...
>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."