//------------------------------//
// Harshwhinny 
// Story: You Are Brutally Shut Down By Best Pony 
// by Flutterpriest 
//------------------------------//

	"Everything needs to be perfect, Anonymous," she barks for the fifth time. "After all of the mishaps after the last Equestria Games, we simply cannot afford any more mistakes to be made."

"Right, right. I got it," you reply to Ms. Harshwhinny, doing your best to keep your temper.

Work was never easy, but it always paid well. Being an assistant really wasn't too bad. You were hired on to do paperwork for Ms. Harshwhinny since she usually overworks herself to death. When you got the job, you certainly didn't expect for her to be so... abrasive. They certainly weren't joking when they said she is a certified workhorse. However, you can't help wondering if she's really like this all the time. 

"When does it need to be done?" you ask, scribbling down some last notes while sitting in her office.

"I would like for it to be done by tomorrow morning,"

Your eyes rise from the paper and sigh.

"It's already 5," you ask lightly.

She looks at you sternly.

"Yes. And?"

"Well, uh."

"If you say 'Uh' one more time, Anonymous, I will try to find an assistant who can properly struture their sentences," she snaps back at you. "Spit it out."

There's no way she can be this prickly all the time, right? Maybe it would be worth trying to spend time with her outside of the work environment. Maybe getting to know each other better could make this not so... well, difficult.

"Sorry," you begin. "I was just wondering if you would like to get drinks after work today. I mean, it is Friday, and we were able to complete a big project today. It seemed like a good fit. Why not take a weekend to relax?"

A silence falls over the room as you stare at the mare expecting an answer. A flicker of expressions forms across her features. Shock. Then flattery. Then pain. And then... Her brow furrows, she grits her teeth, and releases a controlled breath, shaking her head.

A knife pierces the middle of your throat as you wait for a reply. Maybe this was a mistake. All you wanted to do was see her nicer side. It has to be somewhere inside her. 

"Are you serious, Anonymous?" she asks, her voice full of judgment and skepticism.

You stand up straight and stick to your guns.

"Yes. I want to get to know you better."

She shakes her head and sighs.

"I want you to leave this room, and never speak of this conversation again. You are lucky I don't fire you on the spot," she dictates.

Your stomach drops as you stare at her. You remain frozen in place as the world stops spinning. Well, you suppose you did see this as a possible option. Just, you really wanted to believe that it would be... different.

"Didn't you hear me? Leave my office immediately."

"Y-yes, Ms. Harshwhinny," you mutter as you turn and walk out of your boss's office, closing the door behind you.

Well, so much for that. But, you suppose you can't win them all. At least you tried.





Ms. Harshwhinny sighed to herself after the door closed and looked down to her desk of papers. She raised a hoof to her forehead and rubbed her temple.

"These are the sacrifices we make for a strong career," she whispered to herself.

She rose from her desk and moved to the window, watching the human walk out of the building, hands shoved into his pockets. She forced herself to put on a weak smile, in case somepony walking on the street casually glanced up at her window.

"Plus," she said to herself. "You'll be happier with some other mare."