Hey, I need some help. Are you available today?
PaintDrop
Um, sure. What happened? Is everything okay?
Short&Hoofy
It's really complicated. Before I say anything, are you alone? I don't want anypony to learn about this, especially RRBB.
PaintDrop
I'm actually at her place right now waiting for her to get ready for school.
Short&Hoofy
Ah, right. She used to spend almost an hour getting her mane and fur groomed before. With you around I bet it's more. I'm surprised you're not with her now, "Squishy".
PaintDrop
Will you stop that? And no, she doesn't want me to be there when she's getting "beautified". I never knew how much she wanted to impress everypony. Right now she's doing the same to me. It's gotten a bit better, though, but... Anyway, what did you need me for?
Short&Hoofy
Find an excuse to skip class sometime then write to me. And don't let her know, okay?
PaintDrop
That sounds scary. You're never like this. Even when you were upset with her you never kept secrets.
Short&Hoofy
I kept your secret from her, or have you forgotten? I'll be waiting for your PM. Don't talk to me about it at school.
PaintDrop
Okay.
Short&Hoofy
I'm here. I'm not sure she doesn't suspect something. I feel like you'll ask me to do something terribly wrong.
Short&Hoofy
Sort of. Before you freak out it's perfectly safe and nopony will blame you. I want to see someone and need you to cover for me. The story is I dragged you to my special hidden spot and talked to you about stuff. Let's say I've been asking what's been going on between you and RRBB. Say I've been worried if she still has a thing for YouKnowWho.
PaintDrop
Okay?
Short&Hoofy
Just stay there and wait for me for a few hours. That's it. And if anypony ever asks you tell them that story. Not that I think it would happen. Well, other than RRBB. I'll go, do my business, and be back before you know it. If somepony finds you alone while I'm gone, just say that I got upset about my brother and Brush breaking up and went to clear my head. That's all.
PaintDrop
Okay, but what do you need me for? I'll do it of course, but can't you just say you went to think about things? Like the time you ran away?
Short&Hoofy
Like I said, it's really complicated.
Do this for me, please? When you were in trouble I was there for you. You have no idea how many times I wanted to tell RRBB everything, or drag you to her. I didn't. I covered for you, I made your sister shut up, I even calmed things down after the mess was done. Now I'm asking for your help.
PaintDrop
Alright, but... this is sounding a bit scary, Paint. You go off somewhere just like that, ask me to lie about you and don't even tell me why. You've been acting strange ever since you ran away. Everypony's noticed, they just don't want to bring back painful memory so they pretend it's okay.
Short&Hoofy
You think I don't know? That's why I need you to stop speculation that I'm going insane. Yes I've heard that version as well, and I'm not thrilled about it. SweetStuff asked me.
Look, I just want to see my coltfriend and I don't want anypony to see him. I have my reasons for that. Just cover for me. Or don't. Either way make up your mind now so I know.
PaintDrop
I will. I didn't think he was real, to be honest. RRBB is convinced, but I've never seen you with him, and even your not that good at handing.
Short&Hoofy
Well, I have. RRBB knows me better than anypony, so of course she could tell. It's just that... if I tell you something promise it'll remain between us, okay?
PaintDrop
Paint. I promise.
Short&Hoofy
When I ran away, something happened. I'm not comfortable talking about it. I didn't lose my memories except for the last day before they found me. It's sort of linked to my coltfriend. He didn't hurt me, he found me, but it's really better if nopony knows about him.
PaintDrop
Okay, though weren't you the one who told me relationships should be in the open, not hidden?
Short&Hoofy
Aren't you a smart *yay*? I've already said, it's more complicated with him. I don't think anypony is ready. Maybe in a few years they would be, or maybe they never will. I just know I really want to see him, and I'm tired of having ten minute talks constantly looking over my shoulder. With you, at least I know nopony will freak out.
PaintDrop
I don't understand any of this, but okay. I hope you know what you're doing.
Short&Hoofy
I do.
PaintDrop
Can you tell me anything about him? What's he like?
Short&Hoofy
You've been hanging round RRBB too long. :/
PaintDrop
Well, excuse me for being a teen surrounded by ponies who discuss this every day. Oh, and let's not forget the EqF site which has become shipping central!
Short&Hoofy
He's sweet and sensitive, like I'm the dark romance poems. The stallion sitting by the lake, gazing at the moonlight, often crying, seeking love... that's him. It's sort of strange. When I, with him we rarely say anything, just sit text to each other share a few words. I've never seen him smile so far, but I don't have to. I know what he feels, and he knows how I feel. Sometimes we remain silent for almost an hour and then he suddenly kisses me. The first time my entire mane stood on edge. Sometimes I'd just let him lean on me and pass my hood through his mane.
PaintDrop
You kissed?!
Short&Hoofy
Don't you dare say a word, Squishy! RRBB was quite descriptive with your "encounters".
PaintDrop
No, it's just... sorry, but I can't imagine you in that light. You're so...reserved. Not sheltered, but you've never given anypony in class a chance. To have you acting like the heroine in a romance novel is...if I wasn't writing my story I'd write about that. It sounds so... special.
Short&Hoofy
I know. :)
Break is over. I have to get back to class. Wait for me at the bridge. I'll come after the next lesson is over. And thank you.
PaintDrop
I hope you let us meet him one day :)
Short&Hoofy
So, Paint actually has a BF... OC or not? Snips / Snails???
Typos:
handing [?]
hood > hoof
I wonder is going on with Paint's coltfriend that she is so secretive about him.
Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
i think he is a changeling or something unusual... after all she said that everypony would freak out if they found out...
You tease, Lise.
Now I'm wondering just what species Paint's coltfriend is, exactly. Changeling? Dragon? Zebra? Thestral? Draconequus? Sea-serpent? Tatzl-worm? (I really hope it's a Tatzl-worm)
8223997
It's Anon
8223577
Not sure if the first one's a typo or a hint. My moneys on him being human and the reason she disappeared being she stumbled upon a portal to EqG world.
8224214
What is "handing", though?
Also, this is most assuredly a typo: "even your not" > "even you're not".
8224339
I was speaking more along the lines of how sometimes what the author is thinking while typing can at times work its way into the story assuming they don't notice. Rather than saying it wasn't a typo at all, what I should have made clear is that I feel it isn't just a typo. It's kinda like Freudian slip I guess and this could be attributed to either Paintdrop or Lise. There's nothing saying that this couldn't be the case yet and a few things in support of it. Honestly if it is the case, I feel like it might be better left as Paintdrop's freudian typo or even if not, it'd leave somewhat of a misleading message for those who read into things like me. Besides, I'm sure Short can work out what she means and just figures she's read one too many fics or just plain typo'd
8224412
... Yeah, I'd accept in-character typos too, but I mentioned it to Lise in my first report, and I think she fixed them? I'd stop if she asks, but she hasn't, so yeah?
How would Paint's BF be a human?? ... Is the lake a portal???
8224425
Maybe, it was the last place she was seen and where she showed up when they found her. I'm sure they looked everywhere including there in three days time with their resources at the time including the lake. Also portals have a sort of period of inoperation, like how the original would close for some odd number of moons. I feel like depending on location portals may differ and there was that mirror pool from season one so who's to say that other natural magical areas don't exist as portals to other worlds or something else entirely. Then again it could also be a portal to another universe entirely given its natural formation and for all i know she could be travelling to the real version of MC. There's really a ton of wiggle room here with what could be done involving that lake that I'd be okay with.
My money is on changeling. Although, I have to wonder, when they found her she wasn't in very good shape right? Dehydrated if I remember right. Also, she said she can't remember the last day. Why would someone who cares for her let her get into that condition in the first place before 'returning' her? I'm not sure I trust this guy.
My guess is unreformed changling, that's why they're keeping it a secret and Paint lost memories.
This is just FAR too suspicious no matter WHAT is going on here. Changeling or not.
I don't like her bf. My immediate thought was changeling, but I see everyone else thought so as well. I also thought about him being too old...but I dunno. The 'a few years' thing rules out human for me, for now, but like...I don't like it at all. Or her description of him.
Still live the story tho