into the water
  2676. >You laugh
  2677. >Humans are weird
  2678. >and, probably, especially this human
  2679. >But he was /your/ weird human
  2680. >You turn back to the supply closet as Alliganon continues to thrash about in the water
  2681. >At the very back of the supply closet, there is a cupboard
  2682. >Filled with water wings
  2683. >You browse through the selection and find a pair fit for a minotaur
  2684. >...Or a human
  2685. >This would be your payback for him splashing you
  2686. >You quickly inflate the wings while Alliganon is preoccupied
  2687. >Feeling light headed, you turn back around while carefully keeping the inflated water wings hidden behind you
  2688. >He somehow managed to submerge the inflatable pig
  2689. >And is now lying on top of it
  2690. >"Alliganon was victorious"
  2691. >You giggle
  2692. "I can see that... Could you come here for a moment?"
  2693. >He gives a pained look
  2694. >"But alliganon only JUST became victorious!"
  2695. >You pull the old puppy eyes trick
  2696. >Anon sighs and slowly lets the pig roll over
  2697. >Dumping Anon into the pool
  2698. >He makes his way over to the shallow end of the pool
  2699. >"What's on your mind?"
  2700. "In light of the fact that you could still potentially have a cramp while swimming, as both prison guard and lifeguard, I order you to wear these"
  2701. >You step aside to reveal the water wings in all their bright pink splendor
  2702. >Anon steps out of the pool, and walks closer to scrutinize the water wings
  2703. >He kneels down in front of them, and reverently lifts them up
  2704. >"With these pink water wings, I transcend from Anon... into Penganon!"
  2705. >He dons the wings and shoots you a grin
  2706. >He just turned your attempt to embarrass him into a game
  2707. >You continue to stare at each other for a few seconds
  2708. >Then Penganon begins to lean closer to you
  2709. >Never breaking eye contact
  2710. >It feels like he is staring at your soul
  2711. >From the look on his face, he approves
  2712. >He continues to close in on you
  2713. >Your faces are now mere inches apart
  2714. >You can feel your heartbeat in your ears
  2715. >You can feel the heat in your face
  2716. >Despite the urge to look away, you just can't break from this moment, from his gaze
  2717. >With your faces nearly touching, he stops his approach
  2718. >Was he going to...
  2719. >...kiss you?
  2720. >Your heart begins to flutter in your chest
  2721. >A hundred tiny butterflies take up residence in your belly
  2722. >What was Anon going to do?
  2723. >You bite your lip in anticipation
  2724. >...
  2725. >...
  2726. >...
  2727. >"WENK"
  2728. >wait, what?
  2729. >Anon quickly stands bolt upright and throws his arms behind himself
  2730. >And begins to waddle back towards the pool
  2731. >"WENK WENK WENK"
  2732. >Oh
  2733. >that...
  2734. > bucking...
  2735. > tease!
  2736. >He would have Tartarus to pay tonight before you let him off the hook for this
  2737. >Penganon waddles his way to the edge of the pool and awkwardly dives in
  2738. >You shake your head at the absurdity and return to your chair
  2739.  
  2740.  
  2741. Be Anon
  2742. >Be far more pleased with yourself than you have any right to be
  2743. >Poor Cookies looked like a deer in headlights when you came in so close
  2744. >You had been tempted to actually kiss her...
  2745. >But that would have ruined the joke
  2746. >Still....
  2747. >Maybe at tonight's cuddle session?
  2748. >That could work
  2749. >For now, you'd have to make it up to her...
  2750. >The only way a Penguin knows how
  2751. >You swim over to a small beach ball floating nearby
  2752. >You push it with your face to the shallow end
  2753. >Once the pool was shallow enough, you stood and carefully balanced the ball on top of your feet
  2754. >You awkwardly shuffle around the pool
  2755. >Doing your best to sound like Gilbert Gottfried the entire time
  2756. "WENK WENK WENK"
  2757. >You shuffle up to the lifeguard's chair and deposit the ball
  2758. >Cookies keeps staring at you
  2759. "WENK"
  2760. >You turn and waddle-hop back to the water for another
  2761. >Pretty soon you have a small pile of inflatable balls at the chairs base
  2762. "WENK WENK"
  2763. >"OH MY CELESTIA STOP"
  2764. >Cookies exasperated expression was betrayed by her laughter and smile
  2765. >"What am I even supposed to do with all these?"
  2766. "WENK"
  2767. >She giggles
  2768. >"You are hopeless, what am I going to do with you?"
  2769. >You WENK suggestively
  2770. >Eyebrow wiggle for good measure
  2771. >And a slight wiggle side to side
  2772. >She bursts into laughter
  2773. >NAILED IT
  2774. >As you continued to wiggle, someone opened up the door
  2775. >"What's going on here?"
  2776. >Cookies looks over to the source of the voice, and you turn to follow her gaze
  2777. >A light brown pony in overalls is standing across the pool from you
  2778. >That pony has an impressive mustache
  2779. >"Just look at this mess. I'm closing the pool until I can get this cleaned up"
  2780. >Cookies frowns
  2781. >"Aw come on Scruffy, he was just having some fun"
  2782. >"No can do, I need to do my job"
  2783. >Cookies sighs
  2784. >"How long will the pool be closed?"
  2785. >"At least until sometime after lunch"
  2786. >Well then
  2787. >"Come on Anon, let's go"
  2788. >Cookies starts moving towards the door
  2789. >You shake your head
  2790. >You didn't have to take this from a janitor!
  2791. >You were an emperor penguin, after all
  2792. >You puff up your (imaginary) chest feathers
  2793. >This would not fly!
  2794. >Because neither could you!
  2795. "WENK!"
  2796. >"Anon, don't antagonize the janitor! Now take off the floaties so that Scruffy can clean"
  2797. >curses!
  2798. >foiled again!
  2799. >You dejectedly remove your /beautiful/ wings
  2800. >You walk around the pool and give them to Scruffy who deflates them
  2801. >They make a sad 'thrbtbtbt' sound as they die
  2802. >Goodbye, dear friends
  2803. >You let out a small wenk in memorial
  2804. >Welp, the pool was fun while it lasted
  2805. >You go to the changing room to dry yourself and change back into your normal clothes
  2806. >You grab your shirt from the chair you'd tossed it on as you walk out
  2807. >Cookies holds the door for you as you pull on the shirt
  2808. "Now what?"
  2809. >"well, I'm still technically on duty. So I can't 'read to you'"
  2810. >Darn
  2811. >"As long as I'm pretending to work, I should be fine to do what I want. Want to walk with me on a patrol around the prison?"
  2812. >You were feeling a little tuckered from your pool antics
  2813. >But spending time with Cookies sounded better than napping
  2814. >You just wish you could do both
  2815.  
  2816. Be Honey Heart
  2817. >You finally got The Warden to stop retching long enough to learn what had set her off
  2818. >Apparently, Anon had a broken leg
  2819. >Broken legs can lead to crippling long term problems if healed improperly
  2820. >Normally, you'd be rushing to provide aid
  2821. >However, when you asked around about Anon's whereabouts you learned he had been walking with Cookies n Cream
  2822. >Now, you're no doctor for humans...
  2823. >But there is no way any creature could casually stroll around with a broken leg
  2824. >You weren't looking for a potential patient
  2825. >You were looking for answers
  2826. >You begin your hunt at the pool
  2827. >No signs of Anon
  2828. >...
  2829. >That's not entirely true
  2830. >Somepony posted an 'out of order' sign on the door to the pool area
  2831. >Anon's calling card
  2832. >'humblest apologies' your flank
  2833. >The Warden had ordered a full physical for Anon after she heard that he was walking around
  2834. >Now there would be no way you'd be able to finish all the paperwork in your office now
  2835. >You sigh and knock on the glass
  2836. >Scruffy looks up from his magazine, then trots over and opens the door
  2837. >"Ma'am?"
  2838. "I need to find inmate Anon, do you know where he is?"
  2839. >Scruffy nods and points down a hall with a magazine
  2840. "Thank you, but... shouldn't you be cleaning up the mess in there so that ponies can go swimming?"
  2841. >"I'm on break"
  2842. >You don't have time or patience enough for this
  2843. >You turn and hurry down the hall he indicated
  2844. >If you found Anon fast enough then you just might salvage the rest of your workday
  2845. >The smell of chlorine leaves your nostrils as you continue a circuit around the prison
  2846. >You hear laughter
  2847. >Anon's laughter
  2848. >You were close
  2849. >You rush ahead to see Anon beaming with a laughing Cookies
  2850. "ANON!"
  2851. >He jumps, startled
  2852. >"Oh shi-"
  2853. >"LANGUAGE Anon!"
  2854. >Cookies gives him a disapproving look as you close the distance
  2855. "Anon, you're coming with me"
  2856. >"What? Why? What did I do?"
  2857. >You are not going to put up with this
  2858. "You know perfectly well what you did, The Warden thinks you have a snapped leg and now I she's ordered a full checkup on you. Now hurry up and come with me so we can get this over with"
  2859. >Anon lowers his head and sighs
  2860. >"Alright, let's go. Seeya Cookies"
  2861. "Not so fast, Guardsmare Cookies is coming too"
  2862. >Anon and Cookies respond simultaneously
  2863. >"I am?"
  2864. >"She is?"
  2865. "Regulations require that a guard be present during examinations"
  2866. >Anon shrugs and Cookies nods her head
  2867. >The three of you head towards your office
  2868. >Once everyone has finished shuffling in behind you, you close and lock the door
  2869. >Anon takes note of the action
  2870. >"Why'd you lock the door?"
  2871. "Patient confidentiality"
  2872. >"ah, thank you"
  2873. "My pleasure, now strip"
  2874. >Anon blinks
  2875. >Cookies freezes in shock like someone just told her Celestia is a stallion in disguise
  2876. >"Why do you need me to strip?"
  2877. "Can't examine you properly with your clothes on."
  2878. >sighs and begins to take off his shirt
  2879. >"Man, I wish that pickup line worked for me back home"
  2880. "You may keep your underwear on if you feel the need"
  2881.  
  2882. Be Cookies
  2883. >You were not prepared for this
  2884. >You could feel your face flushing
  2885. >Your hooves suddenly became /extremely/ interesting
  2886. >Anon gives a helpless chuckle as his shirt hits the floor
  2887. >He reaches down to untie his shoes
  2888. >You were going to be in a small space with a nearly naked Anon
  2889. >You weren't sure how to feel about this
  2890. >Sure, you'd already seen him in a swimsuit that was just as skimpy...
  2891. >But there is something very private about him wearing only underwear
  2892. >The doorknob rattles for a moment behind you
  2893. >The rattling stops and The Warden's voice penetrates the door
  2894. >"Nurse? Did you find Anon?"
  2895. >Honey Heart sighs
  2896. >"Yes Warden, I've found him. We were just about to begin the examination"
  2897. >"Thank goodness! Can you please let me in?"
  2898. >Honey Heart looks at Anon, who shrugs in reply
  2899. >Honey unlocks the door and The Warden nervously walks in
  2900. >Almost like she was expecting to see a grisly injury
  2901. >...which she probably was, now that you think about it
  2902. >"A-Anon... How are you feeling?"
  2903. >"I'm fine, Warden."
  2904. >The Warden relaxes, but only slightly
  2905. >"Cookies, I'd like to be the guard on duty for this examination if you don't mind. I need to know Anon is alright"
  2906. >This was your way out of this awkward situation!
  2907. >Just play it cool
  2908. "I don't mind at all! I hope you enjoy guarding naked Anon!"
  2909. >NAILED IT
  2910. >The Warden was too distressed to notice the odd phrasing
  2911. >"Good, good.. Since the pool is closed could you join the lunch detail? You know how to cook and they are a little short staffed today, Biscuit Batter went home early"
  2912. "Yes Ma'am, I'll handle it right away!"
  2913. >You quickly make your escape
  2914. >Crisis averted!
  2915. >Your relationship just wasn't ready for a bombshell like that...
  2916. >...But would it really have been that bad?
  2917. >You were mostly naked around him
  2918. >There should be no problems as long as there was no touching involved
  2919. >And he seemed ok with it...
  2920. >Maybe you should have tried to stay?
  2921. >No, that would have been suspicious
  2922. >Maybe someday you'll get another chance
  2923. >You nod and make your way to the cafeteria
  2924. >It may have been a while since you last cooked, and cooking may not be your special talent...
  2925. >But cooking was in your family history!
  2926. >As was your cousin, Cook King
  2927. >These inmates are going to have their minds blown by your cooking.
  2928.  
  2929.  
  2930. Be Anon
  2931. >Be at lunch
  2932. >Cookies n Cream was helping at the counter
  2933. >The Warden was personally chaperoning your lunch
  2934. >She had chosen your food for you, trying to make you eat a more balanced meal
  2935. >You already ate more fruits and vegetables than ever since arriving, all she was really accomplishing was making you eat your least favorite foods
  2936. >Brussels sprouts, bananas, peanut butter, and milk instead of juice
  2937. >Back home you had no problems drinking milk
  2938. >Back home, chocolate milk was awesome
  2939. >especially after exercise
  2940. >But cows here can talk
  2941. >When you came to prison, you arrived just in time for a fieldtrip
  2942. >To a dairy farm
  2943. >The inmates had all been given milk boxes when you all first arrived at the farm
  2944. >And then you got to meet the individual cow that your milk came from
  2945. >She had offered to let you drink straight from the tap
  2946. >And now you can't look at milk without feeling a little queasy
  2947. >"You have to eat all the bananas, Anon"
  2948. "But why?"
  2949. >The Warden gives you a stern look
  2950. >"You are a monkey. Monkeys eat bananas. You haven't been eating any bananas. You have a lack of bananas"
  2951. "....I'll give you a lack of bananas..."
  2952. >"What was that, Anonymous?"
  2953. "I said I didn't want a rack of bandanas"
  2954. >NAILED IT
  2955. >The Warden just shakes her head
  2956. "Besides, that's racist"
  2957. >"What's racist?"
  2958. "Saying I need to eat bananas because I'm an ape"
  2959. >"No I mean, what's 'racist'?"
  2960. >This is going nowhere fast
  2961. >You sigh
  2962. >The sooner you start eating, the sooner you'll be done eating
  2963. >Bananas, brussels sprouts, and milk...
  2964. >You wouldn't even be able to keep the pudding cup
  2965. >Sleepy had dibs on that
  2966. >At least the peanut butter would be good
  2967. >Except eating that would make you thirsty
  2968. "I /really/ don't like milk. Why can't I have juice?"
  2969. >"You've drank nothing but juices since arriving here. You need the calcium"
  2970. >You poke the milk box
  2971. >The Warden smiles motherly
  2972. >"Anon, please eat"
  2973. >You frown
  2974. "No, I don't like milk or bananas"
  2975. >She frowns
  2976. >" Anonymous, I need you to eat"
  2977. "You're not my real chaperone!"
  2978. >The Warden sighs
  2979. >"We've been over this Anon, Cookies is needed in the kitchens."
  2980. >Sleepy arrives at the table and gives you a nod
  2981. >You silently hand over the one good part of your meal
  2982. >You look longingly at Sleepy's plate
  2983. >He had a couple apples, an orange, and a peanut butter toast sandwich
  2984. >Wait... toast?
  2985. "I didn't know they served toast at lunch"
  2986. >"They don't. I wanted a normal sandwich"
  2987. >Then why was the bread burnt?
  2988. >...
  2989. >Oh
  2990. >poor Cookies
  2991. >She did say she wasn't that great a cook...
  2992. >...But how did she burn a sandwich?
  2993. >It was probably a happy accident. After all, peanut butter toast is magnificent
  2994. >You wish you could trade lunches with Sleepy
  2995. >Sleepy glances at your tray, loaded down with bananas
  2996. >"So that's where all the bananas went"
  2997. "Want one?"
  2998. >The Warden frowns at you
  2999. >"Anon, you need to eat everything on your plate. No giving any away"
  3000. "You let me give away my dessert"
  3001. >"That's different. No giving away healthy food"
  3002. >The Warden is really cracking down on your eating habits today
  3003. "But what if Sleepy really wants a few? You'd make me be a bad friend by not letting me share? Sharing is caring, you know"
  3004. >Sleepy shrugs before The Warden can give a response
  3005. >"It's ok Anon, bananas give me gas"
  3006. >Damn
  3007. >You were hoping you could unload a few bananas on Sleepy
  3008. >Sleepy begins to dig into his meal
  3009. >The Warden hadn't touched hers yet
  3010. >She only had a light meal of some kind of cereal
  3011. >Hadn't even poured milk in the bowl yet
  3012. >She was probably still a little woozy
  3013. >You heard all about her reaction to your knee cracking
  3014. >hrm...
  3015. >That gives you an idea
  3016. >Its a long shot, and it could potentially bite you in the ass
  3017. >You look at your tray
  3018. >desperate times call for desperate measures
  3019. "Hey Warden"
  3020. >"Yes, Anon?"
  3021. "Wanna see something neat?"
  3022. >The Warden shows a tiny smile
  3023. >"Only if you promise to eat after you show me"
  3024. >That just raised the stakes
  3025. >It was all or nothing now
  3026. >Showtime
  3027. "Deal"
  3028. >Better get Sleepy away from the table too
  3029. >Don't want any collateral damage
  3030. >He's a nice guy too, no sense traumatizing him
  3031. "First though, hey Sleepy, would you kindly grab me a few napkins? I forgot to grab any"
  3032. >He tilts his head and thinks
  3033. >He shrugs and nods, leaving the table
  3034. >Showtime
  3035. "Alright Warden, watch carefully..."
  3036. >She glues her eyes to your hands as you bring them together
  3037. >You begin to crack your fingers
  3038. >The Warden goes pale
  3039. >Her eyes bug out
  3040. >She actually starts changing into a shade of green!
  3041. >But it isn't enough... She's still sitting there...
  3042. >Time to step it up a little
  3043. >You roll your wrists
  3044. >They give a nice loud crack with each complete revolution
  3045. >The Warden's cheeks puff out as she gallops towards the bathroom
  3046. >Quick, while she wasn't looking!
  3047. >You dump your tray's contents into a nearby waste bin, along with your milk box
  3048. >VICTORY
  3049. >But what about food?
  3050. >You couldn't just go hungry...
  3051. >You look at Sleepy's tray
  3052. >Can't steal from him
  3053. >You look at The Warden's tray
  3054. >abandoned after the snapping, poping, and cracking
  3055. >Perfect
  3056. >You dip a hand into the bowl and bring a handful of cereal to your mouth
  3057. > Rice Crispies?
  3058. >SCORE!
  3059. >As you continue to munch, you consider what to do next
  3060. >You'd have to find a way to make that fruit loop of a warden leave you alone
  3061. >Maybe you could get a few lucky charms to keep her away
  3062. >hrm...
  3063. >That might work
  3064. >This calls for a celebratory accent
  3065. "oi! pip pip, cheerio, I've got it!"
  3066. >You'll have to show her that you were a happy and well adjusted person
  3067. >You'll need help from Cookies and Sleepy, as well as Nurse Honey Heart
  3068. >If they all vouch for you, she'll leave you alone!
  3069. >Hopefully
  3070. >Sleepy finally comes back with a couple napkins tucked under a wing
  3071. >"Here ya go Anon. Where'd The Warden go?"
  3072. "Little fillies' room. Say, could you do me a favor?"
  3073. >"Depends on the favor"
  3074. "Could you put in a good word for me with the Warden? She'll just keep bothering me for as long as she thinks I'm unhappy. If you vouch for me then she'll leave me alone. She'll listen to you, surely!"
  3075. >"It'll cost you, and don't call me Shirley"
  3076. "I didn't....never mind, that's not important. What'll it cost me?"
  3077. >He gives you a smirk
  3078. >"Another pudding cup"
  3079. >This guy wasn't nice after all
  3080. >He's ruthlessly squeezing you for all the extra dessert he can get
  3081. >That's probably why you like him
  3082. >No other pony is as dry and cynical
  3083. "Fine, but it'd better be worth it"
  3084. >Sleepy extends a hoof and you shake it
  3085. >"It will be, pleasure doing business with you"
  3086. >You finish eating The Warden's meal and clean up
  3087. >Time to find Honey Heart to get her help
  3088. >You and Sleepy say your goodbyes and you head towards the nurses office
  3089. >You grab a 'hard' cider on the way
  3090. >The cider was barely alcoholic
  3091. >So more like 'slightly firm' cider
  3092. >You'd need something to help butter her up, and she seemed like she could use a drink
  3093.  
  3094.  
  3095. Be Nurse Honey Heart
  3096. >Your morning had been completely devoured by Anon's shenanigans
  3097. >You barely ate lunch, preferring to try and get some of your backlogged work done with
  3098. >If you never saw that hairless ape in your office again, it'd be too soon
  3099. >*knock knock*
  3100. >It was still only partially through lunch
  3101. >Nopony should be around to bother you right now
  3102. "Come in"
  3103. >...Looks like you were right
  3104. >No pony was here to bother you
  3105. "Anonymous, what a surprise."
  3106. >It really was
  3107. >Because The Warden wasn't with him
  3108. "Please be brief, I have a lot of work to get done"
  3109. >Half of it was reports to various medical and scientific research groups
  3110. >You were the only medical professional to have any contact with the alien Anon, after all
  3111. >Meaning most of your work was directly because of the person bothering you right now
  3112. >Anon offers you a bottle of hard cider
  3113. >"Nurse Heart, I have a proposition for you. I'd like-"
  3114. >You cut him off
  3115. "I'm sorry Anon but I'm not looking for a relationship right now. I'm flattered though. Now if you'll excuse me..."
  3116. >Anon blinks
  3117. >You can practically hear his brain shifting gears
  3118. >"Wait, what? That's not what I was going to talk about"
  3119. >You sigh in relief
  3120. "That's good. So what are you actually here for then?"
  3121. >"As you are well aware, there is no way The Warden will leave either of us alone as long as she thinks I'm in danger of being ill or injured"
  3122. >You nod
  3123. >"So I'd like you to vouch for my health, give her a big report or something"
  3124. >You sigh
  3125. "That would take time I just don't have."
  3126. >Anon touches his chin and thinks
  3127. >"What if I were to spend my free time helping you? Like a secretary or something?"
  3128. >Celestia knows you could use the help
  3129. >But until you could disclose more information about Anon, you'd have to keep working on new and creative ways to turn down your curious colleagues.
  3130. >They'd never stop asking until they had real data to crunch
  3131. "There actually is a couple ways you could help me. First, give me permission to share your record with the scientific community. Second, you will fulfill your offer to act as a secretary in your spare time"
  3132. >Anon nods
  3133. >"I can do that"
  3134. >Now comes the hard part
  3135. >It was a long shot, and it could end your career as a prison nurse...
  3136. >Or it could make you famous and wealthy
  3137. >So it was really a win-win situation
  3138. "And lastly, I need a couple samples for the researchers that are flooding my inbox."
  3139. >"What would you need?"
  3140. "Several waste samples, saliva, hair, nails, and..."
  3141. >Here goes nothing
  3142. "... I'll need a blood sample"
  3143. >No pony would ever agree to having blood drawn unless their life depended on it
  3144. >Anon tilts his head down, hand on chin
  3145. >"Hrm..."
  3146. >Oh well, it was worth a shot
  3147. >You turn back to your desk and take a sip of coffee
  3148. >"I'll do it"
  3149. >Your coffee spills as you choke
  3150. >He agreed to it?!
  3151. "You do realize I don't have any powerful anesthetic here. You'll be fully conscious the entire time"
  3152. >Anon gives a wry smile
  3153. >"Just don't drain me dry. Humans can pretty regularly donate a pint of blood, will that be enough?"
  3154. "I thought you said you didn't want me to drain you dry! Really? A whole pint?!"
  3155. >Anon chuckles
  3156. >"Yeah, just have plenty of juice and sweets there. I'll need the sugar afterwards. As well as plenty of iron-rich food before that."
  3157. "You sound like you've done this before"
  3158. >Anon nods
  3159. >"I have. I donated once before, and one of my buddies regularly donates so that he can make some extra coin"
  3160. >You wrinkle your nose
  3161. "Humans sell their blood?"
  3162. >"Yup, money is a great incentive. And donated blood saves lives, so it's for a good cause"
  3163. >That makes sense, but still
  3164. >How can Anon be fine with a needle like that?
  3165. "How are you comfortable with this? Getting blood drawn, I mean. Aren't you afraid of the needle?"
  3166. >"eh, a little. But I'll be fine. The pain will be temporary and it's in the name of science, right?"
  3167. "Science and getting The Warden to leave us alone"
  3168. >Anon chuckles and lifts up the bottle in his hand
  3169. >"I'd drink to that"
  3170. >Why not?
  3171. >Things were about to get a lot easier for you
  3172. >one way or another...
  3173. >You dump the rest of your coffee into a nearby sink and float your mug over for Anon to fill with cider
  3174. >The coffee was cold anyway
  3175. >Anon fills your mug and clinks the bottle against it
  3176. >"To peace and quiet"
  3177. "To peace and quiet"
  3178. >That cider really hits the spot
  3179. >You needed that
  3180.  
  3181. Be Anon
  3182. >Turns out ponies are a lot more sensitive to alcohol
  3183. >It also turns out that Honey Heart is a talkative, friendly drunk
  3184. >"Ya know, Anon, I didn't plan on being a nurse. Let alone a prison nurse! I wanted to be a doctor! But bills need to be paid, and it doesn't help that med school is so expensive. Doesn't matter what your cutie mark or destiny is if you can't pay for it."
  3185. >She holds out her cup for a refill
  3186. "Miss Heart, I think you've already had enough"
  3187. >"What are you talking about?"
  3188. "You're already a little drunk"
  3189. >"Am not! I'm a professional nurse, I think I know a little more about the effects of alcohol than you do you bald monkey...thing"
  3190. >Her expression shifts to regret
  3191. >"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to insult you... You're a good guy"
  3192. >You give her a smile
  3193. "Thank you nurse Heart"
  3194. >She looks at you with pure gratitude
  3195. >"No, thank you! With those samples I'll get a position in an actual hospital, or maybe even a private practice! My name will go down in history as the physician who made it possible to study humans!"
  3196. >She points at you
  3197. >"There's GOLD in them thar veins!"
  3198. >She giggles at her joke
  3199. >You give her a smile
  3200. >"Say, Anon, I'm sorry I lied to you earlier"
  3201. >She did?
  3202. "you did?"
  3203. >She nods sadly
  3204. >"I said I wasn't looking for a stallion... I'm tired of being alone. Most guys don't like me because I'm too independent and I work too much. I don't think I'll ever find the right stallion"
  3205. >Poor girl is staring into her mug
  3206. >*sniffle*
  3207. >Oh that just isn't fair
  3208. "You'll find Mr. Right someday, you just need someone who is laid back and doesn't mind being left alone. There are plenty of fish in the sea, and you are quite the catch yourself"
  3209. >She looks up with teary eyes
  3210. >"Are you saying I look like a fish?"
  3211. >Aw hell
  3212. "Nonono, human expression. What I meant was that there are a lot of guys out there you haven't even met yet who would be interested in you. You are lovely and smart"
  3213. >She smiles at you
  3214. >"Thanks Anon, that means a lot to me"
  3215. >How did you get into this situation again?
  3216. >"I'm not into monkeys though...sorry"
  3217. >Oh fun, this again
  3218. "I wasn't trying to flirt with you"
  3219. >She giggles
  3220. >"I was just teasing you, relax"
  3221. >You both fall silent and you finish off the cider
  3222. >Nurse Heart was a real lightweight
  3223. >You look towards the stack of papers sitting in her inbox
  3224. >Better now than never...
  3225. "What do you say we start working?"
  3226. >Honey Heart beams a smile at you
  3227. >"YES! Let's get this done!"
  3228. >You pull off the top sheet and look to see what needed to get done
  3229. >....
  3230. >...
  3231. >..
  3232. >.
  3233. >Looks like a government facility, 'stable 51', wanted pictures of you
  3234. >eh, that can wait... What is the second request?
  3235. >...
  3236. >..
  3237. >.
  3238. >well then
  3239. >Time for a photo shoot
  3240.  
  3241. Be Cookies
  3242. >Be thrown out of the kitchen
  3243. >For burning cereal
  3244. >Not your fault the counter and the stove look the same!
  3245. >You go back to the guardhouse to see your next assignment
  3246. >You had to use your break to eat, since the cafeteria staff can't eat during lunch
  3247. >Getting kicked out of a kitchen, not getting petted during your break, and who knows what kind of assignment you were getting for the afternoon shift
  3248. >The spot on your ears was beginning to itch, a sharp, constant pressure against the back of your skull
  3249. >You /really/ needed some alone time with Anon..
  3250. >You look at a wall clock
  3251. >Four and a half hours until dinner
  3252. >That would last roughly forty five minutes
  3253. >So at least five hours until you could cuddle Anon
  3254. >ugh
  3255. >Reaching the guardhouse, you check the duty roster
  3256. >You were assigned early preparation duty for the arrival of the princess
  3257. >Princess Twilight was known for being a stickler for order, perfection, and accuracy
  3258. >And now you had to help prepare for that retentive meanie who had Anon jailed
  3259. >You huff and head towards the Yard, where a stage was being prepared
  3260. >Time to work, the sooner this shift ends, the sooner dinner begins
  3261. >The sooner dinner begins, the sooner you get tummy rubs
  3262.  
  3263. Be Sleepy
  3264. >Be in your cell
  3265. >Be hard at work
  3266. >Preening is serious business
  3267. >You've been carefully saving all the extra down feathers in a bag
  3268. >It isn't filled much, but you'll have it filled by the end of the week
  3269. >Anon would have his pillow
  3270. >you gave him your word
  3271. >And its bad business to break a promise
  3272. >especially to a friend
  3273. >You continue your work
  3274.  
  3275. Be The Warden
  3276. >Finally leaving the bathroom
  3277. >He had explained the joint cracking during the examination earlier
  3278. >Even though he wasn't hurting himself, it still made you sick to your stomach
  3279. >Why would Anon make you watch him crack his fingers like that?
  3280. >That was really mean!
  3281. >You trot back to the mess hall
  3282. >It still has a few inmates loitering around
  3283. >You check the table you had been sitting at
  3284. >Empty, no Anon or Sleepy
  3285. >No food either, which is fine in your book
  3286. >You weren't hungry
  3287. >And an empty table means Anon probably ate and left
  3288. >Good that he ate, at least
  3289. >You shake your head to get the wooziness out
  3290. >You couldn't follow up on Anon's dietary habits right now
  3291. >You had to get ready for a new group of inmates coming in tomorrow
  3292.  
  3293.  
  3294. Be Anon
  3295. >Be several hours later
  3296. >"Thanks again for letting me send out pictures of you"
  3297. >You and nurse Honey Heart had decimated her workload
  3298. >Turns out most of the requests were for pictures of you
  3299. >Heart made copies of all the pictures, enough for every request.
  3300. >There were even a few left over
  3301. "No problem, glad I could help"
  3302. >The room is strewn with various papers, envelopes, and medical supplies
  3303. >Nurse Heart's eyes sweep the room
  3304. >"Think you could help me clean up?"
  3305. >You nod
  3306. "Sure thing"
  3307. >You grab a stethoscope and a few empty sample bottles
  3308. "Where should I put these?"
  3309. >You open up a closet to put away the items...
  3310. >Wait, a guitar?
  3311. "Wait, a guitar?"
  3312. >"Yea... I like to play in my free time. It takes a delicate touch to be a doctor, same goes for musician. Do you play any instruments?"
  3313. "Eh, I've tried playing a couple. Banged on drums a couple times, tried the trumpet in band, even twanged a banjo once or twice. Never really got into any of them though."
  3314. >You both continue cleaning and organizing until the room is neat again
  3315. >"We'll draw your blood in two days, be ready for it"
  3316. >You nod
  3317. "I will be"
  3318. >Great, now you just need Cookies to vouch for you and The Warden should leave you alone
  3319. >Hopefully
  3320. "I'll see you around, Nurse Heart"
  3321. >"Goodbye Anon, and thanks again"
  3322. >You smile and nod, leaving her office
  3323. >Time to find Cookies and enroll her in your little plan
  3324. >Shouldn't be too hard
  3325. >She was your girlfriend, after all
  3326.  
  3327. Be Cookies
  3328. >Be on your way to the nurses office
  3329. >You need to make sure everypony is healthy
  3330. >Can't risk such an important guest getting sick from their visit
  3331. >You finally reach Honey's office and knock on the door
  3332. >"Enter"
  3333. >You do as the voice commands
  3334. "Hi Honey Heart, I'm here to ask about the general health of the prison population to see if it is safe for the princess"
  3335. >Honey's horn lights up and a filing cabinet opens up
  3336. >"I was expecting somepony would inquire about that"
  3337. >She floats a neat stack of papers over to you
  3338. >"I prepared a report ahead of time. In summation, the prison is healthy enough for royalty"
  3339. >That's good, one less thing for you to worry about
  3340. >You thank her and begin to walk out
  3341. > "Could you do me a favor on your way out?"
  3342. "Sure, what is it?"
  3343. >"Anon let me take pictures of him for ponies to study his physiology and I made too many copies, could you toss these out for me?"
  3344. >She floats a stack of pictures over to you
  3345. >From the looks of it, Anon is in several....interesting poses
  3346. >In only his underwear
  3347. >Unf
  3348. "S-sure, I can take care of these for you"
  3349. >"Thanks for getting those off my hooves."
  3350. >She levitates them into your uniform's pocket since you already have your mouth full of report
  3351. "Think nothing of it, it's my pleasure"
  3352. >It really will be a pleasure to 'take care' of the photos for her
  3353. >You say your goodbyes and head back to the staging area with the report
  3354. >And to do some 'research' on human physiology
  3355.  
  3356.  
  3357. Be Anon
  3358. >Be unable to find Cookies
  3359. >You had searched all day but couldn't find her anywhere
  3360. >Eh, she'd turn up for dinner
  3361. >Which would be pretty soon, now that you look at a clock
  3362. >Better head back to your room to meet her
  3363. >You make your way back to your room, passing a napping Sleepy
  3364. >He was asleep in the center of where two hallways intersected
  3365. >He really could doze anywhere...
  3366. >You'd wake him up on your way to dinner with Cookies, let him sleep until then
  3367. >Can't pay for your favor and pillow if he isn't there to accept payment, after all
  3368. >You make it to your room and lie in the bed, fingers interlaced under your head
  3369. >You stared at the ceiling, letting your mind wander as you waited
  3370. >You almost start to doze off until you hear a light knocking at your door
  3371. >That must be Cookies
  3372. >You roll out of bed and open the door for her
  3373. "Hiya Cookies"
  3374. >She seems to already be blushing for some reason
  3375. >"Hey Anon"
  3376. >She's having a hard time looking you in the eyes
  3377. "I was looking for you earlier, can we talk before dinner?"
  3378. >She gives you a smile
  3379. >"S-Sure..."
  3380. >She steps into your room and you close the door and then walk over and sit on the bed
  3381. "So, I wanted to talk about getting The Warden off my back. I've already gotten Sleepy and Honey Heart to promise to vouch for me and my health, and I think with your help The Warden will have to back off a little"
  3382. >She tilts her head
  3383. >"You really think she'll listen to us three enough to leave you alone?"
  3384. >You shrug
  3385. "I know it's a long shot, but it's better than nothing. Besides, what have I got to lose by trying?"
  3386. >Other than a pudding cup...
  3387. >And a pint of blood
  3388. >But other than that, you had nothing to lose
  3389. >"Alright, I'll tell her you've been acting nicer"
  3390. >You smile and nod to her
  3391. "Thanks, I owe ya one"
  3392. >Her eyelids lower
  3393. >Bedroom eyes have been engaged
  3394. >"I know just how you can repay me..."
  3395. >She slowly trots over and hops next to you on the bed
  3396. >You reach out and begin to fondle her ears, gently rubbing and scratching
  3397. >She lets out a sigh of relief
  3398. >"That's perfect....right there..."
  3399. >She begins to lean into your hand...
  3400. >Until your belly rumbles
  3401. >Her face contorts, twisting as she is torn between the need to care for you and her desire to cuddle
  3402. >The need to care for you wins out, and she pulls back with a sigh
  3403. >Her ears go flat in annoyance and resignation
  3404. >"Come on, let's get you fed"
  3405. >You chuckle apologetically and follow her out of your room
  3406. >As you walk, you turn your head to face her
  3407. "Just so you are aware, I have a deal set up with Sleepy. I'll be giving him my next few desserts. As much as I loved having you feed me pudding in bed, it is too dangerous for you to sneak me anymore. So don't worry about me, alright?"
  3408. >Cookies tilts her head up to look in your eyes
  3409. >"What could be worth giving up your desserts for?"
  3410. >You look ahead with a smile
  3411. "That, my dear, is a secret"
  3412. >She blushes hard at hearing you call her 'dear' and drops the subject
  3413. >You make a minor detour to wake up Sleepy
  3414. >You gently poke his shoulder
  3415. "Afternoon, Sleepy. Thought you wouldn't want to miss dinner"
  3416. >He dolefully opens his bleary eyes
  3417. >With a yawn and a stretch he nods and falls in as the three of you continue to the mess
  3418. >You all find your usual spots at a corner table
  3419. >Cookies is looking a little down
  3420. >Probably sad from not doing well in the kitchen earlier
  3421. >Time to earn some brownie points
  3422. "Hey Cookies, I noticed you cooked Sleepy's peanut butter sandwich earlier today"
  3423. >"Yeah..."
  3424. >She looks up at Sleepy
  3425. >"Sorry about that, I haven't cooked in a while and it was an accident"
  3426. >Sleepy shrugs
  3427. >"No big deal, it's not worth getting worked up over"
  3428. "Actually, could you make me one like that? I love toasted peanut butter sandwiches"
  3429. >Cookies' expression completely shifts gears, from sadness, to confusion, to delight
  3430. >"I'd love to make something for you Anon! I'll be right back~"
  3431. >Cookies darts away before you can ask if she'll get in trouble for leaving you without a backup chaperone
  3432. >Eh, she'll probably be fine
  3433. >She's gone to the little guards' room before without trouble in the past
  3434. >You turn to Sleepy
  3435. >"I missed the announcements earlier because I was terribly busy committing shenanigans. Any interesting news that I missed?"
  3436. >Sleepy nods
  3437. >Then slowly continues to chew
  3438. >...
  3439. >...
  3440. >*munch*
  3441. >...
  3442. >...
  3443. "Well, what was the news?"
  3444. >Sleepy swallows and takes a sip of milk
  3445. >"That hits the spot..."
  3446. "Sleepy, you aren't going to charge me for the daily announcement, are you?"
  3447. >Sleepy turns to fully face you, offended look on his face
  3448. >"I'm hurt that you would think I'd do that"
  3449. >His expression goes back to its usual deadpan
  3450. >"I was just enjoying my meal. No need to rush me. The announcements said that we would be getting new inmates"
  3451. >You didn't really care about the new inmates
  3452. >You barely paid attention to the ponies who were already around
  3453. >But it is rarely worth telling the whole prison about
  3454. "They never tell us when new inmates are coming in"
  3455. >"Apparently these inmates are special. Last time the whole prison was told about a new inmate over the announcements, you showed up."
  3456. >Huh, guess you were famous before you ever set foot in the prison
  3457. >or infamous
  3458. >whatever
  3459. "So what makes these inmates so special?"
  3460. >You had been the scapegoat when Twilight cut herself on your knife
  3461. >So whoever these people were, they were here for doing something serious
  3462. >"Dunno, announcements just warned us they would be showing up tomorrow"
  3463. "That's not a whole lot of notice beforehand"
  3464. >Sleepy shrugs
  3465. >"We were only told the day before about you too"
  3466. >Whoever they are, they were at least as dangerous or important as you were
  3467. >Being the only member of a -comparatively- brutal society in this world, that makes you pretty special
  3468. >What kind of creatures could warrant the same level of alert as you?
  3469. >Sleepy seems to pick up on your musings
  3470. >"Could be more humans"
  3471. >Hey, that isn't a half bad guess
  3472. >More humans would probably be treated with panic and alarm
  3473. >Especially after you botched first contact
  3474. >This prison already housed you pretty nicely, it would make perfect sense that more humans would be sent here
  3475. >Maybe they were humans that got sent here by the same force that got you here?
  3476. >That could mean they would be people you knew!
  3477. >You might be about to see your friends again!
  3478. >Maybe there would be a human female?
  3479. >You really did love Cookies, and would never cheat on her...
  3480. >...But damn, you missed looking at boobs
  3481. >Cookies returns at that moment with a sheepish grin
  3482. >"Sorry Anon, I think I let it burn a little..."
  3483. >The sandwich she brought back was objectively a mess
  3484. >The bread was blackened
  3485. >She had attempted to cut the sandwich, but mostly just mutilated it
  3486. >There was too much peanut butter, to the point it was dripping onto the floor
  3487. >You gingerly pick up the sandwich, careful to not get too much peanut butter on your hands
  3488. >you fail miserably
  3489. >Cookies cringes as you take a bite
  3490. >The bread was so burnt, the bite was audible around the cafeteria
  3491. >You continue to chew, and try to thoughtfully swallow
  3492. >Too much peanut butter
  3493. >You choke a little
  3494. >"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make it so..."
  3495. "Perfect! I love the crunchiness."
  3496. >Cookies blinks several times
  3497. >"W-What?"
  3498. "You want some? Sandwiches taste better when you share."
  3499. >"I'm not sure about that, Anon...
  3500. "I am, a wise human once said that"
  3501. >"S-sure..."
  3502. >You tear off a piece, coating your palms in peanut butter
  3503. >You put the piece on Cookies' tray
  3504. >She looks at it warily, but seeing you enjoying the rest put her doubts to rest
  3505. >She carefully tries to get the peanut butter soaked toast into her mouth cleanly
  3506. >And fails miserably
  3507. >She even managed to get a bit on the tip of her nose
  3508. >Her face twists as she struggles to chew
  3509. >You start laughing and she is soon giggling next to you, mouth seemingly permanently glued shut by the sandwich
  3510. >You take a sip of juice and smile
  3511. >This sandwich was just like the ones you would make for your sister
  3512. >Back then she would make you eat half because, as she put it, 'sandwiches taste better when you share'
  3513. >You finish off the sandwich as well as the rest of your meal while Cookies continues to valiantly struggle against the mouthful of peanut butter
  3514. >She even growled in annoyance at one point
  3515. >By the time she finally finishes, you've already managed to wipe off most of the peanut butter on your hands and clean your area
  3516. "So Cookies, you gonna 'read me a bedtime story' tonight?"
  3517. >She cleans her muzzle and grins at you
  3518. >She missed the peanut butter on her nose
  3519. >"You bet"
  3520. >You wink at her
  3521. "See you in a little bit"
  3522. >You turn to Sleepy
  3523. "Good night bud, see ya around tomorrow"
  3524. >Sleepy yawns and waves as he lazily flaps away
  3525. >You leave the table and head towards your cell
  3526. >Cookies will find her way there in a little bit
  3527.  
  3528. Be Cookies
  3529. >You love Anon
  3530. >really /really/ love Anon
  3531. >No matter how you managed to mess up, he never cared
  3532. >In fact, he could make even your greatest failures into things to celebrate
  3533. >Sure he could be blunt or even annoying at times
  3534. >But if he can put up with you, you can sure as tartarus put up with him
  3535. >He was a cuddle champion after all
  3536. >He always seemed to be able to scratch itches you didn't even know you had!
  3537. >If he ever became a masseur, you'd be his first client every day
  3538. >And his last client every day
  3539. >Speaking of whom, you finally arrive at his cell
  3540. >You are carrying a book you randomly pulled from a library shelf
  3541. >It was just a prop to avoid suspicion, didn't really matter what you had
  3542. >You knock softly at his door
  3543. >"Come in"
  3544. >You enter his cell and put the book on the nightstand as Anon locks the door behind you
  3545. >The movement makes one of the photos fall out of your jacket pocket
  3546. >You freeze
  3547. >Please Celestia don't let him noti-
  3548. >Anon picks up the picture
  3549. >"What's this?....Cookies, where did you get this?"
  3550. >You feel your face heating intensely
  3551. >How can you talk your way out of this?!
  3552. >There is no legitimate excuse for having that picture!
  3553. >Maybe telling half the truth will disarm the situation
  3554. "Uh... Nurse Honey Heart asked me to get rid of the extras?"
  3555. >Anon laughs
  3556. >Nailed it?
  3557. >Anon walks over to his desk and pulls out a pen and winks
  3558. >"Let me just sign this for you"
  3559. >Wow, Anon wasn't just ok with you having 'interesting' pictures of himself. He was willing to give them to you!
  3560. >SCORE!
  3561. >Anon finishes signing the picture and turns to you
  3562. >"You can grab it on your way out"
  3563. >You grin and nod, turning towards the bed
  3564. >aw yea, cuddle time
  3565. >you hop onto the bed and turn just in time to see Anon sprinting towards you
  3566. >With a mighty leap, he slams down next to you on the bed, making it creak in protest
  3567. >The maneuver also sends you flying straight up, only to land in a jumble back on the bed
  3568. >Before you can regain any form of composure, Anon's hands are on you
  3569. >You barely manage to muffle a squeak as he aggressively rubs your tummy
  3570. >You can hardly get out words between gasps and giggles
  3571. "S-Stop! Too fast! Its tickling!"
  3572. >Anon drops his face to your belly
  3573. "A-Anon, what are y-"
  3574. >"THRBTRBTRBT!"
  3575. >You shriek and your hooves wave uselessly in the air
  3576. >Anon readjusts himself and lays down on top of you, wrapping you in a big hug
  3577. "MRMPH!"
  3578. >"The cuddle monster claims another victim!"
  3579. >Anon rolls over, taking you along for the ride
  3580. >When the world finally stops spinning, you are lying on top of him
  3581. >He smiles broadly as he begins scratching under your cap with one hand, the other gently pinching and massaging your withers
  3582. >You close your eyes and smile down at him
  3583. >"Hehe, you /still/ have peanut butter on your nose! I thought you would've gotten that cleaned off by now"
  3584. >Your eyes pop open as you try to spot the offending morsel
  3585. >Anon chuckles and the hand on the back of your head spreads out, fingers weaving into your mane
  3586. >"Let me get that for you..."
  3587. >He gently pulls you down and kisses...
  3588. >!
  3589. >THAT WASN'T YOUR NOSE
  3590. >THAT WASN'T YOUR NOSE AT ALL
  3591. >A constant electricity is coursing through you
  3592. >You feel petrified
  3593. >Muscles locked in place
  3594. >Heart palpitating
  3595. >and the whole world looked slightly out of focus
  3596. >You feel tiny against Anon's chest
  3597. >as quickly as it started, it stops
  3598. >Anon pulls back from his impulsive kiss
  3599. >Your ear twitches as the immediate shock wears off
  3600. >The electricity in your veins turns to magma
  3601. "I...er...neh..."
  3602. >Brain? This is body. Tell mouth to shut up
  3603. >Body? This is brain. Roger Roger
  3604. >Mouth? This is brain. Shhhhh, now is not the time for words.
  3605. >The world snaps back into focus as Anon chuckles
  3606. >"You alright Cookies?"
  3607. "That was...woah"
  3608. >You still feel a little tingly
  3609. >Anon laughs
  3610. >Leaving you breathlessly bouncing as his chest rose and fell
  3611.  
  3612. Be Anon
  3613. >Be the cuddle monster
  3614. >Be on top of your prey
  3615. "The cuddle monster claims another victim!"
  3616. >Initiate victory roll!
  3617. >You hold Cookies tight as you roll, pulling her with you
  3618. >You end up on your back, Cookies' weight pressing comfortably down on your chest and stomach
  3619. >Cookies head wobbles slightly from the sudden shift in perspective, but she quickly regains her balance
  3620. >She closes her eyes and lets out a pleased little sound as you gently stroke and scratch her
  3621. >You didn't notice before in all the commotion, but she somehow managed to keep that spot of peanut butter on her nose the entire time
  3622. >"Hehe, you /still/ have peanut butter on your nose! I thought you would've gotten that cleaned off by now"
  3623. >This gives you an idea
  3624. >She cleaned pudding off your nose by kissing it a while back
  3625. >Why not return the favor?
  3626. >But why stop there? After all, you gave her a hard time earlier
  3627. "Let me get that for you..."
  3628. >You gently pull her down and give her a quick peck on the lips
  3629. >She makes a little panicked sound
  3630. >Her whole body tenses
  3631. >You can feel her heart thundering in her chest
  3632. >Her lips trembled against yours
  3633. >You pull back and you notice her eyes are slightly crossed
  3634. >"I...er...neh..."
  3635. >...Maybe you overdid it
  3636. "You alright Cookies?"
  3637. >Her eyes focus on you and she turns bright pink
  3638. >"That was...woah"
  3639. >Oh good, she isn't broken
  3640. >You start laughing, which sets her bouncing on your chest
  3641. >Seeing her bobbing up and down just gets you laughing harder
  3642. >She joins in on the laughter, which goes on for a full minute
  3643. >As you both calm down, she stares lovingly at you
  3644. >You can't help but smirk
  3645. "Oops, looks like I missed the peanut butter. I'll have to try again"
  3646. >Her blush returns and magnifies
  3647. >She smiles coyly and leans forward, closing her eyes
  3648. >Today is a good day
  3649.  
  3650. Be The Warden
  3651. >Be hungry
  3652. >At least breakfast is only an hour away
  3653. >One hour until you not only get to eat, but introduce everypony to their new friends!
  3654. >You look back down at the report on your desk
  3655. >It's a shame the princess had to postpone her visit. Jailing the new inmates caused a real fuss politically, and her expertise on friendship and compromise were needed.
  3656. >You were still meeting royalty, though! Sure, they might not be really powerful, but they were still nobles!
  3657. >And you would make sure they were comfortable for as long as they were your inmates
  3658.  
  3659. Be Sleepy
  3660. >Be in the mess
  3661. >Eating with Cookies and Anon, as usual
  3662. >Anon seemed in higher spirits than usual
  3663. >"So we get to meet the mystery inmates today"
  3664. >You nod at him
  3665. >Cookies looks to Anon
  3666. >"I heard they aren't ponies"
  3667. "Huh, interesting"
  3668. >"Why is that interesting?
  3669. >Cookies gives Anon an incredulous look
  3670. >"Don't tell me you didn't notice"
  3671. >He looks confused
  3672. >"Notice what?"
  3673. "Anon, look around you and tell me what you see"
  3674. >Anon shrugs and scans the mess
  3675. >"I see a lot of tiny pastel horses eating plants"
  3676. >Cookies nods
  3677. >"That's exactly it. You are the only inmate who isn't a pony"
  3678. >Anon's eyes widen at the realization
  3679. >"Woah, I never noticed! That's neat"
  3680. >Cookies giggles
  3681. >"You can be so clueless sometimes"
  3682. >Anon shoots Cookies a smirk
  3683. >"Says the mare that had peanut butter on her nose for an hour"
  3684. >Cookies blushes fiercely
  3685. >She must be embarrassed about walking around like that for so long
  3686. >"Only because you wouldn't clean it off"
  3687. >Huh, maybe Anon carries a handkerchief that he wouldn't let her borrow?
  3688. >That's probably it
  3689. >That wasn't very nice of him
  3690. >He should have shared
  3691.  
  3692. Be Anon
  3693. >You chuckle as Cookies giggles
  3694. >You glance towards Sleepy who gives you a small disapproving look
  3695. >...Maybe you shouldn't flirt in front of him
  3696. >"You should help ponies who need it, Anon"
  3697. >Whew, he didn't suspect anything!
  3698. "Yea, you're right. I'm sorry Cookies"
  3699. >Cookies laughs
  3700. >"Just make sure it doesn't happen again"
  3701. "I'll make no promises"
  3702. >You shoot her a wink
  3703. >Sleepy just shrugs and returns to his meal
  3704. >Meanwhile, The Warden was making her way to the center of the mess
  3705. >She stands on a table and shouts out
  3706. >"ATTENTION, YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE!"
  3707. >The whole mess quiets as all eyes land on her
  3708. >"Thank you for quieting down so fast! Now then, as you all know we are getting new inmates today"
  3709. >She beams around the mess
  3710. >"I hope you'll all treat them well and become as good friends with them as you all are with me! I'm happy to introduce Bronze Chain and his sister, Bronze Bust!"
  3711. >The Warden smiles from ear to ear and points towards a door, where two minotaurs are standing and claps her front hooves together excitedly
  3712. >The male, Chain, was huge by pony standards. He was even a big guy for you. His left horn was smaller than his right and he had a coat the same color as his namesake. He wasn't wearing a shirt, but he was wearing black pants
  3713. >The female, Bust, reminded you of some girls back on earth. Specifically, the ones that carried new and exciting forms of STDs. She had waist-length black hair and her coat was white with black splotches. She also had a much more humanlike face than her brother but still had cow ears and was wearing a tight tank-top with shorts that were ready to commit suicide
  3714. >They walk forward towards The Warden and survey the room
  3715. >Their eyes are quickly drawn to you
  3716. >Being the only non-pony tends to make you stand out
  3717. >Bust's eyes light up, and she sashays over towards your table
  3718. >Chain narrows his eyes and follows her
  3719. >Bust reaches your table first
  3720. >"Howdy, good to see another minotaur lady in here. We are going to become such good friends"
  3721. >She gives you a big grin
  3722. >You smile back out of habit
  3723. "I'm actually not a female minotaur. I'm a male human"
  3724. >Her eyes widen in surprise
  3725. >"Really? You look just like a minotaur!"
  3726. >You nod and lift up a foot and remove the shoe
  3727. >Her eyes are gigantic as she watches you wiggle your toes in your socks
  3728. >"Woah! So you really aren't a minotaur! I've never heard of anything like a 'human' before... But I'm guessing we're still going to be /good/friends. We will catch on fantastically"
  3729. >Her whole demeanor shifts and she leans forward, crossing her arms to exaggerate her already impressive assets.
  3730. >She winked at you when she said 'good'
  3731. >You glance over at Cookies, who has a fake smile plastered rather poorly on her face
  3732. >Chain catches up with his sister and looks at you with a glare
  3733. >"You stay the tartarus away from my sister"
  3734. >Bust pouts at her brother
  3735. >"Aw come on Chain, please let me keep this one? You know I have a thing for androgynous guys!"
  3736. >Hey
  3737. >rude
  3738. "I'll have you know I'm appropriately masculine for a human, thank you very much"
  3739. >Bust giggles and her brother gives you a scowl
  3740. >Chain leans forward and looks you dead in the eye
  3741. >"You wanna know why I'm here? I made that fluffer Blueblood cry"
  3742. >Every pony in earshot gasps at the cruel language
  3743. >How adorable
  3744. "Neat"
  3745. >Bust nibbles her fingertip
  3746. >"And I'm in here for being too cute"
  3747. >You doubt that
  3748. >Chain turns to his sister and corrects her with a grin
  3749. >"Actually, you're here because you couldn't stop laughing at Blueblood after he started crying. It didn't help that you told him to, and I quote, 'build a bridge and get over it'"
  3750. >Bust huffs and pulls her shirt a little further down, exposing slightly more cleavage
  3751. >"I wouldn't have laughed if you hadn't made him cry in the first place"
  3752. >Chain frowns at her
  3753. >"Well I wouldn't have made him cry if you hadn't been trying to get him to nuzzle your-"
  3754. >The Warden walks right in between the quarreling siblings, oblivious to the argument she was interrupting
  3755. >"I'm glad to see you two have already made friends with Anon!"
  3756. >Chain faces you
  3757. >"I'll make him friends with the floor if he gets too close to Bust"
  3758. >The Warden laughs
  3759. >"Silly Chain, you can't be friends with the floor! Now come on, you two are probably hungry after your long journey here"
  3760. >They both start leaving with The Warden, but Bust stops for a moment and turns towards you again with her hands behind her back to exaggerate her chestfruit
  3761. >"I'll catch you later, manling"
  3762. >She winks at you and hurries to catch up with The Warden, hips moving just a bit more than necessary
  3763. >You turn back to the table to see Sleepy still calmly eating as though nothing had happened
  3764. >Cookies' jaw was clenched as she watched Bronze Bust move away
  3765. >"I don't like her"
  3766. >You chuckle
  3767. >Well, this prison just got a little more interesting
  3768. >Sleepy clears his throat
  3769. >"I didn't expect them to be nobles"
  3770. >Wait, what?
  3771. "Those two are nobles?"
  3772. >Sleepy nods
  3773. >"Not very high up though. You can tell by their names. The hierarchy goes: Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze. Minotaurs in the military usually take the surname 'steel' and commoners usually have surnames like 'iron', 'copper', or 'pewter'. They are probably half-breeds too. Minotaur names are usually concepts like 'will' or 'courage'. Being named after objects is rare among minotaurs but common with ponies and cows"
  3774. >neat
  3775. >wait a minute...
  3776. "You know an awful lot about minotaur society"
  3777. >Sleepy shrugs
  3778. >"Have to. Minotaurs go through a lot of pillows. Horns on the sides of their heads, you know how it goes"
  3779. >That makes sense
  3780. >Hopefully you won't be seeing too much of those two
  3781.  
  3782.  
  3783. Be Bronze Chain
  3784. >The Warden is attempting to talk your ear off
  3785. >The only reason she's failing is because you are too busy being angry at this 'Anon' fellow
  3786. >Who the hay does he think he is, ogling your sister like that?!
  3787. >If The Warden hadn't saved his butt, you would have ground him into the dirt
  3788. >You'll find a chance to show him that you are the new top dog around here
  3789. >He'll never know what hit him
  3790.  
  3791. Be Bronze Bust
  3792. >You like this human 'Anon'
  3793. >He was cute
  3794. >And funny
  3795. >And so brave! Anon was able to stand his ground against your brother!
  3796. >Most males would cower in fear of your brother
  3797. >Some would cry if your brother looked at them funny
  3798. >Anon smirked when he heard your brother insult Blueblood
  3799. >he /smirked/
  3800. >This male was a breed all his own
  3801. >Soon to be all /your/ own
  3802. >Whether he was single or not, you didn't know
  3803. >And didn't care
  3804. >either way, that male would soon be resting his head on your-
  3805. >"...So how about it, Bust? You want to join?"
  3806. >Oh buck, The Warden just asked you a question
  3807. "uh....sure?"
  3808. >"Lovely! I just know you'll love book club!"
  3809.  
  3810. Be Anon
  3811. >Be after breakfast
  3812. >Be on your way to your cell block with Sleepy
  3813. "So how's that pillow coming along?"
  3814. >Sleepy smiles
  3815. >"Everything is going according to schedule. Your pillow will be ready in another couple days. earliest possible would be late tomorrow, latest would be in three days"
  3816. "Awesome, thanks!"
  3817. >Sleepy smirks at you
  3818. >"Just keep the pudding flowing during meals"
  3819. >He just had to rub it in, didn't he?
  3820. "Sure thing, you tiny greedy horse"
  3821. >You both chuckle and turn the corner to find Bronze Chain leaning against a wall, arms crossed
  3822. >You give a little two finger salute and Sleepy nods at him as you both try to pass
  3823. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4R3wH99V-gs&list=PL53287B284F875BDE&index=7
  3824. >"Not so fast there"
  3825. >Chain moves in front of you
  3826. >"You didn't think I'd let you get away with staring at my sister like that, did you?"
  3827. >He gives you a cruel smile
  3828. >Well shit
  3829. >This guy is easily twice your weight in pure muscle
  3830. >If you have to fight him, it won't be pretty
  3831. "Sleepy... You might want to go on without me"
  3832. >This is no place for tired pacifist horses
  3833. >Sleepy looks up at you, concerned expression on his face
  3834. >"You sure you'll be ok?"
  3835. >You nod
  3836. "I'll manage. Go"
  3837. >Sleepy cautiously steps around Chain and hurries away
  3838. >Leaving you alone with this big bunch of bovine biomass
  3839. >Your only hope, if it comes down to a fight, is to move fast and get under his guard. Use his height and mass to your advantage to try and outmaneuver him.
  3840. >You'd have to bite, scratch, and go for the family jewels
  3841. >No place for honor in a prison fight
  3842. >You brace yourself for the worst as Chain uncrosses his arms and points at you
  3843. >"Your momma so fat, she's on BOTH sides of the family"
  3844. >...
  3845. >Wait, what?
  3846. >"Your momma so fat, she needs two watches. One for each time zone she's in"
  3847. >Chain grins at you
  3848. >"Had enough yet, punk?"
  3849. >...He's not going to attack?
  3850. >He's just going to insult your mother?
  3851. >AW HELL NAW
  3852. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7RWhf2FtXU&list=PL53287B284F875BDE&index=5
  3853. >HE IS GOING DOWN!
  3854. "YOUR momma so fat, she needs her own Alicorn to get up in the morning"
  3855. >Chain's jaw drops
  3856. >His eyes widen
  3857. >Looks like no one has ever fought back
  3858. >Meaning you were the first
  3859. >Neat
  3860. >His mouth opens and closes a couple times, gasping like a fish
  3861. >Time to milk this while that overgrown cow is stunned
  3862. "Your momma so fat, when she stepped on a scale the doctor said 'well I'll be, that's my phone number!'. Your momma so fat, her blood type is butter!"
  3863. >With each insult, he takes a step back
  3864. >Looks like he can dish it out, but doesn't know how to take it
  3865. >He has a 'glass mother', so to speak
  3866. >You haven't had this much fun in a long time
  3867. "Your momma so fat, that when she bent over, the Grand Canyon said 'DAMN!'"
  3868. >"W-Why you little..."
  3869. >He can't even come up with a retort!
  3870. >FINISH HIM!
  3871. "Your momma SO FAT that if you slapped her ass you could ride the ripples with a surfboard!"
  3872. >FATALITY
  3873. >His hands clench into fists
  3874. >"This isn't over...DWEEB!"
  3875. >And with that, the minotaur makes a hasty retreat
  3876. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBXoC-l0SHU
  3877. >FLAWLESS VICTORY
  3878. >You chuckle and start walking towards you cell again
  3879. >"THAT WAS AMAZING!"
  3880. >A very feminine voice calls out from behind you
  3881. >You turn to see Bust walking out from behind the bend in a nearby hall
  3882. >"I saw the whole thing!"
  3883. >She runs up to you, awed grin on her face
  3884. >"No one has ever stood up to my brother like that before! You sure are one tough guy~"
  3885. >She slows the last few feet and gets uncomfortably close
  3886. >You try to create some distance, but every time you do she just takes another step
  3887. >Out of the frying pan and into the fire, it would appear
  3888. >your back presses against a wall
  3889. >"You know, I have a thing for strong men... What do you say we find a nice spot for me to sit on your lap?"
  3890. >This is rapidly getting out of hand
  3891. "Eh... I don't-"
  3892. >She gives a predatory smile and giggles, placing a hand on your chest
  3893. >"So... your cell, or mine?"
  3894. >She winks
  3895. >You need an adult
  3896. >...
  3897. >...
  3898. >...
  3899. >Shit, you ARE an adult!
  3900. >You need an adult who can properly adult!
  3901. >Another voice calls out from the side
  3902. >"Why hello there inmates Anon and Bust"
  3903. >OH THANK GOD
  3904. >The cavalry has arrived!
  3905. >Cookies approaches from the same bend that Bust had been hiding behind
  3906.  
  3907. Be Cookies
  3908. >Be walking down the halls
  3909. >You saw how those minotaurs looked at him
  3910. >One looked like it wanted to eat him, and the other looked like it wanted to /eat/ him
  3911. >You decided to follow a little ways behind Anon
  3912. >You had librarian duty, and Anon was walking in the general direction of the library
  3913. >The library you had to go to anyway
  3914. >Perfect excuse to protect your coltfriend
  3915. >"Eh... I don't-"
  3916. >That was Anon's voice!
  3917. >You must have caught up with him!
  3918. >You rush around the bend to the sounds of feminine giggles
  3919. >Anon did not sound like that
  3920. >It'd better not be that-
  3921. >It was
  3922. >"So... your cell, or mine?"
  3923. >AW TARTARUS NAW
  3924. >Bust was WAY too close to Anon
  3925. >You weren't gonna let this cow near /your/ man!
  3926. >And Anon was obviously not pleased with the situation
  3927. >Time to play interference
  3928. "Why hello there inmates Anon and Bust"
  3929. >You trot up and force yourself in between the two
  3930. "I bumped into The Warden a few minutes ago, she's looking for you Bust. She said you promised to join book club. She sounded excited, today they are talking about the most grueling choice the main character has to make... Tipping the florist's cashier three bits or four"
  3931. >Bust huffs and crosses her arms
  3932. >"But I don't wanna!"
  3933. >She bounced a little to emphasize her point
  3934. >You glance at Anon and catch him giving a look at her chest
  3935. > then he looks back to you with a thankful, sheepish smile
  3936. >...You'd have to talk to him about that later
  3937. "Come with me, Bust."
  3938. >"But I-"
  3939. "Since you are new I'm going to personally show you where the book club meets in the library"
  3940. >You begin trotting away and Bust eventually follows, sulking the entire time
  3941. >You throw one last look back at Anon and see him mouthing 'thank you'
  3942. >You nod back at him and smile, turning your head back towards the library
  3943.  
  3944. Be Bronze Chain
  3945. >Be in your cell
  3946. >Be pacing back and forth
  3947. >Be furious
  3948. >No one has ever stood their ground against you before
  3949. >To have such a scrawny creature not only weather your assault, but fight back?
  3950. >insanity!
  3951. >Anon hasn't won yet though
  3952. >That /thing/ caught you off guard last time, that's all
  3953. >You're new here, and that threw you off your game
  3954. >Next time you won't be beaten so easily
  3955. >There is no way that little brat could go another round against you!
  3956. >You nod to yourself and leave your cell
  3957. >You were going to find the gym
  3958. >Then you were going to work off some of this anger
  3959. >You wander through the halls, glaring at anypony that doesn't move out of your way fast enough
  3960. >You notice a pony that is slightly larger than the others, wearing a green sweater over his yellow coat
  3961. >Must be a weightlifter
  3962. >Perfect, he would know where the gymnasium is
  3963. "You there, where can I perfect the monument to beauty that is my body?"
  3964. >The stallion jumps in surprise as you quickly move to corner him
  3965. >"W-W-What?"
  3966. >How dare he not tell you where you could lift heavy things!
  3967. "If you won't tell me where the gym is, maybe I should just lift you instead!"
  3968. >The stallion smiles nervously
  3969. >"You're looking for the gym? Why didn't you say so? It's down this hall, then take the next two lefts you can. Can't miss it"
  3970. >The stallion is practically trembling
  3971. >This pleased you
  3972. >This one, at least, knew its place
  3973. >You grunt at the pony and turn to follow his directions
  3974. >"H-Have a nice day neighborino"
  3975. >You stop
  3976. >and turn back towards him
  3977. >He audibly gulps
  3978. "What did you just call me?"
  3979. >The stallion can barely stand at this point
  3980. >"I d-didn't mean any harm by it, f-friendo"
  3981. >Your eyes narrow
  3982. "Listen to me very carefully"
  3983. >He nods
  3984. >"Okily Dokily"
  3985. >You decide to ignore that one
  3986. >You get the feeling you'll be here all day otherwise
  3987. "I"
  3988. "AM"
  3989. "NOT"
  3990. "YOUR"
  3991. "'FRIENDO'"
  3992. >"eep!"
  3993. >The stallion covers his face with his forelegs and trembles
  3994. >You smile in satisfaction and look westwards, where the promised land lies
  3995. >You resume your Journey to the West
  3996. >The stallions 'friendos' rush over to see if he is alright
  3997. >The stallion, finally free from your crushing gaze, begins bawling
  3998. [spoiler] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wu13lImbF68[/spoiler]
  3999. >Another weight pony rushes up to you after watching the whole interaction
  4000. >He had aTan coat with blue hair
  4001. >Little creature was probably too scared to act until now
  4002. >And now he's standing in your path
  4003. >He should have kept his head down
  4004. >"Why did you do that?!"
  4005. >You raise an eyebrow at him
  4006. >Then smile
  4007. "Because I could"
  4008. >The stallion glances at his crying friend
  4009. >"You shouldn't be such a bully!"
  4010. >You lean down towards him
  4011. "I'm afraid I can't do that"
  4012. >His ears go flat against his skull and he backs away a few steps
  4013. >"W-Why is that?"
  4014. >You take a deep breath and roar
  4015. "BECAUSE I'M HALF BULL!"
  4016. >The sudden increase in volume makes every pony in the hall jump
  4017. >The stallion in front of you cowers in fear
  4018. >Whimpers
  4019. >Then darts away towards his friends
  4020. >This is how it should be
  4021. >With you at the top of the totem pole!
  4022. >All this terrorizing has gotten you pumped up
  4023. >Perfect mood for lifting
  4024. >Your tail swishes as you stalk your way down the hall towards the gym
  4025. >You feel good again
  4026. >And you haven't even picked up anything heavy yet!
  4027. >Maybe you'll give Anon a 'friendly' visit afterwards
  4028. >Show that monkey what you're really made of
  4029. >You grumble under your breath
  4030. "Just you wait, Anon... I'm coming for you soon!"
  4031.  
  4032.  
  4033. Be Anon
  4034. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFDKmDEnEsM
  4035. >Be in the middle of a sneeze
  4036. "WASTCHU!"
  4037. >"Excuse you"
  4038. >You sniffle
  4039. "Thanks Sleepy"
  4040. >After your escapades with the Bronze siblings, you had managed to catch up with him near the arcade
  4041. >You smile at him
  4042. "Did you know that in some human cultures, sneezing is considered a sign someone somewhere is talking about you?"
  4043. >Sleepy gives you a blank look
  4044. >"Humans are odd"
  4045. >You chuckle
  4046. "Can't argue with you there"
  4047. >Sleepy smiles, then shakes his head
  4048. >"I still can't believe you took that monster on by yourself"
  4049. >You grin at him
  4050. >Time to milk this for all its worth
  4051. "You saw how he was trying to scare me in the mess. I couldn't bring him down a peg there because Cookies could have been caught in the crossfire. I knew Chain was waiting in the hall, getting caught was part of my plan"
  4052. >No it wasn't
  4053. >But it sounded cool
  4054. >Sleepy gives a low whistle
  4055. >"Impressive"
  4056. >You do a little bow
  4057. "It can be hard being so awesome, but someone has to do it. Just call me Mr. Amazing"
  4058. >Sleepy snorts
  4059. >hey
  4060. >rude
  4061. "Hey, at least I could stand up to him. You ran away"
  4062. >Sleepy smirks
  4063. >"Because you told me to. I could have put that minotaur in his place"
  4064. >Your turn to snort
  4065. "What, would you have conned him out of pudding until he begged for mercy?"
  4066. >Sleepy chuckles
  4067. >"nah, I only con people I like"
  4068. >aw...
  4069. >Sleepy glances over at the arcade
  4070. >"Wanna play a few rounds?"
  4071. >It feels like forever since you've played a decent game with a friend
  4072. >Ponies really like rhythm and racing games, with the odd simulation game thrown in
  4073. >Pretty dull when you play alone, but maybe Sleepy can energize the experience
  4074. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcY7m6AuqJA
  4075. "Sure, let's do it"
  4076. >You both head into the arcade and the prize-desk pony waves at you both
  4077. >The light here is much dimmer than the rest of the prison
  4078. >Perfect for preventing glare on the cabinet screens
  4079. >You and Sleepy play a few rhythm games
  4080. >Most of the songs are stupidly easy
  4081. >At least you earn a bunch of prize tickets
  4082. >Your seven year old self would drool at the sight of such a pile of tickets
  4083. >After a few tracks, Sleepy switches to a dating sim while you watch and give your opinion on the in-game characters
  4084. >Sleepy spends most of his time in-game training his character and ends up hooking up with a unicorn. Classic tsundere type
  4085. "Say Sleepy, is there anything with a little more...action? More oomph"
  4086. >Sleepy nods and gestures for you to follow
  4087. >You pass an air hockey table and a bongo-drum game as Sleepy leads you to a pair of booths
  4088. >Sleepy plops down in the first booth and motions for you to take the second
  4089. >They look just like the two player Vs. racing cabinets back home
  4090. >With one major difference
  4091. "Uh... how am I supposed to drive this?"
  4092. >There is no steering wheel or pedals
  4093. >Just one stick to the side of the chair with a button on top, and a dense fiber loop
  4094. >"You've never used reins before?"
  4095. "Nope. My people use wheels to turn our vehicles, and pedals to speed up or slow down"
  4096. >Sleepy rolls his eyes
  4097. >"Snap the reins to go forward, pull them back to slow down. Pull them in a direction to turn. That lever is your hoof brake and the button is your special ability. You'll catch on in no time"
  4098. >You shrug and take your seat in the booth
  4099. >You awkwardly navigate the menus as Sleepy waits
  4100. >"Take your time. Not like racing games are about speed or anything"
  4101. "My people have a saying: Slow and steady wins the race"
  4102. >In your defense, reins are hard to use
  4103. >Doesn't help that the graphics are piss-poor
  4104. >"If that's really the case, there is no chance you'll lose"
  4105. >Sleepy smirks at you
  4106. >"How about we make this interesting. If you win, I'll consider your pudding debts paid meaning your pillow will be completely paid off. If I win, you need to pay me another pudding cup"
  4107. >That could be a good deal
  4108. >Could be a terrible mistake
  4109. >Screw it
  4110. "Oh it's on now, I'm paying off my pillow right now!"
  4111. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHJgXmnHyZw
  4112. >You finally manage to select a racer to pull your 'cart' and both booths go black as they load up the track
  4113. >The camera pans around a technicolor pathway while the track's name floats on screen
  4114. >>"Multicolor Boulevard"
  4115. >You and Sleepy give each other determined glances
  4116. >The camera stops panning when it comes across a carriage being pulled by a polygon pony
  4117. >The game begins the countdown to start the race
  4118. >"3"
  4119. >Your grip tightens on the reins
  4120. >"2"
  4121. >You swallow
  4122. >"1"
  4123. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdGzahsDY1U
  4124. >You and Sleepy crack your reins at the same time
  4125. >Both your racers speed forward, matched neck and neck
  4126. >You stay tied for first place for several seconds
  4127. >your virtual carts grinding and trading splinters
  4128. >...But Sleepy quickly takes a small lead
  4129. >Lucky bastard was spawned on the inside track for the first turn
  4130. >No matter, still plenty of race to be run
  4131. >Sleepy takes a risk and rams your cart, hoping to make you lose control
  4132. >His ploy nearly pays off
  4133. >You barely manage to retain control and snap the reins again
  4134. >While you didn't crash, you did lose a few feet on him
  4135. >He has nearly a full carriage lead on you now
  4136. >"Where is your awesomeness now 'Mr. Amazing'?"
  4137. >You take a breath
  4138. >There is still plenty of race, you got this
  4139. >You aren't even at the second turn yet...
  4140. >You glance at the minimap
  4141. >Shit!
  4142. >Snake turn!
  4143. >You always had a hard time with those
  4144. >And that was when you were familiar with the controls
  4145. >You grit your teeth as the turn comes up
  4146. >Sleepy begins to make the first turn, then immediately cracking his reins the opposite direction to his turn as a wing flicks his hoof brake
  4147. >You watch in awe as he power slides right through both curves, carriage never leaving the road
  4148. >You didn't know carriages could drift!
  4149. >You know you can't pull of the same maneuver, and attempt a more standard response
  4150. >It doesn't work out very well, your carriage ends up on the grass next to the road most of the turns
  4151. >The slip-up kills your momentum
  4152. >Sleepy gains a sizeable lead as you flounder in the turn
  4153. >"Give up yet? There is no way you can win!"
  4154. "I'll never surrender! This aint over 'til the fat lady sings!"
  4155. >Somewhere far away, Bronze Chain's mom sneezes
  4156. >You gun it, repeatedly snapping the reins viciously in an attempt to rebuild velocity
  4157. >There is still plenty of race, no need to panic
  4158. >You manage to not fall further behind, until Sleepy starts using his racer's special ability
  4159. >He starts dropping banana peels
  4160. >The first one comes as a surprise, and you go spinning
  4161. >Losing even more precious distance and speed
  4162. >You /really/ hate bananas
  4163. >You quickly learn to use your own special to counter his
  4164. >Your racer can jump
  4165. >He has a massive lead at this point
  4166. >You feel a single sweat droplet roll down the side of your face
  4167. >This isn't good
  4168. >Your racer speeds up a mountain path with low guardrails, only to be confronted with a banana peel at the top
  4169. >right in front of a tight turn
  4170. >That rat bastard!
  4171. >Out of raw gamer instinct, you smash the special button
  4172. >your carriage sails high above the fruit skin
  4173. >And right over the guard rail as well
  4174. >You watch in awe as your carriage flies through the air like a comet
  4175. >Helios himself would be proud
  4176. >Well shit, game over....
  4177. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5xdue7GFcc
  4178. >Wait...
  4179. >no way!
  4180. >Lady luck smiles upon you today!
  4181. >Your carriage is flying straight towards another section of racetrack...
  4182. >...A section of racetrack that is far ahead of Sleepy
  4183. >Sleepy had barely been paying attention to the race after the first few seconds, after he gained the lead
  4184. >Why would he pay attention? You barely knew the controls and he was far ahead of you
  4185. >At least, he was
  4186. >His eyes bug out a bit as his screen flashes
  4187. >>'You are now in Second Place!'
  4188. >His eyes dart to the minimap
  4189. >"INCONCEIVABLE!"
  4190. >You smirk
  4191. "I don't think that word means what you think it means"
  4192. >Sleepy sharply turns his head to face you
  4193. >" When did you pass me?"
  4194. >He attempts to power drift through another snake turn and fails
  4195. >His confusion is messing up his driving
  4196. >You can work with this
  4197. "I thought you saw the message about becoming second place"
  4198. >Sleepy flaps his wings a few times in aggravation
  4199. >" HOW did you pass me?!"
  4200. "I'll tell you how! I'M BATMAN"
  4201. >He glues his eyes back to his screen as his wheels run on grass
  4202. >For the first time since the start of the race
  4203. >His eyes narrow on the screen
  4204. >"I know what you're trying to do, you're trying to confuse me. Play mind games. It won't work!"
  4205. >Looks like he saw through your plan
  4206. >And now it looks like he's getting serious
  4207. >While that stunt gave you a massive lead, it also left you without any momentum to speak of
  4208. >You crack the reins hard
  4209. >You may have the lead now, but he could still catch up
  4210. >There is still plenty of race, after all
  4211. >You manage to rebuild your speed, but at a cost
  4212. >Sleepy is right behind you
  4213. >You can see the finish line
  4214. >You are both working overtime on the reins
  4215. >Sleepy manages to gain a few more feet during the last turn
  4216. >This is it!
  4217. >The finish line is only a few more feet!
  4218. >"Hiya Anon!"
  4219. >Your vision is suddenly obstructed by Bust's bust!
  4220. >You jump in surprise, accidently slamming the special button
  4221. >"Book club ended a little while ago. I've been looking for you everywhere!"
  4222. "Can'tTalkRightNowPleaseMOVE!"
  4223. >you lean around her and desperately scan the screen
  4224. >Did you win?...
  4225. >...huh
  4226. >oops?
  4227. >The booth's screen is frozen, your carriage sitting perfectly on top of Sleepy's
  4228. >Looks like the game couldn't handle a tie
  4229. >You slouch back in your seat as Bust giggles, still standing in front of the screen
  4230. "So Sleepy...no change in my debt?"
  4231. >"Agreed"
  4232. >You glance over at sleepy and smirk
  4233. "Dang, that was a close one. If Bust hadn't distracted me, I would have won"
  4234. >Sleepy shakes his head and laughs
  4235. >"In your dreams"
  4236. >You join the laughter
  4237. >After a few seconds, you turn to Bust
  4238. >Who is standing awfully close in the tiny space of the booth
  4239. >Giving you bedroom eyes
  4240. >You take a breath and mentally prepare yourself
  4241. >She caught you off guard last time
  4242. >Not this time
  4243. >This time you wouldn't need saving
  4244. "So...Why were you looking for me?"
  4245. >Bust smiles and plays with her hair
  4246. >"I have a fever..."
  4247. >You raise an eyebrow
  4248. "So why seek me out for that? Shouldn't you go to the nurse?"
  4249. >She shakes her head
  4250. >"Like I said, I have a fever... and the only prescription is more manling"
  4251. >With that, she takes a step forward and half turns
  4252. >And then settles herself roughly on your lap
  4253. >So, this is happening now
  4254. >Sleepy's eyes go wide
  4255. >She wraps her arms around your neck and smiles seductively
  4256. >"...I'm ready for my medicine, doctor~"
  4257. >YOU NEED AN ADULT
  4258. "W-Where's Cookies? I thought she was with you?!"
  4259. >Smooth
  4260. >Bust gives you a confused look
  4261. >"Do you mean the guard from earlier? She had to stay /behind/ at the library"
  4262. >She wriggled a little when she said 'behind'
  4263. >It felt quite good, and you were not okay with that
  4264. >"Did you know they have paintings of you in the library? They are good, but I prefer the real thing"
  4265. >Bust giggles and wriggles again
  4266. >This is NOT going as you hoped
  4267. >...alright, it isn't going as /most/ of you hoped
  4268. >That other part of you was a real dick
  4269. "Please get up, I have a girlfriend"
  4270. >She tilts her head
  4271. >"Oh? Who is she?"
  4272. >You can't tell her the truth. That would just cause all sorts of problems
  4273. "She isn't in jail"
  4274. >Bust's seductive grin morphs into a mischievous smirk
  4275. >"I don't mind, and she'll never know~..."
  4276. >NOT GOOD
  4277. "Please get off my lap?..."
  4278. >She giggles
  4279. >"Not until you are mine"
  4280. >This girl just doesn't take 'no' for an answer
  4281. >You've got to think of a way to escape
  4282. >...
  4283. >...
  4284. >...
  4285. >...It is hard to think with her curled up on you like this
  4286. >You look at your pile of tickets
  4287. >Time to make a sacrifice for the greater good
  4288. >Your inner child cries
  4289. "If I promised to get you something with my prize tickets, would you get off my lap?"
  4290. >She giggles and wriggles again
  4291. >"Fine, but don't go too far..."
  4292. >She moves her face close to yours
  4293. >"I want my seat to still be warm the next time I need to rest my hooves"
  4294. >With that she rocks herself off of you, freeing you
  4295. >Sleepy manages to pick his jaw off the floor and follows you and Bust to the prize counter
  4296. >Every job that didn't require a specialist was filled by the guards
  4297. >the Prize counter was no exception, and the guard smiled as you approached
  4298. >Because the booths face away from the counter, he must not have seen Bust sitting on your lap
  4299. >Good, the less who knew about that the better
  4300. >You hand over the pile of tickets and a little part of you dies inside
  4301. >The guard runs your tickets through a counting machine
  4302. >"You have an impressive six hundred and forty two tickets"
  4303. >Bust elbows your side
  4304. >"Not the only thing Anon has that's impressive~"
  4305. >You sigh as the guard turns bright pink
  4306. "Just tell me what I can get with those"
  4307. >The guard silently nods and points towards the back shelf
  4308. >Looks like you can afford anything from the top shelf
  4309. >"Oooh, ooh, I want that one!"
  4310. >Bust is pointing towards a stuffed gorilla
  4311. >"monkeys are my favorite animal"
  4312. "...of course they are"
  4313. >The guard retrieves the toy and hands it over
  4314. >"S-Sir, you still have twenty three tickets left over. You can get anything in the display here"
  4315. >There is nothing worthwhile in the display, just a few pathetic pieces of plastic that had long ago given up their dreams of becoming toys
  4316. "Hey Sleepy, you can have the rest of my tickets...on one condition"
  4317. >Sleepy looks at you
  4318. "Never talk about what happened here today"
  4319. >Sleepy nods
  4320. >Bust cheers as she picks up the gorilla and squeezes
  4321. >"It's SO FLUFFY! I think I'll name it after you. Thank you for Fluffanon, Anon!"
  4322. >well, at least she wasn't trying to tempt you now
  4323. >Time to make your escape now that you can think clearly
  4324. >You glance at a clock on display
  4325. "Excuse me sir, is that clock accurate?"
  4326. >He nods
  4327. >"It is enchanted to always be accurate"
  4328. >magic sure is neat
  4329. "If that's the case, then I'm late for..."
  4330. >Think man, THINK!
  4331. "...My midday nap"
  4332. >NAILED IT
  4333. >Sleepy looks at the clock in shock
  4334. >"Me too!"
  4335. >Is he serious?
  4336. >He actually schedules those?
  4337. >Whatever, now to execute the esc-
  4338. >"Can me and Fluffanon come with you? I promise we are both soft~"
  4339. >Well shit, that plan backfired
  4340. >Time for plan B
  4341. >...which is?
  4342. >Bust starts moving closer to you again
  4343. >ITS NOW OR NEVER!
  4344. "I GOTTA USE THE LITTLE ANON'S ROOM"
  4345. >(NAILED IT)^2
  4346. >You rush out of the room, leaving a baffled guard and a sleepy Sleepy behind.
  4347. >Along with your overly zealous suitor
  4348. >You manage to make it back to your cell without incident and lock the door behind yourself
  4349. >There was no way Bust knew which dorm was yours, so you were safe
  4350. >At least for a little while
  4351.  
  4352.  
  4353. Be Bronze Bust
  4354. >Be happy
  4355. >You spent time with Anon and he got you a present!
  4356. >Sure, he pretended he didn't like you
  4357. >Sure, you kind of coerced him into giving you that gift
  4358. >but you knew the truth
  4359. >He could barely keep his eyes off you
  4360. >He's just playing hard to get
  4361. >He's the first one to do that
  4362. >Usually, males only need one look before they are putty in your hands.
  4363. >Anon is different in another way too
  4364. >He gives you a thrill like none before...
  4365. >He's worth chasing
  4366. >you squeeze fluffanon and wander back towards your cell
  4367. >A nap isn't a bad idea
  4368. >Beauty sleep is important
  4369. >You can let Anon play his little games for now
  4370. >You'd have that manling eventually
  4371. >As you wander the halls, you realize you are lost
  4372. >It's still only your first day here, after all
  4373. >You awkwardly stand in an intersection, holding fluffanon close
  4374. >"Hiya Bronze Bust! How is your first day coming along?"
  4375. >It's The Warden
  4376. "So far it's going well"
  4377. >You smile and hold up fluffanon
  4378. "Anon won me this at the arcade!"
  4379. >The Warden returns your grin
  4380. >"I'm so glad that you've already made a friend! Anon is usually keeps to himself so much, its good to see him making another friend too. I knew he'd like you the moment he saw you!"
  4381. >You blush a little
  4382. >Weird
  4383. >You haven't blushed in a very long time
  4384. "Oh yea, Anon is pretty great..."
  4385. >The Warden squints at you
  4386. >Then her eyes go wide
  4387. >"You don't....have a crush on him... do you?"
  4388. >You smile and give a quick nod
  4389. >The Warden squees and prances in place
  4390. >"How exciting!"
  4391. >You giggle
  4392. "He's really unique, like no other guy out there"
  4393. >The Warden nods in approval
  4394. >Hrm... maybe you can play this to your advantage?
  4395. >You change your expression to one of sadness
  4396. "... but I don't think he likes me as much as I like him"
  4397. >The Warden frowns
  4398. >Her brow furrows and she chews a lip
  4399. >Suddenly, her expression jumps back to joy
  4400. >"I've got it! I'll help you out!"
  4401. >Look at that, you just got an ally
  4402. >A very powerful ally
  4403. >Anon would be yours in no time with her help!
  4404. "I can't thank you enough! This means so much to me! You are the best"
  4405. >The Warden is practically bouncing now
  4406. >"I'm happy to help! I've ALWAYS wanted to play matchmaker! Me, helping other ponies find true love..."
  4407. >The Warden hums happily to herself
  4408. >"Is there anything else I can help you with?"
  4409. >You look around
  4410. "I'm actually a little lost... could you help me find my cell?"
  4411. >The Warden nods and grins
  4412. >"Sure thing, once we're there we can talk about ways to get Anon to notice you!"
  4413. >You were planning on a nap, but this works too
  4414. >This works quite well indeed
  4415.  
  4416.  
  4417.  
  4418. Be Sleepy
  4419. >Be exhausted
  4420. >Today had been a real emotional roller-coaster
  4421. >You had been hungry, proud, worried, scared, happy, dumbstruck, and tired
  4422. >And it wasn't even lunch yet!
  4423. >All these shenanigans had really tuckered you out
  4424. >You still couldn't believe how that minotaur sat on Anon's lap
  4425. >She really did look....
  4426. >...well cushioned
  4427. >Anon is one lucky guy
  4428. >Even if her brother is scary
  4429. >You hurry back towards your cell
  4430. >You were /really/ late for your nap
  4431. >You will need the alarm clock to wake you in time for lunch
  4432. >You will also need to move your afternoon nap sooner
  4433. >And have it last longer
  4434. >Meaning you had a wonderful afternoon nap to look forward to
  4435. >Only thing missing was somepony to share it with
  4436. >...
  4437. >Dating sims always make you feel a little lonely when you finish
  4438. >Not your fault mares wanted to constantly do things together other than nap
  4439. >You just needed to find a mare who could handle time away from you
  4440. >Maybe Anon knew somepony?
  4441. >...Probably not
  4442. >Oh well
  4443. >You finally arrive at your cell and hop onto your bed
  4444. >You don't even bother with the blanket, you just curl up on top of the covers
  4445. >You quickly drift off to sleep, thoughts of the arcade running through your mind
  4446. >Overall, it had been a great morning
  4447.  
  4448.  
  4449. Be Cookies
  4450. >Be in the library still
  4451. >You were stationed here until lunch
  4452. >The book club had ended a while ago
  4453. >It was almost lunch time, actually
  4454. >This shift had been miserable
  4455. >You usually really enjoy librarian duty
  4456. >It was indoors and you could sit and read for the entire shift
  4457. >But not this time
  4458. >This time you were too anxious
  4459. >Because that cow could be trying to solicit cuddles from a defenseless Anon!
  4460. >That was your job!
  4461. >Your jaw clenches and your ears reflexively press on the back of your head
  4462. >You couldn't relax enough to read, and you were too on edge to sit still
  4463. >You shake your head and bite your lip
  4464. >You should trust Anon more
  4465. >He would never betray you
  4466. >And it wasn't like that minotaur would just plop herself on top of him
  4467. >at least, not in public
  4468. >...probably
  4469. >This was torture
  4470. >The situation could not possibly get any worse
  4471. >"Hiya Cookies, are you enjoying librarian duty?"
  4472. >Oh, The Warden is here now
  4473. "It's just peachy, Ma'am"
  4474. >She trots closer to your desk
  4475. >"You don't seem all that happy. What's wrong?"
  4476. >There is no way you can tell the truth
  4477. >But maybe a half-truth will get The Warden off your back?
  4478. "I'm worried about the new inmates"
  4479. >The Warden tilts her head
  4480. >"Why? I think they are going to fit in fine. It also looks like Bust and Anon are becoming fast friends!"
  4481. >The Warden looks around conspiratorially
  4482. >"Did you know? Bust has a crush on Anon! I think the feeling might be mutual... He gave her a present!"
  4483. >The Warden giggles
  4484. >Your expression deadpans
  4485. "You don't say"
  4486. >"I do! I promised to help her too. Since you probably know the most about Anon, can you help me help Bust?"
  4487. >AW TARTARUS NAW
  4488. >Your boss did NOT just ask you to help her help some cow to steal your Anon
  4489. "I'm afraid I can't think of any way to help, Ma'am"
  4490. >The Warden frowns
  4491. >"Oh well... if you think of anything, let me know right away!"
  4492. >You shrug noncommittally
  4493. >The Warden smiles
  4494. >"It is almost lunch, go ahead and make sure Anon is ready to eat. I'll close up here for you"
  4495. >at last!
  4496. >You could finally go check on Anon!
  4497. >That cow better not have touched him
  4498. >If you found /one/ hair out of place...
  4499. "Thank you ma'am"
  4500. >You rush out of the library towards Anon's cell
  4501.  
  4502. Be Anon
  4503. >Be napping comfortably in your bed
  4504. >Be dreaming of Cookies
  4505. >You are running from a pair of minotaurs
  4506. >Dressed in banana suits
  4507. >Freaky
  4508. >A knock at your door wakes you up
  4509. >"Anon, you there?"
  4510. >Its Cookies
  4511. >Must be time for lunch
  4512. "Yep, gimme a minute"
  4513. >You yawn and stretch
  4514. >You get out of bed and open the door
  4515. >You rub the sleep out of your eyes and smile at her
  4516. "Time for lunch already?"
  4517. >Cookies nods and she bites her lip
  4518. >Her ears are plastered flat against her head
  4519. >"Did that cow try anything funny while I wasn't around?"
  4520. >You sigh and nod
  4521. "She cornered me in the arcade"
  4522. >Cookies fidgets
  4523. >"The Warden said you gave her a present..."
  4524. >Cookies looks up at you with eyes the size of saucers
  4525. >"Anon, do you not like me anymore?"
  4526. >You blink in confusion
  4527. "What? Why would you ask that?"
  4528. >Cookies stamps a hoof
  4529. >"The Warden said you gave that cow a present!"
  4530. >Damn, word travels fast
  4531. >You give Cookies a reassuring smile
  4532. "Like I said, Bust cornered me. I used it as a bribe to get her away from me. You are the only girl for me. I'd never cheat on you"
  4533. >Cookies sighs in relief
  4534. >"I trust you Anon"
  4535. >She smiles and turns
  4536. >"Lets get you fed"
  4537. >You nod and follow her out the door to the mess
  4538. >Looks like she picked you up a little early today
  4539. >The mess is practically empty, most ponies still on their way
  4540. >You both go through the food line quickly and find your usual spots
  4541. >"Anon, there is something I need to warn you about"
  4542. >You look up from your carrot
  4543. >Cookies looks worried again
  4544. "What is it? What's bothering you?"
  4545. >Cookies stares at her plate
  4546. >"The Warden said she was going to help that cow win you over"
  4547. "Really?"
  4548. >Cookies nods
  4549. >"She even tried to get me to help"
  4550. >You give Cookies a reassuring smile
  4551. "Don't worry. The Warden is as incompetent as they come. There is no way they can steal me away. I said I love you and I meant it"
  4552. >Cookies finally looks up and smiles back
  4553. >"Thanks Anon, that really means a lot"
  4554. >Sleepy arrives and sits down
  4555. >He looks significantly more tired than usual
  4556. "You alright Sleepy? You look terrible"
  4557. >Sleepy lazily looks up at you and smiles
  4558. >"I'm alright, just didn't sleep enough. We need to hang out more, it was fun. Well, it was fun up until Bust showed up"
  4559. >You give Sleepy a look
  4560. >The kind of look that says 'in the name of all that is good and right, don't say anything else'
  4561. >"That Bronze Bust sure is brash. Is she nearly as soft as she looks?"
  4562. >Cookies gives you a confused look
  4563. >"Why would Anon know how soft that cow is?"
  4564. >Sleepy turns to her
  4565. >"While Anon and I were playing in the arcade, she appeared out of nowhere and then sat on Anon's lap"
  4566. >Cookies expression deadpans
  4567. >She turns to face you again
  4568. >"I see. Is that true?"
  4569. >You gulp
  4570. "While she did sit on me-"
  4571. >Did Cookies' eye just twitch?
  4572. "- I didn't invite her. I asked her to leave several times."
  4573. >You turn to Sleepy
  4574. "Back me up on this, I didn't want Bust on top of me"
  4575. >Sleepy nods
  4576. >"Anon did seem uncomfortable, and he did ask Bust to leave. I can't imagine why though."
  4577. >Cookies seems to calm down again, though she still seems a bit upset
  4578. >You take a bite of carrot and sigh
  4579. >Stupid tittybull, making life hard
  4580. >Sleepy's eyes widen as he comes to a sudden realization
  4581. >"Anon, are you gay?"
  4582. >You and Cookies both nearly choke on your food
  4583. "Why would you think that?"
  4584. >Sleepy shrugs
  4585. >"You don't seem to show any interest in mares. That and most colts would give a leg to have a girl like Bust interested in them"
  4586. >You shake your head
  4587. " Like I mentioned in the arcade, I already have a girl. You can have Bust."
  4588. >Sleepy chuckles
  4589. >"Thanks, but she isn't really my type, she sure does look nice though"
  4590. >Your conversation is interrupted by the sudden appearance of The Warden
  4591. >Looks like Bust is following her
  4592. >This could be trouble
  4593. >"Hiya everypony! How are you all doing?"
  4594. "I'm good"
  4595. >Sleepy nods and Cookies mirrors your answer
  4596. >Bust moves around the table to sit right next to you
  4597. >Practically on top of you, actually
  4598. >She has clearly never heard of leaving room for Jesus
  4599. >"Hi Anon. How was your nap? I hope you had sweet dreams. I know I did"
  4600. >She smiles at you and winks
  4601. >You scootch to make some room, and she follows
  4602. >You both repeat the motion
  4603. >If this continues, you'll push Cookies right off the bench
  4604. >You sigh and return the greeting
  4605. "Hello Bust. Could you move over a bit?"
  4606. >She giggles and nods
  4607. >"Sure..."
  4608. >She went in the wrong direction
  4609. >This was not going according to plan
  4610. >You give Cookies a plaintive look
  4611. >Cookies is very pointedly only focusing on her meal, chewing a little too forcefully
  4612. >You turn to Sleepy for help
  4613. >Sleepy looks at your pudding cup hungrily
  4614. >"So... ready to pay off your debt? This is the last cup"
  4615. >Your arm feels like lead as you pass him the pudding
  4616. >"Pleasure doing business with you"
  4617. >The Warden beams at the sight of you and Bust sitting so close
  4618. >"Guardspony Cookies, could you come with me for a moment?"
  4619. >Cookies gives The Warden a curious look
  4620. >"Ma'am?"
  4621. >The Warden gestures at you and Bust and winks with all the subtly of a natural disaster
  4622. >"I need to talk to you somewhere else, guardspony Cookies"
  4623. >Cookies looks over at you with a worried expression
  4624. >"But Warden, inmate Anon requires a chaperoning guard during meals."
  4625. >The Warden smiles at you
  4626. >"I'm sure Anon wouldn't want to jeopardize an entire month's worth of dessert by misbehaving while we aren't watching him"
  4627. >Wait, what?
  4628. >Since when was The Warden this strict about anything?
  4629. >The Warden turns her gaze to Sleepy
  4630. >"Inmate Sleepy, I'd like you to visit the Nurse. Your constant tiredness could be a sign of illness"
  4631. >Sleepy looks up
  4632. >"Warden, sleepy is literally my first name. I'm fine."
  4633. >The Warden shakes her head
  4634. >"I'm afraid I must insist. You /will/ go see the nurse"
  4635. >Sleepy sighs and slowly nods
  4636. >"Alright, I'll go after lunch"
  4637. >The Warden leans in close to him and loudly whispers
  4638. >"There's an extra pudding cup during dinner in it for you if you go now"
  4639. >Sleepy shrugs and leaves, balancing his tray across his wings
  4640. >"Come along guardspony Cookies..."
  4641. >If this keeps up, all your backup will disappear!
  4642. >You've got to do something!
  4643. "uh... I need an adult?"
  4644. >NAILED IT
  4645. >Bust intertwines an arm with yours
  4646. >"I am an adult"
  4647. >CRITICAL FAILURE
  4648. >The Warden nods and leaves
  4649. >Cookies bites her lip and follows The Warden away from the table and out of the mess
  4650. >Leaving you alone with Bust
  4651. >Bust 'accidently' rests her hand on your leg
  4652. "Woah there, watch where you're putting your hands!"
  4653. >Bust giggles
  4654. >"If you insist...."
  4655. >...and now she is staring at your lap
  4656. >lovely
  4657. >This situation couldn't get any worse
  4658. >"GET YOUR DIRTY HANDS OFF MY SISTER"
  4659. >You just had to go and jinx it, didn't you...
  4660. >"Aw come on Chain..."
  4661. >The hulking minotaur walks up and glares at you from across the table
  4662. >"Get away from her this second or else!"
  4663. >You raise your entangled arm
  4664. "I wish I could! I can't get away from her!"
  4665. >Bust giggles and squeezes your arm
  4666. >"Aw... How sweet. I can't stay away from you either"
  4667. >Chain's jaw clenches
  4668. "That isn't what I meant"
  4669. >"Shut it, monkey! Yo momma so fat, last time she visited town somepony yelled 'stampede!'"
  4670. >AW HELL NAW!
  4671. >Time for a rematch!
  4672. "Yo momma so fat, her special talent is gravity!"
  4673. >Chain snarles at you
  4674. >the other inmates stare in awe as two titans clash
  4675. >"Yo momma so fat, if she were a breezie she'd need a HURRICANE to move!"
  4676. >Shit, that was good
  4677. "Yo momma so fat, when she fell in love she broke it!"
  4678. >Chain glares at you
  4679. >"Yo momma so stupid, when she got locked in a grocery store she nearly starved to death."
  4680. >Chain smirks
  4681. >"She only survived because of her ample fat reserves"
  4682. >Huh, you didn't expect him to be able to use complex words like those
  4683. "Yo momma so ugly, her reflection said 'I quit!'"
  4684. >Chain grunts in agitation
  4685. >He's on the ropes!
  4686. >" Yo momma so ugly not even poison joke could make her pretty"
  4687. >That one had no effect on you
  4688. >You don't even know what poison joke is
  4689. "Oh yea? Yo momma so ugly, if she visits a zoo the staff won't let her leave"
  4690. >Chain gulps
  4691. >"Yo momma so ugly....it hurts her self esteem?"
  4692. >That was weak
  4693. >This is over
  4694. >FINISH HIM
  4695. " Yo sister so sweet-"
  4696. >Bust jumps in surprise as you reference her
  4697. >Chain's expression goes dark
  4698. "- when I milk her, I get ice cream!"
  4699. >Bust's jaw drops
  4700. >Silence reigns in the mess
  4701. >No one dares to breathe
  4702. >Except for you
  4703. >Chains has turned an interesting shade of purple in his anger
  4704. >"Why you... I'll... nreghit...bzalft.."
  4705. >Bust can't even form a complete sentence
  4706. >You laugh at his sputtering, adding insult to insult
  4707. >"This isn't over, NERD!"
  4708. >Chains beats a hasty retreat as you continue to laugh at his back
  4709. >noise slowly returns to the mess as you return to your meal
  4710. >Bust isn't moving
  4711. >She's been staring at you since the start of the 'fight' with her brother
  4712. >As you continue to eat she slowly regains the ability to move
  4713. >Which first manifests itself as trembling
  4714. >You continue to eat as she squeezes your arm and silently trembles, gazing at you in pure awe
  4715. >"T-That was a-amazing!"
  4716. >Oh look, she can talk again
  4717. >You shrug and continue eating
  4718. >"I'm s-serious, you were s-spectacular!"
  4719. >You nod, not letting her praise interrupt your meal
  4720. >She wraps you in a tight hug, chest pressing comfortably against your shoulder
  4721. >"Y-you can milk me anytime~"
  4722. >You glance over at her
  4723. >She bites her lip
  4724. >She is actually blushing
  4725. >You didn't know she could do that
  4726. >You shake your head
  4727. "I already have a girlfriend"
  4728. >You finish your meal and put your tray away and leave the mess
  4729. >Her eyes never leave you
  4730.  
  4731. Be Bronze Chain
  4732. >Be going through the lunch line
  4733. >You had been defeated
  4734. >again
  4735. >It wasn't a fair fight
  4736. >He had the upper hand
  4737. >He had already eaten
  4738. >You hadn't eaten anything
  4739. >You can't think when you haven't eaten
  4740. >You take you filled tray and search for a good spot
  4741. >....
  4742. >That table there
  4743. >It will give you a perfect view of Anon
  4744. >If he tries anything funny with your sister, you'll be on him like stink on a monkey
  4745. >You shove two ponies apart and sit in between
  4746. >This here is the best spot to watch that lecher Anon
  4747. >"H-Hey Diddly ho"
  4748. >That voice is familiar
  4749. >You look over
  4750. >of course it was him
  4751. >The yellow pony with a brown mane that you made cry earlier
  4752. >You feel a gentle tapping on your other side
  4753. >"You aren't going to be mean again, are you?"
  4754. >And how could you forget his friend, the tan coated, blue haired 'brave one' that stood up against you for all of five seconds
  4755. >"I-I'm Nice Sweater, and my friendo is Letter Lover"
  4756. >You glare at the ponies
  4757. "Shut up, both of you. I've got a monkey to watch"
  4758. >"Okily dokily"
  4759. >You feel Letter tap you again
  4760. >"Why are you watching Anon?"
  4761. >You try to ignore him and focus on Anon and your meal
  4762. >He taps you again
  4763. >and again
  4764. >"Come on, why are you watching him?"
  4765. >You take a deep breath....
  4766. >...
  4767. >..
  4768. >.
  4769. >..
  4770. >...
  4771. >....And let it out
  4772. "Anon is trying to seduce my sister into doing something inappropriate"
  4773. >Sweater gasps
  4774. >"That son of a diddly!"
  4775. >You couldn't have said it better yourself
  4776. >Look at Anon, sitting over there clinging to your sister
  4777. >It was sickening
  4778. >That monkey will get his due
  4779. >You can still beat him
  4780. >You just need to fight smarter
  4781. >Get him when he least expects it
  4782. >You had to protect your sister
  4783. >It was your job as the older brother
  4784. >Ever since you were little, the two of you always had each other's backs in a pinch
  4785. >It wasn't easy growing up as half-breed nobles
  4786. >If you didn't save each other, no one would
  4787. >Whenever she was in trouble, you'd scare the troublemakers away
  4788. >Whenever you were in trouble with adults for fighting, she stood up for you and saved you
  4789. >Your parents were distant because your very existence was a handicap to their political careers
  4790. >Your sister was practically all the family you had
  4791. >No one was good enough for her
  4792. >Any male who wanted her would have to go through you
  4793. >And while Anon may be putting up a ....respectable...resistance
  4794. >You couldn't let him win
  4795. >No weird monkey-thing was going to take your sister
  4796. >She deserved better than that
  4797. >She deserved someone that could give her the life that was her birthright as a noble
  4798.  
  4799.  
  4800. Be Bronze Bust
  4801. >Wow
  4802. >That Anon...
  4803. >WOW
  4804. >What a bucking tease!
  4805. >He knew /just/ how to push your buttons
  4806. >And he was pushing them /mercilessly/
  4807. >You loved watching him move....
  4808. >Oh, wait, he's already out of the mess
  4809. >Aw hay biscuits!
  4810. >You turn to your meal and try to focus on getting some nutrition
  4811. >had to maintain your strength to win him over
  4812. >Not to mention keep up your fantastic figure
  4813. >You'd need that to win him over too
  4814. >Your entire body feels hot, hotter than you've ever been
  4815. >The air surrounding you felt freezing
  4816. >Anon had been nice and warm~
  4817. >You'd have to find him again after you finished eating...
  4818.  
  4819. Be Sleepy
  4820. >Be in the nurse's office
  4821. >With the pretty nurse
  4822. >Who is currently pressing her hooves against her temples, gently rubbing
  4823. >"Let me get this straight, The Warden offered you extra dessert if you came here and interrupted me"
  4824. >You nod
  4825. >She sighs
  4826. >...
  4827. >...
  4828. >...
  4829. >She moves over towards a cabinet
  4830. >"Alright, might as well get a checkup out of the way. What is your name?"
  4831. "Sleepy Feathers"
  4832. >She nods to herself and searches for your file
  4833. >She turns back towards you while levitating a nearly empty file
  4834. >"Looks like you are overdue for your annual physical... by three years"
  4835. >You readjust your wings
  4836. "Doctor visits are too much hassle. I'm fine"
  4837. >She shakes her head
  4838. >"Regular checkups are important. The rest of my work can wait."
  4839. >She drops the file on her desk and magically locks the door
  4840. >You glance back as you hear the click of the lock
  4841. >"To ensure patient confidentiality. Now then, we'll start with your wings. Please extend them and flap"
  4842. >You unfurl your wings and let them stretch out
  4843. >You flap experimentally for her and a few downy feathers float away
  4844. >She raises an eyebrow and inspects one of the feathers closely
  4845. >She levitates a few into a small sample baggy and steps closer
  4846. >"Good, now just extend them. I need to take a closer look"
  4847. >You stop flapping your wings and leave them extended
  4848. >She handles them surprisingly gently with her magic as she inspects them
  4849. >"You have a larger than average wingspan, but your wings and back aren't very well toned. You should exercise them more... Though the sheer amount of down feathers does put you at risk of overheating. How often do you preen?"
  4850. >Preening is an awkward subject
  4851. >Pegasi only do it in private for a reason
  4852. >You shrug
  4853. "Often enough"
  4854. >She shakes her head
  4855. >"No, not often enough. This down has built up too much. I'd suggest you preen at least twice a week"
  4856. >...
  4857. "...daily..."
  4858. >She turns to look at you
  4859. >You feel yourself blushing
  4860. >"What was that?"
  4861. "I preen daily"
  4862. >Her eyes go wide and she looks closer at your wings
  4863. >"If that's true, your feather follicles are hyperactive. Why haven't you talked to a doctor about this until now?"
  4864. >You shrug
  4865. "Too much hassle...and besides, it's my livelihood"
  4866. >She tilts her head
  4867. "I make pillows. Right now I'm making one for Anon. Nothing softer or more comfortable than my feathers"
  4868. >She shakes her head
  4869. >"This could still be the sign of a more serious problem."
  4870. >She finally touches your wing with a hoof and gasps
  4871. >You smirk
  4872. >They were always caught off guard by the sheer softness
  4873. >She gingerly pulls a few feathers apart to inspect the skin underneath
  4874. >"Skin appears healthy... Do you feel stiff or sore regularly?"
  4875. >You shake your head
  4876. "Only when I sleep on them funny"
  4877. >She nods and slowly moves on to examining the rest of your body
  4878. >She stares into your eyes, shines a light into them to watch your eyes dilate back and forth
  4879. >Her eyes are nice...
  4880. >After inspecting your body, scribbling away in a notebook the entire time, she nods to herself
  4881. >"You appear healthy, other than your down production. You could do with more physical exertion too. I'd like you to come back again tomorrow for further tests."
  4882. >You nod and yawn
  4883. >You were sorely behind on your nap quota
  4884. >Your yawn proves infectious, as the nurse yawns
  4885. >"Please excuse me, I haven't been sleeping well. Now then, I've gotten all the information I can at this point. You may go"
  4886. >She unlocks the door and turns away from you, towards her desk
  4887. >You start to leave, but stop at the door
  4888. "I never got your name"
  4889. >She stays focused on the paperwork in front of her, not even sparing you a glance
  4890. >"My name is Nurse Honey Heart"
  4891. >You nod
  4892. "Pretty"
  4893. >She stiffens just the tiniest bit
  4894. >Or maybe that was just your imagination?
  4895. "Goodbye"
  4896. >You head for your cell
  4897. >You were late for your nap, and you still needed to preen away some of this down for Anon's pillow
  4898. >It was nearly done
  4899.  
  4900.  
  4901. Be Anon
  4902. >Be on your way to your cell
  4903. >If you were really lucky, The Warden would release Cookies for her break soon
  4904. >You'd get some well-deserved cuddles
  4905. >You turn the hallway corner to find Cookies already waiting for you at your door
  4906. >"ANON!"
  4907. >She rushes over to you
  4908. >"That cow didn't try anything, did she?"
  4909. >You chuckle and scratch her ear
  4910. >She sighs happily and leans into your hand
  4911. "You know I'd never betray your trust like that. So... you on break?"
  4912. >Cookies smiles hungrily
  4913. >"You know it cuddlestud"
  4914. >A pet name
  4915. >This relationship just got serious
  4916. >Neat!
  4917. >You grin broadly as you open the door for her
  4918. >She rushes in and launches herself into the bed, turning to face you with a coy smile and a little lip nibble
  4919. >aw yea
  4920. >You shut the door and follow her example, running to the bed
  4921. >you dive in at an angle, sliding in right next to Cookies
  4922. >You press your face against her chest fluff and breathe deep, right arm massaging her ear while your left held her shoulder
  4923. >You feel her forelegs wrap around your head as she giggles
  4924. >You rub your face in deeper and she presses her face against the top of your head
  4925. >You can feel her breath against your head
  4926. >She squeezes and takes a deep breath, enjoying the scent of your hair
  4927. >You gently pull back and smile
  4928. >She is blushing fiercely and returning your smile
  4929. >You slide your left hand up her side, to her neck
  4930. >You cradle the base of her head and nuzzle your nose against hers
  4931. >She gives a soft laugh and gives you a peck on the lips
  4932. >You press your forehead against hers and just hold her tight for a few seconds, eyes closed...
  4933. >...
  4934. >...
  4935. >...
  4936. >You open your eyes as Cookies gently pulls back and stands on the bed
  4937. >You watch and roll onto your back as she side steps to straddle your chest and stomach
  4938. >She gives you a mischievous smile
  4939. >"Now then inmate Anon, I'm taking over..."
  4940. >You like where this is going
  4941. >"...Now be a good inmate and tell me how much you want to hug me. If you do a good enough job, I might let you"
  4942. >Looks like she wants to make you beg
  4943. >how adorable
  4944. >That isn't happening
  4945. >You know her weaknesses
  4946. >You return her smile and reach up to her ears
  4947. >She bites her lip as you rub and scratch
  4948. >She lets out a happy sound as you gently bend and fold the cartilage
  4949. >Her defenses lower, and so does she
  4950. >She slowly presses more weight on you until she is entirely laying on you
  4951. >One leg feebly kicks a little
  4952. >You lean your head forward, your cheek to hers, and whisper
  4953. "I don't beg"
  4954. >You rest your head back again and continue your ministrations on her ears with your right hand
  4955. >With your left, you gently stroke her back
  4956. >she gives a contented sigh, her play for dominance forgotten
  4957. >You chuckle and gently pinch her withers with your left hand
  4958. >You move your hand farther up again to massage the back of her neck
  4959. >This destroys any vestiges of willpower she had to keep her head up
  4960. >You wrap your arms around her and squeeze
  4961. >She presses her face against the crook of your neck and softly giggles
  4962. >Her breath tickles
  4963. >You can feel her heartbeat beating a fast rhythm
  4964. >Your own heart feels full
  4965. >As though there was a dense weight made out of the raw essence of playful kittens
  4966. >You press your nose against the crook of her neck in return and inhale her scent, screwing your eyes closed
  4967. >If you opened them too much, there was a risk your heart would explode
  4968. >You stay like that for what feels like an eternity
  4969. >"Well well well... what do we have here?"
  4970. >Your eyes bolt open
  4971. >Cookies goes rigid against you
  4972. "Cookies... your voice didn't suddenly change to sound exactly like Bust's, did it?"
  4973. >Cookies slowly retracts her head
  4974. >her expression says it all
  4975. >Cookies stiffly rolls off of you
  4976. >Bust is standing in the doorway
  4977. >...The ONE time you forget to lock it, this happens
  4978. "uh...this isn't what it looks like?"
  4979. >Bust smirks
  4980. >"Really? Cause it looks like you and this guardpony were getting rather intimate."
  4981. >Well shit
  4982. >its exactly what it looks like then
  4983. >...It was worth a shot?
  4984. >Cookies looks imploringly at Bust
  4985. >"Please don't tell anypony! If word got out, I might lose my job..."
  4986. >Bust looks at you
  4987. >"Anon, I thought you said you had a girlfriend outside the prison. You are one naughty boy"
  4988. "Well...I am in prison"
  4989. >Bust giggles
  4990. >"So this must be your girlfriend...Cookies, right?"
  4991. >Cookies numbly nods at Bust
  4992. >"Don't worry, I won't say a word"
  4993. >Wait
  4994. >what?
  4995. >Cookies looks thoroughly relieved
  4996. >"Thank you!"
  4997. >Bust smirks again
  4998. >"If I got you fired, Anon would never forgive me. How would I win his heart then?"
  4999. >Cookies bites her lip, some serious emotional conflict clearly going on inside her head
  5000. >Bust enters the room fully, closing the door behind her
  5001. >"And honestly, I don't mind sharing..."
  5002. >Bust looks you dead in the eyes
  5003. >"I'm sorry I called you androgynous when we first met. Now that I know you, I know you're more than man enough..."
  5004. >She looks at Cookies and winks
  5005. >"After seeing how much fun Anon was having with you, I'd like to give you a try"
  5006. >Cookies looks at you
  5007. >a look that says 'I need an adult'
  5008. >The situation couldn't be more out of hand
  5009. "How did you find my room?"
  5010. >Bust beams a huge grin at you
  5011. >"The Warden told me exactly where to find you"
  5012. >...of course she did
  5013. >There is a solid thumping at your door
  5014. >Perfect
  5015. >someone else
  5016. >Just what the situation needed
  5017. >"Anon, are you in there?"
  5018. >That's nurse Honey Heart
  5019. >Are you here?
  5020. >Sure, everyone else is in your room
  5021. "Yeah, I'm here. Door is unlocked"
  5022. >Honey Heart opens the door and starts to walk into the room
  5023. >Upon seeing Cookies and Bust both in your room, she raises an eyebrow
  5024. >"I was wondering if you'd be willing to move up your donation. There is something I wish to discuss in addition to our deal"
  5025. >Thank you based Honey Heart!
  5026. >She just gave you an excuse to escape!
  5027. "Sure thing Heart"
  5028. >Time to play backup for Cookies
  5029. "Hey Cookies, what is your next post?"
  5030. >She gives you a confused look
  5031. >"I'm running the arcade"
  5032. >You point at the clock on your wall
  5033. "Isn't your break almost up? You should head over there"
  5034. >Understanding dawns on her
  5035. >She gives you a grateful look
  5036. >"Of course, how could I let the time escape from me like that. Thank you inmate Anonymous"
  5037. >Cookies hops off your bed and hurries out the door
  5038. >You turn to Bust
  5039. "If you'll excuse me, I have an appointment with a Transylvanian"
  5040. >Nurse Honey Heart raises an eyebrow
  5041. >"I'm from Manehattan"
  5042. "Nevermind, human reference. Goodbye, Bust"
  5043. >Bust tilts her head
  5044. >"Where are you going? Who is this?"
  5045. >Oh she hadn't met Nurse Honey Heart yet
  5046. >Lucky nurse
  5047. "This is nurse Honey Heart. She is just taking me for boring medical stuff, you'd be bored"
  5048. >Honey Heart begins taps a hoof impatiently
  5049. >"Anon, this won't be a 'boring' procedure. I'm ready for you to donate blood now"
  5050. >Bust gasps and looks at you wide eyed
  5051. >"Are you really going to..."
  5052. >Her voice fades out
  5053. >You sigh and nod
  5054. "eeyup, I'm sure nurse Heart wouldn't want any distractions"
  5055. >Honey Heart shakes her head
  5056. >"If you need emotional support, I'm fine with it."
  5057. >Bust vigorously nods
  5058. >"I want to be there for him!"
  5059. >Looks like you aren't getting out of this one
  5060. >The indirect approach didn't work
  5061. >And you can't outright refuse
  5062. >Bust may have promised to not to blab about your secret relationship with Cookies, but pushing her away too forcefully could prove disastrous
  5063. >You'd have to let her come along
  5064.  
  5065. Be Honey Heart
  5066. >Be walking with Anon and his friend
  5067. >You're about halfway back to your office
  5068. >You'd already read her file in preparation for her arrival
  5069. >Looks like she's already attached herself to Anon
  5070. >Either Anon is shy about their relationship, or she is being overly aggressive
  5071. >She keeps trying to entwine her arms with his, while he keeps trying to extract himself
  5072. >Either way, they shouldn't touch like that in public
  5073. >You pass a few inmates who wave hello
  5074. >You nod back and Anon attempts to waveback but is too entangled with Bust
  5075. >She finally gives up about halfway to your office and just walks next to Anon
  5076. >You would need that arm in a few moments anyway
  5077. >You all arrive at your office, and you use your magic to open the door
  5078. >As they both shuffle in behind you, you magically close the door behind them
  5079. "Please lie down on the examination table and we'll begin as soon as I finish the final preparations"
  5080. >Anon nods and lies down
  5081. >Bust pulls up a stool to sit at the head of the table, near Anon's head
  5082. >She appears far more nervous than he is
  5083. >You magically move the necessary instruments into place and begin sterilizing the crook of his arm
  5084. >Once the area is thoroughly sterilized, you levitate the needle close to his arm
  5085. >Until Bust jumps off her chair and rushes into your way
  5086. >"WAIT! You forgot to give Anon any anesthetic!"
  5087. >Anon clears his throat and Bust turns to face him
  5088. >"I'm not getting any anesthetic. The chemicals would mess with my blood and spoil the sample. Besides, she doesn't have anything more powerful than aspirin"
  5089. >Bust looks back and forth between Anon and the needle
  5090. >"But look at the size of that needle! You don't have to act tough anymore, please don't! I don't want you to get hurt..."
  5091. >Anon chuckles
  5092. >"Don't worry about me, I've done this before and survived"
  5093. >Bust bites her lip and slowly returns to her seat
  5094. >Good
  5095. >Now you can actually get this started
  5096. >"Please be careful with him... How long will he have to leave it in?"
  5097. "Anywhere from fifteen to thirty minutes"
  5098. >Bust looks about ready to panic
  5099. >"That's too long! You might kill him!"
  5100. >Anon laughs
  5101. >"I doubt it, she's only taking a pint"
  5102. >Bust starts to hyperventilate
  5103. >"YOU CAN'T LOSE THAT MUCH!"
  5104. >You sigh
  5105. >This will take a while
  5106. >You shouldn't have let Anon bring her
  5107. >"Yes I can, I've done it before back home. Nurse Heart, please stick the needle in already. The waiting is the hardest part"
  5108. >Bust begins to object again, until she sees Anon frown at her
  5109. >She slumps back onto her stool and nervously chews a knuckle
  5110. >You nod and focus on finding a vein in Anon's arm
  5111. >Finding a vein, you insert the needle into his arm
  5112. >Anon takes a sharp breath and Bust lets out a small whimper
  5113. >Blood begins to flow from Anon's arm, through the needle and a tube, and to a nearby bag
  5114. >Anon lets out the breath and chuckles
  5115. >"And now we wait"
  5116. >Bust just stares at the needle
  5117.  
  5118. Be Bronze Chain
  5119. >Be leaving the little minotaur's room
  5120. >Ugh, Sweater and Letter have been following you around since lunch
  5121. >They insist on helping you
  5122. >They couldn't insult their way out of a paper bag, and they want to help you take down a monster like Anon
  5123. >Talk about stupid
  5124. >Letter taps your arm as you pass
  5125. >"Hey Chain, can we please help you protect your sister now? We have interesting information!"
  5126. >You sigh
  5127. "Fine, but you gotta call me boss if you want to be my underlings"
  5128. >Sweater beams
  5129. >"Okily dokily Bosserino!"
  5130. >You pinch the bridge of your nose
  5131. "So what is this 'interesting' information?"
  5132. >Letter points down the hall
  5133. >"We just saw Anon, Nurse Honey Heart, and your sister walking towards the nurses office!"
  5134. >Curse that monkey for daring to walk with your sister!
  5135. >Wait...the nurse?
  5136. >If Anon is hurt or sick, that could give you the advantage!
  5137. "Good work, where is the nurses office?"
  5138. >Letter taps you and motions for you to follow
  5139. >"This way"
  5140. >You all set out for the nurses office
  5141. >You'd get Anon this time
  5142. >You'd destroy him in front of your sister, and teach him a lesson he'd never forget!
  5143.  
  5144. Be Anon
  5145. >Be lying down
  5146. >With a needle in your arm
  5147. >With a bottom-up view of Bust's chesticles as she leans over you
  5148. >She's gently massaging the sides of your head
  5149. "Please stop touching my head. I'm fine"
  5150. >She presses a little more firmly
  5151. >"Shhh... I'll take care of you... Don't worry about a thing, it'll be over soon"
  5152. >You sigh
  5153. >Seems like she's in her own little world of worry
  5154. >Honey Heart looks away, awkwardly trying to give you both privacy in the small space
  5155. >Looks like you just had to accept it
  5156. >Not that it felt bad...
  5157. >Or that you didn't enjoy the view....
  5158. >But still, you didn't like the idea of Cookies potentially stumbling upon this scene
  5159. >You being drained while Bust rested her funbags on your forehead
  5160. >Such a scenario could only end poorly
  5161. >Hell, if anyone came in right now, it'd be a bad time for everyone involved
  5162. >...
  5163. >...
  5164. >...
  5165. >The door swings open suddenly, making you and Bust jump in surprise
  5166. >The needle wiggles painfully in your arm, but stays in
  5167. >"ANON! yo momma so fat....."
  5168. >Chain storms into the room but stops when he sees you lying on the table, with his sister hovering over you
  5169. >With a needle impaling your arm
  5170. >He blanches and gulps
  5171. >Looks like the sight of you being drained stunned him
  5172. >Time to show him once and for all that he can't beat you
  5173. "Yo momma so fat, her fridge has stretch marks!"
  5174. >Chain blinks in surprise
  5175. >"W-what?"
  5176. >He had only just come to terms with you losing blood
  5177. >He was totally unprepared for you to launch an assault
  5178. >His eyes go wide
  5179. >"How can you think with painkillers?!"
  5180. >You smirk at him
  5181. "I'm not on any painkillers. I'm fully aware"
  5182. >He takes a step back
  5183. >"Impossible! No one can withstand a needle without painkillers!"
  5184. >You laugh
  5185. "Oh yea? Could I still insult you if I was under the influence? Yo momma so fat, it takes Luna two nights to enter her dreams!"
  5186. >His jaw drops, but he quickly recovers and shakes his head
  5187. >He laughs shakily
  5188. >"It's all just a trick, that's just water with red dye and that isn't a real needle"
  5189. >Bust shakes her head
  5190. >"It's all real, that's a real needle and it's really in his arm!"
  5191. >She turns back to you and rests her hands back on the sides of your head
  5192. >She gently rubs her thumbs in small circular motions around your cheekbones
  5193. >Chain takes another step backward
  5194. >Honey Heart finally recovers from the shock of his entrance
  5195. >"You can't come in here and pick a fight with my patient! GET OUT!"
  5196. >She uses her magic to levitate him out of the room and close the door behind him
  5197. >The door locks with a loud click
  5198. >Bust looks down at you, worry written plain as day across her face
  5199. >Tinged with just a little bit of excitement
  5200. >"You shouldn't push yourself like that"
  5201. >You smirk
  5202. "Like what? I already told you, I'm fine"
  5203. >You turn to Honey Heart
  5204. "So nurse Heart, you mentioned you wanted to talk about something?"
  5205. >Honey Heart nods
  5206. >"I understand you are friends with the inmate Sleepy Feathers, is that true?"
  5207. >You nod
  5208. "Yea, he's a good guy. Hard to read when you first meet him though"
  5209. >Honey Heart nods and turns to focus intently on one of the medical posters on the wall
  5210. >"Tell me more about him"
  5211. >She must be trying to get your focus off the needle in your arm
  5212. "Sure. He may appear dopey and quiet, but he hides a ruthless intelligence underneath. Once he finds something he wants, he'll find a way to get it."
  5213. >You chuckle
  5214. "Of course, he usually only wants to sleep or get extra dessert"
  5215. >"I see... does he have a special somepony?"
  5216. >Honey Heart's face is tinged with the slightest shade of pink
  5217. >...Or maybe it was just your imagination
  5218. >You shake your head
  5219. "I don't think so"
  5220. >Honey Heart nods to herself again
  5221. >Hrm...
  5222. >Maybe she isn't trying to distract you from the needle?
  5223. "Nurse Heart, are you interested in Sleepy?"
  5224. >She stiffens ever so slightly and purses her lips
  5225. >"I'm just making sure one of the inmates under my care is mentally healthy too."
  5226. >You chuckle
  5227. >Heart may be able to lie to The Warden, but you can see right through
  5228. "Come on, tell me honestly. Maybe I can help"
  5229. >She sighs and turns to face you
  5230. >Her gaze is glued to the floor just beyond her right hoof
  5231. >"...He said my name was pretty"
  5232. >She smiles slightly
  5233. >aw...
  5234. >adorable
  5235. >You grin at her
  5236. "Just listen to ol' uncle Anon. I'll set you on the right path with Sleepy"
  5237.  
  5238.  
  5239. Be Honey Heart
  5240. >"Just listen to ol' uncle Anon. I'll set you on the right path with Sleepy"
  5241. >Anon has agreed to help you
  5242. >Excellent
  5243. "You said he mostly enjoys sleeping and eating. what else can you tell me?"
  5244. >Anon smiles
  5245. >"Well, first things first, you are in luck. I think he has a thing for unicorns"
  5246. >You touch your horn with a hoof self-consciously
  5247. >"He's also in the book club, and has one powerful sneeze..."
  5248. >You float a pad and pencil over as Anon continues to spill the beans on Sleepy
  5249. >If you were going to do this, you were going to do it right
  5250. >You listen carefully, jotting down notes all the while
  5251. >It had been a very long time since anypony showed any interest at all
  5252. >You had been married to your work for so long, your options had dried up before you were ready to exploit them
  5253. >Leaving you alone on Hearts and hooves day while everypony else was happy
  5254. >You were sick and tired of the sad look you got from friends every year
  5255. >You were sick of your mother nagging you
  5256. >You were sick of being alone
  5257. >And this Sleepy Feathers was attractive enough, good build
  5258. > insanely soft...
  5259. >There had to be a serious downside with him somehwhere
  5260. >That was the only way he could still be single
  5261. >You raise a hoof to get Anon's attention
  5262. "What about his negative qualities?"
  5263. >Anon thinks for a few seconds
  5264. >"Well... Like I mentioned before, he can be ruthless when it comes to business. Even with friends. He also, as his name implies, sleeps a lot. I mean, a whole lot. He was put in prison for obstructing traffic by sleeping in the middle of the road"
  5265. >Maybe he has glandular issues?
  5266. >Should be handled easily enough with medicine
  5267. >Of course, that same medicine could interfere with those magnificent wings of his
  5268. >You'd have to bring it up with Sleepy, give him the option to try the medication if he wants
  5269. >And if he sleeps all the time, that would give you plenty of time to work guilt-free
  5270. >And you've always liked stallions who know what they want and how to get it
  5271. >His 'negatives' are shaping up to be positives
  5272. >"...That about wraps it up. I'll talk to Sleepy later on and test the waters for you"
  5273. >You nod
  5274. "Thank you Anonymous"
  5275. >Anon grins back
  5276. >"Sure thing. After all, what are friends for?"
  5277.  
  5278.  
  5279. Be Bronze Bust
  5280. >Still be in the nurses office with Anon
  5281. >He's been draining over what feels like an eternity
  5282. >You continue to try and soothe him by gently rubbing his head
  5283. >even though he seemed more bored than upset
  5284. >This male....
  5285. >Even though you had only met him this morning, he had blown all expectations out of the water
  5286. >He was smart, kind, and the toughest creature you'd ever met
  5287. >At first you only teased and flirted out of habit, but now...
  5288. >He was simply astounding
  5289. >You check the clock
  5290. >He's been sitting with a needle in his arm for twenty minutes
  5291. >...How did he do this? How could he just relax there, bored, with a bucking /needle/ in his arm?!
  5292. >He raises his free arm and waves a hand in front of your face
  5293. "huh, what was that for?"
  5294. >He chuckles
  5295. >"I've been trying to talk to you for a couple minutes. I'm bored. Entertain me."
  5296. >You blink
  5297. >What could he possibly mean by /that/?
  5298. >You glance around for the nurse
  5299. >"Honey Heart left a few minutes ago to do some quick errands "
  5300. >So you were alone together
  5301. >neat
  5302. "H-how can I entertain you?"
  5303. >"Talk to me, I've been sitting here in dead silence for ten minutes"
  5304. >You gulp and nod
  5305. >You can barely think straight right now, but Anon needs you to hold a conversation
  5306. "Sure, what do you want to talk about?"
  5307. >Anon furrows his brow
  5308. >"I dunno... what are your favorite foods?"
  5309. "I really like salted caramel apples for dessert. My favorite meal depends on my mood"
  5310. >Anon nods
  5311. "What about you?"
  5312. >"I /love/ pudding. I'm happy with the fruits and vegetables I get here, but I do really miss real human food"
  5313. >You tilt your head
  5314. "What do you mean 'real human food'?"
  5315. >Anon's eyes unfocus slightly
  5316. >"I used to love jerky, pizza and steak"
  5317. "The prison serves pizza during lunches"
  5318. >Anon's eyes snap back into focus
  5319. >"That isn't like human pizza, I can't eat it"
  5320. "Why not?"
  5321. >Anon grimaces
  5322. >"...The cheese is all wrong. And I don't like the toppings. I mean Diced carrots? Really?"
  5323. >You giggle
  5324. >You never understood that topping either
  5325. "What are those other two though? I've never heard of steak or jerky before"
  5326. >Anon smiles sheepishly
  5327. >"eh...forget I mentioned those"
  5328. >You shake your head
  5329. "I won't. If I can make those for you, I will. You've gone through so much today, if I can treat you to something special to make you feel better then that's what I want to do"
  5330. >Anon chuckles nervously
  5331. >"Seriously, it is impossible to get those foods here"
  5332. >You smile at him
  5333. "I may be in this prison, but I'm still part nobility. I can probably get it for you"
  5334. >Anon shakes his head firmly
  5335. >"Not even Celestia herself could get me those foods"
  5336. >You frown
  5337. "But why?"
  5338. >Anon sighs and mumbles something
  5339. "What was that?"
  5340. >"...meat.."
  5341. >Huh?
  5342. "Huh?"
  5343. >"Jerky and steak are types of meat. Humans are omnivores, we eat plants and meat."
  5344. >No way
  5345. "You're pulling my tail..."
  5346. >Anon shakes his head again
  5347. >"just look at my teeth if you need proof"
  5348. >Anon opens his mouth and his lips peel back, giving you your first real look at his teeth
  5349. >His teeth are obviously designed to rip and tear
  5350. >And the points on those canines...
  5351. >u-unf
  5352. >Predators are hot
  5353. "S-so what kind of meat is steak and jerky?"
  5354. >Anon closes his mouth
  5355. >"Usually beef... cow meat, but the cows are dumb as rocks where I come from. Not sentient!"
  5356. >WHAT?!
  5357. >This creature thought your mother's side of the family would make a good meal
  5358. >U-UNF
  5359. >Wait...
  5360. "How can you eat a whole cow? Even griffons only eat small animals"
  5361. >"My people would share and store leftovers."
  5362. >That makes sense...
  5363. >The door opens as Honey Heart returns, levitating a food tray laden with juices, cookies, and pudding
  5364. >"I'm back, and I brought refreshments for when I unplug you. You will need the sugar and nutrition."
  5365. >Anon smiles and eyes the tray hungrily
  5366. >The nurse lays the tray on her desk and examines the blood bag
  5367. >You feel a little nauseas as the sanguine liquid sloshes a little
  5368. >"I'd say I have more than enough here. Thank you again, Anon"
  5369. >Anon nods and Honey Heart approaches him
  5370. >She bends the tube closed to prevent further suction on the vein, and carefully removes the needle
  5371. >Anon grimaces as Heart extracts the metal sliver from his arm
  5372. >She quickly levitates a clean rag over the crook of his arm and gently forces his arm to bend around it
  5373. >"And that's it. I'll get this sample refrigerated for now. When I get back you may straighten your arm again."
  5374. >Anon nods and sighs
  5375. >Then chuckles
  5376. >"I'm glad that's over"
  5377. "I thought you said you were fine"
  5378. >Anon looks up at you
  5379. >"Well, things could have certainly been better but I wasn't in real pain"
  5380. >A few moments later Honey Heart returns and Anon straightens his arm experimentally
  5381. >He really shouldn't be putting that much stress on an injured arm...
  5382. "Doesn't it still hurt?"
  5383. >Anon shakes his head
  5384. >"Honestly, it just feels good to be able to move it freely again. It's only a little sore"
  5385. >Honey Heart pulls out a chair by her desk
  5386. >"Your refreshments are ready whenever you are. Bust, help Anon to the chair"
  5387. >You dart around to the side of the examination table to help Anon
  5388. >Anon shakes his head and sits up
  5389. >"I can handle this myself. I'm fine"
  5390. >He swings his legs off the side of the table and hops to his feet
  5391. >Honey Heart frowns
  5392. >"Nurse's orders. Bust, you WILL help Anon."
  5393. >Anon grumbles and tries to take a step but stumbles
  5394. >You help him catch his footing and support him to the desk, much to his chagrin
  5395. >"...Thank you Bust"
  5396. >You beam a smile at him
  5397. "No problem!"
  5398. >Anon turns back to the tray and presses his hands together tightly in anticipation
  5399. >Then a few of them snap
  5400. "YOUR FINGERS!"
  5401. >HE LOST TOO MUCH BLOOD!
  5402. >HIS BONES ARE LIKE GLASS NOW!
  5403. >Anon lets out a mix between sigh and chuckle
  5404. >"Don't worry, popping sounds like that are a normal human thing, I'm fine. Though I'll be better once I have some of this pudding inside me..."
  5405. >This human was just full of surprises...
  5406. >Anon takes a spoonful of pudding into his mouth and lets out a moan of pleasure, screwing his eyes tight
  5407. >...
  5408. >He /really/ enjoys that pudding
  5409. >...that gives you an idea
  5410. >You'd have to work it out with The Warden, but it could give you an advantage with Anon...
  5411. >Anon finishes his 'meal' and leans back in his chair with a contented smile
  5412. >"That was great, thank you nurse Heart. Welp, I'm going to go take a nap in my cell."
  5413. >He stands and turns towards you
  5414. >"Bust, please let me be alone for now"
  5415. >You nod, but do your best to emphasize your assets to try and make him change his mind
  5416. >No luck, Anon turns back to Heart and gives her a little salute
  5417. >Honey Heart nods back at him and he steps out of the room
  5418. >A little wobbly, but you stay where you are
  5419. >You promised to leave him alone for now
  5420. >And besides, this was the perfect opportunity to stare at his butt...
  5421. >Anon sure has a nice butt~
  5422. >Honey Heart clears her throat
  5423. >"If you'll excuse me, I have a lot of work to get done."
  5424. >She motions towards the door
  5425. >With no reason to stay behind any longer, you leave the office
  5426.  
  5427. Be Bronze Chain
  5428. >It was official
  5429. >Anon was tougher than you
  5430. >He had just been lying there, letting his life juice pour out!
  5431. >And all the while, your sister hovered over him tenderly
  5432. >You feel a tap on the side of your hip
  5433. >"How'd it go boss?"
  5434. >You glare down at Letter
  5435. >And then slump down
  5436. >Sitting in the middle of the hall, you press your hands against your face
  5437. >What was the use?
  5438. >You had already lost
  5439. >There was no way to bring down Anon
  5440. >"That bad?"
  5441. >You nod, still holding your head
  5442. "I can't beat Anon. He is too strong. I've lost my sister..."
  5443. >"Maybe you've been trying the wrong approach with this diddly dastard"
  5444. >You glare at Sweater
  5445. "The Tartarus does that mean?"
  5446. >Sweater grins at you
  5447. >"You've been trying for a one-on-one confrontation. Where there are friendos, there is power"
  5448. >You feel a tap on your other side
  5449. >"Yea boss, strength in numbers"
  5450. >You laugh bitterly
  5451. "You two couldn't fight your way out of a damp paper bag. Just stop, there's no hope..."
  5452. >Sweater shakes his head
  5453. >"Not just us. This is a whole diddly prison full of tough ponies. Get them to be your friendos, and Anon won't know what fiddled his diddles"
  5454. >They were right
  5455. >You could still win!
  5456. >All you had to do was turn the prison against him!
  5457. >You beam a grin at the two ponies
  5458. "Good work underlings!"
  5459. >You stand up
  5460. >You had a lot of work ahead of you
  5461. >You wouldn't have it any other way...
  5462. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcDsHDavmTY&list=PLWdBPQ-SVXCQfqJ_FSKN_2gRsZORUEzZz&index=7
  5463. >You smile
  5464. "Come on boys, we've got work to do..."
  5465.  
  5466.  
  5467. Be Cookies
  5468. >Well this sucked
  5469. >hard
  5470. >like, really hard
  5471. >like, really really hard
  5472. >like, really /really/ hard
  5473. >You were sitting behind the prize counter in the arcade
  5474. >With an almost painful itch across your entire body
  5475. >Stopping midway through a cuddle session was bad enough...
  5476. >But to be caught by /her/
  5477. >Of all the people to catch you, it had to be that cow...
  5478. >You didn't know how to feel about her flirting with you
  5479. >In front of Anon, no less!
  5480. >You bite your lip
  5481. >At least she promised not to tell anypony
  5482. >Small comfort
  5483. >You shake the thoughts from your head
  5484. >Time for work, not worry
  5485. >...It would be easier if your coat didn't feel so /tight/
  5486. >Like your skin shrunk by one size
  5487. >If only you had some more private time with Anon
  5488. >He would rub the stiffness away in no time~....
  5489. >You sigh
  5490. >Still several hours until dinner
  5491. >You watch as the gamer ponies play and laugh together
  5492. >You wish you could play with Anon
  5493. >An actual date to the arcade would be fun
  5494. >You could see it now, jamming out with Anon on a rhythm game...
  5495. >His fingers dancing across a plastic guitar while you set the beat on the drums
  5496. >...He might not be magical, but he could certainly do magical things with those hands
  5497. >This will be a long shift...
  5498.  
  5499. Be Sleepy
  5500. >Be experiencing something completely new
  5501. >A most troubling development
  5502. >Honestly, something you had long ago declared impossible
  5503. >...you were having trouble falling asleep
  5504. >You had spent the last twenty minutes staring at the walls and ceiling of your cell
  5505. >You turn to your side
  5506. >Every time you close your eyes, you could see that nurse
  5507. >It was insanity!
  5508. >You'd only met her today!
  5509. >And you'd only had roughly fifteen minutes worth of interaction!
  5510. >you turn to your other side
  5511. >...But all the same, something about her was stuck in your head
  5512. >You grumble meaninglessly and stretch a wing to cover your face
  5513. >This 'sleep mask' position /always/ put you right to sleep
  5514. >...
  5515. >...
  5516. >...
  5517. >No dice, even this ace in the hole position was uncomfortable
  5518. >You growl in agitation and angrily move out of the bed
  5519. >You didn't like being unable to sleep
  5520. >You move over to your workstation and begin to roughly preen your wings
  5521. >About the only bright side to your insomnia...
  5522. >You'd have Anon's pillow finished tonight
  5523. >Time passes as you finish filling the pillow
  5524. >....
  5525. >...
  5526. >..
  5527. >.
  5528. >You carefully place the final feather in the exquisite cloth sack
  5529. >With every feather in place, you prepare your sewing supplies
  5530. >With ultimate diligence and discipline, you begin sewing the pillow closed
  5531. >The work takes a full hour, but it passes in a blink
  5532. >You step back and admire your hoofiwork
  5533. >Your modified horseshoe stitch held everything together perfectly
  5534. >You carefully rest your head on the pillow to quality test it
  5535. >...
  5536. >..
  5537. >.
  5538. >Perfect
  5539. >Time to test the sound canceling abilities of the pillow
  5540. >You open your door and are immediately assaulted by a wave of sound as inmates move around the halls
  5541. >You gently press the pillow around your head and once again, all is silent
  5542. >Perfect
  5543. >Time for your least favorite test...
  5544. >You roughly throw the pillow against the wall of your cell and stomp on it until it is thoroughly trampled
  5545. >After brutally trampling the pillow, you lift it and check for feather leaks
  5546. >Nothing
  5547. >You fluff the pillow and check to make sure it hasn't lost its firmness or form
  5548. >It looks as though nothing at all happened
  5549. >Perfect
  5550. >You had created another masterpiece
  5551. >You yawn and check the clock
  5552. >Still plenty of time before dinner
  5553. >Working always tired you out
  5554. >You close your door and place the pillow back on your workstation
  5555. >You'd deliver it after dinner
  5556. >You flutter to the bed and collapse on top, starting to drift away even as you fall
  5557. >You smile as sleep claims you, filling your head with lovely fantasies in a nurses office
  5558.  
  5559. Be Nice Sweater
  5560. >Today was such a lovely day in the neighborhood
  5561. >The birds were singing outside, ponies were laughing and playing in the halls
  5562. >And you had such a good new friend
  5563. >Sure, he wasn't very nice when you first met...
  5564. >But he warmed right up to you
  5565. >He had just been upset that his sister was being treated poorly by that doodle Anon
  5566. >You smile and wave to the passersby as you trot down the hall
  5567. >You finally arrive at your first destination
  5568. >The arcade
  5569. >Most of these games were much too competitive for you
  5570. >You weren't here for the games anyway
  5571. >You had business with the leaders of the Nerd herd
  5572. >Radian Measure, a green coated stallion with a brown mane and Two Pi, a purple coated mare with a red mane
  5573. >You spot them at the far end of the arcade, where tables had been set up for card games
  5574. >They were giving eachother a high-hoof while two other nerd ponies sulked
  5575. >"Way to go Radian!"
  5576. >The stallion beams a broken, braced smile at the mare
  5577. >"I'm nothing without you Two Pi!"
  5578. >They both start laughing as though the funniest joke ever was just told
  5579. >Nerds are weird
  5580. >You shake your head
  5581. >That was a down-diddly-right mean thing to think
  5582. >You trot up to them
  5583. "Howdy-ho neighborinos! I have an offer for you from Bronze Chain, the new minotaur"
  5584. >They look over at you, and Radian steps forward
  5585. >"What does he want with us?"
  5586. >You beam a smile at him
  5587. "He wants your help taking down the dangerous inmate Anon"
  5588. >Pi steps forward
  5589. >"And why would we agree to do that?"
  5590. >You turn your grin to her
  5591. "Simple, who would dare mess with you once a minotaur is your friendo? You'd never have to fear bullies again"
  5592. >The two exchange a look
  5593. >"And what if we refuse?"
  5594. "Why, you're either with us or against us. And we all know your clique is the weakest"
  5595. >Radian frowns
  5596. >"So it's join or be bullied?"
  5597. "You got it buddy-boy!"
  5598. >You weren't threatening them
  5599. >You were warning them
  5600. >You knew firsthand how scary Chain could be
  5601. >You were scaring them for their own good
  5602. >"Please give us a moment"
  5603. >You nod and the two step a little ways away
  5604. >You can't make out what they are saying over the beeps, blips, and boings of the games around you
  5605. >But you can easily see that they are having an animated discussion
  5606. >They both look back at you, debate again, then look back
  5607. >Pi slowly walks back over to you as Radian moves to pick up the cards from the earlier game
  5608. >"Deal, we are in. The nerd herd will support Bronze Chain against Anon"
  5609.  
  5610. Be Letter Lover
  5611. >Be on your way to the gym
  5612. >Not to work out though
  5613. >Even though you would like to...
  5614. >You were going there to talk to the head of the gym crowd
  5615. >Lean Ligaments
  5616. >You enter the gym and approach the massive steel-hued pony
  5617. >You tap what feels like a body made of solid steel
  5618. "Excuse me, I'm here on behalf of Bronze Chain"
  5619. >Lean Ligaments looks away from the excercise machine
  5620. >"What does he want?"
  5621. >What a husky voice
  5622. "Your partnership against the dangerous human Anonymous. He's dishonoring Chain's sister, Bust"
  5623. >Ligaments brushes their black mane out of the way
  5624. >"Sure! No mare should ever be treated that way"
  5625.  
  5626. Be Bronze Chain
  5627. >Be meeting with the leader of the imprisoned nobles
  5628. >Blue Dancer
  5629. >Apparently, he had a white coat and had a golden mane
  5630. >Never worked a day in his life, but he had pull around the prison
  5631. >You'd need him as an ally if you wanted to control the prison
  5632. >You step into the dance hall, where the stallion was dancing as the band clique played
  5633. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUID0jSh2Ic
  5634. >Perfect, two pony clique leaders at once
  5635. >You step up to the dance floor and stand there until he notices you
  5636. >He frowns and raises an eyebrow, not slowing his dancing in the slightest
  5637. >"Can you get off the stage? You're cramping my style"
  5638. >You shake your head
  5639. "Not until you promise to help me. I understand you are also a noble, well my sister is being courted by the lowest of plebeians: Anonymous"
  5640. >Blue Dancer stops moving and gasps
  5641. >"We can't let that phony continue! I'll help you to the max! "
  5642. >He turns towards the band
  5643. >"Yo Spit Valve, you and your cats gonna be there or be square?"
  5644. >You turn towards the band as a brass coated pony with a brown mane nods
  5645. >Blue Dancer nods excitedly
  5646. >"Most excellent, I can dig it!"
  5647. >He turns back to you
  5648. >"We got your back, daddy-o"
  5649. >You grin back at him
  5650. >This was going swimmingly
  5651.  
  5652.  
  5653. Be Anon
  5654. >Be woken up by a knocking at your door
  5655. >You glance over at your clock
  5656. >Dinner time
  5657. >You manage to pull yourself out of bed and to the door
  5658. >"Hiya Anon!"
  5659. >You smile at Cookies
  5660. "Hey, how's my favorite guard doing?"
  5661. >She starts to smile back, but quickly stops
  5662. >"Fine, but uh Anon... you look terrible. I mean just awful, what happened?"
  5663. >Well, there goes your self esteem down the toilet
  5664. >You thought you were looking pretty good for a guy who lost a pint and wasn't allowed to shave
  5665. "Well..."
  5666. >It might not be such a great idea to let Cookies know you let Honey Heart drain you
  5667. >no, she deserved to know
  5668. "...I promised to let Honey Heart take a few samples for scientific research outside of the prison. One of the samples she needed was a blood sample"
  5669. >Cookies nods thoughtfully, until you mention blood
  5670. >Her eyes go wide
  5671. >She scours you with her gaze, looking for any sign of injury
  5672. >Her eyes settle on your arm, discolored from the disinfectant and bruising slightly
  5673. >Her eyes fill with tears and she shakily raises a hoof against your arm
  5674. >She looks up at you, tears already starting to cascade down her cheeks
  5675. >"W-Why didn't you tell me this was going to happen? I would have been there for you!"
  5676. >You smile sheepishly at her
  5677. "You had duties you couldn't avoid, and I didn't want you to worry"
  5678. >She tries to argue, but all that comes out is a weak wail
  5679. >You usher her fully into your room as her body is wracked by sobs
  5680. >You close the door for privacy and kneel down to comfort her
  5681. >Her fur pokes against the sensitive flesh on the crook of your arm where the needle was
  5682. >Cookies wraps her forelegs around you and presses her head against your chest
  5683. "I'm sorry, it's all fine now, I'm okay, you're okay. No need to cry..."
  5684. >She is shaking violently between sobs
  5685. >You pet her mane with one hand as she continues to cry into your shirt
  5686. >All the while, you coo softly to her and reassure her that everything is fine
  5687. >Her sobs and wails slowly turn into hiccups and sniffles
  5688. >Her shaking slowly becomes occasional shivers
  5689. >Finally, she gently pushes you away
  5690. >You smile down at her, and she barely manages a weak smile back
  5691. >*sniffle*
  5692. >That just wasn't fair
  5693. >She looks down at your chest and blushes
  5694. >"I-I'm sorry... I g-got your shirt all m-messy..."
  5695. >You chuckle and play with her ears
  5696. "Don't worry about it."
  5697. >She gives you a genuine smile and closes her eyes, leaning into your hands
  5698. >She lets out a happy sigh as her leg twitches
  5699. >You smile
  5700. >You love it when she does that
  5701. >She blinks a few times to expel the last of the excess moisture and looks into your eyes
  5702. >"I don't deserve a guy like you"
  5703. >You raise an eyebrow
  5704. "What is that supposed to mean?"
  5705. >She blushes and bites a lip, looking away
  5706. >She takes her time before answering
  5707. >"Well, I mean you were willing to keep such a scary thing a secret so you wouldn't upset me. You probably wouldn't have told me if I hadn't pointed it out. You would have kept it all bottled inside to keep me happy..."
  5708. >She sniffles again and rests her head on your shoulder
  5709. >"Thank you for thinking of me... but please let me know next time something scary is happening, I want to be there for you."
  5710. "Alright, I'll let you know in advance next time"
  5711. >Cookies leans into you again, and you both just enjoy the feel of each other pressed together
  5712. >Cookies pulls back suddenly, her eyes bolting open
  5713. >"We're going to be late for dinner!"
  5714. >Damn!
  5715. >You completely forgot about dinner
  5716. >You check the clock...
  5717. >Damn! Really late!
  5718. "Come on!"
  5719. >You start to move towards the door-
  5720. >"WAIT!"
  5721. >You turn to look at Cookies, who is biting her lip
  5722. >"I can't go out there looking like I just cried, my reputation as the toughest guard would be ruined!"
  5723. "Wait, you are the toughest guard?"
  5724. >Cookies frowns at you
  5725. >"Yes I am! I was the only guard to volunteer to watch you, after all"
  5726. >She has a point
  5727. >Most inmates and guards mostly avoided you
  5728. "Well, you are certainly the bravest. You do look like you've been crying... Here, you can use my bathroom to wash up. I'll help"
  5729. >Cookies smiles and blushes
  5730. >"O-okay"
  5731.  
  5732. Be Cookies
  5733. "O-okay"
  5734. >Anon just invited you into his bathroom
  5735. >To wash up
  5736. >And he said he'd help...
  5737. > You self-consciously trot into the bathroom and plop yourself down by the sink
  5738. >Anon follows and wets a cloth
  5739. >The cloth is nice and warm as Anon gently rubs your face with small circular motions
  5740. >You close your eyes as Anon works, simply enjoying the treatment
  5741. >Anon was such a wonderful stallio-er, man...
  5742. >So selfless, caring, and yet he was also the toughest person you'd ever met
  5743. >And being in a prison, you knew a LOT of tough ponies
  5744. >You turn your head slightly and catch a whiff of his scent off his wrist
  5745. >...He always smelled so....primal
  5746. >That was the only word for it
  5747. >Dangerous, almost musky, foreign, and slightly salty
  5748. >You hold that breath for several second, holding his smell in your nose
  5749. >...
  5750. >..
  5751. >.
  5752. >You breathe out with a contented sigh
  5753. >Anon's motions slow and he removes the cloth from your face
  5754. >His other had remains cupped against your jawline
  5755. >Anon directs your face upwards and you start to open your eyes
  5756. >You barely have them open halfway before Anon leans down and steals a kiss
  5757. >A jolt of electricity runs down your spine pleasantly
  5758. >He holds the kiss for several seconds, lips smiling against yours
  5759. >He pulls back with a chuckle
  5760. >"I'd say you look just perfect"
  5761. >It feels like your heart is beating in your throat
  5762. "T-thanks for cleaning me up"
  5763. >Anon grins
  5764. >"You'd look good even if you were covered in mud"
  5765. >You giggle
  5766. "Flattery will get you nowhere"
  5767. >Anon tilts his head and smirks
  5768. >"Then what will get me somewhere?"
  5769. >You stick out your tongue at him
  5770. "You could try walking! We are late for dinner, remember?"
  5771. >Anon rubs his hand slowly across your back
  5772. >Causing the remaining sparks from the kiss to jump between your vertebrae
  5773. >By Celestia did that feel good~
  5774. >"well, you are so adorable I could just eat you up"
  5775. >You giggle again
  5776. "Anon, what am I going to do with you?"
  5777. >He wiggles his eyebrows and scratches an ear
  5778. >"I can think of a few things..."
  5779. >You laugh
  5780. "Down boy! Dinner first, cuddles later!"
  5781. >Anon gives you a puppy-eyes look and even trembles his lip slightly
  5782. >You authoritatively point a hoof out towards the door
  5783. >Anon sighs sadly and hangs his head in defeat
  5784. >If Anon wasn't obviously playing around, you'd feel guilty
  5785. >You check the mirror before following him
  5786. >...
  5787. >He really did do a good job of cleaning you up
  5788. >You turn and trot after him
  5789. >You couldn't wait to have him all to yourself tonight
  5790.  
  5791. Be The Warden
  5792. >TODAY WAS A GOOD DAY!
  5793. >Your friends were happy!
  5794. >Bust had talked to you about getting a job in the prison to help out and earn extra desserts
  5795. >Honey Heart was actually eating in the mess! That never happened!
  5796. >You skip through the mess, greeting your inmates and guards as you saw them
  5797. >You come to a stop at Bronze Chain's table
  5798. >The table is packed
  5799. "Good evening everypony! Chain, I'm so glad to see you making friends!"
  5800. >eight pairs of eyes turn to look at you
  5801. >Chain lazily waves at you while the others give you a proper greeting
  5802. >You never would have expected Chain to be so good at making such diverse friends!
  5803.  
  5804.  
  5805. Be Anon
  5806. >Be walking into the mess
  5807. >REALLY late
  5808. >You and Cookies hurry through the meal counter and head towards your usual table
  5809. >Bust is already there, as is Sleepy...
  5810. >...and nurse Honey Heart?
  5811. >Weird
  5812. >She's never eaten with you before
  5813. >You approach the table and you both sit down
  5814. >Cookies is sitting in between you and Bust
  5815. >Making Bust pout
  5816. >You ignore her reaction and turn towards Sleepy and Honey who are sitting across from you
  5817. "Hello Sleepy, nurse Heart"
  5818. >They nod back to you in sync
  5819. >Sleepy does so lazily, Honey does so curtly
  5820. >They both are focusing intently on their meals
  5821. >Cookies notices the newcomer to the table
  5822. >"Honey, good to see you. What brings you to our table today?"
  5823. >Honey swallows the food in her mouth
  5824. >"I decided I wanted to try eating in here today. This was the only seat open"
  5825. >Now that was just a blatant lie
  5826. >You chuckle and turn towards your meal
  5827. >You start to take a sip from your juice...
  5828. >...damn, that doesn't smell right!
  5829. >You recoil from the offending beverage, drawing the attention of everyone at the table
  5830. >Cookies reacts first
  5831. >"Anon, what's wrong?"
  5832. "My juice doesn't smell right. I think it may have spoiled"
  5833. >Cookies tilts her head in confusion
  5834. >"But we only just got new juices. It should be fine... here, let me take a look"
  5835. >You nod and hand over the juice
  5836. >Cookies gently swirls it in the cup, sniffs it, then shrugs and takes an experimental mouthful
  5837. >She hands back the drink
  5838. >"I didn't notice anything wrong"
  5839. >You frown
  5840. "I'm not going crazy, there is something wrong with this juice. You shouldn't have drank any"
  5841. >Bust waves at you from the far side of the table
  5842. >"Let me try, everyone knows minotaurs have a better sense of smell"
  5843. >Honey Heart clears her throat
  5844. >"That isn't true"
  5845. >You shrug and pass the drink to Bust, who goes through the same process as Cookies and finishes with a gulp of juice
  5846. >"I'm sorry Anon... I didn't notice anything out of the ordinary either"
  5847. "I'm telling you, there is something wrong with my drink!"
  5848. >Sleepy motions the drink over
  5849. >"My turn, I'll settle this"
  5850. >You sigh as Bust passes Sleepy the juice
  5851. >Once again, a gulp is taken
  5852. >He shakes his head and shrugs
  5853. >Honey Heart levitates the drink over and examines the remaining liquid carefully
  5854. >After several seconds of intense scrutiny, she tries some of the juice
  5855. >She shakes her head and levitates the cup back to you...
  5856. >...only to have it be intercepted by The Warden, who also takes a gulp
  5857. >"Tastes sweeter than usual"
  5858. >At least someone agrees with you that something is different about the juice
  5859. "Thank you Warden, no one else could taste any difference"
  5860. >She shakes her head and bounces away
  5861. >"Only I have a sensitive enough sense of taste!"
  5862. >Honey Heart picks the glass back up from where The Warden left it and levitates it towards you
  5863. >You grab the glass from the air and the magic aura around it dissipates
  5864. >You upturn the glass and a few drops drip to the table
  5865. >They drank all your juice...
  5866. >Sleepy laughs
  5867. >"Looks like you don't have to worry about drinking bad juice"
  5868. >You join in on the laughter
  5869. "I guess so. I'll be right back, I'm going to get another juice. I'm thinking apple this time instead"
  5870.  
  5871. Be Bronze Chain
  5872. >CURSES!
  5873. >Why did everyone EXCEPT Anon drink the juice!?
  5874. >Blue Dancer had to pull a lot of strings to get that juice poisoned
  5875. >And now all that effort was wasted
  5876. >Anon even made you sister drink some!
  5877. >You'd have to move on to plan B
  5878. "Pi, Radian, you two have everything prepared?"
  5879. >"Affirmative"
  5880. >You nod and turn to Valve
  5881. "How about you"
  5882. >He nods
  5883. "Excellent"
  5884. >Tomorrow would be an interesting day indeed...
  5885.  
  5886. Be Anon
  5887. >You arrive back at the table and Sleepy quickly finishes his mouthful of food
  5888. >"Anon, I almost forgot to mention that I finished you-"
  5889. "THANK you, Sleepy. "
  5890. >Sleepy raises an eyebrow at the rude interruption
  5891. >You couldn't make it a surprise if Sleepy talked about it right now
  5892. "sorry for interrupting. You can give it to me after dinner, deal?"
  5893. >Sleepy nods
  5894. >You all return to your meals
  5895. >Sleepy lets out a loud yawn and stretch
  5896. >Accidently rubbing a wing against Honey's back
  5897. >That smooth bastard
  5898. >Honey stiffens
  5899. >"Awfully crowded in here. That's why I hate eating here"
  5900. >Cookies tilts her head
  5901. >"That bench is designed for up to seven ponies, you'd have more room if yo-"
  5902. >You quickly nudge Cookies
  5903. >She turns to look at you curiously
  5904. >You look at the two ponies sitting across from you meaningfully
  5905. >Cookies eyes go wide as realization hits
  5906. >She drops the subject and finishes off her meal
  5907. >You and Bust finish not far behind
  5908. >Bust turns to you
  5909. >"I'll catch you later Anon. Today was really intense, so I'm all tuckered out"
  5910. >You nod and wave goodbye as Bust leaves
  5911. >Swaying her hips just the tiniest bit more than is necessary, as always
  5912. "Hey Cookies, I'll meet you at my cell for my 'bedtime story'"
  5913. >Cookies grins broadly and gives an excited nod
  5914. >"Sure, see you there!"
  5915. >She trots off...
  5916. >...was she trying to sway her hips like Bust?
  5917. >Well, it was that or she suddenly developed a limp
  5918. >You chuckle and turn towards Sleepy
  5919. "So, when do I get my pillow?"
  5920. >Sleepy looks up at you
  5921. >He hadn't finished his food
  5922. >Neither had Honey Heart
  5923. >Looks like they were using their food as an excuse to enjoy each other's company
  5924. >Damn, you need to be a good wingman here. Can't pull Sleepy away.
  5925. >But you really want to give Cookies that pillow...
  5926. "Actually, would you mind if I just grabbed it from your room?"
  5927. >Sleepy shakes his head
  5928. >"Go for it. It'll be on my workbench"
  5929. "Thanks bud, enjoy the rest of dinner"
  5930. >Sleepy nods and smirks
  5931. >"You know, I'd enjoy it more if I could have something to sweeten my food. I could really use some honey"
  5932. >Honey nearly chokes on her milk
  5933. >Sleepy, you smooth bastard
  5934. >...wait a minute!
  5935. > food/girlfriend jokes were your thing!
  5936. >You chuckle
  5937. >Looks like you've rubbed off on him
  5938. "Seeya Sleepy, have a good night nurse Heart"
  5939. >Honey Heart quickly nods and you start heading for Sleepy's cell
  5940. >quietly laughing to yourself all the while
  5941. >You eventually reach his cell and find the pillow exactly where he said you would
  5942. >You start to pick it up, and gasp as your hand grasps it
  5943. >you couldn't tell where your hand ended and the pillow began
  5944. >Your hand felt... numb isn't the right word
  5945. >It felt as though your hand had simply stopped existing, all sensation was wiped from the extremity
  5946. >It was a pleasant kind of void
  5947. >As though it were a promise that you'd never feel discomfort there ever again
  5948. >You release the pillow, and sensation immediately returns to your hand
  5949. >It's like the tactile version of the sun getting in your eyes first thing in the morning
  5950. >Damn, Sleepy wasn't kidding when he said his pillows were potent
  5951. >Time to test if it really can block out sound
  5952. >You pick up the pillow and wrap it around your head
  5953. >Your head feels as though it is being cradled by a goddess
  5954. >You can't hear anything going on beyond the beautiful cushion
  5955. >All you can hear is the steady rush of blood in your ears, while your heart beats a soothing rhythm
  5956. >...
  5957. >...
  5958. >...
  5959. >Best damn investment you've ever made
  5960. >You hurry towards your cell
  5961. >You had one hell of a present to deliver to a very lucky mare
  5962.  
  5963.  
  5964. Be Cookies
  5965. >Be pacing back and forth
  5966. >You had been struggling to maintain your composure all through dinner
  5967. >Especially about halfway through
  5968. >Probably just because that kiss before dinner was amazing~
  5969. >You really needed some loving
  5970. >Your skin felt tight
  5971. >You felt discomfort down to your bones...
  5972. >Discomfort that only Anon's wonderful hands could work away
  5973. >Speaking of whom, you catch sight of Anon as he rounds the bend in the hall and rushes towards you
  5974. >YAY!
  5975. >Wait
  5976. >What is that he's carrying?
  5977. >Is that a pillow?
  5978. >whatever, it isn't important
  5979. >Because it isn't pillow time
  5980. >It isn't dinner time
  5981. >It isn't adventure time
  5982. >it's CUDDLE TIME!
  5983. >"Hey, let me get the door for you"
  5984. >What a gentlestallion~
  5985. >You quickly enter the room and Anon follows, closing and locking the door behind himself
  5986. >You hop up on the bed and Anon follows right behind
  5987. >"Hey, before we start. you've done such a great job of dealing with me and my silliness that I decided to get you a present"
  5988. >Huh?
  5989. >Anon got you a present?
  5990. >Where could he get a present from?
  5991. >The arcade maybe?
  5992. "Are you hiding it behind the pillow?"
  5993. >Anon frowns
  5994. >"No, it IS the pillow"
  5995. >Wow...disappointing...
  5996. >Well, he doesn't have the opportunity to just go out shopping...
  5997. >You'll just have to pretend to be excited for him
  5998. "Wow... this means a lot to me, just fantastic"
  5999. >NAILED IT
  6000. >Anon scrunchies
  6001. >You'll never get tired of that face
  6002. >You just wish he didn't make it when he was annoyed
  6003. >"Believe me, it isn't just any pillow. It really is something worth getting excited about"
  6004. >He lays the pillow on the bed behind you
  6005. >"Here, try laying down on it
  6006. >You smile sheepishly at him and do as you are tol-
  6007. >...
  6008. >...
  6009. >...
  6010. >oh sweet Celestia was that soft
  6011. >This must be like what master masseuse unicorns could do
  6012. >The kind of unicorns that only royalty could afford to meet with
  6013. >You try to thank Anon properly with a hug, but you can't manage the willpower to lift yourself from this little slice of perfection
  6014. >Anon'll just have to settle for a verbal thanks
  6015. "Mhmmglrglrbd"
  6016. >Anon laughs
  6017. >"I guess you like it!"
  6018. >You barely manage to give Anon a crooked grin
  6019. >Anon laughs again
  6020. >Such a rich sound~
  6021. >You could barely think straight
  6022. >The whole world is beauty
  6023. >The whole world, except wherever the Bronze siblings are...
  6024. >No use, you can't feel upset while lying on such a powerful tool of comfort
  6025. >"Well, I guess it's time for the main course..."
  6026. >Anon leans in close and begins to stroke your belly with one hand, the other gently scratching your chest
  6027. >Anon leans down close and presses his cheek to yours
  6028. >You manage a weak giggle
  6029. >You breath catches in your throat as he begins to carefully nibble an ear
  6030. >THIS WAS HEAVEN
  6031.  
  6032. Be Anon
  6033. >Be with a VERY happy mare
  6034. >Cookies had the biggest, most lopsided grin you'd ever seen
  6035. >If she was any more relaxed, she'd be a liquid
  6036. >You lean down, to touch your cheek to hers
  6037. >She giggles cutely in response
  6038. >Time to see if she liked having her ears nibbled...
  6039. >You gingerly take the cartilage between your teeth and press down slightly
  6040. >She tenses up
  6041. >But with the soothing effect of the pillow, she was still more relaxed than you'd ever seen her
  6042. >Her hooves lazily flail against your chest and side and she lets out a cute little sound
  6043. >You smile, still gently chewing her ear
  6044. >Time to see what you could really do with this pillow as backup!
  6045. >You press down harder with your hands and, with small circular motions, set them in opposite directions up and down her belly and chest
  6046. >About all she could manage was the occasional weak gurgle or sigh as you worked your hands across her body
  6047. >Hrm... you are doing an excellent job, but you can't help but feel like you could do better
  6048. >You switch tactics, kneading her coat
  6049. >Your fingernails scratch lightly at the skin underneath
  6050. >She lets out a moan and her hind leg twitches involuntarily
  6051. >You release her ear and move your face to hers
  6052. >You press your nose against hers and she giggles in your face
  6053. >You chuckle back and press your forehead against hers as well
  6054. >In this position, your breath leaves your body only to be caught by Cookies' inhalation
  6055. >And vice versa
  6056. >You lie like that for several long, decadent minutes before tilting your head the other direction using your nose as a fulcrum
  6057. >It barely qualifies as a kiss as you smile against eachother
  6058. >You decide it's time for the pseudo-kiss to graduate, and press forward
  6059. >She manages to return the gesture despite her relaxation-addled state
  6060. >You pull back and mush your face against the side of her neck
  6061. >She lets out a little hum of happiness
  6062. >With what appears to be a herculean effort, she squeezes you with all her legs for a full body hug
  6063. >Her hum reaches a higher pitch as she squeezes you
  6064. >you both laugh for no other reason than that you are happy
  6065. >As the laughter dies down, you let the pressure off of your elbows and lower yourself more on top of her
  6066. >She gives a low sound of approval as the pressure on her body increases
  6067. >You raise a hand up and lightly trace the base of her ears
  6068. >She mewls indignantly at the teasing touch
  6069. >You comply to her wordless complaints and start massaging her ears properly
  6070. >She closes her eyes and tries to arch her back to better press her head against your hand
  6071. >You increase the tempo and roughness of the massaging and she bites her lip
  6072. >You shift weight and move your other hand down to stroke her flank and side
  6073. >Your hand presses tightly against her, and your fingers sink into the perfectly toned musculature there
  6074. >Guardpones need to be in good shape
  6075. >"-on~"
  6076. >She barely manages a squeak
  6077. >You chuckle
  6078. "what was that?"
  6079. >She scrunchies hard and tries again to form the word
  6080. >"Spo~"
  6081. >She gives up and just gives you a plaintive look
  6082. "Were you trying to say you wanted to spoon?"
  6083. >She smiles and nods
  6084. >All the confirmation you need
  6085. >You give her a toothy grin
  6086. "You want to be the little spoon, or the jetpack?"
  6087. >You prepare a little ambush for when she attempts to answer...
  6088. >She takes a deep, shaky breath
  6089. >Her voice is husky
  6090. >"I want to be lit-"
  6091. >You spring your trap
  6092. >You tweak an ear just gently enough to keep it pleasurable with your first hand, and rake your fingers down her side with the other
  6093. >"-tlurghmrbfnm"
  6094. >She scrunchies again
  6095. >She is clearly torn about whether to be annoyed at the distraction, or to simply enjoy the sensations
  6096. >You lean down again and give her a deep kiss
  6097. >...
  6098. >..
  6099. >.
  6100. >When you resurface, her face couldn't be more red
  6101. >You smirk
  6102. "What's the matter, human got your tongue?"
  6103. >Looks like you were wrong, her face could be more red
  6104. >You chuckle and carefully extract yourself from above her
  6105. >You firmly roll her to her side, facing away from you and assume the position of big spoon
  6106. >Cookies lets out a deep, shaky yet satisfied sigh
  6107. >You reach over and set your alarm for three hours
  6108. >That should give Cookies enough time to nap with you for a while but still have time to leave the prison at an appropriate time
  6109. >You slump back down next to Cookies
  6110. >"....you~"
  6111. "Huh? What was that?"
  6112. >Your only answer is a light snore
  6113. >Cookies was already sleeping
  6114. >You chuckle in response
  6115. "Love you too"
  6116. >She lets out a happy sound and snuggles in closer
  6117. >She was literally so good at being adorable, she could do it in her sleep
  6118. >You wrap your free arm around her
  6119. >You also manage to rest your head on a free corner of the super-pillow
  6120. >Score!
  6121.  
  6122. Be The Warden
  6123. >Tonight you decided to treat yourself to something special!
  6124. >You were going to sleep in your office!
  6125. >You snuggle into your sleeping bag and hug a pillow
  6126. >You always had good dreams when you slept in your office!
  6127. >You were super excited to fall asleep!
  6128. >You'd be asleep any minute now!
  6129. >You couldn't wait fo-
  6130. "zzz"
  6131.  
  6132. Be Anon
  6133. >Be waking up
  6134. >Damn this pillow was amazing
  6135. >Cookies had told you to keep it in your cell, since it would be hard for her to smuggle it in and out of the prison
  6136. >That, and she said it could only be better if it smelled like you
  6137. >You snuggle in against the pillow and yawn
  6138. >Breakfast was still a long way off, you had plenty of time to sleep in
  6139.  
  6140.  
  6141. Be Cookies
  6142. >Be in your home
  6143. >Be waking up feeling extremely refreshed
  6144. >you'd thought going to sleep would be difficult after your nap with Anon, but you fell right asleep when you got to your own bed
  6145. >You stretch and yawn, and hop out of bed
  6146. >You stumble a bit
  6147. >That's odd...
  6148. >Your body feels... larger than normal
  6149. >huh, you are probably just feeling groggy
  6150. >You trot towards your bathroom to prepare for the day
  6151. >Smiling the whole way
  6152. >When you reach the bathroom, you glance in the mirror
  6153. >You double take
  6154. >...That isn't right
  6155. >THAT ISN'T RIGHT AT ALL
  6156. >How would anypony recognize you like this?!
  6157. >How would your family react?!
  6158. >!
  6159. >HOW WOULD ANON REACT?!
  6160. >He couldn't see you like this!
  6161. >But... you can't call in sick
  6162. >You aren't sick
  6163. >Just...different
  6164. >you'll have to go in and explain the situation to The Warden
  6165. >Surely she'll give you the day off until you are back to normal?
  6166.  
  6167.  
  6168. Be Sleepy
  6169. >Be waking up!
  6170. >This isn't right!
  6171. >It appears you aren't in your own bed!
  6172. >You are in a sleeping bag!
  6173. >In The Warden's office!
  6174. >WITH ALL THE ENERGY!
  6175. >And you feel a lot colder than normal!
  6176. >You hurry out of the bag and try to stretch!
  6177. >You do your normal stretching routine, starting at your legs and ending at your wings!
  6178. >wait... WHERE ARE YOUR WINGS?!
  6179.  
  6180. Be The Warden
  6181. "zzzzzZZZzzzz"
  6182.  
  6183. Be Honey Heart
  6184. >Be waking up
  6185. >You yawn and try to slide out of bed
  6186. >Only to fall unceremoniously on the floor in a heap of tiny limbs
  6187. >...
  6188. >..
  6189. >.
  6190. >Why is everything so big?
  6191. >You hurry to the bathroom to check yourself in the mirror
  6192. >...
  6193. >..
  6194. >.
  6195. >Upon seeing yourself, your let out an exasperated sigh and rub your temples
  6196. >...it's too early for this
  6197.  
  6198. Be Anon again
  6199. >Be woken up by screaming
  6200. >You bolt out of bed
  6201. >That sounds like....Bust?
  6202. >You rush out of your cell towards the sound
  6203. >You see inmates running around in a panic, their screams and shouts mingling with Bust's
  6204. >You round the corner to the hall where Bust's cell is
  6205. >A guardpone nervously trots in place outside the cell
  6206. >"Inmate, is everything alright in the-"
  6207. >He's cut off by another bloodcurdling scream
  6208. >He jumps and runs away, scared out of his little pone mind
  6209. >Looks like you'll have to play hero
  6210. "Bust? I'm coming inside! Stay calm, help is on the way!"
  6211. >"Don't come in! I can't let you see me like this!"
  6212. "But don't you need help?"
  6213. >"Just get the nurse here! Please!"
  6214. "Sure, just stay calm!"
  6215. >"Please hurry!"
  6216. >You rush to Honey Heart's office
  6217. >Only to find it empty
  6218. >A guardpony notices you and the worried look on your face
  6219. >"The nurse isn't in yet. What's wrong?"
  6220. "Inmate Bronze Bust. Something is wrong with her! We need the nurse"
  6221. >From behind you, you hear Honey's voice
  6222. >Slightly higher pitched than normal
  6223. >"I'm here, though I may not be in the best condition to help anypony"
  6224. >You turn to face her and-
  6225. >...
  6226. >welp, that's a thing
  6227. >Looking up at you is a little filly with the same amber coat and red mane as Honey Heart
  6228. >Same cutie mark
  6229. >"Yes, yes, I know. I'll fix this later. What's wrong?"
  6230. >You blink the surprised expression from your face
  6231. "Something is wrong with Bust, she's been screaming in her room. She hasn't let anyone in"
  6232. >Honey nods
  6233. >"Let's go"
  6234. >You both rush towards Busts room
  6235. >Honey Heart has a hard time keeping up
  6236. >This was serious, time was of the essence
  6237. >You bend down and scoop up Honey
  6238. >"-eep! Why you, PUT ME DOWN!"
  6239. >She flails her tiny legs futilely in the air
  6240. "We'll get there faster if I carry you. We might not have the time to spare for you to get there on your own!"
  6241. >Filly Heart scrunchies and lets out an angry sigh
  6242. >You make it to Bust's cell in no time
  6243. "Bust, I'm back and I've brought Honey Heart!"
  6244. >Honey rushes into the cell
  6245. >...
  6246. >You hear bust shout out angrily
  6247. >"ANON! This isn't funny, get me the real Honey Heart!"
  6248. >You hear an equally angry shout
  6249. >"I AM HONEY HEART!"
  6250. >You hear the telltale sound of The Warden's hoofsteps behind you and turn
  6251. >"Hi Anon, what's going on?!"
  6252. >THAT WASN'T THE WARDEN'S VOICE
  6253. >THAT WASN'T THE WARDEN'S VOICE AT ALL
  6254. "S-Sleepy?"
  6255. >The Warden nods
  6256. >...Or rather, Sleepy in The Warden's body nods
  6257. >"It would appear that I'm in The Warden's body now! I've never felt so energetic! I don't know how to deal with this!"
  6258. >Today officially just got weird
  6259.  
  6260. Be Honey Heart
  6261. "I AM HONEY HEART!"
  6262. >Bust stares at you, eyes wide
  6263. >She's hiding her body behind her bathroom door
  6264. "Whatever is affecting you is probably affecting me too"
  6265. >Bust nods and bites her lip
  6266. "Now tell me, what's wrong?"
  6267. >Bust self-conciously steps out from behind the door
  6268. >...
  6269. >Ah
  6270. >So that's the issue here
  6271. >Bust's most prominent features had, for lack of a better term, vanished
  6272. >"...Can you fix me Honey? I don't want anypony to see me like this, especially not Anon"
  6273. >You bite your lip and furrow your brow in thought
  6274. "I'm not sure. I don't know what is causing this, or what the cure might be"
  6275. >Bust lets out a small whimper
  6276. >This is going to be a long day
  6277.  
  6278. Be Anon
  6279. >It is almost time for breakfast, Cookies would be coming for you soon
  6280. >...
  6281. >COOKIES!
  6282. >What if something like this was affecting her too?!
  6283. >This is bad, you've got to find her!
  6284. >And since Sleepy is in The Warden's body, does that mean...?
  6285. "Sleepy, Honey Heart is in there with Bust. Let them know I went to check on Cookies and The Warden"
  6286. >Sleepy nods vigorously while hopping in place
  6287. >His eyes widen
  6288. >"I CAN'T STOP NODDING!"
  6289. >You help Sleepy stop nodding by physically holding his head in place
  6290. >"Thanks Anon!"
  6291. >you nod and quickly leave the area
  6292. >You needed to find Cookies
  6293. >Better start in The Warden's office, guard postings would be there
  6294. >You enter the office without knocking
  6295. >The Warden's body was in front of Bust's room, after all
  6296. >You search the desk and find the guard schedule
  6297. >Time to see where Cookies is...
  6298. >...
  6299. >She had the morning off until breakfast
  6300. >The door to the office opens as someone bursts in
  6301. >"I'm sorry ma'am, I can't work today, something has come up"
  6302. >That...almost sounded like Cookies?
  6303. >You look up as the pony realizes their mistake
  6304. >"A-Anon! I....I can explain..."
  6305. >Looks like Cookies was affected by whatever has messed with all your other friends
  6306. >Unless Cookies has an older brother
  6307. >With the same cutie mark
  6308. >Wait, Cookies said she could explain!
  6309. >Or should you consider Cookies a 'he' for now?
  6310. "Please do, things are crazy here"
  6311. >Cookies bites his lip and his eyes shift rapidly around the room, looking for a way out
  6312. >"Alright, I can't explain. What do you mean things are crazy here?"
  6313. "Whatever...changed you also changed Sleepy, Honey Heart, Bust, and potentially The Warden. I came here to see where you were posted because I was worried that it had affected you too"
  6314. >Cookies looks down at his hooves
  6315. >"Well, it did affect me... Anon... What happens if I can't change back?"
  6316. >Cookies looks back up with tears in his eyes
  6317. >You quickly step over to him and wrap him in a hug
  6318. "We will get through this together. Please don't cry, I've seen more than enough of you crying for one lifetime"
  6319. >Cookies sniffles and nods his head
  6320. >"O-ok Anon. But what do we do right now?"
  6321. >That is a good question
  6322. >Where to now?
  6323. >...You should check on Sleepy's body, make sure The Warden doesn't get it into any trouble
  6324. "Let's go to Sleepy's cell, he potentially swapped bodies with The Warden"
  6325. >You lead the way, but have to stop occasionally to wait for Cookies to catch up
  6326. >She's slower than usual in the unfamiliar body
  6327. >You finally arrive at Sleepy's cell and open the door
  6328. >Good thing he didn't lock it
  6329. >You find Sleepy's body on the bed
  6330. >"ZZZZzzzzZZz"
  6331. "Good, Sleepy's body is still here"
  6332. >Cookies nods
  6333. >"Let's wake him up...wake her up?"
  6334. "We should probably just refer to them as their personalities, not the bodies"
  6335. >Cookies nods again
  6336. >"Good idea"
  6337. >You walk over to The Warden in Sleepy's body
  6338. "Good morning, time to wake up"
  6339. >you gently shake The Warden
  6340. >She just keeps snoring
  6341. >You shake more urgently
  6342. >...
  6343. >no reaction
  6344. "huh, she isn't waking up"
  6345. >Cookies gives you a worried look
  6346. "Well, let's try this then..."
  6347. >You grab the alarm clock and set the alarm for ten seconds
  6348. >Then you set the clock on top of The Warden
  6349. >...
  6350. >..
  6351. >.
  6352. >Five seconds left
  6353. >Cookies covers his ears with his hooves
  6354. >You plug your ears
  6355. >Three
  6356. >Two
  6357. >One...
  6358. >The alarm goes off with the auditory fury of a thousand crying toddlers
  6359. >The Warden extends a wing and ends up holding the wailing alarm like a teddy bear
  6360. >"Snrkt"
  6361. >Well, at least you got a different type of snore out of her
  6362.  
  6363. Be Honey Heart
  6364. >Looks like Bust's deflated balloons were the only adverse effect she was experiencing
  6365. "Good news is: Your chest appears to be the only thing affected"
  6366. >Bust slowly claps
  6367. >"I'm astounded by your powers of deduction and observation. Where did you learn medicine, a coloring book?!"
  6368. >You frown at her
  6369. "Rudeness won't solve anything. Now please come with me to my office. I can't do any tests without my equipment"
  6370. >Bust gives you a panicked look
  6371. >"But what if someone sees me? What if Anon sees me?! I can't leave until I get 'the girls' back!"
  6372. >You can't help but bring your hoof to your face
  6373. "It's either walk with me to my office, or risk not getting them back at all"
  6374. >Bust bites a lip, clearly torn between the decisions
  6375. >She lights up
  6376. >"Wait, I've got an idea! Get me some balloons"
  6377. >Clearly she won't leave without stuffing her bra so she can look like her normal self
  6378. >You sigh
  6379. "Fine, give me a minute and I'll find something for you"
  6380. >Bust smiles gratefully
  6381. >"Thanks, you're a good kid"
  6382. "Don't remind me"
  6383.  
  6384. Be Anon
  6385. >"We can't just leave her like this!"
  6386. "I know, I know, but how are we supposed to wake her up?"
  6387. >Cookies frowns
  6388. >"Isn't this Sleepy's body? maybe he knows how to wake her up"
  6389. "Good thinking! If we weren't in a rush, I'd kiss you"
  6390. >No homo
  6391. >Cookies blushes and smiles
  6392. >...
  6393. >Maybe a little homo
  6394. "I'll take her to Honey Heart's office, you get the others and I'll meet you there"
  6395. >Cookies nods and hurries out the door
  6396. >You turn back to the sleeping pony
  6397. >Time to lift some feathers
  6398. >You maneuver the ponies body so that you are carrying her on your back
  6399. >The irony of a pony riding a human is not lost on you as you make your way to Honey's office
  6400. >As you come to an intersection, you are stopped
  6401. >By Bronze Chain
  6402. >"Anon, been a while since our last fight. I say it's about time for a rematch"
  6403. >You sigh
  6404. "Give me a break, I'm kind of in a rush here. Emergency situation and all that"
  6405. >Chain shakes his head and snaps his fingers
  6406. >"I'm afraid I can't let you go that easily, Anon"
  6407. >Five ponies with various brass instruments appear from the side halls
  6408. >Chain grins
  6409. >"Yo momma so fat, this is her theme music!"
  6410. >Chain signals the ponies to start playing
  6411. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRq9qzuaz8s
  6412. >...
  6413. >..
  6414. >.
  6415. >AW HELL NAW
  6416. "Yo momma so ugly, her face is used as a template for nightmare night cookies!"
  6417. >Your insult is lost in the band's music
  6418. >Chain dances around, making mocking gestures at you
  6419. >You grit your teeth
  6420. >It's hard to think with a sleeping, drooling pony on your back
  6421. >You don't have time for this anyway
  6422. >You shoulder past Chain and hurry down the hall
  6423. >As the band's music fades out, you can hear his mocking laughter at your back
  6424. >This wasn't over
  6425.  
  6426. Be Bronze Chain
  6427. >This was turning out splendidly!
  6428. >For the first time, you beat Anon!
  6429. >He couldn't fight back!
  6430. >YOU WON ONCE!
  6431. >And the way that coward ran away with his tail between his legs...
  6432. >Or he would have, if he had a tail
  6433. >You felt good
  6434. >Real good
  6435. >You just needed to get Bust away from him to administer the antidote
  6436. >She would be fine until you got around to it
  6437. >You were doing all of this for her, after all
  6438. >You had no idea that 'poison joke' could be so potent!
  6439. >You wave your hand to disperse the band
  6440. >Time to check on the nerds, see if they were ready for their turn as backup
  6441. >You head to their workshop, feeling giddy
  6442. >This plan was working out so well!
  6443. >You enter the shop to the sounds of tinkering
  6444. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYHsfOVWmV8&index=23&list=PLWdBPQ-SVXCQfqJ_FSKN_2gRsZORUEzZz
  6445. >You approach the center of the workshop, where Pi and Radian are putting the finishing touches on a machine
  6446. "You two ready?"
  6447. >They look up and nod at you in unison
  6448. >"We're ready when you are"
  6449. >You grin
  6450. "Good, it seems Anon will be in the nurses office. Let's set the ambush just outside the room"
  6451. >Pi nods
  6452. >"Sure, meet you there. One of our lads will get the device in place"
  6453. "Excellent"
  6454. >After this one, you'd get the weightlifter's help
  6455. >You probably wouldn't even need the grand finale
  6456.  
  6457. Be Anon
  6458. >Chain's little 'show' slowed you down
  6459. >You arrive at the office behind Cookies and the rest
  6460. "I'm here, and I've brought The Warden"
  6461. >With everyone who was affected, hopefully, all in one place you could take stock
  6462. >Looks like The Warden and Sleepy swapped bodies
  6463. >Cookies became the R63 version of herself...himself...whatever
  6464. >Nurse Honey Heart became a child
  6465. >And Bust...
  6466. >Bust is desperately trying to hide behind Honey's desk
  6467. "Bust, how are you affected?"
  6468. >Bust jumps a little as you focus on her
  6469. >"Uh... I wasn't! I'm just here to support all of you. Gotta take care of my friends"
  6470. "Then why are you hiding behind the desk?"
  6471. >Bust bites her lip
  6472. >"um...Looking for something I dropped?"
  6473. >You don't buy it for a second
  6474. >But that can wait
  6475. >First you need to try and figure out what is going on
  6476. "Nurse Heart, any idea what is causing this?"
  6477. >Honey shakes her head
  6478. >"I've taken urine and saliva samples, but I can't analyze them very quickly. It will be at least an hour before the earliest results come in"
  6479. >That's pretty good return time, all things considered
  6480. >You still wish you knew now though
  6481. >Cookies takes a step forward
  6482. >"It's almost breakfast. We can eat while we wait"
  6483. "What about The Warden? We can't wake her up. Sleepy, think you can wake her?"
  6484. >Sleepy shakes his head
  6485. >He hasn't stopped hopping in place since you first saw him earlier in the day
  6486. >"I always woke up through sheer willpower. If she can't wake herself up then she is stuck asleep until she starves!"
  6487. >Well...
  6488. >...Shit
  6489. >Honey clears her tiny, tiny throat
  6490. >"Why don't you leave The Warden here? Put her on the examination table. I need to stay here to finish the tests anyway, I'll watch over her"
  6491. >You nod and set The Warden down on the table
  6492. >"Since she's in MY body, I'll stick around too!"
  6493. >You nod at Sleepy
  6494. "Alright... I guess I'll just go to breakfast. Who is coming with me?"
  6495. >Cookies steps over to you
  6496. >"I may be... like this. But I'm still your chaperone, responsible for watching you during meals"
  6497. >Bust cautiously steps out from behind the desk
  6498. >She's wearing a shirt that completely covers her cleavage
  6499. >You didn't know she owned a shirt like that
  6500. >"I'll go too. I could use something to eat"
  6501. >You nod
  6502. "Let's get out of nurse Heart's hair. Seeya later nurse Heart, Sleepy"
  6503. >You start walking out of the office but stop as soon as you have the door fully opened
  6504. >There is a large machine with a L.E.D. lights pointed towards you
  6505. >The machine hums to life
  6506. >It clicks and clinks, rumbles and grinds
  6507. >Chain's voice comes from a speaker hidden somewhere on the device
  6508. >"Hey there Anon. I hope you 'enjoy' this YO MOMMAGRAM!"
  6509. >With that, the L.E.D. lights begin to display a message
  6510. >The words slowly scroll past
  6511. >YO
  6512. >MOMMA
  6513. >SO
  6514. >DUMB
  6515. >SHE
  6516. >THINKS
  6517. >SQUARE
  6518. >ROOTS
  6519. >ARE
  6520. >EDIBLE
  6521. >The machine displays the message several times
  6522. >All with different colors
  6523. >Bust covers her mouth with her hand
  6524. >"I-I'm so sorry Anon"
  6525. >You rub your hand against your face as the speaker comes back to life
  6526. >Crackling out Chain's laughter
  6527. >You sigh
  6528. "Come on girls, nothing we can do here"
  6529. >They both nod and follow you towards the cafeteria
  6530. >It may just be your imagination, but you keep hearing the sound of balloons rubbing together
  6531. >Maybe you are just going insane
  6532. >That would be the most logical explanation for what is going on today
  6533. >Your group turns the corner to find Chain standing there with a large group of gigantic ponies
  6534. >"Hey Anon, did you enjoy my little present?"
  6535. >You are not in the mood for this
  6536. >Cookies hides her face and Bust looks worriedly between the two of you
  6537. "Just step aside Chain. I'm not in the mood today"
  6538. >Chain grins mischievously
  6539. >"Good. Hey Anon, YO MOMMA SO FAT..."
  6540. >The muscled ponies behind him flex
  6541. >"...NOT EVEN WE COULD LIFT HER"
  6542. >...
  6543. >Damn, that was good
  6544. >You owe him three now
  6545. >You glare at him
  6546. "Fine, I'll play a little. Yo momma so fat, when a changeling tried to feed off her it got type two diabetes! Yo momma so dumb, she tried to drown a fish! And lastly, Yo momma so ugly that Nightmare Moon gives her candy as tribute on Nightmare Night!"
  6547. >Bust steps forward
  6548. >"Please stop this fighting! Plea-"
  6549. >She trips, as though she was compensating for weight that just wasn't there
  6550. >She lands on her chest
  6551. >Hard
  6552. >Two loud pops are heard in rapid succession
  6553. "Bust, you alright!?"
  6554. >She quickly sits up, unhurt
  6555. >But her chest is flat
  6556. >Flatter than a salt flat
  6557. >And salt flats are really flat
  6558. >Flat is in their name, after all
  6559. >Bust looks at you, then down at her chest
  6560. >And starts to cry
  6561. >Chain screams at you
  6562. >"LOOK AT WHAT YOU'VE DONE! YOU MADE MY SISTER CRY!"
  6563. "I didn't do anything! Besides, isn't it more important to help her than blame me?!"
  6564. >Chain sneers at you
  6565. >"Just you wait, I'll get you for this! Come on Bust, we're leaving"
  6566. >She doesn't respond, just quietly crying between you and Chain
  6567. >Chain glares at you, then hurries away
  6568. >His posse of bodybuilders following right behind
  6569. >You sigh and step over and kneel down next to Bust
  6570. "Hey, don't cry. Nothing to cry about. You're fine"
  6571. >Cookies steps over
  6572. >"Yea, I mean I turned into a stallion and I'm not crying. You shouldn't either"
  6573. >Bust looks at the two of you
  6574. >"The one time I try and do something right and stop a fight I end screw up and make a foal of myself"
  6575. >You put a hand on her shoulder and she gasps at the touch
  6576. >Cookies eyes you both warily
  6577. "You didn't screw up. You did get us to stop fighting"
  6578. >She sniffles
  6579. >"I've never been so humiliated in my life..."
  6580. >You stand up and offer a hand up
  6581. "Come on, you'll feel better after you get some food in you. It was a brave thing to step between me and Chain, I don't think any less of you for it"
  6582. >Her waterworks stop and she accepts your help to stand up
  6583. >You quickly retract your hand once she is vertical
  6584. "Come on, we still have plenty of time before we'll even know what caused this. Let's go eat"
  6585. >Cookies and Bust nod and you all make your way to the mess
  6586. >This time without interruptions
  6587.  
  6588.  
  6589. Be Bronze Chain
  6590. >Be with Nice Sweater and Letter Lover
  6591. >That Anon made your sister cry!
  6592. >That was the last straw
  6593. >You were going to pull out all the stops
  6594. >Time for the Grand finale!
  6595. "Sweater, Letter, gather everypony to the mess. Let them know it's time for the grand finale"
  6596. >You feel a tap at your side
  6597. >"You sure boss? Doesn't it seem like too much?"
  6598. >"He's right bosserino, you've already won haven't you?"
  6599. >You shake your head firmly
  6600. "I said it's time for the grand finale"
  6601. >They gulp and nod
  6602. >"O-Okily dokily"
  6603. >They speed off in opposite directions to gather your allies
  6604. >You gain a feral smile
  6605. >Today would be a day long remembered
  6606.  
  6607. Be Anon
  6608. >Be eating breakfast with Cookies and Bust
  6609. >Be about halfway through your meal
  6610. >There has been almost no discussion since you sat down to eat
  6611. >The mess was mostly empty
  6612. >The other inmates had finished eating a little while ago while you were dealing with... everything
  6613. >You hear a commotion and look over to see Chain approaching your table with a large group of ponies
  6614. >You were NOT in the mood for this right now
  6615. "Chain, stop right there. Turn around. And walk away."
  6616. >He smirks
  6617. >"Or else what? I want you to meet somepony"
  6618. >He gestures towards a short, chubby stallion
  6619. >"This is Chubby Cuddler"
  6620. >The short pony waves at you
  6621. >"Hello"
  6622. "Uh...Hi?"
  6623. >Chain grins
  6624. >" We would like to sing a song about your mother. Hit it!"
  6625. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2a31vY8YNTg
  6626. >The band picks up into a...
  6627. >Polka?
  6628. >Really?
  6629. >Chain starts singing
  6630. >"Here's a silly ditty, you can sing it right away-"
  6631. >Alright, this is weird
  6632. >"Now here is what you say, so sing it while you may"
  6633. >His grin grows larger with each passing line
  6634. >"You can sing it night or noon. Here's the words (that's all you need cause I just sang the tune) oh-"
  6635. >aw hell naw
  6636. >AW HELL NAW
  6637. >You glare at Chain as he sings loud and proud
  6638. >Inmates begin bobbing in time with the music
  6639. >Chubby is really getting into it too
  6640. >Chain dances around you, grinning like an idiot
  6641. >"I get dizzy,I get numbo, when I'm dancing with my jum-jum-jumbo!"
  6642. >As he slips into the chorus, various inmates begin to join in
  6643. >A pony holds up a picture of a chicken
  6644. >"Does she fit in your coop?"
  6645. >The song continues in full swing, gaining momentum as more and more inmates join in on the fun tune
  6646. >Finally Chubby joins in, singing loudly
  6647. >"But she's just right for me!"
  6648. >OH COME ON
  6649. >You give the little stallion a disapproving look
  6650. >He doesn't notice and continues singing
  6651. >The entire mess is singing now
  6652. >Except for you, Bust, and Cookies
  6653. >Cookies glares at Chain, while Bust gives him a pleading look to stop
  6654. >He either doesn't care, or doesn't notice and continues the song
  6655. >If it wasn't all directed at mocking your mother, you would be impressed
  6656. >Some of the ponies are even doing interpretive dance for the song
  6657. >They reach the instrumental portion and ponies begin laughing
  6658. >With a pony occasionally yelling out something along the lines of
  6659. >"She's just too fat!"
  6660. >The instrumental ends and Chain lets his booming singing voice carry across the mess again
  6661. >Chain booms out the final lines, smirking at you the entire time
  6662. >"She's too fat, much too fat, she's too fat for me, HEY!"
  6663. >The mess explodes into applause and thundering hooves
  6664. >The little equines really enjoyed the show
  6665. >You clap slowly, eyebrow raised
  6666. "Yes, yes, very nice. Are you quite finished? I'd like to eat in peace now"
  6667. >Chain laughs at you, a small sheen of perspiration showing through his coat
  6668. >He really worked hard on that number
  6669. >"How do you like THAT? I've beaten you!"
  6670. >You shrug
  6671. "Whatever you say. Now please go away, I'd appreciate some peace and quiet"
  6672. >The ponies around the mess start going about their own business again
  6673. >Chain leans down
  6674. >"Not until I hear you admit defeat"
  6675. >Cookies stands up
  6676. >"Inmate, that is enough! Go away."
  6677. >Chain turns to Cookies
  6678. >"Who the hay are you?..."
  6679. >Realization dawns on his face
  6680. >"You're that guard Cookies n Cream aren't you?"
  6681. >He starts laughing
  6682. >"What happened to your face?!"
  6683. >Cookies glares at him
  6684. >Chain keeps laughing
  6685. >"You might have been an ugly looking mare, but at least you make a decent looking colt!"
  6686. >AW HELL NAW
  6687. >Chain can make fun of you
  6688. >mock your mother even
  6689. >But if he thinks he can get away with insulting your girlfriend...
  6690. >Your boyfriend?
  6691. >Whatever
  6692. >If he thinks he can get away with that he's got another thing coming!
  6693. >He'd pushed you too far already
  6694. >And now he crossed a line
  6695. >He dun goofed!
  6696. >While he is distracted mocking Cookies you get up and sneak around behind him
  6697. >You stick your index finger deep into your mouth
  6698. >Carefully scooping up as much saliva as possible
  6699. >You soundlessly approach your prey...
  6700. >and strike!
  6701. "WET WILLY!"
  6702. >"AAAAAAAAAAAAAUGH"
  6703. >Chain whirls around to face you
  6704. >Anger, fear, and disgust clear on his face
  6705. >He pushes you back
  6706. >Your body seems to move of its own accord
  6707. >You step forward again until your chest is touching his
  6708. >You loop your right leg behind his legs
  6709. >And then you push
  6710. >The minotaur is too surprised to cry out as he falls
  6711. >He lands hard on his back, banging his head against the floor
  6712. >He looks up at you in fear and pain
  6713. >"I-I'm sorry..."
  6714. >Well, you didn't mean to go that far
  6715. >It just kind of happened...
  6716. >...but you better roll with it
  6717. >If you back down now, he'll just keep attacking you
  6718. "I don't want to hear it. Get out of my sight"
  6719. >Chain scrambles away, tears in his eyes
  6720. >You sit back down and quietly resume eating
  6721. >The mess is dead quiet
  6722. >Cookies is the first to react
  6723. >"INMATE ANONYMOUS!"
  6724. >You knew that this was coming
  6725. >You look over to Cookies, who is furious
  6726. >"Why would you ever hurt somepony like that?!"
  6727. "He was hurting someone I cared about"
  6728. >That deflated her anger a bit
  6729. >You'd still be punished though
  6730. >That much you knew for certain
  6731. >There were too many witnesses for you to get away with it
  6732. >"Inmate Anonymous, I'm afraid I'm going to have to punish you. With The Warden....indisposed, it falls to the nearest active guard to sentence you. As that guard, I must condemn you to corporal punishment"
  6733. >Corporal punishment?
  6734. >Back home, that meant death row!
  6735. "What kind of physical punishment are we talking here?"
  6736. >Cookies takes a deep, shaky breath
  6737. >"I'm sorry Anon. You need to be spanked"
  6738. >The entire mess gasps in unison
  6739. >Then all is silent
  6740. >You could've heard a pin drop
  6741. >...But really, just a spanking?
  6742. >That didn't sound too bad
  6743. >"Your spanking will be after you finish eating. I'm sorry"
  6744. >You nod
  6745. "I understand. How many smacks do I get?"
  6746. >Cookies expression turns sad
  6747. >"For intentionally hurting another inmate, the standard is fifteen."
  6748. >A pony faints
  6749. >"For not accepting his apology, not apologizing to him, and for giving him a...'wet willy' I'm going to double that standard amount"
  6750. >Another two inmates faint
  6751. >An inmate stands up and shouts
  6752. >"You can't do that! That is brutality! Besides, Chain started it!"
  6753. >Several pony voices chime up in agreement
  6754. >The crowd is starting to turn on Cookies
  6755. >If you didn't put a stop to this, she'd have a riot on her hooves
  6756. "ENOUGH!"
  6757. >The ponies quiet down
  6758. "I accept this punishment. It is fair"
  6759. >It was more than fair
  6760. >Who knows what starting a fight would have cost you in a human prison
  6761. >Besides, some people had to beg their partners for a good spanking
  6762. >With that, you sit down again and get back to eating your meal
  6763. >The rest of the mess remains quiet for some time, but the other inmates eventually begin talking
  6764. >The sound level returns to normal not long after
  6765. >Bust finally recovers from the shock of seeing her brother so helpless
  6766. >"You took it too far!"
  6767. "I know"
  6768. >"You made him cry!"
  6769. "I know"
  6770. >"You shouldn't-"
  6771. >You lose patience
  6772. "I KNOW! Look, I'm sorry I hurt your brother that badly. I tried to tell him to back off and he wouldn't. I'm already getting punished later. We already have enough to worry about today without fighting each other."
  6773. >You take a sip from your juice
  6774. >Speaking of worries, what happened to cause all the chaos with your friends?
  6775. >If you could find the cause, Honey Heart could start working on a cure
  6776. >You take another sip
  6777. >And why wasn't anyone else affected? Only the people you normally sit with at meals
  6778. >and The Warden
  6779. >You take a sip
  6780. >...Wait
  6781. >The bad juice
  6782. >They all had some, and now they were all affected!
  6783. >But spoiled juice shoul-
  6784. >Poison?
  6785. >Chain
  6786. >He must have poisoned the juice hoping to do...something to you
  6787. "I think I know where we can learn what's affecting you guys"
  6788. >Cookies looks over in surprise
  6789. >"Really?"
  6790. >You nod
  6791. "I'm guessing Chain poisoned my juice last night. Everyone who drank from it changed"
  6792. >You turn to Bust
  6793. "Talk to your brother and find out what he put in that drink. Please"
  6794. >Bust nods
  6795. >"Fine, but only if you promise to apologize to him. And I mean a real apology"
  6796. >You sigh and nod
  6797. "Sure, just please get this taken care of"
  6798. >Bust nods and leaves
  6799. >Today just wasn't your day
  6800.  
  6801.  
  6802.  
  6803. Be Chain
  6804. >Be in your cell
  6805. >Nursing your injuries
  6806. >Anon was a monster
  6807. >He was absolutely brutal
  6808. >Unstoppable
  6809. >Anon's reluctance to fight wasn't him losing...
  6810. >Anon had been warning you
  6811. >Warning you that you had put too much pressure on him
  6812. >You shiver
  6813. >Nothing and no one could stand against him
  6814. >...
  6815. >..
  6816. >.
  6817. >Maybe...
  6818. >...Maybe he was strong enough to protect your sister better than you could?
  6819. >After all, you had been failed to defend her against him...
  6820. >You sigh, tears in your eyes
  6821. >You had nothing left to try, no more tricks up your sleeve
  6822. >It was truly over
  6823. >You had to admit defeat
  6824. >Anon won...
  6825. >...
  6826. >You are shaken from your thoughts by a gentle knocking at your door
  6827. "Who is it? I'm not in the mood to see anyone!"
  6828. >"Brother? Are you alright? Can I please come in?"
  6829. >It was Bust
  6830. >You don't know if you can face her...
  6831. >You failed your duty as an older brother, after all
  6832. >You take a deep, shaky breath
  6833. >You had to have this conversation sooner or later...
  6834. "Enter"
  6835. >Bust quietly enters the room and sits next to you
  6836. >"Hey there bro... How are you doing?"
  6837. >You shrug
  6838. "Anon didn't do any lasting damage, my pride is pretty badly bruised though"
  6839. >Bust gives you an apologetic smile
  6840. >"I'm glad you aren't hurt..."
  6841. >You can't look her in the eye
  6842. "It wouldn't matter either way. Anon has beaten me"
  6843. >You feel Bust press her side against yours, staring at the same spot on the floor you are
  6844. >"I'm sorry, this was all my fault. If I wasn't attracted to Anon then he would be happier and you wouldn't have been hurt. Things would be better if I just wasn't around"
  6845. >You hear a near-silent sob
  6846. >You look over in surprise
  6847. >Bust had rarely cried, even when you were both little
  6848. "Bust, you are my sister. Family sticks together no matter what. You've made my life better just by being there for me. Don't ever think I'd be better off without you"
  6849. >Bust sniffles and smiles at you
  6850. >"Thanks..."
  6851. "And Anon obviously wants you around, otherwise he wouldn't fight for you like he has... He can protect you better than I can, let him know you two have my blessing"
  6852. >You can barely choke the words out
  6853. >Bust starts tearing up again, shaking her head
  6854. >"He has a marefriend, he doesn't care about me at all"
  6855. >You blink in surprise
  6856. "Then why has he been fighting with me?!"
  6857. >Bust smiles weakly at you
  6858. >"I don't know... maybe he likes the challenge? Maybe he just has something against minotaurs"
  6859. >Bust lets out a mix between a giggle and a sob
  6860. >"He even thinks you poisoned me and all his friends! But I know you'd never go that far"
  6861. >You gulp and stare back at the floor
  6862. >"...Wait...You didn't!"
  6863. >You nod guiltily
  6864. "I couldn't bear the thought of Anon beating me. I had to try /something/ to get the upper hand. I only have one dose of antidote, so you should take it. I was going to let Anon have it once he admitted defeat... I'm so sorry, I never meant for you to get caught up in this."
  6865. >Bust shakes her head
  6866. >"I'll take it with me, but I won't use it. The nurse can use it to hopefully make more"
  6867. >You nod
  6868. >That makes sense
  6869. "It's in my desk"
  6870. >Bust rests her head against your shoulder
  6871. >"Thanks, I can deliver it in a bit"
  6872. >You nod
  6873. "I think Anon does like you, at least as a friend"
  6874. >Bust sighs
  6875. >"Maybe by being selfless and trying to share the antidote, he'll finally notice me..."
  6876. >You chuckle sadly
  6877. "It's always been us against the world, hasn't it?"
  6878. >Bust nods against your shoulder
  6879. >Your shoulder was getting wet
  6880. >You didn't care
  6881. >This was one of those rare times that your sister really needed you
  6882. >You wouldn't fail her
  6883.  
  6884. Be Anon
  6885. >Be done with your meal
  6886. >Cookies had another guard bring in the necessary equipment for your punishment while you ate
  6887. >You would be spanked in front of the other inmates
  6888. >Public humiliation and pain
  6889. >No wonder these diabetes-inducing equines thought it was over the top
  6890. >Cookies is standing next to a chair with...
  6891. >...Is that a riding crop?"
  6892. >"Please lie down on the chair, belly down"
  6893. >Cookies' voice is robotic
  6894. >He's keeping a stoic face, but you know him well
  6895. >This really will hurt him more than it will hurt you
  6896. >You step over to the chair
  6897. >A crowd has gathered, many inmates and even a few guards are already crying in sympathy
  6898. >One inmate steps forward
  6899. >"Please, show mercy! Not the Smacky-Smacky!"
  6900. >You can't help but chuckle
  6901. >You raise your hands and make a reassuring gesture
  6902. "Don't worry. I'll survive this. Just let it happen and let me get it over with"
  6903. >The inmate starts crying, falling back into the crowd
  6904. >You lie down on the chair as Cookies instructed
  6905. >You can't see what he is doing, but based on how silent the crowd just became...
  6906. >Cookies is probably winding up for the-
  6907. *SMACK*
  6908. >SON OF A BITCH THAT STINGS
  6909. >Yup, you are going to have a welt
  6910. >...Only twenty nine more t-
  6911. *SMACK*
  6912. >...twenty eight more to go
  6913.  
  6914. Be Cookies
  6915. >Be doing the hardest thing you've ever had to do in your life
  6916. >And not just because holding the Smacky-Smacky was awkward
  6917. >You are punishing your coltfriend...
  6918. >For standing up for you against a bully
  6919. >You grit your teeth against the cloth handle
  6920. >You whip your head around, bringing the hard rubber head to bear against Anon's bottom
  6921. *SMACK*
  6922. >He jumps slightly, but doesn't make a sound
  6923. >Each strike feels like it is smacking your heart
  6924. >Poor Anon...
  6925. *SMACK*
  6926. >He's only the second inmate to ever need to be punished this way at this prison
  6927. >The first inmate couldn't walk for a week
  6928. >Didn't stop crying until two weeks had passed
  6929. >Had nightmares for three weeks
  6930. *SMACK*
  6931. >How could Anon ever forgive you?
  6932. *SMACK*
  6933. >You barely manage to hold back your tears
  6934.  
  6935. Be Honey Heart
  6936. >Anon, Bust, and Cookies were late
  6937. >You had found the cause of the problems
  6938. >Poison joke
  6939. >There were two possible ways to cure the contamination
  6940. >Option One: Cleansing herbal bath
  6941. >It would take at least two hours of soaking to cure everypony
  6942. >The prison's kitchen and your own office should have the necessary herbs in stock
  6943. >The prison's spa would have a tub big enough for everypony
  6944. >Option Two: There was a cure in potion form
  6945. >But that would be expensive, and it would be difficult to get enough for everypony
  6946. >Option one it was
  6947. >Sleepy had been putting The Warden's body to good use
  6948. >He had always been ready to grab something off a shelf you couldn't reach, or to prepare tests for you
  6949. >Even in an unfamiliar body, his knack for precision and measurement was astounding
  6950. "You have some degree of skill. You could've made a good lab assistant"
  6951. >He bounces in excitement and gives you a huge grin
  6952. >"THANKS!"
  6953. >You frown at him
  6954. "Inside voices, Sleepy"
  6955. >His expression shifts to one of frustration
  6956. >"Sorry, I'm still trying to learn to control this body. I just keep hopping up and down!"
  6957. "Have you tried stopping?"
  6958. >Sleepy takes a deep breath and his bouncing subsides
  6959. >"Huh... I guess this body is a manual transmission model"
  6960.  
  6961. Be Bronze Bust
  6962. >Be walking into Honey's office
  6963. "I have some antidote! We are being affected by poison joke"
  6964. >Honey looks up in surprise
  6965. >"You have some antidote?!"
  6966. >You nod, holding the vial up
  6967. >Honey frowns
  6968. >"That isn't enough for all of us"
  6969. >You nod sadly
  6970. "I know... but can't you make more with this sample?"
  6971. >Honey shakes her head
  6972. >"No, the ingredients are rare this time of year. There is another way for us to cure ourselves though"
  6973. "So what should I do with this dose of antidote?"
  6974. >Honey shrugs
  6975. >"That is only enough for one of us. We need to cure The Warden and Sleepy at the same time, meaning you, me, or Cookies should take that dose"
  6976. >Sleepy looks over with a goofy grin
  6977. >"I don't mind needing to wait! You know, Honey, you are just adorable as a filly! Not that you aren't cute when you are grown! I don't mean cute as in adorable but cute as in attrac-WHY CAN'T I STOP TALKING?!"
  6978. >Honey Heart's face goes deadpan
  6979. >A slight blush on her face
  6980. >Sleepy, however, is practically glowing with embarrassment
  6981. >...Guess you'll wait for Anon and Cookies to get here, see what they want to do with the dose
  6982.  
  6983. Be Anon
  6984. *SMACK*
  6985. >Twenty eight
  6986. >No wonder they call it a 'Smacky-Smacky'
  6987. >Most of the ponies were covering their eyes around number four
  6988. >Nearly all of them were crying at number seven
  6989. *SMACK*
  6990. >Twenty nine
  6991. >Only one more and it'll be done
  6992. >The whole crowd would be staring at you in awe of your toughness, if they weren't all sobbing
  6993. >You still haven't let out a sound
  6994. *SMACK*
  6995. >THIRTY!
  6996. >Cookies trots around to your front
  6997. >His eyes are bloodshot from crying
  6998. >"Your punishment has been completed. Are you able to stand on your own?"
  6999. >His voice cracks
  7000. >You look over and smile reassuringly
  7001. "Yea, I shouldn't have any issues"
  7002. >You extract yourself from atop the chair and gingerly rub your bottom
  7003. >Cookies really gave it to you, didn't hold back at all
  7004. >You smile
  7005. >Good, now no one would ever guess the two of you were in a relationship
  7006. "Hey Cookies, let's go see if Honey Heart has found a cure yet"
  7007. >Cookies tilts her head at you
  7008. >"Y-You aren't upset with me?"
  7009. >You chuckle
  7010. "Why would I be? I got what I deserved, didn't I?"
  7011. >You lower your voice to a whisper, so only Cookies could hear
  7012. "Besides, some people from my world would pay good money to be spanked like that"
  7013. >Cookies gives you a seriously confused look, then whispers back
  7014. >"Why would anyone ever want to be punished like that?!"
  7015. >...
  7016. "I'll explain when you're older"
  7017. >Cookies scrunchies
  7018. >Before she can respond, an inmate runs over
  7019. >A mare with a green coat and a yellow mane clutching a bouquet of flowers
  7020. >"We all hope you get well soon!"
  7021. >You look over, and the crowd murmurs in agreement
  7022. >You smile at the crowd and take the bouquet
  7023. "Thanks everyone. I'll be just fine"
  7024. >The crowd cheers
  7025. >You motion for Cookies to follow and you head towards Honey's office
  7026.  
  7027. Be Blossom Bottom
  7028. >Be in prison for selling roses with thorns still on the stems
  7029. >Be the pony that gave Anon get well soon flowers
  7030. >Be watching the toughest motherbucker to ever walk the halls of this prison walk out of the mess with some of your flowers
  7031. >Anon really was on another level compared to everypony
  7032.  
  7033. Be Anon
  7034. >Be in Honey's office
  7035. >"I have good news and bad news"
  7036. "What is the good news?
  7037. >Honey smiles
  7038. >"I've got everything I need to prepare a cure for everypony"
  7039. >You smile
  7040. "Awesome! What is the bad news?"
  7041. >"It will take me three hours to prepare it, and another two hours to fully administer the treatment"
  7042. >That isn't so bad
  7043. "Sounds like pretty good timing. You can prepare the cure, we'll all eat dinner, then you can start the treatment"
  7044. >Honey scowls
  7045. >"It will completely eat my afternoon"
  7046. >Bust clears her throat
  7047. >"um, Anon? I have a faster cure, but only enough to treat one of us"
  7048. >Only one dose?
  7049. "That's good... too bad there isn't enough to share though... So, who gets it?"
  7050. >Honey walks over to The Warden
  7051. >"We need to cure Sleepy and The Warden at the same time, and I can wait. It is between Cookies and Bust"
  7052. >Cookies looks over at Bust
  7053. >"You should take it"
  7054. >Both you and Bust look over in surprise
  7055. >"Don't you want to change back too?"
  7056. >Cookies looks down at the floor
  7057. >"Of course I do. But I don't deserve it after what I did to Anon"
  7058. >Bust looks confused for a moment, before realization hits her
  7059. >Bust looks over at you with worry
  7060. >"How was it? Are you alright?"
  7061. >You chuckle and gently rub your sore Australia
  7062. "I won't be sitting down much for a while, but I'm fine"
  7063. >Bust turns to Cookies
  7064. >"...You sure you want me to have it?"
  7065. >Cookies nods sadly
  7066. >...You'd have to fix that ASAP
  7067. >Bust shrugs
  7068. >"Alright...if you're sure"
  7069. "Thanks for bringing the cure here. Especially since it was only a single dose"
  7070. >Bust smiles at you and nods
  7071. >Then she slowly pulls the cork from the vial
  7072. >It comes off with a satisfying pop
  7073. >She downs the liquid in a single gulp
  7074. >Bust's eyes go wide and she licks her lips
  7075. >"Blueberry flavored"
  7076. >Her stomach growls loudly and her face contorts in discomfort
  7077. >She opens her mouth, but the potion takes effect before she can get a word out
  7078. >She is physically moved back as a familiar pair of bumps suddenly appear under her shirt
  7079. >They come back with the same sound removing the cork from the vial produced
  7080. >Bust closes her mouth and smiles broadly, staring down at her Grand Tetons mountain range
  7081. >She hugs herself tightly, turning to Cookies
  7082. >"Thank you so much! I'm so glad to have 'the girls' back!"
  7083. >Cookies smiles weakly and nods back to her
  7084. >You turn to Cookies
  7085. "So, I guess we have a couple hours to burn. Where are you supposed to be posted?"
  7086. >Cookies frowns
  7087. >"I'm supposed to be patrolling outside"
  7088. >He gags on the word 'outside
  7089. >You can't blame him
  7090. >There was a big heat wave scheduled today
  7091. >Something about correcting for too much rain a while back
  7092. >You grin at Cookies
  7093. "I won't tell The Warden that you weren't outside if you won't"
  7094. >Cookies looks at you in surprise
  7095. >He bites his lip and looks back to The Warden, still fast asleep without any sign of waking from the comfort-induced coma
  7096. >"...I guess it wouldn't be too bad if I skipped my shift...Besides, The Warden wouldn't want me working if I wasn't totally comfortable, right?"
  7097. "Exactly. Shall we retire to my abode for some 'light reading'?"
  7098. >Cookies grins mischievously
  7099. >"Yes, lets!"
  7100. >Looks like you've succeeded in cheering him up
  7101. >Even as a stallion, Cookies' smile could light up a room
  7102.  
  7103.  
  7104. Be Honey Heart
  7105. >Be at the spa, two hours and forty five minutes later
  7106. >You had a gift for timing
  7107. >You had estimated the prep time perfectly
  7108. >You turn to Sleepy
  7109. "Please bring Cookies and Anon here, let them know the treatment is ready"
  7110. >He nods excitedly
  7111. >"Sure! I can't wait to take this bath with you!"
  7112. >He blanches
  7113. >You can't help but giggle at the awkward phrasing
  7114. >"I MEAN I CAN'T WAIT TO CHANGE BACK!"
  7115. >You nod with a smirk
  7116. "Sure... Shouldn't you be going?"
  7117. >You raise an eyebrow and motion towards the cell blocks
  7118. >He blushes and hurriedly hops out the door
  7119. >muttering something about The Warden's body having a defective mouth filter
  7120. >You shake your head with a smile
  7121. >You turn towards the tub to complete the final preparations
  7122.  
  7123. Be Sleepy Feathers
  7124. >Be galloping through the halls!
  7125. >You /really/ hated this body!
  7126. >Nothing worked the way it should!
  7127. >Your mouth automatically said whatever you thought!
  7128. >Your muscles were stuck in the 'on' position!
  7129. >And you haven't felt relaxed or calm for even a second!
  7130. >How can The Warden live like this?!
  7131. >This body has so much energy, you even think in exclamation points!
  7132. >Despite being in CONSTANT motion, you don't feel tired in the slightest!
  7133. >You hurry your way to Anon's cell!
  7134. >You bang on the door rapidly with your face!
  7135. >You hear a groan from inside!
  7136. >You know that groan!
  7137. >That was the groan of somepony waking up from a wonderful sleep!
  7138. >A few minutes later, Cookies and Anon step out of the room!
  7139. "HIYA GUYS! Honey Heart is ready to fix us!"
  7140. >Anon smiles and makes an odd gesture!
  7141. >"Great, let's get going then"
  7142. >Cookies nods!
  7143. >"It'll feel good to be back in my normal body again"
  7144. >You nod ecstatically!
  7145. "I can't wait to get my wings back! And I can't wait to be relaxed again! And I can't wait to see adult Honey again! I mean, she's cute as a filly and all but she looks great as an adult! And- OH MY CELESTIA WHY WON'T THIS MOUTH STOP?!"
  7146. >Anon just starts laughing!
  7147. >Once he calms down a little, he gives you a goofy grin!
  7148. >"Let's get you fixed up...And by the way, Honey likes you too"
  7149. >WAIT WHAT?!
  7150. >HOW DID ANON LEARN YOU HAD A CRUSH ON HER?!
  7151. >HOW DID ANON LEARN SHE HAD A CRUSH ON YOU?!
  7152. >"HOW DO YOU KNOW?!"
  7153. >Anon blinks at the sudden volume!
  7154. >"She asked me about you. And it's pretty obvious you like her"
  7155. >CURSE THIS BODY FOR GIVING AWAY YOUR SECRETS!
  7156. >Cookies laughs and nods!
  7157. >"Come on you two, let's hurry over to Nurse Heart and get ourselves cured"
  7158.  
  7159. Be Anon
  7160. >Be arriving at the spa with Cookies and Sleepy
  7161. >Sleepy has been hopping the entire way
  7162. >Sleepy waves at the guardpony at the reception desk as you pass
  7163. >Sleepy leads you to a room and opens the door
  7164. >Inside, Honey Heart is levitating various jugs and baskets around a jacuzzi
  7165. >A Jacuzzi? Really?
  7166. >This place really was like a resort
  7167. >"Good, everypony is here. Come in and get into the Jacuzzi"
  7168. >Sleepy sprints to the water and summersaults right in, splashing the tiles around the Jacuzzi
  7169. >Honey giggles as she is splashed by a bit of the curative water
  7170. >She levitates The Warden, who is still fast asleep, into the water
  7171. >As soon as she hits the water, Sleepy falls asleep as well
  7172. >Honey nods
  7173. >"Good, looks like the cure is taking effect. They will probably be cured faster than Cookies or I will. Speaking of which, I should begin my own treatment"
  7174. >Honey unceremoniously jumps into the water
  7175. >Cookies removes his uniform and places it away from the Jacuzzi so that it wouldn't get wet
  7176. >Cookies follows suit and splashes into the warm water
  7177. >You smile and walk up to the Jacuzzi
  7178. >Cookies wades over to you
  7179. >"What are you waiting for? Hop in!"
  7180. >Honey looks over
  7181. >"The cure won't affect you in any way, but it is still a Jacuzzi"
  7182. >You shake your head
  7183. "I'll get my uniform wet, and I don't have a swimsuit handy"
  7184. >Cookies gets a mischievous gleam in his eye and splashes you
  7185. >Getting your jumpsuit soaked
  7186. >"There, now you don't have to worry about getting wet"
  7187. >Well then
  7188. >Now you have no excuse
  7189. >Oh well, that Jacuzzi does look inviting...
  7190. >You let out a mix between chuckle and sigh before taking off your shoes
  7191. >You can at least try to keep your footwear dry
  7192. >You toss your shoes aside and slowly lower yourself into the warm, bubbling water
  7193. >You let out a happy sigh as the warm water soothes and relaxes your muscles
  7194. >You gingerly settle into a seat and Cookies moves over to you
  7195. >Before He gets too close, you quickly push out a hand
  7196. >Splashing him in the face
  7197. "That's for getting my jumpsuit wet"
  7198. >Cookies shakes some of the water from his face and sticks out his tongue
  7199. >Honey sighs
  7200. >"I would have hoped you two would have worked all that out of your system earlier"
  7201. "What do you mean?"
  7202. >Honey rolls her eyes
  7203. >"Come on, it's obvious you two are a couple"
  7204. >Oh
  7205. >Well then
  7206. >You are doing a terrible job keeping this a secret
  7207. "Please don't tell anyone. If The Warden found out, Cookies might lose her job!"
  7208. >Cookies bites her lip and nods
  7209. >Wait...
  7210. >Cookies bit /her/ lip
  7211. "Cookies! You're back to normal!"
  7212. >Cookies looks down at herself in surprise
  7213. >"That was so fast! I didn't even notice!"
  7214. >She excitedly trots in place, turning and looking at herself all over
  7215. >Honey laughs at the display
  7216. >"Don't worry, I won't spill your secret. I do, however, think you two are being paranoid"
  7217. >You shrug
  7218. "Better safe than sorry"
  7219. >Cookies splashes her way over to you and sits next to you and you wrap an arm around her under the waterline
  7220. >She smiles at you and you give her a little squeeze
  7221. >It was good to have her back in her normal body
  7222.  
  7223.  
  7224. Be Bronze Bust
  7225. >Be with your brother
  7226. >He had really been feeling down
  7227. >But after you both had a good cry and spent quality sibling time, he was feeling much better
  7228. >"Hey sis, do you know where Anon is? I'd like to really apologize. I've been a real tortoises patoot to him"
  7229. "He's probably with the ponies who were poisoned, getting them cured"
  7230. >Chain nods
  7231. >"Good, I need to apologize to them too"
  7232. >You smile at him
  7233. >He could be overprotective, brutish, and over the top...
  7234. >But he was still your brother
  7235. >And he knew when he did wrong
  7236. "Come on, they will be at the spa already"
  7237. >He nods and gestures for you to take the lead
  7238. >As the two of you walk the halls towards the spa, you notice a pony appear at Chain's side at tap him lightly
  7239. >"Hey there Boss, you alright? Anon gave you a real nasty tumble"
  7240. >Your brother nods down at the pony
  7241. >"Yea, I'm fine. Thanks for asking, Letter"
  7242. >Chain looks over to you
  7243. >"Hey sis, I'd like you to meet my friend Letter Lover. Letter, I'd like to introduce you to my sister Bronze Bust"
  7244. >Letter nods
  7245. >"Pleasure to meet you"
  7246. >You smile
  7247. >Your brother usually has such trouble making friends
  7248. "Nice to meet you too"
  7249. >Chain scratches the back of his neck
  7250. >"Hey Letter, you can just call me by my name from now on"
  7251. >Letter nods and smiles
  7252. >"Alright, thanks Chain"
  7253. >You all arrive at the entrance to the spa and pass through the arch
  7254. >A guardpony acting as receptionist greets you
  7255. >"Hi hi hi, what would you all like done today?"
  7256. "We would like to check in on some friends. Anonymous, The Warden, Cookies n Cream, Sleepy Feathers, and Honey Heart"
  7257. >The pony checks a ledger
  7258. >"Looks like they reserved the group Jacuzzi, take that hallway and it'll be the third door on the left"
  7259. >He points a hoof towards a hall
  7260. >You thank him and your group heads to the room
  7261. >As you reach the door, the sounds of laughter and splashing can be heard inside
  7262. "Chain, you sure you're ready to face Anon again?"
  7263. >Your brother nods
  7264. >You push open the door
  7265.  
  7266.  
  7267. Be Cookies
  7268. >You were back to normal!
  7269. >Honey Heart may know your secret, but she promised to keep it a secret
  7270. >Anon had also shown you that he would love you no matter what happened
  7271. >All in all, a pretty good day
  7272. >And now it was ending with you sharing a Jacuzzi with friends
  7273. >The door swings open and in walks trouble
  7274. >The Bronze siblings, with an inmate in tow
  7275. >They approach right up to the edge of the Jacuzzi before a word is said
  7276. >Chain and Anon eye eachother warily during the approach
  7277. >Chain speaks first
  7278. >"Hello Anon"
  7279. >Anon nods
  7280. >"Hello Chain"
  7281. >Chain sighs
  7282. >"I came to properly apologize. For everything. You had me beat from day one, and I just kept pushing. Especially today, I went too far"
  7283. >Anon nods
  7284. >"I'd also like to apologize. You may have acted like a jerk, but I shouldn't have pushed you down"
  7285. >Bust smiles
  7286. >"I'm so glad you two aren't going to fight anymore!"
  7287. >Chain nods
  7288. >"I won't pick any more fights with you"
  7289. >Anon smiles
  7290. >"Same, though I do want to know where you learned so many good 'yo momma' jokes"
  7291. >Chain smiles
  7292. >"A lifetime of insulting other people's mothers"
  7293. >Anon chuckles
  7294. >"Fair enough... Just apologize to Cookies and we'll be perfect"
  7295. >Chain nods and turns to you
  7296. >"I'm really sorry for insulting you, can you please forgive me?"
  7297. >He had insulted you like you had never been insulted before...
  7298. >But if it would make Anon's life easier, you could forgive Chain
  7299. "I forgive you"
  7300. >Chain smiles in relief
  7301. >A sudden splashing sound draws everyone's attention to the other side of the Jacuzzi
  7302. >The Warden is excitedly splashing
  7303. >Back in her own body
  7304. >"OH WHAT FUN! I never expected I'd wake up in the Jacuzzi! Is this a party?"
  7305. >Sleepy blinks awake, languidly stretching his wings to their full span with a smile
  7306. >"It's so good to finally be back in my own body... I've really missed my wings"
  7307. >Honey Heart scrunchies
  7308. >"Why am I the last to return to normal?"
  7309. >Anon laughs
  7310. >"Maybe you are just a late bloomer?"
  7311. >Honey Heart frowns at him
  7312. >"That isn't funny, Anonymous"
  7313. >Anon smiles
  7314. >"Sorry... Don't worry, you'll change back soon"
  7315. >The Warden raises a hoof
  7316. >"Who is the little filly, and why is she in the prison? This place isn't safe for little ones! There are dangerous criminals about!"
  7317. >Anon looks at her
  7318. >"Don't worry, they'd have to get past Cookies, me, and Chain to get to her"
  7319. >Chain nods
  7320. >"A friend of Anon's is a friend of mine. From now on, anyone who plans on messing with him or his friends have to go through me first"
  7321. >Anon chuckles
  7322. >"And besides, that filly is actually Honey Heart suffering from poison joke
  7323. >The Warden's eyes go wide with sudden understanding
  7324. >Sleepy turns towards Honey Heart and takes a deep breath
  7325. >"Hey Honey, want to make a wager?"
  7326. >She raises an eyebrow
  7327. >"Sure, what is the bet and what are we wagering?"
  7328. >Sleepy smiles and blushes slightly
  7329. >"I bet that you'll change back within the next few minutes. Loser takes winner out on a date"
  7330. >Honey Heart smirks
  7331. >"You're on"
  7332. >No way!
  7333. >Sleepy just asked Honey out!
  7334. >IN FRONT OF THE WARDEN
  7335. >No doubt The Warden will read off all the rules and regulations about how staff shouldn't have relationships with inmates and-
  7336. >The Warden claps her hooves together excitedly
  7337. >"Oh yay! I'm so happy for you two! I don't care who wins the wager, you both won in my opinion for finding eachother!"
  7338. >...
  7339. >..
  7340. >.
  7341. >What?
  7342. >Anon's eyes widen in surprise at The Warden's reaction
  7343. >With a loud pop, Honey changes back to her normal adult self
  7344. >She lets out a massive sigh of relief
  7345. >"Thank goodness... magic is harder as a filly"
  7346. >Sleepy smirks
  7347. >"Looks like you owe me a date"
  7348. >The Warden winks at them
  7349. >"I hope you two have fun, but not too much! Honey, want any help planning? I have some great ideas!"
  7350. "Excuse me, Ma'am, are you really okay with staff-inmate relationships?"
  7351. >The Warden looks perplexed
  7352. >"Of course, why wouldn't I be? Everypony deserves love in their life, no matter what they've done"
  7353. >Anon looks at you and shrugs
  7354. >Guess it's alright to tell The Warden you two are a couple
  7355. >...right?
  7356. "Ma'am... I have a confession to make"
  7357. >The Warden turns to you
  7358. >"Yes Cookies, what is it?"
  7359. >You can feel heat rushing to your face
  7360. >This will be the first time you've said it out loud...
  7361. "...Anon is my special somepony"
  7362. >The Warden starts visibly shaking
  7363. >"You mean to tell me that two of my staff have found somepony to care about and love?"
  7364. >You gulp and nod
  7365. >"FANTASTIC! This really is a party!"
  7366.  
  7367. Be Anon
  7368. >"FANTASTIC! This really is a party!"
  7369. >AW COME ON!
  7370. >all that sneaking and hiding and stress, and The Warden is excited for you both
  7371. >While you are happy The Warden approves of your relationship with Cookies, it would've been nice to know sooner
  7372. >All that cloak and dagger wasn't easy to keep up
  7373. >"How long have you two been together?"
  7374. "We've been a couple for a little while now"
  7375. >The Warden lets out a squee
  7376. >"And how close are you two?"
  7377. >You smirk
  7378. >You'll show her
  7379. >You'll eat Cookies' churro WITH Cookies
  7380. >'lady and the tramp' style
  7381. "I'll show you. Give me a second"
  7382. >You step out of the Jacuzzi and drip your way to Cookies' discarded uniform
  7383. >You grab her churro and head back towards the water
  7384. >Before you can make it half way, a yellow pony bursts into the room
  7385. >"YOU DIDDLY DOOFUS!"
  7386. >What?
  7387. >"YOU HURT MY FRIENDO!"
  7388. >The yellow pony runs up and kicks your shin
  7389. >Then again
  7390. >and again
  7391. "ow! Hey, stop that!"
  7392. >"NEVER YOU DINGLY DINGUS!"
  7393. >Chain steps forward
  7394. >"SWEATER, stop! Anon and I are cool now"
  7395. >The pony looks over at Chain
  7396. >"R-really?"
  7397. >Chain nods
  7398. >The yellow pony, Sweater, turns back to you and smiles sheepishly
  7399. >"Sorry there neighborino... No hard feelings?"
  7400. >The Warden sits straight up and shouts, sounding more official than you've ever heard her
  7401. >"STOP RIGHT THERE CRIMINAL SCUM! The one thing I will NOT tolerate is physical violence! You are charged with assaulting another inmate, and that's a paddlin'"
  7402. >You knew what a spanking was like here
  7403. >A pony could never survive the punishment
  7404. >You had to help this little shin-kicker
  7405. "Warden? Can I say something in his defense? He was only trying to avenge a friend, and he apologized"
  7406. >The Warden slumps back down
  7407. >"I can't let him go unpunished after brazenly attacking you like that"
  7408. "Then how about he forfeits his next dessert to me?"
  7409. >Sleepy has been rubbing off on you
  7410. >The Warden nods
  7411. >"That will work, as long as you are alright with it"
  7412. >You nod
  7413. >"Then it's settled"
  7414. >Sweater beams a smile at you
  7415. >"Mighty kind of you friendo!"
  7416. "Don't mention it"
  7417.  
  7418.  
  7419. Be Nice Sweater
  7420. >Be leaving the Spa with Letter and the Bronze siblings
  7421. >Anon sure was a swell fellow after all
  7422. >You hurt him and he helped you get a minor punishment!
  7423. >You'd have to find a way to properly thank him later
  7424. >Bust moves to walk next to you
  7425. >"I'm impressed that you were willing to take on Anon all by yourself!"
  7426. >You shrug and you feel blood rushing to your face
  7427. "Sometimes you just gotta fight for what's right. He hurt my friendo and bosserino Chain"
  7428.  
  7429.  
  7430. Be Cookies
  7431. >Be some time after the Bronze siblings left
  7432. >Be walking through the spa lobby with The Warden and Anon
  7433. >To eat a churro like that...
  7434. >How risqué!
  7435. >"Cookies, it looks like you are out of uniform"
  7436. >You look yourself over
  7437. >Your shirt is buttoned, your cap is on, everything appears to be in its proper place
  7438. "Where am I out of uniform?"
  7439. >Anon smirks
  7440. >"How about my room in ten minutes?"
  7441. >The Warden giggles madly
  7442. >"Oh, that was good! Can I steal that line?"
  7443. >Anon laughs
  7444. >"Go for it"
  7445. >The Warden claps her hooves together
  7446. >"Just for that, I'm giving Cookies the rest of the night off. You two can have a super cuddly slumber party together!"
  7447. >You like the sound of that
  7448. >You like the sound of that a lot
  7449.  
  7450. Be The Warden
  7451. >Be an hour after leaving the Jacuzzi
  7452. >You had such a good night's sleep, but you really overslept
  7453. >You had so much paperwork!
  7454. >You open an envelope marked 'urgent' and read the contents
  7455. >...
  7456. >..
  7457. >.
  7458. >OH JOY!
  7459. >Princess Twilight had finished negotiations with foreign powers and was coming to visit your prison as scheduled!
  7460. >THAT WAS TOMORROW
  7461. >You quickly gather as many staff members as possible to prepare for Twilight's arrival
  7462. >All except Cookies
  7463. >She had a special somepony to take care of tonight
  7464.  
  7465. Be Anon
  7466. >Be waking up in the morning
  7467. >With Cookies pressed up against you
  7468. >The Warden had suggested Cookies stay in your cell for the night
  7469. >A 'super cuddly sleepover!' as she put it
  7470. >You open an eye to see Cookies' beautiful sleeping face across the pillow from yours
  7471. >You can't help but smile as Cookies gently snores
  7472. >You move your head closer to hers
  7473. >Carefully, to avoid waking her
  7474. >You stop with your nose pressing softly against hers
  7475. >Happy with your adjustment, you relax your head back down on the pillow
  7476. >Cookies smiles in her sleep
  7477. >"Anon~"
  7478. >Now that just wasn't fair
  7479. >Your heart feels full of love
  7480. >Cookies slowly wakes, tickled by your breath
  7481. >Her eyes flutter open groggily
  7482. >Her eyes dilate ever so slightly and her smile broadens
  7483. "Good morning. Feeling bright-eyed and bushy-tailed?"
  7484. >Cookies blushes
  7485. >At this distance, you can feel the increase in warmth from her face
  7486. >"If anypony would know the state of my tail, it would be you"
  7487. >You chuckle and run your fingers through her mane
  7488. >Cookies lets out a happy sigh at the stroke
  7489. >You smile
  7490. >Breakfast could wait
  7491. >It was time for some morning cuddles
  7492. >Cookies yawns and nuzzles her nose against yours
  7493. >You tilt your head and give her a quick peck
  7494. >"Oh Anon~... but shouldn't we go get breakfast soon?"
  7495. "Breakfast can wait..."
  7496. >You give her another quick peck
  7497. "...Besides, you make a great lip-sandwich"
  7498. >Cookies giggles and blushes fiercely
  7499. >"Flirting won't make us immune to hunger"
  7500. "I'm willing to try"
  7501. >Cookies laughs and rolls her eyes
  7502. >"We will be late to breakfast! Are you determined to get me in trouble?"
  7503. >You smirk
  7504. "Every chance I get"
  7505. >Cookies nuzzles her nose against yours again
  7506. >"What am I going to do with you?"
  7507. >Your smirk grows
  7508. "I thought you'd never ask!"
  7509. >Cookies laughs and stands up on the bed
  7510. >She stretches and lets out another huge yawn
  7511. >You reach up and fondle an ear ,causing her yawn to morph into a moan
  7512. >Cookies leans into your hand for just a second before pulling herself away
  7513. >"Let's go get ready for breakfast"
  7514. >You nod and Cookies hops to the floor, trotting towards your bathroom
  7515. >You linger behind to watch her walk
  7516. >She turns her head and smiles at you, before continuing her way to the bathroom
  7517. >She brushes her teeth as you stretch out on the bed
  7518. >Your limbs creak and pop
  7519. >You glance over to Cookies
  7520. >Looks like she has already gotten used to that human quirk
  7521. >She finishes brushing her teeth and grabs her hairbrush
  7522. >Good thing she had spare hair and tooth brushes in her locker
  7523. >You may love her, but you just couldn't share your toothbrush with anyone else
  7524. >That would be nasty
  7525. >She walks over to you, hairbrush in mouth
  7526. >"Aoh, rugh ie hair lease"
  7527. >Silly pony
  7528. >Doesn't she know you can't understand a word she says with her mouth full?
  7529. >Based on context clues, she probably wants you to brush her mane and tail
  7530. >They are pretty messed up after a night of wild cuddling
  7531. >You sit up and hold out your hand
  7532. >Cookies drops the brush into your outstretched hand with a small 'pleh' sound
  7533. >She then jumps onto the bed and sits in your lap
  7534. "Well well well, look who's getting bolder"
  7535. >Cookies may be facing away from you, but you know she's blushing
  7536. >"I can sit wherever I like, thank you very much"
  7537. >You chuckle
  7538. "Yes ma'am"
  7539. >You take the end of her mane and start there, making short shallow brushes
  7540. >You slowly work your way up, careful to avoid tugging on any snags or tangles
  7541. >Cookies hums happily as you work
  7542. "It must be insanely difficult to brush your hair by yourself"
  7543. >Cookies gives a shallow nod to avoid pulling her mane
  7544. >"Hooves aren't exactly designed for holding things. Usually I can get one of the other guards to help me when I sign in each morning"
  7545. "Must still be difficult"
  7546. >"yup, your hands are perfect though... Thank you for brushing me~"
  7547. >You smirk
  7548. >"Well, since most of these tangles are my fault I suppose it's the least I can do"
  7549. >Cookies giggles and gives another short nod
  7550. >You finish brushing Cookies' mane and tail in short order
  7551. "All set. You look great"
  7552. >Cookies smiles back at you
  7553. >"Thanks again!"
  7554. >She hops off and heads towards the door
  7555. >"You ready for breakfast Anon?"
  7556. >You shake your head
  7557. "Haven't showered or brushed my teeth yet. Don't you want your boyfriend to look good too? "
  7558. >Cookies' eyes practically sparkle when you call yourself her boyfriend
  7559. >"You always look good "
  7560. >You stride over to her and kneel down to nuzzle your nose against hers
  7561. "Thanks love, I'll be about twenty minutes"
  7562. >Cookies smiles and nods
  7563. >"Take your time, I can wait"
  7564. >You quickly perform your own morning routine while Cookies waits patiently
  7565. >You finally emerge from the bathroom, a small cloud of steam escaping
  7566. >"You done getting ready? Let's go get some food in you"
  7567. >You nod
  7568. "And after breakfast we can share a churro for dessert"
  7569. >Cookies quickly turns to trot out the door
  7570. >Trying and failing to hide a blush
  7571. >Even after all you've been through together, all it took was a small tease to make her blush
  7572. >That was one of your favorite things about her
  7573. >She was always so adorable and innocent
  7574.  
  7575. Be Sleepy Feathers
  7576. >Be eating breakfast with Honey Heart
  7577. >Who is sitting just a little closer than is normally accepted
  7578. >You don't mind one bit
  7579. >She has a LOT of work to get done today, so this might be one of the few chances you two have to be together all day
  7580. >Perfect
  7581. >That gives you plenty of time to nap without fear of disturbance
  7582. >You readjust your right wing, the one between you and Honey
  7583. >You carefully extend it just enough to give her the briefest taste of your fluffiness level
  7584. >She stiffens ever so slightly at your 'accidental' touch
  7585. >You smirk and do it again after a few minutes
  7586. >You manage to elicit the tiniest of blushes
  7587. >Neat
  7588. >You wait a few more minutes, eating your carrots as though nothing had happened...
  7589. >...Then you shuffle your wing again
  7590. >Before you can fully retract, your wing gets stuck
  7591. >You glance over in surprise to see it enveloped by a magical aura
  7592. >"You know, your wing may be more comfortable if it is fully extended. Leaving your wings folded for too long isn't healthy"
  7593. >She uses her magic to gently extend your wing so that it is laying across her back
  7594. >"There, leave your wing extended for at least twenty minutes. Nurses orders"
  7595. >Your smirk grows
  7596. "Sure"
  7597. >Honey looks over at you for the first time since she sat down next to you
  7598. >"My concern over your wing is purely medical. I'd actually prefer you not rest your wing on my back while it is extended"
  7599. >She had placed your wing against her back quite firmly with her magic
  7600. >You nod
  7601. "I understand"
  7602. >Honey nods and turns back to her meal, releasing your wing from her magical grasp
  7603. >"Good, as long as we understand each other"
  7604. >You resume eating
  7605. >Honey Heart was right
  7606. >Your wing was feeling much more comfortable now
  7607.  
  7608. Be Anon
  7609. >Be walking into the mess with Cookies
  7610. >You go through the lunch line quickly and head towards your usual spot
  7611. >...Where you see Sleepy hugging Honey with his wing
  7612. >Damn, Sleepy worked fast
  7613. >Or maybe Honey worked fast
  7614. >It was a real coin toss which one of them was the aggressive one in the relationship
  7615. >You sit across from Sleepy and Cookies sits next to you, across from Honey
  7616. >You give Sleepy a nod
  7617. >The kind of nod only best bro friends could give
  7618. >The kind of nod that says "You are doing well for yourself. You have enticed an attractive female to be your significant other, and I applaud your skill. Truly, you have risen above the norm and found a diamond in the rough. When next we are away from the womenfolk, you simply must share your secrets of seduction"
  7619. >Sleepy nods back
  7620. >The kind of nod that only a best bro friend could respond with
  7621. >The kind of nod that says "Thanks, sure"
  7622. >You turn your focus to your food
  7623. >You were gonna enjoy the shit out of these apple slices with peanut butter
  7624. >You were about halfway through your meal when the Bronze siblings and Chain's cronies show up
  7625. >"Mind if we join you?"
  7626. >Cookies and Honey scoot over, forcing you and Sleepy to the end of the benches to make room for the group
  7627. >And to ensure that Bust didn't sit next to their coltfriend
  7628. "Go for it"
  7629. >Bust and Sweater sit next to Honey Heart, while Letter and Chain sit next to Cookies
  7630. >Your table is completely filled up by all the bodies
  7631. >Chain leans over to better look at you
  7632. >He gives you a friendly smile
  7633. >"Hey Anon, yo momma so ugly that when she went into a haunted house, she came out with a job application"
  7634. >You look over at him and he shoots you a wink
  7635. >Some friendly sparing, eh?
  7636. "Well Chain, yo momma so ugly she makes onions cry. Yo momma so ugly she also makes her pillow cry itself to sleep at night"
  7637. >Chain laughs
  7638. >"Good ones!"
  7639. >You smile and pantomime a gracious bow
  7640. >Sweater pushes his pudding cup over to you
  7641. >"A promise is a promise. You really saved my tushy-tush yesterday, friendo"
  7642. >You shrug
  7643. "Don't mention it. I can respect your reasons behind it. And besides, it isn't like you hurt me"
  7644. >He smiles
  7645. >You open up your dual pudding cups and bask in the chocolate scent
  7646. >You had really missed that smell while paying off your debt to Sleepy
  7647. >You dip in a finger and gently swirl it in the cup
  7648. >You extract your finger, scooping out some of the precious treat
  7649. >You pop the finger into your mouth
  7650. >Your mouth is instantly flooded by the rich coco taste
  7651. >You lick your finger clean with a contented sigh
  7652. >As you start to really dig into your pudding, The Warden's voice comes in over the P.A. system
  7653. >"Attention everypony! I have fantastic news! Princess Twilight Sparkle has finished her diplomatic tour of the Minotaur capitol Labrynthia and will be coming to visit our little prison THIS AFTERNOON!"
  7654. >The mess explodes with activity and noise
  7655. >The other inmates were ecstatic
  7656. >It wasn't every day they got to meet a newly arisen demigod
  7657. >Cookies places a hoof on your leg
  7658. >You look over and she is giving you a worried look
  7659. >"Anon, will you be alright through the visit?"
  7660. >Twilight and you didn't really mix well
  7661. >That purple putz had gotten you sent to jail, after all
  7662. >Not that you didn't like it here. You actually rather enjoyed it here
  7663. >If it weren't for that original misunderstanding with your pocketknife, you'd never have met Cookies n Cream
  7664. >You smile down at Cookies reassuringly
  7665. "Don't worry, I'll be fine. It's the purple wonder horse who you should be watching. Who knows how she'll react to seeing me again"
  7666. >The others at the table perk up
  7667. >Chain leans over again to better speak to you
  7668. >"You mean you met one of the princesses? I'm a noble and I haven't met any of the pony princesses yet!"
  7669. >You nod
  7670. "She's actually the one who got me sent to prison"
  7671. >Bust tilts her head
  7672. >"Why? What did you do?"
  7673. >You chuckle and take a slurp of pudding
  7674. "When I first arrived, all I had was the clothes on my back and the things in my pockets. My wallet, a pen, phone, and my trusty pocketknife"
  7675. >Chain's eyes shine
  7676. >"I love blades! What was it made of? Foam or rubber?"
  7677. >You smirk
  7678. "Metal"
  7679. >The Bronze siblings and their companions stare at you in awe
  7680. >Cookies and Honey already knew about why you were sentenced, and Sleepy had one hell of a poker face
  7681. "I snap out the blade and Twilight can't use her magic on me or my stuff, so she tries to take it from me with her mouth. Ended up cutting her lip a little, barely drew any blood"
  7682. >Chain's eyes are bugging out
  7683. >"You mean you hurt a Princess so bad that she bled?! Not even Tirek was able to draw blood! If I'd known, I'd never have tried taking you on. You are one crazy mother hugger!"
  7684. >You chuckle and shake your head
  7685. "It was an accident"
  7686. >Sweater raises a hoof
  7687. >"I-I'd like to apologize again for kicking you, friendo"
  7688. >You sigh
  7689. "Don't worry, we're good. Besides, like I said before, what happened with the Princess was an accident"
  7690. >The yellow pony smiles
  7691. >You finish your meal while the rest of the group discusses the upcoming visit with excitement
  7692.  
  7693.  
  7694. Be The Warden
  7695. >Be trotting into the mess
  7696. >You'd memorized several prisoner dossiers in preparation for the Princesses arrival
  7697. >Anon might not react well to her
  7698. >You scan the mess and spot him and his group at their usual spot
  7699. >You canter over to their table
  7700. "Good morning everypony! I hope you all are as excited for Princess Twilight's arrival as I am!"
  7701. >They respond with nods and various affirmations
  7702. >All except Anon
  7703. >Anon is too busy licking his empty pudding cup clean
  7704. >You grin at him
  7705. "Anon, I trust you won't cause any trouble for our special guest?"
  7706. >He rolls his eyes
  7707. >"Don't worry mother, I promise to play nice with the purple horse"
  7708. >You giggle
  7709. "Silly Anon, I'm not your mother. Good to hear you won't try anything"
  7710. >He nods and digs into the second pudding cup
  7711. >As he does, you notice something...different about him
  7712. "Anon, are you feeling alright?"
  7713. >He looks at you curiously
  7714. >"Yes...why do you ask?"
  7715. >You point to a little mound protruding from behind his jawline
  7716. "I don't want to worry you... but you have /something/ under your skin"
  7717. >You struggle not to panic
  7718. >Is Anon sick?
  7719. >Is Anon hurt?
  7720. "Nurse Heart, please take a look at this!"
  7721. >Anon feels around his face
  7722. >Understanding dawns in his eyes as his fingers settle over the bump
  7723. >"You don't need to see it nurse Heart. It's just a zit"
  7724. >You crinkle your nose at the word
  7725. "What's a zit?"
  7726.  
  7727. Be Anon
  7728. >Once The Warden brought your attention to it, you easily found the mound of sensitive skin under your ear
  7729. "You don't need to see it nurse Heart. It's just a zit"
  7730. >Everyone looks at you curiously
  7731. >The Warden wrinkles her nose
  7732. >"What's a zit?"
  7733. >Oh boy
  7734. >Here we go again
  7735. >The Warden will no doubt have a field day with this
  7736. >You take a deep breath to steel yourself for what is to come
  7737. "You don't want to know. Zits are gross and people are still eating"
  7738. >The Warden shakes her head vigorously
  7739. >"I need to know if you are healthy! Besides, you are the only one left eating"
  7740. >Damn
  7741. >It was worth a shot
  7742. "Fine... Zits, also called pimples, happen when my pores get backed up"
  7743. >Honey tilts her head
  7744. >"Please go into further detail. Get backed up with what?"
  7745. >This won't be pretty
  7746. "Oils, sweat, even pus"
  7747. >Everyone falls dead silent
  7748. >Staring at you
  7749. >The Warden takes a step closer
  7750. >"Are you hurt? Can we cure it? How did it happen!?"
  7751. "I'm not hurt, but it is sensitive. There is no cure, unfortunately. And lastly, these things just happen to humans"
  7752. >The Warden's eyes are the size of plates
  7753. >"B-But why did this happen?"
  7754. >You shrug
  7755. "Number of possibilities. Everything from minor -MINOR- infection, to bad luck, to face spiders"
  7756. >Honey Heart raises an eyebrow
  7757. >"Face spiders? Seriously?"
  7758. >You nod
  7759. >This'll get real gross real fast
  7760. "Humans are hosts to countless microbes and parasites. One of the species that live on humans is a microscopic spider. I've heard they eat face oils and never poop"
  7761. >Bust starts to dry heave
  7762. >Cookies only looks a little sick
  7763. >"D-Do you think I have any on me?"
  7764. >You shrug
  7765. "If you do, they probably won't live long. They need a human host to live"
  7766. >Cookies looks only slightly less ill
  7767. "So...yeah. Pimples, not fun but they happen. Anyone else want to change the subject? How is the weather out there? Another scorcher?"
  7768. >The Warden nods numbly
  7769. >Honey clears her throat
  7770. >"Anon, if these...microbes... are bothering you, I can find a way to get rid of them"
  7771. >You shake your head
  7772. "There are countless beneficial things living on and in me. If you got rid of them I'd die"
  7773. >Chain's eyes grow wide
  7774. >"You mean they need you to live, and you need them?"
  7775. >You nod
  7776. "Eeyup, I'm a team effort"
  7777. >Honey slowly nods dubiously
  7778. >"If you say so..."
  7779. >The Warden shuffles in place nervously
  7780. >"How do you make it go away?"
  7781. "There are two ways. Wait for it to go away on its own or pop it"
  7782. >"P-Pop it?"
  7783. >You nod
  7784. "Break the skin, let whatever is clogged in there to drain out that way"
  7785. >Bust runs from the table, holding her mouth
  7786. >Sweater, looking a bit pale, gets off the bench
  7787. >"I'll go check on Bust, make sure she's alright"
  7788. >Without another word, he quickly follows Bust
  7789. >You sigh
  7790. "Seriously, let's change the subject. I'm healthy, and all this attention to a blemish is embarrassing"
  7791. >Honey nods
  7792. >"Very well, but I'd like to ask you more about this later. Scientists and doctors alike all around Equestria would love to know about this"
  7793. >Chain stands up
  7794. >"I've got to go anyway. I made plans with Lean Ligaments"
  7795. "Lean Ligaments is that steel colored weight lifter, right?"
  7796. >Chain nods
  7797. >"Yeah, she's pretty nice"
  7798. >She?
  7799. >She was pretty far from feminine
  7800. >You smile at him
  7801. "Is this a date?"
  7802. >Chain frowns
  7803. >"I don't think so. We are just spending the day lifting together"
  7804. >You wave goodbye as Chain leaves, with Letter in tow for some unknown reason
  7805.  
  7806. Be Lean Ligaments
  7807. >Be warming up in preparation for the arrival of Chain
  7808. >You hadn't actually met him until well after you'd agreed to help him
  7809. >You were /real/ happy you decided to help him
  7810. >He was almost as well-built as you
  7811. >He might actually be able to keep up with your routines
  7812. >You grunt with effort as you lift a heavy thing
  7813. >You weren't paying much attention to what you were lifting
  7814. >"Ligaments, can you please put me down?"
  7815. >Did your weight just talk?
  7816. >You glance up
  7817. >...You were lifting one of the other gym goers
  7818. >You lower him back down carefully
  7819. "Sorry about that, I was lost in thought"
  7820. >He smiles
  7821. >"No problem, you alright?"
  7822. >You nod and smile
  7823. "I'm fine, just thinking about my date. If he can keep up, I'll keep him"
  7824. >The other pony laughs
  7825. >"Good luck, have fun!"
  7826. >You nod and turn towards a rack of heavy things to lift
  7827. >You were getting a little nervous...
  7828. >Better calm those nerves the only way you know how
  7829. >You grab a set of heavy weights and start lifting
  7830.  
  7831. Be Princess Twilight Sparkle
  7832. >Be relaxing in your castle, sitting in your favorite chair reading the newspaper
  7833. >After this week, you earned some down time
  7834. >A straight week of diplomatic meetings had frayed your nerves
  7835. >All you had today was a prison visit, nothing you couldn't handle in your sleep
  7836. >You were going to bring a very special treat to the prisoners too
  7837. >Even misguided ponies need to be treated well
  7838. >This prison in particular had a reputation for holding the worst of the worst
  7839. >There was a pony there that had delayed an entire parade and set back Celestias schedule for three hours by occupying the center of the road and refusing to leave
  7840. >His excuse? He was tired
  7841. >Some ponies...
  7842. >This prison also held Anonymous
  7843. >That snake in the grass had acted politely enough during your first meeting with him, but showed his real colors quickly
  7844. >He had tried to assassinate you!
  7845. >You touch a hoof to your lip where his knife had dug deep into your flesh
  7846. >It still acted up from time to time
  7847. >It may be a maximum security prison, but you were still going to have a teleportation spell or two ready, just in case
  7848.  
  7849.  
  7850. Be Sleepy Feathers
  7851. >Be on your way to your date with Honey
  7852. >The Warden gave her the day off so you two could go on a date
  7853. >And Honey was taking full advantage
  7854. >She had decided to take you to a movie after breakfast, followed by some time in the arcade then the pool
  7855. >She was going all out, full day date
  7856. >You smile
  7857. >She may not show it, but she wanted to impress you
  7858. >You still got it
  7859. >You were going to meet her at the theater
  7860. >That way you both had time to prepare after breakfast
  7861. >You had taken the time to preen your wings
  7862. >You had done so with a different goal in mind than usual
  7863. >Normally, you'd pull out excess down feathers and remove any dirt or broken feathers
  7864. >This time, you had only pulled out broken feathers and dirt
  7865. >Your wings were fluffier and warmer than usual
  7866. >You had to walk with your wings extended to not drain your own energy, but there was no doubt Honey would notice the difference in your wing's texture between breakfast and the movie
  7867. >Broken feathers can scratch, and dirt gives wings a grainy feeling
  7868. >Your wings were at their peak in this moment
  7869. >And you were going to use them mercilessly
  7870.  
  7871. Be Honey Heart
  7872. >Be in the theater, waiting for Sleepy
  7873. >You had arrived early
  7874. >You didn't want to be tardy to your first date in...
  7875. >Years?
  7876. >You were out of practice
  7877. >Most colts found your attitude off-putting
  7878. >You nervously flick your tail
  7879. >You refused to blow this
  7880. >The theater was showing three movies: An action packed colt-flick, an emotional filly-flick, and a bad tragedy film
  7881. >You were going to suggest the action film
  7882. >Nothing is worse than a boring tragedy, and he didn't strike you as the type to enjoy 'Emotional Emotions, the Story of a Filly and her Imaginary Friend'"
  7883. >At the very least, you weren't interested in the slightest in that filly-flick
  7884. >Sleepy turns the corner down the hall
  7885. >Showtime
  7886. >You smile politely as he approaches
  7887. "Hello again Sleepy. We have three options for movies to watch, and I thought I'd give you the choice of which one we watch"
  7888. >He nods a hello
  7889. >"Let me see the choices... 'Lord of the Strings'. Isn't that the one about a magic knitting needle?"
  7890. >You nod
  7891. >"option two... 'Emotional Emotions, the Story of a Filly and her Imaginary Friend'. By Luna, I almost fell asleep just reading the title"
  7892. >You give a polite giggle
  7893. >"And lastly... 'Missed Opportunities'... What is that one?"
  7894. "It got terrible reviews. It's a tragedy about a filly who loses a tooth for the first time and throws it away before anypony can tell her about the Tooth Pegasus"
  7895. >Sleepy chuckles
  7896. >"That one"
  7897. >You tilt your head
  7898. "Really?"
  7899. >Sleepy nods
  7900. >"Nothing funnier than a bad tragedy. You ever see 'The Stable'? One of the best worst movies of all time"
  7901. >You shake your head
  7902. >Sleepy smiles
  7903. >"We'll have to fix that at some point"
  7904. >You smile and nod
  7905. >Sleepy motions towards the ticket booth
  7906. >"Shall we?"
  7907.  
  7908. Be Sleepy Feathers
  7909. >Be sitting in an empty theater with Honey Heart
  7910. >Be getting ready to laugh
  7911. >Since the theater is completely empty except for the two of you, it will be okay to talk over the movie
  7912. >You feign a stretch and extend your wings fully
  7913. >You carefully lower your left wing to be behind Honey's back
  7914. >You try to fold your wings closed and 'accidently' wrap her tightly in your softer than soft down
  7915. >She lets out a surprised sound
  7916. >"Be careful where you stretch your wings"
  7917. >Though her tone is scolding, she doesn't try to remove your wing
  7918. >She actually nuzzles in a little
  7919. >You smirk
  7920. >You got this
  7921. >As the lights fade out and the screen lights up, Honey sighs happily
  7922. >As the movie goes through the opening credits you feel Honey shifting
  7923. >You glance over just in time to bonk you nose into her horn as she tried resting her head on your shoulder
  7924. >You reflexively raise your hooves to your face as Honey recoils
  7925. >"Are you alright? I didn't poke your eye, did I?!"
  7926. >You shake your head with a grunt
  7927. "I'm fine, just hit my nose. How is your horn?"
  7928. >She's probably more hurt than you are
  7929. >Horns are extremely sensitive
  7930. >She touches her horn gingerly
  7931. >"I'm fine... I apologize for banging into you like that"
  7932. >You shrug, lowering your hooves
  7933. "I'm alright"
  7934. >You turn back towards the screen
  7935. "Want to try resting your head on my shoulder again?"
  7936. >She frowns
  7937. >"I wasn't trying anything like that. It's better to watch movies with your head at an angle, everypony knows that!"
  7938. >You smirk
  7939. "Sure, whatever you say"
  7940. >After a few minutes, she leans over and successfully rests her head on your shoulder
  7941. >You give her a little squeeze with your wing and rest your own head on hers
  7942. >...
  7943. >She was right
  7944. >It was better to watch the movie with your head tilted like this
  7945.  
  7946. Be Bronze Bust
  7947. >Be feeling sick
  7948. >Anon had.../things/ living inside him!
  7949. >AND ON HIM!
  7950. >You shudder
  7951. >Maybe it was a good thing he didn't like you...
  7952. >You bite your lip
  7953. >He was like no one else
  7954. >Tough, smart, and powerful~
  7955. >But he was also covered in parasites!
  7956. >And he didn't care!
  7957. >You shudder
  7958. >You hear the sound of hooves behind you
  7959. >"How are you feeling?"
  7960. >You turn to see Sweater, looking concerned
  7961. >You smile weakly
  7962. "I'm fine. Thanks for asking"
  7963. >He nods
  7964. >"You looked sick as a diddly-diamond dog"
  7965. >He takes a few steps closer
  7966. >"Can I get you some water or something?"
  7967. >You shake your head
  7968. >"Alright... If there is anything I can do, let me know! Can't let my friendo down"
  7969. "I'm your 'friendo'?"
  7970. >He nods and smiles
  7971. >"Everypony I like is one of my friendos"
  7972. >That is adorably naive
  7973. "Not everyone you like thinks of you the same way. It isn't smart to get your hopes up"
  7974. >He tilts his head
  7975. >"What do you mean? Do you not like me?"
  7976. "You are nice enough, but I barely know you. All I know is you like to say 'diddly' and you are brave enough to try and take Anon on in a physical fight"
  7977. >He gives you a confused look
  7978. >"But if I like you, and you like me, doesn't that make us friendos?"
  7979. "Sure, but people won't always like you as much as you like them"
  7980. >He shrugs
  7981. >"As long as people like each other at least a little, they can both be friendos"
  7982. >You sigh
  7983. >This is going nowhere
  7984. >He beams you a grin
  7985. >You find yourself smiling back
  7986. >His grin is infectious
  7987.  
  7988.  
  7989. Be Honey Heart
  7990. >Be walking out of the theater with Sleepy
  7991. >Be in quite some pain
  7992. >You haven't laughed that hard in as long as you can remember
  7993. >Sleepy has a huge grin on his face
  7994. >He may have gotten some light cuddles out of you, but you were the real winner
  7995. >Those wings of his...
  7996. >They were the stuff of legends
  7997. >"Well then, shall we head to the arcade?"
  7998. >You nod
  7999. "I hope you enjoy getting second place"
  8000. >Sleepy smirks
  8001. >"Bring it on"
  8002.  
  8003. Be Sleepy Feathers
  8004. >Be at the arcade with Honey
  8005. >Be preparing yourself for a vs. mode match on a band game
  8006. >Honey had chosen to use the guitar
  8007. >To gain an upper hand, you had decided to be both vocals and drums
  8008. >Separately, neither could compete with the points of guitar
  8009. >But together, you stood a chance
  8010. >This would be intense
  8011. >The track fades in and Honey's magical grip tightens on the guitar
  8012. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzuGDxJ0wTs
  8013. >The button prompts come in a storm
  8014. >You and Honey both explode into action
  8015. >Her magic expertly squeezed the guitar
  8016. >You were using your wings in tandem with your hooves for the drums
  8017. >Neither of you miss a note during the intro
  8018. >The hardest part was over
  8019. "Breakin rocks in the hot sun! I fought the law and the law won"
  8020. >Perfect pitch
  8021. >You got this
  8022. >Honey bites her lip, focusing intently on the screen
  8023. "I miss my baby, and I feel so sad!"
  8024. >As the song transitions to an instrumental portion, Honey's points shoot up
  8025. >Guitars are overpowered
  8026. >She smiles as she gains a sizeable point-lead
  8027. >She even risks shooting you a smirk!
  8028. >This simply will not do
  8029. "Robbing people for sticks of gum!"
  8030. >You'll need to step up your game
  8031. "I miss my baby and I feel so sad"
  8032. >There's an idea
  8033. "She's the best girl I ever had!"
  8034. >You extend a wing and give Honey a squeeze
  8035. >You don't release her from the embrace
  8036. >Your other limbs have to work a little harder, but you manage
  8037. >Another instrumental comes up, and Honey gets a perfect score
  8038. >The song was nearly over
  8039. >She still had the advantage
  8040. >You need to do /something/ if you want to win this
  8041. >...
  8042. >There's an idea
  8043. >You wait until the very end
  8044. "I fought the law and the...!"
  8045. >Final three notes
  8046. >They are worth the most points
  8047. >You both have max point multipliers
  8048. >But not for long
  8049. >You give Honey a quick peck on the cheek, Using your free wing to bang out the final three notes on the drums
  8050. >Honey freezes up, completely missing her final three notes
  8051. >VICTORY!
  8052. >You also got to kiss her cheek!
  8053. >Double VICTORY!
  8054.  
  8055. Be Honey Heart
  8056. >Sleepy kissed your cheek!
  8057. >HoneyHeart.exe has encountered an unexpected error
  8058. >Send report? [y][n]
  8059. >[n]
  8060. >...
  8061. >You blink as the final scores flash on screen
  8062. >You had missed the final notes!?
  8063. >You /never/ missed the final notes
  8064. >Sleepy smirks
  8065. >"Looks like I won"
  8066. >You turn your head away from him to hide your blush
  8067. "You only won because I let you win"
  8068. >Sleepy chuckles
  8069. >"Whatever you say... Which song shall we play next?"
  8070. >Good question
  8071. >You flick through the selection...
  8072. >...
  8073. >"How about that one?"
  8074. >You shrug
  8075. "Sure"
  8076. >You use your magic to select the song
  8077. >"Wanna play for a high score this time?"
  8078. >You nod and grin
  8079. >The screen fades to black as it loads up the song
  8080. >The darkness is short lived and soon the track is on screen
  8081. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBgp5aDH23g
  8082. >The intro is nice and easy on this one
  8083. >This one actually had a music video going on in the background, too
  8084. >Neat
  8085. >Sleepy starts singing
  8086. >"I was walking down the street when out the corner of my eye, I saw a pretty little thing approaching me..."
  8087. >He winks at you
  8088. >You bite your lip and focus on the button prompts
  8089. >Perfect marks so far
  8090. >You won't let yourself get distracted again
  8091. >This time Sleepy was counting on you to get the best score possible
  8092. >"Oh there ain't no rest for the wicked"
  8093. >Sleepy is singing in excellent form
  8094. >He seems to be getting a little emotional
  8095. >Seems like 'no rest for the wicked' is a sad song for him
  8096. >"...I saw the shadow of a colt creep out of sight. Then he swept up from behind, he put some gum up to my mane, he made it clear he wasn't looking for a fight"
  8097. >Nopony wants gum in their mane
  8098. >Even with magic, it's nearly impossible to remove
  8099. >Sleepy has been magnificent this entire song
  8100. >Perfectly in tune and on time
  8101. >You have both managed perfect scores the entire time
  8102. >Your point multipliers were at the max
  8103. >You were both in peak form
  8104. >"A couple hours pass and I was sitting in my house..."
  8105. >Sleepy bobs his head in time to the music
  8106. >He isn't even watching the prompts
  8107. >He has the song memorized?
  8108. >This really is an emotional song for him
  8109. >"You know there ain't no rest for the wicked, 'til we close our eyes for good..."
  8110. >A single tear rolls down his cheek
  8111. >Sleepy wipes the tear away with a wing
  8112. >The song fades out and your scores flash on screen
  8113. >New high score!
  8114. >"Good job. Do you play the guitar for real?"
  8115. >You nod
  8116. "I enjoy it. It is a good way to relax and practice delicate magic manipulations at the same time"
  8117. >Sleepy nods
  8118. >"Makes sense"
  8119. >You stretch and shake yourself out a little
  8120. >Those songs were intense
  8121. "I'm feeling taped out on games"
  8122. >"It's almost time for lunch anyway"
  8123. >You nod
  8124. >"Let's go get something to eat"
  8125.  
  8126. Be The Warden
  8127. >Be the center of a flurry of activity
  8128. >YOU NEED TO PREPARE
  8129. >There are too many things you don't have ready!
  8130. >You still needed a stage to be set up in the mess for the Princess to speechitate from!
  8131. >She was going to bring a present to the inmates, you'd need rope barriers set up around the mess
  8132. "Somepony get me Spit Valve and Blue Dancer!"
  8133. >They could set up an appropriate welcome for the Princess for you
  8134. >You give orders to your guards and inmate volunteers as fast as they can complete them
  8135. >You had so much to do, and so little time!
  8136.  
  8137.  
  8138. Be Honey Heart
  8139. >The smell of chlorine fills the air
  8140. >Such a lovely, clean smell
  8141. >Sleepy holds the door open for you and you step into the room
  8142. >Except for the lifeguard, you and Sleepy had the place to yourselves
  8143. >You head into the mares changing room and quickly get into a swimsuit
  8144. >A rather risqué piece that hugged your form and left little to the imagination
  8145. >You had picked it up yesterday just for today
  8146. >Sleepy had better be impressed
  8147. >It wasn't easy to get into
  8148. >By the time you are dressed, Sleepy is already by the poolside
  8149. >He turns as your hooves click against the smooth tile
  8150. >His eyes widen and his jaw drops
  8151. >Aw yeah
  8152. >You got this
  8153. >Why not give him a little show?
  8154. >You smirk and strut a little
  8155. >You use your magic to gently push his mouth closed
  8156. >He shakes the stupor out of his head and blinks a couple times
  8157. "So, what do you think of my swimsuit?"
  8158. >"I like it"
  8159. >Yeah he does
  8160. >You levitate a pair of towels from a rack to a beach chair
  8161. >With towels taken care of, you take your first few steps into the pool
  8162. >Sleepy takes a few lazy flaps with his wings, rising into the air
  8163. >He tilts, and with one final flap, he begins a short dive
  8164. >Pinning his wings back, he enters the pool with a tiny splash
  8165. >You can't help but marvel at his skill as he modifies his flapping technique to efficiently swim towards you underwater
  8166. >Little bubbles leave a breadcrumb trail as he glides effortlessly through the water
  8167. >He finally surfaces just in front of you, where it is shallow enough for him to stand
  8168. "I had no idea you were such an adept swimmer"
  8169. >Sleepy grins
  8170. >"Swimming is just like flying, except easier"
  8171. "I'm a pretty skilled swimmer too"
  8172. >"That so?"
  8173. >You nod
  8174. "I could probably beat you in a race"
  8175. >A light glints in Sleepy's eyes
  8176. >"Want to make a wager?"
  8177. >You know exactly where this is going
  8178. "Sure, what is the wager?"
  8179. >"We'll race from the shallow end to the deep end, then back. If I win, you owe me a kiss"
  8180. "And if I win, you owe me two"
  8181. >The lifeguard's coat turns bright pink at such brash behavior
  8182. >You and Sleepy wade back to the pool's edge
  8183. "We'll go on the count of three"
  8184. >"Three"
  8185. >You channel your magic into the water, solidifying it
  8186. "Two"
  8187. >You coat your body with the solid liquid
  8188. >"ONE"
  8189. "ONE"
  8190. >You both jump into action, Sleepy taking a quick lead
  8191. >Sleepy splashes forward, flapping his wings for extra momentum
  8192. >As soon as the water became deep enough, he dives in and begins using his wings to swim like a penguin
  8193. >You channel the magical gel wetsuit forward, moving you fast as a fish
  8194. >But penguins eat fish
  8195. >Sleepy may have faster acceleration, but you have better stamina
  8196. >You can already tell, this will be a close one
  8197. >Sleepy beats you to the far wall
  8198. >He's ahead of you by a few seconds
  8199. >You reach the wall and kick off
  8200. >You are catching up to him fast
  8201. >As soon as the water becomes shallow enough to run, you both gallop for the finish
  8202. >You both reach the end simultaneously
  8203. >You release your hold on the magical gel and it's consistency returns to water
  8204. >Sleepy looks at you, breathing heavily
  8205. >"Looks like a tie"
  8206. >You nod
  8207. "It is my professional opinion that we tied"
  8208. >He chuckles
  8209. >"Looks like we both lost"
  8210. >You smirk
  8211. "I'd say we both won..."
  8212. >The Lifeguard covers his eyes in embarrassment as you lean in towards Sleepy
  8213.  
  8214.  
  8215. Be Anon
  8216. >Be in the middle of your third shower
  8217. >The things you do for love
  8218. >You glance over at Cookies
  8219. >Cookies had grabbed a pair of swimming trunks for you earlier so she could be in the bathroom with you while you showered
  8220. "Can we just get to the cuddling now?"
  8221. >She shakes her head
  8222. >"Not until you are clean"
  8223. "You know, EVERY animal has /something/ living on or in it"
  8224. >Cookies frowns
  8225. >"They shouldn't"
  8226. >You shake your head
  8227. "You have bacteria in your gut right now that helps you digest food. Humans do too. So do dogs and cats"
  8228. >Cookies bites her lip
  8229. >"How can you be sure?"
  8230. >You point towards her spare toothbrush
  8231. "You brush your teeth, right?"
  8232. >Cookies frown grows indignant
  8233. >"Of course I do!"
  8234. "There is my proof. We need to brush our teeth because there are microbes in our mouths"
  8235. >Cookies eyes go wide
  8236. >"R-Really?"
  8237. >You nod
  8238. "I'd bet that you also have benign things living on you. I know that if I was microscopic, I'd want to live on you"
  8239. >You give her a wink
  8240. >She is torn between being disturbed and giggling
  8241. "Besides, have you ever felt bad after we've finished cuddling?"
  8242. >She forcefully shakes her head
  8243. "So why let it bother you now?"
  8244. >You lower your voice
  8245. "I'll even do that thing you like with your ears"
  8246. >Cookies bites her lip, clearly torn
  8247. >...
  8248. >..
  8249. >.
  8250. >Maybe she'll agree to a compromise?
  8251. "How about this: We'll cuddle in the shower"
  8252. >Cookies thinks for a minute
  8253. >"Alright..."
  8254. >She hops into the shower, instantly getting soaked
  8255. >You sit down and Cookies sits on your lap, facing you
  8256. >The water is spraying in your face, so you close your eyes
  8257. >Cookies' weight presses comfortably against your lap
  8258. >Her front legs pressed against your chest
  8259. >The tiles feel cool against your back
  8260. >The warm water gently massages your face with every drop
  8261. >You stroke her mane with your left hand
  8262. >With your right, you begin fondling the base of her ear
  8263. >She takes a deep breath...
  8264. >...then rests her head on your shoulder
  8265. >"I'm sorry"
  8266. >You apply more pressure with your stroking hand
  8267. "You're grossed out. It's understandable. You haven't left me, which is the important thing"
  8268. >She squirms a little against you
  8269. >"It's still gross to think that there are...things /living/ on me. It makes my coat itch"
  8270. >You grin and begin roughly scratching her all over with both hands
  8271. "How's this feel?"
  8272. >She giggles
  8273. >"Good, but I want you back on my ears"
  8274. "As you wish"
  8275. >Your hands migrate to her ears, fondling and gently squeezing
  8276. >She sighs happily
  8277. >You begin rubbing up and down with your thumbs, massaging the middle of her ears
  8278. >She hums cutely in pleasure
  8279. >She tilts her head into your hands
  8280. >"I love you"
  8281. "I know"
  8282. >You smirk
  8283. >You've always wanted to say that
  8284. >Cookies pulls her head back and paws at you with a hoof
  8285. >"That wasn't the answer I was looking for"
  8286. >You chuckle
  8287. "I know, I know... I love you too"
  8288. >She relaxes back down against you
  8289. >"Much better..."
  8290. >You scratch her back with your left hand, while the right pinches her withers
  8291. >You turn your head and press your face against her neck
  8292. >She stiffens a little, then relaxes
  8293. >"I suppose I'm okay with your bugs if you are"
  8294. >You smile against her coat
  8295. "Good, because you are my cuddlebug"
  8296. >She giggles
  8297. >"That was terrible"
  8298. "I know"
  8299. >You wrap your arms around her and squeeze her tight against your chest
  8300. >You stay that way for a long time
  8301. >Both hearts beating in rhythm against each other as the warm water pours down
  8302.  
  8303. Be Twilight Sparkle
  8304. >Be Princess of Friendship
  8305. >Be Element of Harmony: Magic
  8306. >Be Celestia's student
  8307. >Be sovereign of your own castle
  8308. >Be standing in front of the prison with your friend Rainbow Dash
  8309. "I could really use a friendly face in there, Rainbow"
  8310. >Dash shrugs
  8311. >"Sorry, I've already spent enough time in prison"
  8312. >You give her a pleading look
  8313. >"Why can't you find somepony else?"
  8314. >You huff
  8315. "Fluttershy is too scared, Spike is running errands, Rarity is Rarity, Pinkie is too busy planning a party, and AJ is doing what she does best"
  8316. >"Apples?"
  8317. "Apples"
  8318. >RD shrugs
  8319. >"Don't you know anypony else who might go?"
  8320. >You shake your head
  8321. "Are you sure you don't want to come inside, Rainbow Dash?"
  8322.  
  8323.  
  8324.  
  8325. Be The Warden
  8326. >Be in the mess
  8327. >It is lunch time
  8328. >Time for the royal, most excellent Twilight's visit
  8329. >You had the mess arranged with the tables forming a makeshift stage
  8330. >All the benches were set up in front of the stage for the inmates and guards
  8331. >Each inmate had been given an assigned seat based on alphabetical order
  8332. >The crowd of inmates are chatting and laughing excitedly
  8333. >They were about to see a princess!
  8334. >You step up onto the stage
  8335. >It was time to introduce the Princess
  8336. "Good afternoon everypony!"
  8337. >The crowd responds as one
  8338. >"Good afternoon Warden!"
  8339. >You smile broadly
  8340. >You may be nervous, but you could still wrangle a crowd like none other
  8341. "It is my great pleasure to introduce her majesty, Princess Twilight Sparkle! Princess of Friendship! Element of Harmony! The Embodiment of Magic! The Student of Celestia! The-"
  8342. >A somepony shouts out
  8343. >"GET ON WITH IT"
  8344. >Hey
  8345. >Rude
  8346. >The crowd is growing restless
  8347. >Better just get on with it
  8348. "Her Esteemed Magnanimous Magnificence, TWILIGHT SPARKLE!"
  8349. >You step aside as a fanfare marks the entrance of the Princess
  8350. >Twilight walks to the 'stage' with her wings majestically stretched to their full extent
  8351. >You barely manage a whisper
  8352. "B-Beautiful...!"
  8353.  
  8354.  
  8355. Be Twilight Sparkle
  8356. >Be waiting outside the prison's mess hall
  8357. >The warden (Who, it turns out, was named 'The Warden') was introducing you to the crowd
  8358. >"...Princess of Friendship!..."
  8359. >This is taking forever
  8360. >"...Element of Harmony!..."
  8361. >Doesn't she realize you have twelve other appointments today?
  8362. >"...The Embodiment of Magic!..."
  8363. >She must be done now
  8364. >"...The Student of Celestia!..."
  8365. >Just how many titles did you have?
  8366. >"...The-"
  8367. >OH COME ON
  8368. "GET ON WITH IT"
  8369. >The Warden pauses
  8370. >"Her Esteemed Magnanimous Magnificence, TWILIGHT SPARKLE!"
  8371. >Finally
  8372. >You swing open the mess hall doors to triumphant fanfare
  8373. >They weren't very good...
  8374. >You walk to the 'stage' and face the crowd of wildly cheering inmates
  8375. >You scan the crowd...
  8376. >Anonymous isn't here
  8377. >Good
  8378. >The Warden must have realized that Anon was dangerous and kept him away from the event
  8379. >Perfect, you can rest easy
  8380. "My Little Ponies!"
  8381. >The crowd hushes
  8382. "As you know, this is the highest security prison there is. You have all been imprisoned here based on horrendous crimes ranging from calling people names to causing international incidents"
  8383. >A few ponies in the crowd cough nervously
  8384. >A few others loudly apologize
  8385. >You raise a hoof to silence them
  8386. "It has been said that a nation can be judged based on how they treat their prisoners. You have all been well behaved as well. As a result of these factors, by decree of Celestia herself, I come bearing a gift for you all!"
  8387. >You teleport in several large open-top containers, a table, a pitcher, and an empty drinking glass
  8388. >The crowd is perfectly silent, enthralled by your words
  8389. >You magically lift the pitcher and begin pouring its contents into the glass
  8390. "These containers behind me are filled with chocolate milk from the royal dairy farm. This is the greatest delicacy a dairy can produce. A single glass can cost over two hundred bits!"
  8391. >The crowd gasps in wonder
  8392. >You smile
  8393. >This was going splendidly
  8394. >Suddenly, the doors at the far end of the mess swing open and.../HE/ steps in
  8395. >Anon
  8396. >His gaze settles in your direction, and he begins running towards the stage
  8397. >OH SWEET CELESTIA, HE'S COME TO FINISH YOU OFF!
  8398.  
  8399.  
  8400. Be Anon
  8401. >Be late for lunch
  8402. >You are running down the halls with Cookies
  8403. >"Come on! Hurry up!"
  8404. >You turn the corner to find the mess door closed with a guard pony standing in front looking miserable
  8405. >Cookies hurries up to him
  8406. >"We aren't too late, are we?"
  8407. >The guard perks up
  8408. >"Nope, with you two here I can go inside too!"
  8409. >He turns to you
  8410. >"Seating is alphabetical, you are sitting in the front"
  8411. >Neat
  8412. >A for Anonymous
  8413. >He pushes open the door and you hurry through
  8414. >Purplebutt is already on stage
  8415. >Twilight's eyes are glued to you
  8416. >You spot your seat and run towards it as quietly as possible
  8417. >Wouldn't want to cause a disturbance
  8418. >Her eyes widen as you rush forward
  8419. >Her wings snap open and her expression shifts to one of abject horror
  8420. >"SOMEPONY STOP HIM! HE'S COMING FOR ME!"
  8421. >wut?
  8422. >Twilight rears up, knocking the table in front of her
  8423. >The glass sitting on the table flies off the stage and shatters
  8424. >She tries to backpedal away, and forcefully bumps into the large containers
  8425. >They slowly tip and fall over, sloshing their contents onto the floor
  8426. >Her horn lights up and she screams
  8427. >With a flash of light, she's gone
  8428. >...What'd you do?
  8429. >The mess is dead silent for a full fifteen seconds
  8430. >No one moved
  8431. >The only sound was the dripping of chocolate milk
  8432. >The mess explodes into action
  8433. >The prisoners shout and scream angrily
  8434. >The guards move in, attempting to calm the roudy inmates with churros and relaxing words
  8435. >It doesn't work
  8436. >The inmates surge out of the seating area
  8437. >Some run for the chocolate milk, drinking it off the floor
  8438. >Nasty
  8439. >Some inmates begin shouting insults at the absent Twilight
  8440. >Others run for the lunch line and begin throwing food around
  8441. >It's a riot!
  8442. >You spot a gang of inmates roughhousing with a guard who is in tears
  8443. >This was madness
  8444. >Cookies is in danger
  8445. >A group of inmates run away, carrying The Warden on their backs
  8446. >She screams and wiggles her legs uselessly in the air
  8447. >Cookies rushes up next to you
  8448. >"What happened?!"
  8449. "I don't know! That freaky princess screamed at me and then dumped everything on the floor!"
  8450. >Cookies bares her teeth
  8451. >"I've got to stop this!"
  8452. >She begins to walk towards the riot, but you step in front of her
  8453. >"Let me go, I have to do my job!"
  8454. >You shake your head
  8455. "It is way too dangerous for you over there!"
  8456. >"I can't just twiddle my hooves! I have a job to do!"
  8457. >You frown
  8458. "Running in there won't do any good. You'll be overwhelmed"
  8459. >She looks up at you and shouts
  8460. >"What would you have me do? Abandon my post?!"
  8461. "There has to be a better way!"
  8462. >Cookies frowns
  8463. >"Well, I'm listening!"
  8464. >You stop
  8465. >Is there a better way?
  8466. >Think Anon, THINK!
  8467. >...
  8468. >..
  8469. >.
  8470. >
  8471. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7VmOZ4Ppj8
  8472. "Brain blast"
  8473. >"What?"
  8474. "The P.A. system runs through the whole prison, right?"
  8475. >Cookies nods
  8476. "Good, take me there"
  8477. >Cookies nods again and starts galloping
  8478. >You follow right behind
  8479. >You'd need something powerful to get the inmates to stop rioting
  8480. >Music holds significant emotional power in this world
  8481. >You'd need to sing something
  8482. >Can't be anything scary... Ponies already fear you more than enough
  8483. >Something sad then
  8484. >Cookies turns the corner and nearly runs over Honey and Sleepy
  8485. >Honey looks at Cookies
  8486. >"What's going on?"
  8487. >Cookies takes a step back
  8488. >"Prison riot. Anon has a plan"
  8489. >You nod
  8490. "Sleepy, how many super-pillows do you have?"
  8491. >"Two in my room"
  8492. >You grin
  8493. "Perfect, use those to block out sound. I'll let you know when you can stop covering your ears. Cookies, how close are we to the P.A. system?"
  8494. >Cookies points down the hall
  8495. >"Down the hall and to the left, first door"
  8496. "Good, go cover your ears with the pillow in my room"
  8497. >She tilts her head
  8498. >"What are you planning?"
  8499. "Song from my world. I don't know how effective this will be and I don't want you three getting hurt"
  8500. >Cookies bites her lip
  8501. >"I can help. Let me come with you"
  8502. >You shake your head
  8503. "No, I'm doing this on my own. Go to my room, it'll be safe there"
  8504. >Cookies moves to protest again, but Sleepy cuts her off
  8505. >"Anon seems to know what he's up to. Leave him to it"
  8506. "Thanks Sleepy, please be careful everyone. I'll start singing in three minutes. Be covered before that"
  8507. >Sleepy nods
  8508. >"Stay safe"
  8509. "You too"
  8510. >Cookies leans against you
  8511. >"I love you, please be careful"
  8512. >You smile
  8513. "I love you too"
  8514. >Honey starts trotting away
  8515. >"Come on everpony, let's let the man work"
  8516. >You give a quick wave goodbye as they gallop away
  8517. >Cookies keeps glancing over her shoulder at you until they reach a turn in the hall
  8518. >As they disappear around the bend, you turn and run towards the communications room
  8519. >Time to end this
  8520. >You fling open the door and grab the intercom
  8521. >You still had a minute or two before you could start singing
  8522. >Had to give your friends time to protect themselves
  8523. >...
  8524. >..
  8525. >.
  8526. >.
  8527. >..
  8528. >...
  8529. >That should do it
  8530. >What song can you sing?
  8531. >...
  8532. >That one would do nicely
  8533. >You press a button and some minor feedback heralds the start of your song
  8534. >This may be overkill...
  8535. >But it was undoubtedly obvious and depressing enough
  8536. >You take a deep breath
  8537. >This will likely only work if you really sing with emotion
  8538. >You push down your embarrassment at the idea of singing and begin the song
  8539. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIIqYqtR1lY
  8540. "Through early morning fog I see..."
  8541. >You can hear the noise in the prison quieting down a little
  8542. "Visions of the things to be..."
  8543. >You're committed to this plan now
  8544. "The pains that are withheld for me..."
  8545. >Here we go
  8546. >Hopefully Cookies can't hear this
  8547. >She'd cry herself silly if she heard any more
  8548. "I realize and I can see..."
  8549. >Here goes nothing
  8550. "...That suicide is painless..."
  8551. >You can't hear anything beyond your own singing
  8552. >And... is that a guitar?
  8553. >From the fucking ether?!
  8554. >You thought only ponies could summon ghost music
  8555. >Whatever, at least this is working
  8556. >You think
  8557. >Time to really pour it on
  8558. >Just in case anyone is still rioting out there
  8559. >Every bad day you've ever had, every rejection, every time you failed, and every time you missed your family since arriving here
  8560. >You channel it all into the song
  8561. >A tear rolls down your cheek
  8562. >As each painful memory plays through your head, the song becomes harder to sing...
  8563. >...And more powerful
  8564.  
  8565. Be The Warden
  8566. >EVERYTHING IS SADNESS!
  8567. >POOR ANON!
  8568. >DON'T HURT YOURSELF!
  8569. >[Sad horse noises]
  8570.  
  8571. Be Cookies
  8572. >You can't hear anything with the pillow covering your ears
  8573. >But you can feel something wrong
  8574. >You can feel Anon in pain
  8575. >You promised you would wait for him to tell you it was okay to move
  8576. >But this is killing you
  8577. >You bite your lip
  8578. "Please be okay..."
  8579.  
  8580. Be Bronze Bust
  8581. >Anon's song...
  8582. >Soul crushing...
  8583. >Tears are streaming down your face
  8584. >You feel a pair of hooves on your head, and the music is dampened
  8585. >You look over your shoulder and see Sweater, bawling his eyes out
  8586. >He's trying to protect you from the sadness
  8587.  
  8588. Be Anon
  8589. "Pleeeeeaaaaase..."
  8590. >There, it was done
  8591. >You release the talk button on the P.A. system
  8592. >You lean back and listen carefully
  8593. >The prison is silent
  8594. >Mostly
  8595. >Wails and sobs can be heard throughout the prison
  8596. >You walk the halls, finding groups of inmates and guards alike huddled together crying
  8597. >The riot was done
  8598. >It's over
  8599. >You make your way to your cell and find Cookies with her head safely buried in the pillow
  8600. >You gently tap her flank and she jumps a little
  8601. >She pulls her head from the pillow cocoon
  8602. >"Anon! Did it work? Are you alright? I can't explain it, but I felt like you were in pain..."
  8603. >You sit next to her and wrap her in a tight hug
  8604. "I'm fine, glad you're okay. Let's go let Sleepy and Honey know I'm finished"
  8605. >Cookies nods
  8606. >You both head towards Sleepy's cell, passing countless incapacitated ponies
  8607. >You open the door to Sleepy's cell and find Honey and Sleepy safe and sound, heads covered by super-pillows
  8608. >You gently shake them, letting them know the coast is clear
  8609. "The riot is over, everyone has calmed down"
  8610. >Sleepy smiles
  8611. >"Good job, I knew you could do it. Well done"
  8612. >You smile back
  8613. "aw shucks, you'll make me blush"
  8614. >"I could have done it, but it would have been too much effort"
  8615. >You and Sleepy share a laugh
  8616. >"Well... now what?"
  8617. >Good question
  8618. >Honey starts walking towards the door
  8619. >"I'm going to go check out the mess, make sure everypony is okay"
  8620. >Sleepy nods
  8621. >"I'll go with you"
  8622. >You shrug
  8623. "I'll come too, got nothing better to do. Cookies, you coming as well?"
  8624. >She nods
  8625. >Your group approaches the mess to find the ponies there in a massive puddle of tears
  8626. >...Maybe you overdid it
  8627. >Oh well, can't change the past
  8628. >Honey hurries around the mess, helping any inmates or guards with ouchies
  8629. >You find a dry space on the stage and sit
  8630. >Cookies walks over to you to say something, but is cut off by a brilliant flash of light
  8631. >"What happened here?"
  8632. >You turn as the light fades and spot the source of the voice
  8633. >A massive white alicorn, a massive blue alicorn, and a puny purple alicorn
  8634. >Celestia, Luna, and Twilight Spazzle
  8635. >It was Celestia who spoke
  8636. >All the ponies in the room still aware enough to notice instantly bow
  8637. >Luna and Twilight watch you warily
  8638. >Celestia walks to Cookies, who is the nearest guard
  8639. >"Don't be afraid, my little pony. Please tell me what happened here"
  8640. >Cookies gulps and takes a deep breath
  8641. >Meeting a god is scary
  8642. >"P-Princess Twilight spilled the chocolate milk, then the prisoners rioted. All except inmate Anonymous. He put down the riot all by himself by singing"
  8643. >Celestia turns to you
  8644. >"Is that so? You have done well. For keeping the peace with an act of heroism, I hereby end your prison sentence"
  8645. >Wow
  8646. >That was easy
  8647. >You thought you'd spend the rest of your life in this prison
  8648. >But you just got a full pardon from a god-queen
  8649. >Luna rushes to her sister's side
  8650. >"SISTER! You cannot release this prisoner! I have seen his mind, and it is dark! He cannot be released!"
  8651. >Twilight nods furiously
  8652. >"He is a danger to everypony around him!"
  8653. >This gets Cookies angry
  8654. >"He is NOT!"
  8655. >Cookies blanches as she realizes she just contradicted not just one god, but one god and a royal suck up
  8656. >"Uh, I mean, he's nice once you get to know him..."
  8657. >Her voice fades out and she defaults back into a bow
  8658. >Celestia raises an eyebrow
  8659. >"It would appear that I am outnumbered"
  8660. >She turns to face you fully
  8661. >"Anonymous, based on the advice of my sister and Princess Twilight Sparkle I cannot release you"
  8662. >AW COME ON!
  8663. >"However, you should still be rewarded for your bravery. Therefore I sentence you to home arrest. Because you do not have a home, I shall have one built for you"
  8664. >She turns towards Twilight
  8665. >"Your home will be paid for by my student, as punishment for spilling so much royal chocolate milk"
  8666. >Twilight whimpers
  8667. >"Because your home will not have the same amenities this facility has, you will be allowed out of your home and visit any location as long as you have a guard chaperone. Do you have anypony in mind for that position?"
  8668. >Yes
  8669. >Yes you do
  8670. "I'd like my chaperone to be the Guardpony Cookies n Cream"
  8671. >Celestia nods her head
  8672. >"Very well. You will stay in this facility until your home is complete"
  8673. >You nod
  8674. "Thank you"
  8675. >"You are most welcome. Now then, let's get this place running again"
  8676. >Under Celestia's direct supervision, the prison is quickly back in working order
  8677. >They had Cookies running the prison while The Warden and all the other guards were indisposed
  8678. >After setting things in order, Celestia left with Twilight and Luna in another massive flash of brilliant light
  8679. >You sigh and lean back
  8680. >You'd had one hell of a day
  8681. >And it wasn't even dinner time yet
  8682. >You head back to the food line and snag a pudding cup
  8683. >Then five more
  8684. >You hurry back to your cell with your bounty
  8685. >You'd earned it
  8686. >You'd save one or two for Cookies
  8687.  
  8688.  
  8689. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++Epilogue+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
  8690. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
  8691. Be Anon
  8692. >Be relaxing in your house
  8693. >Be living with your ultimate waifu
  8694. >"Anon, are you ready to leave?"
  8695. "Ready whenever you are!"
  8696. >It has been a couple months since the chocolate milk incident
  8697. >And life was great
  8698. >Sleepy had completed his sentence a few days after the incident
  8699. >He got out early due to good behavior
  8700. >You still visited the prison on occasion to see the Bronze siblings and check in with The Warden
  8701. >But that wasn't why you were leaving the house today
  8702. >"I'm ready, let's go! I'm tired of always being late with you"
  8703. >You hop out of your favorite chair and head towards the door
  8704. >Where Cookies is impatiently trotting in place
  8705. >She is wearing a beautiful dark green gown
  8706. >Her mane is in a low ponytail
  8707. >"Come on, we'll be late!"
  8708. >You follow Cookies out the door
  8709. >You both make your way to a little clearing in the woods beside a lake
  8710. >Sleepy had taken you there several times before
  8711. >It was the perfect place for an afternoon nap
  8712. >You arrive to see a small crowd gathered in the clearing
  8713. >Sleepy sees you and waves you over, while Honey does the same with Cookies
  8714. >Sleepy is wearing a little suit
  8715. >"Hey Anon, oversleep?"
  8716. "That's your thing. Nah, I have no excuse. Sorry for being late"
  8717. >He smiles
  8718. >"You are here now, that's the important thing"
  8719. >You nod and smile
  8720. >He spreads his wings to their full extent
  8721. >"How do I look?"
  8722. >You give him a thumbs up
  8723. >"...The hay does that mean?"
  8724. >You chuckle
  8725. "Looking good bud"
  8726. >He nods
  8727. >"Alright, thank you"
  8728. >He stretches and flexes, shifting nervously before letting out a massive yawn
  8729. "You alright Sleepy?"
  8730. >"Just a little nervous. I couldn't sleep last night"
  8731. >You give him a smile
  8732. "Don't worry, you've already gotten past the hard part"
  8733. >Sleepy shrugs
  8734. >"If you say so"
  8735. "Relax, you got this"
  8736. >Sleepy smiles gratefully
  8737. >"Let's change the subject for now. Get my mind off it all"
  8738. "Sure"
  8739. >"You know they're calling your song 'The Human's Lament', right? It has been declared the saddest song in existence"
  8740. >You nod
  8741. "I know. How is Honey's career going?"
  8742. >Sleepy grins broadly
  8743. >"Thanks to you, she's working in a research lab now. She can mostly set her own hours and works in a volunteer clinic in her free time"
  8744. >You mirror his grin
  8745. "Good to hear! I'm glad she's doing so well. She always worked so damn hard"
  8746. >Sleepy nods, then tilts his head
  8747. >"You hear anything about the Bronze siblings?"
  8748. "I heard they were released and moved back to Labrynthia. Also heard they brought a few friends with them"
  8749. >Sleepy nods
  8750. >"I heard the same"
  8751. "Is The Warden coming today?"
  8752. >"She's already here, somewhere"
  8753. >You scan the crowd
  8754. >You spot The Warden bawling her eyes out with ponies gathered around her
  8755. "She's over there, crying"
  8756. >You point in the right general direction
  8757. >"Let's go make sure she's alright"
  8758. >You nod
  8759. >You and Sleepy wade through the crowd and approach The Warden
  8760. "Hey there Warden, you alright?"
  8761. >She sniffles and nods, before letting out a loud sob
  8762. >"I-I-I'm sorry, I always cry at weddings!"
  8763. >You chuckle
  8764. "It hasn't even started yet!"
  8765. >The Warden just responds with crying horse noises
  8766. >You chuckle and shake your head
  8767. >Sleepy checks a clock that had been hung on a tree nearby
  8768. >"It's almost time. You ready Anon?"
  8769. >You nod
  8770. "Sure thing, I'm ready to be your best horse"
  8771. >He smiles
  8772. >"You mean best pony"
  8773. "Compromise: best man?"
  8774. >Sleepy holds out a hoof
  8775. >"Deal"
  8776. >You chuckle and shake his hoof
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