//------------------------------// // Ears! In Pain! Help! - Edited! // Story: Live, Die, Repeat // by Hidden_Night //------------------------------// Okay. So, quick rundown. Kids are excited at the prospect of hanging out together. The Kids are also very good at meeting up way too quickly after adults leave, and there’s no subtly about it. And also. “CUTIE MARK CRUSADER LUMBERJACKS! YEAH!”. Three adorable, albeit loud, fillies yelled suddenly. My ears are flicking and ringing. [15 minutes earlier] “Hey! You’re the homeless pony we gave bits to!” She pointed at me, the coolest homeless guy to ever be homeless. It’s a lovely white unicorn filly, adorable pink and purple hair mixed with curls, seems natural. Plus, her green eyes, hopeful she isn’t green with envy. I miss her sometimes. “Yep. And I’m thankful for your generosity. Also, your sister gave me the job of watching over you.” Flash a smile for the kid. It's not too sharp, just a tiny happy smile. The kid seemed to get it, giving a smile back as she paced the stairs and hopped over to face me. “Oh. Did Rarity bring you here? I thought I was old enough to take care of myself.” She put a hoof on her chest and tried to stand tall, puffing out her fur in an act to appear more prominent and, therefore, an adult “Uh uh…so did you almost burn the house down while cooking?” “H-Hey! Rarity said she would tell nopony!” She was embarrassed now. The white fur wasn’t helping in hiding her very blush. How am I seeing blush on her coat anyway? “It was just a lucky guess. Relax. Not here to rat on you, just here to uh, I guess, watch you?” What was I to do? I was just given a house and a child. I got no instructions on what to do. “That’s cool. I think.” Her voice squeaked. Cute. “Anyway. I’m Anonymous, and you?” “Sweetie Belle!” Perking up at the question, she eyed my butt, tilting her head. She was about to speak before a knock at the door stopped her from talking. “Oh, that’s my friends!” She rushed past me and went to the door. “Applebloom, Scootaloo! You made it!” “Yeah! Who’s watching us?” The orange one asked. “Mister Anonymous, the Homeless Pony from earlier!” “Really? I know Rarity was panicking to find us a babysitter, but I didn’t know she would go for a homeless guy.” She is seemingly baffled by my very existence as a homeless pony. I get it. Still, she was desperate, I think? Either she’s good at hiding her emotions, or she’s just flirting with me so I can watch over them. Either or… “So, who are you two? I know Sweetie here, but who are you two?” [Now…] Then I learned their names, Scootaloo and Applebloom. They ran off to find stuff to cut wood and lumberjack caps. They got one for me as well, it’s green like my fur, but it feels nice to wear a hat. Ear holes are a little weird. “Yeah! Ah got the axe from the barn, and we could head down to whitetail woods.” We are also near the South, apparently. Usually, the fantasy southern folk are the hospital versions. We don’t talk about the other facet… Also, that hand axe is way too big for her. “Oh! Oh! I want to say ‘Timber’ when it falls!” The orange one exclaimed. Somehow, their voices aren’t faltering despite the whole screaming so loud I could swear it’s a lethal weapon. “Wait! Wait! I almost forgot something.” The white girl yelled and quickly went upstairs, leaving me with two staring children. “So…” I started. “I think, uh, Rarity would like it if just kept near you girls.” I didn’t want to harm their freedom and force them to stay inside. Even if I am babysitting, I’ll still respect what they want to do. “Oh. Right. The foalsitter. Ah forgot. Mister could w-“ “Anonymous or Anon if you want.” “Ah, gotcha, Anon, can we please go out and cut a tree? We gots to try to earn our cutie marks!” Her eyes, why are they so big? So cute? Wait no! I must not be charmed! “Yeah, but I’ll watch. Just in case.” You’re a weak man. “Yay!” The two weren’t as loud as the trio, so thank god my ears aren’t going to go deaf in this world! Also…cutie marks. Hmm. These must be the names of the badges for Girl Scouts. Safe estimation, it would seem, but where are their sashes? “I got them!” The white filly was dragging three patchwork capes in her mouth. It's a little gross, but who am I to complain about hygiene? I was homeless a moment ago! I still am, but I might have enough for a hotel room if I don’t feel comfortable using their shower or bath…how do sentient ponies bathe? Watching her drag the capes, one began sliding down underneath her hoof, slipping her up and causing her to roll forward. Being the excellent babysitter that I am, I use my magic to catch her. A green aura captures her before she can hit her head on the stairs. I can’t say the same for the capes which were flung downwards. They were cloth, so they were fine. “Woah! Careful, stairs are very dangerous.” Mild scolding, rather than yell. “I…thank you, Anon-e-mus!” Sweetie seems generally unshaken by the experience. She almost died stairs today. She stumbled on my name, but it’ll be fine. “Just be careful next time. Why didn’t you use your magic to carry the capes?” I think they were capes. They look like very hastily stitched-together rugs or a blanket that hasn’t been repaired. “I…um…my magic doesn’t work…” Why is she so quiet? Is it embarrassing? Is being magically mute a disability in this world? Oh god, it is, isn't it? Since unicorns are a race here, that means they do magic regularly. Therefore, Magic Muteness is real, and it’s embarrassing. “Oh. That’s alright, don’t worry. So long as you keep trying, even a spark can start a fire.” I assume she can shoot sparks. I mean, it’s what magically mute individuals did in other worlds. Since magic is highly volatile no matter the world, magic sparks are dangerous. If an active magic mute individual kept trying to cast a spell, their sparks would grow bigger, then bigger, then eventually they became explosives. Only when they can harness those explosions can they do the usual magic. Magic is also a simple subject when broken down. You have three things: a medium, the mana pool in your body, and your veins. Magic muteness is caused by a blockage of magic in your veins, so if you could create a spark large enough to cause an explosion, that means you cleared your veins enough to allow magic to flow through. However, the process can take years of casting magic sparks before even casting a spell. Sometimes, it is in a matter of minutes, depending on skill, yet that only clears it for a short time, not wholly erasing the condition. Hopefully, she can get help soon. “I…I know.” She hung her head low as I set her down, still embarrassed about it. It hurts to see a kid do this to themselves. “Don’t worry,” I brought over one of the capes and tied it around your neck. “You still got time.” I just hope I’m getting to her. If I’m going to stay in this world, I want to see her improve, damnit! “Yeah! Ah, think you can still do it, Sweetie Belle!” Applebloom was very supportive of her friend. It's rather sweet, actually. I also put the cape on the other two while I could. It just seems right. They’re having a moment. “Right! We got each other!” Scootaloo, while headstrong, seems to do well. “Thank you! Girls!” Sweetie pulled them into a hug before the three girls talked amongst themselves. These kids are lucky to have each other. You know? No matter how many times I see it, best friends bring a warmth to my heart. Individually apart, but together strong. Something to that effect. Perhaps I long for the same as well. You know what, after this, gotta make a friend! How hard can it be? ”Cutie Mark Crusader Lumberjacks! Yay!” The trio separated, getting the things they needed to be a Lumberjack, apparently. Also, OW MY EARS AGAIN! Opening the door to the exit, the trio rushed out. I grabbed the key from the potted plant and locked the door behind me. Seeing an open closed sign flipped to closed. I turned around and stored the key in the pocket dimension for now and began to rush after the girls. A quick jog to the woods, w. We found a tree that was skinny enough to be cut and other such nonsense. It’s just a tree the girls decided no one would miss. Applebloom with the axe was up first. Holding the handle in her mouth, she reared back her neck and torso, giving a hearty swing, only for it to miss and the axe to fly off her mouth into the dirt. At least it hurt no one. Sweetie Belle was following after Applebloom. She held it in her mouth and began to turn her head to swing, not swinging her with her body. It struck wood but could barely make a dent—a valid attempt. Scootaloo was up next. She used her oddly tiny wings to keep her upright as she buzzed. She gave rapid swings to the wood. It made some dents, but, uh, nothing was happening. It seems more at home with a woodpecker. They kept cycling in and out. Applebloom would continue to miss, Sweetie Belle was far too gentle with the wood, and the woodpecker over there was making process, just plodding progress. It wasn’t long before they panted, falling down to the grass as they were tuckered out. Not even 1/8th of the way through the tree, and they are already tired. They would make terrible lumberjacks. As a test, I picked up the axe in my hooves. Inspecting it, I thought it was a real axe, but it was dull. Thank god Applebloom didn’t hit anyone with her aim. “You girls tired?” I asked, looking at the pile of tired ponies. “Yeah. It’s so hard!” Scootaloo complained. “And I didn’t even get to say Timber!” She just flopped over to her side. I know how to make this right. “Well. Perhaps it wouldn’t be.” I set down the axe and decided to do what I do best. Punch a tree. “You made this easier for me…” “Mister, you need the axe to cut down wood.” Applebloom sits up, tired, but won’t fight the process. “Ora!” I punch the tree, the trio jolting up as I make a dent. “Ora Ora!” I need an extra two punches to get my body going. Let’s do this! “Ora Ora Ora!” I repeat, punching the tree rapidly. Splinters are definitely digging into me, but that won’t stop me! Punch a tree! Get wood! Build a house! If these girls want to see what a lumberjack is about, I’ll let them deal with a fallen tree log. “Scootaloo! Get ready!” I call out, punching the tree as hard as I can, getting through the wood. “Oh! Okay!” She was getting giddy, ready to yell at the top of her lungs. I can feel it. With my hooves ready, I twist my body to punch the last bit of a tree I can. A hoof reaching up and gently pressing on the tree. “Boop.” As the tree creaks, I hear a very loud. “TIMBER!” From Scootaloo. Today was a good day. I punched a tree for the second time today.