Minuette And Me
By TheMadPaperHatter
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I Hate Walking! No, Really!
Polar opposites are said to attract, ya know?
SO WHY THE HELL AM I NOT FLINGING ALL OVER PONYVILLE LIKE A LONG-FUSE FIREWORK SET OFF BY A COUPLE OF KIDS?!
Seriously, Ponyville in the early-morning is all quiet serenity. Clean streets free of clutter and ponies; you can see all the way down the streets as everyone is inside, all nice and warm with a coffee and a bowl of Chocolate Rice Cereal. But me? If I wasn't so good at masking negative emotions I'd be shaking all over the place. I'd look more hyperactive than Pinkie Pie. But maybe I am taking it too literally; I mean, it's not like a grumpy donkey will be forced to ram into a hyper active pony, right? Hm, nah, I'll stick with being literal.
So out goes the theory of "opposites attract". Didn't even take me four paragraphs of introductory text.
"In theory," says Bonnie, desperate to break the icy mood. "You could be in and out in minutes."
I groan. "Not helping," I look her over. "How do you cope? You're always so... calm, even if you find a spider. You don't freak out; you just freeze solid."
She slightly smiles. "My father taught me to control my fear and not let it control me," she explains. "But I don't just fear spiders, it's a borderline phobia!"
I chuckle. "If you say so. But what do you do? Fear control...?"
Bonnie said the walk would take us roughly ten minutes. It feels like an hour.
"Well, it depends on your definition of fear," she narrows her eyes. "Describe your fear."
"It's... cold."
"Cold?"
"And spiky," I add.
She puts a hoof to her mouth. I'm still amazed by her ability to do that and maintain a walking pace. I either flail around or have to stop. "Oh, oh!" She exclaims, a smile on her lips. "That's adrenalin! Yes, okay. Think of it as your bodies defense mechanism; it's preparing you to do whatever you have to do to stay safe."
"Ha, right. This is another practical joke isn't it?"
"Nope," she says sincerely.
I am obliged to believe her.
"Thanks for not taking the p... thanks for not joking about this, Bon Bon," I pitch in sincerely. "But how do I use this 'adrenalin'?"
Sounds kinky.
"It depends on who you are," she smiles a little bit more. "I'm sure you'll work out your own way but I can always set you up with a psychologist."
"That'd be cool, thanks."
So much for kinky.
"So," I begin, desperate to make conversation. "How much are you going to get from going to the school?"
Bon Bon smiles. She'll be in her element soon, in her zone, babbling on. I'll listen, of course.
"Well, it all depends really. If I do the whole afternoon that's at least fifty bits. If not I'll get twenty. Also, depending on my performance and how well the students connected with my lessons, I may just get a job! No more long hours of selling nothing! Actual income!"
It takes a moment for it to sink in. We're breaking things here. "Waaait, what?! You, a teacher?! We... you... I..."
She giggles. "Don't worry, I'm sure I want be that good."
Sighing, I take a deep breath and quicken my pace. "If you say so, Bonnie. It's just..." I pause. "You've changed so much from that shy, yet joking candy-loving mare I knew. And it makes me so... proud of you!"
"You've changed since we first met, too, Lyrie."
The rest of the walk is pretty normal. If normal is when you hate every second wish you were at home; constantly turning around just to see other ponies' homes with your humble little place out of sight. Still, Bonnie is providing welcome comfort.
"I still wish I was at home, playing the lyre, chilling out, with a nice cup of coffee. I hate walking."
Bon Bon just stares.
"No, really! I wish everypony had a form of transport that didn't required any raw power from us. Works itself like clockwork."
"Well, we're here at the dentist anyway," Bon Bon says, gesturing to something on my left.
I turn and see it. A modest building which looks like a converted cottage, with a crudely scribbled sign that says "Colgate's Dentistry of Brushie Brushie" written in blue marker on a white backing.
I didn't even notice Bon Bon leave my side.