This Is my Afterlife?

"Gruuhhh..." I groaned as I awoke from my deep slumber.

  I lay on another makeshift bed, but this time in a library. I looked around and remembered that Twilight had a slumber party with the mares. Well... technically it wasn't a slumber party. Everyone was already asleep by the time I walked in. Either I was late or they just got bored and fell asleep. I stretched my arms and listened to my back pop. With a groan I stood up and a crack in the blindfolds shined a nice bright light over my eyes.

HHHNNGGGHH FUCK! I thought as I shielded my eyes.

  The mares were all sleeping soundly, I didn't want to imagine what would happen if I did wake them up. I tread lightly over the mares and went to the kitchen. I shuffled around for a bit trying to find a pick-me-up. With a sigh, I gave up and stretched my back. I turned around and jumped as I saw Rainbow standing there behind me.

"Jesus fuck Rainbow, don't do that." I whispered as I clutched my chest.

"Sorry Mark." Rainbow whispered.

"It's fine. Do you know where anything coffee related might be?" I asked.

"What?" She asked.

Oh for fuck's sake please don't tell me they don't have coffee here.

"Oh, coffee. Heh, right." She chuckled as she scratched her ear. "We do have a cafe, it opens up in an hour or so. Do you wanna go grab some?" She asked.

"Well, you're the only one awake so, sure." I sighed.

  Rainbow and I made our way to the coffee shop. We had time to talk to each other's pastimes. Rainbow kept saying mine was "lame". And to be honest, it really was. Her's was extremely interesting, and pretty awesome. But then again, Rainbow's other name is practically awesome. It was a name she donned upon herself. We both took our seats and I noticed a lingering smell. I sniffed around before sniffing myself and gagging.

"Jesus fuck... do you not smell that?" I asked.

"A-actually, I sorta did, I just didn't wanna be rude." Rainbow said.

"I'm bein' rude by having poor hygiene." I recoiled at my smell again.

"Do you have anywhere I could clean myself?" I asked.

"Yeah, we have a bathhouse but-"

"Take me there." I said.

We left the cafe and went to the bathhouse. I went inside and went up to the spa ponies with a smile.

"Hi, I uh, need a bath, as well as my clothes washed please."

"Of course. That'll be fifteen bits." She said.

"I uh... sorta don't have any money right now." I chuckled as I emptied my pockets to find nothing but my dying phone.

"That's okay, we'll give you this one for free." The pink mare said.

"Thank you so much." I said putting my hands together and bowing.

  The mare giggled and waved me over to the dressing room. She handed me a bathrobe and I entered the room. After I dressed out I gave her my clothes shyly, embarrassed by the smell. Then went to the pools. I let out a soft sigh as I dipped my feet into the pool then slipped in. I leaned back and heard hooves clopping behind me. I turned to see Rainbow, with a bathrobe of her own, start to slip into the pool with me.

  She noticed the blush on my face and giggled. I saw a faint blush glowing on her cheeks. Which was really adorable to be honest. She finally sat down with a sigh.

"So, what do you humans do for fun?" Rainbow asked.

"A great many things, my rainbow haired friend." I said poetically.

"Like?" She persisted.

"Well, there's too many things for me to list. And most of those things you probably wouldn't understand." I chuckled.

"Oh..." Rainbow muttered.

  The next few minutes were silent. We both just kinda looked around before looking at each other and smiling or whatnot. Finally, Rainbow spoke up.

"Hey Mark, I know it's only been a few days but..." She looked away nervously, "but... do you have your eyes set on anypony?"

  I kinda sat there and tried not to lose my jaw. I didn't know how to respond to the question. But I knew I didn't have enough time to think of one, but I didn't wanna hurt Rainbow's feelings...

"N-no! No no no no. Not... y-yet anyways." I mustered as I scratched my head.

"Really?" She asked.

"Yeah, of course." I replied.

  This seemed to lighten her spirits, but little did she know it was a lie... which sucked for me because I hate hurting people's feelings, as well as lying, but I can't make split decisions very well. We spent a little more time at the spa before the ponies came back with my clothes in hand. I thanked them as I got out and went back into the dressing room.

  I felt much better now that I was smelling clean and fresh, but I can't go back there everytime I need my uniform washed. Maybe I could ask Rarity. I let out a sigh as I sat down in my seat with Rainbow. A waiter took both of our orders swiftly and left. Rainbow and I continued to talk about the little things of life and I told her about how I was feeling homesick. She told me about her dreams of joining the most professional team of pegasai known as the Wonderbolts. They sounded impressive, but I feel like Rainbow could do better single-handedly.

  I let out a sigh as my cup of hazlenut coffee was brought to me. Rainbow took a bite out of her hay sandwich and hummed. We both smiled at our delights.

  We finished then parted ways. Rainbow went back to check on Twilight and I went off to see Rose. As I neared her place the sweet aroma filled my nostrils again. I turned the corner and saw her watering her plants. She looked over and saw me, then smiled. She placed her sprinkler down and trotted over to me. I smiled as she wrapped her forehooves around me in a tight hug which I returned. We entered her house and sat down at the table.

"So how's your morning been?" She asked.

"Well, I went to the spa because I smelled terrible and I didn't wanna ruin the smell of your flowers." I replied.

Rose giggled, "Well that was awfully nice of you."

"Hah, anytime." I chuckled. "How 'bout you eh? Do anything special today?" I asked.

"No, not really. I don't go out much." Rose said shyly.

"Why not?" I asked.

"I don't know, I mean..." She rubbed her shoulder nervously. "I don't really have much friends..."

"Whaaat?" I said.

"Yeah... most ponies don't see me as much more than a flower-pony." She sighed.

"Well I'm glad I'm not most ponies." I said.

"Hmm?" Rose looked at me and I lost myself in her gorgeous eyes.

"I... I-I said I'm glad I'm not most ponies..." I mustered.

"Well, what do you see in me?" She asked leaning forward with a small hopeful smile.

"Well, I see a unique mare that has feelings, someone who can tell the difference between the good and the bad and can't be easily swayed. Someone who's open about themselves not only in words but in actions. And Rose, you have all of those things." I said.

Her blush was too adorable.

"W-wow. Uhm, I've... never, ever had somepony say that to me before. Thanks." She smiled brightly.

"No problem." I said.

  An awkward silence took the room. Rose sat there looking away bashfully as her blush grew. In my mind the gears where whirring as I thought of something... someplace that I could take Rose, somewhere she'd like. Then I got an idea, but decided to save it for later.

"Hey Rose?"

"Hmm?" Rose looked in my direction, but not at me.

"How much do you like flowers?" I asked.

"Well, like I said when we met, I've been around them almost my whole life. Then I found myself attached to them. Sometimes when I see a garden I take the time to look at all the gorgeous flowers."

"Well you're the most gorgeous flower I've ever seen." I said lightly.

"What?" She asked.

"N-nothing." I jumped.

"Oh... okay..." She muttered.

  I spent the rest of the day with Rose. This was probably the longest time I've spent here. But we both enjoyed every minute of each other's presence. The longer I spent with Rose, the more I found out about her and vice versa. The day was coming to an end and Rose looked pretty tired. She let out a yawn before resting her head on the table.

"It's getting pretty late," I said, "I guess I'll see you tomorrow eh?"

"Sure, stop by anytime."

  Rose walked me to the door this time. She gave me another tight hug before we said our goodbyes. The walk home was quiet and cool. Just like home. I couldn't stop thinking about home. It was the one thing that was stuck in my head. As I walked back to AJ's farm, a song popped into my head that reminded me of home.

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  I hummed the song for the rest of the walk home. I got home and quietly went to Applebloom's room. I cracked the door open and saw Applebloom sound asleep. Her soft snores were enough to cover the sound of the floorboards creaking as I laid down onto my makeshift bed. I pulled the blankets over me before I fell asleep with the song in my head.