//------------------------------// // Chapter 9: "Boop" // Story: Anon Begins // by 23 KM To Nerdiness //------------------------------// "So, let me get this straight: you needed a rabbit for this 'Trixie' friend of yours-" "Yep." "Completely stressed out about it-" "Eeyup." "WHILE you haphazardly shot me-" "Uh huh." "Which is why I'm a shrimpy furball-" "That's about right, yeah." "And you'll turn me back to normal ONLY if I perform for some magic show?!" "Right on the money." "...eh, seems legit." If you're a PSYCHO......or Pinkie. You and your manipulative pony friend are walking along a dirt path 'negotiating' terms. Well, Starlight is. Your lazy ass is riding her back. Hopping gets nauseating after awhile. "I'm just wondering, why you didn't go to Fluttershy for thi-" you stop yourself. "Oh, right-" "It's Fluttershy." Star adds. I wouldn't really care, that rabbit was a jackass. "Might I ask where this'll take place?" "There." You sit up to view the playing field. What you find is a magnificent castle-like structure, pools of crystal clear water surrounding the area. You spot a few dragons and pegasi fly overhead. "Wow, what is this place?" "This," she pauses for dramatic effect. "Is the school of friendship!" "It's so majestic." And yet so cheesily named. As you reach the school, you notice a herd of yaks chasing after a red ball together. They move in herds. They DO move in herds. "So, this school, do you guys.......friendship really hard?" "Heh, something like that," she giggles. "We teach creatures, including ponies, the importance of friendship here like yaks, griffons, dragons, changelings and hippogriffs." "That is awe- wait, hippo-whats?" "It's......a long story." "I've got time." Starlight gives you a playful pout. "Alright, Anon. You have been warned, though." Drama is not your strong suit, pony lady. "And that's when we reopened the school and...here we are now." Starlight finishes. "That must've been crazy." "It was." Well, I guess I'll have to mark off "No Racists" on my "Everything Great About This Place" list. You're on the edge of your horseback seat, listening to the alleged "long story" while exploring the school's halls and you are surprisingly into it. "You ponies never catch a break, do ya?" "Oh, you have no idea." "But it still sounds like you all still have a good time." As Starlight continues, you spot a group of various creatures hanging out. "Yeah, it's always fun to spend time with friends, ya know?" Your mind goes blank. Everything flashes and you find yourself against a brick wall, with a black eye and your stomach hurting like crazy. You remember people throw dodgeballs at you and mocking you until one ball hits you square in the face, snapping you out of your vision. "Y-Yeah, friends..." you utter. Starlight catches your tone. "Anon, everything okay?" "Yeah, I......was just thinking." "About what?" Dude, don't cry. Don't you DARE cry! "I didn't......have any..." Oh, man, what's that on my cheek?! "Friends," you continue. "I was always the odd one out. Most of my life, I've been bullied, mocked, harrassed. I don't think I've ever made a friend outside my family." Thank God this fur is absorbent. Starlight stops in her tracks. A light blue aura of magic surrounds you as you're lifted off the unicorn's back, and up to eye level with her. She then rubs your belly. "Hm. Well, you have one now." she exclaims reassuringly. A large smile grows across your face. That statement alone gave you a warm, fuzzy feeling. No pun intended. Kind of... Still inches away from your friend's face you get an idea. I just GOTTA do it, I've got to! You place one paw on Starlight's cheek and with the other, you lean in closer and- "Boop." You booped her. Within a few seconds, she bursts into laughter. "Hoo, Anon you're so cute." she chuckles. "No, you're the cute one." She smiles. "T-That was supposed to be an insult." you huff, crossing your arms. Her giggles reignite as she plops you on her back and continues her walk. "Say what you will, you're still adorable." "Hey, thanks, Star. I needed to hear that." "Anytime......pal." The two of you laugh and joke around as you move on. Soon, you run into a group of students, one each a different creature. "Hello, students," Star waves. "How's your day?" The kids' annoyed expressions said it all and Starlight seemed to understand the problem. "Friendship test?" They nod their heads in unison. "I thought so." Doesn't sound THAT hard. One of the students, an arctic-blue, bug-eyed......bugpony notices you. "Miss Glimmer," she coos. "You didn't tell us you had a pet." Is it weird that I'm turned on by that assumption? You climb to the top of Starlight's mane and cross your arms. "Who you callin' a pet?" you say. The rest of the students jolt back in surprise. With ALL these talking creatures, how's it weird that woodland critters can talk? Out of all of them, a..."hipp-o-griff" is the most surprised. "That...is...incredible!" she squees. "A talking rabbit, what'll they think of next?!" Pinkie 2.0, I assume? "Yona not impressed," the yak grunts. "Do something cool." TWANG! You hear that? That's the sound of your ego snapping. You waddle under the judgy yak and lift her off the ground. The students seemed pretty shocked. They wanted more. You toss the now giggling yak and flip her on her back. With one little paw, you spin her about like a basketball. [Welcome to the JAM, biyatch!] You halt your spin and place the dizzy yak on her hooves. "So...?" you ask, grinning. "Yona take back what yak said." Yona says, regaining her balance. "Green rabbit AWESOME!" Like...a...boss. "Yeah, that's cool, for a rabbit." the dragon said nonchalantly, although you knew she dug it. You hold out your paws. "You wanna go for a spin?" "I-I'm good." she utters. You hop back on Starlight's horn and point ahead. "Yah, mule! MUSH!" "Try me." Star huffs. "O-Or not, my bad." "Anyway. Good luck on the test, children." "Psst! The answer's always 'B'!" you whisper. "Anon!" "I regret nothing!" you exclaim, raising your arms high. You and Starlight reach an outdoor area inside the school... Okay that sounds a little backwards. Anyways, as you approach a large tree at the center where you hear something familiar. See our friends, see the sights- "Feel alright." you hum to yourself. Wait, what?! Someone's playing your jams! "Um, Starlight, can you excuse me for a moment?" you ask. "Oh, sure. Just meet me by the-" WHOOSH! You take off like a roadrunner. "...tree." Using your enhanced senses, i.e. your big ass ears, you locate your player. Soon, you find the source of the music: Twilight's office. You knock on the door. No answer, all you hear is your music being enjoyed without you. At rapid speed you tap the wooden door faster than a woodpecker until your dragon bro answers the door. "I'm in trouble," he utters. "Um, this isn't what it looks......or sounds like." With no hesitation, you leap over your fibbing friend and spot Twilight shaking her flank until she too sees you. "Anon, what're you doing here?!" she says, her face burning red as she turns off the player. "The real question is how much have you listened to?" "I think, almost all of it? I'm so sorry, Anon. I wanted to study this artifact and soon these songs started playing and we got carried away." Damn, there are about over 200 songs on that thing! "I'm impressed, humans today didn't really appreciate music like this. It's nice to know some creatures do." Your two cultured friends smile at your statement. "I'll tell you what," you say, dragging your player. "Sometime after school, you can listen to as many songs as you like. Just ask next time, 'kay?" "Alright," Spike nods. "Sorry, again." You pat Spike's shoulder and leave.