I must admit I'm a pretty lucky pony.
I like wandering around. I like strolling through the streets and watching ponies pass by. White unicorns, grey unicorns, horny unicorns, all of them have important lives and stories to tell. They make this world a place to live in. In short, all those around me are amazing and admirable.
I'm glad I like walking, otherwise the trip through the grand mountainside fortress of Canterlot would be incredibly irritating. For an earthpony like me, the city is sort of a dream come true, the mix of magic and technology rarely seen elsewhere. On the right side of the half circle carved into the southern face of the mountain - the castle itself, white, shining with magical lamps, torches, and electrical lights undoubtedly brightening some soiree or garden party.
Did I say it's night? Yeah, the skies are dark, and most ponies who bump into me are unicorns returning home after a hard day's work. Why unicorns? Well, I've already left the place I live in, the part of the city close to the mountain itself where the less-wealthy live. Now, I'm walking lazily through the rich part, the unicorn part, where white mansions sit and where anypony can see the clear sky or take a short trip to the city walls and gaze into the distance upon large stretches of the land of Equestria.
Well, they could... if it wasn't so dark that one couldn't see few steps ahead without street lights.
Some unicorns gag a little as I walk nearby, and cross the street. I can't be mad at them, I smell a bit... a lot. There is little I can do about that before I get to the castle though. They might have been a little too vocal in saying words like 'trash', 'hobo', 'parasite', and in one case even 'waste of oxygen', but I've given them a good reason to be like that. Not to mention they aren't too far away from the truth. Compared to them, my importance in the grand scheme of things is minor, even insignificant. They are unicorns, thus they are responsible for running this land, working the complicated machines no other ponies can, and using magic to keep the world turning.
Metaphorically, of course.
Despite that, I somehow got lucky enough to find my place in this city of gold and glimmer. On the way there, I overhear few more unicorns mutter under their breath, but at least there are no calls for the guards this time. Perhaps I should find some more covert route through the city, even if it might be a bit longer. But hey, I like walking. Perhaps I could try the sewers? Nah, not again, the bug-ish ponies who live there don't like me wandering around.
The castle comes to view, mostly because I pass the high walls separating the gardens from the rest of the city. I beam at the guards recognizing me and letting me inside. They look away, but I know they're just doing their job, scanning the area for potential threats to the city's royal ruler. The reason for doing so is beyond me, as princess Celestia is supposed to be omnipotent and perhaps even immortal. But hey, if she thinks she needs them then it's not my place to question her.
I slink by the garden walls. There's no reason for me to go to the castle, that's a place for important ponies. Several visiting ambassadors in the long queue leading from the castle grounds gate to the castle gate itself look at me, noses scrunched in shock. It's a more distilled version of looks I got in the city, but this time they come from even more important ponies. I wonder if they can even spot me from their noble height, not just smell me.
It doesn't take long, and I'm out of sight. Granted, I'm pretty sure seeing me wasn't exactly the problem.
The shadows of the castle gardens swallow me, and I can finally breathe freely. Well, not too freely, at least until I have a shower. A large, two-story building by the side of the castle facing the mountain greets me. Quite a few of the windows are lit up already, so I try not to disturb anypony. The Royal Guard recruits need their rest after a hard day of training. Thankfully, nopony is wandering the entrance hall, so I can just slip inside and go down the stairs where the boiler room and some other facilities are. First of all, I check whether there is somepony in the common showers. I heard that the castle itself has separate showers for mares and stallions, but out here, in the barracks, there is no such thing, presumably because all guards are, first and foremost, guards.
A bar of soap hits me in the head.
"Ow!" I yelp, and add in a quieter voice, "Soree, Ai ken wait."
"Don't loooooooook!" the mare's voice is followed by a flung plastic box.
Funny, they never do that when showering side by side with guard stallions. It's probably because I'm not a guard. Fortunately, there's only one pony inside, which means I won't have to wait too long to become a marginally presentable pony again. Putting the bar of soap into the plastic soap box, I slide the package back inside.
"Soree for meiking yoo use dis, mem," I wave my hoof inside apologetically.
"Just go away!"
Yeah, that might be a good idea. Good thing there are toilets on each floor, even here underground. I don't really have a bathroom at... my place, so the visit takes me a reasonably long time. At least I can drink from the washing basin as much as I like. See? Free fresh water! Am I a lucky pony or what? Thirst sated, I carefully peek into the showers again. The nice mare is gone and the place is empty. Time to finally stop being repulsive for few hours again.
Shoot, I forgot my soap. Oh well, I can always shower again when I'm done for tonight. I might have to wait until the Nightguards are done, but time... time is something that matters little to me. Without soap, it takes a lot longer to wash the stench out of my coat, so I stare into the puddle of dirty water under me. A grey earthpony stares back at me with grey eyes. He doesn't have a mane, only few short purple strands remaining, a sign he did a poor job cutting it. I couldn't risk anything being too difficult to clean up, so I cut my tail short two days after I started working here, only a little purple duster remains now. The mane was more difficult to get rid of using a shard of broken glass, so I spent most of my shift working on it. The underground bathroom doesn't have a mirror, so a pool of water in the sink had to do.
Considering my limited options, I think I did a good job. I must admit though, maneless ponies look a bit weird. The pony in the pool is a bit chubby, but that's fine, I've started an excellent diet recently. At this rate, I'll be thin in no time. Not that looks matter, but it's something.
I blink, he blinks. I poke the puddle, he pokes back. I splash around, he goes away for a moment. He comes back soon though, he never leaves me alone for long. My best friend, my reflection. Granted, he's my only friend, so there's little competition. It's either him or the cleaning trolley, and the trolley wobbles. I go for a hug and slam my face into the tiled floor.
"Ouch," I chuckle.
Fun is where you find it.