Friendly Files


                                            ...

                                            >An unremembered name.

                                            >An orphan.

                                            >Ward.

                                            >A zero-tolerance policy.

                                            >A failure.

                                            >A freak.

                                            >Horsefucker.

                                            >Mall cop.

                                            >Gun nut.

                                            >Killer.

                                            >Impending lay-off.

                                            >Spree...

                                            >Let's take it back a few days. To where something good finally happened in your miserable life.

                                            >"Friendly!"

                                            >You bolt awake.

                                            "What's happening? Are you okay?"

                                            >"Yeah, yeah I'm alright girl. You looked scared, everything alright?"

                                            "Oh, yeah..."

                                            >"You don't have to sleep at the foot of my bed now, you remember? I smoked the peace pipe with our pursuer."

                                            "Oh, yeah..."

                                            >You rub a little sleep from your eyes, but you're still so tired

                                            "I want to. It makes me feel more useful. I want to thank you for all you've done for me, plus I'm an insomniac at the best of times."

                                            >"You would've stayed up if that were really true."

                                            >You hide your face in your hooves.

                                            >Doc has a weird sense of humor and a weird way of comforting you, again, even at the best of times.

                                            >"Oh, I didn't mean it like that. Something with my head... I should probably get it looked at."

                                            "No, you're right. If I were really such an insomniac I'd have had less trouble staying awake for tonight's watch. If I needed coffee I'd have asked for some. I fucked it."

                                            >"Wanting a night's sleep isn't selfish. Come here."

                                            "Are you sure? I always-"

                                            >He scoops you up and pulls you in close to his chest.

                                            >The light of the moon envelopes the both of you as you nestle into the soft fabric of his pajama t-shirt.

                                            >You wrap your forehooves around him like you've done it a million times...

                                            >Is it really true that less than a week ago you were...

                                            >Yes, but it does feel unreal.

                                            >"For this next week, I want you to stop thinking you need to protect me so much, alright? You're good at it, lots of credit to you. But I can tell it's wearing on you."

                                            >He ruffles your camo mane and you let out a little sigh of relief

                                            "If you really want me to, you're my owner after all. What you say goes."

                                            >"Damn right. Oh, and also..."

                                            >He pushes himself further under the covers, until your head is just barely poking out from beneath soft sheets.

                                            >"It's a week 'til Christmas."

                                            >Christmas...

                                            >You haven't thought about Christmas in a while. It's not like you had anyone to spend it with.

                                            >You had a cynic outlook on it all, it's a consumerist holiday after all. Jesus wasn't born in the winter.

                                            >But now that you have someone...

                                            >It's an enigma. You don't know what to think of it all.

                                            >Regardless, you find the idea of spending time with someone comforting... potentially mutliple someones.

                                            >Doc said you were all going on a 'business trip' tomorrow with that guy who's been trying to kill him.

                                            >He says you don't have anything to worry about, that he couldn't bring himself to hurt ponies, but he still kinda freaks you out.

                                            >It's not like Doc is perfect, but he saved your life. That's worth a whole lot to you.

                                            ...

                                            >"Well, this is goodbye for now then."

                                            >Doc and his weird drug-dealer friend shake hands. You don't really get what his deal with the man is.

                                            >He's not an addict.

                                            >You recall something about there being a financial incentive for friendship, you get it. You've been there.

                                            >It sucks and doesn't last after finances are more stable.

                                            >But people who sell drugs have tempers.

                                            >You'll worry about the implications of it all later.

                                            >The man who has told you to call him 'Master' (you won't) loads Spanish, catatonic in the daylight, into the back of a beat-up rental truck.

                                            >You think the last truck got torched. It's probably a sore subject.

                                            >Moony and Greeny follow. Moonflower makes a good mom.

                                            >You...

                                            >The windows are tinted on the wagon Doc has borrowed from his friend. The seats are a bit uncomfortable, but at least you won't be confined to below the window sightlines like the rest.

                                            >You've been told the views along the way are breathtaking.

                                            >Everything packed, you climb up into the passenger seat.

                                            >"I'm going to put on the radio for a bit, yeah? Keep us awake."

                                            "You might want to grab some coffee or an energy drink."

                                            >"I will, this is just until I get through town."