(Bat) A Feeling Of Sadness - 1

>Day The Wall Comes Down in Equestria.
>You are Speck.
>It's been about a week since you met Anon.
>You've been living in his house since then.
>Not because you didn't have anywhere to go.
>But because he insisted that you stopped living out in that dark forest.
>It was like he was scared for you.
>You didn't mind it.
>You had someone to call a friend and a warm place to sleep.
>He didn't expect much from you either.
>Just that you don't destroy the house and keep it somewhat clean.

>Your days consisted of waking up in the mornings when he opened his closet to retrieve a coat.
>He would make the two of you breakfast.
>You would eat together.
>He would go upstairs and shower, then leave for work.
>You always took this opportunity to try to find his journal, never to any avail.
>After several hours of searching, you always found yourself sprawled out on the living room sofa.
>Moaning and groaning over how bored you were.
>And at this same time, every day, the mailmare would knock at the door and deliver the mail.
>And another package addressed to you.

>There was a knock at the door.
>You roll off of the sofa and trot to the foyer, opening the door.
>And there stood the mailmare.
>Speak of the devil.
>She hands you Anon's mail and a package addressed to you.
>You open it, feeling absolutely nothing as a brick falls to the floor.
"Gee, thanks."
>You don't know the mailmare's name.
>You never asked.
>She was the only p0ny in town that didn't mind you.
>Except maybe the librarian.
>The mailmare leaves, continuing her daily business.
>You close the door and take the brick up to the guest room.
>Anon insisted that you sleep in there, but you always found the closet to be more cozy.
>You step into the room and sigh in disgust.
>Nearly five hundred bricks line the walls of the room, blocking the window and closet.
>You don't know why you moved all of your bricks from your tree to this room.
>They were all you had to call your own.
>You stack the brick up with the others and leave the room, scoffing at your sentimentality.
>Your hooves carry you back downstairs, into the foyer, and out the door.
>No use being stuck inside all day with nothing to do.
>Maybe you could try talking to some of the other ponies?
>Yeah, that doesn't sound like a very good plan.
>You decide to take a trip to the library.
>There might be more to do there than at Anon's house.

>Your stomach rumbles on your way there.
>You can probably blame that on the delicious smell wafting from Sugarcube Corner.
>Anon has mentioned that he works there.
>A short visit couldn't hurt, could it?
>After all, you've never been inside since it has always closed before you woke up at night.
>You trot inside with a cheerful hello.
>And you are responded to with a horrified scream.
>This is always the first reaction you get when a p0ny first sees you.
>It's upsetting.
>And you feel like you're about to cry.

>You are now Anon.
>And the most startling scream you have ever heard has just caused you to drop a pan of fresh blueberry muffins.
>Great.
>Mrs. Cheese Cake must have seen a rat skitter by or something.
>You pick up the muffins quickly and place them on a tray.
>Five second rule.
>You grab a broom by the door as you walk out into the front-end of the store.
>The first thing you notice, as Mrs. Cake continues her wailing, is Speck huddled in the corner by the entrance.
>She looks like she's crying, but she's turned away from you.
>First things first, you place your hand on Mrs. Cake's shoulder and beckon her back into the kitchen.
"I'll take care of this, Mrs. Cake. Just go in there, stay calm, and leave everything to me."
>She nods, still scared stiff as you hand the broom to her.
>You rush over to Speck and kneel down by her.
>You can feel Mrs. Cake watching you from the kitchen.
>You place a hand on Speck's back and stroke her gently.
>She flinches at your touch before recognizing your presence.
>She turns to face you, her tear-stained cheeks revealing themselves to you.
>"Why does everyp0ny hate me?"
>You can't hold these feels.
>You can't imagine how she's felt all her life.
>Your five years here have been met with p0nies who only showed you kindness, very few actually being terrified of you.
>Speck, on the other hand.
>You pick her up and hold her in a tight hug.
>She wraps herself around your torso, her face burying into your chest.
>You can feel your apron begin to soak with her tears.
>You sit against the wall and hold her for what seems like an hour.
>Mrs. Cake had stopped watching you once you'd turned to face the rest of the shop's interior.
>Speck just sobs into you.
>All you can do is stroke her mane and back.

>After a while, she quiets down.
>Nothing but steady breathing.
>She might be asleep at this point.
>Only one way to find out.
"You know, Speck. As batty as you may drive me, I'll never leave you hanging when you're feeling upside down."
>You're writing that suicide note tonight.
>You can't believe that just came out of your mouth.
>You hate bats, you hate puns, but overall...
>You hate bat puns the most.
>There's a small explosion of snot and tears as she begins laughing through her sadness and fears.
>Absolutely disgusting.
>She looks up at you, flashing her fangs with a smile.
>You smile back and scratch behind her ears.
"Feeling batter?"
>You're skipping the suicide note and just jumping off a bridge.
>She nods, trying to suppress another fit of snickering.
>"Yes, I am feeling much batter. Thanks Anon."
>You opened the floodgates.
>The wall has come crashing down.
>The punpocalypse has begun.
>It's happening.
>Her stomach rumbles.
>She perks up, as if she remembered something important.
>"I'm feeling berry hungry, Anon. Are you baking anyfang good?"
>She's stretching it.
>She's really stretching it.
>There are knives in the kitchen.
>You could make it quick.
>She climbs off of you and starts toward the kitchen.
>You jump up and intercept her.
>She tries to move past you.
"Speck, I don't think that's a very good idea. Mrs. Cake seemed really startled."
>Speck frowns and looks away, kicking the floor lightly with a front hoof.

>You step into the kitchen to find Mrs. Cake pulling a pineapple upside down cake out of the oven.
>That's puzzling.
>Today was muffin and pie day.
>You start to speak, but she cuts you off as soon as you do.
>"Where's your friend, dearie? I figured while you were consoling her, I'd bake her something special to say I was sorry."
>She clears her throat.
>"I didn't know she was a friend of yours, and I doubt you'd keep bad company."
>That's reassuring.
>If p0nies were quick to judge Speck when she was alone, and react with fear.
>Then maybe they would give her a chance if you were with her.
>After all, despite your lack of social out-going, many of the ponies in town were fond of your presence.
>You hear a clopping noise from behind you.
>Speck enters the room, salivating and licking her muzzle.
>Mrs. Cake smiles to her, but you can see a bit of fear behind it.
>"Hello, dearie."
>Speck snaps out of her little trance and looks towards Mrs. Cake.
>She shies behind you and tries to hide.
>Mrs. Cake looks up at you.
>You kneel down and pull Speck in front of you.
"Mrs. Cake baked you something special to say she was sorry for reacting the way she did."
>Speck lowers her head and kicks at the floor.
>"I'm sorry I scared you, Mrs. Cake."
>"Oh, dearie. It's quite alright."
>Mrs. Cake smiles and beckons Speck to the cake.
>Speck looks back at you.
>You nudge her forward.
>She approaches the cake.
>Mrs. Cake is smiling, but there's no more fear behind it.
>It begins.

>Speck sniffs at the cake and casts a sideways glance at Mrs. Cake.
>Mrs. Cake nods, giving Speck the okay to take a bite out of it.
>Speck opens her mouth as wide as she can and sinks her fangs into the soft flesh of the cake.
>She sits there for what feels like an eternity, that one piece of cake still in her mouth.
>You don't think she's even chewed it yet.
>She's just sitting there, wide-eyed with her mouth half-way open.
>You look at Mrs. Cake.
>She looks back with a puzzled look on her face.
>You roll your eyes and shrug, signifying that this seems to be fairly normal.
>Mrs. Cake nods in understanding.
>Speck starts sobbing.
>She flattens herself to the ground and covers her face with her hooves.
>You walk over to her and kneel beside her.
>Your hand rests on her shoulder.
>"W-why is... is this th-the best cake... ever."
>She stands up and stares at the cake like it's a long-lost lover.
>Her tears still stream down her cheeks.
>Mrs. Cake is trying so hard not to laugh.
>She takes the cake and puts it in a box for Speck to take home.
>"Thank you Mrs. Cake."
>Speck smiles and turns back to you with the box on her back.
"I still have to finish baking and clean up here. Will you be alright getting back home?"
>She nods and nuzzles your leg as she leaves.
>As soon as Speck is out the door, Mrs. Cake doubles over in laughter.
>"Oh... oh, dearie. Wherever did you find her?"
>You sigh and lean on the counter in the middle of the room as you start to regale Mrs. Cake with your story.

>You are now Speck.
>And you got a free pineapple upside down cake.
>You rank it up there with those banana bread muffins Anon helps you make.
>He's going to have to help you make this cake from now on.
>Your journey home is short and uneventful.
>Aside from some of the p0nies hurling insults at you.
>The more they throw, the faster you trot.
>You rush into Anon's house, throw the cake on the kitchen table, and rush upstairs and into his closet.
>You curl yourself up into a ball and cover yourself with his coats and some of his dress-shirts.
>You cry until you fall asleep.
>Sleep has always been a great escape for you.
>Luna's love for her bat-p0nies gives them nothing but peaceful and happy dreams.
>It's almost unheard of for a bat-p0ny to have nightmares.
>You dream of cakes and muffins and fruits.
>You dream of Anon, and how kind he has been to you.
>You dream of you and him moving away from everything to live in a huge treehouse.

>You are now Anon.
>It's been a long day at Sugarcube Corner.
>You brought home a banana cream pie for Speck.
>Mrs. Cake has always taken quite a liking to anyp0ny that loves her cooking.
>Speck left her cake out on the table.
>Shaking your head, you put it in the refrigerator with the pie and leave the kitchen.
>You go upstairs to your bedroom.
>The open closet catches your eye almost immediately.
>That's odd.
>Speck always sleeps with the doors closed.
>You look inside and find her curled up in your clothes.
>Her cheekfur is plastered down by tears.
>Something must have happened to her on the way home.
>She shivers.
>You pick her up and wrap her in a blanket from the shelf.
>You pull your journal out from behind the headboard of your bed and take her downstairs.
>She tucks herself tightly between your arm and chest as you lay down on the sofa in the living room.
>You pluck a pen from the table and start writing about the day's events in your journal.
>Everything from the morning, to everything you thought about, to what happened at Sugarcube Corner.
>You finish writing, close the book, and toss it onto the table.
>You twist to lay on your side and hold Speck as close as you can.
>No one should have to go through what she's gone through.
>You close your eyes and hug her tightly so she'll know she's safe.
>Sleep overtakes you, but you have no dreams.