Day 1: A Fresh, New Start!
I slowly wake up to the sound of hooves clopping on the floor nearby. At first, my natural instincts are to roll over, try ignoring the sounds, and get back to sleep. Then, as the clopping continues to play through the house, I quickly regain control over my eyelids and mentally order them to open up.
The first thing I notice right away is most of the miscellaneous junk that was lying around on the floor. They're floating in the air, surrounded by that familiar pink aura.
Now, even though I'm familiar with unicorns and magic, now, my half-asleep mind still has yet to completely boot itself up... so even the slightest kinds of oddities would naturally make me react like a caveman discovering fire for the first time.
My eyes shoot open, I let out a loud gasp, and I jump up, only to roll onto the floor and bump my bandaged head on the carpet. The floating ceases, and everything falls onto the floor while I hear a feminine voice gasp. Then the hooves clop closer to me, and Twilight begins speaking in a concerned yet speedy tone.
"Oh my gosh! Justin, are you alright?!" she asks.
I lift myself onto my knees and tenderly rub the area around my wound before opening my eyes again. When I see Twilight standing there with a worried look on her face, my brain finally boots back up. I lightly chuckle and pet her mane before nodding my head and slowly standing back up. "Yeah, I'm fine... just still getting used to that, is all." I reply as I sit back down on the couch.
Twilight shifts her right hind leg behind her left one while her ears droop down and her eyes focus on the ground. "Sorry... I... kinda-sorta got carried away. I hope I didn't wake you up."
I shake my head and smile warmly at her before gently scratching the back of her ears. "Nah, it's fine. I needed to wake up at this time, anyways." Then I look at the stuff all over my floor and ask, "So, um... what exactly were you doing up, if you don't mind me asking?"
She looks up at me in slight confusion. "Hm?" Then her eyes open widely as the realization dawns at her. "Oh! Um... I hope you don't mind, but," she motions towards the stuff on the ground, "I couldn't help but notice that your floor is cluttered, and thought I could make myself useful and... maybe help tidy up the place?" She smiles again, and once more that heart-cripplingly adorable "squeak" fills my ears, and forces me to smile back at her even more and shake my head.
"No, please. Go right on ahead... as long as it makes you comfortable." I stand back up and begin walking towards the kitchen. "But please, don't overwork yourself. You don't have to do that, so I won't hold you to it." Then I grab another pair of cups, fill them both with water, and carry the cups towards the other side of the counter, where I've placed a couple wooden hand-me-down bar stools that nobody needed. (Due to the limited space in my home, along with the lack of motivation, I never really needed any chairs, so I improvised and dedicated the corner of the counter as the official "table-substitute".)
I place the cups on the counter and turn to Twilight, who's just now placing the last of the laundry in a black plastic basket. Then she turns to me and smiles, while the sweat on her forehead makes it evident to me that her "magic" must be tiring her out. I wave a hand dismissively and say, "Whoa, you're sweating!"
She lightly chuckles before shaking her head. "It's fine. Magic just has a way of draining one's energy... especially me, since I can barely remember much about it, aside from the fact that it can help me levitate stuff."
I hum, sit down, and rub my chin in thought while she, in turn, takes the seat next to me and levitates her cup of water. "So you're saying magic is like a physical exercise to you?" She nods her head and takes another sip. I sigh and place my elbows on the counter. "Now see, if I'd have known that, I wouldn't have let you clean up the living room like that. I don't want you to strain yourself, Twilight."
She giggles before nodding her head. "I know... and Mr. Anon was always complaining when I helped him with his cleanup duties... which is why I didn't ask you about it first." Then she rubs her right foreleg nervously and looks up at me with a sheepish smile. "Sorry if I worried you about that... trust me, though. If anything, the effects of my magic only tends to make me tired... but I haven't felt anything that could potentially be harmful to my body."
I shake my head and point at the sweat on her forehead. "As much as I want to believe that, your body sweating is proof that it feels strained, and is burning up." I shrug my shoulders. "Sometimes that could lead to you catching a fever... and if you get sick, I don't know if the medicine that I would take can help you, or if it would only make things worse. I'm too concerned for your safety to take that sort of risk."
She catches her cup of water with her hooves and stops the levitation spell. Then she eyes the water blankly. "I... didn't really think about sickness, to be honest... and yes, you're right. Overexerting myself with my magic did make me have a small low-grade fever about two weeks ago..." she smiles at me sheepishly again. "Sorry, Justin."
I smirk and gently pat her on the back. "It's fine, Twilight. Just try to take better care of yourself, okay?" I take another sip of my water before placing the cup on the counter and pointing at my chest with a confident smile adorning my facial features. "And besides that, didn't we agree I'd be treating you like a princess, and not the other way around?"
She giggles before looking away. "I know... it's just... something bothers me about the whole 'princess' thing. It's... different from what I normally feel."
I tilt my head and smile. "Wait... what you normally feel? Can you, um... explain to me how you normally feel?"
She rubs the lower end of her snout in thought before humming. "Hmm... well... I... I think I was... never really treated like a princess, before." Then she closes her eyes and rubs her head in slight pain. "Ugh... it hurts to think about it, to be honest."
I shake my head and gently rub her back again. "Don't strain yourself about it, Twilight... I'm sure your memory will come back eventually." I then smile and add, "Plus, at least we made progress!"
Her ears perk up at that statement. She turns to me with a wondering expression and asks, "Progress? What do you mean by that?"
I point at the sky in a declarative manner before replying, "We know you don't like being treated like a princess... now, we've just gotta figure out the whys and the how-comes." I shake my head and chuckle while she stares off into space. I finish off my drink and carry my cup towards the trash can, but turn around and find her still staring off like she's been frozen or something. "Um... Twilight? You okay?" Curiously, I turn towards the blinds over my window and pull the string down, illuminating the room with the sun's rays.
Her jaw begins to open and close on its own, which makes me feel nervous. I rush up to her and try getting her attention by rubbing her back again. "Twilight? Are you okay? What's going on?!"
She mutters, "P... princess..." She looks at me blankly before muttering, "I... I was the student... of a princess!"
My eyes widen, and a smile begins to slowly creep onto my lips. "You... you're sure about that?"
She nods her head and looks out the window. "N-no... I... I know I was!" Her eyes start to water and a weak smile forms on her lips. "I... I think I'm... s-starting to remember a little more!"
I lightly chuckle and rub her mane. "That's amazing news, Twilight!" I clap my hands together and rub my palms in a circular motion. "Wow... day one, and you're already starting to remember stuff! Maybe you were a fast learner, too?"
She doesn't respond. She's just staring off outside the window. I look from her to the window, and notice that she's staring off into the sun... which I know is dangerous. So I quickly rush up to the blinds and close them again, which quickly snaps her out of her trance, and makes her shake her head and look up at me. "H-huh?!"
I weakly smile and shake my head. "Sorry, Twilight... but you were staring at the sun a little too much... you could hurt your eyes doing that, y'know?"
She scratches the back of her mane nervously before giggling. "Sorry... when I zone out, the world around me tends to disappear."
I wave my hand dismissively at her. "Don't worry too much about it. Happens to all of us." I then hear a loud gurgling noise coming from her general area. She looks down and stares at her stomach confusedly, while I smirk. "Looks like you're hungry. What would you like to eat?"
She rubs her lips in thought before replying, "Um... do you have any flowers?"
I rub my chin in thought before sighing in disappointment. "Um... sorry, I don't think I do... but I can go get some soon, though!"
She shakes her head and looks up at me with another smile. "No, it's okay... but maybe just a lettuce sandwich?"
I check my refrigerator and smirk. "A lettuce sandwich, I can definitely make!" I pull the ball of lettuce out of the fridge and carry it over to the "preparations" corner of the counter. Then I gently peel the lettuce from the ball and evenly spread it across one of the slices of bread for her. "Hey, um... do you want any sauce added to it?"
Twilight nods her head and replies, "Um... do you have any Tomato Ketchup?"
I nod my head and pull the ketchup bottle from the door of the fridge. Then I add it to the sandwich, place it on a plate, and carry it up to her.
Twilight thanks me and starts eating, but looks my way and notices me pull a slice of bologna from the fridge. Then she sticks her tongue out in disgust before muttering, "Ugh... how you and Anon can even eat that stuff, I'll never know!"
I shrug my shoulders and smile at her. "Well, can't blame me for being an omnivore..." I playfully inch my sandwich closer to her. "Want some?"
She leans away from the sandwich and shakes her head. "Um... no, thanks." She smiles, though, making it clear she knows I'm just joking around. Then we both carry on with our breakfast.
After finishing up our sandwiches, I carry our plates and plastic cups over to the garbage and toss them out, while Twilight eyes the trash can curiously. "Why did you throw those away?"
I look at her and smile. "They're disposable plates and cups... they can't be washed, or they'll just get broken, anyways... well, except for the cups, maybe. But it makes washing dishes no longer a problem, so long as you don't run out of them."
She rubs her chin in thought. "That's actually quite a fascinating idea... I mean, it would clear up more time of the day for anypony, and could make them accomplish more things easier!"
I smirk at her anypony pun, but manage to keep the reaction from being noticed. Then I shrug my shoulders and ask, "Who knows, though? Maybe your world already has it, but just in another area?"
She rubs her head in thought before shrugging. "I... guess we'll just have to figure that one out later, huh?"
I nod and pat her on the back. "Yeah." I then rub my chin in thought before snapping my fingers together, as an idea pops into my head. "Hey! I have an idea!"
Twilight turns to me and raises an eyebrow. "You do?"
I nod again and ask, "How about we go see what Mr. Anon's doing? Maybe we should let him know that we're making progress on getting you back your memory!"
She gasps while a wide smile forms on her lips. "Oh my gosh! That's a great idea!" Then she rubs her chin in thought. "Um... but how can we get there without me being spotted, though?"
I rub my chin in thought before noticing a decent-condition clothes basket in the living room, and a bag of apples on the counter. "I think I have an idea."
I'm walking down the sidewalk of the large city area with the basket in my hands. I have Twilight hidden in a blanket and pillow from the bed, with the bag of apples inside. If anyone asks, I would simply tell them that I'm headed out for a picnic, and thought I'd bring some apples with me.
While nobody's looking, however, I let Twilight poke her head out to get a good view of the surrounding areas. She smiles widely at the size of the city, and even asks about some of the different places... which I answer quickly, yet effectively. Some places like bars and stuff, however, I just simply pretend I don't hear her from, which makes her grunt in frustration.
Finally, after about two hours of walking, we make it to the area that Twilight's familiar with... Anon's home. Now that the sun is out, I can actually get a good view of the place... and needless to say, tranquil would be an understatement!
It's a wide, two-story house with dark tan-painted wooden walls and a roof with black shingles. The front corner of the roof is triangular in shape, and unlike the tan lower walls, this one is actually painted white, with an orange hanging garden conveniently placed out of the roof's window. From the looks of it, some of the flowers' petals up there have a few barely visible bite marks on them.
I turn to Twilight, who smiles innocently while avoiding eye contact... which makes me smirk and gently pet her mane. She leans her head towards my fingers, clearly comforted by the motion.
"That feels strange... but good, nonetheless." she coos. I nod my head and continue carrying her towards the front entrance.
The front door is dark blue, and has a somewhat regal-looking pattern to it, with a flat, brass turning handle shaped similar to an eagle's wing on the middle-right side of it. In the top-center of the door, however, a brass lion's head sticks out, with a brass ring handing from its mouth... a knocker.
I gently lift the metal ring and tap it onto the metal pin on the door that rests behind it. Then I wait for a moment while Anon calls from the other side, "On my way! Just give me one moment, please!"
When he opens the door, he smiles widely at Twilight and I before stretching his arms out in a welcoming manner and saying, "Justin! Twilight! Welcome! Please, come in! Come in! I have some tea on the boil, just make yourselves at home!" As he says that, he steps to the side to allow us room to enter.
Twilight immediately hops out of the basket and trots inside while giving Anon a hug, which he returns. I, of course, step inside after wiping my shoes off at the welcome mat to avoid tracking dirt inside his house. Then I look to my right and see the two of them going through the dining area, which is directly at the right side of the entrance, separated by the yellow interior wall, with a light blue wall inside it. The walls are opened by a large white double-door frame, one at the entrance, and one that leads to the kitchen area.
I gently place my basket on the ground near the dark oak wooden square table and sit on the matching wooden chair with a red cushion. There are six of these chairs around the table altogether. Twilight takes a seat at my left, while Anon pours hot tea into a pair of coffee mugs with ice already inside them.
When he enters the dining room, he places his in front of his spot first, while holding both mine and Twilight's with the palm of his left hand with unexpected balance. She levitates hers in front of her with her magic, while levitating mine towards me, while I accept it halfway through the path. "Thank you... it smells really good, and the walk here did make me a little thirsty." I say with a smile and a friendly bow.
Anon chuckles before waving his hand dismissively. "No trouble at all, friend!" Then he takes his seat and lifts his cup of tea up to his lips. "So, what brings the two of you here, of all places?" He pauses for a moment and a wide grin forms on his face as he looks between Twilight and I. "And now that I mention it... last I checked, you both were looking a might uneasy! I take it things are going well?"
I nod my head and look at Twilight. "So far, so good! In fact, we've actually made progress on Twilight recovering her memories!"
Anon gasps and turns to Twilight with a shocked expression on his face. "Really, now?! Well, that's wonderful news!"
Twilight rubs her right forearm nervously while looking away. "Well, to be fair, it is just the memory that I'm a princess's student... and I can't even remember who that princess is!"
Anon shrugs his shoulders before replying, "Well, hey! You can't eat a whole meal in one bite, can ya? You've gotta savor every small portion of it to get the best results, after all."
Twilight and I both look at him with expressions that practically say "Whoa... that's deep!" He notices and chuckles.
"My wife used to tell me that when I was making little progress in practically anything." He smirks before turning towards the painting. "By the way, did I ever tell y'all about my wife, Natalie?"
Twilight and I both shake our heads and reply in unison, "No, sir."
He chuckles before motioning towards the painting again. "She was a kind-hearted young lady... always willing to help me whenever I was in a bind. We met in an old town when we were both just kids... but that town ain't around anymore, unfortunately." He turns to us and smiles. "You see, when we were growing older, we were always there for each other... and when other men were giving her trouble, I would always be there to stop them. She always called me her 'Anonymous Knight'... eventually, though, we decided to settle down, and start a family."
I rub my chin in thought. "So you both had kids, and settled down?"
He pauses for a moment then shakes his head. "No."
The cup of tea freezes in place within my hand as I stop lifting it merely inches away from my lips. "Wait... no? But you just said-"
"Our plans were to start a family, that is... but no matter how many times we tried... it turns out, she was... sterile. She wouldn't be able to give birth her entire life."
Twilight gasps and places her hooves over her lips. "W-what?! W-why?!"
Anon shrugs before replying, "Eh... it's just the way how it was. She wasn't able to give birth... but even still, it didn't matter." He smiles and shakes his head. "Might've not been able to have a child, but... to me, she was all the family I needed. And no matter what, we were happily married for fifty years... of course, that ended when she died of Breast Cancer."
I look at my tea and sigh. Instantly, I'm starting to feel like we're stepping into a "bad road down memory lane" at the moment.
Then, he smirks and turns towards us. "Now you see how miraculous Twilight here is, Justin?" I turn towards him, somewhat surprised at his quick change of subject. "You see how I had something wonderful like that, lost it, and mourned over it for twenty years? And how young Twilight here was able to change that me into this one in under a month?"
I smile and turn to Twilight before nodding my head. "Yeah... I can definitely tell she's a miracle worker."
Twilight blushes and giggles at the two of us. "Okay, then... I think we should change the subject, now... if that's okay?"
Anon chuckles before nodding his head. "I couldn't agree more!" He claps his hands together and raises his eyebrows, as an idea forms in his head. "Hey, you both wanna go hiking with me? I planned to go hiking tomorrow down an old jungle path, but haven't gotten prepared just yet! Might be a good way of celebrating y'alls progress with Twilight's memory!"
Twilight looks at me with an expectant smile. I smirk and shrug my shoulders while replying, "Didn't have any other plans for tomorrow, so sure, we'd love to, Mr. Anon!" I turn to Twilight while adding, "That is, if you're okay with it, Twilight?"
Twilight nods her head and smiles at Anon. "Gladly! What all should we bring?"
Anon hums before rubbing his chin in thought. "Well, I'd suggest y'all bring some walking sticks, maybe a few first-aid kits, should someone get hurt, and of course, some food and drinks for on the go... and I can supply y'all with everything else."
Twilight and I nod our heads in agreement. "Sounds like a plan, then!" I look at the grandfather clock at the corner near Anon's left shoulder and gasp when I realize it's four in the afternoon. "Whoa... well, it looks like we've got to get going now... it'll get dark by the time we get home at this rate, and we still have to pack."
Anon turns around and looks at the clock before humming. Then he stands back up while Twilight and I follow suit and head towards the door. "Hey wait, you two! Lemme go get my keys, and I can just give y'all a lift!"
I turn to him in disbelief. "You sure about that? I mean, don't you have to pack some things, also?"
He shakes his head and smiles. "Nah... if I've already planned it, I've already packed it!" Then he smirks before heading past the kitchen area, leaving both Twilight and I staring at him with smiles on our faces.
I turn to Twilight and smirk. "Well, looks like we're hitching a ride again... sure hope I can find a way to pay him back, though..."
Twilight shakes her head and giggles before turning to me. "I lived with him for a month, and already I can say, without a doubt, that he's a very generous person."
I nod and scratch the back of my neck. "I see that..."
"Okay, y'all ready, or would y'all like some more tea, perhaps? Maybe a small bite of lunch?" he asks from the living room.
Twilight and I shake our heads before replying, "No thank you, Mr. Anon. We're on our way." With that, the two of us follow the cheerful old man out of his home, and into his old red pickup truck. As I stare at it, though, I can't help but wonder whatever happened to his eighteen wheeler... perhaps it was a rental? I hope it didn't cost him too much to repair.
Regardless, we hop into the truck, with me being extra careful where I put my hands while buckling Twilight in. Then, we're on our way back home, discussing our plans for the hiking trip.
We say our good-byes and head back into the house, ready to start packing. I quickly go through my closet and pull out something I didn't think I'd ever use again... an old, gray, medium-sized backpack that I wore back in high school. I then proceed to fill it up with quick little snacks, while also placing a few bags of daisies that Mr. Anon picked from his own garden for Twilight.
Once that was done, I turned to Twilight, who was eying my computer that rested near my "Old Box" Television. "What's that thing?" she asks before pointing at my computer monitor.
I walk up to the computer and reply, "This? It's called a 'computer'. What it is, is kinda like a... library, only instead of books written on pages, it's all loaded up into a virtual cloud drive that's streamed to millions of people across the world."
She appears to nod off with a confused smile on her face. "You... don't know what I'm talking about, do you?"
She shakes her head and replies, "Sorry, but... no." She smiles again, summoning that random "squeak", and causing me to chuckle lightly.
"Alright, then. Here, lemme grab you a seat." I pull a stool up next to my desk and boot my computer up. She stares in fascinated awe as the screen comes to life.
During the rest of the daytime, I show her sites that could hopefully help her understand about jungles, and hiking in the jungle. Thankfully, Mr. Anon gave us a hint on what jungle we'll be going to while we were on our way back home. Using that as a reference, I print out a few documents that could potentially help us know what to watch out for.
When we reach the articles that describe the dangers of the jungle, I assure her that when I'm there, she won't even have to worry about them. Same with Mr. Anon, also. With that, she calms down rather quickly.
We both let out a yawn before chuckling to each other. Then Twilight turns towards the couch, but I clear my throat and point to the hallway with an amused grin.
She playfully pouts at me before stepping into the hallway and heading towards the room. Before she leaves my field of vision, though, she smiles at me and says, "Thanks for taking me to Mr. Anon's, Justin... I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who finds him to be a nice person."
I return her smile and nod my head. "Maybe a little strange at first sight, but... he's a cool guy. I'm glad to have met him... and you, especially."
She lightly blushes and giggles before turning to leave for the bedroom again. "True... but I guess that's what makes him special... well, good night, Justin... and thank you again for putting up with me!"
I plop onto the couch and wink at her. "Any time, Twilight... and good night to you, as well."
She trots through the hallway and gently rests on the bed. In mere minutes, I can hear her feint snores, though only because of how silent the house became.
I look up at the ceiling and chuckle at a sudden thought that came over me. Just two days ago, I was barely even able to crack a smile for more than a few seconds... and now, it seems like the tables have turned to where I can't even frown for more than a few seconds!
With those comforting thoughts dawning through my mind, I'm able to sleep peacefully once again, eager to start the next day with open arms.
Day 0: Another Crazy Day.
Author's Note
Decided to try my hand at a "Sad Slice-of-Life" theme. Please note that I'm still quite new to writing these kinds of stories, so please bear that in mind.
In case nobody noticed, this has a slight bit of inspiration from "My Little Dashie". I'm sure if you're a Brony, you'll already know what that one is. 
I'll go on ahead and say this before you begin reading, though! This story is a work-of-fiction, what-if scenario-d self-insert involving a, maybe not darker side of me, but more of a "What I would be like if-" kind of side of me. In other words, the backstory of this version of me is also fictional, and is not to be mistaken for anything that happened to the real me.
A well-known character will make a cameo in this story. His name, no matter how strange it may seem, is intentional, and actually has a deeper meaning than one would assume.
Despite being a work of fiction, the "Sad" tag is there for a reason. Some feels may be felt, and I do not claim responsibility for any damaged hearts, soaked keyboards/mouses, flipped desks, and/or damage done that would require a long hug/pat on the back.
With that, I hope you all enjoy.
Day 0: Another Crazy Day.
I silently stand there in front of my mirror; my half-lidded dark green eyes staring back at me as I brush my teeth for the day to begin. It's just another Friday morning, and luckily for me, I always have the weekends off at my job, due to my Disability restrictions. Five hours a day, five days a week... not that I'm complaining about it. It just means more time I get sitting around at my shabby little home, either browsing the internet to catch up on the latest Manga, or simply reading an eBook or two.
I snap my train of thought back into reality as my phone alarm begins warning me that it's time to go. I check myself in the mirror one last time to make sure I looked appropriate.
My pale white skin is still intact, despite just coming out of an unpleasantly hot shower. My medium-short brown hair is still combed to the side with a little bit loose on the back of my head. My plain white t-shirt is tucked neatly behind my white hoodie, and my blue rainproof jacket is over my hoodie, unbuttoned in the center due to the fact that the buttons were torn out a while back. My blue denim jeans are buttoned and zipped up, with a neat little black cloth belt keeping it over my waist, but wrapped around it twice, due to my slim build. On my feet I'm wearing a pair of white socks with brown hiking boots over them, both tied in double-knots for extra security. Lastly, I'm wearing a watch over my left wrist that I bought at a little store near my house. It's a waterproof digital watch, so I don't have to worry about it if it ever gets in the rain... which I just remember is supposed to be coming tonight.
I groan at the realization before letting out a sigh. "It is what it is, I guess." I tell myself as I head towards the door. I pick my black helmet up from the table near the exit, strap it on, and head out the door, giving a passing car a friendly wave as I walk up to my blue bicycle. Double-checking the road for my own safety, I slowly back out of the parking lot with the handlebars firmly grasped in my hands, before riding on towards my destination... Hungry Jack's Diner.
"Order up, Justin!" my manager, James Winters, calls out. He's a Caucasian man like me, but with dark brown eyes and medium-length curly hair swept back and tucked in his white chef's hat. He's wearing a bright tan t-shirt behind a white apron that matches his hat, red denim jeans, and a pair of black tennis shoes. Over his hands he's wearing a pair of white disposable kitchen gloves.
I'm in the middle of washing a plate when he calls me, and due to the amount of focus that I've had for the past two hours, I completely miss him calling my name.
He repeats himself twice before getting someone else to take the plate of eggs and cheese to the waiting customer. Then he turns around and starts on his next order, but not before giving me a concerned look.
I continue to wash the dishes for the next three hours, but wind up having to be reminded to get back into reality three times in the process. Eventually, though, I sigh in relief when my shift is done, and I'm free to go home.
Before I leave, however, James calls me. This time, however, I actually hear him the first time.
"Justin, wait up one sec."
I turn my head towards him and raise my eyebrows in attention. "Yes, Mr. Win-" he lifts his hand up and interrupts my sentence.
"Please, Justin. You've been here long enough to just call me 'James'... and besides that, you're practically family here, now." I sigh and nod my head, but avoid eye contact as usual. "What's wrong, Justin? This is the third time this week that you've zoned out on us."
I scratch the back of my hair and weakly shake my head. "I don't know... just barely had enough sleep, is all."
He gives me a sympathetic look and gently pats me on the back, winning my eyes' attention, and causing me to look into his own. "Look, Justin... your mom was a wonderful lady! She didn't just come here every day to check up on how you were doing... she was our most brightest customer ever! Literally, she was always there to brighten all of our days!" He looks away from me for a moment, more than likely fighting back the urge to cry. "Her passing away last month was hard on us all... still is, in fact." Then he looks out the door as the last of the customers leaves the diner. Then he looks at me again and nods his head. "I understand how you feel, Justin... and I don't expect you to move on any time soon, either. I just... I just want you to know that we're all one big family here, and we'll do whatever it takes to ensure that all of our family members are well taken care of."
I weakly smile at him and nod my head. "Thank you, James... I appreciate your concern." I then look at the door and begin heading towards my bike, which is still on the stand where I chained it up on earlier.
James, however, speaks behind my back, but remains in his spot. "You know as well as I do that she wouldn't want to see her son suffering... so if you need anything at all," he pauses for a moment, lifts his phone from his pocket, and continues, "you have my number."
Again I nod my head before leaving the diner, my eyes still glued to the floor.
As I ride my bike down the road towards my home, I find myself lost in thought again. Memories of my beloved mother, her beautiful smile, and her angelic voice, begins filling my mind, as well as bringing back memories of my other family members that I have lost over the twenty-five years of my life.
My dad was the first to go, having been a diabetic, but unable to resist the urge for sugar and salt. He fought multiple heart attacks during his first fifty years... but the last one was what did the most damage. He was gone before I could even get a phone call from the doctors.
Next was my stepmother, who was unfortunately killed in a car accident as she drove towards her work. She was driving with my youngest brother with her, who died shortly afterwards.
My older brother, who happened to be from my mom's side of the family, "disappeared without a trace", along with his wife and two kids. While they might still be alive, I haven't received any calls from them, and their phone numbers that I did have no longer work.
My younger brother, though younger by a year, died of cancer two years ago, at the age of twenty-two. Didn't even know what it was until it was too late. By the time he was in the ER, he had already flat-lined.
Next was my grandparents, my grandmother being my mom's, and my grandfather being my stepmother's. They both died of natural causes last year, and was buried in their hometowns on the same day, so I wasn't able to attend any of their funerals.
The last to go was my mother, who died of heart failure just last month. Regardless of the many losses that our family had, she was somehow able to keep smiling, even on her own deathbed. I was there when it happened. I still wish that there was something I could've done.
I wasn't always as gloomy as I am today. I've actually been the polar opposite, in fact! I was always willing to brighten up people's days, and even loved making people laugh anywhere I went. That was one of my personality quirks that earned me this job... but despite my playful personality, I've also had a tendency to avoid large groups of people... and as such, I still have yet to make a single friend.
Now, without a single family member to look up to, and a corrupting world to live in, I've become nothing more than a hollow shell of who I once was. Not that I'm rude, or anything. I still sometimes find myself helping people out who might need it... but I've lost that spark that made me who I was... and I doubt if I'll ever see it again anytime soon... or at all, as far as I know.
My thoughts are cut off once again when I hear a vehicle horn going off. I lift my head up and see a pair of headlights headed my way. I gasp and quickly make a sharp left-turn, causing my bike to drift and slide, but thankfully it steers me out of the direction of the incoming 18-wheeler... but once the front tire hits the sidewalk, I'm sent flying off of my bike while my bike, in turn, gets totaled by the relentless truck.
When I land on the ground, I roll painfully across the sidewalk and make an abrupt halt once my head hits the corner of a building... and it's at that moment when I realize that I left my helmet at work today. Seeing the small hint of blood on the corner of the brick building, my vision blurs into darkness, and my consciousness fades quickly. The last thing I could hear was the sound of the driver rushing to my side with a worried tone in his voice... but his words were unrecognizable, almost like my ears were inside a tub full of water, and he was speaking from the other side.
I wake up about an hour later on an unfamiliar couch, in an unfamiliar living room. I groggily sit up, but firmly grip onto my forehead, which appears to have a thick cotton ball firmly pressed into a large squared out band-aid. Curiously, I raise my hand and poke at it, then hiss in slight pain as the wound inside reacts to me pressing onto it.
An elderly man suddenly speaks to me from outside of my field of vision. "Careful, kid. You'll make it worse than it already is!" His voice is loud, but he sounds more concerned than angry... perhaps he's worried that I might press charges... though if anything, maybe I should be worried, as he was in an 18-wheeler... a rental one, more than likely, so the dent from my bike might've caused him some damage in the billing department.
He walks into my field of vision and sits on a dining room chair that must've been sitting next to the green couch I'm lying on for him to tend to my wounds. He's a pale man with long white hair on the sides and the back of his head, but his scalp is completely bare of anything. His eyes are an emerald green color, and over them he wears large, lightly orange-tinted, and antique-looking round spectacles. He's also wearing a red checkered t-shirt, light brown overalls, a pair of dark brown dress shoes, and a pair of disposable plastic gloves similar to the ones in the diner.
I turn away from him and close my eyes before groaning in slight pain. He walks up to me and gently presses on my left shoulder, which is sticking out of the couch, while my left arm rests limply on the floor. Then he lifts my arm onto my stomach and pats my hand when he places it. "You took quite a nasty spill, young man... are you alright?"
My eyes shoot open when reality kicks back in. I just wrecked his freaking truck! What kind of Hell did I just put myself into?!
"Y-yes, sir... um... s-sorry, I... I didn't-" he shushes me and pats my shoulder again. I turn towards him, and notice that he's weakly smiling at me, almost in an understanding manner.
"I saw the look on your face when you were off into la-la land... I know loss when I see it. After all, I happen to have lost quite a lot during my lifetime." He turns towards the fireplace that's conveniently placed in front of the couch I'm lying on, as well as a pair of similar green comforters diagonally placed around an antique-looking wooden coffee table. On top of the fireplace, a large variety of black-and-white pictures, orange pictures, and even a few colored pictures are rested inside different sized frames, each with different people on them, and all but the tallest one are standing up on top of the platform over the fireplace's opening. The tallest one is hanging up on the center of the bricks rising up over the walls, and contains a black-and-white picture of a young couple... a man with short, side-parted hair wearing similar clothes to the one the elderly man near me is wearing, and a pretty-looking young lady next to him with medium-length hair curled slightly over her forehead and to the side, while the back of her hair is parted similar to a hand fan, but curled slightly upwards at the corners. She appears to have been wearing a simple black sleeveless button-up vest, with a frilly white dress underneath it with short fluffy sleeves similar to that of a Southern Belle, or maybe a Noblewoman in the Victorian Era.
The elderly man lightly chuckles as he stares at the pictures, one-by-one. "I've been living a wonderful life... surrounded by friends and family. We've all done some fun and crazy things out there in the world... but as the saying goes," his eyes focus on the large picture in the center, and his smile tones down for a moment, "time doesn't stop for anyone." He looks at me while I look him in the eyes.
Sure enough, this man must've seen a lot in his days. The number of pictures on the fireplace is proof of that... and the number of different faces on each one only adds to how many people he must've seen come and go in this world... which only made me feel more regretful for the damage I might've done just now... and how much bad memories my own misery must've brought back to the poor fellow who patched me up for my own mistake.
Suddenly he weakly smiles again, which catches me off guard. Then he lightly chuckles. "Boy, I know what you're thinking... I used to be the same way, y'know? Worried about the wrong things at the wrong times."
I scratch the back of my neck in thought and open my mouth to speak... but he cuts me off before I could even say a single word.
"Don't you go worrying about my truck, now... and I'll also tend to your bike this weekend, so you don't have to worry about that one, either." He chuckles again, which begins to make me feel uneasy. He catches my uneasiness and stops chuckling quickly. "Sorry, kid... forgot that not all people out there are happy, anymore."
"H-how?" I finally manage to mutter out.
He turns his head to the side so that his right ear is facing me. Then he lifts his hand up to his ear and asks, "Sorry, my hearing ain't what it used to be. What was that?"
I take a deep breath before slowly sitting back up and pointing at the pictures. "How are you able to smile like that, when you've lost so much? I mean, don't get me wrong. It's... it's cool and all, but... most of the Elderly that I see... no offense, of course, but... well... they tend to be a little more down."
He sits there for a moment. Then he smiles widely, and bursts into a small fit of laughter. I scoot away from him slightly as he does. Then he removes his spectacles and wipes a few tears from his eyes before slipping them back on and turning towards me again.
"Kid... you've got a lot to learn about how much us 'Elderly' can vary. I mean, we're all the same humans we used to be, what, thousands of years ago?" He chuckles at that comment, and I actually manage a smirk. "Believe me, kid... I was in the same boat that you're sailing in now just a month ago... and trust me when I say this, you'll probably be a bit shocked if I were to tell you how I was able to find a way to smile again."
I look at the pictures again and scratch the back of my neck uneasily again. Then he clears his throat, catching my attention, and causing me to turn towards him once more. I realize right away that he's no longer smiling, but looking at me with a much more serious expression, which only makes me even more uneasy around him.
"But if I told you, you'd have to promise me you won't tell anyone else... deal?"
I sit there blankly for a moment, now beginning to grow curious about what he's talking about. Without even giving it much thought, I nod my head and mutter, "Yes, sir?" though it appears more of a question, rather than a statement.
He weakly smiles again, but in a less creepy way, and gives him more of a comforting vibe. "I was given the chance to help someone out... someone... different from the rest of the world. Someone who, despite not remembering where she's from, nor anyone else from her... home... was willing to help me whenever I needed her most. She's a kind... person, to say the least. When I'm done eating, she always insists on helping me with the dishes, since I'm allowing her to stay inside my home." He rubs his chin in thought and inches slightly closer to me while staring at my eyes. Instead of move away, though, I just stare at him nervously. Of course, he isn't right up in my face, so it's not like he's giving me that kind of creepy vibe. "You seem like a trustworthy guy, though... think you can help me out with something important? I promise you, it'll help you out with your emotional state."
I shrug my shoulders and weakly nod my head. "Well... I-I'm in your debt, so... I'd be happy to help pay for any-" yet again, though, he cuts me off.
"Like I said, there's no need to consider paying me back for anything! It's nothing more than a small favor..." he rubs his chin and smirks, "actually, more of a huge one. Would you be willing to help me with it?"
I nod my head again. "Yes, sir... anything I can do to help."
He lightly chuckles again. "Please, young man... just call me 'Mr. Anon'. I ain't never been much on formalities, though, so you can just call me 'Anon' if you'd like."
I nod my head and weakly smile. "Yes, sir... w-well, my name is Justin Daniels... but you can call me anything you'd like."
He nods his head in response. "Well met, Mr. Daniels." We both share a light chuckle at that. "Anyways, since you seem like a nice guy who can be trusted, I'll let you in on the details... but first, I need you to close your eyes, and no peeking. Okay? I'll be back in just a moment... I want you to meet the young lady that helped me find my spirit again."
I slowly nod my head and uneasily close my eyes. I'm beginning to worry about what's about to happen, but decide that if worse comes to worse, I could easily outrun him, since I'm twenty-five, and he's, and I quote, 'one thousand'... though obviously that's a joke. Then I hear his footsteps going up a set of stairs. Afterwards, I hear a door open and close.
It's been five minutes since he left. Finally, when I'm just about to ask if he's alright, the door opens again, and I hear the same footsteps slowly descending the stairs... along with another set of... hooves? I think nothing of it, though, and keep my eyes closed. Who knows? Maybe she, as Mr. Anon pointed out, is wearing wooden clogs on her feet? Though as for how she could make it sound like she has four feet is beyond me.
Finally, once the steps are absent, he asks, "Now, before you open your eyes, I need you to promise me you won't freak out... okay?"
I slowly nod my head and reply with a confused smile, "Um... y-yes, sir?"
Then he asks, "Now, I need you to promise her that you won't freak out as well.
I scratch the back of my neck again, but my eyebrows shoot open when I hear a different voice speak... a more feminine voice. "I promise, I'm not dangerous... oh, and it's great to meet you, Mr. Daniels!"
Holy crap! It really is a girl... and she sounds about my age, too?! My smile finds new confidence and shifts from confusion to calmness. "Please, ma'am... feel free to call me 'Justin' if you'd like! Oh, and... I promise I won't freak out."
She lightly giggles. Then, after a brief moment of silence, Anon says, "Alright, then, Justin... you can open your eyes, now."
I slowly open my eyes, and the first thing I notice is Anon is standing up with a wooden cane in his right hand. At his left, however, stands something I was not expecting to see... a short, strangely shaped unicorn mare with a lavender coat, a neatly-combed purple mane and tail with a pink stripe midway through the corners of each, huge, purple eyes, and a facial structure that seems more... cartoony, rather than that of a normal equine... almost as if she belongs in some sort of cartoon, yet with enough detail in her fur and body features to clarify that she is, indeed, real. She's standing on all four of her hooves, and in height, she seems to stand up to about three quarters up Anon's legs. What's even more distracting isn't just the fact that she's a unicorn, but rather, she's a unicorn who's smiling at me.
I take a deep breath and hold it in for a moment. Then, after slowly releasing it, I motion my finger between the two of them and calmly ask, "So... she's a... a unicorn?"
Anon nods his head and motions towards the short mare. "Why don't you ask her yourself? She's just as sentient as you and I are, after all."
My eyes widen at that statement. Sure enough, there was a female's voice that I heard earlier. Regardless, though, I feel like I just have to make sure.
I turn towards her again and nervously smile again. "Um... is that true, Ms. Unicorn? Are... are you able to understand us?"
She covers her (surprisingly short) snout, closes her eyes in an upward-arched manner, and giggles before looking at me with a somewhat amused, slightly confused look on her face. Then her lips open, and words come out. "Of course I can. We did speak to each other just a few seconds ago, didn't we?"
I lightly chuckle and nod my head. "Yeah... sorry, just had to make sure." I then clear my throat and stretch my right hand out towards her. "Um... m-my name is Justin, by the way. Justin Daniels. I know you know, but I kinda-sorta figured I should greet you properly, at least."
She nods her head, walks (or rather, trots) up to me, and places her right forehoof into my hand and shakes it up and down. "Understandable," she clears her throat, "my name is Twilight Sparkle. As you have already guessed, I'm a unicorn... but unfortunately, I can't say from where, as I can't remember much."
I nod my head and turn to Anon, who's walking back up to his chair to sit in it. Twilight trots towards him and gently holds it steady for him, which makes him turn towards her and smile appreciatively. "Thank you, Twi." Then he turns towards me and weakly smiles. "I'm surprised you didn't freak out... that's a good sign, you know."
I shrug my shoulders before shaking my head. "Hey, I've not really been much to freaking out on extreme levels. If anything, I'm just surprised, is all." I then point towards the two of them again and ask, "So... how exactly..."
Anon smirks before looking at Twilight, who in turn, looks at him with her (un)usual smile. "You're wanting to know how I met Twilight?"
I nod my head and reply, "Yes, sir... if it's okay, that is."
He clears his throat and looks up at the ceiling to recollect his thoughts. Then he begins his trip down memory lane.
"Well to start it all off, I told you I was in the same boat you are in about a month ago. Before then, I haven't even smiled in twenty years... well, maybe occasionally, but none of them were true, sincere smiles.
"Anyways, I was walking down the road from that local diner, Hungry Jack's, I think is what it's called, when I heard someone calling for help nearby.
"I headed towards the voice, and it eventually led me to an old, shabby dumpster. When I peeked my head in there... well... I found Twilight.
"She looked hurt, but not very badly. She also looked like she hasn't eaten in a while, as the ribs between her forehooves were starting to show through her fur.
"Despite her being a creature of mythology, I was shocked and downright hurt to see her in that condition, so I offered her a place in my home, as well as a promise for three square meals a day, as long as she was willing to hide from the public for a while... after all, seeing a unicorn running around in the streets might be a major problem... something she already learned the hard way.
"She was hesitant at first, but over the first week, she was able to run around without tiring out, and ever since then, has always been there to help me out in times I needed and didn't need her.
"And that, my friend, is history." he concludes after letting out a deep yawn.
I nod my head and smile at the two. "That's... that's wonderful to know." I then rub my chin in thought. "If you don't mind me asking, though, what exactly did you need me for, Mr. Anon?"
Anon chuckles before replying, "Well... I've been more than satisfied with my life... I'm ninety-five years old, after all. I'm afraid, though... afraid of what might happen if anyone were to find Twilight when I'm... gone, y'know? I... I don't want anything bad to happen to her, you see. She's been the most wonderful help anybody could ask for. In just one month, she was able to repair one lifetime's worth of pain for me... and now that I'm happy again, I want to make sure she's happy... and after seeing you, I want you to be happy, as well."
I look at Twilight, who looks between us both with a worried look on her face. Then we both turn to Anon again. "You mean..." we both begin in unison, to which he nods and smiles.
"I want you, Justin, to take care of Twilight for me. If possible, help her regain her memories. Maybe if she could remember her past, she might be able to return to her home, where her friends and family are waiting for her."
I scratch the back of my hair confusedly. "But... how can I help her regain her memories, though?"
Anon looks at her and replies, "I was able to help her remember her name by mentioning the word 'twilight' to her... implying the time of day that I found her." He then turns to me and motions his head towards me. "Perhaps you can help her remember her past just by helping her with knowledge that you may know. Try helping her out with things only a good friend would do."
I sit there for a moment in thought before looking at Twilight again. Some part of me wants to believe that this is just some bizarre dream, and that I'm in a coma from the bike crash... but the pain in my forehead speaks otherwise.
I look at Anon, and I can see an elderly man who not only offered his home to this poor individual, but even helped me out by tending to my wounds personally. He must've seen some potential in me... after all, I doubt if he would just trust anyone to handle an order this big.
I look at Twilight, and I see a friendly person in a not-so-friendly place that she clearly doesn't need to stay in forever. She needs help... and from what I could gather, I must be the only one left who could help her after Anon passes on. It would be a crime, not only against humanity, but against myself if I were to just sit by and let something this huge go to waste. I have a gut feeling I can help her... a feeling that I can find a way to send her back to her home where she belongs. If not, then at least I could take responsibilities until I'm where Anon is, and pass the torch over to the next in line... if Twilight's still around, that is.
No, I shouldn't think like that!
Finally, after giving it enough thought, I take a deep breath and look at Twilight with a warm smile. "Twilight... will you be okay with his request? I... don't live in a huge house like this one, but... I can find a way to make room for you, as long as you're okay with it."
Twilight turns from me to Anon and frowns at him. "B-but... what about you though, Anon? I can't just leave you all alone!"
Anon weakly smiles at her and stands back up. Then he takes a seat next to her and gently pats her shoulders. "Twilight... you've done what this old man would've thought impossible. I... I can't express how grateful I am that you were so willing to make my last days worth living." Twilight's eyes begin to fill with tears. "I... I know that Justin here can help you... I have a good feeling about it." He then looks at me and motions his head towards me, which makes Twilight turn to me as well, and adds, "Also, I know that right now, he will also need you more than I do." They look at each other again and he slowly dries the tears from her cheeks with his thumbs. "I've already lived my life, Twilight... but he has yet to even start his, and he's already lost more than any of us know... but he lost something dear to him... that much I do know."
Twilight begins to sniffle heavily, but nods her head nonetheless. Then she quickly leans forward and wraps her forehooves over his shoulders, and embraces him in a tearful hug, which he returns with a weak smile and closed, comforted eyes.
"Oh, how I envy the adventures you both will have in this lifetime." he says with a smile before slowly pulling from the hug. I wipe a few tears from my own cheeks as I watch the two of them continue with their conversation.
Twilight finally calms her feelings enough to speak again. "I... I understand, Anon." Then she turns towards the fireplace and sighs. "It's just that... w-well... you're the one who helped me remember my name... I... I don't know how much longer you have left, and... I don't want to be away from you when... when 'your time comes', as you said it before."
He chuckles before shaking his head. "Twilight... if anything, please remember this." She turns towards him again while he, in turn, looks at me. "Both of you, even." I nod my head in response while he shares his knowledge with us. "Sometimes, the one who lights the torch isn't the one who carries it all the way up to the end of the road."
Twilight and I ponder those words for a moment before nodding our heads in accordance. Then he smiles and stands back up. "Now, then... there should be a shower coming real soon. I'll gladly drive you both back to your place, Justin, if you're okay with that."
I nod my head and weakly smile at him. "Yes, sir... as long as Twilight's okay with it, that is."
I turn to Twilight, who nods her head, but doesn't smile. "I... I'm ready."
With an approving nod, Anon reaches onto his coffee table and picks up a keychain filled with keys of all shapes and sizes. "Alright, then... this way, please." Twilight hops off of the couch and follows him closely while I, in turn, stand up and follow, though not as closely so as to give the two of them their personal space... no doubt they'll need it right now more than ever.
He drives us towards my house, with me in the passenger seat guiding him, and Twilight in the center with her seatbelt buckled and tightened extra firmly for her, due to her... inhuman shape and size. Turns out, she has to sit somewhat similar to a dog, with the seatbelt tucked between where her hind legs fold upwards and her... well... breasts, which are apparently lower than where the human female's are; a detail that she pointed out right quick when I helped her buckle in at the start of this trip.
Not much words are exchanged on the way up there. When I point them out towards my home, however, they nod their heads approvingly and give me friendly compliments for my choice of house.
It's a simple little white-walled wooden house with a black shingled roof and a roofed-in parking garage at the right corner. The entire house is surrounded by large overgrown pastures with plenty of trees near the road that keeps it from being easy to spot.
Though it isn't that big in size, living in this place for a few years has given it a "nice and comfy" vibe. Plus the lack of neighbors for miles away means Twilight will be able to wander around a little on the outside, as well.
I hop out of the truck when Anon pulls up to the entrance of the garage. Then I unfasten Twilight's safety belt for her, which earns me a "thank-you" from her, as well as a smile from Anon.
Anon and Twilight quickly share one last hug before she hops out of his red pickup truck and gently closes the passenger door. Then Anon rolls the window down and waves at us. "You both have wonderful lives ahead of y'all... be sure to enjoy them to their fullest, you hear?"
We both nod our heads and wave at him with smiles of our own. "We will... thank you, Mr. Anon!" Then another thought hits my head. "Oh, but don't worry about my bike, okay? I'll just get a new one, okay?"
He nods his head and replies, "If you say so... thank you! But hey, I'm counting on you! Please take care of Twilight for me!"
I raise my right thumb up and nod again. "You can count on me, Mr. Anon!" And with that, he rolls the window back up and drives away, while I look at Twilight and gently pat her back. "Don't worry, Twi... I'll make sure you're comfortable. I'll find a way to get you back your memories, and then I'll try to find a way to help you get home again."
She weakly smiles at me and nods her head while we begin walking towards my... or rather, our house. "Thank you, Justin... I really appreciate it." She and I both yawn at the same time and exchange a small chuckle. "For now, though... I think we both need to get some sleep."
I then nod my head in agreement while I hold the front door open for her. "I couldn't agree more." We step inside, but the darkness covers most of the old junk lying around in the living room. Neither of us even bother with it, though, as sleep is primarily on both of our minds right now. I, of course, can't help but try to help her relax, first.
I walk into the kitchen, which is literally just a small corner of the living room with a tiled floor, counter, cabinets, sink, fridge, and stove, and open the cabinet next to the fridge that holds my plastic cups. Then I get two out and fill them both with water before offering one to Twilight.
She looks at me and politely bows her head before saying, "Oh... thank you, Justin." Then her horn emits a pinkish aura which covers the cup I'm offering to her, and smiles. "I've gotten a little thirsty during the trip here, but didn't want to burden Mr. Anon."
I, however, don't respond, as I'm staring wide-eyed and dumbly at the floating cup in front of me. My jaw drops... and following it, my cup does as well. None of us seem to notice the splashing cup, though, as she's too focused on downing the water from the floating cup in one go.
She turns to me and smiles again. "Thank you, Justin. I'm feeling more calmer already... um... Justin? Are you okay?"
I slowly raise my right pointing finger at the cup and mutter, "Um... h-how... how are you..."
She tilts her head confusedly before following my finger's direction. Then she gasps before turning to me with a slightly worried expression on her face. "Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry, I forgot that humans can't use magic. Um... y-yeah... unicorns like me can use magic?" She smiles at me sheepishly, emitting an oddly cute-sounding "squeaking" noise that, for some odd reason, completely removes my sudden nervousness just as quickly as the squeak plays in my ears.
"Oh, um... nah, it's fine. Just... caught me by surprise, is all." I say with an impressed smile.
Her ears fold down and she lowers her head worriedly. "If you want, I... can just use my hooves. If it makes you more comfortable, that is."
I shake my head and lightly chuckle. "No, that's okay. I... actually thought that was really cool! You know... making that cup float in the air like that!"
She looks up at me with a warm and... relieved(?) smile. "Thank you, Justin... I'm not sure why, but I just feel like my magic and I share a close connection... and though I can't recall why that is... I just have a feeling that it might be important for me to regain my memories if it makes me comfortable like that."
I nod my head in understanding. "I can understand that. Please, do whatever makes you feel comfortable! What's mine is yours, and what's yours is yours. I won't complain if you need to use anything, either."
She nods her head and turns towards the couch. "Thank you... I'm glad Anon chose you to help me through this difficult time."
I wave my hand dismissively and shake my head. "Oh, heck. If anything, I would've probably started helping you sooner, had I known Anon was near my work place!" I then notice her hop on top of the couch and gently pat her hooves on a cushion. "Wait a minute... what are you doing?"
She lifts her head at me before replying with a confused look on her face, "Oh, sorry... um... is it okay if I use your couch as a bed?"
I shake my head and point towards the small, thin hallway between the gap directly out of the corner of the kitchen area and the living room wall. "Of course it isn't! You're the guest of honor, so it's only fitting that you get the comfortable mattress, instead!"
She giggles and shakes her head. "Really, I'm fine. I can handle the couch. Besides, I've had to sleep on Mr. Anon's couch during the first week, until he bought me my own bed."
I stand there for a moment before sighing. Then I step out of the kitchen and say, "Then I guess I have no choice."
She shakes her head again and replies, "Nope... I guess you d- what the- Hey! What're you doing?!" She doesn't realize it until it's too late. I lift her up by the back and cradle her into my arms while carrying her through the hallway.
I gently rub the back of her ears, which makes her cheeks slightly turn pink. Her jaw drops and her eyes focus on me while I grin at her with confidence. "No can do. I was given the orders to make sure you're right at home over here." I enter my bedroom and gently place her on my mattress before pulling the covers over her and gently poking the tip of her nose with my right pointing finger, causing her to briefly cross her eyes at her snout and lightly shake her head. Then she looks at me again while I continue. "So until we find a way to send you back home, I'm going to start treating you like a little, um... pony princess... deal?"
She stares at me blankly for another long moment before sighing, closing her eyes, and smiling as she looks away. "Okay, then... I guess I don't have room to complain."
I shake my head and smirk. "Not as long as I'm here to address those complaints." Then I gently pat her on the scalp which only makes her cheeks turn red again. Finally, I playfully bow towards her and say in as Nobleman-like of a voice as I could muster up, "Now, I do believe you will require thy beauty sleep, Your Highness... but remember! If you need absolutely anything, just let me know, and I shall tend to thy needs with due haste!"
She giggles at my little joke before deciding to play along. "Very well, Butler... I shall call thy name if ever a need arises!"
We both laugh at each other before I decide to stand back up and head towards my door. "Seriously, though. Good night, Twilight."
She nods her head and replies, "Good night, Justin." Then I walk up to the door, but stop when she says, "Oh, um... one last thing?"
I turn around and smile warmly at her. "Of course, Twilight."
She returns my warm smile and clears her throat. "Thank you, Justin. This really means a lot to me, as it does to Mr. Anon."
I can't help but call my inner manliness to fight back the urge to shed tears at those words. I nod my head and reply, "Any time, Twi... and like I said... you need anything? Just ask, and I'm there. Okay?"
"Okay." And with that, I slowly close the door while she closes her eyes, turns around, and lays her head on the pillow. I can't help but keep watching for a few more seconds as the back of her mane gently flows by the fan in my room. As I watch her, though, I smile and close the door completely. Then I head towards the bathroom to finish the day's usual routine off. After all that's said and done, I wash my hands, but look myself in the mirror over the sink.
It's at this point that I realize I've been doing something I haven't done all month these past few hours... something I've started to doubt I'd ever do again... I'm... I'm smiling!
I lightly chuckle at myself in the mirror before drying my hands off on the towel near the door. Then I head back to the couch in the living room and plop onto it, not even bothering to remove my boots or my jackets. My smile remains on my face, and my eyes begin to slowly close. And then, after a long, long time of nonstop tragedy, I sleep peacefully, and have wonderful dreams.
