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// "Didn't know combs could do that..." 
// Story: One in a Thousand 
// by ThreeLui 
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  Life was going well. You got your job and you can now sit back and relax. You didn't have the best house in Equestria, but it worked as a floor to walk on and a roof over your head. You had no water, as you couldn't afford it. Hopefully, you can get enough bits to have running water. You haven't showered in years. The spa that you occasionally went to did have a shower room, which you used every time you went. It was nice having water. Something you had as a filly but lost when your parents died. You had to continue live by yourself. You could never get a stallion. Even the desperate ones had standards like showering and having clean teeth. You were a bottom class pony living in a middle-class world. You tried the save the bits you got from your parents will, but that only lasted a few years and now you had to get a job. Guarding wasn't the best paying job, but considering you didn't have to work much, it would do. You fall asleep, dreaming about your future.

Your alarm clock woke you up at 6:30. You weren't used to using it, as you never needed to. You didn't have a job or went to school so the alarm clock was always just a normal clock. Just there to tell you the time.

You got ready for work and headed off.

You came up to the clocking in machine thing and clocked it. Never found out what it was called. Back in the day, the guards were pretty supervised, but now you could just walk in and start your job. You went to your chest to get your armor, and put it on. Again, leaving the chest plate for last. You almost wanted to go without it, but it was one of the most prominent things about the armor. You could most likely get away with it, but that's a risk you don't want to take. You put it up to your chest and start doing the first latch. It wasn't budging. You stood there with a hoof holding it up and another doing the latch. Standing upright like some weird bipedal ape. A guard walked into the room and saw what you were doing.

“Need help?” The guard said

You gave up and let him do the latches. He finished all three in mere seconds.

“How do you do that?” you said in curiosity.

“Practice.” He said in a smooth voice, hinting you should just keep trying until you get it right.

“I didn't just come here to help you with your armor. I am to tell you to be at 5B in five minutes. You shouldn’t be late.”

“Oh, Okay. I will get on that” you said.

You made your way to B hall and found room 5. You entered and there was a line of ponies lined up at the wall. You went over to join them. You fixed your posture and faced the same direction. After a few minutes, a stallion walked into the room. He wasn't wearing any armor, but rather a very expensive suit. He walked very posh and looked up, showing his muzzle. He put his face down to observe the line of guards. He paid particular attention to the ponies on either end, you being on one of them. He walked up to you, standing directly in front of you,

“I will take this one.” He said in a very fancy accent.

You didn’t know how to respond so you just said “Sir yes sir!”

“Good. Now follow me,” he said.

You did what he said and followed him to his room, where he started to undress and hop into bed. You were standing near the door, guarding it.

“So, I noticed you a mare. We don’t get many of those here.”

You stayed silent, as you were not asked a question. Trying to obey standard royal guard protocol.

A few moments past of nothing happening. He continues. 

“How long have you been a guard? I haven't seen you around before,” he asked.

You couldn't remember, as you keep mixing up training with guarding.

“I started recently, sir!” You said, hoping that would meet his standard.

“I see, I never notice anypony new, They all look the same. I act like I am picking them out for a reason, but really, I am just pretending. But you, you're different.”

Again, nopony says a word.

“Ok, look. I am going to need you to reply when I say something, I’m not getting mad at you, I know it's your job, but, It’s just not my style.” he said while leaning back.

“Sir yes sir!” you said, knowing you’ll be saying that a lot.

“Good. Now take off your armor.”

WHAT? You said in your mind. You didn’t have time to hesitate, so you start taking off your armor and placing it to your side, trying to act like this is normal.

When you finish, you look back forward and go into a guard stance.

“Look happy.” he commanded.

You started to smile.

“Now you just look awkward. Go back to that guard look.”

You did just that, making no face and looking forward.

“Now jump.”

This was getting weird, but you weren't going to lose your job just because you didn’t want to follow his orders. So you jumped. Then went back into a normal guard position.

“Now do a 360”

You then did a 360.

“Act like a video game character”

You put up your hoof to your face like you were on a phone and said “Niko, cousin! Let’s to go bowling?”

He clapped his hooves together. “Classic!”

“Now quote a movie scene!”

“Luke, I am your father.” “Noooooooooooooo!”

He was crying of laughter by now, you were trying to stop yourself from smiling too.

“Ok, ok, enough,” He said, still laughing a bit

“I have another idea, some sit in my bed.”

You hesitated, by began to walk to his bed, not sure if this was normal.

You got to the side and calmly got in, trying to act as guard as you can while getting into a bed. Not easy.

“Get lower, I want to see your mane.” He said, changing his tone from laughter to lust.

You did what he said. This was getting more weird, but you didn’t mind. Being on a bed was a whole lot better than standing up for hours.

“Lay on your side, face me.

You did just that, laying on your side and face towards him, still trying to act like a guard.

“Lose the pose, act like you're in you own bed.”

You drop into the bed you're already laying in and get fully relaxed. Your eyes look up at him and you get a feeling of comfort. You finally feel the softness of the bed for the first time and it’s intoxicating.

“Now, spread your wings.”

You don’t even think about it, you just let them fly. Stretching them out. You never get the opportunity to use them, so they just sit there for hours on end without moving, cramped up in a folded position.

He grabs your wing with his hoof and brings it down and cuddles it against his face. It felt so good to have somepony feel them. They never get the appreciation they deserve. He starts to fix your wings, putting feathers back in their lines and rows. It was the best feeling you have ever felt. You haven't been preened since your parents died. It gives you memories that you haven't had in years. Love.

Does he really care about you? Does he care about your feathers, or does he just enjoy preening? It didn’t matter, he was preening your feather and you loved it.

He stopped and got up. He went to the bathroom and returned with a comb. He smirked at you as he got back in bed. He placed himself directly in front of you. Your eyes gazed into each other.

“Roll over on your other side.’ He said.

You rolled over and scooted back so that you were closer to him. He used the comb to straighten your hair and coat while simultaneously using his other hoof to massage your feathers. It was the most pleasant thing you have ever felt. You haven't felt this way before, The bliss of having you hair coat straightened out and being preened was the best feeling you have ever felt. Didn't know combs could do that...