Don't Call Me Adorable!

"Hurry Cakey Wakey, the Flit!" The over weight pink monster roared as it's hooves tried to stomp me flat. I dodged left, right, desperately trying to avoid being served on the breakfast menu with syrup. I managed to keep it up for a few hours, but then a painful green cloud filled the air.

"Eat flit you damn bug!" A angry lank stallion giant screamed, and everything went black.

I rolled out of bed with an annoyed huff. That hadn't even been scary, just annoying, and cartoony.

Fantasi gave no answer. I glanced up at the clock, and almost freaked out when I read '8:12 am'. Then I realized it was Saturday, and I had nothing to worry about.

"Scriiiiibbbleeee! I can hear you up there! Come on down for brunch." I stomped once in a affirmative response response. "Don't take that tone with me missy! Twilight helped me make a wonderful brunch earlier, and you will not let it to to waste by dragging your flank!" I tapped yes again, but much less annoyedly.

"Good." I rolled my eyes and got on with my life, starting with my teeth. There was a downstairs bathroom, and I trudged my way there slowly. Every step was like lead. My body shambled on. I fo- "SCRIBBLE!" I walked to the bathroom and shut the door behind myself.

I brushed my teeth and showered in a timely fashion. Timely was still an hour long proposition to clean out my mane and tail, but it felt really good. It gave me plenty of time for my mind to wander.

What had yesterday really been all about? Fantasi obviously did it. Why would she though? I mean... I guess it really wasn't all that bad when they kissed me. Their lips were really soft, but they both felt really firm. The warmth was wonderful, and I rea-

Brain, shut up.

...

Good brain.

I set the water to cold, and then shut it off as my whole body was chilled. My wet mane was about half my head weight. Needless to say, I didn't waste time drying off.

Sore necked, a bit chilled, and still damp, I marched to the breakfast table. To my delight, there was just a few plain apples and tarts, along with some milk. Nothing better for breakfast, but as I ate, I found that the food just didn't enthrall me as much.

It just didn't... compare? I'm not sure what I was comparing it too. It was insanely delicious, and it was filled with love! Maybe... maybe that just didn't matter so much now. I mean, how could food compare to the past week? How could the rest of my life compare to the last week?

I sat and stared at my plate in contemplation, and I didn't stop. I wasn't interrupted, or shaken from my thoughts. For the first time in about a week I could really consider my life, and it was kind of scary.

What on Equiss was I going to do once high school was over? I couldn't ever monetize my talent safely, and I didn't have any other skills. I'm pretty sure Fantasi was planning to return to the physical world, so the position of prophet was redundant. Fantasi wouldn't need help. She'd been planning since forever.

I pushed my plate away. I just didn't feel like eating.

"Scribble?" Mom stuttered from across the room. I missed her entry. She looked shaken.

Before she could worry I mimed the toilet sign. She looked relieved and shooed me.

I dashed to the bathroom to allay further suspicion. I collapsed against the door as it slammed, and I took a moment to collect myself. I'd almost messed up all my work. I couldn't afford to waver in front of mom again.

Then I remembered the party. I let out a frustrated sigh and almost hit the door.

Fantasi, I really need a break.

I'll try.

Thanks Fantasi.

What I really needed was more time. Too much was happening, way too fast, kissing, engagements, Twilight, wings, Iron Bottom. More... time.

I'd never drawn time. Could I draw time? What would time look like? A clock, maybe?

Nothing came to mind, and I tabled the idea. I couldn't afford to make mom anxious by taking too long.

For the sake of reinforcing my lie, I flushed the toilet and ran my hooves under the sink.

To my relief, mom had stored the food by the time I came back. I took a moment to really look her over. She looked upbeat, but anxious. Understandable considering who she was meeting, but something I needed to rectify.

The solution? Shopping. Something to fill the cracks in her confidence. It wasn't strictly necessary, but it wouldn't hurt to nudge mom into her A game zone. A dress was too much, but earrings were too little. She already had a exquisite watch. A necklace maybe, or... why not a nice maneband or clip?

That wouldn't break the bank, and it would couple with a new, confident, mane-doo.

Excellent, now to convince her that she needed a new maneband.

I'd been doing this for years. All it took was a drawing of her with a maneband, and a smiley face. Moms love smiley faces.

I didn't get away without another interrogation session by agent hairbrush, but we got out the door eventually.

I felt unnoticed worry wash away as the same moms who had been so bigoted yesterday, waved today. I couldn't see any disgust underneath their smiles, and some bore slight shame still. Iron Bottom was a excellent speaker to leave such a lasting impression.

Why would Fantasi choose me over him?

Those were thoughts for later. Operation Confidence Construction was go!

I gently, but firmly, guided my mom down the street to the market. Ponyville had to have somepony who satiated their non-bejeweled accessory needs, and the market would be a good place to start.

The market was beyond crowded when we got there. More crowded than should be possible for such a small looking town.

Maybe it was bigger on the inside, but the inside was also part of the outside. So it was like a tesseract, or no that's a hypercube. The town was a cube inside of a cube seperated along a fourth dimension then? If so, why didn't doors act like mirrors, or open to doors right behind yourself? If this town was like a hyper cube, then how could I enter buildings, or the town itself?

Interesting questions, but none of them relevant to finding a nice maneband for mom. I returned to reality to find that I had guided myself to a appropriate stall on autopilot. Good job brain!

Welcome.

I reasserted my senses. Mom and the mare maning the stall were haggling for price. Mom was winning, but of course she was. The mare was looking flustered, so this was mom's classic flirt and snatch. I wonder if she ever used this on Twi-snatch...

NO BRAIN NO!

New rule, it's flirt and SNAB. I put down my wings before anypony noticed them.

Mom turned away, looking smug. On her head was the maneband, and she was as proud as a peacock. Too bad her mane style didn't fit at all, not that I knew anything about fashion.

Your fashion magazines say otherwise.

Hey, I own those because of the pret-... sure, let's go with fashion. Totally into fashion, just fashion...

Funny, a month ago you had no idea why those pictures made you all warm and tingly.

... Shut up.

Of course, eloquent one.

I ignored Fantasi's sarcasm and lead mom towards Carousel Boutique. As much as I hated Rarity, mom needed a mane doo, and it had to be new.

We arrived in one piece. Mom was still fiddling with the mane and, and I was trying not to give up before arriving. The sight of the fru-fru boutique was devastating to my moral. Twice, I almost broke ranks and ran, but yes, we arrived in one piece.

The door opened with a familiar "ding," and I grimaced as Rarity's sing song voice was carried down her stairs with greetings. It was the same one as last time.

You'd think that a creator like her would come up with more than one greeting, right? I certainly would. Heck, I've already got a few rough drafts of alternate greeting cards. I had this one red design that turned out perfect, but the rest were meh.

I didn't bother checking up on reality when Rarity came in, I thought on as she and mom started pulling out photos, and I foolishly failed to participate while they chatted over said photos. I mean, there was so many possible greeting cards. They had common elements, like, my name and why I needed said cards, but after that the possibilities were endless!

I could do this one design with a blue background, red text, and white decorations. It could say something official and mysterious sounding maybe? May-

Photos? What, NO!

I jolted across the room as fast as my small legs could carry me. I almost froze in terror when I saw the photo album, but it was too late by then. I careened with a soft "pomf" into the plush white couch. It didn't even hurt.

"Oh, hey Scribble." Mom greeted with a smile. "Miss Rarity here is showing my the most wonderful photos of you!" No! "Have you seen yourself with this pink bow ?" NO!

I looked over the couch and beheld in horror the photos from my photo shoot with Photo Finish. They were laid out perfectly like my Elements of Harmony trading card collection! It was the worst thing ever! If the fillies at school saw me dressed like a colt my life would be OVER!

Mom stroked my mane either to comfort me or to facilitate her cute bow filled dreams. I really hoped the first. The second would-

"RING RING!" Shouted a odd sounding phone across the room. Rarity left to answer it, and I sagged in relief. Mom gave me a funny look, but I ignored her and settled onto the couch next to her. The mane stroking continued, but it felt good enough that I didn't mind. I

Moments passed, and Rarity came back with a wide smile.

"I swear it must be fate! Photo Finish called about you, Scribble!" Rarity shouted with glee. I stared at the white monster as cold shivers trailed down my spine. "You won't believe it! She said you were the best cross-dressing filly she'd ever worked with! She's offering to pay you based on how many times your image is used instead of a flat fee." Alarm bells rang in my mind as bits clinked in my mom's.

I glanced at the clock. It was hours until the party. I looked back at the door. It was locked so that mom and Rarity could have privacy. I looked at the windows. They were shutter-less. I looked at the stairs, bingo!

I bolted just  before mom's telekinesis reached out for me. Within seconds I was up the stairs and in a bathroom.

After giving the lace and frills their necessary amount of retching, I turned to the room's one window and got to work examining its frame. It was locked, but the lock looked easy enough to access from the inside. There was a banging at the door.

"Scribble, open up!" ohh snap, mom was moving fast! I turned back to the window and began loosening its frame. It wasn't designed to resist being pulled inward, and I smiled as the nails slowly pulled out of the wood. Almost-

"Scribble!" Mom burst in and seized me up with a frown.

Darn, foiled again.