I am so...goddamn...tired. I've never had to work this hard in my life. I've had a job before, but it's always been bagging at a grocery store or working in food services. It was difficult, but it never hurt as much as all this heavy lifting does. The only positive thing I can say is that the weather was nice and chilly, so I never down in my own sweat.

Anyhow, I should probably detail how things went. Applejack isn't a bad taskmaster, which I can be glad for. We started out doing much of teh same. I would place baskets for her according to her exact instructions, and then I would carry them to the cart once they were full.

The only issue that I found distasteful was when she tried to talk to me during all of this.

Ever since we started working, I'd let her do most of the talking, telling me what to do for most of the afternoon. It seems she wasn't content with just that, however, because when the sun passed its zenith, she attempted to strike up a conversation. Here's how it went.

"How are ya likin' Ponyville so far?" Applejack asks me just after I plunk a particularly heavy basket onto the cart.

"Everybody...here...is crazy," I say honestly, panting hard. I reach up with a hand and wipe away the sweat on my brow. I can't rest yet. There's more baskets to carry. I pass by Applejack as she hoists a basket of her own onto the cart.

"Ah take it ya met Pinkie Pie?" she asks me wryly, chuckling a bit at my description.

"Hell if I know," I respond, lifting another basket. How many damn apples are left? One quick glance shows me a huge amount of full apple trees left to harvest. I have to physically try not to groan. "You're...the second one to mention Pinkie. Who the hell is she?"

"She's Ponyville's resident party pony. Ya can't miss her. Braht pink coat, frizzy mane, balloons fer a cutie mark. Ring any bells?" Applejack describes. It does ring some bells, and it's not a happy memory.

"Oh...that bitch who nearly ran over me," I grunt, remembering the pink pony that wouldn't shut the fuck up after she nearly reopened my wounds. Applejack raises an eyebrow at how irritated I sound.

"Ya shouldn't be so hard on her. She takes some gettin' used to, but she's a real good friend to have," she admonished me, moving back to the cart.

"I'll take your word for it," I remark. Together, the two of us move the cart to the next tree.

"Alraht, if ya'll place them baskets here, here, and there." With Applejack's instruction, I place the baskets in seemingly random spots around the next tree. "What about you, Seth? Huh!" With that last exclamation, Applejack slams her back hooves into the tree, and the apples fall into the baskets. "You made any friends since coming to Ponyville?"

"Not really," I reply truthfully. I didn't consider any of these ponies friends. Granted, it took me at least a month before I considered Amaryllis a friend. Despite that, I don't want any friends here. Sombra showed me just how easy it is to lose them all.

"That's a raht shame, it is. Ya seem like a decent enough sort," Applejack affirmed, lifting one of the baskets. I grab another at the same time. I can't help but give a chuckle at her words. "What's so funny?"

"You clearly don't know me very well then," I asserted, and then slid the full basket onto the cart with a grunt. Applejack did the same not long afterwards. While still doing our work, we continued to have this mostly one sided conversation.

"Ah'd like to. Tell me a bit about yerself, Seth." Huh. Now that's certainly a straightforward way of asking. Of course, it gives me an easy way out of it too.

"No thanks," I tell her, focusing on my work and not looking at her. Applejack looks taken aback.

"Wha? Why not?" she asks, nonplussed.

"You're my boss, and I'm your employee. Let's leave it at that," I say bluntly. Applejack gazes at me for a long while, a sad frown crossing her face. Unfortunately for me, I miss the devious look that crosses her face a second later.

"Okay." That response causes to look at her suspiciously. She's not looking at me, instead focusing on her work. That's odd...she gave up way too easily. Twilight practically forced her "I'M YOUR FRIEND" spheal in my face, and Applejack just says "okay?"

Why do I get the idea she's planning something?

Finally, as the sun begins its descent towards the horizon, Applejack decides it's time to call it a day. Thank god. I feel like I'm dying. It doesn't help that my stomach feels like it's trying to eat itself at this point.

"Ya did good today, Seth," Applejack praises me as we haul the cart back to the barn, filled to the brim with apple baskets. I only have the strength to grunt in response. This earns a hearty chuckle from her. "Bet it was harder work than ya expected."

"No...I knew...it was going...to be hell..." I moan , slouching even as I walk. It hurts to walk...ugh...life in Ponyville is going to suck if I have to do this every day.

"Ah reckon ya'll git a lot stronger by the end o' harvest season," Applejack claims as she looks at my muscles. "All this excercise'll do ya good."

I say nothing to that, but she's got a point. I guess if I keep working here, I'll finally get that muscle mass I've always wanted. You see, after watching animes like Dragon Ball and Fairy Tail, I wanted to get ripped like they do, but I was always just too lazy to keep to a workout schedule. Of course, now that I have to excercise or starve, maybe I'll get a six pack. Who knows.

We push the cart into the barn together, and I get my first look inside it...and it's empty. I'm not even kidding. There's a large expanse of hay stretching out before me, with a loft on the other end and a few areas on either side separated by wooden partitions. At the other end of the barn is where several tools and other utilities are stored, like more carts.

"Let's jus' git it up agains' this wall," Applejack grunts, and the two of us move the cart up to the area she had indicated. I release it with a grunt and collapse against the wall, my back resting against it. Applejack chuckles a bit at how pitiful I must look. Dammit...I wish I could quit, but I need the money. Speaking of which, I wonder how much I'm getting paid for this.

"Raht! That takes care o' that. Care ta step inside ma house while I git yer pay?" Applejack offers. I shrug and fall into step beside her as she walks towards a door in the back left corner of the barn. I might as well. Better than standing out in the cold.

When we step inside, I take a quick look around. It's a rectangular room, with paintings lining the walls and a few windows gazing out over the farm. There's an orange rung on the ground as well. I also spot a door on my left that leads into a decently sized kitchen, from which I can smell a hint of something fucking amazing. Oooh...they're cooking food...I'm so fucking hungry.

In front of me, near the rug, Big McIntosh and Applebloom are playing together in an adorable fashion. She keeps trying to climb all the way up to his head, but he keeps her from reaching it by grabbing her with his forelegs and tickling her senseless. I can't help but smile a bit at the clear display of sibling love. It reminds me of my own brother.

---

I was sitting on the leather couch in my parent's house, when my parents were out. My brother, Adam, was beside me. Our eyes were riveted on the plasma screen television that spanned the back wall of the room, where one of the final episodes of Soul Eater was playing.

The two of us were on the edge of our seats, our breath coming quickly, as we were completely immersed in the events unrolling before us. Our jaws dropped as the character on the screen grew to a plane of heightened power we'd never seen from him before. Was he going to do it? Was he going to finish off the enemy once and for all?

We both groaned when the scene changes to the point of view of characters away from what seemed to be the final battle, and it wasn't long before the episode ended.

"Damn...that was awesome!" Adam gasped, turning to face me. "Hurry, put the next one on!"

"You know, maybe you should do it this time. I'm feeling a bit lazy," I said, though the real reason was because I was immersed, and I didn't want to get up, lest I lose the sensation.

"Nuh-uh, Mr. Anime. This is your show, remember? I just happen to think it's so awesome and sit with you while you watch it," Adam pointed out.

"Hm, then maybe I'll decide to stop for today," I needled him, turning my nose up at him and pretending to look serious. Adam scoffed incredulously.

"Seriously? You're really going to pull that card on me? You're going to stop right here, just before the final episode? You're evil dude," he countered with a grin. Then something occured to him. "You know, you're basically Asura."

My grin soon mirrors him, and then I stand up, grabbing a blanket and wrapping it around my neck, such that it served as a makeshift cloak. I then wrapped a scarf around my face, leaving a tiny gap for my eyes. In a really cheesy villain voice, I quoted, "What you offer is order and authority, which gives humans the illusion of security and peace, but what truly lies under the thin layer of rationality you attempt to impose on the world?"

Adam laughed rambunctiously at the admittedly hilarious spectacle. From the kitchen counter nearby, my brother grabbed two stacks of red plastic solo cups, shoved his fists into them, and then shouted at the top of his lungs, "SANZU DEATH CANNON!"

I laughed myself when he thrust the stacks of cups at me. I swiped my hand to the side, and the cups went everywhere, bouncing off of the furniture and the floor with a cacaphonous clattering sound. "Your attacks are nothing to me! I will bring this world to its knees!"

"Not if I can stop you!" Adam yelled comically, and then threw himself at me. He tackled me to the ground, and then the both of us start wrestling across the carpet, laughing and spouting serious quotes from the show.

"Kishin Hunter!"

"Tsubaki: Fey Blade mode!"

"Death Cannon!"

"Vector Arrow!"

My brother was always stronger than me, so he easily pinned me down until I admitted his victory. "No! I am the Demon God Asura! I cannot be defeated!" I yell in mock anguish. Adam repeatedly thrusts his arms up into the air, humming the Final Fantasy Victory Fanfare. I shove him over before he can finish it, knocking him onto the couch. "Back attack!"

"Ah, dick move, bro!" Adam said, chuckling as he rose from the couch. "But I won, so put on the next episode."

"Fair enough."

---

Those were better times. I realize I've been watching them play for a while with that dumb smile on my face. I look and see that Applejack had been looking at me, smiling at something. Shit, she saw that didn't she?

The smile drops from my face. "What?" I ask, irritated. I hope she doesn't think that I want to be friends just because I remember my brother fondly.

"Nuthin," Applejack replies, her smile turning a little smug. Shit...she did see. Well, guess I gotta be a little colder than usual to convince her it was a fluke. Even though it wasn't. Goddammit. "Ah'm gonna grab yer pay. One sec."

I recline against the wall as Applejack heads upstairs to wherever she keeps her money.

Suddenly, I notice a lime green pony resting in a rocking chair on the other side of the room from where Big Mac and Apple Bloom are playing. She looks extremely old, as her mane is all scraggly and white, and she's got these deep wrinkles. I don't know how long ponies live in this world, so I can't make a guess as to how old she is. Let me guess, that's Granny Smith. What a cruel pun. Ugh.

Anyhow, she looks fast asleep. So I have to sit here bored for a while, because Big Mac and Apple Bloom aren't paying much attention to me. Not that I'd want them to.

Applejack soon returns with a jingling sack of what I hope is a lot of money. "There ya go, sir!" she tells me enthusiastically, handing me the sack. I take it gratefully, as this is essentially my food money.

"Thanks for the pay," I answer her. I turn around and head towards the door that leads outside.

"Hey, Seth?" Applejack speaks up suddenly. I pause and give her a look. "Why don't ya stay fer dinner tonight?"

"...Why would I do that?" I ask, raising my eyebrow. Strangely enough, Applejack doesn't look offended by the question.

"So ya could eat, o' course," she says with a smirk. You know, considering how hungry I am, I almost accept, but then I'd be in her debt. There's no fucking way.

"Sorry, but no," I tell her flatly. Applejack nods her head understandingly, irritatingly enough. Why are you being so...so...understanding? I don't know how to deal with this! Dammit, I'm basically Crona.

I turn back around and head for the door. "Can ah 'spect ya tomorrow?" Applejack asks.

"Probably," is my terse reply.

"It was nice meetin' ya!" Apple Bloom calls when she breaks free of her brother, and she waves a hoof at me. You know, for a kid, she's relatively well behaved. That's surprising. I'm so used to humans and their shitty parenting skills.

"Sure," I say uncomfortably, and then I exit through the door, shutting it behind me. I guess Applejack isn't that bad, compared to everyone else.

I immediately wish I was back inside. It's getting colder out here. Unless I get a room tonight, I'm going to die of hypothermia or something, what with the storm and all. Speaking of which, I look up into the sky. Sure enough, I can see clouds sweeping in from the east. My eyes widen in shock as I notice one key detail. The clouds aren't moving on their own. Yeah, this'll sound fucking unbelievable, but I can see pegasi weaving in and out of the towering thunderhead, actually grabbing onto wisps of cloud with their hooves and pushing it slowly across the sky.

I fall on my ass, completely struck speechless by the absurdity of what I was seeing. Ponies...control the fucking weather? How...I'm still in the same timeline with them, right? So why can't the clouds control themselves? Better question, what kind of pony in their right mind would create a storm that size? Are ponies gods? What the fuck...well, I've guess I've got something else to ask Twilight in the morning.

Anyhow, first things first. I stand back up, endeavoring to not look at the sky. I open the sack of money that I earned to see six small, round coins that were colored a shining gold. I reach in and touch one, and the metal is actually quite soft. Holy shit, is that actual gold?! I attempt to scratch it, but find that I can't. Huh, so it's either a gold substitute, or a gold alloy. The latter makes more sense, because we thought up the same idea back in our past.

Time to find out exactly how much these are worth. I set off back down the path towards the town proper. I have to get something to eat, and then I'll meet Vinyl at the park. Tonight should be a great way to relax and blow off steam once I get everything set up for her gig. I'm not hurt, so I should be able to dance a lot easier than before. I'm actually looking forward to it. God knows I'd go crazy if I didn't have something like that as an outlet for all this stress I've got.

Outlet...that reminds me. Shit, I completely forgot about my phone. I take it out of my pocket and unlock the screen. Thankfully, it's not dead yet. It looks like I've got around sixty percent battery. Before turning it off to save battery, I open my image folder. The last image is of Amaryllis and I at a formal dance at our college. She had been dressed in a stunning black dress that framed her form well, and the edges of her hair had been curled in such a way that it had made her look simply gorgeous. Me, I was just wearing a run of the mill suit. But we both looked happy, and it made me smile a little. God, I miss her so fucking much.

It feels like a little piece of me dies as well when I power the phone off, Amaryllis's face fading away into memory.

I continue on into the town square, deciding to take the direct route this time. I look up at the town hall, liking the way it looked. Of course, I can still notice the ponies staring at me with my peripheral vision.

There are some stalls set up around the perimeter of the square, selling all sorts of things. Thankfully, I notice one that sells what looks to be vegetables. I may not be able to make a salad, but I can certainly snack on some raw carrots or celery. I approach the stall.

"Hello there, and welcome to Golden Harvest Vegetables! What can I...um...what..." the goldenrod mare begins, but trails off with a gulp as I walk close enough for her to make out what I look like. "Uh...hi."

"That your...usual greeting?" I can't help but say. I'm getting really annoyed with all these ponies acting so differently around me. I actually miss the crowds of humans. At least there, no one would give me a second look.

"Um...sorry sir...I...well...you just...you're a..." the mare attempts to word, but she seems to be too intimidated by how much larger I am than she is.

"Human? Yes, yes I am. And no, I'm not going to hurt you. I'm hungry, so can we hurry this up?" I finish for her, and then answer the subsequent question that she may or may not have been thinking. The mare blinks, and then she attempts to compose herslef.

"Oh...okay. Well. In that case, let me try again," she stammers. Then, she clears her throat and says in a more confident voice, "Hello there, and welcome to Golden Harvest Vegetables! My name is Carrot Top! What can I get for you today, sir?"

One thing I can say for these ponies is that most of them give me some manner of respect. I like that. It's better than people just randomly talking to me and expecting me to answer.

"Hm...can you tell me how much twelve of those carrots and three celery sticks would cost?" I ask. Carrot Top appears to think for a moment before replying.

"For the lot? I'd say that would be around four bits. Is that acceptable sir?" she tells me. I frown a bit. Four bits? If I assume that one coin is a bit, then that's most of my money already. I wonder...

I kneel down so that I'm on her level, staring at her directly into her eyes. She looks a little unnerved by this, but seems to calm down after I give her my best friendly smile. "How about I drop it down to twelve carrots and two celery sticks? Do you think I could get that for three?" I've never actually haggled before, so I may end up looking like a total idiot, but it's worth a shot.

"Um...I guess I have made a few more sales today than usual," Carrot Top muses. Wait, is this actually working? Was it the way I dropped down a stick? It can't because I smiled, of course. That would just be dumb.

Carrot Top smiles brightly. "I think I can do that. Here you go, sir!" she says happily, wrapping my order in a bag. I fish out three bits and hand them to her, which she somehow takes with her hoof. Still have no idea how they grab anything with hooves.

"Thanks," I murmur, and then I take a monstrous bite out of the first carrot. Oh dear god...this has to be the best fucking carrot I've ever tasted. Maybe that's because of how hungry I am. Whatever. All I know is that it tastes like pure heaven in my mouth.

"You're welcome sir. Please enjoy, and have a nice evening!" Carrot Top calls after me as I walk away, munching on the carrot like no tomorrow.

Honestly, I have no idea where I'm walking. If there's any way to describe the situation I'm in now, it's by this one little nonsensical statement: Om nom motherfucking nom. It's a good thing that these aren't those measly tiny carrots that you get in grocery stories. No, these are those fucking giant ones that you usually chop up and put in a stew. Nope. I'm eating them all as they are right now.

I finall reach a street corner. There's a bench nearby, so I sit down on it. That way I can focus entirely on eating, and less on walking.

And that's how I spend the rest of somewhere around ten minutes. When I at last eat the last celery stick, I sit back with a satisfied sigh, feeling comfortably full for the first time since leaving the Everfree.

Taking a look around, I realize I'm near the park I'm trying to get to, except on the other side from where I told Vinyl I'd be. I stand up and start moving, feeling more energetic than ever. Life still sucks, but at least I feel ready to handle it.

There are still a few ponies around the park, laughing and playing around, despite the fact that they're probably adults. It's odd how carefree some of these ponies are. It's like they've never known real hardship in their lives. I envy them.

Then I wonder something. What exactly are the royalty doing to keep the country from knowing exactly how hard life is? Because whatever they're doing, I feel like our current president could learn a thing or two. Well, if he was still alive that is. Which he's not. Fucking Sombra and his Oppressed.

When I reach the other side of the park, I notice that Vinyl isn't here yet. Good, that'll give me time to relax. I settle down on the grass, gazing up at the sky. The clouds are getting closer, and the wind is picking up, ruffling my long hair.

Shit. I just realized that ponies will have no idea how to cut human hair. So my hair, which is shoulder length right now, is just going to keep getting longer. Well, fuck. Looks like I'm learning to cut my own hair.

"Hey yo! Seth!" I know that voice. Lifting up my head, I spot Vinyl Scratch trotting across the street towards me, her sunglasses reflecting the remaining light of the sunset. I lift a hand and wave in acknowledgement. "S'up! I haven't seen ya since yesterday. How's it hanging?"

"Well enough, I suppose. Worked my ass off at Sweet Apple Acres," I grunt, keeping a respectful tone. Vinyl's technically my boss too, as well as a musician.

"Nice, dude. Applejack'll treat ya well there. You coming? I got a sweet gig set up at Sugarcube Corner tonight!" Vinyl responds, coming to a stop right by my side.

"Yeah, I'm coming," I reply. Just as I'm about to get up, Vinyl offers me a hoof. Damn you for being my boss. I take it, and she helps me stand back up.

"Awesome. Let's go," Vinyl says, grinning. I grab my rifle and we start moving to who knows where. I don't know what Sugarcube Corner, but it's really starting to make me crave something sweet. But I've already spent enough money today. Chances are, three bits won't get me a hotel room. Guess I'm going to get wet tonight. Maybe electrocuted too, since that's a thunderstorm. That would make living here easier. You know, since I'd be dead. Totally kidding by the way. That's the coward's way out.

"By the way, what's up with that piece of metal you keep lugging around?" Vinyl inquires, snapping me back out of my thoughts. Huh. She's probably the first one to ask about my rifle.

"It's essentially a glorified walking stick," I admit. It really doesn't have any purpose at this point. "I'm mostly holding onto it for sentimental reasons."

"Heck, I'll get you a strap for it then," Vinyl suggests, smiling at my words. I shook my head.

"No, I'd rather you not do me any favors," I asserted. I already fucked up by letting Twilight help me out. Sorry Vinyl, I won't be in anyone else's debt.

"Oh, don't be stupid. I literally have an old guitar strap from when my buddy Ember used to live with me. I was going to throw it away," Vinyl presses.

"Yeah, but-" I begin, but Vinyl cuts across me.

"I'm your boss, right?" she points out with a knowing grin. Oh, she is not pulling this card.

"...yes."

"Then I order you to take the strap," Vinyl says with finality, her grin turning smug. She did just play that card. You...you...fine. Well played.

"Fine," I mutter, a little bitter. Vinyl smirks, her victory assured. Bitch, I'll remember this.

Vinyl leads me down various streets, her pace quickening as the wind gets stronger. "Shoot, we need to hurry, bro. It'll be a pain if it starts raining while we're trying to unload the cart," she says worriedly.

Eventually, we reach a small house that has a wooden ramp set up to the front door. That must be so we can get the cart out easily. "Come on in. This is my pad," Vinyl tells me, opening the door with her magic, which glows an electric blue, like her mane. I reluctantly follow her inside. When I try to look around, she jabs me lightly with a hoof. "Sightsee later. We got a storm to beat."

Dammit she has a point. Thankfully, she's got the cart set up with all of the equipment in it already. I can see lots of mechanical equipment inside, along with several cartons marked with Equestrian, which I can't read because several years of learning the alphabet is now fucking useless.

Without waiting for direction, I grab onto the bar and pull the cart towards the door. Vinyl is helping me as well, so it isn't long before we get the cart through the doorway. It takes a bit of strength to keep it from rolling down the ramp, but soon we've got it on the ground and ready to roll.

"Just push from the back and follow my lead!" Vinyl commands, raising her voice a bit over the intensifying wind. I don't reply, instead moving around to the back of the cart like I was ordered and pushing.

I have no idea where we're going. The only reason I know that we're evenchaging direction is because I can feel the cart jerking in a different direction, and I have to angle my body so that I can push in that direction as well. This happens several more times before we reach what I assume to be our destination.

I step out from behind the cart, look at the building, and my right eye immediately begins to twitch. The thing is shaped like a fucking gingerbread house. I'm not even kidding. It looks like I can just chomp on the fucking roof and have it taste like chocolate. Speaking of chocolate, my sweet tooth is acting up again. Yeah. This building makes me crave chocolate.

The door to the building slams open, and a familiar, hated voice sounds out. "Oh hello Vinyl! Hurry up and come in, we don't have much time before the Cakes get here, and it would be just terrible if weren't ready in time!" It's that pink pony I met earlier, with that overly high pitched voice. I think I'm already starting to get a headache. It's a good thing I'm hidden behind the cart. I'll have a few seconds to prepare myself mentally before having to talk to that menace.

"You got it, Pinks. You got the ramp set up to get this baby inside?" Vinyl questions, pulling the cart a bit closer to the door.

"Yes indeed-y! Roll 'er up! I'm just about done baking this super duper incredible cake!" Pinkie exclaims happily, and then I hear something bouncing away. What the fuck is up with that pink...thing?

"All right, dude, let's get inside before it starts pouring on us," Vinyl says, pulling the cart. I push on the end, and I feel it rolling up a ramp and inside the building. The moment we step inside, a thunderclap sounds in the heavens, and the first drops of rain start to fall. "That was close."

The first thing to assault my senses is the smell of chocolate and candy. Goddamn, that smells fucking amazing. I wonder if there will be free food at this thing. That would make my night.

Stepping out from behind the cart, I look around the inside of teh building. It's like I've stepped into a birthday party for a five year old. The candy themed decorations aside, there are streamers and balloons everywhere, along with a banner that says, "Congratulations, Mr. & Mrs. Cake!" stretched across the archway in the back portion of the room.

Yeah, this room is mostly open space, with a green carpet stretched across the floor. To my left, there's a raised area that looks like it would hold tables for sit in eating, but it's been completely cleared out for some reason or another. Straight ahead, I can see a counter with a glass front, the kind you'd usually see in candy shops. There are candies and cupcakes displayed inside of it, and they look really delicious. I want one. On the right, there's a longer, wooden counter, with an old fashioned cash register set up.

Also, I can see multiple tables set up, with various drinks and other foodstuffs above them. Sweet, that means I get free food. So working for Vinyl comes with free refreshments. This is great. Maybe not healthy, but it's awesome, so it's totally okay.

Then there are the ponies everywhere. There are many other ponies invited to this gig or whatever, some of which I recognize. Unfortunately, that means that some of them recognize me as well.

"Mr. Seth!" I turn my head to see Flitter walking towards me with a smile on her face. She has a plate of cookies on her back that somehow stays balanced as she walks. I give her an unethusiastic wave, but it doesn't seem like it's going to keep her from talking to me.

"Weren't you working on this storm or whatever?" I ask with a sigh. Flitter nodded enthusiastically.

"Yes, actually. I've never created anything more than overcast weather so this was really interesting!" she exclaimed. "But once the storm got really big, Rainbow Dash told me that the more experienced members would take over."

"So...Rainbow Dash is actually somewhat important?" I query, surprised to hear that egotistical brat's name. Flitter's eyes widened, and then she nodded.

"Oh yes! Miss Dash leads the Ponyville weather team! She's really good at it," Flitter informs me. Great...so I may have pissed off somebody important. Oh well, it's not like I need the approval of the weather team anyway. "She'll actually be here later tonight!"

...Oh you have got to be kidding me. I was just about to say something when yet another pony I recognize calls out my name. "Seth! Fancy seeing you here!" I turn, and to my surprise, Twilight is trotting towards me. Oh dear god, how many other ponies am I going to have to talk to?

"Hey bro! Save the socializing for later, you've got stuff to carry for me!" Vinyl calls from behind me. Thank you so fucking much, Vinyl.

"I'll be with you in a minute, Twilight, Flitter," I tell them, moving back to the cart. I pick up the first carton I see and heave it out of the cart.

"All right. I'll be over by the counter then," Twilight replies understandingly, moving away, while Flitter just nods, munching on a cookie. "Come see me when you get a chance!"

"Sure, whatever. Boss, where do I put this stuff?" I say, glancing at Vinyl.

"Just move everything in this cart to that raised area up there," she orders me, pointing a hoof at the cleared out area. "Unless it's labeled 'LED.' Those I want placed in this open area out here."

"I can't read Equestrian," I admit somewhat sheepishly. Vinyl stares at me for a moment. I can't read what she's thinking because of those glasses.

"All right then, come here," she finally says. Putting the box I'm holding down, I move over to her. Vinyl points a hoof at a particular box, upon which is more of that Equestrian scrawl. "That's LED in Equestrian. If you can memorize what that looks like, you should be fine."

I squint at the letters for a bit, and I notice a character that looks a little like "shi" in Katakana. I can remember that. "Got it," I say with a nod, and then I pick the box on the ground back up.

"Pinks! Can you clear the dance floor for me? I need room to set up!" Vinyl calls to the back room.

"Oki Doki Loki!" Pinkie chirps, bouncing back out into the front room. What the fuck did she just say? I don't...this fucking pony.

Over the next thirty minutes, Vinyl and I work together to set up her ensemble. For the smaller stuff, it's easy for me to move everything into the staging area on my own, but for her speakers and table, we have to carry them together.

Her tables and primary speakers are set up in the back corner of the staging area, so that she can sit behind them and blast her awesome without the sound destroying her ears. While she is setting up her tables, I am running cables to and from her tables to the speakers. Apparently she powers her tables with magic, which then runs through all these little cables to power the speakers and lights. If magic works anything like it does in human literature, it has to be tiring keeping all of this running for hours on end.

As for the lights, Vinyl helps me set them up down on the dance floor. It's around this time that Pinkie comes out of the kitchen with a fucking massive cake. After placing it on a table, she finally notices that I'm here. Thankfully though, she sees that I'm busy and just watches me work.

When the lights are set up, Vinyl turns to me. "Thanks for all your help, bro. I'll pay ya at the end of the night," she tells me with a grin. After I give her a nod in acknowledgement, she gallops back to her tables, no doubt ready to start playing.

Of course, the second I look like I'm not working, who do you think comes to talk to me? That fucking pink pony, that's who. "Hi!" Pinkie greets me brightly, bouncing up to me. Yeah, bouncing. Like, she hops on all four hooves multiple times. What the fuck.

"What do you want?" I demand coldly, not in the mood to deal with her. All I want to do is rest against a wall somewhere and eat sweets until I'm stuffed.

"Well, you're new in town, so I wanted to introduce myself because I like to know everypony in Ponyville!" Pinkie shoots off words at a mile a minute, making my brain work overtime to understand everything she's saying. "So hi! I'm Pinkie Pie, and I'm your new best friend!"

"I'm sorry, what? Did you just declare yourself my best friend?" I ask incredulously. Pinkie nods enthusiastically, and then she starts bouncing around me in circles. What in the...so much stupid...I don't know how to deal with this! And Crona returns. Goddammit.

"Yup yup! Everypony needs a friend, especially one that is new to the town and possibly to the world because no one has ever seen a human before now except in pictures and stuff, which were really pretty but they are no substitute for the real thing," she keeps talking at that incredible pace. Once I manage to make sense of what she just said, I blink. Did...she just call me pretty? "So I wanted to say welcome welcome-"

Pinkie had actually started to sing, but thankfully, an orange hoof wraps around her mouth, keeping her quiet. Applejack is apparently here too. "Now, Pinkie Pie, don't go crowdin' Seth here," she admonishes Pinkie lightly. I would thank her, but I'm getting the fuck out of dodge before Pinkie finds me.

I dart around the corner to the counter, zipping around a surprised Twilight and resting against the wood next to her. "Hi. Save me from that fucking pink menace," I whispered to her. Twilight giggles at how panicked I look.

"She's not that bad, once you get used to her. Take it from me, though, there's no hiding from her when she really wants to talk to you. Rainbow can tell you that much," Twilight warns me. I groan and rub my forehead.

"That bitch gives me a headache every time she opens her mouth...if I have to see her every day, I'm going to get an aneurism and die," I grunt. "So what is this party even for?"

"This? Oh, the owners of this store, Mr. and Mrs. Cake, won an award for their culinary abilities, and were in Canterlot for the past few days to showcase some of their best dishes," Twilight explains. Huh, that's pretty sweet I guess. Makes me want to eat their food more. Speaking of which, I reach over and grab a cupcake from one of the tables.

"How long do these things generally last?" I continue, taking a bite from the cupcake. Oh dear god, it tastes like pure chocolate heaven. Before Twilight can answer, I have to emit a small moan. "Oh god, this is fucking glorious."

"You see why they won an award? As for your question, a Pinkie party usually lasts until the last pony leaves, which can be around midnight or later," Twilight replies with a warm smile. I don't respond, as I'm busy enjoying this magical bundle of confectionary awesomness. But essentially, this is like a college party, only with less alcohol and more sweets. I'm totally okay with that, too.

"Where's the punch?!" yells a pony who had just entered, colored a plum pink with a raspberry mane and tail. I raise an eyebrow at that, but I lose sight of her in the steadily growing crowd of ponies.

"Oh, Berry Punch is here," Twilight remarks with a smile.

Seconds later, a thoroughly soaked Rainbow Dash walks in through the front door. "Yeah! Check out this masterpiece I got running outside!" she calls out proudly, pointing with a hoof out into the pouring rain.

"Oh sure, you made getting here a pain in the tail before the storm hit!" Vinyl responds with a grin from the raised area, catching Rainbow's eyes.

"That's your fault for being slow!" Rainbow jokes, and then she shakes herself like a dog, sending droplets of water flying around her.

"Dashie! So glad you could make it! We've got almost everypony!" Pinkie greets the cyan mare with a bright smile, bouncing over to her with a towel. Rainbow takes the towel gratefully and wraps it around her body.

"Hey, Pinkie. Are the Cakes here yet?" Rainbow inquires, looking around.

"No, silly billy! If they were here, the party would already be started!" Pinkie answers, and then the two of them walk back into the crowd, talking animatedly.

Yep, this feels like a college party. It's just as uncomfortable as one too. Too bad I can't leave. I'm getting paid to stick around and help Vinyl pack up at the end of the night.

Which probably means I'm going to have to socialize. This will not end well.

---

So many new ponies to characterize! Applejack was difficult for some reason, despite how straightforward she is in the show. But on the other hand, I get to write more dialogue with (best pony) Pinkie Pie! She's going to get a song sometime soon, and Seth is going to flip a table.

There's gonna be a lot more of Vinyl too. Also, I'm bringing in Rarity next chapter I believe. Stay tuned for more!