>The smell of something delicious awakens you from your slumber.
>Thankfully you didn’t sleep in, maybe you got enough sleep for once.
>You get up to go see what the other two are up to.
>As you approach the kitchen, you can hear them talking.
>”It’s really not that hard.”
>>”Really? I think taking that all in would be difficult.”
>What the actual fuck?
>Rounding the corner, you see Connie cooking and Rest is eating.
>”No I-Oh, good morning Eri. Sleep well?”
“Yeah I guess, but what the fuck were you two talking about?”
>Rest furrows her eyebrows and looks confused.
>”Just how to take a shot of liquor, that’s all, why?”
>Of course they were you pervert, not like they were talking about anything lewd.
>Letting your eyes wander, you try not to look her in the eyes.
“I-uh...Was curious is all.”
>”Oh, okay.”
>>”I already made you a plate Eri, just making my own at the moment.”
>You look over to the table and see a plate of eggs with some veggies.
>The moment you look at it, your stomach cries out.
>You hear Rest giggle and you shoot her a dirty look.
>She smirks and continues to eat.
>Taking a seat, you dig in and by Celestia, it is damn good.
>As you’re eating, Connie joins the two of you and starts to talk.
>>”So I have some plans on where we all can go while you two are here. I figure we can visit some of the landmarks, go to the museum, watch a movie at the cinema, maybe even go shopping. Of course I’d like for your input, because I’d rather not just decide for you.”
>”I’m up for anything, but personally I think we should let Eri pick.”
>Looking up from your plate, you see them both looking at you.
>Taking a quick drink, you feel a little cornered.
>As you try to think, you feel an all too familiar feeling of anxiety starting to rise.
>In truth, you don’t really want to go out, but that defeats the whole purpose.

>’You shouldn’t have come in the first place Eri.’
>Not right now, I’m trying to think.
>’I’m apart of you dumbass.’
>I don’t fucking need this right now.
>’How about you lie, like you always do. Bet they will eat it up.’
>No, I won’t have that.
>Fuck it, only one of those ideas sounds slightly appealing.
“Um...How about we go to the movies? I haven’t done that in a long time.”
>Not since you were a foal, not since you lived with your parents.
>And now you feel like shit, just like usual.
>”Sounds good to me.”
>>”Alright, then it’s settled.”
>As you look at your plate, you’ve lost your appetite.
>You feel yourself slump a little, why did you have to think about that?
>’Because you’re a horrible pony.’
>Yeah I am, aren’t I?
>Before you slump further, Rest gets your attention.
>”Something the matter?”
>You sit up and put on a fake face for her.
“I’m fine, just not as hungry. I’m going to go get a bath.”
>She raises an eyebrow, but smiles.
>”Oh alright.”
>As you excuse yourself from the table, you feel a little worse.
>It sucks that you’re letting Connie’s cooking go to waste, you really are a bad pony.
>You reach the bedroom and open up your suitcase to search for something in particular.
>’Told you that you would give in.’
“...I know.”
>You grab a razor, some bandages, and a hoodie.
>Just need to pull through for them.
>The bathroom is nice, better than your shitty excuse for a bathroom.
>Much cleaner and larger.
>You start to fill up the tub and let your eyes linger on the blade.
>Funny how something so simple can do so much.
>You sit down, your eyes trailing along your foreleg.
>So many scars, you’ve taken to wearing socks or a hoodie to hide them.
>Gripping the steel in your teeth, like many times before, you cut.
>You wince and feel your eyes moisten.
“...F-fuck...”
>It slowly bleeds, you’ve learned from countless times to not cut deep.

>Setting down the razor, you look back over to the tub, it’s almost filled.
“Good, can kill two birds with one stone.”
>…
>Poor choice of words.
>You turn off the facet and climb in.
>The water makes your leg sting, causing you wince.
“It’s always like this.”
>Hopefully you won’t have to do it again while you’re here.
>’Unlikely Eri, you have more days ahead of you to deal with.’
>Closing your eyes, you let out slow breath.
“...I know.”
>Usually you let yourself soak, but this isn’t home, so you clean up instead.
>As you finish up, you see the wound has stopped bleeding, but is still visible.
“Figures.”
>You get out and wrap it up, Rest would probably do a better job, but can’t have her know.
>Would probably be worse if Connie knew.
>Slipping into the hoodie, you look at yourself in the mirror.
>Still look ugly and pathetic.
>You let out a sigh, picking up your stuff.
>As you enter the hallway, you can hear them still talking out there.
>Should you join them?
>’Why bother? Not like you have anything good to contribute.’
>We could still talk.
>’About what? Your pain and suffering? That’s real rich, bet they would love to feel like shit.’
>I…
>Fuck it.
>You head back into the bedroom to put away evidence.
>This room is cleaner than yours.
>Everything here is better than yours.
>Of course it is, your home and everything in it is shit.
>Shaking your head, you look out the nearby window.
>The city is bustling with life, so many ponies out and many carts are on the streets.
“Nothing like Ponyville.”
>Funny how this makes you homesick.
>The ponies here probably care very little about others, unlike home.
>Then again, only two ponies care about you at all.
>You let out a slow sigh.
>This is going to be a nightmare to deal with.
“I can’t do this everyday.”
>You grab your head with your hooves and bump it against the window sill.

>A dull pain forms, but helps distract you.
>At least back home you could hide from it all.
>Maybe not from yourself, but the outside world at least.
>You stopping hitting your head and start to head back to the other room.
>’Where do you think you’re going?’
“Out there with them.”
>’Didn’t you just come in here to be away from them?’
“I’d rather be with them, than sitting here wallowing.”
>’How long will that last? How long until you break down again? How long until-’
“Fuck off.”
>You head into the hallway and can hear music coming from the living room.
>Trotting to the source, you see Rest sitting on the couch while Connie is playing her violin.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cSAZbep4vI
>Connie smiles when she sees you, but says nothing.
>”Welcome back, feeling better?”
>If anything, you feel worse.
“Yeah, the bath did me some good.”
>You join her on the couch to enjoy the music.
>It’s amazing how well Connie plays, guess that’s what real talent looks like.
>She gently moves with the music, her emerald eyes are locked onto you both.
“I’m guessing she is practicing?”
>”Mhm, she said she needs to keep her skills up. Figured I’d watch, it’s kinda a free show.”
>You’ve never heard Connie play badly, not even when you were fillies.
>Even back then she sounded amazing.
>She finishes off the song, and pulls the violin away.
>Both you and Rest clop your hooves in applause.
>>”Thank you, thank you. You’re such a lovely audience.”
>She starts to look over some sheets, so you ask her a question.
“How often do you practice?”
>Connie looks a bit surprised, but gives a warm smile.
>>”Everyday, usually two or three hours, sometimes more. Of course there are times when I get sick, but that’s different. Have to stay sharp for the orchestra after all.”
>Figures, can’t imagine the stress of having to play in front of so many ponies.

>Plus she probably has to deal with other shit as well.
“Wow, no wonder you’re so good.”
>’Suck up much?’
>Go away.
>>”There are other ponies out there who can play better. So I have to push myself to be better as well, it’s just another reason to practice.”
>That surprises you, you haven’t heard any other pony play as well.
>Then again, you never go out so there’s that.
>You nod regardless.
>Connie sets aside the sheets and puts away her violin.
>>”However, it’s probably best if we get going now to get good seats for the movie. We also have to decide what movie to even watch.”
>You almost forgot about that.
>Seriously, what is wrong with you?
>…
>Poor question.
“Y-yeah, that’s true.”
>Rest stands up and stretches before putting her two cents in.
>”How about we just decide when we get there? No point on debating right now.”
>>”Sounds good to me, how about you Eri?”
>Once again, you feel all the attention on you.
>’Isn’t that what you wanted?’
>No, not like this.
“Sure, sounds like a plan.”
>’Going along with the herd, like the sheep that you are.’
>For fucks sake.
>>”I’ll be right back, going to grab a few things before we head out.”
>You nod and pull on the ends of your sleeves a moment before looking around.
>Rest catches your eyes and gives a look of sympathy.
>”How are you feeling? Think you can do this?”
>Honestly no, but she doesn’t need to know that.
“Yeah, I can.”
>It’s not like this will end in disaster, you have your two friends here to help you.
>Rather dwell on that, you stand up and give Rest a smile.
“I’m looking forward to this, haven’t been to the movies in a long time.”
>”Me too, I’m usually caught up in work.”
>’She forgot to mention how she has to foalsit you all the time.’
>Shoving aside that thought, you try to think of something else to say.
>Before you do, Connie rejoins you two.
>>”Alright, now with that out of the way, shall we?”

>”I’m ready when you are.”
>You nod along, you rather just get going.
>The three of you leave the apartment building and into the streets of Manehattan.
>Like earlier, there are many ponies out and about, some pegasus ponies even fly over head.
>Place seems to be overflowing with life.
>>”I’ll get us a taxi, just wait a moment.”
>As Connie tries to flag one of them down, you feel uncertain.
>On one hoof, you’re actually out of the house and in another town.
>On the other, the feelings from earlier remind you that you could breakdown.
>Not gonna happen, you can make it through this.
>”Eri?”
>Shaking your head, you see Rest nodding her head to the taxi.
>Gotta stop doing that, they will notice this shit sooner or later.
“S-sorry, got distracted.”
>You climb in with the others and try to stay focused, but it’s hard.
>”As I was saying earlier, you just have to relax your throat, that’s the key.”
>>”I guess, but I don’t drink much, just wine.”
>”You really need to try out the harder stuff, I’m telling you, hard cider is the best.”
>You tune them out and let your mind wander.
>How can everypony be so casual?
>They let themselves be so vulnerable, but you keep it bottled up.
>It’s better this way, at least that’s what you tell yourself.
>Before long, you see that you have arrived at the theater.
>You climb out and feel your anxiety rise once more.
>>”Alright, let’s head in and figure this out.”
>Saying nothing, you follow the other two.
>This place is pretty fancy, nice carpets and is quite colorful.
>As you’re looking around, you notice the other two trying to get your attention.
>”What do you think Eri?”
>Shaking your head, you look at the nearby posters they have up.
>Almost immediately your attention focuses on the scariest looking one and you point to it.
“How about that one?”
>They both look at the poster and look back with different expressions.

>Rest looks pretty neutral, Connie looks nervous though.
>”Looks pretty cool, what do you think Connie?”
>>”Oh...Well, if that’s what you picked, then sure.”
>Is she actually afraid?
“You don’t want to watch it?”
>>”It’s fine, it’s fine...Just wasn’t expecting that is all.”
>Though she says that, her eyes say no.
>That’s...That’s actually kinda funny.
>No wait, don’t laugh at her, she puts up with a lot of your bullshit.
>Before you can say anything, Connie goes and pays for some tickets.
>Well now you feel like shit again.
>”We should get some snacks too, no movie is complete without snacks after all.”
>You’re not hungry, but you’ll go along with it, for them.
>Connie rejoins you both and the three of you head over to the snack bar.
>Just remember, do this for them.
>They already do so much for you, so just remember that.
>”What about you Eri?”
>Wait, what?
>Looking up you see that Rest is referring to snacks.
>Shit, shit, shit, what do I pick?
“Uh-I-um...popcorn?”
>Rest nods and turns back to order.
>Not like you’ll eat it, but that doesn’t matter right now.
>You’re given a bucket of popcorn, and the three of you head into one of the rooms.
>”We should get front row seats, that’s the best spot.”
>>”The acoustics are best in the middle, trust me.”
>Before they can ask you, you opt to sit in the back.
>It’s closer to the exit and if need be, you’ll use it.
>”Looks like Eri choose for us.”
>>”Fair enough...”
>They both sit on either side of you and you wait around for the movie to start.
>As the lights dim, your anxiety finally starts to settle.
>Your excitement starts to rise. Not often that you feel that.
>The movie starts and with it, your eyes widen.
>Sure it’s in monochrome, but it looks fucking awesome.
>Even better, there is plenty of gore with the monster and the ponies.

>The whole time your eyes never leave the screen and eventually, you even start to eat the popcorn.
>What’s even stranger than all that, you actually are enjoying this.
>Sadly the movie ends, with a monster being killed and a small group of survivors watching on.
>The lights go back up and you jolt.
>Looking back to both Connie and Rest, you see different expressions again.
>Rest is smiling, and looks pretty happy. As for Connie, she actually looks scared.
>You however, can’t contain your enthusiasm.
“...That was...AWESOME!”
>Rest gets a big grin on her face and Connie is seemingly knocked from her fear.
>”Yeah it was alright, though it was pretty cheesy. I mean, when a limb is ripped off like that, it doesn’t squirt so much.”
>>”I-it was pretty good. Glad you two enjoyed it.”
>Kinda sucks that Connie was scared, but at least Rest enjoyed it.
>Standing up, you stretch out the stiffness that overcame you.
>>”Well then, let’s get going back to the apartment.”
>You nod and follow the two back outside.
>Connie hails a taxi for the three of you.
>On the ride back you can’t help but talk for once.
“That was still great. Even with the monster dying.”
>”That’s what normally happens, but they could’ve put more time into doing their research.”
“Who cares? Did you see how that one mare got covered in blood?”
>You hear Connie giggle, causing you to turn to face her.
“What is it?”
>She shakes her head and smiles.
>>”Just happy to see that you’re happy.”
>As you go back to talking with Rest, you feel a little more ease.
>If the rest of this trip goes this way, you can definitely make it through.