>The smell of something delicious awakens you from your slumber. >Thankfully you didn’t sleep in, maybe you got enough sleep for once. >You get up to go see what the other two are up to. >As you approach the kitchen, you can hear them talking. >”It’s really not that hard.” >>”Really? I think taking that all in would be difficult.” >What the actual fuck? >Rounding the corner, you see Connie cooking and Rest is eating. >”No I-Oh, good morning Eri. Sleep well?” “Yeah I guess, but what the fuck were you two talking about?” >Rest furrows her eyebrows and looks confused. >”Just how to take a shot of liquor, that’s all, why?” >Of course they were you pervert, not like they were talking about anything lewd. >Letting your eyes wander, you try not to look her in the eyes. “I-uh...Was curious is all.” >”Oh, okay.” >>”I already made you a plate Eri, just making my own at the moment.” >You look over to the table and see a plate of eggs with some veggies. >The moment you look at it, your stomach cries out. >You hear Rest giggle and you shoot her a dirty look. >She smirks and continues to eat. >Taking a seat, you dig in and by Celestia, it is damn good. >As you’re eating, Connie joins the two of you and starts to talk. >>”So I have some plans on where we all can go while you two are here. I figure we can visit some of the landmarks, go to the museum, watch a movie at the cinema, maybe even go shopping. Of course I’d like for your input, because I’d rather not just decide for you.” >”I’m up for anything, but personally I think we should let Eri pick.” >Looking up from your plate, you see them both looking at you. >Taking a quick drink, you feel a little cornered. >As you try to think, you feel an all too familiar feeling of anxiety starting to rise. >In truth, you don’t really want to go out, but that defeats the whole purpose. >’You shouldn’t have come in the first place Eri.’ >Not right now, I’m trying to think. >’I’m apart of you dumbass.’ >I don’t fucking need this right now. >’How about you lie, like you always do. Bet they will eat it up.’ >No, I won’t have that. >Fuck it, only one of those ideas sounds slightly appealing. “Um...How about we go to the movies? I haven’t done that in a long time.” >Not since you were a foal, not since you lived with your parents. >And now you feel like shit, just like usual. >”Sounds good to me.” >>”Alright, then it’s settled.” >As you look at your plate, you’ve lost your appetite. >You feel yourself slump a little, why did you have to think about that? >’Because you’re a horrible pony.’ >Yeah I am, aren’t I? >Before you slump further, Rest gets your attention. >”Something the matter?” >You sit up and put on a fake face for her. “I’m fine, just not as hungry. I’m going to go get a bath.” >She raises an eyebrow, but smiles. >”Oh alright.” >As you excuse yourself from the table, you feel a little worse. >It sucks that you’re letting Connie’s cooking go to waste, you really are a bad pony. >You reach the bedroom and open up your suitcase to search for something in particular. >’Told you that you would give in.’ “...I know.” >You grab a razor, some bandages, and a hoodie. >Just need to pull through for them. >The bathroom is nice, better than your shitty excuse for a bathroom. >Much cleaner and larger. >You start to fill up the tub and let your eyes linger on the blade. >Funny how something so simple can do so much. >You sit down, your eyes trailing along your foreleg. >So many scars, you’ve taken to wearing socks or a hoodie to hide them. >Gripping the steel in your teeth, like many times before, you cut. >You wince and feel your eyes moisten. “...F-fuck...” >It slowly bleeds, you’ve learned from countless times to not cut deep. >Setting down the razor, you look back over to the tub, it’s almost filled. “Good, can kill two birds with one stone.” >… >Poor choice of words. >You turn off the facet and climb in. >The water makes your leg sting, causing you wince. “It’s always like this.” >Hopefully you won’t have to do it again while you’re here. >’Unlikely Eri, you have more days ahead of you to deal with.’ >Closing your eyes, you let out slow breath. “...I know.” >Usually you let yourself soak, but this isn’t home, so you clean up instead. >As you finish up, you see the wound has stopped bleeding, but is still visible. “Figures.” >You get out and wrap it up, Rest would probably do a better job, but can’t have her know. >Would probably be worse if Connie knew. >Slipping into the hoodie, you look at yourself in the mirror. >Still look ugly and pathetic. >You let out a sigh, picking up your stuff. >As you enter the hallway, you can hear them still talking out there. >Should you join them? >’Why bother? Not like you have anything good to contribute.’ >We could still talk. >’About what? Your pain and suffering? That’s real rich, bet they would love to feel like shit.’ >I… >Fuck it. >You head back into the bedroom to put away evidence. >This room is cleaner than yours. >Everything here is better than yours. >Of course it is, your home and everything in it is shit. >Shaking your head, you look out the nearby window. >The city is bustling with life, so many ponies out and many carts are on the streets. “Nothing like Ponyville.” >Funny how this makes you homesick. >The ponies here probably care very little about others, unlike home. >Then again, only two ponies care about you at all. >You let out a slow sigh. >This is going to be a nightmare to deal with. “I can’t do this everyday.” >You grab your head with your hooves and bump it against the window sill. >A dull pain forms, but helps distract you. >At least back home you could hide from it all. >Maybe not from yourself, but the outside world at least. >You stopping hitting your head and start to head back to the other room. >’Where do you think you’re going?’ “Out there with them.” >’Didn’t you just come in here to be away from them?’ “I’d rather be with them, than sitting here wallowing.” >’How long will that last? How long until you break down again? How long until-’ “Fuck off.” >You head into the hallway and can hear music coming from the living room. >Trotting to the source, you see Rest sitting on the couch while Connie is playing her violin. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cSAZbep4vI >Connie smiles when she sees you, but says nothing. >”Welcome back, feeling better?” >If anything, you feel worse. “Yeah, the bath did me some good.” >You join her on the couch to enjoy the music. >It’s amazing how well Connie plays, guess that’s what real talent looks like. >She gently moves with the music, her emerald eyes are locked onto you both. “I’m guessing she is practicing?” >”Mhm, she said she needs to keep her skills up. Figured I’d watch, it’s kinda a free show.” >You’ve never heard Connie play badly, not even when you were fillies. >Even back then she sounded amazing. >She finishes off the song, and pulls the violin away. >Both you and Rest clop your hooves in applause. >>”Thank you, thank you. You’re such a lovely audience.” >She starts to look over some sheets, so you ask her a question. “How often do you practice?” >Connie looks a bit surprised, but gives a warm smile. >>”Everyday, usually two or three hours, sometimes more. Of course there are times when I get sick, but that’s different. Have to stay sharp for the orchestra after all.” >Figures, can’t imagine the stress of having to play in front of so many ponies. >Plus she probably has to deal with other shit as well. “Wow, no wonder you’re so good.” >’Suck up much?’ >Go away. >>”There are other ponies out there who can play better. So I have to push myself to be better as well, it’s just another reason to practice.” >That surprises you, you haven’t heard any other pony play as well. >Then again, you never go out so there’s that. >You nod regardless. >Connie sets aside the sheets and puts away her violin. >>”However, it’s probably best if we get going now to get good seats for the movie. We also have to decide what movie to even watch.” >You almost forgot about that. >Seriously, what is wrong with you? >… >Poor question. “Y-yeah, that’s true.” >Rest stands up and stretches before putting her two cents in. >”How about we just decide when we get there? No point on debating right now.” >>”Sounds good to me, how about you Eri?” >Once again, you feel all the attention on you. >’Isn’t that what you wanted?’ >No, not like this. “Sure, sounds like a plan.” >’Going along with the herd, like the sheep that you are.’ >For fucks sake. >>”I’ll be right back, going to grab a few things before we head out.” >You nod and pull on the ends of your sleeves a moment before looking around. >Rest catches your eyes and gives a look of sympathy. >”How are you feeling? Think you can do this?” >Honestly no, but she doesn’t need to know that. “Yeah, I can.” >It’s not like this will end in disaster, you have your two friends here to help you. >Rather dwell on that, you stand up and give Rest a smile. “I’m looking forward to this, haven’t been to the movies in a long time.” >”Me too, I’m usually caught up in work.” >’She forgot to mention how she has to foalsit you all the time.’ >Shoving aside that thought, you try to think of something else to say. >Before you do, Connie rejoins you two. >>”Alright, now with that out of the way, shall we?” >”I’m ready when you are.” >You nod along, you rather just get going. >The three of you leave the apartment building and into the streets of Manehattan. >Like earlier, there are many ponies out and about, some pegasus ponies even fly over head. >Place seems to be overflowing with life. >>”I’ll get us a taxi, just wait a moment.” >As Connie tries to flag one of them down, you feel uncertain. >On one hoof, you’re actually out of the house and in another town. >On the other, the feelings from earlier remind you that you could breakdown. >Not gonna happen, you can make it through this. >”Eri?” >Shaking your head, you see Rest nodding her head to the taxi. >Gotta stop doing that, they will notice this shit sooner or later. “S-sorry, got distracted.” >You climb in with the others and try to stay focused, but it’s hard. >”As I was saying earlier, you just have to relax your throat, that’s the key.” >>”I guess, but I don’t drink much, just wine.” >”You really need to try out the harder stuff, I’m telling you, hard cider is the best.” >You tune them out and let your mind wander. >How can everypony be so casual? >They let themselves be so vulnerable, but you keep it bottled up. >It’s better this way, at least that’s what you tell yourself. >Before long, you see that you have arrived at the theater. >You climb out and feel your anxiety rise once more. >>”Alright, let’s head in and figure this out.” >Saying nothing, you follow the other two. >This place is pretty fancy, nice carpets and is quite colorful. >As you’re looking around, you notice the other two trying to get your attention. >”What do you think Eri?” >Shaking your head, you look at the nearby posters they have up. >Almost immediately your attention focuses on the scariest looking one and you point to it. “How about that one?” >They both look at the poster and look back with different expressions. >Rest looks pretty neutral, Connie looks nervous though. >”Looks pretty cool, what do you think Connie?” >>”Oh...Well, if that’s what you picked, then sure.” >Is she actually afraid? “You don’t want to watch it?” >>”It’s fine, it’s fine...Just wasn’t expecting that is all.” >Though she says that, her eyes say no. >That’s...That’s actually kinda funny. >No wait, don’t laugh at her, she puts up with a lot of your bullshit. >Before you can say anything, Connie goes and pays for some tickets. >Well now you feel like shit again. >”We should get some snacks too, no movie is complete without snacks after all.” >You’re not hungry, but you’ll go along with it, for them. >Connie rejoins you both and the three of you head over to the snack bar. >Just remember, do this for them. >They already do so much for you, so just remember that. >”What about you Eri?” >Wait, what? >Looking up you see that Rest is referring to snacks. >Shit, shit, shit, what do I pick? “Uh-I-um...popcorn?” >Rest nods and turns back to order. >Not like you’ll eat it, but that doesn’t matter right now. >You’re given a bucket of popcorn, and the three of you head into one of the rooms. >”We should get front row seats, that’s the best spot.” >>”The acoustics are best in the middle, trust me.” >Before they can ask you, you opt to sit in the back. >It’s closer to the exit and if need be, you’ll use it. >”Looks like Eri choose for us.” >>”Fair enough...” >They both sit on either side of you and you wait around for the movie to start. >As the lights dim, your anxiety finally starts to settle. >Your excitement starts to rise. Not often that you feel that. >The movie starts and with it, your eyes widen. >Sure it’s in monochrome, but it looks fucking awesome. >Even better, there is plenty of gore with the monster and the ponies. >The whole time your eyes never leave the screen and eventually, you even start to eat the popcorn. >What’s even stranger than all that, you actually are enjoying this. >Sadly the movie ends, with a monster being killed and a small group of survivors watching on. >The lights go back up and you jolt. >Looking back to both Connie and Rest, you see different expressions again. >Rest is smiling, and looks pretty happy. As for Connie, she actually looks scared. >You however, can’t contain your enthusiasm. “...That was...AWESOME!” >Rest gets a big grin on her face and Connie is seemingly knocked from her fear. >”Yeah it was alright, though it was pretty cheesy. I mean, when a limb is ripped off like that, it doesn’t squirt so much.” >>”I-it was pretty good. Glad you two enjoyed it.” >Kinda sucks that Connie was scared, but at least Rest enjoyed it. >Standing up, you stretch out the stiffness that overcame you. >>”Well then, let’s get going back to the apartment.” >You nod and follow the two back outside. >Connie hails a taxi for the three of you. >On the ride back you can’t help but talk for once. “That was still great. Even with the monster dying.” >”That’s what normally happens, but they could’ve put more time into doing their research.” “Who cares? Did you see how that one mare got covered in blood?” >You hear Connie giggle, causing you to turn to face her. “What is it?” >She shakes her head and smiles. >>”Just happy to see that you’re happy.” >As you go back to talking with Rest, you feel a little more ease. >If the rest of this trip goes this way, you can definitely make it through.