Then and Now Pt. 3

>You are Anon
>And man, did this take longer than you thought…
>Last night, you arrived in this strange land of Equestria with nothing but the clothes on your back and your basketball
>And here you are, almost a day later, finally having constructed your masterpiece
>The near-setting sun nicely complimented your work, giving almost a dramatic shine of light to it
>…it really wasn’t much
>You got one of Spike’s old sleeping baskets, broke a hole through it, shaped it, and attached it about eight feet up on the side of Twilight’s library tree
>Then you got a large plank of wood and secured a backboard behind it
>Just like an at-home basketball net
>Time to give it a try
>You pick up your basketball, dribble it a bit, then take a shot
>It bounces off the plank-backboard and sinks in nicely to the basket
>The ball pangs against the ground and begins to bounce/roll slowly to you
>It’s perfect
>Now all you need is Rainbow Dash to come by, and you can show her how to shoot
>It’d be nice to have an opponent
>Tiffany was who you usually got back home, she was pretty good with a ball herself
>You stare absentmindedly at the ground, dribbling the ball
>Wonder what she’s up to?
>You grab the ball and take another shot
>It’s angled awkwardly and hits the backboard, bouncing back off
>The ball bounces and rolls away in defeat
>You walk over slowly and pick it up
>You’re not really feeling it anymore
>”Anon!” you hear called. It’s Twilight by the voice
>Correct. She trots out excitedly towards you from the house
>”Anon! Princess Celestia finally answered!”
>She dances on her tiptoes… tiphooves…? excitedly
>”She’ll be arriving tomorrow around noon to see you! She may even escort us to Canterlot for further examination!”
>She squees in delight
>For obvious reasons, you’re not too excited about being presented as a species to royalty and her subjects
>But you put on a smile for Twilight
That’s great, Ms. Sparkle!
>”Please,” she smiles. “Just call me Twilight. We know each other well enough, don’t we?”
>You scratch the back of your head
Yeah, I suppose we do.
>She nods happily
So where, or what, is Canterlot?
>”It’s the city where the princesses live! I’m from there myself, I’m her star student!”
>Wow, this whole situation has gotten her excited over everything
>You take another shot, this time, swishing it
Sounds like a plan.
>You say with a smile and a pat to her head
>She vibrates slightly again…
>The ball bounces back to you, and you wind up for another shot
>”Anon!”
>There goes your concentration!
>The shot went way too far right, bouncing off the tree and rolling into the streets of town
>Fluttershy flutters up, grabs the basketball, and brings it back to you
>”Oh, I’m sorry Anon, I didn’t mean to break your focus…” she says, landing
>You rustle her mane
Don’t even worry about it, Ms. Fluttershy.
>She smiles meekly under your hand
>”What brings you around here again, Fluttershy?” Twilight asks, trotting up next to you
>”I just wanted to see Anon again, and was wondering if… well, if maybe you’d changed your mind and would… maybe like to stay the night at my cottage tonight…?”
>She’s so meek and nervous, it’s adorable
>You look over to Twilight to see her reaction
>It seems… defensive, almost. Her eyes are squinted and questioning
>You thought she was all for it yesterday…
>”I’m not sure, Fluttershy. The Princess will be here tomorrow to see him, and I think he ought to be with me in that case.”
>”Oh my! Even more reason for me to see him more! What if he’s taken away and I never see him again?”
>You really hope that’s not the case
>”You’ll see him plenty, I just think I should be the one to look over him.”
>”But you were going to let him yesterday. Oh please, Twilight.”
>Geez, it’s like you’re not even here
>Poor Fluttershy, wants to spend time with you so badly. Perhaps you could make it work out…
>Just for her
Actually…
>Your input breaks the mild bickering between the mares
…I think I could manage to spend a night there.
>”Really?!” they both say in unison
Yeah, sure. I mean, if she really wants me to. But, you know, no bed sharing, okay?
>Fluttershy hesitates, then nods with a smile
>”…okay, if you’re sure, Anon. But please be back here bright and early to prepare for the Princess’s arrival.”
No worries, Twilight, I’ll be here.
>You say confidently
>You walk over, kneel down, and give her a hug
>She jumps a bit in surprise, then returns it
>You knew she’d like that. All these p0nies seem to enjoy a nice hug
>You grab your basketball and begin walking with Fluttershy

>The cottage smells nice, like an enchanted forest of some kind
>Animals like squirrels and rabbits frolic around the area freely
>It’s pretty cute. But again, animals and you… don’t mesh very well
>You’ll be sure to keep out of their way
>Fluttershy is so happy to have you
>She waits on you hand and foot, giving you a comfortable seat on the couch, plenty of pillows, and cooks you a tasty meal of soup
>It really is generous of her
>After dinner, she snuggles up next to you on the couch, like at Twilight’s, and rests her head on your lap
>You gently pet her like before
Thanks for everything, Ms. Fluttershy. You’re a great host.
>”Oh no, thank YOU, Anon. I’ve absolutely loved having you.
>She emphasized “loved” quite a bit there…
>You brush it off
>”…do you know what they’ll be doing with you over in Canterlot?” she asks solemnly
>You shrug
I have no idea. Twilight hasn’t told me much. Hopefully just some examinations and I’ll be on my way.
>”On your way back here to P0nyville?” she asks
Well… I suppose…
>You think a little more
I was more hoping back home, to Earth. Maybe they could help?
>Fluttershy’s ears flatten a little, but you don’t really notice
I don’t really belong here, y’know? I have friends there, and my parents are probably very worried about me.
>She nods her head
>”Then we’ll just have to make out time here together… a little more precious.” She says, nuzzling into you
>It’s enough to make you a little uncomfortable
Actually, Ms. Fluttershy, I was hoping I could go to sleep soon… it’s rather late…
>”Okay Anon, dear.”
>Wow, she took that way better than you expected
>”You can come up to my bed to sleep.”
>You sigh
Ms. Fluttershy, I thought we agreed that there would be no bed sharing?
>She blushes
>”I was hoping… maybe you’d reconsider…?”
I’m sorry, but I wouldn’t really be comfortable…
>Her ears flatten once more and she looks down sadly
>You sigh once more, and scratch her behind her ear
>She vibrates, and her wings rise slowly
>You take precautions not to touch them. Don’t want to make her uncomfortable like Rainbow Dash
Could I sleep on the couch? Please?
>She looks up to you, her eyes showing some kind of internal conflict
>Why did she want you in her bed so much?
>”Alright Anon, dear. You can sleep down here.”
>You smile
Thanks Ms. Fluttershy
>Fluttershy gets you a comfier pillow and a cozy blanket and tucks you in
>Just like your own mom used to do back home, and sometimes still does, when you have a nightmare or watch a scary movie or something
>”I’ll see you in the morning, Anon. Goodnight.”
>She pecks you on the cheek again
>Affectionate, this one
Goodnight Ms. Fluttershy
>And with that, you close your eyes and roll over, drifting off into sleep

>”Come on, just a quick one? Please Anon?” she says, eyes wide, hands behind her back, shoulders rocking back and forth
I… I dunno, Tiff. Have you ever really done it before?
>”No, silly! That’s why I want to try. And who better than with you, my BFF?”
>She’s so sweet. How could you deny your best friend’s wishes?
…alright. But just really quick, okay?
>You say, a little scared
>She overexaggeratedly nods her head. “Mhmm!”
>She closes her eyes and puckers her lips
>You sigh silently and do the same
>You bring your lips closer and closer to hers
>Until they press
>They’re together for just a second
>Until Tiffany puts a hand behind your head and holds you, pressing her lips harder
>Your eyes widen in surprise
>This is way longer than intended
>You almost want to say something to stop it… but you’re enjoying it way more than you thought you would
>Your very first kiss
>With Tiffany…

>A wet feeling is coming from your lips
>You slowly and groggily roll your eyes awake
>You dreamt about that time again…
>That was a few months ago
>And it hasn’t really changed any dynamic between you and Tiffany
>Although… you really wanted to ask her about it, but…
>Hold on
>If that was a dream, why do you still feel something warm and wet pressed against your lips?
>You mentally snap yourself a little more awake and look
>Oh my gosh…
>Is that… Ms. Fluttershy?
>Her eyes are closed, lips pressed hard against yours, hoof working circles around your chest and stomach area
>What the heck is going on?
>This is waaaay past your comfort zone
>You fake a cough to get her off
>She squeaks in surprise and launches herself off of you
>Your eyes lock for what seems like hours, both with a look of utter surprise on your faces
>You look over to the side of your couch, where the basketball is
>You dart up, still keeping an eye on her
WellIhadagreattimeoverherewithyou
>You blurt out, grabbing your basketball
ButIreallythinkIoughttabeheadingbacktoTwilight’sokayseeyoutomorrow!
>And with that, you bolt out the door
>”Anon, please, wait, I can explain that!” she yells from her porch. “Please don’t leave yet!”
I’ll see you tomorrow before I go, Ms. Fluttershy!
>You yell back, to make her feel more at ease
>You don’t know if you’ll see her tomorrow at all
>After a long run back to P0nyville in the cool night air, you slow down and start to catch your breath
>What the heck was all of that about? Why did she kiss you?
>Did she… like you?
>That makes no sense. She’s a p0ny, you’re a boy. Even then, she’s way older!
>There had to be some explanation
>You begin bouncing your ball in thought
>Maybe you ought to keep this to yourself…
>You don’t want Fluttershy to be embassassed or anything
>”Do I hear a basketball?” you hear from the sky
>A streak of rainbow launches itself from the sky before landing down next to you
>There stands Rainbow Dash
>She extends her wing out
>”Come on, pass me the ball!”
>You laugh. It’s as if the night’s events didn’t even happen anymore
>You bounce the ball over to her, and she catches it in her wing
>She then starts dribbling the ball in concentration, tongue sticking out of her mouth and everything
>It’s adorable
>”See? I ain’t too bad!” she says, bouncing the ball under her body to her opposite wing
Not at all, not at all.
>You reassure.
Say… I built a net today… want to shoot some hoops?
>She beams
>”Do I!”

>The rest of the night and early morning was spent teaching Rainbow Dash how to shoot
>She would fold her wings above her back holding the ball, and shoot from there
>Her wings were surprisingly flexible, and she even managed to imitate a proper shot, like how you would with hands
>Her accuracy was below average, but that’s to be expected when you can’t properly see the ball you’re shooting
>Regardless, you had a great time
>You both laughed and learned
>Heck, you even got some basketball practice in
>As the morning sun began to show itself, Dash began to call it a night
>”I have work today, squirt.” She says, dribbling the basketball next to her like a pro. “I really should get at least SOME shut-eye before I start.”
>You realize you have a busy day today as well
I actually have things to do today, too… I’m meeting the Princess.
>”Celestia’s coming down? What for?”
Well, me, I suppose… I may even be taken to Canterlot.
>She briefly shows a sign of disappointment, but masks it quickly
>She passes the ball to you, you continue the dribble fluidly
>”Well, just be sure to be back in time for more practice, okay?” she says with a smile
>You return the smile
Absolutely, Rainbow Dash.
>”Catch you later.”
>And with that, she zooms off once again
>You grip the ball between your fingers and sigh
>Tomorrow… er, today, was going to be a long day
>You head inside slowly, Spike and Twilight still sleeping, careful not to wake them
>Sneaking up the stairs, you head to where your little floor-bed was set up
>You can give an explanation as to why you’re back when you wake up
>You place your ball down and begin to climb in
>Weird… where are your covers?
>Glancing around the room, you see a sliver of it hanging from Twilight’s bed
>You approach it, seeing Ms. Sparkle herself cuddling the blanket, with some of it covering her face
>She’s breathing heavily in her sleep
>Weird. Must have been really cold
>You gently snag the covers back from her, lay down in bed, and begin to drift off
>Hopefully undisturbed this time

End of Part 3