Got your hoofby OctavicChaptersChapter 1Chapter 2Chapter 4Chapter 3Chapter 1(Warning: This story contains hilarious details. You should not read if you are in a library, middle of class, or while eating. The author will not be responsible for any humiliation or damage caused due to the story.) My aunt and my cousin were coming to visit at a city nearby, so I had to go greet them and arrange a hotel. I didn’t like this kind of meeting, but since it’s my family I figured I should help out. I had never seen my cousin before. According to my aunt she was supposed to be stunningly beautiful, but every pony knew how a parent could view their child different from every pony else. I was sitting in the room that I arranged for them. Aunt had placed her stuff down in the room, and she just went down to get her daughter. Her hoof bag was placed against the corner of the table. She left in a hurry, so the bag wasn’t placed very well. It fell a little after the door closed, and the stuff inside rolled out and scattered everywhere. I froze at the sight. Inside the bag, there were a huge diamond necklace and a thick envelope of cash. Judging by the size and thickness, there’s gotta be at least 20k in there. Of course I thought about taking it, but then aunt would figure out that it was me given that I was the only one inside the room. I picked up the bag and stuff the scattered item inside, and put the bag back onto the table just wen aunt came back in. She didn’t see me moving it, but I felt a bit awkward. So I turned to the window and said, “Nice views you got here.” Aunt came over and looked outside the window. “You really think so?” She said as if I was crazy. I took a look outside the window and guess what, she was right. The view was terrible. There were only dirt roads and more buildings. “Well… better than my apartment, anyway. So what brings you here?” “To see the film shot.” “The what now.” Aunt nodded with excitement. She told me there is going to be some famous film producer shooting a new film here. I asked about the cast, and she gave me a list of names that I barely recognize. It looked like the female main cast was as big shot as well, but I didn’t know her. “What do you mean you don’t know Octavia?” “Well I am not into that kind of stuff.” “That just won’t do. She is SO popular, you just can’t not know her.” “Well what’s the problem?” “See, this is why no fillies like you, and your career hadn’t been going well either. You are not keeping up with the time, and your style is so… old and unfashion.” She looked down at my socks, which had a tiny hole in the front. I suddenly felt terrible, as if the socks were just enough to prove that I can do NOTHING right. “How long are you going to keeping doing what you do anyway? I’ve heard the company you opened with your friend isn’t going well at all. The hoof watch you designed weren’t selling well, right?” My dignity forced me to lie. I told her my job was going great, and I held out my left hoof. “Look at this.” I showed her the hoof watch I was wearing. That was a watch I designed, and it’s unique, meaning there isn’t a second copy in the whole world. I told her the design was great, and soon it will go into production. It’s a hoof watch amazing beyond words. It could be the opening of a whole new fashion era. “I bet it’s gonna be the same with you other ‘great’ productions, end up in a huge storage somewhere.” She said as she picked up her hoof bag and put into a shelf right against the door. Then I realized that the design of the room was a little weird. The shelf was right against the outside wall of the whole hotel. If the wall breaks, the hoof bag could be easily taken from the outside. Aunt sat down at the table and poured herself a cup of tea. She didn’t invite me to one, but I didn’t really care. I looked at the watch and said I had to go. “Aw what a shame, you didn’t get to meet your cousin yet!” I can’t even hear a slice of actual “shame” in her tone. I bowed and left the room. On my way down the hall way I ran into a filly. She must be my cousin. I looked at her, and decided to take back my words. She was quite pretty. Her light gray face was round and adorable, and her muzzle was pointy and proud. Her hair was pure black, mixed with strands of light gray. She didn’t recognize me, so I didn’t bother greeting her either. We just trotted pass each other. The second day, I decided to go pay my friend a visit. He was my business partner, and we own a company together. We used to just design posters and stuff, but from last November we started selling watches. I would design them and he would put them into production. The first time I had ever wore a watch was on my 5th birthday. It was given to me by my father who was still alive back then. He completely forgot about my birthday and came home pretty drunk. Maybe he felt sorry when he saw me saving half of the cake with a very sad face, he took off the hoof watch and tied it around my hooves. It was pretty much the only thing he had ever given me. It was golden and heavy. I was just a kid back then, and the watch was actually way too big for me. But I never took it off. From that day forth, I had fell in love with watches. I spent all of my money on collecting watches. My brain was completely occupied with these little machine that had the law of time hidden in its little metal box. I spent so much time thinking about them that it felt like if I just take a break and sigh a little, there will be watches flowing out of my ears. After I graduated high school I decided to go to a technological school to learn to design watches. I noticed a post box on the side of the street. I just happened to need to send a letter, so I walked up, but i couldn't find where to put it in. Just when i was getting confused, a pony came with a suit. "Oh sorry sir, this is just a prop for the film shot." He then picked up the post box like it was made of card board and left. Well, that was just weird. I put the letter back into my saddlebag and met up with my friend. We sat down at a nearby restaurant. “How’s your aunt doing?” “Pretty good.” For a while we were both silent. Then he spoke up, “Oh yeah, sorry dude, we had to cancel your plan.” Okay. I nodded, but I haven’t really taken in what he said. “Wait what did you just say?” “I said I stopped producing the watches. The first series didn’t sell well at all, and right now we do not have enough money to produce any more. I tried to gather up some bits as well, but it was no use. Besides, I don’t think it’s a smart idea to produce these watches that were barely used by any pony anymore.” I thought about saying something, but then I realized that I can’t, because all he said was true. We have no money. “Well… how much do we need to at least keep the company running?” “I’d say at least 20k bits.” “Is that so…” “Hey dude, I know this is hard for you, but don’t like, break the law all right?” “Of course… duhh of course I know THAT.” Or did I. Chapter 2Between feeling guilty of being a thief and giving up my life-long dream, of course I would pick the first one. When the night falls, I had already come up with a plan. Aunt was rich. She wouldn’t mind losing some jewelry and cash. All I had to do is to find a way to take it away from her while she was away at the film shot. As everything became dark, I sneak into the hotel. I remembered seeing a huge rock when I looked outside the window, so I looked around for it. Sure enough, I found it and located the window leading to my Aunt’s hotel room. I pushed myself against the wall and looked at the window. The lights were off, so they haven’t got back yet. I remembered how the inside of the room looked like, and quickly located the cabin where my aunt put her hoof bag inside. There was plenty of money inside that could support my business. If I could get it, then my dream would be saved. I moved to the right position and took out the small hoof drill that I borrowed from a friend. It uses two batteries and runs really quietly. I turned it on and started making a small hole on the wall. Since I would not be able to pick the lock, I decided to not enter the room from the front door. However, if I just drill a small hole here and take out the goods, then no pony would notice. I drilled one hole after another and formed a small circle, just enough for my left hoof to go in. I turned the drill off and pushed the little circle. It fell inwards onto the wooden surface, making a noise. Because everything else was really quiet, the sudden noise made me jump and my heart beat. I stopped for a while to listen, and thanks Celestia everything was still calm and silent. I put my left hoof inside and started searching. I was a little off. The hoof bag wasn’t right in front of me, but to the side. I waved my hoof around slowly, and finally the tip touched something that felt like a hoof bag. Since the hole was too tiny for the hoof bag to fit through, I had to open it inside and take the stuff out, which shouldn’t be too difficult. But then, it felt like my left hoof was stuck. Something was hanging onto it. Then I remembered that I still had the hoof watch on my left hoof. It must have caught onto something inside the cabinet. I tried to jiggle it around and get it off, which I eventually did. I felt nothing on my hooves, and then I realized my mistake. The hoof watch became loose and fell off my hoof. It fell and knocked against the wall. I almost scream. “It’s all right, don’t panic, don’t be nervous. I just had to get it back, that’s all.” I kept telling myself. I kept moving my left hoof around, searching for my watch. However, all I felt was the rough surface of plan wood. Then suddenly, I felt I have touched something strange. It was soft and warm. And then, I heard some pony gasp on the other side of the wall. My brain went blank. I grabbed it and pulled it out of the hole before I realized what it was. I looked down. I had pulled out a hoof from the hole. The hoof was gray, skinny and smooth. It must belong to a female pony. “Ah! What’s going on?” A filly’s voice said on the other side of the wall. She was panicking, and in fact I was too. I didn’t let go of the hoof. She started struggling and tried to pull her hoof back. Remembering my situation, I tried my best to not let her move. “Stop moving!” I said to her, and then I realized what had just happened. I thought aunt and my cousin had both went to the film shot, but in fact my cousin didn’t. She stayed in the hotel, and somehow I grabbed her hoof! I remembered seeing my cousin in the hall way. I looked down. The hoof was gray. “Who are you?” I heard the panicking voice of my cousin. “Don’t talk! OR ELSE…” Or else what should I do? I couldn’t come up with anything. The hoof stop struggling, waiting for my next sentence. Everything suddenly became quiet. She was waiting for me to finish, and I was waiting for my brain to come up with something horrifying enough to keep her quiet. “Or else I will cut off your hoof?” “Really?” “Wanna give it a try?” She tried to pull her hoof back again. I grabbed onto her hoof with both of mine. “Ah, it hurts! Please let go?” “No, deal with it.” Then I suddenly realized that my aunt could still be in the room as well. “… Is there any other pony inside the room?” “Then why did no pony came here yet?” She couldn’t explain, so I guessed she was bluffing. Aunt was not there, she must have left for the film shot herself. I wanted to just back off and run away, but I couldn’t. I still have some unfinished business. “Who are you?” The other pony asked, her voice shaking with fear. “Don’t talk loudly.” “I was really quiet…” I felt a little bad for her. But if I can’t show it, or she would yell for help. “Listen closely, if you yell, I will cut off your hoof?” “… okay I get it.” I felt a bit relieved. “But, who are you?” “I am a thief.” “You are lying…Who would be dumb enough to call himself a thief?” OH that bitch, I just got burned didn’t I. “Well, what do you want?” “Money. Give everything you have to me!” “Everything?” “Yes!” And then I realized that I couldn’t tell her about the fact that I knew about the hoof bag. I couldn’t just tell her to give me the envelope and jewelry, or they would think “How did he know about this?” And they would turn their suspicion to me. “Just… just give me everything inside your hoofbag.” “Hoofbag? I only have tooth brush and some cloth for change in mine…” “No NOT YOURS…” And then I realized how stupid I was. Would aunt leave a hoof bag with cash and jewelry in the hotel and leave without it? Fat chance. I didn’t even think about this, and drilled a hole into a cabinet with nothing inside. But what happened? What did I get? My cousin’s hoof. She tried to get her hoof back again while I was quiet, and I quickly tightened my hooves and stopped her. “Just give me SOMETHING valuable! Give me your… wallet!” I wanted to cry. My plan had obviously failed miserably. “Wallet? My wallet is on the other side of the room, I can’t reach it with my other hoof.” I couldn’t decide if it was a lie or not, since I couldn’t see. “Even though I could grab it, how would I give it to you? You had a hole on the wall, but that hole was blocked by my hoof, right?” “Just open the window and toss it to me.” “I can’t reach the lock of the window either. You should just let go and go back. I won’t tell any pony, I promise.” “I can’t just go back without getting ANYTHING.” I was worried as I said so. I had left my hoof watch inside. She might not have noticed it because it was dark, but they would find out soon. I had also told my aunt about how UNIQUE this watch was. If I just go back like this, tomorrow I would be cuffed up with police ponies with black suit and then they would hold the watch right in front of my face, ask me to explain, which I won’t be able to. And she was right. The hole was filled, so I couldn’t tell her to find the watch for me either. But if I let go, she would run for help. Would I be able to find the watches before other ponies get here? She could also turn on the light when I let go, and then she would be able to see from the window that I was the relative she met in the hall way. Chapter 4-A year later- “I finally found out why your watch got suddenly popular.” My business partner said as he put a cup of coffee on my table. I wasn’t paying attention. I was still looking at the calendar, remembering the incredible night exactly one year ago, the night which I drill a hole on the side of the hotel. It was almost like a nightmare to me, and luckily I had not been caught yet. The week after that night I had been living like some kind of cave animal. Finally after I was sure I really got away with it, I went back to work. Half a year later, our company was doing quite well, so we decided to market the 2nd generation of the watches I designed. At first it wasn’t popular at all like the first ones, but months later we saw a HUGE increase in the sale. “Hey dude, you listening?” He stood in front of me and blocked the calendar from my view. “Well it’s because I am talented, right?” I said and he was surprised. “Have you even seen that movie?” “What movie?” I asked. He told me about this new movie that just came out. It was the one that was shot at this town a year ago. “The one where the… the main character had a weird name?” “DUDE, Octavia is NOT a weird name!” He confessed that he had watched every show that Octavia was in. I don’t watch TV, so I had no idea. “Oh yeah, she will be meeting some fans in a few days. I will take you there. You will get to shake hooves with her!” “Na I’ll pass.” “You old fashioned piece of… here, I got some of her CD’s. Just give it a try.” Despite my refusal, he pulled out a CD and popped it into the stereo. Octavia was not only an actress, but also a singer. That surprised. And the fact that my friend had actually BOUGHT her CD’s surprised me more. But what does this have to do with anything? Weren’t we just talking about the sales of the watches a second ago? My thoughts were cut off by the singing. “How’s it?” He looked at me, smiling. Soon his smile turned into surprise. Why? Well, maybe because I suddenly stood up, knocked over the chair and froze. I remembered the night exactly a year ago. I got home and felt like a huge part of me had been lost. I ate some food, but I could not even taste it. I unplugged all my stuff, so that if I get caught and sent to jail, at least my electric bill will be less depressing. I didn’t sleep all night. I was waiting for the police to come bust my door open any second. The day came, and then suddenly my phone rang. It was my aunt. “Can you come to the hotel?” It’s finally the time, I thought. I went to the hotel. Aunt was waiting for me, sitting on a chair. I looked around, but I didn’t see my cousin. “You are here.” She said, “My daughter will be back soon, so just hold on.” “… I know why you wanted me to come.” “Oh, really?” “I am not going to resist. I am ready to take the punishment.” “Punishment? What’s wrong with you? I just wanted to get lunch, and I was wondering if you knew any restaurant nearby with decent food.” The door opened behind me, and my cousin walked in. She nodded at me and said hi. Her voice sounded kind of strange to me. She walked pass me and opened the little cabinet on the side of the wall. I almost screamed. There should have been two holes on the side, the ones that I dug open last night! But inside the cabinet, the wooden board was fine. “What’s wrong?” My cousin asked. Then I realized what’s wrong. Although she was also a gray pony with black hair, her hair was much shorter than the pony who I met in the hall ways. And what’s more important was her voice. She was wearing a short sleeved shirt, and I could see her left hoof, smooth and WITHOUT a bit mark. I moved to the window and looked outside. The rock disappeared. “Hey, I remember there was a huge rock here. Where did it go?” “Rock? Oh the prop?” “The… WHAT?” Aunt told me that there were a lot of staff members of the film shot living there, so the hotel let them put some prop in the garden. They left in the morning and took all the stuff with them. I leaned out of the window and looked at the side. There was two holes, but on the wall of the room next to us. I thought the rock was real, but it was probably light enough for any pony to move around. Then, who the hell did I rob? I made up an excuse and left the hotel immediately. The mare who I robbed could still be in the hotel, and she would recognize my voice if she hear me. I have to leave as soon as possible. The fan meeting took place inside a hotel. All the chairs and couches had been moved to leave room for the fans, even though the place was PACKED with ponies of all kinds. Even though Octavia hadn’t showed up yet, the place was already crowded like a China bus. She was still using the name “Octavia”. I could see the word almost everywhere. There were numerous posters on the wall. I had never been to any place like this. I had no idea how popular a famous celebrity could be. I felt like I don’t belong here, so I asked my friend, “Hey, can I just go outside and take a smoke? I’ll be back when it’s my time.” Everypony turned to me as I spoke, and they all looked upset. “You are going to shake her hoof with your dirty hooves after smoking???” My friend said. Even though I knew the fact that Octavia hated the smell of smoke from my friend, I still think they are over reacting a little, like she would die if she inhaled a slice of the smell. Then I heard cheering from the front of the stage. I looked and saw a gray pony with long, straight black hair walking on stage. She was just as beautiful and amazing as the posters and cover of the CD’s. She seemed confident. Her stance was perfect, and it amazed me. I realized why she got so popular. She was like an angel. Her voice echoed through the mic, greeting everypony who came. Everypony became extremely quiet. I found her voice extremely familiar. Back then when my friend played me the CD, I thought I have heard the voice somewhere before as well. I thought the reason was because she was popular, so I must have heard her voice somewhere else before. After the song was over, my friend took the CD out and said, “About the raise in sales, it was because in the film she made, she was wearing an exact same hoof watch as the one you designed.” After the movie came out, numerous filly followed her and bought the watch I designed. They said the watch was unique and the design was excellent, and they were all quite satisfied. But in fact, I knew it was all because Octavia wore it. “I saw the movie. That watch was really close, but it can’t be yours, right? You were still showing off with the only one you had back then.” Then my friend started talking to me about Octavia’s life. How she followed her mother’s will and became an actress, her name choice… pretty much everything she did, her mother was involved. And there were also rumors that one year ago, she ran away during the film shot and caused quite a lot of trouble. “What you doing bro? GET IN THE LINE.” My friend pulled me towards him and said. I looked around. Her speech was over, and ponies had formed a line to wait for the chance to talk and hoof shake with her. Everypony would walk up the stairs, do their business, and walk down the other stairs straight to the exit. I moved along in the line. Since I was already there, why not. I saw her from far away. My vision froze on her left hoof and I felt everything else leaving me. She was still wearing that watch that I left at the hotel. She didn’t give it to the police, and she even filmed with it on. Does she like my design? If that’s really the case, then I would be so flattened. I thank her for saving my career and dreams, but how would I show her my appreciation? The line moved and I moved closer and closer to the stage. I felt really, really nervous. Soon it was my friend’s turn. I watched him as he walked on stage. They shook hooves. He was so nervous that I was afraid I might have to catch him if he faint and fall. But I understand why. From such a short distance, Octavia looked … breathtaking. She was like some strange creature, alternating the space around her. Being close her was like moving to another completely different dimension. My friend finally let go and walked down the stage. He had the look on his face as if he would be happy if he died right there. I moved up and held out my right hoof. She held out her right hoof as well and we hoof shook. She was right in front of me, the mare who was stuck in the walls that night. I thought I should say something about how much of a fan I was, because that was what everypony else was doing. However suddenly, the smile faded from her face. Like a cat that had just woke up from a nap, her eyes widened. When she was holding onto my right hoof, she moved her left hoof and grabbed onto my right hoof tightly as well. I held my breath. She stayed there for about 20 seconds. It looked like she was thinking about something. It was way too long for a hoofshake, even the security guards turned to the side and looked curiously. Soon she let go and the line started moving again. I walked down the stairs and looked back. She was looking at me as well, with a victorious smile. Everypony else, including my friend, was staring at me as if I was some kind of creature from outer space. I panicked and ran out of the room. Because her smile, as a famous celebrity to me, was just a bit too special. Chapter 3“Damnit, this is all your fault! If you are not here, I would have gotten what I needed already.” I said to her. “Well I was going to go and NOT having some pony grabbed onto my hooves… ” She sighed. It sounded like she didn’t want to go in the first place. “Then why didn’t you turn on the lights? Why were your hooves in the cabinet?” “I was napping but I got woken up by some noises in the cabinet…” She sounded hopeless. “I thought it was my cell phone inside my bag, so I just searched in the darkness.” “Eh?” Through the wall, we both said the same thing at the same time. Her bag was right there, and she would probably be able to use her other hoof to get her phone and call for help. “Don’t, call, ANY PONY!” I said, but she didn’t reply. Instead, I heard sound of a bag being turned upside down and random objects falling into the cabinet. “You are looking for your phone, aren’t you?” “I am not though.” She lied calmly. “Give me the phone!” “Oh yeah, how?” She said with a victorious tone. “If you don’t toss it away, I will cut your hoof off!” I said again. Everything I do so, I knew I wouldn’t be able to actually do it. My face would turn pale if I just THINK about cutting other pony’s hoof off. I really hated all kinds of horror films. She fell silent. I felt sweat on my hooves, not sure if it was from mine or hers. We were both quiet, and we could only hear each other’s breathing. “You can’t do it.” She said. “How do you know?” “Because you are not a bad pony.” I held onto her hoof with my left hoof and picked up the drill. I pointed the tip against her hoof. She felt the cold and metal piece of metal, and she panicked: “I… I got it. I won’t call.” I was actually confused if I was doing the right thing for a second, but then I remembered that I was stealing stuff. “Throw the phone away.” I heard her moving and soon I heard the noise of something hitting the floor far away. “There, I did it.” “Was that your phone? It could be your perfume or something.” “You think I have the guts to lie to you right now?” Then, I heard her ringtone coming from right next to the wall. I was right, she didn’t throw the phone away. “Don’t answer it!” The phone kept to ring right in front of us. She didn’t know what to do. I could tell from her hoof. “… I get it.” She said. Then I heard the sound of the ringtone moving further away from the cabinet into distance. It kept ringing for a while, and we both held our breath and listened closely. Finally, whoever called gave up and hang up. “Say… why don’t you run away? Your plan had obviously failed already.” Damn, she was smart. “If I let go, you would yell for help. So I had to take you hostage.” “But that does you no good, we are both stuck here.” If only I didn’t lose my watch! I thought. Is there any way I could hold onto her hoof and get my watch back at the SAME time? I shouldn’t have been a thief. That was probably the most stupid decision of my life. If I could get out of this, I would take my friends words and never break the law again. It’s just too much work. I could feel her pulse from her hoof. Her heart was beating rapidly. I looked at the drill in the right hoof, and then I found out a really simple way to do it. I pointed the drill at the wall and started it. The tiny tip quickly penetrated the wooden wall and left a small hole behind. That was just so simple. I just had to open a second hole on the wall and grab the watch with my right hoof! Then, I could let go and escape in time! “What are you doing?” She asked. “Shut up.” I pulled the drill out and started making the second hole. “Are you making a second hole on the wall?” “Don’t touch the drill. You could get hurt.” “I knew you. You are not a bad pony.” I felt her smiling on the other side. I wanted to distract her by talking, so I asked, “Why didn’t you leave?” “What?” “Didn’t you say just now? You were going to go, but you didn’t. Why is that?” “Why do you want to know?” “Because… because if you weren’t here, then I would have gotten the money already.” I felt the drill vibrating in my right hoof. The third hole was done, so I moved onto the fourth one. “Are your parents still alive?” She asked. “They passed away a year ago.” “Really… my parents ask too much from me. Sometimes it was just too much.” “Do they not care about your feelings?” “Yeah… so today I ran away even though I said I was going to go.” “To the film shot?” “How do you know?” She was suspicious. “Oh right, I guessed about it. The film shot is pretty popular. I know nothing about you” I lied. “I guess.” Gladly, she thought about it and accepted this explanation. She must have stayed in the room against her parents’ will. “I really loved my mom, so I tried to do everything the way she wanted. I felt happy when she was happy. But recently… I don’t know, I felt like the things weren’t the way they were supposed to be…” She sounded like a young filly. I could feel her emotions. She was stuck in between the love from her mom and the pain of it. To her, going against her parents must be hard to do. I started drilling the fifth hole and thought about what I did when I was her age. My dad wanted me to go to a university, but I wanted to learn how to design hoof watches. We spent most of our time together arguing and staring at each other. At the end, I did what I wanted. My parents were killed in an accident. They were trapped inside the house when there was a fire, and they weren’t able to get out in time. Before that, us three lived together. Even before the day my dad died, he was still complaining about my choice. When I told him about my dream of designing watches, he laughed at me. I was really angry. “How could you laugh at me? LOOK AT YOURSELF!” My dad was just a normal factory worker. He had no high level of education, and his job was quite low-leveled. His life was pathetically normal to other ponies. He didn’t have the right to laugh at me. My dad went quiet at my words. I left the house and spent the night at a friend’s place. When I was younger, I had argument with my dad as well. But I was so young, and soon I would forget about the fight and talk to him again. But from some point, I found it hard to communicate with my dad. I opened a company with my friend with the money I got from the insurance company. Even until now, I would feel some strange emotions when I thought about my dad. I couldn’t even tell if it was anger or sorrow. I suddenly realized that I stopped drilling, maybe I was thinking too much. “You shouldn’t let your parents change your life.” I told her. “Was that what you did?” “Yeah.” “So how’s life right now for you?” “I would not be here holding your hoof if life is pleasing.” “Good point.” I heard her giggle. “Did you regret not listening to them?” I wished I could say no and I was glad that I picked my own dream, but I couldn’t because right now I am being a pathetic thief. However, I didn’t want to go the way my dad planned for me either. I told her about myself. Of course I left out any details that could have exposed my identity. She listened quietly. Soon the hole was completed. I put the drill down and pushed at the little circle. The wooden piece fell inwards. The hole was big enough for my right hoof to go in. She didn’t have much to say, so I kept quiet as well. I felt my heart beat slow down and my breath became easier. For some reason, I felt unusually calm. “You made another hole?” She asked. Her right hoof moved. She moved a little upwards and grabbed me as well. The night was cold, and her right hoof was freezing. “I’m sorry.” I moved my right hoof into the hole. I found a lot of stuff scattered all over the place. I kept searching. Finally I touched something that was metal and heavy. It was my watch. If I could move my hooves, I would have patted my chest and take a huge, long, deep breath. But then suddenly, my right hoof was grabbed. She grabbed me with her left hoof. At the same time, she tightened her right hoof around my left hoof. Both of my hooves were grabbed by her. “Now we are tied. You can’t hurt me if I grab your other hoof.” She said. Even though I couldn’t see, I could tell she was smiling wit victory. “This is fucking ridiculous.” I said. “What a shame.” She said, and then suddenly she started yelling, “A THIEF! HELP! A THIEF!!!” Her voice pierced the night sky. It was so loud that I could feel the entire hotel shaking. I looked around, panicked. I could see lights being turned on. “LET GO!” I yelled at her, but my left hoof was still holding onto her right hoof. Even I found what I said unfair. “NO WAY.” She said. So I pulled my right hoof out as much as I could. Her left hoof was pulled out of the hole as well, still grabbing onto me tightly. I hear hoof steps and the sound of ponies knocking on the door with their body. I would be caught before I could break free. I opened my mouth and moved my muzzle closer to her hoof. I bit her left hoof. “OUCH!” I bit quite hard. Even if she didn’t bleed, it would leave quiet a deep mark. Her strength weakened as the pain hit her. I took my chances and broke free. Because I used too much force, I fell backwards onto the ground. Luckily, I still have the watch in my right hoof I quickly put it in my pocket and grabbed all the tools I brought, and then I ran out of the hotel. I turned around a few corners and finally got the guts to stop and catch my breath. I turned around, and luckily no pony was chasing me. I was safe. I relieved. I took out the watch and decided to put it back on, and then I froze in place. The watch was something you could buy pretty much everywhere. The size and the weight was similar, but it was not mine. Meaning I took her watch, but I left mine inside her room.
Chapter 1(Warning: This story contains hilarious details. You should not read if you are in a library, middle of class, or while eating. The author will not be responsible for any humiliation or damage caused due to the story.) My aunt and my cousin were coming to visit at a city nearby, so I had to go greet them and arrange a hotel. I didn’t like this kind of meeting, but since it’s my family I figured I should help out. I had never seen my cousin before. According to my aunt she was supposed to be stunningly beautiful, but every pony knew how a parent could view their child different from every pony else. I was sitting in the room that I arranged for them. Aunt had placed her stuff down in the room, and she just went down to get her daughter. Her hoof bag was placed against the corner of the table. She left in a hurry, so the bag wasn’t placed very well. It fell a little after the door closed, and the stuff inside rolled out and scattered everywhere. I froze at the sight. Inside the bag, there were a huge diamond necklace and a thick envelope of cash. Judging by the size and thickness, there’s gotta be at least 20k in there. Of course I thought about taking it, but then aunt would figure out that it was me given that I was the only one inside the room. I picked up the bag and stuff the scattered item inside, and put the bag back onto the table just wen aunt came back in. She didn’t see me moving it, but I felt a bit awkward. So I turned to the window and said, “Nice views you got here.” Aunt came over and looked outside the window. “You really think so?” She said as if I was crazy. I took a look outside the window and guess what, she was right. The view was terrible. There were only dirt roads and more buildings. “Well… better than my apartment, anyway. So what brings you here?” “To see the film shot.” “The what now.” Aunt nodded with excitement. She told me there is going to be some famous film producer shooting a new film here. I asked about the cast, and she gave me a list of names that I barely recognize. It looked like the female main cast was as big shot as well, but I didn’t know her. “What do you mean you don’t know Octavia?” “Well I am not into that kind of stuff.” “That just won’t do. She is SO popular, you just can’t not know her.” “Well what’s the problem?” “See, this is why no fillies like you, and your career hadn’t been going well either. You are not keeping up with the time, and your style is so… old and unfashion.” She looked down at my socks, which had a tiny hole in the front. I suddenly felt terrible, as if the socks were just enough to prove that I can do NOTHING right. “How long are you going to keeping doing what you do anyway? I’ve heard the company you opened with your friend isn’t going well at all. The hoof watch you designed weren’t selling well, right?” My dignity forced me to lie. I told her my job was going great, and I held out my left hoof. “Look at this.” I showed her the hoof watch I was wearing. That was a watch I designed, and it’s unique, meaning there isn’t a second copy in the whole world. I told her the design was great, and soon it will go into production. It’s a hoof watch amazing beyond words. It could be the opening of a whole new fashion era. “I bet it’s gonna be the same with you other ‘great’ productions, end up in a huge storage somewhere.” She said as she picked up her hoof bag and put into a shelf right against the door. Then I realized that the design of the room was a little weird. The shelf was right against the outside wall of the whole hotel. If the wall breaks, the hoof bag could be easily taken from the outside. Aunt sat down at the table and poured herself a cup of tea. She didn’t invite me to one, but I didn’t really care. I looked at the watch and said I had to go. “Aw what a shame, you didn’t get to meet your cousin yet!” I can’t even hear a slice of actual “shame” in her tone. I bowed and left the room. On my way down the hall way I ran into a filly. She must be my cousin. I looked at her, and decided to take back my words. She was quite pretty. Her light gray face was round and adorable, and her muzzle was pointy and proud. Her hair was pure black, mixed with strands of light gray. She didn’t recognize me, so I didn’t bother greeting her either. We just trotted pass each other. The second day, I decided to go pay my friend a visit. He was my business partner, and we own a company together. We used to just design posters and stuff, but from last November we started selling watches. I would design them and he would put them into production. The first time I had ever wore a watch was on my 5th birthday. It was given to me by my father who was still alive back then. He completely forgot about my birthday and came home pretty drunk. Maybe he felt sorry when he saw me saving half of the cake with a very sad face, he took off the hoof watch and tied it around my hooves. It was pretty much the only thing he had ever given me. It was golden and heavy. I was just a kid back then, and the watch was actually way too big for me. But I never took it off. From that day forth, I had fell in love with watches. I spent all of my money on collecting watches. My brain was completely occupied with these little machine that had the law of time hidden in its little metal box. I spent so much time thinking about them that it felt like if I just take a break and sigh a little, there will be watches flowing out of my ears. After I graduated high school I decided to go to a technological school to learn to design watches. I noticed a post box on the side of the street. I just happened to need to send a letter, so I walked up, but i couldn't find where to put it in. Just when i was getting confused, a pony came with a suit. "Oh sorry sir, this is just a prop for the film shot." He then picked up the post box like it was made of card board and left. Well, that was just weird. I put the letter back into my saddlebag and met up with my friend. We sat down at a nearby restaurant. “How’s your aunt doing?” “Pretty good.” For a while we were both silent. Then he spoke up, “Oh yeah, sorry dude, we had to cancel your plan.” Okay. I nodded, but I haven’t really taken in what he said. “Wait what did you just say?” “I said I stopped producing the watches. The first series didn’t sell well at all, and right now we do not have enough money to produce any more. I tried to gather up some bits as well, but it was no use. Besides, I don’t think it’s a smart idea to produce these watches that were barely used by any pony anymore.” I thought about saying something, but then I realized that I can’t, because all he said was true. We have no money. “Well… how much do we need to at least keep the company running?” “I’d say at least 20k bits.” “Is that so…” “Hey dude, I know this is hard for you, but don’t like, break the law all right?” “Of course… duhh of course I know THAT.” Or did I.
Chapter 2Between feeling guilty of being a thief and giving up my life-long dream, of course I would pick the first one. When the night falls, I had already come up with a plan. Aunt was rich. She wouldn’t mind losing some jewelry and cash. All I had to do is to find a way to take it away from her while she was away at the film shot. As everything became dark, I sneak into the hotel. I remembered seeing a huge rock when I looked outside the window, so I looked around for it. Sure enough, I found it and located the window leading to my Aunt’s hotel room. I pushed myself against the wall and looked at the window. The lights were off, so they haven’t got back yet. I remembered how the inside of the room looked like, and quickly located the cabin where my aunt put her hoof bag inside. There was plenty of money inside that could support my business. If I could get it, then my dream would be saved. I moved to the right position and took out the small hoof drill that I borrowed from a friend. It uses two batteries and runs really quietly. I turned it on and started making a small hole on the wall. Since I would not be able to pick the lock, I decided to not enter the room from the front door. However, if I just drill a small hole here and take out the goods, then no pony would notice. I drilled one hole after another and formed a small circle, just enough for my left hoof to go in. I turned the drill off and pushed the little circle. It fell inwards onto the wooden surface, making a noise. Because everything else was really quiet, the sudden noise made me jump and my heart beat. I stopped for a while to listen, and thanks Celestia everything was still calm and silent. I put my left hoof inside and started searching. I was a little off. The hoof bag wasn’t right in front of me, but to the side. I waved my hoof around slowly, and finally the tip touched something that felt like a hoof bag. Since the hole was too tiny for the hoof bag to fit through, I had to open it inside and take the stuff out, which shouldn’t be too difficult. But then, it felt like my left hoof was stuck. Something was hanging onto it. Then I remembered that I still had the hoof watch on my left hoof. It must have caught onto something inside the cabinet. I tried to jiggle it around and get it off, which I eventually did. I felt nothing on my hooves, and then I realized my mistake. The hoof watch became loose and fell off my hoof. It fell and knocked against the wall. I almost scream. “It’s all right, don’t panic, don’t be nervous. I just had to get it back, that’s all.” I kept telling myself. I kept moving my left hoof around, searching for my watch. However, all I felt was the rough surface of plan wood. Then suddenly, I felt I have touched something strange. It was soft and warm. And then, I heard some pony gasp on the other side of the wall. My brain went blank. I grabbed it and pulled it out of the hole before I realized what it was. I looked down. I had pulled out a hoof from the hole. The hoof was gray, skinny and smooth. It must belong to a female pony. “Ah! What’s going on?” A filly’s voice said on the other side of the wall. She was panicking, and in fact I was too. I didn’t let go of the hoof. She started struggling and tried to pull her hoof back. Remembering my situation, I tried my best to not let her move. “Stop moving!” I said to her, and then I realized what had just happened. I thought aunt and my cousin had both went to the film shot, but in fact my cousin didn’t. She stayed in the hotel, and somehow I grabbed her hoof! I remembered seeing my cousin in the hall way. I looked down. The hoof was gray. “Who are you?” I heard the panicking voice of my cousin. “Don’t talk! OR ELSE…” Or else what should I do? I couldn’t come up with anything. The hoof stop struggling, waiting for my next sentence. Everything suddenly became quiet. She was waiting for me to finish, and I was waiting for my brain to come up with something horrifying enough to keep her quiet. “Or else I will cut off your hoof?” “Really?” “Wanna give it a try?” She tried to pull her hoof back again. I grabbed onto her hoof with both of mine. “Ah, it hurts! Please let go?” “No, deal with it.” Then I suddenly realized that my aunt could still be in the room as well. “… Is there any other pony inside the room?” “Then why did no pony came here yet?” She couldn’t explain, so I guessed she was bluffing. Aunt was not there, she must have left for the film shot herself. I wanted to just back off and run away, but I couldn’t. I still have some unfinished business. “Who are you?” The other pony asked, her voice shaking with fear. “Don’t talk loudly.” “I was really quiet…” I felt a little bad for her. But if I can’t show it, or she would yell for help. “Listen closely, if you yell, I will cut off your hoof?” “… okay I get it.” I felt a bit relieved. “But, who are you?” “I am a thief.” “You are lying…Who would be dumb enough to call himself a thief?” OH that bitch, I just got burned didn’t I. “Well, what do you want?” “Money. Give everything you have to me!” “Everything?” “Yes!” And then I realized that I couldn’t tell her about the fact that I knew about the hoof bag. I couldn’t just tell her to give me the envelope and jewelry, or they would think “How did he know about this?” And they would turn their suspicion to me. “Just… just give me everything inside your hoofbag.” “Hoofbag? I only have tooth brush and some cloth for change in mine…” “No NOT YOURS…” And then I realized how stupid I was. Would aunt leave a hoof bag with cash and jewelry in the hotel and leave without it? Fat chance. I didn’t even think about this, and drilled a hole into a cabinet with nothing inside. But what happened? What did I get? My cousin’s hoof. She tried to get her hoof back again while I was quiet, and I quickly tightened my hooves and stopped her. “Just give me SOMETHING valuable! Give me your… wallet!” I wanted to cry. My plan had obviously failed miserably. “Wallet? My wallet is on the other side of the room, I can’t reach it with my other hoof.” I couldn’t decide if it was a lie or not, since I couldn’t see. “Even though I could grab it, how would I give it to you? You had a hole on the wall, but that hole was blocked by my hoof, right?” “Just open the window and toss it to me.” “I can’t reach the lock of the window either. You should just let go and go back. I won’t tell any pony, I promise.” “I can’t just go back without getting ANYTHING.” I was worried as I said so. I had left my hoof watch inside. She might not have noticed it because it was dark, but they would find out soon. I had also told my aunt about how UNIQUE this watch was. If I just go back like this, tomorrow I would be cuffed up with police ponies with black suit and then they would hold the watch right in front of my face, ask me to explain, which I won’t be able to. And she was right. The hole was filled, so I couldn’t tell her to find the watch for me either. But if I let go, she would run for help. Would I be able to find the watches before other ponies get here? She could also turn on the light when I let go, and then she would be able to see from the window that I was the relative she met in the hall way.
Chapter 4-A year later- “I finally found out why your watch got suddenly popular.” My business partner said as he put a cup of coffee on my table. I wasn’t paying attention. I was still looking at the calendar, remembering the incredible night exactly one year ago, the night which I drill a hole on the side of the hotel. It was almost like a nightmare to me, and luckily I had not been caught yet. The week after that night I had been living like some kind of cave animal. Finally after I was sure I really got away with it, I went back to work. Half a year later, our company was doing quite well, so we decided to market the 2nd generation of the watches I designed. At first it wasn’t popular at all like the first ones, but months later we saw a HUGE increase in the sale. “Hey dude, you listening?” He stood in front of me and blocked the calendar from my view. “Well it’s because I am talented, right?” I said and he was surprised. “Have you even seen that movie?” “What movie?” I asked. He told me about this new movie that just came out. It was the one that was shot at this town a year ago. “The one where the… the main character had a weird name?” “DUDE, Octavia is NOT a weird name!” He confessed that he had watched every show that Octavia was in. I don’t watch TV, so I had no idea. “Oh yeah, she will be meeting some fans in a few days. I will take you there. You will get to shake hooves with her!” “Na I’ll pass.” “You old fashioned piece of… here, I got some of her CD’s. Just give it a try.” Despite my refusal, he pulled out a CD and popped it into the stereo. Octavia was not only an actress, but also a singer. That surprised. And the fact that my friend had actually BOUGHT her CD’s surprised me more. But what does this have to do with anything? Weren’t we just talking about the sales of the watches a second ago? My thoughts were cut off by the singing. “How’s it?” He looked at me, smiling. Soon his smile turned into surprise. Why? Well, maybe because I suddenly stood up, knocked over the chair and froze. I remembered the night exactly a year ago. I got home and felt like a huge part of me had been lost. I ate some food, but I could not even taste it. I unplugged all my stuff, so that if I get caught and sent to jail, at least my electric bill will be less depressing. I didn’t sleep all night. I was waiting for the police to come bust my door open any second. The day came, and then suddenly my phone rang. It was my aunt. “Can you come to the hotel?” It’s finally the time, I thought. I went to the hotel. Aunt was waiting for me, sitting on a chair. I looked around, but I didn’t see my cousin. “You are here.” She said, “My daughter will be back soon, so just hold on.” “… I know why you wanted me to come.” “Oh, really?” “I am not going to resist. I am ready to take the punishment.” “Punishment? What’s wrong with you? I just wanted to get lunch, and I was wondering if you knew any restaurant nearby with decent food.” The door opened behind me, and my cousin walked in. She nodded at me and said hi. Her voice sounded kind of strange to me. She walked pass me and opened the little cabinet on the side of the wall. I almost screamed. There should have been two holes on the side, the ones that I dug open last night! But inside the cabinet, the wooden board was fine. “What’s wrong?” My cousin asked. Then I realized what’s wrong. Although she was also a gray pony with black hair, her hair was much shorter than the pony who I met in the hall ways. And what’s more important was her voice. She was wearing a short sleeved shirt, and I could see her left hoof, smooth and WITHOUT a bit mark. I moved to the window and looked outside. The rock disappeared. “Hey, I remember there was a huge rock here. Where did it go?” “Rock? Oh the prop?” “The… WHAT?” Aunt told me that there were a lot of staff members of the film shot living there, so the hotel let them put some prop in the garden. They left in the morning and took all the stuff with them. I leaned out of the window and looked at the side. There was two holes, but on the wall of the room next to us. I thought the rock was real, but it was probably light enough for any pony to move around. Then, who the hell did I rob? I made up an excuse and left the hotel immediately. The mare who I robbed could still be in the hotel, and she would recognize my voice if she hear me. I have to leave as soon as possible. The fan meeting took place inside a hotel. All the chairs and couches had been moved to leave room for the fans, even though the place was PACKED with ponies of all kinds. Even though Octavia hadn’t showed up yet, the place was already crowded like a China bus. She was still using the name “Octavia”. I could see the word almost everywhere. There were numerous posters on the wall. I had never been to any place like this. I had no idea how popular a famous celebrity could be. I felt like I don’t belong here, so I asked my friend, “Hey, can I just go outside and take a smoke? I’ll be back when it’s my time.” Everypony turned to me as I spoke, and they all looked upset. “You are going to shake her hoof with your dirty hooves after smoking???” My friend said. Even though I knew the fact that Octavia hated the smell of smoke from my friend, I still think they are over reacting a little, like she would die if she inhaled a slice of the smell. Then I heard cheering from the front of the stage. I looked and saw a gray pony with long, straight black hair walking on stage. She was just as beautiful and amazing as the posters and cover of the CD’s. She seemed confident. Her stance was perfect, and it amazed me. I realized why she got so popular. She was like an angel. Her voice echoed through the mic, greeting everypony who came. Everypony became extremely quiet. I found her voice extremely familiar. Back then when my friend played me the CD, I thought I have heard the voice somewhere before as well. I thought the reason was because she was popular, so I must have heard her voice somewhere else before. After the song was over, my friend took the CD out and said, “About the raise in sales, it was because in the film she made, she was wearing an exact same hoof watch as the one you designed.” After the movie came out, numerous filly followed her and bought the watch I designed. They said the watch was unique and the design was excellent, and they were all quite satisfied. But in fact, I knew it was all because Octavia wore it. “I saw the movie. That watch was really close, but it can’t be yours, right? You were still showing off with the only one you had back then.” Then my friend started talking to me about Octavia’s life. How she followed her mother’s will and became an actress, her name choice… pretty much everything she did, her mother was involved. And there were also rumors that one year ago, she ran away during the film shot and caused quite a lot of trouble. “What you doing bro? GET IN THE LINE.” My friend pulled me towards him and said. I looked around. Her speech was over, and ponies had formed a line to wait for the chance to talk and hoof shake with her. Everypony would walk up the stairs, do their business, and walk down the other stairs straight to the exit. I moved along in the line. Since I was already there, why not. I saw her from far away. My vision froze on her left hoof and I felt everything else leaving me. She was still wearing that watch that I left at the hotel. She didn’t give it to the police, and she even filmed with it on. Does she like my design? If that’s really the case, then I would be so flattened. I thank her for saving my career and dreams, but how would I show her my appreciation? The line moved and I moved closer and closer to the stage. I felt really, really nervous. Soon it was my friend’s turn. I watched him as he walked on stage. They shook hooves. He was so nervous that I was afraid I might have to catch him if he faint and fall. But I understand why. From such a short distance, Octavia looked … breathtaking. She was like some strange creature, alternating the space around her. Being close her was like moving to another completely different dimension. My friend finally let go and walked down the stage. He had the look on his face as if he would be happy if he died right there. I moved up and held out my right hoof. She held out her right hoof as well and we hoof shook. She was right in front of me, the mare who was stuck in the walls that night. I thought I should say something about how much of a fan I was, because that was what everypony else was doing. However suddenly, the smile faded from her face. Like a cat that had just woke up from a nap, her eyes widened. When she was holding onto my right hoof, she moved her left hoof and grabbed onto my right hoof tightly as well. I held my breath. She stayed there for about 20 seconds. It looked like she was thinking about something. It was way too long for a hoofshake, even the security guards turned to the side and looked curiously. Soon she let go and the line started moving again. I walked down the stairs and looked back. She was looking at me as well, with a victorious smile. Everypony else, including my friend, was staring at me as if I was some kind of creature from outer space. I panicked and ran out of the room. Because her smile, as a famous celebrity to me, was just a bit too special.
Chapter 3“Damnit, this is all your fault! If you are not here, I would have gotten what I needed already.” I said to her. “Well I was going to go and NOT having some pony grabbed onto my hooves… ” She sighed. It sounded like she didn’t want to go in the first place. “Then why didn’t you turn on the lights? Why were your hooves in the cabinet?” “I was napping but I got woken up by some noises in the cabinet…” She sounded hopeless. “I thought it was my cell phone inside my bag, so I just searched in the darkness.” “Eh?” Through the wall, we both said the same thing at the same time. Her bag was right there, and she would probably be able to use her other hoof to get her phone and call for help. “Don’t, call, ANY PONY!” I said, but she didn’t reply. Instead, I heard sound of a bag being turned upside down and random objects falling into the cabinet. “You are looking for your phone, aren’t you?” “I am not though.” She lied calmly. “Give me the phone!” “Oh yeah, how?” She said with a victorious tone. “If you don’t toss it away, I will cut your hoof off!” I said again. Everything I do so, I knew I wouldn’t be able to actually do it. My face would turn pale if I just THINK about cutting other pony’s hoof off. I really hated all kinds of horror films. She fell silent. I felt sweat on my hooves, not sure if it was from mine or hers. We were both quiet, and we could only hear each other’s breathing. “You can’t do it.” She said. “How do you know?” “Because you are not a bad pony.” I held onto her hoof with my left hoof and picked up the drill. I pointed the tip against her hoof. She felt the cold and metal piece of metal, and she panicked: “I… I got it. I won’t call.” I was actually confused if I was doing the right thing for a second, but then I remembered that I was stealing stuff. “Throw the phone away.” I heard her moving and soon I heard the noise of something hitting the floor far away. “There, I did it.” “Was that your phone? It could be your perfume or something.” “You think I have the guts to lie to you right now?” Then, I heard her ringtone coming from right next to the wall. I was right, she didn’t throw the phone away. “Don’t answer it!” The phone kept to ring right in front of us. She didn’t know what to do. I could tell from her hoof. “… I get it.” She said. Then I heard the sound of the ringtone moving further away from the cabinet into distance. It kept ringing for a while, and we both held our breath and listened closely. Finally, whoever called gave up and hang up. “Say… why don’t you run away? Your plan had obviously failed already.” Damn, she was smart. “If I let go, you would yell for help. So I had to take you hostage.” “But that does you no good, we are both stuck here.” If only I didn’t lose my watch! I thought. Is there any way I could hold onto her hoof and get my watch back at the SAME time? I shouldn’t have been a thief. That was probably the most stupid decision of my life. If I could get out of this, I would take my friends words and never break the law again. It’s just too much work. I could feel her pulse from her hoof. Her heart was beating rapidly. I looked at the drill in the right hoof, and then I found out a really simple way to do it. I pointed the drill at the wall and started it. The tiny tip quickly penetrated the wooden wall and left a small hole behind. That was just so simple. I just had to open a second hole on the wall and grab the watch with my right hoof! Then, I could let go and escape in time! “What are you doing?” She asked. “Shut up.” I pulled the drill out and started making the second hole. “Are you making a second hole on the wall?” “Don’t touch the drill. You could get hurt.” “I knew you. You are not a bad pony.” I felt her smiling on the other side. I wanted to distract her by talking, so I asked, “Why didn’t you leave?” “What?” “Didn’t you say just now? You were going to go, but you didn’t. Why is that?” “Why do you want to know?” “Because… because if you weren’t here, then I would have gotten the money already.” I felt the drill vibrating in my right hoof. The third hole was done, so I moved onto the fourth one. “Are your parents still alive?” She asked. “They passed away a year ago.” “Really… my parents ask too much from me. Sometimes it was just too much.” “Do they not care about your feelings?” “Yeah… so today I ran away even though I said I was going to go.” “To the film shot?” “How do you know?” She was suspicious. “Oh right, I guessed about it. The film shot is pretty popular. I know nothing about you” I lied. “I guess.” Gladly, she thought about it and accepted this explanation. She must have stayed in the room against her parents’ will. “I really loved my mom, so I tried to do everything the way she wanted. I felt happy when she was happy. But recently… I don’t know, I felt like the things weren’t the way they were supposed to be…” She sounded like a young filly. I could feel her emotions. She was stuck in between the love from her mom and the pain of it. To her, going against her parents must be hard to do. I started drilling the fifth hole and thought about what I did when I was her age. My dad wanted me to go to a university, but I wanted to learn how to design hoof watches. We spent most of our time together arguing and staring at each other. At the end, I did what I wanted. My parents were killed in an accident. They were trapped inside the house when there was a fire, and they weren’t able to get out in time. Before that, us three lived together. Even before the day my dad died, he was still complaining about my choice. When I told him about my dream of designing watches, he laughed at me. I was really angry. “How could you laugh at me? LOOK AT YOURSELF!” My dad was just a normal factory worker. He had no high level of education, and his job was quite low-leveled. His life was pathetically normal to other ponies. He didn’t have the right to laugh at me. My dad went quiet at my words. I left the house and spent the night at a friend’s place. When I was younger, I had argument with my dad as well. But I was so young, and soon I would forget about the fight and talk to him again. But from some point, I found it hard to communicate with my dad. I opened a company with my friend with the money I got from the insurance company. Even until now, I would feel some strange emotions when I thought about my dad. I couldn’t even tell if it was anger or sorrow. I suddenly realized that I stopped drilling, maybe I was thinking too much. “You shouldn’t let your parents change your life.” I told her. “Was that what you did?” “Yeah.” “So how’s life right now for you?” “I would not be here holding your hoof if life is pleasing.” “Good point.” I heard her giggle. “Did you regret not listening to them?” I wished I could say no and I was glad that I picked my own dream, but I couldn’t because right now I am being a pathetic thief. However, I didn’t want to go the way my dad planned for me either. I told her about myself. Of course I left out any details that could have exposed my identity. She listened quietly. Soon the hole was completed. I put the drill down and pushed at the little circle. The wooden piece fell inwards. The hole was big enough for my right hoof to go in. She didn’t have much to say, so I kept quiet as well. I felt my heart beat slow down and my breath became easier. For some reason, I felt unusually calm. “You made another hole?” She asked. Her right hoof moved. She moved a little upwards and grabbed me as well. The night was cold, and her right hoof was freezing. “I’m sorry.” I moved my right hoof into the hole. I found a lot of stuff scattered all over the place. I kept searching. Finally I touched something that was metal and heavy. It was my watch. If I could move my hooves, I would have patted my chest and take a huge, long, deep breath. But then suddenly, my right hoof was grabbed. She grabbed me with her left hoof. At the same time, she tightened her right hoof around my left hoof. Both of my hooves were grabbed by her. “Now we are tied. You can’t hurt me if I grab your other hoof.” She said. Even though I couldn’t see, I could tell she was smiling wit victory. “This is fucking ridiculous.” I said. “What a shame.” She said, and then suddenly she started yelling, “A THIEF! HELP! A THIEF!!!” Her voice pierced the night sky. It was so loud that I could feel the entire hotel shaking. I looked around, panicked. I could see lights being turned on. “LET GO!” I yelled at her, but my left hoof was still holding onto her right hoof. Even I found what I said unfair. “NO WAY.” She said. So I pulled my right hoof out as much as I could. Her left hoof was pulled out of the hole as well, still grabbing onto me tightly. I hear hoof steps and the sound of ponies knocking on the door with their body. I would be caught before I could break free. I opened my mouth and moved my muzzle closer to her hoof. I bit her left hoof. “OUCH!” I bit quite hard. Even if she didn’t bleed, it would leave quiet a deep mark. Her strength weakened as the pain hit her. I took my chances and broke free. Because I used too much force, I fell backwards onto the ground. Luckily, I still have the watch in my right hoof I quickly put it in my pocket and grabbed all the tools I brought, and then I ran out of the hotel. I turned around a few corners and finally got the guts to stop and catch my breath. I turned around, and luckily no pony was chasing me. I was safe. I relieved. I took out the watch and decided to put it back on, and then I froze in place. The watch was something you could buy pretty much everywhere. The size and the weight was similar, but it was not mine. Meaning I took her watch, but I left mine inside her room.
