There are a lot of people out there who are far more critical on themselves than they should be. I'm not always one of these people but when I'm in a group I respect or want to impress I definitely get this way. Actually, I'm pretty sure that's normal for most people. As I walked home from the school, I replayed the day in my head and tried to work out what I could've done better. A lot of them were obvious, like 'don't goof up introducing yourself ya doofus.' but the thing that really got me was Second Shadow. It's hard to believe a girl her age could be so... 'eccentric.' Logically, I had to do something to make her so unsociable, and yet, I can't think of anything.

These ponies blur the line between human and equine further by having all the vocal mannerisms of a human, but a lot of physical social cues of a horse. Well, if I ever wanted to know what a kid with Aspergers felt like, now I do. My mind keeps trying to shoehorn in human characteristics where they don't belong, furthermore, I'm having a harder time picking up equine social cues more than I thought I would. I'm not sure if this is because I'm stuck in a human mindset or not. Different cultures around earth used many different social cues, something harmless in your country could be a huge offense in another. There are jobs surrounding learning these cultural differences. Because of this, I believe it's more that I'm bad at adjusting to new cultures than me originally being a human.

I mean, I don't think that's a bad thing! Everybody is born with strengths and weaknesses. I'm sure that I'll get along just fine if I work at it... Forgive me, I went of on a tangent.

I was feeling rather down due to my bad first impression and the fact I didn't really pay close attention to my teacher in class. I know it's just kindergarten, but I want to try and get good grades make more friends this time through. Not many people get a second chance at childhood, after all.

So up to this point, most everything I've said is pretty on par with humans, But this is where it starts to get a bit different. When I first started to get adjusted to how my current species' looked, I came to the conclusion they looked like some silly mix of a horse and a cat. Turns out I was not far off as ponies like to lick each other, a lot. Mothers and fathers will clean their kids, friends will just start cleaning each other on the spot. Whenever a pony is feeling down or notices another pony feeling depressed, they'll start to lick them for comfort.

I'm living with clown colored horse cats, what is my life?

So of course Mr. Touch licked me clean quite a few times when I was a baby. Heck, even Scootaloo did it on occasion. Being a small sack of soft flesh, there wasn't really anything I could do to stop them, but boy did I try. I was known for a being a fussy baby when it came to cleaning. As I got older I became used to getting cleaned, but I still don't like it. Everyone at the orphanage knows this, I think I may have given the feeling I don't enjoy close contact because of that.

Anyway, after my first day of school ended I said goodbye to my... 'friend' and walked home. When I arrived at the orphanage, Gold and Silver dragged me away to their room. Where they proceeded to glare at me quietly. Today just seems to be one of those days. I tried giving them a smile, they did not smile back.

Starting to get concerned for my safety here.

"Look," I raise my hooves in a placating manner, "if this is about how I ate the last of the cake before you two got home yesterday, I'm sorry. I was into a good book and didn't really think it through."

Both of them seemed to grimace at that.

"Hey..." Silver's voice was unusually soft, "how was school today?"

Oh!

Ooooohhh...

"It was great!" I smiled. "Thanks for asking, I was a bit nervous, but it was nothing I couldn't handle."

Both of them were smiling now. That's nice, they were just worried about my first day of school. I'm really touched, that totally makes up for-

"So nopony bullied you?"

"Huh?"

"Did anypony mess with you?" Silver pressed.

Did Short Temper really count? No, not really. Maybe some kids would be bothered by that. If I was an actual six year old, I probably would've been pitying myself all day, but as it is...

"Of course not." I assured them.

They were glaring at me again.

"Willy." Golden spoke up.

Golden speaking up is bad, she never really talks. Golden referring to me by name instead of 'kid' is even worse.

"If somepony picked on you, you can tell us. We're your big sisters."

Really?

"You guys look at me as your little brother?" I say without thinking.

That seemed to take both of them off guard.

"Of course!" Silver rolled her eyes. "What did you think we were? I mean, we live in the same-"

She never got to finish their sentence, as I tackled the two of them with a hug. Both were thrown off for a second before they awkwardly hugged me back. I don't care what else happens, today was a good day.

"I've never had big sisters before..." I whisper.

"Before what?" Silver chuckled.

I wisely chose not to answer that.

"As adorable as that was, we're getting off topic." Golden quietly states.

Dang it.

"Willy, my name is Golden Gun, and I hide gun magazines under my bed."

If I wasn't riding off my 'big sister' high, I'd probably find that creepy.

"Our sister's name is Silver Sword, she has a hidden knife collection she keeps sharp and clean."

I'm riding off my 'big sister' high, and I find that creepy.

"Your name is Willy Nilly, and every time something bad happens to you, or you hear something you don't like, you either examine it like some sort of document or make a snarky joke in that smart-alec little noggin of yours."

Well I guess that confirms that ponies' personalities are determined by name. Or are their names determined by personality? I mean, I'm not too different from how I was as a human I think. Still, I feel bad for the pony named 'Fine Wine' or 'Nose Candy.' I mean seriously-

...Dammit.

"Point I'm trying to make here, is that everypony here knows that you could get your foreleg cut open and your response would to poke at it and make little 'oohs' and 'aahs' at how the inside of your leg looks." Golden sighed.

Hey, I like to learn, there's nothing wrong with that! I can't help but feel like this is akin to racial profiling...

"Nothing bad happened to me," I asserted, "I went to school, introduced myself, drew some pictures, listened to a lecture, and walked home."

All of that was true, I may of left out a little, but I wasn't lying.

"Nothing else?" Golden Gun glared at me again, man those two can be scary.

"Well, I made a friend."

Who is a stalker, maybe.

"Really?" Silver grinned, and pinned me down, oh no. Please no.

"Y- yeah, what are you-" I shivered when I felt a tongue slide against my mane.

Nooooooooo...

"So who's your friend?" Silver said between licks.

"U- uh, a filly by the name of Second Shadow- HEY!"

Golden pressed up against my front, sandwiching me between the two. They were double teaming me! I shuddered as I felt her tongue on my back.

"Please stop, I'm feeling really uncomfortable!" I squeeze myself into a little ball.

"Oh look, mister clinical is getting all squeamish." Sliver licked my cheek. "What is with you and licking anyway? You act like it's painful and never clean anypony else."

"I'm sorry, I just don't like getting licked- NOPE!"

I catapult out of their hooves.

"Are you okay?" Golden spoke up.

"NO! NOPE NOPE NOPE!" I backed up against the wall. "NO CLEANING DOWN THERE! NO, NO TOUCHING WILLY'S WILLY!, EVER!"

"Willy's willy." Silver snorted while shaking her head. "Kid, you have problems. Look, nopony ever casually cleans somepony genitals, I was getting the area around it."

I like she how she specifically added in the word 'casually' there.

"Look, I really appreciate you guys looking out for me. You both are the best older sisters ever. Just... please, please don't tease me when it comes to cleaning."

"No promises~!" Silver sang.

Great.

"I'm glad you made a friend." Golden smiled.

"Yeah," I smiled back, "thanks. I'll have to bring her over sometime."

"I'm right here."

"AH!" Silver and I jump back.

Golden simply blinked.

Behind me, she's right behind me! How long had she been there? How had she got in unnoticed? Why is she staring so intensely at me?!?

"O- oh, uh... Hi." I 'eloquently' say.

"Hello." Second whispered.

Uh oh, Golden has that 'where is the nearest sharp object I can throw' look.

"Sisters, this is my friend Second Shadow. Second, these are my older sisters, Golden Gun and Silver Sword."

She didn't take her eyes off me, not even to glance at them. My newly christened sisters were as silent as my stalker.

Friend.

As my friend.

"Interesting friend you got there." Silver frowned.

"Second, what are you doing here?" I questioned.

"I walked home with you." And she answered.

...She states it as if that explains everything. Well, I guess walking home is what friends do, but generally both friends are aware they are walking home together.

"Thanks for walking home with me." I give her a smile. Might as well make her feel appreciated. "But why did you come inside the orphanage?"

"I didn't say goodbye yet."

I find it hard to be mad at someone wanting to have good manners.

"Oh! Well, since you're already over, you can stay and hang out for a bit if you want!" Might as well be sociable too!

"No, I have to hurry home, my Mom gets worried easily."

"Oh, okay. Thanks again for walking home with me, bye!"

...She continues to stare at me.

"I think your friend has a few screws loose there kid." Silver shook her head.

Golden stayed deathly silent, as did Second. Why has today been so weird?

"Um, Second? You okay?"

"Yes." She said ever so slightly louder than before.

"Okay then, bye Second."

Silence.

"Feeling nervous filly?" Golden finally spoke up in a somewhat, predatory manner. "You're sweating bullets."

Really? I looked closer and noticed that, yes, Second is sweating out a waterfall. If I listened close I could hear heavy breathing, although her mouth didn't move.

"Good-..." She whispered.

We all leaned in close.

"G- good-..." She barely murmured.

I had my ear up close to her mouth.

"Up!" I jumped back as she shouted into my ear.

We all looked up where she pointed, and then looked back down. She was gone.

Well that happened.

"Where did she go?!?" Silver looked around frantic.

"Yeah, she uh, she does that." I sighed.

Both of my sisters stared at me.

"Kid, that kid is weirder than you, and that's saying something." Silver shook her head.

"I don't like her." Golden growled.

"Me too, but the weirdo is the kid's first friend, so try not to scare her off alright?"

Golden grunted, but made no argument.

Well, I've had enough strange things happen for the day, I think I'll-

"Willy?!?" Mr. Touch hurried through the front door. "WILLY! There you are! You are were suppose to wait at the school for me! You are in so much trouble!"

Ahhhhh fiddlesticks... Next Chapter: School life. Estimated time remaining: 7 Minutes