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- >You are Anon, a human living in Equestria.
- >And you've been appointed as Ponyville's Head of Self-Esteem
- >Mayor Mare tolerated you staying in the town, but only if you managed to be of some use to society while you were here.
- >At first, you thought you were going to get something shitty, like Town Window-Washer or Hoof-Polisher Second Class.
- >But all things considered, it's a pretty cushy gig.
- >You spend each day wandering the streets of Ponyville, searching for ponies who might seem a bit down and attempt to cheer them up.
- >Originally, you weren't sure what to think about it
- >It seemed kind of weird.
- >Affection was hard to show openly back on Earth, let alone to random strangers.
- >Over time, though, you got used to it.
- >Ponyville is a pretty harmonious place and the residents are very accepting.
- >And you found out, to your surprise, that you were good at it.
- >But it genuinely feels nice to be helping out around town in a meaningful way.
- >Sometimes the ponies you've helped in the past will stop and wave.
- >It's actually made you somewhat popular.
- >And it's certainly made getting to know ponies a lot easier.
- >You're armed with coupons for ice cream at Sugar Cube Corner, a few jokes and of course, your arms.
- >Your shift is just about up. Only fifteen more minutes until you clock out.
- >The sun is in the late stages of it's journey across the sky.
- >So you begin your final pass through the town, scanning the streets for any ponies in need.
- >You don't expect to find anything dire, everything feels like it's under control.
- >But as you pass through the rather-vacant middle of town, you notice a peculiar sight.
- >There's a mare hauling a large cart, which is absolutely overflowing with something.
- >Judging by the pace she's moving, you can tell it must be heavy.
- >You pick up your walking speed a bit and decide to investigate.
- >It doesn't take long to catch up with her.
- >Seriously, she's taking her time.
- >As you get closer, you get a look at her face.
- >She's a grey mare, with very straight purple mane.
- >The thing that immediately gets your attention though, is her expression.
- >She doesn't look very happy.
- >Her eyes look straight ahead with listless green eyes, focused purely on the road.
- >Her mouth is stretch into a tight, thin line.
- >Not exactly a frown, but certainly not a smile either.
- >You don't know if you've seen her in Ponyville before. Must be visiting.
- >Soon, you're walking right alongside her cart.
- >She still hasn't noticed you, even though your footsteps are pretty loud.
- >You take a peek into the cart, leaning over one of it's high walls to take a look at what she could possibly be transporting.
- >Upon closer inspection, you realize what she's carrying are…rocks.
- >Piles upon piles of rocks.
- >From small pebbles to pretty sizable boulders, the cart is nearly brimming with stones.
- >…that's kind of odd. She doesn't look like she's apart of the town's construction crew. Maybe she's a geologist?
- >Even then, that's a very heavy cart for one mare to be carrying.
- >You decide to stop and ask if she needs help.
- "Hey, hold up a sec!"
- >The mare keeps walking, undaunted, trudging along at the same sluggish pace.
- >Huh?
- >Weird, did she just not hear you?
- >Maybe she's hard of hearing.
- >You remind yourself to be a little more understanding and call out again.
- "Excuse me, miss? Do you have a minute?"
- >Still nothing. Her speed doesn't change in the slightest.
- >Taking a more aggressive approach, you march forward, until you're alongside her.
- >You give her a friendly wave as you try to maintain a similar pace.
- "Hi there, I'm Anon."
- >But even then, she doesn't look at you.
- >She continues to trudge along, completely oblivious to the fact you're there.
- >You're beginning to feel invisible and maybe a little frustrated.
- >With relative ease, you get a few feet in front of her and turn around, planting your feed and standing in her way.
- >She keeps coming at you though, not stopping. You back up a few steps as she and the cart draw nearer, threatening to bowl you over.
- >At the last minute however, she stops, abruptly.
- >"Oh. Sorry. I didn't see you there."
- >Her voice is sort of flat and lifeless. Bored.
- >Maybe this pony could use your help.
- "Hey! I was trying to get your atten-"
- >She cuts you off mid-sentence.
- >"Could you please move? I need to get somewhere."
- >You feel a frown tug at your face.
- >This isn't going how you planned.
- >Reluctantly you take a step to the side, clearing the way.
- >You fall into step next to her again.
- >Although it's actually hard to match her pace.
- >Not that you can't keep up.
- >On the contrary.
- >She's walking really, really slowly.
- >In fact you didn't think it was possible to walk this slowly.
- >You're pretty sure that Granny Smith would have lapped her around town by now.
- >But you press her for some info, thinking that might help ease you into the conversation.
- "What's your name? Mine is Anon."
- >She doesn't look at you, her eyes once again hypnotized by the road ahead, but she does answer you.
- >"Maud."
- "What brings you to Ponyville?"
- >"Business."
- "That's nice. Need any help?"
- >"No."
- >Her answers are all one word, never longer than absolutely necessary.
- >She's certainly not a conversationalist.
- >Maybe she's just had a long day.
- >It's not easy to be overly friendly when you're tired.
- >You continue, at least you've got her talking now.
- "Anyway, how are you today?"
- >"Fine."
- "Really? It doesn't look like it. You can tell me if you'd like."
- >"No. Thanks. I'm fine."
- >You stop in your tracks. You're not making any progress with this mare.
- >The cart passes you as you stand there, scratching your head, searching for a way you can keep her talking.
- >The rocks rumble and bounce in the cart as it hits a bump in the road.
- >Wait a minute. That's it!
- "Oh, are you a rock collector?"
- >The cart stops.
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