//------------------------------//
// Trust 
// Story: Perspectives 
// by Polarity 
//------------------------------//

Breathe In.

Breath Out.

It's a simple mask.
Well, not that simple.
You just have to do your best to build a curtain between who you are and who you want to be seen as.
Starting from the tip top of the brain stem, grasp firmly in your mind.
Pull it to the left and right while pulling it towards your nose.
Following the curve of your skull, feel the cloying blanket.
Now, pinch it to your Adams apple, securing it tightly.
There we go, all numb, but now we need to get fuzzy too.
Take your hand, and place them, palms down, on your forehead.
Slide them slowly along the top of your scalp to the base of your neck.
Blessed static.

The world blurs for a moment.
What is real?

Certainly the grass you smell as you walk toward them is real.
And the air, which you can taste; It has a crisp freshness in it's bite.

What about those ponies I see in the distance?
Well, you were laying of Fluttershy.
And AJ stepped on you.

So, they are real.

I can't believe they are real.

"I can't believe I'm really here."

"At Ponyville?"
Shit, I said it out loud.

"Yeah, Ponyville."

I guess they were watching me get close to them, and I had stopped subconsciously.

"Well, Ah'm not surprised yer surprised!"
"Seeing as it's one of the most famous towns in Equestria!"
She looks at the top of the one building we can see from here.
"It's a fine town."

I can tell she is remembering something.
The far off stare, the glassy eyes.
I wonder what it is.
It is happy, or sad?

"I'd even wager it's a good model for the perfect town."

She is still staring in the direction of the town.
"Perfect?"
Now she turns to look at me.
"Ah wouldn't say perfect, we get just a tad bit more excitment than necessary."
She smiles softly.

"Anyway, what'er you looking fer Ponyville, fer?"

"Oh, well I had heard so much about it, I just had to come see it at least."

"Then why did yeh have to go through the forest?"

"I got lost."
She stares hard into my face.

You know how I can tell you are lying, son?
How?
Because you won't look me in the eye when you say it.

I stare back into her eyes.

"Ah, well, the town is over yonder."
She nods her head in the direction of the building.
As if she is expecting me to go there right now.

"Am I bothering you, Applejack?"

"Ah, well, it's rude of me to say."
She doesn't look like she doesn't want to say it.

I sigh heavily.

"Just tell me, Applejack."
I hate when people don't tell me things.

"Well, Ah don't trust alone with Fluttershy, and I need to go finish my days work."
She scuffles her hooves a bit.

"Well, Applejack, that is an easy fix."
"I mean, if you don't trust me cause you are afraid I'll attack her again"
"then I just need to go where a lot of ponies can see me."