I'm going to assume whoever yelled in that sing-song voice was Pinkie Pie, or somepony who was extremely similar to her voice. I don't know why she would screech at that pitch, but I guess it isn't my place to wonder, or even judge. As... odd as it was? It was certainly out of nowhere. Following that odd screech. At least my ears aren't destroyed. Yet.
Well I'm not going out there to investigate anything. Don't be curious. And you know it's... her. She is weird. And annoying. Getting on your nerves, perhaps. If the option is to stay in this house, while she isn't here and distracted with something else that has nothing to do with me (and I hope it doesn't), then so be it. I could just... just...
Well I am a bit hungry right now. It is the morning, and these apples... well I'm not sure what to think of them. Or the mare who made them. There's a lot of vagueness in the air, that I can smell. And apples... I think... I think I'm getting hungrier and hungrier... I'll give credit when its due... they smell nice... delicious even... intoxicatingly nice... maybe too strong... the scent... ergh... engh... I swung the fridge door open, and pulled out the apple... tart? Whatever it was, I placed on the table. Staring at it. Should it eat it? Maybe my nose is deceiving me about this. I mean, it's just food, after all. Right? It doesn't matter who made it, or how she made it... even though you don't really know her... don't know if this is a plan, just a fraud to gain your trust... and turn on you at the last second...
Ugh! Get these thoughts out of your head! Ignore them. Take deep breaths. Deep breaths.
Sigh. Okay. Its just food. Don't... get paranoid about food. Remember last time? Actually... what happened last time? If there even was a last time, I can't remember anything. I think I'm now creating memories that weren't there before. It must be because of my traits. How I hate most, or all of them. So... the food. I guess it wouldn't hurt to try some. I mean, it's not like Applejack or some other pony is just waiting for me to eat this so I go unconscious, and they take me away to somewhere else. Right?
...
There isn't anypony beyond my window curtains, when I pull them back lightly. I sigh... in some emotion that I'm probably not familiar with. I don't really care. I'm getting even more paranoid. At least things at the moment aren't getting worse... never better, but not worse... yet. Well, this is a waste of time. Food. Yes, breakfast. I mean Thomas, its only breakfast. You're getting paranoid... again... ugh. Stop this. Bucking stop this. Just... eat this pie that smells... intoxicating, but not lethal. If that means anything,
*Takes Bite* Mmm... this is... well there's flavour in there. Apple. But... I'm getting the feeling of something else... I can't put my hoof on what. Well I don't know emotions other than pain and sadness, really anything similar to those two, so of course I'm not familiar with it. I'm starting to get irritated with this morning more.
All right something is wrong. I'm not as depressed as yesterday. I'm feeling... something different, that I don't really want to think. Where is the real Thomas? I groaned, lying my head on the table. This morning is still better than most mornings, days... but that isn't really saying much. Like anything else says much about me... I shook my head lightly. No, don't think those. Just don't... think about food again, you seemed at the very least not upset or depressed.
"Hello?" A... different voice called from out of nowhere... from the door. Well the voice doesn't sound like Pinkie Pie... Twilight? "Is anypony here?" I froze in place. I'm still terrified, obviously. I'd much rather stay isolated from everypony... but I wanted to have friends... and I consider her a friend... and saved her... "Oh, hello Thomas." She spoke with a smile, with a small... dragon sitting in her back? Huh... Wait... oh, nevermind. The Princess already told my name... need to remember that carefully. Why did she have to say my name? I... didn't want that secret to go out to everypony... but it seems like they've accepted that my name is differently from everypony else. Or at the very least their content. Actually... why are you here Twilight? I wish I had strength to ask her that. "Um..." She coughed. "May I..." She looks nervous about something... nervous about me? "...come in please?"
Uh... I'm terrified now. Why does she want to come into my home, of all places? And if she does, how will she judge me? How will she think of me? What would she say? She could talk me down, insult me, may take other things from my home. I don't know... I don't know... "Um, Thomas?" She snapped me out of my trance... of wherever I was staring. "Are you okay there?" She had a slightly worried look on her face, but it might be her good acting. Though she looked kind of sincere... and... something else in a different way. I opened my mouth to speak some of my worries, but then I would have been lead into that trap again. I looked towards the ground again. "Thomas?" There was a pause in silence, as she didn't say anything. I feel depressed again.
"Um, Twilight?" The young dragon spoke in a young coltish voice. "Maybe we should come back later..." That... would be better right now. I'm not prepared for this. What she is going to ask, what she is going to do... excreta. I still couldn't look at her... but is this the first step in becoming closer friends? I wouldn't have a clue. It would hurt to ask... but am I not going to take that risk? I mean, Twilight seems... anything close to normal from what I have observed from her, in the small limited time I've been with her. I mean, she looks comfortable with speaking openly with me. I... wish I was the same way. Maybe I should give her a chance... I kinda gave Rainbow Dash a chance...
"Er, no no. You can..." I'm still hesitant. Come on, do it Thomas. What is there to really lose- no, don't answer that. Just... go along with the flow. "You can come in Twilight..." And I think that the dragon's name is Spike, from what I remember. Vaguely. My mind is a little foggy at the moment. But I don't think Twilight had said my name to him... I hope she didn't. Even if he is the age of a colt... it's better that way. I opened the door wider, so that they could both enter. Twilight blinked for a second, for whatever, and then had another smile on her face. That... that face... something- I swear I've seen this pony somewhere before. Maybe I'm delusional. Or just thinking things. Or... both.
I slowly closed the door, the entire room, and to an extent the house most likely, was engulfed in darkness, where few things were still visible to the naked eye. Twilight and Spike immediately noticed this. I froze in fear. What... could she say? I think she tried to take a look around, but it was too hard for her to see, including him. "Um... It's a bit dark in here, don't you think?" Well, yes. For a good reason. I won't say why. I think she nearly walked into the sofa I have there... I don't ever sit on it.
"Er, yeah it is." Pause. "Would... you like me to open the curtains?" I ask... uncertainly. Okay I'm scared and frightened over where this relationship is going, if its going anywhere at all in the right way, whatever the right way is. I don't know what the right thing to say is, I don't know what the wrong thing to say is. I find it better to not speak at all, in every circumstance when possible. But when it comes to conversation... I go into a 'silent panic' mode as it were. I freak out but I'm good at not showing it. Until pain is an important factor that arises...
She nodded, and I opened the two curtains that was there. So the outside world can... shuddering... see me. I don't like it. But they prefer it. They like it. So... what does that make me? Spike muttered something to himself that neither of us could hear, as Twilight took a look around the room. I studied where she looked, and how long she looked at them. She took particular notice at... the instruments decaying in the corner over there. No. Please no. Don't mention... "Do you play instruments?" She looked at me with a lightly tilted head. Do... ponies, or mares rather, who ask questions with curiosity like that? I haven't noticed... I haven't really given any reason to care.
I looked at the guitar and the piano. "Um..." I want to. I really do. But there isn't any point for me to. I don't know anypony that would offer to give me lessons on how to play these instruments. It's a waste of time. I don't know how, but I want to. I wish I could say that openly. "Not... necessarily..." Fear is a powerful drug. I hate drugs.
She didn't press on the issue. She might have something else on her mind. "Well anyways, I would like to ask questions..." Slightly pause, as she looked away for a moment. "...about you."
...
"Okay." My mind hurts. I can't think anything right now. I can only answer questions. I... know I'm doing something wrong, out of the thousand reasons. One from the rest springs out from my mind. I can't remember if I was always rude. "Alright, I'm... Would you like to sit down?" I offered her seat... on the sofa. I never had actually sat on this. I never really relaxed on that. I always sat on chairs. Or sitting on my own bed. Is it a shame that I'm finding what I have and haven't sat on interesting? Or am I just deterring from the possibility that... no don't think that. Ugh. Bad thoughts. Paranoid thoughts. Always seep in somehow. I better remain blank, like I did there for a moment.
"Um... why yes I would." She answered with a smile (always happy), before looking at the couch for a few seconds, before lying like anypony normally would. Spike sat straight up, getting comfortable. I, hesitantly, walked over to them on the couch, sitting like I usually would. And it was rather noticeably. Because it was unlike anypony would sit. At least that's what I saw. "Well, that is an odd way of sitting down." She proves my point. She didn't... make any insults or anything. She... just pointed it out. Please don't judge.
"Ah... yeah. I guess it is." Or am I getting something wrong in some regard? "Now... you said you had... questions." I guess this is one way to pass the time, more intriguing that any other I could think of (that didn't end in bloodshed). I'm still scared, don't get me wrong, but I am curious of what she is going to ask. Still afraid out of my own spine, normally.
"Yes. Firstly..." She broke off from there for a few seconds, like she didn't prepare this or something. Then what was the point of asking me questions. Is... no she couldn't. "I never really got any time to ask you this properly. But why did you... save us?" Her voice went down to almost a whisper. I didn't answer at first. I know an answer. "I mean, I'm thankful that you did." She chuckled. "But... how did you know where we were? And why did you save us?" She repeated, making me think about the extra part there. I don't want to tell her about... what I was going to do. She would bug me to no end. It seems that Rainbow hasn't told anypony else... yet. What could I make up? That I got lost in the forest, for no reason? Or do I avoid the question entirely? Maybe I should tell her... but it would come back to bite me. I don't know...
"Umm..." No, don't stutter. Think of something. Saying no comment doesn't ever help. I remember the last time I said that... "I... followed you... to see how you were going to... save us?" I... think. "Then I got lost in the forest... I saw some flash of light... then I appeared at the castle, and saw all six of you being strangled by, er... Nightmare Moon. Even if... I had... let's say bad relations with Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy... I just didn't want you mares to be hurt." I explained softly. The last-half part was true, the first... not so much. I don't think I'll ever explain the truth properly.
There was silence for a moment, as this seemed to process through her head. "You wanted to help us?" She eventually asked, where I nodded, looking back at the floor again. "Well... thank for that." All right then... I can't tell if she was sincere. She sounded shy, if anything. I just nodded. "I mean... Thomas?" I slowly looked at her, remaining blank, or gloomy I don't know. "Thank you." She smiled, before laying a hoof on my shoulder... I froze in place, looking at her again. She looks... sincere. And thankful. Well two ponies right now are 'truly' faithful, I mean thankful. Though I guess that isn't saying anything, if they are going to betray me in the future. Long-term. Short-term... I don't know what these mares want to do with me. I haven't noticed any signs of torment, not anything significant since... I woke up? This is too much to think.
"Uh, yeah sure." I said, before looking away again for another moment. I wonder if the others will say anything to me, if at all. I have my doubts about Pinkie Pie, for different reasons, that might not involve pain. Oh, what am I saying? Of course I will be inflicted with pain. One way or another. "So... you had more questions?"
"Well, I-
"RAINBOW DASH!" Some voice shrieked from outside, in a... sing-song kind of way. Thankfully it wasn't too loud that I had to cover my ears, but it shook me up again. I barely jumped from where I was sitting. I felt a little dizzy, where I groaned.
Twilight chuckled... "Are you okay there?" I froze again. You're... not going to make fun of me, are you? Please don't...
"I guess." I rub my muzzle for a second, before seeing that Pinkie Pie was running outside... towards somewhere. "She scared me." I should have said that she scares me, but that wouldn't be the right thing to say. Not that she would care.
"I can see." She paused. "Pinkie told me earlier that she was just looking for Rainbow Dash." Should I be surprised? Well I don't know if they are close friends or not. Maybe... no I have no clue. Also, I thought Rainbow would not get off my case and be the pony that knocks on my door first, seeing how stubborn she was last night... which I still feel bad about. But is that necessarily a bad thing? Still no idea comes to mind...
"Why?" I hesitantly ask, as she and Spike made their way towards the door. So you're leaving now? Well... sigh, some talk this was. I made my way off the sofa too, but not towards the door. I just stood there.
"I'm not sure... she was talking all about her this morning." She sighed, before opening the door, about to leave before she pauses. "I'm sorry, are you coming with us?" I looked at her with confusion.
"Why?" I ask again, baffled over why she would care about me, if this is caring about somepony... I'm oblivious to many things, that's just the way I was brought up. And I hate it.
She looked away for a second before looking back at me. "Don't you want to know what happened? I mean, they are your friends..." Well guilt trip me then. Sigh. Might as well. I mean, there wasn't anything else that I was doing that was productive. What was I going to do? Just eat? That seemed boring. This... seems dangerous if anything. If Pinkie Pie is involved, from her behaviour that I've seen... I shuddered. That's a good reason to not go out there. And other ponies could be- no. Don't think that. Ignore all those thoughts.
I looked away for the briefest second. "Yeah, sure." I say, before slowly following a smiling Twilight (why is she always happy?) out the door, closing it. I didn't make it far before a rainbow flashed by, blowing a huge wind towards all of us, knocking me against the door. Ow. Not the worst I've endured, far from it. Trust me. Oh great. I'm talking to myself again. As if anypony would be interested in me... Also, I'm not surprised about Rainbow Dash forgetting me entirely, especially after that 'attempt' or 'talk' last night. I'm surprised that even occurred. Seems like a waste of time now, thinking back on it.
I heard a sigh. "I'm guessing that was Rainbow Dash." Her voice seemed dejected, where I offered a hoof to help her up. Spike was already standing. "Um, thanks." She stood up, and took a look at her mane. Before groaning. "Ugh, I have to do this all over again..." She muttered, while I took a look at the direction Rainbow was flying towards. Seemed near... the town centre. Oh that is even greater than before. Spike whispered something to Twilight, which I hope isn't about me, and then suddenly walked down that path ahead of us. Maybe he's just going home. "Ermm, come on Thomas! Let's go see what they're doing." Please don't use my name in public. Just... please don't. It's better that way. I wish I had courage.
"Now there, over to the right. No no, a little to the left. Oh wait, back to the right." The scene that we both were met, after an awkward silence of walking together, with my head looking at the ground, was Pinkie telling Rainbow to move a small cloud, where she looked bored and annoyed, over an entrance to a tree house. Wait... Twilight's home? "Now a little leftish while staying rightly." Right, I'm lost. 'Leftish while staying rightly?' What kind of logic is that? It makes no sense to me... but I think it would be best if I didn't say anything. And the response that I would be met with, especially considering that its her... yeah, better silent than to say anything. Pinkie kept giving these random orders, while I looked over at Twilight, who also seemed confused. Yeah, we are only 'friends' as of yesterday, so she is probably in the dark as much as I am in right now.
"PINKIE PIE!" Rainbow shouted, making me startled. And scary. She is scary. Okay, don't get on her bad side. Don't get on anypony's side. Everypony could be even more violent than what she is acting like. But then again, she is nothing from what I've experienced... and depression hits me again. If these mare are really my 'friends', they wouldn't be like the rest, could they? First experience in this village showed me otherwise, then yesterday disproves that... I don't know yet. I can't fall too deep into their group, stay isolated for most of the time... what am I saying? Be alone? You don't want to be alone... you don't want to be hurt again...
"Uh, I mean, perfect. Now wait for my signal." Pinkie Pie responded to Rainbow, before beginning to sneak around the side of the door... why are they playing some sort of prank on somepony. Actually, I should be glad that it isn't me. It'd be better if it wasn't me. At least they are leaving me alone. I then noticed, after a few seconds... Spike came out, carrying a bunch of scrolls. Pinkie Pie signaled Rainbow Dash, causing her to kick the cloud. Thunder boomed, scaring Spike. He dropped the handful of scrolls with both of his hands. Pinkie Pie smiled at him as Spike continuously hiccuped. Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie began snickering and soon started laughing. Well, that was kinda mean. No, don't tempt fate. They could do it too you. The best thing to do is to let things play out.
"Oh Rainbow Dash, we startled Spike into getting the hiccups!" Pinkie Pie laughed, as Rainbow chuckled, while I heard Twilight groan. I guess she isn't much of... like Rainbow's personality, and is nicer? Or just less enthusiastic on playing pranks, I guess.
Oddly, Spike chuckled along as well, for some reason. To get on their good side? I guess that's a hoof in the right direction, even if its a sad hoof to take. "Good one, Pinkie– He hiccuped. –Pie!" Maybe you should stop talking Spike. That's my words of advice to you, if I could speak them. "You're always pulling a fast one– Hiccupped… -on me." He isn't bright, but I guess he is the age of only a colt. He tried to pick up one of his scrolls, but burnt them on fire!? Okay, he is very scary right now, if he can breath fire. I started making my way slowly backwards, where Twilight realized my shock.
"Hey, it's alright. He won't hurt anypony." She tries to calm me down, and it only slightly works. How is it that a dragon is living with a pony, actually? Actually didn't Twilight tell me last night? I must have blanked out. Actually, that makes Twilight even more dangerous. Now I'm more terrified, but I try good to not show it. I slowly nodded to Twilight and walked back beside her, shaken. I hope she doesn't judge me. Please don't judge me. Thinking about it, other ponies could be judging me right now. But... I don't really see anypony else. Weird.
"Oh no, you're not hurt are you?" Pinkie Pie looked like she was worried, but it could be good acting. Could be? More like it is good acting, with that unique voice. I need to watch out foe her more often than not, if she isn't preoccupied with anything.
"Ne-eh, don't be - silly, dragons are - fire-proof." Spike continued to hiccup mid-sentence. Well I don't know much about dragons... other than they can breaths a lot of fire. Dangerous fire.
"Oh, okay, good." Pinkie Pie replied, before they both burst out laughing again. I sigh to myself. At least they are having fun, and nopony is in immediate danger, unless they prank me, which is inevitable when your... me. I wish I could laugh and have fun. But ponies are never going to act like that towards me. Spike tried to pick up more scrolls he dropped, but he kept burning them. Shouldn't Twilight be, like, alarmed if those scrolls were hers? Well I know little to nothing with these mares... aside from a few standing-out characteristics of a certain few. Pinkie and Rainbow kept laughing even more, finding the sight hilarious. I can't see it that way.
"Have you ever SEEN anything more hilarious?" Pinkie Pie asked.
"I can think of ONE thing." Rainbow Dash replied. She kicked the cloud again, scaring Pinkie Pie this time, as she screamed in sudden fright. Don't do it to me. She screamed. After a few seconds, she began laughing and hiccuping at the same time. Clouds can make you hiccup? Or is it just from the shock. I haven't noticed that.
I heard Twilight sigh again. "I'm just going to read a book..." She muttered, before walking back towards her tree home. She then paused, and turned back towards me. Oh no... "Would you like to come in, Thomas?" I froze, before thinking. It's... I don't want to rush things. Not yet. Too risky. But, I did lead her into my home, and the worst thing she said to me is that I live in darkness, and it didn't sound insulting. I think. I could be wrong. But I just want to be safe. I can only trust these mares to a certain point. Also, what was there to do in her home? Read a book? Eh, that wouldn't actually be bad, though. But I don't want to impose, to get on her bad side... I hate inner conflicts.
"Oh sorry..." Make up an excuse. Anything. Something... er...
"Oh, he's hanging out with us." Rainbow Dash declared from behind, making me look at her in many different way. First shock, then confusion, followed my relief of some sort. She wants... to hang out with me? Me? Why? Is it because of last night? Maybe... she didn't forget. Maybe she had a lot of things going this morning, or was just tired from the party. To be fair, it was very early in the morning when I went to sleep... Maybe she is sleep-deprived, and considers me as a 'friend' in some crazy way. I don't know... is she loyal to me in some way? Maybe this is how 'friends' react from her standpoint.
"Well, alright." Twilight shrugged off like it was nothing, moving back into her home. I watched her leave, before hesitantly taking a look at a smiling Rainbow Dash, who was hovering over me to my left. I feel... slightly more comfortable with Rainbow in my presence. Only slightly...
"So Thomas, are ya gonna hang out with me and Pinkie?" I could only look at her for a few moments, before looking back at the ground. I guess hanging out with Rainbow... wouldn't be as bad as my first experience. I mean, if I'm around her, and on her good side (which it looks like I am already?), then ponies might not mess with me. But then again... 'with Pinkie Pie'. I don't know... She must have seen the look on my face, which I didn't notice that I made, and flew right in front of me, onto the ground. "Hey, it's gonna be alright. We're your friends, right?" I didn't answer at first, but responded with a nod eventually. I still was hesitantly scared. "Don't worry. Nothing is going to happen to you, okay?" I looked back into her eyes, with some emotion in my head, before nodding. She smiled even wider, before flying up in the air excitedly. Must be due to some other reason... She can't be that excited for me...
"Hey Thomas!" Pinkie squeaked from next to me, shaking me up again. She only jumped up and down next to me this time. Damn, please stop scaring. "I'm sorry, I'll try next time." W-What? "Anyways, I never got the opportunity from yesterday, since I never saw you at the party. Which is weird, considering the party was for all seven of us, and the Princesses I suppose." I guess... it wasn't for me. Even if it- "But, I wanted the party to be for you." Okay that's two so far. What? "I wanted to..." She sighed nervously for a second. "I never got to thank you yesterday, for saving us." Oh... no. Don't get fooled. This could all be a lie. Could be... "Thank you." She says, almost in a whisper... before hugging me. I feel my heart racing. Thankfully, it was only for a split second. I took breaths, as it looks like she didn't notice. She then said something to herself, before jumping up and down again. She is always a lively spirit. Exactly nothing like me. "Okay, Rainbow Dash, Thomas. Let's go!" She jumped down one random direction, as I looked towards Rainbow.
...I forgot she was here, somehow. She saw that entire confrontation unfold. She didn't say anything about it, only smiled towards me, and followed Pinkie. I took a breath. Maybe it won't end as badly as every other time. Maybe... things could be for the better. But then I would be dreaming. I hope I'm not. I followed them, less fearful and depressed, and more with intrigue, but still depressed nonetheless. Did that rhyme? Eh. At least they aren't treating me horribly. Yet.
Why do hugs have an effect on me? A bad one at that... shouldn't they be a good thing?