Jeff Mango- Harshwhinny

"Next!"
>The graying, stooped mare in front of you steps to the side, allowing the next pony in line forward
"Welcome to Ponyville Social Services, please fill out this form, and I'll be right with you..."
>You lean back in your chair as the droopy-looking stallion before you takes a pencil in his mouth
>Government work
>Transported to a world of magical talking horses, and they have you doing government work
>Handing out unemployment benefits, no less
>Why do magical horses even need unemployment benefits?
>The stallion in front of you passes you his completed form, trying to avoid looking you in the eye
>Almost all of them do that, really
>You figure they must be ashamed, having to come and ask the pony bureaucracy for money
>Scanning the stallion's form, you check off all the little boxes you need to, sign it, then go about asking him a few questions
>It's standard procedure for you, but the poor bastard looks nervous as hell
>When he finally leaves, a sheen of sweat glistens on his forehead, and his legs are wobbly
"Next!"
>The next pony in line is a mare, and carries herself much differently than the other ponies in line
>She has no trouble meeting your eye as she steps forward, and you actually recoil a little at the sternness of her gaze
>She reminds you a little of that super-strict, devil-woman teacher that exists inside every elementary school
>The mare notices you staring, and coughs rudely
>"Come on now, I don't have all day. Get me my paperwork so I can get out of here."
"Huh... wha?"
>Most of the ponies here are too nervous to even say a word to you, unless you're questioning them
>You've never had one of them call you out
>It's so unusual, you can't help but sit there, gaping at this bronze-haired new arrival
>"What are you, deaf? I said hurry it up! I've got jobs to hunt for!"
>Startled, you grab another blank form from the stack, holding it defensively in front of you
>The mare slams the form on the table
>"You gonna get me something to write with?"
"The pencil's right there."
>She rolls her eyes
>"So unorganized..."
>Still speechless, you watch as she grabs the pencil in her mouth, chomping down so hard the thing almost breaks in half
>With blinding speed, she scribbles her info across the form, chucking it back at you completed after barely twenty seconds
>How in the hell...?
>"Well? What next? Am I done? You ever gonna quit staring?"
>The ponies behind this orange-ish new arrival back away, casting their eyes towards the ground
>You've never met a pony with this kind of presence before
>It's kinda captivating, actually
>The orange-ish mare doesn't seem to have time for captivation, however, clearing her throat loudly
>"Ahem. Am I done? Come on, you have a job to do!"
>She waves her hoof in front of your face, focusing you back on reality
"Uh, yeah, right. Just gotta ask you a few questions."
>"Oh, great, an interview."
"Chill. It'll only take a few minutes."
>"Chill? Excuse me, mister, not all of us have a few minutes to spare. So make this snappy."
>Okay, her attitude is starting to become a lot less captivating
"Name?"
>"Harshwhinny."
"Is that a last name or a first name?"
>"I don't think that's any of your business."
"It kinda is..."
>She just stares at you, the stress lines around her eyes deepening
"Alrighty then. Next question."
>You check back at your form, just to give you an excuse to look away from those intense blue eyes
"Amount of time unemployed?"
>"One day."
>Ouch
>She definitely on top of things though, if she's already out here
"Alright. Benefits sought?"
>"None."
"Alright the-- wait, none?"
>"You heard me. I refuse to take a single bit of government money."
"Then... why are you here?"
>"Because I don't feel like getting taxed on a salary I'm not making, you dense little--"
"Okay then. Next question."
>Harshwhinny grumbles something, but quiets
"Are you currently seeking new employment?"
>"Of course."
>Her tone of voice indicates that she's not terribly enthusiastic about continuing this questionnaire
>You, however, feel almost the exact opposite
>After weeks of dead-eyed ponies who barely speak in complete sentences, Harshwinny's attitude is as refreshing as it is grating
"Alright. What employment are you seeking?"
>That seems to give her pause
>"I'm... not exactly sure yet. Still taking a bit of time to consider."
"Alright. I'll need an exact answer before I can send this out to potential employers, though."
>Harshwinny's eyes widen, if just for a second
>"You will?"
"Mhm. If you don't have one now, you can always come back later."
>"O-of course, yes, I knew that."
>You raise an eyebrow, but don't say anything
"Last question, I need your current address and contact information."
>Now Harshwhinny looks really uncomfortable
>Her stern expression remains, but you can see her struggling under it
>"Well, uh, I... I don't have one, at the moment."
>Oh...
"I see. Would you like to seek out homeless benefits as well, then?"
>"Absolutely NOT! I will continue to subsist by my own means. I don't need handouts."
>She stamps a hoof to emphasize her point
"Well... okay, I guess. That about wraps everything up. I send this out tonight with the others, okay?"
>You'd better."
>She tries to sound threatening, but you detect a hint of desperation in her voice
>With that, Harshwhinny turns, and trots out of the door
>Ponies shuffle away from her as she passes, trying to avoid making eye contact with this boisterous orange newcomer
>You watch her leave, not entirely sure what just happened
>All the time you've been here, you've never met a pony like that
>Every single one of them has either been dead inside, or filled with cartoony mania

>That night, when you go home, you still can't get the memories of your meeting with Harshwhinny out of your head
>For the first time, your job actually felt interesting!
>You met a pony with a real spectrum of emotion, who seemed almost... real
>Sure, she kinda acted like a bitch, but you feel you could use some bitchiness after months in friendship land
>As strange as it is, you find yourself hoping she'll show up again tomorrow

>And, as luck would have it, she does
>Just as you're about to break for lunch, after several hours of catering to Ponyville's mopiest inhabitants, Harshwhinny steps out of your line
>"You? You're still here?"
"Um, yeah? I work here."
>"Hmph. So the Ponyville government can only afford to hire a single employee, huh? Figures. And it has to be some kind of monster too, of course. How typical."
"Hey, now, I could just as easily shred these and mail them."
>You make ripping motions above her forms to get your point across
>Harshwinny's eye ticks, and her mouth draws into a narrow line
>"You wouldn't."
"Yeah, you're right, I wouldn't. But still, I'm trying to help you here. So how about a little respect, eh?"
>Harshwinny closes her eyes, and nods
>"Fine. I apologize for my unprofessionalism. I've been a little stressed these past days, as I'm sure you can imagine."
"You're fine. Now let's get this finished."
>You notice that Harshwhinny's mane and tail are somewhat clumped and tattered, and her clothes look a little shabby
>Where did she sleep last night?
>You decide that's a question best left un-asked, and pull out her incomplete form from yesterday
"Alright, let's get this finished up. Have you thought about where you'd like to work?"
>"Of course I have. I'd prefer a desk job, if any exist. Preferably managerial."
"Okay..."
>She's asking for a lot, for an unemployed pony, but you put her request down all the same
"And if that's not available?"
>"Well... anything else, I guess."
>She glances uneasily to the side, but the stern sapphire gaze quickly returns
>"Is that enough? Am I good to go now?"
>You glance over her form, slowly checking off the necessary boxes, and filling in your required info
"Looks good. I'll make sure to send it in tonight."
>Harshwinny snorts
>"Good. Get back to me quickly. I'm sure you can imagine how important this is."
>You nod, and she turns to leave
>As you watch her go, some sudden, insane impulse takes over you
>Maybe it was because you'd been bored out of your mind for weeks
>Maybe you just wanted to see what would happen
>But the office was empty, and you decided to go with it
"Um, Ms. Harshwhinny?"
>"Huh? What is it?"
"Are you, eh, doing anything later?"
>She blinks at you
>"Seeing as I'm currently seeking employment and housing, I would assume not. Why?"
"Well, I was wondering, would you like to get some dinner with me?"
>You're aware that you sound pretty awkward right now, but improv has never been your strong suit
>"Mr..."
>She glances at your nametag
>"Mr. Anonymous, are you asking me on a date?"
"Yeah."
>"Ridiculous. Why would I ever feel the need to spend my evening in the company of a public servant?"
"I dunno. I thought a good meal and a place to spend the night would appeal to you."
>That seems to catch her off guard
>As always, Harshwhinny recovers quickly, and her voice takes on a mocking tone
>"Oh, I see. You thought if you took the poor, down-on-her-luck mare out she might sleep with you, eh? Clever, but it's not happening."
"Whoa, whoa, what? That was the last thing on my mind! You just... seem like a pretty cool pony, and I'd like to get to know you. If you don't want to go, you don't have to."
>"Hmmm..."
>Harshwhinny narrows her eyes at you
>"Alright, Mr. Anonymous. You've got yourself a deal... IF you take me to the finest, most expensive restaurant in all of Ponyville."
>She puffs out her chest, thinking she's won
"Okay. Which one is that?"
>Harshwhinny looks surprised
>"Um... I'm not sure. But you'd better find it!"
"I'll ask Rarity. What time do you want to meet?"
>"Seven o'clock. The absolute perfect meeting time."
"Alright, see you then."
>Harshwhinny grunts in affirmation, then stomps out of the room
>...
>What the hell just happened?

>By the time seven o'clock rolls around, you're ready to go
>You throw on your favorite of your several completely-identical suits, and head out to meet your bad-tempered date
>Right now, you're happier than you've been in a long time
>You've finally met someone here who isn't made of pure sugar!
>Not that any of the pony's around you have been mean, exactly, but the constant antics wore down on you after a while

>According to Rarity, the finest, most expensive restaurant in Ponyville is a place called "Citizen Mane's"
>Goddamn puns
>Your pockets jingle with a good chunk of bits, more than enough for even the fanciest of establishments
>You really don't have anything to spend money on, so you've got quite a bit saved
>As you walk, you realize you never picked an exact spot to meet with Harshwhinny
>In fact, it's entirely possible she just stood you up
>Eh, even if she did, it's not like you're getting cheated out of anything
>She'd be the one giving up on a free meal
>Fortunately, all your worries prove to be for naught
>Harshwhinny is standing just outside the now-locked town hall
>And damn
>She's changed from her purple suit into a shimmery, tight-fitting black dress, leaving her forelegs bare, and showing off quite a bit of her fluffy orange chest
>She glances up at your approach
>"Ugh, there you are. You're almost three minutes late!"
"Um, yeah. It's just three minutes. I guess my watch is behind."
>Harshwhinny massages her temples
>"Seven o'clock is the PERFECT meeting time. I thought I explained that?"
"You didn't, actually, you just kinda said it."
>"Well, never mind. You owe me a fancy dinner, remember? And I anticipate a high level of fancy-ness."
"Oh, don't worry. We're talking Fancy Pants levels of fancy right here."
>"Hmm. Well, that would be an acceptable level of fancy. But I'll judge that when I see it."
"So we're judging things now? In that case, why don't we make it interesting?"
>Harshwhinny raises an eyebrow
>"Oh? Interesting how, exactly?"
"We'll make a little wager. If the date doesn't go exactly to you're liking, I'll take you out for another, even better one tomorrow."
>"Is that so? And what if I like it, hotshot?"
"Easy. No date's complete without a good kiss, right?"
>Harshwhinny looks surprised for a brief second, but quickly conceals it
>"Hah. Really classy. That's a win-win for you, isn't it?"
>You notice her cheeks are a little pink, though
"Of course. Why would I set up a bet that didn't favor me?"
>Harshwhinny lets out a full-on chuckle at that
>"You've got attitude. I guess that comes with being a youngster like you. Well, alright, I'll take your little bet. But this had better be one good date."
"Oh, just wait."

>When the two of you arrive at the restaurant, you find that it's exactly as Rarity promised it would be
>The place's exterior isn't terribly grand, but the inside just screams class
>Everything's lit by soft candlelight, tuxedo-wearing ponies bustle between the tables, and the floor is covered in some emerald/gold carpeting
>You almost feel like you're dirtying it with your presence
>Harshwhinny nods in approval
>"Not bad. Not bad at all. Especially for a little town like this. You've passed step one, Mr. Anonymous."
"Good to know. How many steps do I have to get through, exactly?"
>"I lost count. But I'll make sure to keep you up-to-date."

>A waiter pony leads you to a table in the corner of the room, lit by only a few stray candles
>All-in-all, it's a pretty damn romantic scene
>Harshwhinny notices it too, and you can tell it's making her a little uncomfortable
>She keeps shifting in her seat, and fidgeting with the straps on her dress
"Hey. You alright?"
>"Of course I am."
>She glances around
>"You really had to pick the fanciest restaurant in existence, didn't you?"
"Well, yeah. Wasn't that part of the deal?"
>"Ugh. Nevermind. Let's just get some food, okay?"
"Alrighty."
>Harshwhinny begins fidgeting with her silverware now, and you sense her hooves kicking under the table
"Okay, seriously, what's wrong?"
>"Nothing's wrong. I just disapprove of this far-too-stifling atmosphere."
"I thought you wanted someplace fancy."
>"You knew what I meant. You failed the deal. This date is a failure. I'm leav--"
>Just then, your waiter pony reappears
>"Good evening, sir and madam. Are you ready to order now?"
>Harshwhinny's about to protest, but you cut her off
"We'll need a minute or two more, is that okay?"
>"Of course."
>The pony seems to meld back into the ambiance, disappearing from view
>"What do you mean 'a minute or two?' I told you, I'm leaving. This date is an embarrassment."
>You give Harshwhinny a sly little smile
"You're just nervous, aren't you?"
>She puffs out her cheeks
>"Absolutely not. I'm simply disappointed by the venue you've chosen."
"How? You've only been here five minutes."
>Harshwhinny grimaces
>"That's long enough."
"No it's not. Come on, just try to enjoy yourself. You haven't even looked at the menu."
>"Hmph."
>Harshwhinny glances at the glassy parchment in front of her
>"Alright, fine. But on thin ice here, hotshot. I'm wise to your tricks."
>You hold your hands up in mock surrender as she opens the menu, scanning it
>After a few seconds, her eyes light up
>"They have it here! Hay mignon! My favorite!"
>She claps her hooves in excitement, before noticing you watching her
>"Hmm. Not bad. You've got one point now."
>You chuckle, and go back to reading the menu
>All of this food sounds nasty, so you figure you'll just go with a nice salad
>Not great, but it's better than hay and flowers
>The waiter returns just in time for you and Harshwhinny to order
>She does in the stiffest, most demanding way possible
>Somehow, you get the feeling she's showing off
>You order much more casually, just asking for a "normal salad, or something like that"
>When he trots off, Harshwhinny focuses her gaze on you
"What?"
>"Ahem."
"What? Do I have something on my shirt?"
>As far as you can tell, you don't
>"This is a date, Mr. Anonymous. Don't you think you should be trying to get to know me better?"
"Oh, I thought you'd want to know more about me."
>"Please. It's only common courtesy to let the lady introduce herself first."
"Alright. Go ahead."
>"What do you mean 'go ahead?' Ask me a question!"
"Agh, jeez, alright. What's your favorite place in all of Equestria?"
>"Well, I used to... wait, my favorite place? Why are you asking that? You're supposed to ask about my job!"
"I am? Aren't you unemployed?"
>"Well... yes, I am now. But asking about employment first is a classic approach! You're doing this all wrong."
>She shakes her head
"I thought you wouldn't want to talk about losing your job. I figured 'favorite place in the world' would be a much happier topic."
>"Harumph. Fine. Out of all Equestria, the best place I've ever visited was the Crystal Empire."
>She sounds like a fourth grader giving a geography report
"Crystal Empire? What's that?"
>"You've never heard of it? It's the most stunning locale in the entire land. And -I- worked there as Chief Inspector for the Equestria Games."
>She puffs her chest, smiling with pride
"I haven't, actually. What's it like?"
>"Well, let me tell, you, it's-- wait a minute. You sly little dog."
>Harshwhinny gives you a conspiratorial smile, her hoof nudging you under the table
>"You're playing dumb to get me talking. Clever, clever. I'll give you another point for that."
"You got me. But seriously, what's the Crystal Empire?"
>"Ha, you really don't give up, do you? I can respect that. The Crystal Empire is the single most beautiful, most historically significant location in all of Equestria, second only to Canterlot itself. But, in my opinion, it's a far more attractive place."
"So that's why it's your favorite? It's the most impressive?"
>"Of course. What's yours?"
"Well, there's a park about twenty minutes from town hall. And in the center of the park, there's a bench overlooking this tiny lake. During the spring and summer, you can hear birds chirping in all direction, and watch the sunlight glimmering on the water. During the winter, you can watch the snow fall, and enjoy the silence. It's beautiful."
>Harshwhinny blinks, speechless
>"I... I see. I should have realized you were a big softie. No bench in a park can compare to a thousand years of Equestrian history."
>You shrug
"Maybe not, but it's still pretty. I'll take you there sometime."
>Harshwhinny chuckles, and a wry grin appears on her lips
>"You just have every little bit of this planned, don't you? Now you want me following you to a romantic lakefront after dinner?"
"Maybe I do. Is there a problem with that?"
>Harshwhinny's eyes widen
>"Well, no, but... come on now, that's so cliché."
"You have a better idea?"
>"A better... no. I guess not..."
>She shakes her head, and by the time she looks at you again, that smug demeanor is back
>"But you've got a long way to go before I go anywhere with you, hotshot. This meal better rattle my hooves, or it's back to square one for you."
>She nudges you under the table again
"You say that like it's a bad thing."
>You do your best to return her grin, before occupying yourself with your glass of water
>Harshwhinny full-on kicks you under the table this time
"Ow! What was that for?"
>"Pay attention! We had a good conversation going back there. Letting it die out is a rookie mistake on the first date."
"Alright then."
>You pull your legs closer to you, massaging the spot she kicked
"Well, I asked about you. Now it's your turn."
>"My turn? Hmph. Alright. How many mares do you pull this little trick on?"
>Her question catches you completely off guard
"How many... wha?"
>"You heard me. How many other clients do you invite on surprise dinner dates? And don't try to tell me I'm the only one."
"But, uh... you are."
>"You seriously think I'm gonna fall for that?"
>She gives you that little mocking smile
>"One day some random middle-aged mare walks into your tiny office, and suddenly your a hopeless romantic? Please. So come on, just give me the number. I might even be impressed."
"Zero. This is literally the first time I've ever done this."
>Harshwhinny looks like she's about to protest again, but you cut her off
"If you don't believe, that's fine. But it's true. I actually don't get along that well with most of the ponies in this town."
>"Hmm. Guess we have that much in common."
>She leans back in her seat, crossing her hind legs under the table
"I guess. Come to think of it, I haven't really seen you around here before. Did you move recently?"
>Harshwhinny nods
>"I came here after I lost my job. Figured it'd be easier to restart in a new town."
"I hope so."
>She looks up at you, surprised
>"You do? ...wait a minute, you're still just trying to sweet-talk me, aren't you?"
"No, I'm not. Why are you so skeptical?"
>"Why? You're at best half my age. Young hotshots like you don't pay attention to old, washed-up mares like me unless there's something they're after."
>Well, looks like we're getting into some underlying issues here
"Look, I don't know what I can do to convince you, but I'm not after anything. You interest me a lot more than the other ponies I know, and so far I've been enjoying our night. There's nothing more to it than that."
>You finish, and Harshwhinny scrutinizes your face with that piercing blue gaze, searching for any sign of dishonesty
>"Well. Either you're a phenomenal liar, or you're absolutely crazy."
>She continues to hold you gaze for a few seconds, before bursting into a snorty, raucous belly laugh
>"Ha! You're serious, aren't you?"
"Of course I am."
>"Oh, Celestia... I forgot what it was like to be young. How old are you anyway, Mr. Anonymous?"
>You give her your age, and Harshwhinny whistles
>"Wow. Is it even legal for me to be here? I don't want the royal guard to come calling for me."
>She snorts in laughter again, poking your arm with a forehoof
>You put on a show of acting unamused, but you're actually pretty thrilled that the two of you are getting along
>For a completely random date, this isn't going too badly

>You and Harshwhinny spend the next ten minutes talking about random topics: life in Canterlot, Equestrian literature, last year's Equestria Games, and other casual stuff
>You deliberately steer the conversation away from why she lost her job, or why she still goes by 'Ms.' despite being in her forties
>At least you assume she's in her forties; you're not retarded enough to ask a woman for her age
>When the food finally arrives, you've worked up an appetite
>By the look on Harshwhinny's face when the smell reaches her, she has too
>You can practically see her mouth watering as the platter of expertly-cooked hay is set in front of her
>Your salad, by contrast, is pretty plain
>But at least it's not hay
"Eh, see? What'd I say? Looks pretty good, huh?"
>Harshwhinny swallows hard, staring intently at the food
>It occurs to you that she might not have eaten in a while
>Poor mare's probably been restraining herself in front of you all night
>You go ahead and take a bite of your salad, signaling to her that it's okay to chow down too
>Harshwhinny eats neatly but quickly, piling piece after piece of the hay into her mouth
>By the time your salad's halfway done, she's already finished, breathing heavily
>The portion wasn't terribly large, though, and you notice her eyeing your salad
>You take another bite or two, then push it away
"I'm done. You want the rest of this?"
>"C-certainly not. I've had my fill."
"Well, I don't want it to go to waste. Here."
>You swap her plate for your salad bowl, placing the empty dish in front of yourself
>Harshwhinny glances down at the fresh greens before her, and her determination begins to waver
>"Well... ugh, alright, fine. If you're going to make such a big deal about it."
>The salad disappears in about five bites
>Harshwhinny wipes her mouth daintily with a napkin
"Pretty good, am I right?"
>"It... met my expectations. I'm still not quite impressed."
"Oh? How about we get some dessert then?"
>Harshwhinny perks up at the mention of the word 'dessert'
>"Now you're learning. I'll ask what they have."

>Harshwhinny asks for two dessert menus, and the waiter pony returns with them
>Looks like fairly typical stuff: cake, mousse, pie, etc.
>Harshwhinny's practically drooling on the menu as she reads through it
>"What are you gonna get? I can't decide..."
"I dunno. Just a slice of cake, probably. Nothing fancy."
>"Cake? Cake would be okay, I'll grant. But they have pie too. Ooh, and lemon sorbet..."
"You can get more than one, if you want."
>"What? No, never. That'd be so childish..."
"Well, our waiter's coming over now. So you'd better decide."
>Harshwhinny's brow furrows, and she leans in closer to the dessert menu
>"Have you decided what you would like, Sir and Madam?"
>"Yes, I'll have the... erm, no wait... could I get the cherry... wait, no..."
"Is there any way we could get like a platter-type thing going?"
>The waiter pony considers for a moment
"I don't see why not. Usually we reserve them for the larger parties, but I'll see what I can do."
>He bows, and steps away
>Harshwhinny looks both annoyed and embarrassed at the same time
>"You really didn't have to do that. It was completely unnecessary."
"Of course it was. That's what makes it fun."
>You wink at Harhshwhinny, and her blush deepens
>She continues to grumble though, until the platter is laid before the two of you
>Her muttering ceases, and you hear her softly gasp
"You pick first."
>"I, uh... this is still completely unreasonable, not to mention childish, but... uh..."
>She grabs a gooey-looking cherry thing from the platter, plopping it onto her plate
>You take some good old chocolate cake
>Harshwhinny doesn't say much as she scarfs down her dessert, embedding crumbs in the fur of her muzzle
>When she notices you staring, she slows down, wiping herself with a napkin
>"Sorry. It's just... it's very good. You impressed me."
>She admits it like she's agreeing to have her teeth pulled
>A wide, hopefully-not-shit-eating grin splits your face
"Knew I could do it."
>Harshwhinny rolls her eyes
>"Yeah, yeah, A-plus, you did great. Now pass me that lemon sorbet..."

>You and Harshwhinny plow through the dessert tray together, until every last sweet, gooey morsel has been gobbled up
>She does more of the work than you, but you're not complaining
>You don't have nearly her level of sweet tooth
>By the time the two of you finish, the orange-ish mare is leaning back contentedly in her seat, legs kicking idly under the table
"Well, you about ready to get going?"
>"Going? Going where?"
>She gives you a suspicious look
"Remember that park I told you about? I really think you'd like it."
>"Ha! You really are a softy, aren't you? What's next, gondola rides? Vacations in Prance?"
"Well, that depends. Do they have gondolas around here?"
>Harshwhinny just chuckles, resting her head on her hoof
>"You really are crazy, aren't you?"
"Completely. Though, compared to some of the stuff I've seen around here, I'd say I'm pretty normal."
>Harshwhinny shakes her head
>"You know what I mean. Seriously, enough with the 'romantic' talk. What are really after? I don't have any money. And I'm not going to sleep with you. So just spill it, what's your end game?"
>Now it's your turn to shake your head
"Why is this so hard for you to believe? All I wanted a good evening, with an interesting mare, and I got that."
>Harshwhinny stares intently at you, as if expecting you to say more
>"That's it? You're even gonna try to convince me to sleep with you?"
"Nope. That'd be pretty trashy of me, wouldn't it?"
>"I... You... You're not even gonna try?"
"Well, if you're offering..."
>Harshwhinny blushes, sitting up straighter
>"I most certainly am not! I'm simply.... testing you."
"Did I pass?"
>"The test isn't over yet."
"Oh. Well, what's the next part?"
>"I'm not telling."
>Harshwhinny crosses her forelegs over her chest, grinning smugly
>"You'll know it when you see it."
"O... kay?"
>The waiter pony returns, handing you the bill
>It's hefty, as you imagined, but you pay without a second thought
>After all, it's not like you were gonna do anything else with the money
>Harshwhinny raises an eyebrow at the huge stack of bits you plunk down onto the table, but she doesn't say anything
"So... park now?"
>Harshwhinny, sighs, looking around the room
>"Sure. But if I feel any over-friendly hands go near my buttocks..."
"I would never! How many times do I have to--"
>You notice Harshwhinny's laughing
>"And ponies call me uptight. Relax, you. I'm allowed to make jokes too, sometimes."
>You smile back, blushing a little
>"Now c'mon, let's get out here before the ambiance suffocates me."

>The air outside is refreshingly cool, if a little nippy
>Your suit coat protects you from most of it, but Harshwhinny is beginning to shiver by the time you're about twenty feet from the restaurant
>She endures it stoically, keeping her eyes focused straight ahead
>Without asking, you shrug your coat off, draping it across her back
>She looks up at you, strangely
>"What do you think you're doing?"
"Uh... you looked cold, and..."
>Harshwhinny just sighs, but lets the jacket stay
>You think you even see her pull it a little tighter around her

>The park isn't terribly far from the restaurant; the two of you reach it in about five minutes
>Harshwhinny looks around, her face registering neither disappointment nor surprise
>"Quaint. I can see why you like it, but it's not exactly impressive."
"When did I ever say it was impressive? In fact, not being impressive is what makes it so nice. Here, follow me."
>You lead your date down the winding dirt path, past a small canopy of orange-red trees, and out onto the lake front
>The moon is nearly full, and the pale white light glistens on the still water
>This time, you do see a hint of approval glisten in Harshwhinny's eyes
>"Not bad. Not bad at all."
>She steps forward onto the sand, following it down to the edge of the water
>You stay a few feet behind her, watching as she dips a hoof into the water
>"It may be kind of simple, but it has a charm to it. It suits you, Mr. Anonymous."
"Um... thanks?"
>You head back up the beach and sit on the bench near the edge of the treeline
>Harshwhinny follows, sitting halfway between you and the bench's opposite side
>Not terribly close, but closer than she could have
"You know, you don't have to keep calling me 'Mr. Anonymous.' You can call me Anon."
>"Hmph, I'll stick to the full name. Much more professional."
"If you say so..."
>You lean back in the bench, letting the flickering moonlight hypnotize you
>Harshwhinny does the same, and you notice the stress lines in her face seem to soften a little
"Pretty nice, huh?"
>She nods, drawing the jacket across her chest
>"Anonymous... can I ask you a personal question?"
"Of course."
>Harshwhinny pauses for a second, thinking her question over before asking
>"Why me?"
"Why you what?"
>"Why'd you ask me out, and not one of the other dozen mares in your office yesterday?"
"That's... honestly a good question. I guess I'm just used to broken, miserable souls coming by my office. Everyone just kinda rolls over and does what I tell them. But you... you've got a lot of spirit. And you've had a pretty interesting life, as far as I can tell. You're just fun to talk to, I guess."
>Harshwhinny's face is unreadable in the moonlight
>"Thank you, Mr. Anonymous. That... that means a lot to me."
"No problem. Thanks for accompanying me. This is the first memorable day I've had in... fuck, I don't even remember how long."
>Harshwhinny nods
>"I should be thanking you, really. I know I'm not very good at showing it, but I've had a very, very fun night. To tell you the truth, I was thinking hard about just not showing up. Young hotshot like you, I could have sworn you were just out to get something from me. Glad I was wrong."
>She gives you a small, yet incredibly genuine smile, scooting a few inches closer along the bench
>Her dress clings even more tightly to her body in the breeze
"Well... I hope you haven't forgotten our little wager earlier."
>"Wager, what wage-- oh. Did you seriously mean that?"
"Of course I did. You're not gonna back out on me, are you?"
>"Of course not, that'd be disgracefully unprofessional. Just... close your eyes."
>You oblige, and Harshwhinny, the lake, and the park around you are swallowed in darkness
>The bench creaks softly as she leans in
>You can sense her face approaching yours, and her warm breath tickles your noise
>It smells vaguely of lemon
>You pucker your only lips, waiting patiently as you feel her mouth inching closer, closer...
>A pair of soft, warm pony lips press against your cheek, just an inch to the right of yours
>She stays there for a second, then gently pulls away
>"You didn't think it was gonna be that easy, did you, hotshot?"
"Well, I kinda hoped."
>Harshwhinny laughs, fake-punching your shoulder
>"You're completely incorrigible."
"Guilty as charged, I guess."
>You lay a hand over the spot she kissed, smiling at her
>Harshwhinny returns your smile for a few sincere moments, before turning back to the lake
>"It really is beautiful here, Mr. Anonymous."

>The two of you watch the lake in pensive silence for what feels like an hour
>Even under the coat, Harshwhinny begins to shiver
>As casually as you can, you wrap an arm around her
>She scoots to where she's barely touching you, and while she's not exactly cuddly, her presence is comforting
>"Anonymous? Can I ask you something else?"
>You can't help but notice she omitted the 'mister' that time
"Of course. What's up?"
>"When you first asked me on this date, you mentioned something about a place to stay. Were you, erm... serious about that?"
"Yep. Wasn't sure if you'd be taking me up on it."
>Your heart rate increases by a good twenty percent, and you hope Harshwhinny's not able to feel it
>"Well, some... complications have arisen with my current housing situation, so... I'd like to take you up on that."
>Oh yeah, your heart's definitely beating faster
"Yeah, sure thing. I've got a guest bedroom no one uses."
>Harshwhinny sighs in relief, but tries to cover it with a fake yawn
>You try to hold back your laughter at the resulting face she makes
>"What are you staring at? I'm tired!"
"Hehe--mmph. Nothing, it's nothing, let's head back."
>You choke down your laughter, and stand from the bench, stretching your now-stiff legs
>Harshwhinny does the same, though it takes her a bit longer
>She kicks, annoyed, at the hem of her dress
>"Horsefeathers, these things get annoying. Why some mares enjoy dressing like this is beyond me."
"Eh, it does look good on you."
>Harshwhinny's ears shoot up
>"Hoohoo, tryin' to smoothtalk me again?"
>She jabs your leg with a forehoof
"Nope, real talk. Black's a good color on you. Makes me think of Halloween."
>"Hallo-what now?"
"Nevermind. It really does look pretty, though."
>"Oh... thanks."
>Harshwhinny runs a hoof across her face

>About halfway to your home, she stops you
>"Umm... you wouldn't mind if I went to get a few of my things, would you?"
"Of course not. Where are they?"
>"I had a, uh, friend drop them off near here. Here, let me just go grab them."
"I'll help you out."
>"No! I mean, no thanks, that won't be necessary. I can manage."
"Sure you can. I'm just helping."
>"I'm telling you, you don't have to help me."
"I know I don't. But I am. So come on."
>Harshwhinny grumbles, but leads you to her things

>Her belongings consist of a trunk and a small suitcase, both wedged in the space between the bridge and the ground near town hall
>Harshwhinny keeps her eyes near the ground as she removes them
>"My friend, eh, drops things off in weird places sometimes. This isn't where they should be..."
>You say nothing, not sure how to convey to Harshwhinny that you're the last guy who would judge her right now
>You notice that there's a pony-sized depression in the grass next to where they were stored
>Immediately, you make the mental decision to let Harshwhinny stay as long as she wants
>As if it was a hard decision to make...
>"So, you ready to get going? Great! Let's go!"
>She starts off ahead of you, before realizing she has no idea where you're going, and shuffling back behind

>You grab the trunk, hauling it on your back as you make your way through the quiet city streets
>Harshwhinny protests initially, but it doesn't last long
>As hard as she tries to hide it, you can tell she's grateful
>This thing weighs a ton too; you wonder how she was able to carry it so long
>By the time you get to your house, your arms are sore, and Harshwhinny's breathing heavily
>"S-sorry about this. Terribly... unprofessional of me."
"It's fine. Seriously. I've seen nothing negative or 'unprofessional' about you this entire night."
>Harshwhinny freezes in her steps
>After all the compliments you've slid her way tonight, this is the one that sticks
>She bows her head
>"Thank you, Anonymous. Sincerely, thank you."
"No problem. Now c'mon, it's freezing out here."
>You open the door, and usher Harshwhinny in

>Your house isn't much more than a cottage that the Apple family was nice enough to build for you
>The inside's pretty clean, but unimpressive
>Harshwhinny doesn't seem to mind though, fortunately
>She looks too tired for that
"You want me to show you to your bedroom?"
>"Umm... yes, but... I hate to ask... nevermind."
"Ask what? You need somethin'?"
>"It's just... I know we had a big dinner and all... I really don't want to intrude..."
>She sighs
>"Would you mind sharing any food with me?"
>You think back to the pony-shaped spot in the grass
"Of course I wouldn't mind. Whaddaya want? I've got..."
>You pull open the fridge, revealing apples, a bottle of ketchup, and half a pizza
>The bachelor life is strong
"Cold pizza and apples. Pick your poison."
>"Either or is fine. I'm not going to picky in somepony else's house."
"Alright, you can have both. Maybe it'll motivate me to finally get some damn groceries."
>You grab the pizza and an apple, laying them in front of Harshwhinny
>She eats as daintily as she can, though you can see in her eyes how hungry she is
>Poor mare
>You skipped most of your own dinner, so you end up grabbing an apple for yourself
>It's not much, but Harshwhinny needs the food more than you do
>She finishes, wiping her mouth on the back of a hoof
>"Thank you, Anonymous. I'm sorry if I've been a bit of a burden, but--"
"Never. Having you here is great, really. Anything you need, ask."
>You give Harshwhinny a reassuring pat on the back
>She hangs her head, humbled
"Here, you wanna see your room?"

>Your cottage is only one level, so Harshwhinny has to walk about ten feet to reach her room
>There's barely enough room for a bed and a dresser, but she doesn't complain
>She hands your coat back, and begins to slip her dress off
>Even though nudity is completely normal in Equestria, you still instinctively turn your back
>When you look at Harshwhinny again, her trunk is open, and she's dressed in an oversized, faded pink teeshirt
>You smile, seeing her safe and comfortable
>She returns it
>"Anon... I really can't thank you enough for this. The date, the food, letting me stay..."
"You're welcome, you crazy horse. Seriously though, it's my pleasure. Stay as long as you want."
>"You... you mean that?"
"One hundred percent. Now get some sleep. I can tell you need it."
>"Good night, Anonymous."
"Good night, cutie."
>You can't help but chuckle internally at the flustered expression she gets
>With a final wave goodbye, you close her door and head back to your room
>Shrugging out of your tuxedo feels fucking amazing, and your bed is incredibly welcoming as you collapse into it
>You did something good today
>Even though you still have no idea why you did it
>Maybe it was something to do with the intrinsic good of this world, nudging you down the right path
>Or maybe you just got lucky
>Either way, you're happy, Harshwhinny's happy, and everything turned out great
>A small smile plays across your lips as you sink into the mattress
>All's right with the world

>Waking up next morning feels like waking up from a particularly good dream
>Only, in your case, the dream actually happened
>You roll out of bed, and dress yourself in a pair of shorts and a tee-shirt before heading out to check on Harshwhinny
>Her room is empty, though the bedding is now neatly folded
>For a second you worry she might have left, before noticing that her luggage is still placed at the foot of the bed
>You walk back out into the kitchen, and that's when you find her
>Harshwhinny's back to being dressed in her purple suit, and she's furiously scribbling at a piece of parchment
>A stack of already-filled slips of paper sits next to her right hoof, and increases by one as she finishes the current project
>Her ears jolt up as you approach
>"Good morning, Anonymous."
"Morning. What's all this?"
>"Resumés. I've got a long day of job-hunting ahead of me."
"Ah, right."
>You lay a hand on her wither
"I'd better get us some decent breakfast then, huh?"
>Harshwhinny glances back at her resumé
>"You don't have to do that for me. Last night was enough."
"Doing nothing would have been 'enough.' I'm doing this because I like you as a pony, not because I have to. How many more of these do you have to get through?"
>Harshwhinny eyes the completed stack
>"This should be enough. I can't imagine there are that many open positions in a town like this anyway."
"Alrighty. Let me get dressed, and we'll head out."

>Your signature tuxedo is a little wrinkled from laying on the floor all night, so you go with jeans and a teeshirt
>Fortunately, Harshwhinny makes no comment on the unprofessionalism of your outfit, and the two of you head out together
>She has her suitcase balanced on her back, and casts a curious eye towards every store you pass
>Unfortunately, none of them seem to lack employees
"You know, you could just wait until Town Hall processes your application. They'll probably have an offer for you then."
>"That's my backup plan. But I've always been a forward-thinking mare, Anonymous. I'm not just going to sit around in a stranger's house and wait for handouts."
"Stranger?"
>"You know what I mean. A friend's house."
"Friend?"
>Harshwhinny scoffs
>"Anonymous, this is hardly the time..."
"Yeah, I know. Sorry about that..."
>Well, great, now you went and made everything awkward
>Fortunately, Harshwhinny quickly puts it behind her, returning to your original topic
>"Anyway. I hate to ask, but... you wouldn't happen to know of anyplace that might be looking for help, do you?"
"Me? Well... Applejack, maybe. They always need more help. But it's farm work, so..."
>Harshwhinny shudders
>"I will if I must, but I'd prefer something a bit less labor intensive."
"I figured as much. I guess Rarity might need someone at the boutique, or Twilight at her library. That's just an idea, though. I honestly don't know."
>Harshwhinny sighs
>"That's about as much as I should expect. Thanks, though. For everything. I hope you know--"
>You hold up a hand, cutting her off
"Really, you don't have to keep thanking me. In all honesty, it was my pleasure. I really don't get out much, and last night was a great break from the mold."
>"I guess we have that in common."
>Harshwhinny gives you a small smile, stepping slightly closer to you as the two of you continue your walk
>You lead her to a small café near the center of town
>It's not a terribly fancy place, nothing like last night, but it's still one of your favorite spots in all of Ponyville
>Judging by Harshwhinny's approving nod, she feels similarly
>"I like the look of this place. I'm glad you're not trying so hard to impress my anymore."
"Whoa, what now? Wasn't 'Ponyville's fanciest restaurant' a part of our deal?"
>"I was messing with you. I never thought you'd actually do it."
>She jabs you, jokingly, in the leg
"Maybe I just thought it suited you."
>"What? A place like that, for a mare like me? No, never..."
>She waves your comment away, but the bashful smile on her face tells you that she's pretty flattered
>You chuckle, and open the door to the café
>It smells great, and it's pretty crowded
>A hipster-looking pony with wiry glasses leads the two of you to a tiny booth in the corner
>You barely manage to cram yourself into the tiny, pony-sized seats
>Harshwhinny looks like she's trying really hard not to laugh
>"Having a little trouble?"
"Hey. I'm bigger than you guys."
>"You can say that again. I think you've been spending a bit too much time behind a desk."
>She pokes your bicep, and you're disheartened by the resulting amount of jiggle
"I'm just bulking..."
>You bury your face in the menu, cheeks a hot
>Harshwhinny's hoof briefly touches your hand
>"Hey, I'm just teasing. Besides, look at me. I'm not the mare to talk, am I?"
>She shrugs, smiling at her self-deprecation
>You lay your hand against her hoof
>She doesn't pull away
"Don't sell yourself short. You look better than pretty much any mare around here, at least."
>Harshwhinny blushes, waving her other hoof at you
>"Stop it, you. Flatterer..."
>She giggles a little, letting her hoof rest in your palm until the waiter shows up again
>"Good morning sir, ma'am. What can I get ya?"
>The cross-eyed gray server stands there expectantly, notepad in her mouth
>Harshwhinny glances down at the menu, eyes scanning it with impressive speed
>"I'll just take coffee. Black."
"You can get more than that."
>Harshwhinny glances up at you
>"Coffee's enough, really."
"I'll take coffee as well. And two chocolate-chip muffins."
>"Gotcha. I'll have that right out for ya."
>Cross-eye pony skips back into the kitchen
>Harshwhinny leaves her hoof in your hand, but you can tell something's bothering her
>She keeps her gaze focused out the window, and her mouth is drawn in a tight little line
"Hey, you alright?"
>"I'm fine."
>All the warmth from earlier is gone from her voice
>Internally, you sigh
>Romancing this mare is an uphill battle
"C'mon, what's up? Do you not like chocolate chip?"
>"No, it's not that. Listen, Anonymous... I really appreciate what you're trying to do for me. And I hope to Celestia I'm not coming off as ungrateful. But having you do all this stuff for me, it makes me feel... weak."
>She meets your eyes for a second, then looks away
>You give her hoof a reassuring squeeze
"You're not weak. In fact, to have traveled to a new city, and spent all this time surviving on your own, looking for work, I'd say you have to be one of the toughest ponies I know. But even tough ponies need a little help sometimes."
>"I guess..."
"Hey, if it makes you feel any better, you could always find a way to repay me."
>Harshwhinny chuckles
>"Oh, will I now? What are you expecting?"
"That's a good question. I'm sure you'd think of something."
>Harshwhinny play-slaps the back of your hand
>"Absolutely incorrigible..."
>Cross-eye pony returns, somehow balancing a tray of coffee and muffins on her head
>She sets it in front of you, before skipping off to another table
>Harhshwinny takes your coffee, and passes you yours
>You take a muffin, and hand her the other
>She glances at it, sighs, and takes a bite
>"Thanks, Anonymous..."
"No prob. How is it?"
>"Delicious. I can see why you like this place."
>You nod, taking a few moments to enjoy your own breakfast
"So, what're your plans for today?"
>Harshwhinny's face takes on that determined, focused expression you've come to expect from her
>"Every business in town, no matter the difficulty of the work, a resumé. At least one has to accept."
>You can tell Harshwhinny means it by the tone of her voice, and you can't help but be impressed
"Wow. This town is a bit bigger than it looks, do you think you can manage every business in one day?"
>"If I can't, I'll try again tomorrow. I won't be a freeloader for long, Anonymous, don't worry."
>You scoff
"C'mon, you know that's not why I'm asking."
>"I do. It's just an old habit. Selflessness is not something you come to expect in Canterlot."
"That surprises me, honestly. I'd think magical horsies would be a lot nicer to each other."
>Harshwhinny shrugs
>"Guess selfishness exists everywhere."
>She pauses for a moment, glancing back out the window
>"Where are you from, anyway? I've never seen anything like you in Equestria."
"Well, uh... that's kind'f a long story."
>"I've always had a love for long stories."
"Alright. But don't say I didn't warn ya."
>You give Harshwhinny a brief overview of life on earth, concluding with the story of your drive home from work on that fateful, stormy day
>By the end of it, the orange-ish mare is staring at you, eyebrow raised in skepticism
>"Anonymous, you should know I'm the last mare to be impressed by lies."
"Not even lying. And if I were trying to impress you, why would I let about getting myself smushed in a car wreck?"
>Harshwhinny shrugs
>"I honestly can't fathom why you do half the things you do. But you don't seriously expect me to believe you're some kind of alien, do you?"
"I kinda did, actually. I mean, with all the magic and other weird stuff in this world, I thought aliens would be pretty par for the course."
>"Magic? What's so weird about magic?"
"It doesn't exist where I'm from."
>Harshwhinny laughs
>"Ha. Now I know you're pulling my leg. You're a decent storyteller though, I'll give you that."
>You sigh, and sulk in your seat
>This mare has some underlying trust issues, that's for sure
>Harshwhinny goes back to eating her own muffin, and finishes off her coffee
>You enjoy your breakfast as well, still holding Harshwhinny's hoof in your left hand
>It's rougher than the hooves of most ponies
>Feeling a little devilish, you gently tickle the bottom with your thumb
>Harshwhinny yelps in surprise, jerking her hoof away
>"Ack!"
>You burst out laughing, almost knocking your coffee off the table
>"Hey! That's not funny!"
"It's pretty damn funny."
>Harshwhinny crosses her forelegs, nose scrunching up
>"I just have sensitive hooves..."

>Once your laughter finally subsides, you leave some bits on the table, and you and Harshwhinny leave
"So, I gotta head to work now. If you finish job-hunting early, just come by."
>Harshwhinny nods, a determined expression on her face
>"I might be out a long time. I intend to visit every single business I can."
"Well, in that case, good luck."
>You bend down, and kiss her on the forehead
>Harshwhinny blushes, and wraps her forelegs around your neck in a warm, professional hug
>"Thank you, Anonymous. I promise, I won't let you down."
"You don't gotta worry about letting me down. Just go out there, and show them what a great, industrious mare you can be."
>"Industrious? Anonymous, I never knew you felt this way about me."
"Hey, I'm a pretty romantic guy. But seriously, I'm sure the businesses in this town will be dying to nab a worker like you."
>Harshwhinny tightens her hug, then lets go
>"Thank you. I think... I have a good feeling about today."
>You pat her on the back
"That's the spirit."
>The two of you part ways, and you watch Harshwhinny until she disappears from sight
>Something about that mare...
>She does things to you, man

>Work is the usual drab affair
>But even the parade of depressed, downtrodden horsies can't damped your spirits today
>Things with Harshwhinny are going pretty damn well, surprisingly
>For a pony you asked out randomly, the two of you have gotten along surprisingly well
"Next!"
>A scraggly pony with dreadlocks and suspiciously-scented breath steps up
>"Yeah, man, I uh... lost my job... and uh... I need some stuff, or whatever..."
>Nope, still can't bring you down

>Harshwhinny doesn't show up, and your workday ends without any sign of the mare
>You hope that means she got an interview, or something
>Or maybe she's already started!
>That would be great, to see her all happy and excited, just having been hired
>You wait around for an hour after work, but there's still no sign of your new houseguest
>Well, she knows where your house is
>Maybe she just went directly there instead
>That thought in mind, you leave Town Hall and head home

>However, Harshwhinny's not at your house either
>You're starting to get a little worried
>Sure, she can take care of herself, but that doesn't mean something bad couldn't have happened to her
>Ponyville's a big place, and your line of work has put you in contact with some pretty suspicious folk
>Should you go out after her?
>She could be hurt, or lost
>Even though you've only known her for three days, the thought of anything bad happening to Harshwhinny is unbearable
>Inside your home, you glance at your clock
>It's currently almost eight
>At nine, if she still isn't back, you'll go out looking for Harshwhinny
>Resigned to your plan, you sit on your couch, trying to focus on something else for an hour

>It doesn't work; all you can think about is what awful situation might have befallen the mare
>Just as you're about to give up on waiting and go look for her, a knock sounds on the door
>You rush to the front of your house, pulling the door open
>Your heart almost bursts with relief when you see Harshwhinny there
>"Good evening, Anonym--"
>You cut her off by kneeling down and wrapping her in a tight, relieved hug
>"It's good to see you too, Anonymous. Can I come in?"
"Of course, of course."
>You usher her in, trying to resist the temptation to hug her again
>Harshwhinny, however, does not look like she's in a huggy mood
>In fact, she looks pretty upset
>She drags herself slowly over to the couch, and plops herself down, staring at the well
"Uh... you okay?"
>"I'm fine."
>Harshwhinny's voice is even stiffer than usual
>You gingerly sit next to her on the couch, laying a hand on her withers
"How was the job hunt?"
>"I don't want to talk about it."
>Oh
>You gently massage the spot between her withers, kneading your knuckles against the tense, knotted muscle of Harshwhinny's back
>Her eyes close, and the expression on her face begins to soften
>Your hand gradually moves lower along her back, alternating between scratching at her soft fur and massaging her
>Harshwhinny bites her lip, and you notice one of her hind legs twiching
>Chuckling internally, you twist your body so that your second hand can reach her, using all ten fingers for maximum back-rub efficiency
>Harshwhinny sighs, and lets her head fall onto the couch
>"I let you down, Anonymous."
>Harshwhinny opens her eyes to stare at the wall, looking absolutely miserable
>You move a hand up to scratch at her neck
"No you didn't. You just got a little unlucky, that's all."
>"I was not 'a little unlucky.' I visited every single business I could find in this town. Every single one. Not one of them wants a washed-up, cranky mare like me."
>She closes her eyes and sighs again
>"I never thought it would be this hard. Nopony even gave me an interview."
"Ouch..."
>"My thoughts exactly. I don't know what I'm going to do now, Anonymous. I might have to move back to Canterlot."
"No!"
>The urgency in your voice surprises both of you
"I mean, uh... c'mon, there has to be something else here you haven't tried."
>"Not that I know of. Listen..."
>Harshwhinny sits up, placing a hoof over your hand
>"I've really enjoyed our time together, Anonymous. But, if I can't find work... I'm not going to be able to stay here. I won't let myself be a freeloader."
"Whoa, whoa, what? You're gonna find work. With the kinda loser hicks that live around here, ponies'll be dying to hire you before too long. And besides, you've still got your unemployment application. Town Hall almost always finds jobs for ponies searching for them. You just gotta be a little patient."
>"I guess. But it's hard for me, Anonymous. Living here, being taken care of... this isn't the life I'm used to. I don't like feeling dependent on anyone."
"I understand. Really, I do. But you've gotten really screwed over by life. It's okay to swallow your pride for a bit."
>Harshwhinny grumbles
>"You're right. But I can only swallow my pride for so long. I hesitate to leave you behind, Anonymous, but my professional life comes first."
>You lean back on the couch, still keeping a hand in position to scratch the back of Harshwhinny's head
"I understand."
>You want to say more, but the words hesitate on your tongue
>It wouldn't really make sense to try to advance yours and Harshwhinny's relationship until you know she's going to stick around
>If the two of you start getting more attached, it's just gonna be harder if she eventually leaves
>So, you keep silent, instead focusing on the rhythmic motion of your hand as it moves to scratch behind Harshwhinny's ear
>Your interrupted by the sound of her stomach giving a particularly loud growl
>Harshwhinny's face reddens
"Oh, jeez. Have you eaten at all since breakfast?"
>"I... well, I tried to find time, but..."
>You click your tongue at her
"Harsh... I swear. Well, whaddaya want for dinner?"
>"It's fine, really. You've given me enough food already."
"Oh, stop. When has that ever worked before? Let's see what we have in the fridge..."
>Just a bottle of ketchup
>Your level of bachelorhood has ascended to dangerous levels
"Well, don't get too comfy. 'Cause it looks like we're going grocery shopping."

>And go grocery shopping you do
>Harshwhinny ceases protesting, though you can tell she still has issues with you feeding her
>As frustrating as her pride can be, however, you have to admit it's pretty damn attractive
>In a world of goofy cartoons, such a serious, determined individual becomes that much more desirable
>You do notice Harshwhinny's having a little difficulty walking
>Not so much from injury, but she has a loping, exhausted gait
>Which isn't terribly surprising; she's probably walked the entirety of Ponyville several times over today
>By the time the two of you reach Ponyville's market, she's visibly sweating
"Hey, you alright?"
>"I'm fine. Just a.... just a little tired. I'll live."
"Alright. But don't be afraid to ask for help, okay?"
>She stays silent, staring straight ahead as the two of you enter the store
>The place has mostly been picked clean for today, but a few of the aisles still have some food left
>You grab more apples, some bread and various sandwich fixings, pasta, and various other sundry ingredients before asking Harshwhinny what she'd like
>"What you've got is fine. I have no right to be picky in this situation."
"It's not being picky, it's just preferences. C'mon, what would ya like?"
>Harshwhinny's ears flatten, and she glances over at the dessert aisle
>"I... well, I'd like it if... since you asked, I mean..."
"Spit it out, girl."
>Harshwhinny stands straight up, her voice suddenly stiff and formal
>"Those cakes over there look delicious. Since you offered, I'd appreciate it if you got one for me."
"Of course."
>You walk over to the dessert aisle, with Harshwhinny walking stiffly beside you
"Which one do you want?"
>"No preference."
>God, it's like pulling teeth
"C'mon. You have to have a favorite."
>"Well, I'd prefer chocolate. But, again, I have no right to--"
"Chocolate it is."
>You grab the boxed cake from the shelf, plopping it into your basket
>Harshwhinny glances longingly at it, swallowing hard, before following you to the checkout-counters

>On the way home, you notice that she's staggering pretty badly
>Every step she takes causes her to wince in pain, and a sheen of sweat shines across the fur of her forehead
"You're really not alright, are you?"
>"I'm... fine... let's just... get back..."
>Even though you've stopped, Harshwhinny continues to struggle ahead, her breath coming in long, ragged gasps
"Yeah, no."
>As she passes you, you stoop down, wrapping your free arm around her midsection
>"Hey! Put... me... down!"
>Harshwhinny pauses to catch her breath, struggling weakly as you lift her up
"Relax. No one's going to see."
>It's true, Ponyville becomes almost completely deserted as soon as the sun sets
>"I... don't... care. I can... walk... just let me... walk."
>She tries to wriggle out of your grasp again, but to no avail

>She's still struggling the time you reach your house, exhausted forelegs weakly attempting to pry your arm off her
>You set the groceries down, and unlock your door, carrying your new housemate with you
>"Anon... I'm serious... put... me down..."
>Her words are interrupted by her own exhausted panting
>You oblige, setting Harshwhinny down on the couch
>She rolls onto her stomach, scowling at you with such intensity you'd think you dropkicked her onto that couch
>You retreat into the kitchen, and begin preparing dinner
>You're not going for anything terribly impressive, just some vegetable stir-fry
>The smell is pretty damn enticing though, and you notice that Harshwhinny keeps glancing over at you, her nose twitching
>When the stir-fry finishes cooking, you dole it out onto two plates, and carry them into the living room
>One goes on the coffee table in front of Harshwhinny, and one in front of you
>She glances over at it, eyes widening in hunger... then looks away
"Hey, what's the matter? You don't like stir-fry?"
>"That's not the problem."
"Then what is?"
>"You already know."
"I really don't, honestly."
>That's a lie, you have a pretty good idea as to what's bothering Harshwhinny
>But you'd rather hear her say it
>"I don't need your help, Anonymous."
>Harshwhinny's voice is weak and strained, but she still maintains that stiff, chilly feeling she's so good at
"This again? Look, Harsh, it's okay to get help once in a while. It doesn't mean you're weak."
>"Maybe not for other ponies. But it does for me."
"What? What does that even mean?"
>Harshwhinny doesn't answer, she just stares coldly at the wall
>You sigh, taking a few bites of your dinner
>It's pretty good, but you're not focused on food right now
>You reach over and nudge Harshwhinny's plate closer to her
"C'mon. Just because you don't need my help doesn't mean you can't take it, right?"
>Harshwhinny ignores the food
"Honestly, I'm not even that focused on helping you. Really I just want to share dinner with a classy, professional mare."
>Harshwhinny remains still
>You eat slowly, hoping she'll snap out of it, but she's still sitting there like an orange-ish statue by the time you finish
>Admitting defeat, you tap her plate
"I'll just leave this here, if you want it."
>You're still met with silence
>Sighing, you move from the couch to sit on the floor, head level with Harshwhinny's withers
>You reach up, and place a hand midway down her back, feeling the smooth fabric of her purple suit
"Hey. I understand that you don't want, or need my help. But I want you to understand that I don't help you because I think you're weak, okay? It's because I like you, Harsh. I don't want to see your hurt, or hungry. So... I dunno, can you keep that in mind? I'm not trying to make you feel weak, I just want to see you happy."
>You kiss the tip of her ear, and stand up
"I'm gonna head to bed. Help yourself to anything you need."
>With one last glance at Harshwhinny, you head back to your room, shutting the door behind you
>Things have gotten complicated pretty fast
>The more time you spend with this mare, the more you like her
>But she doesn't seem to return the feelings
>One thing's for sure, though
>You really don't want her leaving town
>If she does, you'll be back to having pretty much no one for company
>Sure, the Elements of Harmony have been friendly to you, but... it always feels more like courtesy than actual companionship
>If Harshwhinny leaves... your life's about to go back to being pretty damn boring
>You could tell her this, you figure
>But you get the feeling that a clingy, emotional attitude wouldn't appeal to her too much
>So... you guess you have to take matters into your own hands
>As you lie there in the dark, a plan begins to take shape in your head

>The next morning, Harshwhinny's plate of food is still untouched, and your new housemate is missing from the couch
>Fearing the worst, you creep to her bedroom door, opening it ever so slightly to peer inside
>Your heart swells in relief when you see her lying in the bed, nestled amongst the woolen blankets and fast asleep
>She looks so peaceful lying there, motionless except for the steady rise and fall of her chest
>You let her sleep, closing the door as softly as you can before heading to work

>Work is... well, it's the same as ever
>There's a fresh line of downtrodden, miserable ponies hoping for help that you can't really give them
>Once you're finally finished with them, Mayor Mare stops by your office with a fresh stack of paperwork for you
>"Morning, Anonymous."
"Good morning, mayor."
>As much as you hate your job, you and the mayor have always gotten along fairly well
>In fact...
>The beginnings of your plan from last night continue to shape in your mind as you browse your stack of paperwork
>Each one of them has been returned to you with a list of potential job offerings for each pony
>Harshwhinny has zero
>You expected as much from her experience yesterday, but it still hurts to see
>However, as the head (and only member) of the Ponyville Department of Unemployment, you are allowed to finalize the job given to each pony
>It's kinda socialist, but who cares, this is cartoon pony land
>You set Harshwhinny's form aside, taking care of the others first
>Once your workload is mostly complete, you grab the form and head up to the mayor's office, rapping on her door
>"Anonymous? Come in, come in. What is it?"
"Well, uh, I finished my work for the afternoon, and I was thinking."
>"Oh? What about?"
"You know how much work the two of us always have? You can barely find time to meet with all the ponies you need to because of paperwork, I can barely find time to help you out with work... what if we hired another pony to take a share of it?"
>"Hire another pony? Anonymous, you must be joking. You've seen the kind of ponies that live around here. Aside from maybe Twilight Sparkle, none of them are cut out for government duty. Before you showed up, I ran this whole town myself."
"Ordinarily, I'd agree with you one hundred percent. But, it just so happens I found the perfect pony for us."
>Mayor Mare raises a graying eyebrow
>"Oh? Do go on..."
>You describe Harshwhinny: her qualifications, previous experience, and professional attitude
>Maybe you embellished them a little too...
>"So... this pony, as good as you said... is unemployed? Is there a reason for this?"
"I'm... not entirely sure why. But she's a shoe-in, I promise. Bring her in, things'll run three times as quickly."
>"Three times, eh? I find that a little hard to believe. But I'm willing to trust you, Anonymous. You've been quite the help since you arrived. I'll give this 'Harshwhinny' a chance. But if, Celestia forbid, she doesn't live up to your promises..."
"Then I'll pick up the slack myself. Hell, I'll work for free for a week, I don't care. This pony is going to blow you away."
>"I would definitely hope so, hearing you talk about her. There isn't some... ulterior motive behind this, is there?"
"What, ulterior? No, of course not. I mean, yes, she's a friend. But that's not the only reason I'm asking, I just... I'm gonna stop talking now. She'll be here tomorrow."
>Mayor Mare gives you a wry smile as you shut the door
>Well... that happened
>You scribble 'assistant to the mayor' under Harshwhinny's job assignment
>The stakes are pretty high; favor with the mayor isn't something you want to throw away, after all
>But Harshwhinny won't disappoint her, you're sure of it
>You just can't wait to see her face when you show her

>The rest of the day passes brutally slowly, as any day at work does when you've got something exciting waiting afterward
>Each pony's complaints seem stupider than the last, until you're about ready to rip your hair out by the end
>When the clock finally hits six, you practically jump out of your chair, throwing papers back into their proper cabinets in your hurry to tidy up
>You keep Harshwhinny's work request form though, of course
>However, you notice something not quite right as you round the bend towards your home
>Namely the two suitcases out front, and the orange-ish mare pulling them along
"Hey! Harsh! What are you doing?"
>You sprint toward her, clasping the paper at your side
>"A-Anonymous?"
>Harshwhinny looks surprised, and somewhat embarrassed, to see you
>She steps in front of her suitcases, glancing sheepishly at the ground
"Were you just... just gonna leave?"
>"I waited to say goodbye to you, but I though... I thought you might've had something better to do."
"Better to do? What do you mean?"
>"I just thought... you know, young hotshot like you... wouldn't wanna spend the night with grumpy old me... especially after how I acted last night... there's other mares, too..."
>She kicks awkwardly at the ground, having trouble meeting your eye
>"Anyway, I think it's time I moved out. It's become pretty obvious I'm not welcome here. I guess this was a mistake after all."
"I'd reconsider that if I were you. Guess who's got a snazzy new position at Town Hall?"
>You pass Harshwhinny the form
>Her eyes scan across it
>Then across it again
>And then again, her disbelief growing with each read-through
>"Assistant to the... but I... how? Is this a mistake?"
"Nope! Mayor Mare's been looking for more employees for years, but hasn't been able to find anyone worthwhile. I dropped her your name, told her about your involvement in the Equestria Games, and, well, there ya go."
>"You did this... for me?"
"Of course. I said I was gonna help ya, and I meant it."
>Harshwhinny gulps, biting her lower lip
>You think you see tears welling in her eyes, but it could just be a trick of the light
>"I am... deeply honored."
>She bows her head stiffly
>You kneel down to pat her on the wither
"See? I told ya, sometimes all you need is a little help, and--"
>Harshwhinny throws herself onto you, wrapping her forelegs around your neck
>You return her hug, one hand stroking the poofy back of her mane
>Harshwhinny pulls away
>"Anonymous... I have no words. All you've done for me, how rude I've been, I--"
>You put a finger to her lips
"You don't have to thank me, Harsh. Seeing you happy is thank enough."
>Harshwhinny smiles, closing her eyes
>"Absolutely incorrigible..."

>Harshwhinny drags her things back inside, and you set about making some dinner for the two of you
>You've just got the ingredients for spaghetti out when Harshwhinny steps up beside you
>"Anonymous, you've done for than enough for me. The least I can do is make tonight's dinner."
"Well, I can't say no to that. Go ahead."
>You step out of her way, sitting at your tiny kitchen table to watch
>Harshwhinny grabs the spaghetti, snapping the dried strands viciously in half before tossing the broken pieces into a pot
>She cooks with an almost industrial efficiency, bringing your gas stove to a roaring blaze, the water quickly boiling
> You're entranced by how quickly she can move
>Within minutes, a zuchini and two carrots are diced, and thrown into a bowl along with the now-cooked spaghetti
>Salt, pepper, and other spices you forgot you even owned follow them, and Harshwhinny stirs the whole concoction into a delicious-smelling, steaming concoction
>She doles the mixture out onto two separate plates, setting one in front of you, and one in front of her
>The whole process lasted about five minutes
"Dayum. You know, for a career mare, you'd make a pretty good housewife."
>Harshwhinny blushes
>"Sh-shut up. You learn not to waste time on food, when you live and work alone."
"I guess..."
>You take a test bite of the pasta
>It's no delicacy, but it's still pretty delicious
"This is actually really good. You sure you weren't trying at least a little bit?"
>Harshwhinny scoffs
>"I can guarantee you I have no interest in cooking, Anonymous. This was simple fare."
>You shrug
"Still better than I can do. The best I can make is that vegetable stir-fry, and... well, yeah."
>Harshwhinny pauses mid-bite, letting her fork drop to her plate
>She glances down at the ground, ears flattening along her head
>"About that... I wanted to apologize for the way I treated you last night."
>You raise an eyebrow, but say nothing
>"I was... frustrated, as I'm sure you can imagine. And, well, I'm sure you've realized by now that I have a somewhat adverse reaction to ponies helping me."
"I could tell."
>"Anyway... what you've done for me really has meant a lot. I had no right to act so ungrateful toward you, refusing the nice dinner you made me and rejecting your company. It was more than unprofessional, it was downright rude. I hope you can forgive me."
"Already have."
>Harshwhinny gives you a small, somewhat bashful smile
>"Then, um... about that cake you bought yesterday..."

>You and Harshwhinny carry your dessert into the living room, sitting together on your couch
>And you can't help but notice that she sits a lot closer than your three-person couch really requires
>The cake is beyond delicious; rich and moist and far better than any store-bought cake should be
>Harshwhinny shivers in pleasure at the first bite
>"Anonymous, this might be the best day I've had in the last ten years."
"Amen to that."
>You take another huge bite of cake
>"No, really."
>Harshwhinny sets her cake down, laying her hoof on top of your hand
>"Listen, Anonymous, I... I don't really have a lot of experience with things like this, but... Well, listen, what I'm trying to say is..."
>Harshwhinny leans in, giving you a quick, stiff peck on the lips
>You stare back at her in surprise, watching as her face turns a bright red
>"Well, anyway, um, this cake is absolutely delicious!"
>She grabs the plate, and devours the rest of her cake in four bites
>"Heheh... heh... what..."
>You're still staring at Harshwhinny
>"Okay, maybe that was the wrong thing to do. I'm sorry, I just thought--"
>You lean in and kiss Harshwhinny back, hand grasping her hoof
>Harshwhinny inhales sharply through her nose, but she doesn't pull away
>Her lips are stiff under yours, and she holds her head at an angle where her snout gets in your way
>As gently as you can, you reach up and tilt her head so the two of you can kiss better
>Your other hand finds its way from her hoof to the small of her back, pulling her body closer against yours
>Harshwhinny is warm and soft as your side, and you can still taste the cake on her lips
>She reaches up and wraps her forelegs around your neck, pulling her face against yours to deepen her kiss
>Your lips interlock, and become incredibly aware of where Harshwhinny's tongue sits in her mouth
>Gingerly, you slip your own tongue into her mouth, and she jolts in surprise when it touches hers
>Harshwhinny recovers quickly though, her tongue reaching up to lap at and wrestle with yours
>You lean back on the couch, pulling her body on top of yours
>Harshwhinny's breath is hot and muggy on your face, and she begins running one of her hooves through your hair as she kisses you
>You're not sure how long the two of you have been making out on your couch, you kinda got lost in the moment
>Harshwhinny pulls away, licking her lips, and lays her head on your chest
>You'd be lying if you said you didn't want to take things further, but this... this is okay too
>"Anonymous... what just happened between us?"
>Harshwhinny's hoof continues to toy with your hair, but it's slowed down now
"I'm not really sure, to be honest."
>"Hmmm."
"I mean, I like you Harsh. I'm sure you've realized that by now."
>"I had my suspicions. But I... I found it a little hard to believe. Hotshots like you don't fall for old mares like me. But..."
"But I think I might have."
>Harshwhinny sighs, her hoof moving to trace little circles on your right shoulder
>"We're going to be coworkers tomorrow, aren't we?"
"Yeah... I guess we are."
>Earlier, that idea seemed like the best one you'd had in months
>But now that you see where Harshwhinny's going, you're starting to reconsider
>"Dating a coworker is almost as unprofessional as you can get..."
>Your heart seems to drop through your chest, and fall somewhere into the couch cushions
>"That being said, look at me. I'm almost forty-seven. I'm not gonna many more chances like this, am I? Especially not with upbeat, handsome hotshots like you."
"Handsome?"
>"Anonymous, I'm willing to go against by better judgement, and give this a try. But, I need you to promise me we'll keep things slow. And professional."
>You nod
"I can do professional."
>Harshwhinny nuzzles you under the chin
>"That's what I like to hear."

>The two of you bid each other goodnight not long after, carrying dishes to the sink and retiring to your separate rooms
>You suppose Harshwhinny's going to want to get her own place, now that she has a job
>Honestly, you don't have a problem with that
>The two of you haven't known each other nearly long enough to be living together romantically
>And besides, Harshwhinny would probably deem that unprofessional
>Still, the idea of being able to date this mare has you so giddy with excitement that it's hard to sleep

>You awaken the next day to find that Harshwhinny's already out of bed, and preparing breakfast for the two of you
>She's even brewed a pot of tea, though you're pretty sure you don't own tea leaves
>Harshwhinny notices you staring at the kettle
>"Relax. I always keep a spare supply of tea leaves with me. Now hurry up and eat, you don't want to be late."
"Work doesn't start for another hour..."
>"Well, I'm not taking any chances."
>Harshwhinny begins to wolf down her own breakfast, consisting of fried eggs and peppers
>You look down at the plate she's prepared for you, noticing that the two eggs and the pepper slices are arranged to form a smiley face
>You look up to thank Harshwhinny, only to find her with her face buried in a large, worn-down book
"Whatcha readin'?"
>"Filthy Rich's 'Guide to Office Protocol and Etiquette.' I need to make sure today goes absolutely perfectly."
>She flips about three pages in the time it takes her to say that sentence, reading with an almost Twilight-level speed
>You notice an unusual stiffness in her voice, and her left hoof keeps erratically tapping on the table
>You take your time on your own breakfast, even though Harshwhinny keeps giving you impatient glances
>"Anonymous."
>You continue eating; Harshwhinny really is a surprisingly good cook
>"Anonymous."
>And this tea isn't bad either, even though you're not usually a fan of tea
>"Anonymous!"
"What?"
>"Why aren't you ready to go yet? What if the mayor has something important for us to do? I cannot risk being late on my first day!"
"Who cares? The mayor's usually an hour late anyway. It's not like anyone's gonna fire her."
>"I care! This job is an incredibly lucky break for me, and I intend to do it to the utmost of my abilities!"
"Well I'm not stopping you! Go ahead, I'll catch up!"
>"I... I sort of assumed you would want to accompany me, is all. But if that's not the case, I'll go by myself..."
>She begins to stand up from her chair
"Wait, wait... I would like to go with you. Just slow down a little, okay? The mayor's really a pretty relaxed mare, most of the time. You don't need to worry so much."
>Harshwhinny grumbles
>"I'm not worried, Anonymous. I'm simply being a diligent employee."
"Well, you can turn down the diligence a little. Trust me, just do what I know you're good at, and the mayor will love you."
>Harshwhinny nods stiffly
>"Alright... but if you makes us late, so help me, Anonymous..."
"I'm not gonna make us late!"

>As if to prove your point, you're showered and dressed in record time, and Harshwhinny accompanies you to work
>Despite what you told her earlier, she doesn't look any more relaxed
>She has her suitcase clenched tightly in her mouth, and her ears flick at every little sound
"Hey, easy. You're gonna do fine today."
>"I don't need to do fine. I need to do better than fine. I need to excel."
"Excel? Harsh, I don't think you understand how Ponyville government works. We barely get done what needs to get done as it is. It's not a big deal."
>"Disgraceful. Looks like it'll be up to me to fix things around here, then."
>You're a little uncomfortable with the look she's getting in her eye
"Umm... look, the mayor will be impressed if you can just handle some paperwork for her, it's not like you have to--"
>"Impressing the mayor? Anonymous, I'm going beyond impressing the mayor. I'm going to do my best to fix up this town. Ponies without jobs, a lack of shelter for the homeless... it won't do."
"Oookay. But how about we just focus on making friends today, okay? I'll introduce you to the mayor as soon as she shows up."

>You let you and Harshwhinny into Town Hall, and give her a tour of the place
>There's honestly not that much to it: a reception hall, where you usually work, two smaller, unused offices, and a larger office for the mayor
>Harshwhinny doesn't seem terribly impressed, but her face lights up when you show her to one of the unused offices
"This'll be yours, I guess. Just be careful, there's probably a leak somewhere over--YAH!"
>Harshwhinny barges past you into the room, hooves flying as she begins to straighten out the fairly-mess, unused space
>You leave her to it, going to get your own space ready, pulling out fresh forms and other boring bureaucracy materials
>Looks like today's gonna be more of the same...
>Except you have Harshwhinny to keep you company now!
>You're not immature enough to think the two of you will be spending whole days together, but getting to see her once in a while throughout the day will be wonderfully refreshing
>A clanging sound echoes as the front door opens and Mayor Mare steps in, looking as tired as ever
>"Good morning, Anonymous. Has our new hire showed up yet?"
"Yeah, she's in the back. I'll go get her."
>You stand from your desk, hurrying to the office where you left Harshwhinny

>In the brief time she's been there, Harshwhinny has transformed the dingy, messy office into a comfortable, cozy workspace
>The desk is cleared, and replaced several neat stacks of paper, quills, and one of those drinking birds
>The walls are cleared of cobwebs, and are lined with framed photos of Harshwhinny in what you assume are Equestria's famous locations
>The mare herself sits behind her new desk, nose still stuck in that 'Office Etiquette' book
>She looks up as you soon as you step inside
>"Anonymous? What is it? Is the mayor here?"
"Yep. She'd like to see you."
>"Oh, right, of course. How do I look? Is my suit dirty? Is my mane neat enough? I don't have anything on my face, do I?"
>She hops up from the table, hooves fidgeting to micromanage every detail of her appearance
>You kneel down, and pat Harshwhinny between the withers
"You look great. Now c'mon. We've got a busy day ahead of us."
>"Busy. Right, yes. Busy is what I do best."
>You lead the jittery mare out to the front lobby, where the mayor waits for her

>Harshwhinny moves like a robot next to you, no matter how much you try to convince her to loosen up
>"I can't. I have to make a good impression. I have. To be. Professional."
>She scrunches her face up into this weird half-grimace, and steps into the main lobby
>Mayor Mare waves as soon as she sees the two of you
>"Ah, hello! You must be the pony Anonymous told me about. Harshwhinny, am I correct."
>"That is correct, mayor. I look forward to working with you."
>Harshwhinny sticks out her hoof
>The mayor looks a little taken-aback by Harshwhinny's stiffness, but shakes her hoof nonetheless
>"Well, it's good to have someone else on the team. Anonymous tells me you're quite the worker also."
>Harshwhinny just nods, still with that bizarre grimace on her face
>"Uh... I hear you also worked as a coordinator for the Equestria Games?"
>"I did."
>"Well, that's... very impressive."
>Mayor Mare forces a smile, glancing over at you
>Well, this is going great
>"Thank you, ma'am. Is there anything you will need me to do today?"
>"Well, um... I have some tax forms I could use help filling out..."
>"I would be glad to assist."
>Mayor Mare glances up to you as if to say 'help'
"Um... Ms. Harshwhinny, could I speak to you?"
>Hopefully that was professional enough
>"Of course, Mr. Anonymous."
>Without even looking up at you, Harshwhinny follows you to the corner of the room
>"I'll be in my office when you're ready to start!"
>Mayor Mare trots quickly out of the room, leaving you and Harshwhinny alone
"What was that back there? You looked like a constipated robot?"
>"I was being professional!"
"That's not how ponies act around here! You saw the mayor, everyone's relaxed around here. Just act like your normal self."
>"That IS my normal self! My normal self is a very professional mare. Are you saying you don't want me to be professional?"
"No, no, I'm saying I don't want you to try so hard. Just... just relax. You don't have to impress anyone here. Just do what you're good at, okay."
>"I intend to!"
>For a second, Harshwhinny looks genuinely mad at you
>Then her face falls, and she glances at the floor
>"Oh, Celestia... I messed that up, didn't I?"
"I woldn't say you messed it up. But you definitely came across a little strong. Harsh, you don't have to force yourself to be anything while you're here. The mayor will be a lot more impressed if you can get some work done than by how 'professional' you are."
>Harshwhinny nods
>"Thanks, Anonymous. I'm... sorry if I embarrassed you back there."
"Never. Now go show the mayor what you can do."

>That was either the stupidest thing you've ever said, or the smartest
>By the time lunch hour rolls around, the mayor has run out of things for Harshwhinny to do
>Every single tax form is filled out and filed, all the archives are properly cleaned out and ordered, and the entire Town Hall has been tidied to the point of almost mathematical precision
>Harshwhinny strolls into your office, looking upset
>"The mayor says she doesn't have anything else for me to do! You don't think I might have done something wrong, do you?"
"Something wrong? Harsh, you completed our entire day's work in three hours. That's why the mayor doesn't have anything else for you to do."
>"I... what? But that was barely anything!"
>You shrug
"That's what we had to do. I guess you can take the rest of the day off, if you want to."
>"Rest of the day off? On my first day? Never! That's terribly unprofessional!"
"Alright then. I guess you're welcome to stay with me until we close. Though I can't promise there'll be much to do. Nobody's even showed up yet."
>"Stay with you? I... I suppose. All my things are in your house anyway. Might as well."
>Harshwhinny squeezes in behind your desk with you, sitting against the wall
>She pulls out a stack of files from below your desk, reading through them in her boredom
"You know, you don't have to sit over there."
>"I don't see another seat."
"You could sit in my lap."
>You pat your thigh for emphasis
>Harshwhinny glances up at you
>"C-certainly not. That'd be terribly unprofessional."
"Nobody's watching. Besides, huddling there in the corner isn't very professional either."
>"Yes, but..."
>Harshwhinny looks toward the door, then to you
>"Ugh, fine. But this is purely a professional desire for comfort. Nothing more."
"Uh huh. Is that what last night was too?"
>"Shut up..."
>Harhshwinny hops into your lap, adjusting herself into a comfortable position
>You reach up, and lazily scratch at the base of her neck with one hand
>Harshwhinny shivers a little, but otherwise pretends not to notice
>She sits with you for a solid ten minutes
>Just as you're starting to get comfortable, she hops back down
>"This is no good! I have to find something to do!"
"Whoa, whoa, chill. Everything's already finished for today."
>"Then I'll start tomorrow's work!"
"Tomorrow's-- wait, what?"
>Harshwhinny disappears into the basement without answering you
"Harsh! You really don't have to do this!"
>You call out after her, but you really don't feel like chasing her down
>If she's really this dedicated to getting work done, well... you'll let her get work done

>A whopping total of two ponies come to visit you
>One of them is looking for a pony driver's license, and the other's bitching about tax returns
>The thrilling adventures of government drone Anonymous continue!
>By the time Harshwhinny reemerges, it's practically time to close
>She looks completely exhausted, and you notice that her little pink scarf is askew
"Hey there, you. Where've you been?"
>"I went through Ponyville's tax returns."
>Your eyebrows raise in surprise
"How many? Those things are a mess."
>"All of them. The revenue system here is a mess. Why is Ponyville still paying such high dues to Canterlot? This isn't the fiefdom anymore, we're civilized now..."
>Harshwhinny continues grumbling about taxes, but most of it goes over your head
>"I swear, I'll have to fix half this system myself, won't I!"
"Fix it yourself? I dunno, Harsh, that seems a little... extreme for your first day of work..."
>"Extreme? There's nothing extreme about it! It's simply the most professional thing to do in this scenario."
"Ooookay. Well, it's just about closing time. What say we get out of here?"
>"Closing? Already? But where's the mayor?"
"She left already."
>"Left already? How... juvenile..."
>Harshwhinny looks visibly upset by that
"Listen, uh... how about we just forget work stuff for a day, and go do something fun?"
>"Fun? But this tax system needs reorganizing!"
"You can reorganize it tomorrow. Right now, there's this cozy little movie theater in town showing the new 'Changelings' movie. You interested?"
>"Just you and me at a movie? Is this supposed to be another date?"
"Umm... yeah?"
>"Hmph. Asking a coworker out on the first day, how unprofessional..."
"We've gone out twice already!"
>"That was before we were coworkers! However, out of my own duty to the workplace... I accept."
"'Your own duty to the workplace...' what? Harsh, you're crazy."
>"No, I'm a good worker. Now, are we going or not?"
>Harshwhinny trots out ahead of you, poking you impatiently in the thigh
>This pony...

>You end up overtaking Harshwhinny, and the two of you walk to the theater
>For whatever reason, maybe because tomorrow's a workday, the place is mostly empty
>Inside the theater itself, there's maybe two pony couples, and one poor guy sitting by himself
>You and Harshwhinny go all the way into the back, and sit together in the middle of the aisle
>The projector's already running, playing some ad for couches, or something
>You feel Harshwhinny's hoof slip between your fingers, though she doesn't look over at you
>You give her a little squeeze in return, eyes glued to the screen as the movie starts
>After a few minutes, you realize it's basically a pony version of 'Aliens'
>And it's pretty damn awesome
>Instead of guns and marines, it's a group of royal guards armed with swords and spears as they try to hold a ruined castle against a horde of black, chittery changelings
>And, whatever pony special effects are made out of, they looks great
>"Ugh, this is so unrealistic. Why would he ever go off on his own like that? Now we know the changelings are going to get him."
>Right on cue, a pair of changelings jump the marine, dragging him into the floor
>"How predictable."
"Would you stop? This is great."
>"It's childish. And it's not scary at all."
"It doesn't have to be scary. Just enjoy it."
>"Hmph."
>Harshwhinny leans back in her seat, crossing her legs
>After several awesome changeling/pony fights, the movie gets to a scene where the remaining guard are holed up in the final room of the castle
>They're all drawing maps and making plans to fight back, when suddenly the room's torches flicker and die
>The entire scene is lit by a creepy green glow from the floor tiles
>Harshwhinny tenses up a little next to you
>Suddenly, the leader of the ponies undergoes a Cronenberg-esque transformation into a towering changeling monster, and attacks his fellow guards
>It's startling enough to make you jolt a little in your seat
>But Harshwhinny yelps, and jumps into your lap, clinging tightly to your chest
"Not scary at all, huh?"
>"Sh-shut up. It just startled me a little."
"Just a little?"
>You can feel Harshwhinny shaking
>"Barely anything."
"Well, you can get off me, then."
>"No, I'm fine right here. It's... kinda cold in here."
>You chuckle, wrapping an arm around Harshwhinny
>She slowly leans more of her weight against you, probably hoping you won't notice
>Up on screen, the changeling monster continues his rampage
>The action scene is pretty well-choreographed; who'd have thought cartoon ponies could be so hardcore
>At one point, the monster even picks up a guard and bites him in half
>The resulting spurt of gore is realistic, Harshwhinny buries her head into your neck
>"Absolutely barbaric..."
>You wrap your other arm around her as well, squeezing her a little tighter
>The scene continues, with the changelings doing increasingly horrifying things to the ponies
>Harshwhinny shivers in your grasp, refusing to look at the screen
>When the credits roll, she still has her face pressed against your neck
>You jostle her a little
"Hey. It's okay. You can look now."
>Harshwhinny gives a fake yawn
>"What do you mean? I wasn't scared. Just asleep."
"Oh, right. Of course."
>You bite your tongue to keep from laughing
"Anyway, you wanna get out of here? Maybe get something to eat?"
>"I... sure, yes. Let's go."
>Harshwhinny's still shaking as she clambers off your lap and follows you out of the theater
>You notice she looks a little pale
>Maybe that movie was a bad idea...
"Hey, you alright?"
>"I'm perfectly fine."
>Harshwhinny keeps close by as you walk down the darkened Ponyville streets
>You reach down and place your hand atop Harshwhinny's head as you walk
"So, you wanna get some food?"
>"I'd rather just go home, actually."
>She glances around her, nervously
>You scratch between her ears, reminding her you're there
>When you reach your house, Harshwhinny jumps inside as soon as you open the door
>You follow her in, still trying pretty hard not to laugh
>Sure, you feel kinda bad that you spooked the mare, but you know it would embarrass her even more if you apologized
>You figure finishing the rest of that cake will cheer her up, though
>You fix up some sandwiches for dinner, but Harshwhinny doesn't seem terribly hungry
>She still tries to finish her sandwich out of obligation, however
"Harsh."
>"Mmf?"
"You don't have to eat that if you don't want it."
>She swallows, wincing a little
>"Nonsense. It'd be rude of me not to eat food provided by my host."
"No, really, it's fine. These really aren't that great."
>In your own defense though, it's hard to make all-veggie sandwiches good
"I'm guessing you're not gonna want cake then either?"
>Harshwhinny's eyes widen at the mention of the word 'cake'
>"Well, I... I guess I could handle a small slice..."

>By the time dessert's over, it's past ten o'clock and your eyes are feeling heavy
>For some reason, boring days are the most tiring
"Alright, I think I'm gonna hit the hay. You're welcome to stay up if you want to. Help yourself to anything you need."
>"Wait, you're going to bed already?"
"Um, yeah, why?"
>"N-nothing, never mind."
"Alright. See ya in the morning, Harsh."
>You head back into your room, shrugging your tuxedo off and collapsing into bed
>The door to Harshwhinny's room opens and closes, and you hear some rustling and the groaning of bedsprings
>Guess she's getting comfortable too
>You lay back, and are just about ready to pass out when a knock sounds at your door
"Eh? Harsh?"
>The door creaky open, revealing Harshwhinny in her pink shirt
>She's got a pillow clutched in her mouth, and a bundled blanket slung over her back
"What's the matter?"
>"It's too cold in my room. Is it alright if I sleep in here?"
"Too cold? What do you-- oh. Yeah, go ahead."
>Harshwhinny plops her pillow down next to your bed, and lays down on the floor
>She covers herself with the blanket, and rolls to face away from you
>"Thanks. Didn't mean to intrude."
"Intrude? Harsh, you're my, you know, special somepony or whatever now. You're not intruding on anything."
>Harshwhinny lets out a laugh
>"Heh... special somepony. Nobody's called me that in a long time..."
>She shifts a little underneath her blankets
>"It's good to hear it again. Thank you, Anonymous."
"No need to thank me, cutie."
>You adjust yourself on the bed, creating more room between you and Harshwhinny
"You know, you don't have to sleep on the floor. There's plenty of room up here."
>"Up there? With you? But that's so..."
"So what? C'mon, you said it was cold. And these floors are really uncomfortable."
>"Alright..."
>Harshwhinny pulls herself onto the bed, burrowing under her covers
>"But you'd better not tell anyone about this. It's terribly unprofessional."
"Who am I gonna tell, the mayor? Relax."
>You reach an arm around Harshwhinng, pulling her body against yours
>She feels so much softer with only a shirt on
"Better?"
>Harshwhinny's body is stiff and awkward at first, but she slowly allows herself to snuggle against you
>"Better."
>You leave your arm draped over her, hopefully comforting the spooked pony, as you draw the covers closer about you
"There. Warm and safe."
>You can practically feel the tension leaving Harshwhinny's body as she sighs in content
>As much as you'd like to consciously appreciate this moment, the lure of a warm bed and a snuggly pony is too much for your exhausted body
>And you and Harshwhinny drift into an easy, changeling-free sleep

>Next morning has a warm, friendly radiance to it as you awaken besides Harshwhinny
>As much as she tries to hide it, you can tell she likes being held
>The two of you make your way to the same diner from two days ago, making chit-chat as you walk
>On the way, the topic of music comes up
>"I mostly listen to classical. Octavia Melody, Stradivarius, Neightoven. I find it to be a very professional sort of music. What about you?"
"Death Grips, mostly."
>"Death Grips? What in Equestria is that? It sounds absolutely barbaric."
"It's, uh... never mind."
>Inside the diner, you're greeted by the familiar cross-eyed waitress
>You're surprised she even walk straight, with eyes like that
>Still, she seems like a nice little mare, and takes your order quickly
>As you and Harshwhinny sit at the table, you bring up something that occurred to you last night
"So, Harsh... you plannin' on moving out?"
>Harshwhinny reaches up to scratch the back of her neck
>"Well... I was thinking about it..."
>Figures, you knew this couldn't last
>"But... well, is it alright if I be frank, and a little personal, with you?"
"Of course, always."
>"I've lived alone for... a while now. It was kinda lonely at points, I guess, but I got used to it. It was good for my career. But living with you has reminded me what it's like to have another pony around all the time. And it's... it's nice. I like having somepony to talk to at the end of the day. So, if you don't mind... I'd like to keep staying with you."
>You're so surprised at her answer that you forget to be ecstatically happy
>Oh wait, no, there it is
"Really?"
>"Yes. But I INSIST on paying rent. I'm not going to be a freeloader."
"Ha, yeah, sure. Seriously though, that's awesome. If I can be frank and personal as well, I really do like having you around."
>Harshwhinny glances down into her coffee
>"Thank you, Anonymous. Those are words I don't hear very often anymore."
>You smile at Harshwhinny
"You'll be hearing them a lot more now."
>Harshwhinny returns your smile, laying her hoof on your hand
>"There you go again. You are one incredibly complimentary stallion, Anonymous. Do you talk to all your marefriends this way?"
"Only the most professional ones."
>"As if you know anything about professionalism..."
"I've got an eye for it."
>You wink at her
>"Oh? Are you sure you haven't been eyeing something else?"
>One of her rear hooves slides along your leg under the table
"Whoa there, now who's being unprofessional?"
>"We're not at work yet..."
>Harshwhinny's hoof continues to rub along your leg under the table
>What's gotten into her today?
>You've never seen her so flirty before
"Well, we could stand to be there a little early, couldn't we?"
>Harshwhinny catches your drift
>"Anonymous... as incorrigible as ever."
>You ask the waitress pony to bring you your food to go, and the two of you set off for the office
>When you get there, Harshwhinny hops into your lap, munching happily at her chocolate donut
>As soon as you've finished yours, Harshwhinny surprises you with a sudden kiss
>It's not a light kiss either; she wraps herself against you, lightly sucking at your lower lip
>You enjoy her kiss, of course, but you can't help but wonder where this sudden surge of affection is coming from
>Harshwhinny pulls away, kissing your forehead, then your nose before moving back to her mouth
>She parts your lips, tongue slipping in too playfully lap at yours
>You allow yourself to get lost in the moment, wrapping Harshwhinny in your arms as you kiss her back
>That is, until the front door opens
>You'd think Harshwhinny teleported, she disappears from your leg so fast
>By the time the mayor's through the door, Harshwhinny's standing next to your desk, fussing as she organizes a stack of papers
>"Honestly, Anonymous, I cannot understand how allow yourself to work in a mess like this."
"Hey now, it's an *organized* mess. I can find everything here just fine."
>"Well, you're not the only one who works here anymore."
>Harshwhinny sticks her tongue out at you, before turning to greet the mayor
>You try to keep from laughing
>Good old professional pony
>As Harshwhinny leaves the room, chatting with the mayor about taxes or something, you press your hand against where she kissed you
>You're not complaining, but what's gotten her so affectionate today?

>Like yesterday, Harshwhinny finishes a reasonable day's workload in about three hours, just in time to have lunch with you
>You pick up some "unprofessional, low-class food" from the hayburger joint, and the two of you snack in Harshwhinny's office
>Now that the mayor's here, she doesn't risk any more displays of affection
>Still, the two of you have a nice talk about books
>You tell her about some of your favorite fantasy schlock from earth, and she tells you about the Equestrian classics
>Which, unsurprisingly, are mostly just puns on the classics from your world
>And, as much as she tries to hide it, you can tell she digs the fast food

>After lunch, Harshwhinny continues attempting to revise the tax system, making frequent trips between the basement and the mayor's office
>Each trip sees her carrying an even larger stack of paper on her back
>By four o'clock, the mayor saunters down from her upstairs office, mane in disarray and eyes wide and tired
>Harshwhinny follows along behind her, still carrying the stack of papers and pestering her with questions
>Great
>The mayor looks up at you with a pleading expression that clearly asks "why?"
>You just shrug
>As you recall, you promised her that Harshwhinny would be a good worker
>You never promised that she wouldn't be a little too good
>The mayor bids you and Harshwhinny a hasty goodbye, before galloping out the front door
>Harshwhinny plops her stack of papers down on your desk, staring angrily at where Mayor Mare disappeared
>"Leaving the office so early? Absolutely unprofessional. Honestly, Anonymous, I'm not sure how she got elected in the first place."
"No one else wants the job, as far as I can tell."
>"Is that so...?"
>Harshwhinny scratches her chin
>"Well, we can worry about her tomorrow. Right now, I'm close to a breakthrough on revising Ponyville's tax system. Once we're not sending thousands of bits to Canterlot every year, we can focus the money on improving infrastructure."
"Huh?"
>Harshwhinny sighs, pressing her hoof against her face
>"Basically, I'm going to be busy today. Come get me when you're ready to go."
"Alright."
>With that, Harshwhinny disappears back into the basement
>Well, whatever that weird spurt of affection was earlier, it looks like it's faded away now
>Either that, or Harshwhinny just really loves taxes

>Harshwhinny probably really just loves taxes
>By the time you close, you still haven't seen her reemerge from the basement
>You get up to lock the front door, put your stuff away, then head downstairs to collect your marefriend
>The first thing you notice is that the basement is a good deal cleaner than it used to be
>All the various files have been placed inside cabinets, or stacked neatly on shelves
>The near-permanent layer of dust has also been removed, a feat you wouldn't have thought possible
>In the corner of the room, Harshwhinny's set up a little desk, where she pours through return forms by candlelight
>You sneak up behind Harshwhinny, wrapping her in a hug from behind
>"Gah!"
>She jolts in your grasp, bonking her head against your nose
"Yagh!"
>You recoil from her, holding your hands up to your face
>Wow, that stings
>"Anonymous! Oh Celestia, are you okay?"
>Hands still covering your schnoz, you nod
>You're not bleeding, thankfully, but you're seeing stars
>Man, she really conked you
>"Let me see it."
"No, really 'm fine."
>"Let me see it!"
>Harshwhinny's tone is not one you feel like arguing with
>You pull your hands away, and let her get a look at your smushed nose
>Through the pain, you feel a warm, soft touch as she kisses it
>"All better?"
"Um... not really..."
>"Well, maybe this will help a little more..."
>Harshwhinny tilts her head, and leans in to kiss you on the mouth
>And there's the affection from earlier again
>Man, this is a good day, even if your nose still throbs like hell
>After a bit of finagling, you end up on the floor with Harshwhinny in your lap
>The two of you continue the makeout she started this morning, relaxed and comfortable in the deserted basement
>You honestly can't tell if Harshwhinny has any intention of taking this further; she seems perfectly content just to kiss
>A part of you wants to ask, but that seems like it'd kill the mood
>Instead, you decide to test the waters
>Your arms are currently wrapping Harshwhinny in a hug, so you slide one hand down her back, past the base of her tail
>Your palm comes to rest on the plush roundness of her plot, giving her a light squeeze
>Immediately, Harshwhinny freezes up
>You open your eyes, to see that she's staring, shocked, into you
>Harshwhinny hops off your lap
>"Well, I'd, uh... better put these tax forms away, heheh. Can you wait for me upstairs, Anonymous?"
>She blinks twice, awkwardly trying to act casual
"Harsh, you okay?"
>"Of course! Perfectly fine. Now just let me finish these taxes here... taxes are important... very professional..."
>She begins shuffling random stacks of paper around, trying to appear busy
"Look, Harsh, I'm sorry about that. I took things a little too far."
>"No idea what you're talking about! I just need to take care of some work! I'll meet you upstairs, okay?"
>Man, she's acting weird
>Figuring she could use a few minutes alone, you head upstairs, waiting upstairs for your marefriend
>If you could kick your own self in the balls right now, you would
>You finish up tidying your own desk, then set to waiting for Harshwhinny
>She takes a decent fifteen minutes or so to reemerge, and you're pretty sure it's not because she's busy with taxes
>When she finally does leave the basement, she's tugging anxiously on her little scarf, and refuses to meet your eye
>You walk up alongside her, reaching down to scratch her ears
"You sure you're alright?"
>"Perfectly fine, Anonymous. Let's just please just go home."
>But you're not gonna let it die so easily
"C'mon, Harsh. Just tell me what's up."
>She just stares straight ahead, not even responding to your ear-scratches
"I'll get us some more cake~"
>Harshwhinny's face twists into a scowl
>Okay, that was the wrong thing to say
>After a few more failed attempts to get your marefriend to open up, you just fall silent
>The rest of the walk back isn't pleasant
>You screwed up, and you know it
>Still, something tells you that Harshwhinny's not just mad that you touched her butt
>Nope, your Anon Sense is telling you there's definitely some underlying issues here
>You just wish Harshwhinny would tell you what they are
>Harshwhinny tromps to her room as soon as you open the door, and you hear her lock herself inside
>You sigh to yourself
>This is going to be a lonely night, isn't it?
>Hard to believe you woke up holding her

>Dinner is a somber affair
>You fix some cheese sandwiches, and sit down by yourself to enjoy them
>Throughout the meal, you eat slowly in hope that Harshwhinny will join you
>She doesn't
>Once your last scrap of sandwich is gone, you pull the last chunk of the cake down from the fridge, divvying it up into two halves
>Plunking one half on a plate, you carry it to Harshwhinny's door
"Hey, Harsh?"
>Silence
"You okay in there?"
>...
"Uh... I cut up the rest of the cake. If you want it, I've got it."
>...
"Harsh, can ya please come out? I'm sorry about what I did earlier. It won't happen again."
>...
"Please... I just wanna talk."
>The silence is so eerie, you press your ear up against the door, fearing Harshwhinny may have up and left your house without you noticing
>You hear nothing at first, but then, just barely, you catch hint of... a sob?
>It's impossible for you to tell exactly what you heard, but... that's definitely what it sounded like
>And now you feel absolutely wretched
>Did you really hurt Harshwhinny that bad?
>You thought that was what she wanted, you never meant to hurt her like this
>Christ, you feel terrible
"Well, uh... I'll leave the cake out here. In case you want it. Goodnight, I guess..."
>You step into your own room, falling into your bed after quick tuxedo removal
>Even though you've only slept with Harshwhinny once, you already miss her warmth by your side
>And you try really hard not to think about how she might be crying in the next room
>Poor pony...
>You wish you could comfort her, somehow
>But you don't think breaking down her door would be particularly helpful to Harshwhinny right now
>So, you allow yourself to fall into an uneasy sleep, thoughts remaining fixed on your upset marefriend

>And when you awaken, she's the first thing you check on
>Harshwhinny's door stands ajar, but her room is empty
>The slice of cake remains uneaten on its plate as well
>Creeping further down the hallway, you peer into the kitchen
>Harshwhinny's up already, dressed in her signature purple suit with her nose in a large pile of legal documents
"Uh... morning, Harsh."
>"Good morning, Anonymous."
>She sounds even stiffer than usual
"You... you feelin' any better?"
>"I have no idea what you're talking about. I'm perfectly fine."
>Oh boy, you get to play this game
"Harsh, c'mon, don't shut me out. I can tell something's bothering you, and I wanna help. So... will you please tell me?"
>Harshwhinny looks up, meeting your eyes
>Her expression is so cold, it's actually hard not to look away
>"I'm fine."
>You sigh, sinking into your chair
"Alright. Well, if you wanna talk, I'm always here."
>She goes back to her forms, brushing her mane away from her eyes
"Well... you wanna get some breakfast?"
>Harshwhinny shakes her head
>"I'd like to get to work early today. I've got a lot to do. You're more welcome to go without me."
>Ouch
>You're starting to get where the "harsh" in Harshwhinny comes from

>You end up fixing your own breakfast so that you can accompany her on the way to work
>Harshwhinny may not want your company right now, but you're pretty damn sure she still needs it
>Whatever may be hurting her, you're determined to make sure your marefriend doesn't suffer alone
>When you reach the building, Harshwhinny goes straight to the basement, carrying her little briefcase with her
>You sit at your desk, staring out the window
>Man, it's looking like you're back to your familiar boredom
>If Harshwhinny leaves because of... whatever this is, your life's gonna go back to being the same it was
>Same boring routine of paperwork, and no one interesting to talk to
>Dammit, man, you can't let yourself go back to that
>You need to think of a plan, something drastic, something to really let Harshwhinny know you care...
>The sound of a door opening interrupts your thoughts, and you turn expecting to see Mayor Mare entering the building
>But it's just Harshwhinny coming up from the basement, and trotting into her little office
>A few minutes later she reemerges, and returns to the basement
>Hmm
>Now there's an idea...

>It's two hours before you see Harshwhinny again
>The mayor still hasn't shown up, and only one client has come to you so far
>Harshwhinny steps out of the basement, crossing back to her office without so much as looking at you
>As soon as her door clicks shut, you stand up and grab your chair
>You walk to her office, and let yourself in
>"Anonymous?"
>Harshwhinny looks up at you in surprise, but her expression quickly settles into one of annoyance
>"What do you want?"
"I just want you to talk to me, Harsh. Tell me what's going on."
>"There's nothing going on. Now let me work."
>You sigh, and drag the chair into the room
>You plunk it in front of her desk, sitting there facing her
>"Leave me alone. I have work to do."
"Not gonna happen. We're a couple now, remember? Good couples communicate."
>Harshwhinny clearly disagrees, as she keeps completely silent
>Well, you can play the silent game too
>You watch Harshwhinny like a hawk, barely moving a muscle
>Months of boredom have given you unnatural patience
>She clearly can't deal
>"Anonymous, I already told you, there's nothing wrong with me. Now get back to work."
"Not gonna happen. My marefriend is more important to me than my work."
>Harshwhinny dips her head closer to her work, though it's not enough to hide the blush on her cheeks
>"I never said I was your stupid marefriend..."
"Are you saying you aren't?"
>She doesn't respond to that either

>You continue watching her, listening only to the scratching of her quill
>Harshwhinny really is a surprisingly pretty mare, for her age
>It's hard to imagine she doesn't get hit on more often
>Maybe her demeanor scares off ponies, or something like that

>Harshwhinny's quill stops, and she stands, exiting her office
>You follow her, keeping a few feet behind her as she leads you into the basement
>Once you get down there, you realize you left your chair in her office like a dumbass
>But you don't want to risk Harshwhinny locking you out if you go back to get it
>So you sit on the cement basement floor, back against Harshwhinny's desk
>Hard to believe the two of you were kissing in this exact same spot yesterday
>You've fallen for quite an unpredictable mare, haven't you?

>Down in the basement, you lose almost all sense of time, but you know you've been here for hours
>Your entire body aches, but you refuse to leave Harshwhinny's side
>And she's clearly not happy about that
>"Anonymous, please, you're distracting me from my work."
"Harsh, all you gotta do is tell me what's wrong, and I'll leave."
>"There's. Nothing. Wrong."
>Her tone of voice tells you that there's plenty wrong
"Harsh, c'mon. Was it something I did?"
>"No."
"So you're admitting something's wrong, then."
>"I... ugh."
>Harshwhinny lays her head in her hooves
>"Listen, Anonymous. I've been around a lot longer than you. And there's some things I'd rather keep to myself, okay?"
"Okay! Okay, seriously, that's fine. If you don't want to talk about it, you don't have to. But don't close me out, Harsh. I wanna help."
>Harshwhinny sighs
>"I know you do, Anonymous. But right now, I just need to work. That's what help me the most."
"Oh. Well, I'll be waiting upstairs, when you're ready to go."
>"Just leave me here. I'll find my own way back."
>You place a quick kiss on the back of Harshwhinny's neck
"You know that's not gonna happen. Come get me when you're ready to go."
>You leave her to her work, and return upstairs
>It's almost nine o'clock by the time Harshwhinny reemerges
>She looks beyond tired; the bags under her eyes are even more pronounced than usual
"Hey Harsh, you ready to go back?"
>Harshwhinny nods, keeping her eyes ahead
>You walk alongside her, locking the door as the two of you leave
"I picked us up some sandwiches at the deli. You want one?"
>Harshwhinny just grunts
"Alright, I'll, uh... save it 'till we get home, I guess."
>The walk home is a silent affair, and Harshwhinny just plops herself on the couch, staring at the wall
>You sit next to her, keeping your hands in your lap
>Though you'd like nothing more than to wrap this mare in big, tight hug
>You unwrap Harshwhinny's sandwich, and set it in front of her
"I'm gonna go take a shower. If you need me for anything, just holler, okay?"
>Harshwhinny doesn't respond, and you leave her there on the couch
>Poor mare...
>Why won't she just tell you what's wrong?
>You know she's always had issues with being seen as 'weak,' but doesn't she trust you to help?

>The water cascades over you, doing little to ease your stress
>There has to be something you can do to get Harshwhinny to talk to you
>Clearly, you're not going to be able to force the truth out of her
>If only you could make her realize that you're not going to judge her, that you don't think she's weak
>You shut off the water and step out from the shower, drying and dressing yourself
>Back in the living room, Harshwhinny's still on the couch
>Her sandwich has a few bites taken from it, but she doesn't look too enthusiastic about eating right now
>You sit next to her, tentatively placing a hand on her withers
>She doesn't pull away, and you slowly begin to scratch along her back
>Even grumpy Harshwhinny can't resist the allure of back-scratches, right?
>You marefriend slowly closes her eyes, tail flicking in comfort
>"Anonymous?"
"Yeah?"
>"If I tell you something about me... can you promise that nothing between us will change?"
"Of course, Harsh. I'm not gonna stop liking you just because of some dirt in the past."
>Harshwhinny sighs
>"This isn't about something I've done. It's about me. Who I am."
"Oh. Well alright then, what's up?"
>Harshwhinny opens her eyes
>"Hold on, I need a few minutes to sort things out. Is it alright if I sleep in your room again?"
"Always. I'll be waiting for you."
>Harshwhinny stands, and walks into her room
>You return to yours, stripping your suit off and changing into boxers and a t-shirt for PJ's
>Just as you're laying down in your bed, Harshwhinny enters, dressed in her familiar pink shirt
>She's holding her pillow again, and pulls herself up next to you in the bed
>After taking a few moments to get comfortable, she clears her throat, and begins
>"I... I'm not sure where to start this. I guess I should just drop the biggest bomb first: you're not the first stallion I've been with."
"I assumed as much. I mean, if you look this good at forty-seven, you must've been a knockout when you were younger."
>Harshwhinny's too lost in her memories to acknowledge your compliment
>"He was my best friend since I was a filly. I was so different back then, Anonymous. A carefree, naive little girl, who thought love could triumph over everything. The two of us started dating, eventually, like everyone thought we would. It was nice, in a way. I assumed I would be his good little housewife, taking care of a nice big family of foals. I thought I was going to live a happy, cozy, safe little life forever. I was a fool."
>You take her hoof in her hand, giving her a comforting squeeze
>"He proposed to me when I was only sixteen. We were so in love, I was sure it would work. I just wanted my own family, more than anything. I really, really thought it would work..."
>Harshwhinny pauses, taking a deep, shaky breath
>She's blinking hard, tears sparkling in her eyes
>"Then, we found out that... that... I can't have foals."
>She dips her head, and something wet drips onto your hand
>"All my dreams... my future... they were gone. But I still had my fiancée, I thought. I wouldn't be completely alone, at least. Until... well, he left me. He was nice about it, I suppose, but... I felt so alone, Anonymous. I felt like a broken, useless mare."
>Harshwhinny grits her teeth in pain, and two more tears drip onto the back of your hand
>You sit up in the bed, pulling her against your chest
>Her entire body is tense with the effort of trying not to cry
>Your stroke her mane, whispering into her ear
"It's okay, Harsh. I'm never gonna do that to you."
>She nods, her entire body still rigid
>Your hand moves to her cheek, softly stroking her face
"It's okay to cry, Harsh. It doesn't make you weak."
>You feel a tear slip under her eyelid, soaking into her fur just under your thumb
"You're a strong, strong mare. And you deserve better than what you got. So it's okay to cry. It's okay to cry until you can make the world right again."
>More tears stain the fur of Harshwhinny's cheeks, and you feel her body relaxing against yours
>You go back to stroking her mane, holding your marefriend there as she sobs into your shirt
>Harshwhinny begins to shake, tears staining your shirt as all her sadness and pain is allowed to leave her body
>You have no more kind words, but you squeeze her tightly against you, letting her know that she's not alone
>Gradually, her crying fades and she leans her head against your shoulder, her breath coming in short, ragged gasps
>You sit there, patiently, holding her in your lap until she calms
>For a few minutes, the only sound in the room is the peaceful whisper of Harshwhinny's breath
>"I'm sorry about yesterday."
"Huh?"
>"Shutting you out like that. It was immature of me."
"Oh, you don't have to apologize. If anything, I'm sorry for pressuring you into things you weren't ready for."
>Harshwhinny's ears droop
>"It's not that I'm not ready, it's just... it brings back some bad memories. Makes me feel weak, and... and useless."
>Jesus... ouch
>You kiss Harshwhinny on the nose, and begin rubbing her back through her shirt
"You're not useless. You're the furthest thing from useless I've ever seen. You're an amazing worker, and a wonderful mare to be around."
>Harshwhinny sighs
>"Anonymous... I don't get it. Why do you see so much in me? Not a single colt has payed me any attention in thirty years. Now you come along, all romance and kindness... why? Part of me still can't believe this isn't some elaborate trick..."
"I don't understand it myself, half the time. I'm no poet, I don't really know how to put this into words but... I really like being around you, Harsh. Most ponies here bore me to tears, but you... you make me happy. You're different, dedicated, and a little... well, harsh. I like that. Everything here is so candy-coated and friendly, but you feel... real. You're tough, motivated, passionate, headstrong... you're a mare that's going places. And, honestly, you're really, really pretty. Not in the fake, colorful so much stuff is around here. But a real, tangible kind of beauty. I know I'm rambling, bu--"
>Harshwhinny cuts you off with a kiss on the mouth
>You accept the kiss, still gently cradling her in your arms
>Harshwhinny's still shaking slightly, but she raises her forelegs up to curl around your neck
>You let yourself slump back into the bed, taking Harshwhinny with you
>The two of you end up laying there together, with her draped across your chest
>Harshwhinny sighs, her breath warm against the bottom of your neck
>"It's a little cold in here."
>You pull the blanket up over both of you, wrapping you and Harshwhinny in a cocoon of wool and warmth
"Better?"
>Harshwhinny doesn't say anything, but you can feel her nod
>"Anonymous... I know I'm not the kind of pony who says these things very often, but I..."
"Yeah?"
>"I... I... I'm very happy to be here with you."
>Oh
>A little disappointing, but something tells you that wasn't what Harshwhinny was trying to say
"I'm happy to have you here, Harsh. You know that."
>"Thank you. Ponies aren't happy to have me around very often."
"That's because ponies are completely crazy. You probably know that as well as I do."
>Harshwhinny snorts
>"Can't argue with you there. But, Anonymous, really..."
>A good twenty seconds of silence passes, in which you can feel Harshwhinny's heartbeat accelerate to a jackhammer pace
>"Goodnight."
"Huh? What were you gonna say?"
>Harshwhinny doesn't answer, instead giving fake, exaggerated snores
>This time you sigh, allowing yourself to sink into the mattress
>This pony, man...

>The next morning is calm and tension-free, if a little rainy
>Harshwhinny joins you for breakfast, and you cook up some eggs for the two of you
>She's dressed in her familiar purple suit, and that adorable little scarf is once again wrapped around her neck
>Neither of you say anything about last night, but there's a sort of silent understanding between the two of you
>Your relationship feels deeper than it did before, now that you know Harshwhinny's secret
>Having told you makes you special to her, and knowing makes you that much more protective of her
>It's not really something you can explain, but last night has transformed this from a casual, trial-run relationship into something much more real
"You wanna do something tonight?"
>"Do something? What do you mean?"
"I mean a date, you goofy pony. It's Friday night. You're not seriously going to tell me you plan on working Saturdays too, do you?"
>Harshwhinny's cheeks turn a little pink
>"N-no, of course not. Professionalism also entails knowing when not to work, of course..."
"Uh huh. Well, I'd figured we'd kick off our weekend in style."
>"What do you have in mind?"
>Harshwhinny leans her head on her hooves, looking at you from across the table
"There's an amusement park up in Canterlot. I hear couples get in half-price on Friday nights..."
>You wink at her
>"That sounds childish."
"It is. It's also a ton of fun. Don't tell me you're anti-fun now."
>"I'm not anti-fun, it's just... come on, Anonymous. I'd look like a fool, going to an amusement park at my age."
"Eh, you won't look any weirder than the six-foot-tall alien walking around, right?"
>Harshwhinny actually chuckles at that
>"Heh. I guess you're right. Alright, Anonymous, it's a date. But you have to promise me you won't let me gorge myself on too many funnel cakes. An older mare's gotta watch her figure, after all."
>Harshwhinny pats her stomach for emphasis
"You got it. Just make sure I don't gamble all my bits away on those crappy rigged games."
>The two of you shake on your agreement, then finish breakfast

>The mayor actually does show up to work today, but she doesn't stay long
>Apparently, Harshwhinny's managed to obliterate most of next week's work as well, leaving the mayor practically nothing to do
>She looks pretty pleased, if a little worried, by that
>As soon as the day's work gets done, you head down to the basement to grab Harshwhinny
>In her usual fashion, though, she makes you wait two extra hours as she puts the finishing touches on her tax reform
>"Hopefully the mayor can stay in her office long enough to set up a vote on this."
"Yeah, yeah, taxes n' stuff, c'mon. We don't wanna miss the last train up to Canterlot."
>Harshwhinny finally follows you up out of the basement, brushing dust from her purple suit
>"I'm not overdressed, am I? What exactly do ponies wear to amusement parks?"
"Probably the same nothing they seem to wear everywhere. Say, come to think of it, why do you always wear that suit, Harsh?"
>"No reason."
>She glances away from you
"O...kay then. Payment for this week is upstairs. If you buy me a candy apple, I'll consider that your rent for this week."
>You nudge Harshwhinny jokingly between her withers
>She scowls up at you
"Hey, c'mon, why so nervous?"
>"I... no reason. Let's just go."
>Harshwhinny marches stiffly up the stairs, and grabs her bag of bits on the way out

>She doesn't loosen up much as you approach the train station, and she's barely said anything either
"Harsh..."
>No response
"Hey, Harsh."
>Her ear twitches, but she remains looking straight ahead
>You sigh, and give up, waiting until the two of you get your booth in the train to try speaking to her again
>"Harsh, seriously, chill. No one there is going to think you're out of place. And if they do, then who cares? You're here to have fun, right?"
>"Yes..."
"Then there's no need to worry. Just relax, and have a good time. I promise, this night is going to be great."
>Harshwhinny sighs, and then smiles up at you
>"Thank you, Anonymous. I hope you know I'm going to hold you to that promise."
>You return her smile
"Of course."
>The train pulls into the Canterlot stop, and you and Harshwhinny begin your walk to the amusement park
>The city is as lively as ever, its posh inhabitants dressed in their usual frills and toting bags full of the latest designer outfits
>You're not sure why Harshwhinny was worried; you stick out far more than she does
>Every pony you pass either takes a long, curious look at you, or does their best not to glance in your direction at all
>Harshwhinny steps closer to you, lightly bumping your leg with her hip
>"Doesn't this bother you?"
>She whispers, looking up at you with concern
>You shrug
"Not really. They're just a bunch of weird cartoons. Besides, I've got you here with me. Why would I care what they think?"
>Harshwhinny doesn't have an answer, but she walks much to you for the rest of the trip to the amusement park

>The park itself isn't terribly large, not much bigger than a cheap carnival back home, but the flashing lights and smell of funnel cake tickle your senses
>Even Harshwhinny has a little smile on her face
>"I haven't been here since I was a filly. I can't believe nothing's changed..."
"Well, no point in wasting time looking at it. Let's go!"
>You jog towards the entrance, and Harshwhinny breaks into a full trot as she follows you
>The two of you buy tickets off a bored-looking pony in a pinstriped suit, then rush inside
>You notice that Harshwhinny's livelier than usual, and her head swivels back and forth as she tries to take in every inch of your surroundings
>"It's all just like I remember it..."
"Pretty great, huh? What do you wanna do first?"
>Harshwhinny glances around, before pointing to a fenced-in bumper car arena
>The two of you enter, along with a few confused-looking other ponies
>The cars are much too small for you, so you end up perched awkwardly on top of it
>Most of the ponies try to stay away from you, but not Harshwhinny
>As soon as you get your car started, she makes a beeline right for you, the impact of your cart on yours nearly knocking you to the arena's floor
>You beat a hasty retreat, weaving between the other ponies as you try to avoid the orange mayhem hot on your tail
>Harshwhinny's laughing maniacally now, knocking the carts of other ponies out of her way as she bears down on you
>You slam on the breaks at the last second, her momentum forcing her to rear end you
>The shock of the impact knocks Harshwhinny's cart away from yours, and you manage to escape, circling around to slam into her again
>Your marefriend has a crazed look in her eye as she wheels around, heading straight for you
>Fortunately, baseball-capped colt slams his cart into hers, knocking her off course
>You continue to circling your cart around Harshwhinny's teasing her by staying just out of range

>By the time the round ends, Harshwhinny's panting, her mane is tousled, and she has the widest smile you've ever seen on her
>"That was great! Did you see how I wheeled around and clipped you that one time? Or how I ran you into the wall? Or how I...?"
>A group of fillies runs past the two of you, giggling at something
>Harshwhinny quiets immediately, returning to her regular stiffened posture
>"I'm acting like an absolute lunatic, aren't I?"
"Yeah, you are. And it's awesome, Harsh. I've never seen you this happy before."
>"Hmph."
"C'mon, don't clam up on me now. Harsh, who cares what these ponies think of you? All that matters is that you enjoy yourself. Besides, you're probably not going to see any of them for the rest of your li--"
>"Is that Ms. Harshwhinny!?"
>You look to your left, discovering a familiar trio of fillies
>"It is! What's she doing here!?"
>Applebloom bonks Scootaloo on the head
>"Quit bein' rude! Jus' 'cause she's old don't mean she can't be here too!"
>"Yeah, but she was always so grumpy! What would she want to be at a place like this?"
>Harshwhinny winces
>Sweetie Belle pipes up next
>"Maybe she's busy bossing Anon around?"
>Harshwhinny's pained expression intensifies
>You kneel down, slipping an arm around her withers
"Hey, enough, you three. For your information, Ms. Harshwhinny is here as my date."
>"Your DATE!?"
>All three cry out in unison
"Yes, my date. And we've been having a pretty good time so far, for you information."
>"W-we didn't mean anythin' bad, Anon, we jus'... we were jus' surprised to see you here is all, Ms. Harshwhinny."
>Harshwhinny nods
>"It's quite alright, children."
>The quavering in her voice says its anything but alright
>You give her a comforting pat on her back, before pulling her closer to you
"How did the three of you get in here, anyway? Where are your older sisters?"
>Sweetie Belle paws awkwardly at the ground
>"They're, eh... not here."
"I see."
>"We mighta, kinda, you know, well, uh..."
>Scootaloo cuts her off
>"We snuck in. But apparently you need stupid tickets to do anything here."
>She pouts angrily
"Mhm..."
>You look over at Harshwhinny, who's trying very hard to keep her face blank
>An idea begins to form in your head
"Well, we've got a few extra tickets. And we might be willing to share them, IF..."
>You nod your head toward Harswhinny, hoping the fillies will get your hint
"...you three behave yourselves. Deal?"
>"Deal!"
>"Deal!"
>"Deal!"

>The three of them lead you and Harshwhinny into the blinking, clanging wonderland of the arcade
>You gave each of them a handful of tickets, to spend however they wanted
>The minute you enter, however, they steal Harshwhinny away, dragging her towards the two-player pinball machine
>"Girls what are you-- gah!"
>"C'mon, Ms. Harshwhinny, we want someone who can beat Scootaloo in pinball!"
>"No way! If none of you could beat me, there's no way she can."
>"Girls, really, I don't need you to..."
>Applebloom and Sweetie Belle pull Harshwhinny in front of the machine, and feed in tickets for her and Scootaloo
>The machine springs to life, lights flashing and electronic noises bleeping
>Scootaloo springs into action almost immediately, hooves mashing at the plastic buttons
>Harshwhinny fires her own ball in as well, eyes darting across the machine as she tries to keep it in play
>The first two balls slip between the paddles, and Scootaloo shouts in triumph
>"C'mon, Ms. Harshwhinny!"
>"If you let her win, she'll be unbearable!"
>Harshwhinny's sweating visibly as she fires her last ball onto the gameboard
>This time though, she manages to keep it in play long enough for Scootaloo to lose a ball
>Harshwhinny's score is creeping dangerously close to the orange filly's, clearly making Scootaloo nervous
>Scootaloo bends double over the machine, furiously tapping at the buttons
>Harshwhinny shouts in triumph as her ball activates a triple-score round, and her point total soars ahead of Scootaloo's
>At first you thought they were just letting her win, but Scootaloo looks like she's having difficulty keeping up
>The filly's second ball disappears back into the machine, leaving her with only one left
>Her stunted wings beat furiously against her back, and sweat drips down her nostrils as she flips the metal ball through the machine, eyes darting back and forth as she takes in the various lighted indicators
>Harshwhinny's doing much of the shame, her face split by a wide grin
>You guess years of business micromanaging have somehow translated into godlike pinball skill
>The scores of both ponies are close now, Harshwhinny just barely leading Scootaloo by a few hundred points
>Your marefriend's hoof slips, and her ball bounces past the paddles, and disappears back into the machine
>"No!"
>Harshwhinny cries out in anguish
>Scootaloo grins maniacally, looking over at Harshwhinny just long enough for her own ball to disappear
>"Wait, what!? No, I need that!"
>With both players out, the machines take a few more seconds to count points...
>Scootaloo beats Harshwhinny 112,300 to 112,100
>"Haha! In! Your! Face!"
>She hops on top of the machine, doing a ridiculous, and slightly suggestive, victory dance
>Probably learned from Rainbow Dash
>Harshwhinny bows her head, but she's still smiling
>"Not bad, not bad. Scootaloo, right?"
>Scootaloo nods, proudly
>"Well, you may have me beat at pinball. But this over here..."
>She gestures towards a neon-painted ping-pong table
>"...this is my game."
>Harshwhinny leads the fillies to the table, inserting a ticket
>The machine dispenses paddles and plastic balls, and Harshwhinny takes on in her mouth, a wicked gleam in her eye
>"I was the junior league champion, back when I was your age. I may not be as spry as I used to be..."
>Keeping the paddle clutched in her teeth, she tosses the ball into the air, bouncing it a few times before sending it flying towards Scootaloo
>The orange filly tries to repel it, but misses
>"Point for me."
>Harshwhinny winks
>Scootaloo grabs the ball, before repositioning the racket in her mouth
>"Oh, it is ON!"
>She fires a serve towards Harshwhinny, who easily repels it, sending the bail sailing back towards the filly
>Scootaloo flails wildly, knocking the ball off the table
>"Another point for me!"
>Harshwhinny slips the scarf off her neck, unbuttoning the top button of her suit
>"C'mon, Scootaloo! You're not gonna let her beat you, are you?"
>"Sh-shut up! I was going easy on her!"
>Harshwhinny sends the ball soaring right under Scootaloo's paddle
>"No! Come on!"
>She grabs the ball from the floor, breathing hard
>"Alright, you wanna play rough? We can play rough!"
>She sends the ball flying toward Harshwhinny, who deflects it back at her with a simple flick of her head
>Scootaloo manages to repel the ball again, bouncing it back to Harshwhinny's side
>The volley continues at a frightening pace, until the ball becomes a little while blur flashing between the two ponies
>Before you even know what happened, Harshwhinny expertly bounces the ball off the corner of Scootaloo's side, sending it flying into a basketball machine
>"No!"
>Scootaloo collapses against the table, defeated
>Harshwhinny shouts in triumph
>Sweetie Belle snatches the racket from her orange friend
>"Alright. My turn."
>She narrows her eyes at Harshwhinny, and tosses the ball into the air

>Ten minutes later, all three fillies lie at the end of the Ping-Pong table, completely exhausted
>Harshwhinny's sweating, and the sleeves of her suit coat are rolled up, but she's grinning form ear to ear
>"Not bad girls, but you've got... a lot to learn... before you can take on a pony like me."
>Scootaloo drags herself up from the floor
>"You... you have to teach me... please..."
>Harshwhinny laughs, and helps Scootaloo stand
>"Of course. You've actually got a lot of potential, but you're forgetting to--"
>"Scootaloo!"
>A raspy female voice sounds behind you, followed by two others
>"Sweetie Belle!"
>"Applebloom!"
>Applejack, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash stand in the doorway, each of them glaring at their respective filly
>And each filly looks absolutely terrified to see their older sister
>"Anon! What're you doin' with them? Did you bring them out here?"
"I... "
>You look back to the fillies, realizing how much trouble they could get in for this
>And you look to Harhshwhinny who, though the smile's gone from her face now, still radiates renewed energy
"...yeah. I did. Sorry I didn't ask you guys first. Just slipped my mind."
>"It slipped yer mind to ask us to take our little sisters to an amusement park?"
"Yeah. Crazy of me, huh?"
>AJ just shakes her head
>"Anon... I can't believe you. I just... wow."
>She facehoofs, before turning to face the Crusaders
>"Alright, you crazy fillies, come with us. It's well past your bedtime. And, in the future, think twice before listening to Anon."
>"Yes, AJ."
>Applebloom follows Applejack out, with Sweetie trailing behind Rarity and Scootaloo accompanying Rainbow
>As soon as AJ's out of sight, you walk over to Harshwhinny, patting her on the head
>She smiles, and nuzzles your hand
>"That was a very selfless thing of you to do for those fillies, Anonymous."
"Eh, it was nothing. AJ and Rarity would've given them hell if they knew the truth. But what can they do to me? Complain?"
>"Either way, I'm proud of you."
>She kisses your hand, just above your wrist
"Awww..."
>You ruffle her mane, and the two of you head back out into the park
"That was some pretty impressive ping-pong back there. You never told me you could play like that."
>"Well, I don't want to flaunt it."
>Harshwhinny tugs at her scarf, once more wrapped around her orange neck
>"But I won't lie, I am pretty good. Even a mare like me needs hobbies, Anonymous."
"That's good to hear. So... whaddaya wanna do next?"
>"Hmmm..."

>The next two hours seem to blend together in a whirlwind of fun
>You try to win Harshwhinny a stuffed animal from one of those stupid games, but you fail miserably
>She assures you that she'd have no use for such a childish item anyway
>The two of you ride one of those spinny teacup rides, which ends up with you holding Harshwhinny on a bench for nearly thirty minutes until her stomach calms
>To help her recover, you buy a single snowcone for the two of you to share
>Harshwhinny absolutely annihilates you in the second round of bumper cars, and she refuses to let you forget it
>"Oh, the look on your face when I rear-ended you... priceless..."
>She wipes tears from her eyes, massaging her abdomen to ease the pain of her laughter
>The two of you are on the ferris wheel now, slowly rotating through the cool night breeze
>The little boxes are tiny and cramped, forcing Harshwhinng to sit pressed up against you
>Not that you're complaining, of course
"It seriously wasn't that funny. My back is bruised to hell."
>Well, maybe you're complaining a little
>"Awww..."
>Harshwhinny scoots into your lap, massaging your shoulders with her hoovers
>"Did I hurt you?"
"Um, yeah?"
>"I'm sorry... will a kiss make it all better?"
"Eh, probably not. But you might as well try..."
>Harshwhinny smiles, and leans in to kiss you
>*BOOM*
>The two of you simultaneously crane your necks, turning to look for the source of the sound
>Two more booms sound to your left, accompanied by brilliant blooms of yellow and blue sparks
>"Wow..."
"Damn..."
>Apparently, magic-assisted fireworks are way more badass than the earth variety
>The rockets explode into the shapes of ponies, flowers, gems... all in every possible color as well
>Harshwhinny's not as impressed as you are, and still manages to complete her kiss
>You keep your eyes open as you kiss her though, watching the light show behind your marefriend as her lips play against yours
>By some lucky stroke of fate, the ferris wheel stops with the two of you at its apex, giving you the perfect view as you kiss
>The two of you still cling to each other even as the wheel starts again, lowering you towards the ground
>Harshwhinny slips her tongue into the kiss, squeezing you with a surprising amount of strength
>When it finally comes time for you two to get off the ride, she stays pressed up against your leg as the two of you walk
>As you walk by the food courts, a sweet, delicious smell wafts through your nostrils
>Your mouth starts to water, and, judging by the look on Harshwhinny's face, so does hers
>"Anoooooon, remember that promise you made me?"
"I do."
>The park seems to be closing up, but the foodcourts are still open, for the time being
>You order a large funnelcake for you and Harshwhinny to split, and carry it out of the park
>Just outside the park gates are several rows of picnic tables, shrouded in a mellow light from several scattered lampposts
>You and Harshwhinny sit cuddled together on a bench, chowing down on your cake
>Powdered sugar and buttery, gooey dough...
>It's heaven
>Harshwhinny looks like she might weep from joy at any second
>The two of you enjoy your treat in silence, until you hear harsh, giggly female laughter behind you
>Turning, you see a group of three mares approaching you, eyes trained on you and Harshwhinny
>The leader steps into the light first, prowling toward you with a sultry, hungry look in her eye
>Her ears are unusually pointy, jutting up from a red-and-block mane
>She's a little plump for a pony, but she's definitely attractive
>"Hey there, tiger. Who's this? Your date?"
>The way she says the word 'date' clearly implies an insult, and the mares behind her snicker
>Harshwhinny's brow furrows, but she just scoots closer to you, still munching her cake
>"She's real cute. But I think a big fella like you would appreciate a mare with a bit more... youthful appearance, mm?"
>She winks, and sits next to you
>Her soft, curvy body presses up against yours, and her warm breath tickles your ear as she whispers to you
>"What say you ditch grandma, and have some fun with a real mare, mm?"
>"Enough!"
>Harshwhinny yanks you away from the strange mare, jabbing a hoof into her face
>"Listen here, missy! This here is MY stallion! Now back the buck off before I do something EXTREMELY unprofessional to that chubby butt of yours!"
>The strange mare's brow furrows, and bizarre, batlike wings unfurl from her back
>"Chubby!?"
>Oh Christ, just who exactly is Harshwhinny messing with
>"Who are you calling chubby? At least I don't walk around in a suit like some dried up spinster! You do realize this guy's only with you because he's got no one better, right?"
>"How DARE you!"
>Still on the bench, Harshwhinny rears up onto her hind legs, towering over the bat-mare
>"You posh, soft-bodied, entitled, promiscuous, unprofessional HORSE!"
>Harshwhinny's eyes are wide with fury, and she jabs her hoof at the newcomer with every biting word
>"I bet you've never worked a day in your life, have you? And you expect you can just walk up to any stallion you see and he'll be falling at your hooves just because you jiggle at him!? Ha! Fat chance, you soggy lowlife! This stallion's mine!"
>Harshwhinny grabs your arm in her forelegs
>"He chose me, and there's NOTHING you can do about that! Now scram!"
>She continues clinging tightly to you, her chest heaving
>The bat-pony looks from Harshwhinny to you, more than a little perturbed
>"O...kay. I'm just gonna... go."
>She looks up to you, face reassuming her sultry expression
>"Come by again if you ever wanna have some real fun..."
>She winks, then turns, booty jiggling as she sashays away
>Oh christ, that's hot...
>Harshwhinny grips your arm like a vice, staring venom into the bat pony until she's out of sight
>"Mine."
>You pat her on the head
"Easy, Harsh. She's gone."
>Slowly, Harshwhinny lets go of you, but remains in your lap
>You can feel her heart hammering in her chest, and teeth are tightly gritted
>Slowly, you stroke along her back, trying to calm the mare down
>"The nerve of that mare..."
>It's not working
>You end up finishing the rest of the funnel cake on your own, still petting Harshwhinny

>On the way back, she walks as close to you as possible, her side pressed up against your leg
>You buy train tickets, and board the mostly-empty vehicle for its trip back to Ponyville
>Harshwhinny leads you to a quiet, secluded car near the caboose, and you follow her into a booth
>As soon as you sit down, she throws herself on top of you, kissing you viciously
>She knocks you against the corner of the booth, landing in your lap
>Harshwhinny's tongue worms its way into your mouth, wriggling as if to taste every bit of you she could
>You return her kiss, of course, reaching up to hold her sides
>Her breath is hot and muggy as it washes across your face
>You feel her tail brushing against your thigh, and she strokes your chest with her forehooves as she kisses you
>She's so passionate all of a sudden, damn
>One of her hooves trails down your chest, and begins rubbing at your stomach
>You've taken to working out since you got to Equestria, and you guess Harshwhinny appreciates that
>Her hoof trails over the hardened ridges of your abs, then slowly begins to move lower
>Lower...
>Her hoof makes teasing little circles across the soft portion of your gut
>You feel yourself stiffening in your jeans
>And you bet Harshwhinny notices it too
>She moves her hoof over your crotch, pressing it lightly against your masculinity
>You can feel her lips smiling devilishly even as she kisses you
>Harshwhinny squirms on your chest, adjusting to a better position, before she begins to rub you
>It's not the most sensuous thing you've experienced, but knowing that Harshwhinny's doing it intensifies the feeling by an almost frightening amount
>Harshwhinny moves away from your lips, her mouth trailing down your jaw to suck at the nape of your neck
>Wow, that feels good...
>The pace of her hoof increases, bringing you closer and closer to a tantalizing climax...
"Wait."
>You grab Harshwhinny's hoof
>"Anon? Wh-what do you mean?"
>You wrap an arm around her midsection
"I don't want our first time to be in a cramped train car. I want it to mean something."
>"Anon..."
>Harshwhinny leans in to kiss you again
>"You really do like me, don't you?"
"Of course. I've said it half a dozen times."
>"I know, but... back there, I saw... you really care about me. You chose me over a younger, more attractive mare... I really like you too, Anon... I want you... so badly..."
>She kisses you again, and again, and again, not stopping until the train pulls into Ponyvilee
>By the time the train comes to a stop, you practically carry Harshwhinny out, she's clinging to you so tightly
>She keeps kissing you at random intervals on the walk home, leaving little trails of her saliva up and down your cheek and neck
>You'd swear she was drunk, if you hadn't been with her all evening
>The two of you make your way back to the home you and Harshwhinny now share, throwing open the door and heading straight for your bedroom
>You collapse into bed, still holding Harshwhinny on top of you
>Her kisses move back to your mouth, her tongue lapping against yours and her hooves scrabbling with the hem of your shirt
>You assist her in pulling it off, then move to the buttons of her suit
>It's not like you're not accustomed to seeing ponies in the nude, but you still find the idea of an exposed Harshwhinny to be... tantalizing
>You manage to remove her coat and white shirt, followed by her little scarf, until Harshwhinny's clad in nothing but her orange coat
>She's so beautiful, you can't resist grabbing her and kissing her again
>Her hooves paw at your back, as if she were trying to pull you even closer to her
>You reach down and unzip your jeans, shrugging out of them and the rest of your clothes until you're as naked as the pony before you
>Harshwhinny groans into your mouth as she feels your bare skin against her coat, and spreads her legs
>"Anonymous... I want you to be mine... so badly... now make me yours..."
>She bucks her hips up against you, the hot wetness between her legs inviting you in
>You place your hands against her hips, and her entire body shivers as you slowly slide into her

>Twenty minutes later, the sheets are a mess of various fluids, and an exhausted Harshwhinny lies draped across your chest
>She's still twitching from her third orgasm
>You've never heard a mare make sounds like that before
>"Anonymous, that was... mother of Celestia, I've never felt like that in my life..."
>She sighs, and kisses your shoulder
"I've never seen you act that way either, Harshy. What changed?"
>"Tonight made sense of a lot of things for me. Being with you, in this place from my childhood, playing with those fillies... it made me feel alive, and happy. I haven't felt like this in... well, a long time."
>Harshwhinny brushes your hair from your eyes with a hoof
>"Part of me thinks you planned it like this, you sly dog."
>She kisses the bridge of your nose
"Eh, it was more of a hunch then a plan. But seriously, Harsh..."
>You pull the blanket over the two of you, wrapping your arms around the mare
"Tonight was as great for me as it was for you. Being with you has made me the happiest I've been since I got here."
>You squeeze Harshwhinny a little tighter against your chest, feeling the rhythm of her heartbeat echoing against your ribs
>Harshwhinny locks eyes with you, and sheer amount of affection you see there is enough to send goosebumps crawling down your spine
"Harsh, I know we haven't known each other for that long yet, but..."
>"Yes, Anonymous...?"
"I..."
>Your tongue hesitates in your mouth
>As much as you'd like to, right now really isn't proper time for the 'L' word
"I really, really like you. I keep looking back on that day I asked you out... it was such a random thing to do, but everything between us has been so amazing that... it just blows my mind. You're a really great mare, and I'm a really lucky guy for having met you."
>Harshwhinny's ears drooped, and you think you see a tear drop from the corner of her eye
>"Anonymous... nobody's told me anything like that in such a long time... I forgot how good sweet words could feel."
>She nuzzles her face up against yours
>The two of you lie there, together in your bed, wrapped so tightly together that you can almost feel the happiness radiating from Harshwhinny's chest
>It would be no exaggeration to call the next week the happiest of your life
>You wake up next to Harshwhinny, who always greets you with a smile and a kiss, and the two of you get breakfast at your favorite little café before heading to work
>Work which, of course, Harshwhinny continues to excel at
>The mayor barely even shows up anymore, and when she does, she mostly just watches Harshwhinny work
>"I don't even know what she's doing anymore..."
>Harshwhinny convinces the mayor to pass her tax reforms, apparently decreasing taxes for the average Ponyvillian by a good fifty percent, yet still paradoxically bringing in more money for the town
>Which has earned her a solid spot on Mayor Mare's good side
>You continue to deal with the unemployed of Ponyville, trying your best to find them employment, however temporary
>Your job itself hasn't changed at all
>But now you have a lovely orange mare to walk home with every day
>Harshwhinny's in as good of a mood as you are, always chattering on about something
>She still likes to chide you for you "unprofessional" attitude around work, of course, but you don't really mind that
>In fact, it's pretty endearing
>It's just Harshwhinny showing that she cares, in her own harsh little way
>After work, you almost always try to find something for the two of you to do around Ponyville
>Monday is bowling, which Harshwhinny is pretty good at
>Tuesday is the arcade for Pony Streetfighter, which she's not
>Wednesday and Thursday are movie nights, though with less scary flicks this time
>The two of you watch some sappy tear-jerker romance movie, and Harshwhinny bites her lip through the entire film, holding back her tears
>When you get home, she immediately sprints into her room, slamming the door shut
>You try to ignore the sounds of her weeping for the next forty-five minutes
>On Friday, Harshwhinny actually requests to just stay in for the night, which you agree to
>She cooks dinner, and the two of you pass the night by playing cards, chit-chatting, and making out
>She's also taken to sleeping in your bed every night, not even needing to make excuses for it anymore

>The weekend is lazy, as your weekends usually are
>Harshwhinny's brought some work home, of course, and spends a good part of the weekend shut away in her room
>The weather is rainy and dreary, perfect weather for cuddling your marefriend while she re-re-reviews the latest requisition forms
>The two of you while away the hours, huddled together under a blanket while sheets of water lash at the windowpanes
>After dinner, Harshwhinny continues her work, remaining in front of her stacks of papers until half past ten
>You knock on her door, entering with a cup of hot chocolate
"Hey cutie. You coming to bed anytime soon?"
>Harshwhinny shakes her head
>"I have to finish these."
"C'mon, Harsh, you've got all week to work."
>"I'll have more work to do starting tomorrow. This town's infrastructure is seriously outdated. I'm sorry, but... I need to focus right now."
>Her tone indicates that there won't be any changing her mind
>You pat her on the back, giving her a little kiss on the ear
"Alright. Just call for me if you need anything, okay?"
>Harshwhinny nods
>You head back into the living room, continuing to read through the latest Daring Do novel
>Poor old Harsh, she's really working herself hard
>You get through a few more pages before an idea pops into your head
>It's a stupid, childish idea, the exact kind of thing Harshwhinny would roll her eyes at
>And probably the exact thing she'd also secretly enjoy
>You head into your room, stripping your bedding and carrying it into Harshwhinny's room along with a stack of books from the living room
>She doesn't pay you any attention as you dump your materials onto the floor, before heading to the kitchen to grab a lantern
>You spread the blankets over you and Harshwhinny, holding them in place with books to form a tiny fort around her spot on the floor
>The room is so small, you can cover practically all of it with just sheets and a comforter, creating a cozy, candlelit little space for her to work in
>Harshwhinny does roll her eyes, but she still cuddles up to your side when you sit next to her
>You return to your room, grabbing some pillows and a few spare blankets
>In the middle of your fort, you build a comfy little nest from the stolen bedding, laying in it next to Harshwhinny while she works
>A small smile forms on her lips, and she leans against your chest as she reads
>The lantern's glow surrounds the two of you in a cocoon of warm, flickering light, while the pitter-patter of rain can still be heard faintly outside
>Unlike Harshwhinny, you have no desire to stay up all night, and the soft glow and the warmth of Harshwhinny's fur gradually lulls you to sleep

>When you awake, you're alone in the blanket fort
>You crawl out, a little stiff from sleeping on the floor, and find Harshwhinny brewing coffee in the kitchen
>She doesn't look too great; her mane is disheveled, her suit is wrinkled, and her eyes are red and baggy
"Harsh? Did you sleep at all last night?"
>She shakes her head
"Seriously? Why not?"
>"No time. I need to get this infrastructure evaluation finished by the end of the week."
"Why?"
>"So I can start getting the mayor to pass some legislation! This town is deteriorating while ponies go unemployed! Plus... I'd like to establish free temporary residence for ponies who might not have a home."
>She casts her eyes toward the ground as she recalls her own experience with homelessness
>"This is important work, Anonymous. I don't expect help from anypony else, which means I need to dedicate myself to it fully. Even if it means losing a little sleep."
>As if to exaggerate her point, she yawns widely, politely covering her mouth
>"Now get dressed, if you would. I'd like to start as soon as possible."
>You don't get dressed right away, much to Harshwhinny's chagrin, choosing to fix yourself some Luna Loops cereal first
>The two of you are still out of the house a good forty-five minutes before work starts, but that doesn't seem to be enough for Harshwhinny
>She powerwalks the entire way, bleary eyes focused dead ahead
>You unlock the doors when you get there, and she heads straight back to her office
>Man, nothing but romance with this mare
>You lounge at your desk, cracking your Daring Do book again
>Harshwhinny will probably finish your day's work in a single coffee break, why bother trying?
>A single pony comes in, looking mellow and haggard, and fills out an employment-request form
"Any particular field you'd like to work in?"
>He shakes his head
>"Anything's good."
"Alright..."
>He avoids meeting your gaze as he gives you his contact info
>You set to filling out his form, but are interrupted by the sound of the poor guy's gurgling stomach
>He blushes, looking embarrassed
>Without saying anything, you reach into your back pocket, pull out the bits you brought with, and pass them to him
>This just seems to embarrass the stallion even more
>"No, I... I couldn't..."
"Yes you can, bud. You need it more than I do."
>He reluctantly lets you drop the bits into his faded, fraying saddlebags
>You tell him the supermarket a few blocks down has decent food on the cheap, and that you'll try your best to find something for him to do
>The pony thanks you profusely, before sprinting out the door
>Poor guy...
>You've never done something like that for a pony before
>They always just seemed like cartoon characters, without any serious problems
>But, since meeting Harshwhinny... you've realized what a plight some of these horses must have
>Setting your book down, you sit at your desk, and begin pouring through your stack of employment requests
>Harshwhinny could probably do them much faster, and much better, than you
>But this is your job, right?
>You're trying to help these ponies, even if it's just for a day or two
>In the end, there aren't many free jobs to go around, but you still manage to find temp work for a few ponies
>It feels... good, you guess, but you wish there was more you could do
>Harshwhinny's downstairs trying to overhaul the entire town
>Makes you wish you could do a little more

>On the way home, your marefriend is grimly silent
>She looks absolutely exhausted, her eyes still red and puffy
>Still, Harshhwinny makes no sign of slowing down, nor does she ask for any assistance
>Par for the course with her, really
>Still, you're definitely going to make sure she goes to bed tonight

>Harshwhinny disappears into her room the minute the two of you get home
>You sigh, and set about making some dinner
>Not really in the mood for anything fancy tonight, you whip up some vegetable stew, carrying a bowl into Harshwhinny's room for her
>She's under the blanket fort again, reading by the flickering lamplight
>You're surprised, and a little touched, to see that she hasn't dismantled it
>You lay on the floor next to you, placing her bowl of soup near her work papers
"Hey cutie. Everything going okay?"
>She nods, not saying anything
"Alright. Lemme know if you need anything, alright?"
>Another nod
>You kiss Harshwhinny's forehead, and leave her to her work
>Back in the living room, you flop onto the couch, feeling a little useless
>Harshwhinny's doing so much to help the town, but what have you done?
>All you do is lounge around, and get in her way
>You try to pick up reading your Daring Do book, but you can't focus
>In the end, you spend the night on the couch, worried that you'd jus be bothering Harshwinny if you went to sleep by her

>Judging by her appearance the next morning, Harshwhinny's pulled another sleepless night
>Her eyes are redder and puffier, and her mane is a tangled mess
>She brews another pot of coffee, downing it as she groggily pours over more papers
"Harsh, are you sure you shouldn't give it a rest? This town's had crappy infrastructure for decades. A few more days won't hurt."
>Harshwhinny doesn't even respond
"Harsh?"
>Her ears don't even flick
"Harshy?"
>She blinks twice, rubbing at her eyes
"Harsh!"
>Harshwhinny jolts in her chair, looking up at you
>"Oh. Good morning Ano--"
>Her jaws open in a wide yawn, and she doesn't even bother covering her mouth
>"...n. How are you?"
"I'm fine. Are you okay?"
>"Perfectly fine. A little tired, but I'll manage. Let's--"
>Another yawn, this one even longer and wider than the first
>It takes some serious mental gymnastics not to yawn with her
>"...let's get ready for work. I've got another big day."
>She staggers out of her chair, heading into her bedroom
>Only to walk out ten seconds later, shaking her head
>"I'm already dressed. Silly me. Anyway, let's go. The mayor's expecting us."
>She bumps against the table, then slumps into her chair
"Harsh, I really think you ought to stay home today."
>"Stay home? Nonsense! Absolutely unprofessional!"
>Her head lists to one side, and she pushes it back upright with a hoof
>During the walk to work, Harshwhinny keeps listing to the side, wobbling on her orange legs as she attempts to bear the weight of her stuffed suitcase
>She tries to protest when you remove it from her back, but she's breathing too heavily
>"Give that... back... I don't... need help..."
>You shake your head, sighing
"Harsh. The mayor will understand if you take a day off."
>"No days off. Professional. Must be professional."
>She nearly topples over, requiring you to wrap an arm around her to hold her steady
>"Let me go... I can make it..."

>Against your better judgement, you let Harshwhinny continue on to work
>She stumbles inside as soon as you unlock the door, dragging her slouchy orange self into her office, not even bothering to close the door
>The mayor is there early, for whatever reason, and she eyes the exhausted Harshwhinny curiously
>"Anonymous? Is she okay?"
"I... I don't think so, to be honest."
>"And she refuses to stay home, I'll bet?"
"Pretty much, yeah."
>"Hmmm... well, I'd hate to interrupt her working process. This mare's a downright miracle. But, if she starts getting worse, come get me. I'll force her to take a day off."
>You smile and thank the mayor, and go back to your desk
>Two ponies come in today, a mare and a stallion, both looking a little worse for wear
>Neither of them have had a job in nearly a month, apparently, and food's getting short
>You hand them each some of your own bits, despite their protests, and do your best to find them work
>Neither of them end up with terribly glamorous jobs, but you don't think they'll complain
>Still, you wish you didn't feel so useless compared to Harshwhinny...

>Speaking of the lovable orange mare, you take time to check on her around lunch
>And, well... she's worse
>Her head keeps nodding up and down as she fights to stay awake, her eyes glassy where they focus on the page
"Harsh?"
>No response, again
"Harshy?"
>*THUD*
>Harshwhinny's head falls forward onto her desk, landing amongst her papers
>You rush toward her, worried that something might be seriously wrong
>But no, she's just asleep
>The mare begins snoring heavily (and probably unprofessionally), and her head lolls onto your shoulder as you pick her up
>You carry Harshwhinny up to the mayor's office, not even thinking about how ridiculous the two of you must look right now
>Mayor Mare opens her door when you knock, staring perplexed up at the sight before her
>"Umm... is everything alright?"
>You explain the situation to the mayor, and she raises a hoof to her forehead
>"That pony... Yeah, take her home. And make sure she knows we'll be closed tomorrow. I don't want my best employee running herself into the ground."
"Best employee?"
>You make a face, pretending to be hurt
>Mayor Mare just motions for you to leave
>Jeez, what a grump
>You carry the sleeping Harshwhinny against your chest as you make the walk back through town
>The ponies that pass by give the two of you strange looks, but you ignore them
>Harshwhinny would probably be pretty mad at you for ruining her image, or something, but you don't intend to ever let her find out about this
>When you get home, you carry Harshwhinny to her bed, and tuck her in amongst the covers
>She's out like a light, not stirring once in the entire process
>Her snoring's pretty loud too, but you figure you won't bring that up either

>While Harshwhinny sleeps, you take some time to work on some chores
>You disassemble the blanket fort (rest in peace), and return the bedding to your own room, before going to straighten the rest of the house
>Once everything's decently clean, you make your trip to the supermarket to get groceries
>In addition to the regular food necessities, you also pick up another chocolate cake
>Harshwhinny could use some pick-me-up
>While you're on the topic of pick-me-up, you grab some fancy champagne as well
>Hopefully you and Harshwhinny can have a nice one-month celebration next week, you think she'd like that

>When you get home, the business mare is still conked out, her snoring finally fallen silent
>You sit on the edge of the bed, watching her sleep
>Harshwhinny's breathing is slower now, and she's snuggled up under the quilt
>You reach out to scratch her head, causing one of her ears to flick in response
>Huh, her forehead feels a little hot...
>Is that just a pony thing, or is she getting sick?
>Somehow, you get the feeling a sick Harshwhinny would be hard to deal with...
>Turns out, that feeling is correct
>Just as you're about to fall asleep, you're pulled out of bed by a shout from Harshwhinny
>You sprint into her room, finding your marefriend writhing in her sheets
>Running to her side, you place a hand on her forehead, finding her dangerously hot and her fur slick with sweat
>Harshwhinny groans, mumbling words you can't quite make out
>You shake her awake, and she bolts up in bed, eyes frantically scanning the room
>Her chest is heaving, and sweat drips onto her muzzle
>"Anon... where... oh, Celestia..."
>She flops back onto the bed, holding her stomach
>"Uggggh....."
>Recognizing what's about to happen, you grab Harshwhinny and carry her quickly to the bathroom
>She collapses against the toilet, heaving and coughing
>You pat her on the back, trying to comfort her
>Once she's finished, Harshwhinny falls to the floor, breathing hard
>"Anon... help..."
>Well, there's some words you never expected to hear out of this pony's mouth
>You hoist Harshwhinny up into your lap, trying to help her out of her now-sweat-stained suit
>She's gone from badly overheated, to shivering violently, her teeth chattering in your ear
"Easy, easy, I'm gonna get a nice warm bath for you. Just let me get you outta this suit, okay?"
>She tries to respond, but her shivering cuts off her words
>You manage to strip her nude, holding her shuddering body against you as you draw steamy water from the tap
>Once the bathtub is decently full, you slide Harshwhinny into the water, holding her head above its surface
>She lets out a noise somewhere between a gasp and a sigh as the water envelops her
>Her chattering slowly begins to lessen, and you set to scrubbing the sweat from her fur
>Harshwhinny leans her head against your forearm as you hold her in the tub
>"Anon... don't let go of me..."
>She reaches up, weakly, and lays a hoof against your arm
>"Don't let me go..."
"I'm not gonna let go of you, Harsh. I just need to get you cleaned up."
>Harshwhinny closes her eyes, leaning back in the water
>You continue scrubbing one-handed, rubbing down her midsection and over her legs
>"Anon... I wanna kiss..."
"I can't kiss you right now, Harshy. You're sick."
>"Anooooooooon... I wanna kiiiiss..."
>Her hoof tugs weakly at your arm, trying to pull you towards her
>You cave, and kiss the tip of her nose
>She smiles, closing her eyes, and her head droops backwards
>Crazy mare...

>Once you've got Harshwhinny clean, you pull the sodden pony from the tub and wrap her in a fresh towel
>You rub Harshwhinny down with the towel, until her coat is poofy and soft
>It's hilariously adorable, and you'd give her so much crap right now if she was well
>Instead, however, you carry the pony back to her bed, wrapping her in her blankets
>Her shivering has stopped, so you hope she'll be able to sleep through the night
>Still...
>You pull some pillows in from your room, making a spot for yourself on the floor next to her bed
>Harshwhinny probably wouldn't want you fussing over her like this, but you like the mare too much to let her sleep alone and sick
>She's breathing peacefully now, though she still occasionally mumbles something unintelligible
>You hope she's dreaming of something nice...
>The rest of the night passes without incident, fortunately
>You wake up stiff, and a little sore, from sleeping on the floor
>Harshwhinny's eyes are open, and she watches you stand
"Oh, hey Harsh. Feelin' any better?"
>She doesn't respond, just opens her mouth
"Huh?"
>A dry, rasping sound comes from between her lips
"Oh! You're thirsty. Here, I'll go fetch some water real quick..."
>You duck out of her room, filling a glass with water and bringing it back to the sick pony
>She downs it in a few gulps, gasping in relief
>"Thank you, Anon..."
>Harshwhinny struggles to sit up, but just falls back against the pillows
>"I don't feel well..."
"You're telling me. How long has this been going on?"
>"I... I didn't feel to well on Sunday..."
"And then you decided to pull forty-eight hours with no sleep?"
>Harshwhinny just closes her eyes, whether from annoyance or embarrassment you can't tell
"Harsh... I swear. You don't have to push yourself this hard."
>She still doesn't answer
>Honestly, now probably isn't the time to be berating your poor sick marefriend
>You sit down the bed, laying a hand across her forehead
>Her fever is still there, though she's not as sweaty as she was last night
>"Anon."
"Yes?"
>"I can't go to work."
"I know you can't, you crazy pony."
>Harshwhinny frowns
>"They mayor's going to be so disappointed in me."
"Disappointed? Harsh, she demanded that you take a day off. You're pushing yourself way too hard. Which isn't remotely professional."
>Harshwhinny's eyes fly open
>She narrows them at you, her face falling into a frown
>"What do you know about being professional?"
"Harsh, c'mon, I'm just sayin--"
>She crosses her forelegs under the blanket, rolling away from you
"Really? Come on, don't pout..."
>She remains looking away from you
"Ugh. Fine, be mad. But seriously, part of being a good worker is knowing when to rest. You don't have to go one-hundred percent all the time, y'know?"
>Harshwhinny still won't talk to you, keeping her back turned
"Seriously? Alright, cool, whatever. I'll go get you some OJ."
>Stupid pony
>Even when she's being obnoxious, you still want to care for her
>You pour Harshwhinny some orange juice, and set the glass on her nightstand
"I'm gonna be in the living room. If you need me, just tap on the wall or something. I'll hear ya."
>You leave Harshwhinny's door open just a crack as you leave, plopping yourself down on the couch

>Part of you is mad at your marefriend for giving you the cold shoulder when you were just trying to help
>But, mostly, you just feel bad for her
>Poor girl probably feels terrible, in more ways than one
>Having to be looked after by you must embarrass the hell out of her, only adding to her shame of not being able to work
>Combine that with the sickness, and you can forgive Harshwhinny for being a little snappy
>Still, you'd appreciate her acting a little more grateful...
>You end up spending an hour or so on the couch before a light *tap tap*calls you back to Harshwhinny's room
>You walk in, finding her still pouty on her bed
"Did you call me in here just to watch you sulk?"
>"No. I'm thirsty again."
>You notice that the glass of juice is completely drained
"Oh, right. I'll go fetch some more."
>You duck back into the kitchen, pouring her another glass of OJ
>When you return to her room with it, she still hasn't broken out of sulk mode
>She takes the glass from you without giving any words of thanks, draining it
>Then immediately goes back to not looking at you
"Harsh."
>She stares up at the ceiling, forelegs crossed under the blanket
"Harsh, I swear to God. I'm trying to help you here. What on earth are you so mad about?"
>She scrunches her nose up
>"You called me unprofessional."
"...seriously? That's what you're so mad about?"
>Her scrunch deepens, her brow furrowing along with it
"Harsh, I didn't call you unprofessional. I said what you were doing was unprofessional. And it was!"
>"Hmph."
>You sit on the bed, laying a hand against her cheek
>She scoots her head away from your touch
>Oof, she's making it really hard not to get mad at her
"Harsh, a good, professional worker knows her limits. You can't push yourself too far, or this happens."
>She grunts
>You sigh, giving up on talking to her for now
"Same deal as before. Tap if you need anything."
>Back in the living room, you pace around for a bit
>You took care of pretty much everything you needed to do today
>And Daring Do's adventures are starting to get kinda repetitive
>...
>You really need to get some hobbies, don't you?
>Wallowing in your boredom, you grab the sketchpad and pencils from your closet
>Back on earth, you would draw, on occasion
>You weren't good at it, and you still aren't, but it's something to kill the time with, at least
>Sitting in the living room with the sketchbook open on your lap, you scribble down a rough approximation of the books lying on your table
>The shading's terrible, and your perspective's a little off
>But, hey, no one around here has any hands
>It's not like they're going to do any bett--
>*Tap tap tap*
>There she goes again
>Part of you hopes she's calling you in to apologize, but you don't get your hopes up
>Harshwhinny's lying in her same spot on the bed, curled up into a tight little ball
>She's shivering now, the blanket drawn close around her
>"An-n-non I'm c-c-cold. C-c-can you g-get me an-n-nother blanket?"
>Her teeth are audibly chattering
>You lay your hand against her forehead, finding her still hot
"Can't do that Harsh, sorry. You've still got a fever. It'd make you overheat"
>"B-b-but I'm s-s-so c-cold..."
"I know. It sucks. Just try to get some rest."
>You turn to leave her alone, assuming she knows the drill by now
>"W-wait."
>You turn back to her
>"D-d-don't just l-leave me h-here alone... s-s-stupid..."
>You bite your lip to keep from laughing, and sit on the bed next to her
"I thought you were mad at me."
>"I am. B-b-but I d-don't want to b-b-be alone."
>You brush her mane out of her eyes, scratching behind one of her ears
>She's shaking pretty hard, damn
"I know the feeling."
>You continue stroking Harshwhinny, hoping it'll help her chills, at least a little
>She's curled up in a tight little ball under the blankets, her chills racking her entire body
"You want something hot to drink? I bought some tea last time I was at the store."
>Harshwhinny nods
>You head to the kitchen and fix her some tea, brining the steaming mug back to your marefriend
>She clutches the mug close to her chest, trying not to let her shaking hooves spill any
>You have to help her steady the cup as she drinks
>She breathes deeply after taking a long drought, leaning back against the headboard of the bed
>"Th-thank you An-n-nonymous."
"No prob."
>You sick next to her again, continuing to stroke along her body
>The possibility of contracting her illness does enter your mind, but you don't really care
>You can handle being sick, and you're not going to let that stop you from comforting your pony
>Harshwhinny doesn't look mad anymore, just miserable
>You wish there was more you could do, but you haven't seen an apothecary or anything around here
>There's a hospital, but Harshwhinny's not serious enough for that
>At least, you hope she's not
>Maybe Twilight knows about medicine?
>There's that Zebra with all the potions and junk, but she lives out in the Hundred Acre Woods or whatever it's called
>Right now, Twilight seems like the best bet
"Hey, Harsh?"
>Harshwhinny turns her eyes up to you, and your chest aches to see so much misery there
"I'm gonna go get you some medicine, okay?"
>"B-b-b-but..."
>She sucks in a breath, her shivering rocking the mattress
"Easy, easy. I'm just gonna run there and back. I'll be back before you know it, okay?"
>"Ok-k-kay... h-hurry you st-st-stupid..."
>You ignore her insults, and sprint from your house, tearing across Ponyville like a madman
>When you reach Twilight's library-house, you bang furiously on the door until she answers
>The princess looks up at you, bewildered
>"Anon? What in Equestria is the matter?"
"My marefriend's sick, and I need medicine."
>"Marefriend? Since when do you have a--?"
"That's not important right now. I just need some simple fever medicine. Please?"
>Twilight sighs
>"Fine, fine. But you owe me."
"Thanks, Twi. You're a good princess."
>She blushes at that
>"Oh you..."
>You follow Twilight inside, waiting in the main lobby of her library as she disappears into her study
>She returns a few minutes later with a vial of blue liquid, her aura levitating it gracefully into your palm
>"Give her a sip of this every two or three hours until she's better. Should do the trick."
"You're the best, Twi."
>You pat her on the head, then take off running again, legs burning as you hurry yourself back towards Harshwhinny

>Back at the house, you find her rolled up in her blankets like a cocoon, shivering violently
>Her eyes fly open when you open the door, and she looks relieved
>"M-m-m-med... m-m-medic-c-c--?"
"Easy, I got it. You just lay back."
>Harshwhinny obliges, trying in vain to keep her mouth open and steady
>You manage to pour a little of the medicine between her lips
>She swallows, and shuts her eyes
>Gradually, her shivering fades to little tremors, and she sighs in content
"Better?"
>Harshwhinny nods
>She lays back against the bed, her breathing beginning to deepen and slow
"Tired?"
>She nods, sluggishly
"Good. You just get some rest. I'll keep checking up on you, okay?"
>Without speaking, Harshwhinny reaches a hoof from under the blankets, and presses it into your hand
>You give her a little squeeze, running your other hand over her mane
>A little smile plays on her lips as she drifts to sleep
>Once you're sure Harshwhinny's sleeping, you let go of your hoof, and give her a kiss on the nose before heading back to the living room
>You pick up your sketch book again, having another go at drawing the books on your coffee table
>The old familiar rules of perspective and shading are starting to come back to you
>You get a decent-looking sketch done, before moving on to the view out your window
>The shapes of trees and houses are a fair bit more complex, and you find yourself becoming immersed in your drawing as the room slowly darkens around you
>You're not pulled away from your work until you hear bedsprings groaning in Harshwhinny's room
>Stepping into her room, you find her sitting up in bed, rubbing her eyes
>She blinks, looking up at you
>"Anon-mous? Whuh time 's it?"
"It's a little past seven, Harsh. How was your nap."
>"Good."
>She yawns, before slowly laying back onto the bed
"You feeling any better?"
>A gurgling sound echoes from the blankets
>"I'm hungry."
>Harshwhinny peaks up at you, giving you puppy-dog eyes
"I know, I know, I'll make some food. You just rest."
>You duck back into the kitchen, and boil some water to make stew, throwing in various vegetables, and some rice
>Sure, not a particularly elegant recipe, but since when has stew ever been elegant?
>You stir the pot, throwing in a few spices and such, until you have a delicious-smelling, steaming stew
>You ladle a large bowl out for Harshwhinny, carrying into her room on a tray, along with some OJ
>She reaches happily for the tray when you bring it to her, chowing down on the stew immediately
>A little dribbles onto her muzzle, and you wipe it off with a napkin
"Slow down, you. There's plenty more left."
>Harshwhinny still powers through her first bowl, before requesting another
>You oblige, and begins working through it, occasionally pausing to sip at her OJ
>When she's finished her third bowl, Harshwhinny leans against the headboard, patting her stomach
>"That's a lot better..."
>She grabs your hand again, tugging you closer towards the bed
>"Thank you, Anon. I know I've been a little difficult today, but... I really, really appreciate your help."
"Of course, Harsh. I wasn't gonna just let my favorite mare be sick and miserable all day."
>You scratch the side of her head, sitting down next to her on the bed
>The two of you stay like that for a while, just her laying on the bed, and you gently scratching her neck and ears
>You do notice she looks a little bored, and an idea comes to you
"I'll be right back."
>You stand, and head into the living room, grabbing your Daring Do book, and the lantern
>Bringing both back into Harshwhinny's room, you light the lantern and set it on her bedside table
>It sheds just enough light for you to read by, while still keeping the room comfortably dim
>"What's that? A kid's book?"
"One of the BEST kid's books. Have you seriously never read these?"
>Harshwhinny shakes her head
>"I've never had time for anything so childish."
"Well, now's your chance."
>You open the book, and clear your throat
>"You're going to... read to me?"
"Mhm. Just like your mom or dad used to do."
>"Actually... they didn't. They were always too busy. And I don't need you to read to me either. For Celestia's sake, I'm probably twenty years older than you."
>You put a finger to her lips
"Shhh. Just relax, and enjoy the story. Everybody needs to be read to at least once."
>Harshwhinny scowls
>"Fine. But don't expect me to care."
"Yeah, yeah."
>You flip to the first page
"Daring Do, and the Temple of Elemental Evil, by A.K. Yearling. Scorching rays of light battered Daring's brow as she stepped into the clearing, her mouth growing sore where it clasped her machete..."
>Harshwhinny stares up at the ceiling as you read, her scowl fading
>She pulls the blanket tighter around herself, snuggling back into her pillow
"A fragment of the collapsing pillar landed on Daring's back, pinning her to the ground. She could feel the searing heat of the lava flow inching towards her, but found herself unable to move out of the way."
>"Wait, what? Is she going to die? I thought you told me this was a kid's book!"
"Calm down. It's not finished yet."
>"I know, but..."
>Harshwhinny shakes her head
>"Just keep going, whatever."
>You smile wryly at Harshwhinny
"You sure? If you're not enjoying it--"
>"Just keep reading. Such a childish story..."
>She crosses her forelegs, pouting
"Daring struggled desperately, barely managing to worm out from under the stone shard, tearing a few feathers from her wing in the process. She cried in pain, but there was no time for recovery. She leapt into the air, wings beating madly as she lifted away from the lava flow."
>Harshwhinny breathes a subtle sigh of relief
>After Daring's escape, the book continues to describe her adventures in the temple, eventually leading her to its fabled treasure hall
>Harshwhinny's watching you intently now, curled into a little call under the blankets
>"There, standing amongst the piles of gold and sparkling jewels, stood the menacing figure of Daring Do's nemesis: Ahuizotl."
>Harshwhinny raises an eyebrow in surprise
>You can see her tail twitching under the blankets as you describe Daring's battle against her foe, as the two of them struggled for possession of the Alabaster Amulet
"Ahuizotl threw Daring Do to the ground, roaring in triumph as he held the amulet in his paws. Daring raised her head, weakly, unable to do anything to stop him as he clambered up the chamber's walls, escaping the temple just as it began to collapse around her. Daring fell back against the gritty floor, head swimming as stone crumbled all around her. She managed to utter a single word before blackness engulfed her."
>You snap the buck shut with a dramatic finish
>Harshwhinny jolts up in bed
>"You mean that's it!? That's how the story ends!?"
"That's how this book ends. It's a series."
>Harshwhinny groans, flopping back onto the bed
"So does that mean you enjoyed it?"
>"Absolutely not! I don't want to have to waste even more time by reading another book!"
"I thought you liked reading."
>"I like reading important things! Like tax forms, contracts, and employee handbooks. Not this unprofessional drivel for foals."
>She scowls
"Well, we don't have to read the next one if you don't like them."
>"No! I mean... I have to see how the story ends, now..."
"Oh, right. I'll go grab the next book."
>In your living room, your clock informs you that it's now half-past midnight
>You should probably get to bed by now...
>Eh, you're probably not gonna work tomorrow anyway, you can stay up and read to Harshwhinny some more
>You carry the next book back to Harshwhinny's room, sitting on the corner of her bed once more as you flip to the first page
"'Daring Do and the Dungeon of Doom', by A.K. Yearling. When Daring opened her eyes, she found that she was no longer trapped in the bowels of the Temple. Instead, her wounds had been bandaged, and she now lay besides a crackling fire..."
>"Wait! How did this happen? Did you skip a book?"
"Shhhh. Just listen."
>Just before the Temple collapsed, Daring spoke the magic word to summon the Grand Djinni of Saddle Arabia, who she had once freed, to her side
>In return for his freedom, the Djinni now owed Daring a debt, which he repaid by rescuing her and transporting her to a town of friendly natives
>"Djinni? When did this happen?"
"One of the earlier books."
>"There are even MORE of these?"
"Yeah. There's like two dozen."
>Harshwhinny blinks in surprise
>"I... I see. Hmmm..."
"Why? Do you want to read all of them? Because I think Twilight's library has the full set. Rainbow probably has them too, but hers probably aren't that clean..."
>"I don't WANT to read all of them. But now that we've started, I kinda have to, don't I?"
"Not really..."
>"Well... I will anyway."
"Because you like them?"
>Harshwhinny just crosses her forelegs, and doesn't reply
"Alright, well... we'll keep going."
>By the time you're about halfway through the book, you notice that Harshwhinny is once again sleeping soundly
>Heh, being sick must really tucker her out
>You clean a few remaining drops of stew from her muzzle, and return to your pile of cushions on the floor
>Harshwhinny seems mostly okay now, but you'd still like to be with her, just in case
>Unlike Harshwhinny, though, sleep doesn't come too easily to you
>Which is unfortunate, because you're really damn tired
>For some reason though, your brain decides it would like you to stay awake, and so you do
>You try to pass time by staring up at the ceiling, but darkness and plaster get pretty boring after a while
>So instead you just close your eyes, trying to focus on nothing at all...
>" 'non..."
>Harshwhinny mumbles your name weakly
>You sit up in bed, only to find that she's just talking in her sleep
>" 'non... where 're you..."
>Her hooves grope around for you under the blankets
>" 'non... 'm lonely..."
>She reaches feebly out, grasping at nothing
>You take hold of one of her hooves
>Slowly, her other foreleg finds your arm, gripping it
>" 'non..."
>She tries to snuggle up against your forearm, tugging you closer towards the bed
>Giving in, you lay in the bed next to her
>Harshwhinny clutches your chest, pulling herself snugly against you
>"Mmm... 'non..."
>Her snout nuzzles your neck
>"...love you..."
>Your heart skips a beat
>"...love you... 'non..."
>She leans her head against your shoulder, forelegs still wrapped tightly around your midsection
>"...love you... so much..."
>You kiss her forehead, feeling her sigh contentedly in response
"Love you too, Harshy."
>And with your professional, sometimes-grump marefriend clutched tightly to your chest, you finally find yourself able to fall asleep
>The next morning, Harshwhinny informs you that she feels a lot better
>You have her take another swig of the medicine, just in case
>She's as hungry as only a newly-recovered Harshwhinny can be, and lets you know it
>You bring her breakfast in bed, consisting of some scrambled eggs, hash browns, toast, and orange juice
>You set the tray in front of her, then turn to leave the room
>"Anon, wait."
>Harshwhinny pats the bed, motioning for you to sit next to her
>You oblige, watching her as she starts on her breakfast
>With a mouthful of food, she addresses you
>"I actually haff somefing really important to say. But I'm kinda hungry right now. So jus' wait a moment."
>You nod, and watch as she scarfs down the breakfast
>Damn, this girl can eat
>It must be all the stress and constant work that keeps her thin
>When she finishes, Harshwhinny wipes her muzzle and drains the glass of orange juice
>"Ahhh..."
>She sets the tray aside, and folds her hooves in her lap
>"Okay. Um... I'm sorry."
>You raise an eyebrow
>Harshwhinny apologizing is a rare occurrence, after all
>"I was really short with you yesterday. You were being very generous, taking care of me and all, and I... well, I was a pretty lousy patient, wasn't I?"
"I wouldn't say 'lousy,' but yeah. You were definitely not acting terribly grateful."
>"Well... I wanted to say thank you. I've never had another pony to take care of me like that when I was sick. It felt... nice, in a weird way. Made me feel safe, and... special."
>She continues fidgeting with her hooves
>"So, yes, there it is. Thank you. You've been a really... really great stallion to me these past few weeks."
>She turns her head, and kisses you on the cheek
>You wrap your arms around Harshwhinny, hugging her tightly
>Even though she's kissed you a hundred times before, the one just now is making you blush like crazy
"You're welcome, Harshy. Thanks for... damn, thanks for just being such a stand-up mare. Even though, yeah, you can be difficult sometimes, you're really, really great. Hardworking, intelligent, motivated, pretty... I..."
>You think back to last night, and the words Harshwhinny mumbled to you in her sleep, and how you responded
>She deserves to hear your response again now that she's awake, doesn't she?
>Harshwhinny's silvery-blue eyes stare up into yours, anxious for your next words
"I love you, Harsh."
>She blinks twice, stunned
>"Oh... wow, um... I also... do that."
>Huh?
"Do what?"
>"You know, I l... I lo... I also do that thing you just said. But to you."
>Her cheeks are acquiring a nervous blush, and she glances away from you
"Harsh? Are you okay?"
>"Yes! Now just shut up and hold me!"
>She wraps her forelegs tightly around your torso, leaning her head on your shoulder
"Yeah, you're definitely better..."
>You stroke along her mane and neck, and give her a little kiss on the forehead
"Want to finish our book from yesterday?"
>"...yes."
"Good. Now, what's the last thing you rememer happening?"
>"Just start from the beginning."
"The beginning? You sure?"
>Harshwhinny nods
>You shrug, pulling the blanket up and over the two of you, and begin to read
>The two of you pass the day together like that, wrapped tightly together under a quilt with you reading to Harshwhinny about the adventures of Daring Do
>Occasionally, you do untangle yourself from her grasp long enough to get food, but you always hurry back
>The bed is warm, and Harshwhinny is unbelievably soft where she presses against you
>It's late afternoon by the time you finish the book
"Another?"
>Harshwhinny doesn't make any more pretense of not enjoying the books
>She just nods, letting go of your stomach
>You duck into your living room, and grab the next Daring book
>It's only the seventh book in the series; you haven't bought the rest yet
>Back on the bed, Harshwhinny scoots up into your lap, resting her head on your chest
>You continue reading, even though your voice is beginning to wear out
>By the time you're only halfway done, Harshwhinny's nodding off and your throat is getting sore
>You snap the book shut
"I think it's time for bed."
>Harshwhinny nods her agreement
>You scoop her up, and lay her on her bed, tucking the sheets in around her
>However, just as you stand to head back to your own room, Harshwhinny calls out to you
>"Wait. You're not just going to leave me here alone, are you?"
>You smile to yourself, and turn back to her, clambering under the sheets to lay next to Harshwhinny
>She takes your hand on her hooves
>"The bed gets cold if it's just me."
>She gives you a small kiss on the nose, scooting closer to you under the blanket
>"I've never enjoyed being sick so much. Thank you for taking care of me, Anon."
"Of course, Harshy."
>You give her hoof a little squeeze
"Of course."
*One week later*
>You sit at your desk, slowly leafing through your stack of employment request forms
>Harshwhinny's started up a lot of new projects around town this week, leaving enough new jobs open for every pony in your stack
>It's a good feeling, being able to give them some help
>You're just finishing up assigning jobs when Harshwhinny appears from her office
>She came in early to work this morning, so you haven't seen her all today
>Your marefriend holds a scrap of parchment in her suit pocket, and has a big smile on her face as she trots over to you
"Hey, Harsh. What're you so happy about?"
>She doesn't her answer, instead just trotting over to your desk and leaning up against you
>Harshwhinny closes her eyes, and begins rubbing her head affectionately against your arm
"Uh... Harsh? You alright?"
>She circles around behind your chair, rearing up on her hind legs and wrapping her forelegs around your neck
>You can feel her breath tickling the back of your neck as she whispers to you
>"You know what day today is, right?"
"I do."
>One month ago, today, you randomly asked Harshwhinny out to dinner
>The orange mare leans her head against the back of yours, sighing contentedly
>"Mmm... I made plans for the two of us."
"Really?"
>Harshwhinny's usually not one for romance
>"Mhm. So you just sit tight until work ends, hotshot. Then you're all mine."
>She kisses the back of your neck, causing goosebumps to break out along your body
>God damn, you're heart is beating really fast
>Harshwhinny marches businesslike out of your office, pausing just long enough to wink at you before she leaves
>Hoo boy
>Well, that just happened
>Harshwhinny taking the romantic lead?
>You are so, so down with that
>But what kind of plans could she have made?
>She'll probably have the two of you filing tax forms together by candlelight
>Or scarf shopping
>Still, you can't help but be excited by the prospect of a Harshwhinny-planned date
>Should be something new, at least

>Harshwhinny spends much of her time in the basement, not emerging until it's almost time to go
>She still has that same smile on her face, and the parchment scroll still sits in her suit pocket
>Harshwhinny trots happily over to you, bumping your leg with her hip
>"You ready to go, hotshot?"
"Just about. Where exactly are we going?"
>"You'll see. Just follow me."
>She adjusts her scarf, and leads you out the door
>You pause to lock the place up, and Harshwhinny waits for you
>Her smile has a slightly devious tint to it and, in spite of yourself, you're starting to get excited
>You gesture for her to lead the way, and the two of you continue

>You realize where Harshwhinny is taking you as soon as the restaurant comes into view
>"Citizen Mane's"... you could never forget such a tacky name
>And besides, it's where you took Harshwhinny for your first date
>Her bringing you here now is a little cheesy, you guess, but cute
>"I told you I would repay you for everything, Anonymous."
"Yeah, that you did. In fact you told me like half a dozen times. And I'm pretty sure I told you that you didn't have to just as many."
>Harshwhinny turns her nose up
>"Hmph. It would be completely unacceptable for me not to take you to a fancy dinner after all you've done for me. Now come on, I made reservations."
>Perfect punctuality, you could have imagined a Harshwhinny date would go like this
>Still, you can't say no to fancy food, even if it's made for horses