The spiders crawl over your skin. You try to move, but your body is paralyzed from invisible binds. The thousands of tiny feet crawl over your skin and move towards your face. In a desperate attempt for help, you try to scream, but no sounds leave your lips. The tiny feet move upward and the horde of spiders crawl into your mouth and down your throat.
You shoot up in a cold sweat. Looking around your room, everything seems to be completely normal. Pressing your hands to your hot, clammy face you try to catch your breath. Golden morning light pours into your room.
Spiders. Your dream HAD to be about spiders. Goddamnit.
Ripping the covers off, you rise from bed and shed your clothing on the way to the bathroom. Turning the water on in the shower to warm up, you stop in the mirror and look closely at your reflection.
Look in the mirror. What do you see?
You rub your unshaven chin and look deep into your eyes. A tired human in a world of technicolor horses. But, there is at least one pro to today. One thing that makes you feel tied back to your home.
Today is your birthday.
So, you are going to spend this year, just like every other year. Having fun with your friends. However, there is one little catch.
You hop into the shower and begin to clean yourself.
"Fucking spiders. Really brain? Thanks."
You hate drawing attention to yourself. Parties to celebrate something simple like a birthday are silly. All you need to make you happy is just a simple 'Happy Birthday, Anon!' However, if that Pinkie Pie found out... You shiver under the warm water of the shower, suds dripping down your leg and into the drain.
That would be the absolute worst.
You've seen first hand what Pinkie's parties can be like. No, today you are just going to hang with some friends. That's it. Pure and simple.
Hopping out of the shower, you dry yourself off and shave your face to a smooth perfection. All you have to do is convince all six of your friends to hang out at your place for no real reason.
The no real reason party, as you called it.
You head into your room and throw on your favorite comfortable t-shirt and jeans. With a good stretch, you head downstairs and pour yourself a bowl of Sweetie Bits. As you sit down to enjoy your breakfast, you examine the other items sitting on your table, six invitations that you created last evening. They are sealed in six small envelopes, probably a bit overkill for something you are going to hand out in person, but the formality is nice. In fact any moment now...
A quiet knock at the door grabs your attention. Right on cue.
The first invitation you were going to give was to Fluttershy, who comes a-knockin every morning at the same time. You grab an envelope from the table and head over the door with a sigh. Opening the door, you see the yellow, lusty pegasus sitting on your doorstep.
"Good Morning Anon! How are-"
You shove the envelope in her mouth, catching her off guard.
"Shut up. Party. Tonight. I'm inviting all your friends and if I didn't invite you they'd be pissed. Bye."
You slam the door in her face just as she spits out the invitation. With a calm breath, you head back to your morning breakfast. Well, that knocks out the second hardest one. Hopefully Pinkie's invitation goes just as well.
You approach Sugarcube Corner with your final invite in hand. All the mares seemed ecstatic to come to your party, albeit confused why you were holding it though.
Oh well.
You have to make a few sacrifices here and there. Knowing how bad Twilight is with secrets, Applejack being the Element of Honesty, and Rarity being the biggest rumor mill in town, there wasn't really anyone you could tell. It could be worse you suppose. You could be in the spotlight.
Pushing the door open, the smell of sugar and fresh baked confectioneries assaults your senses and you begin to drool a little. Pinkie cleans the counter while Mrs. Cake sets out some newly decorated slices of strawberry white cake in the display case.
"Hey Pinks. How's it goin?"
"Nonny!" she exclaims, her attention instantly snapping from cleaning to you. "How are you?"
"Not too bad," you say with a smile. "Today is just one of those good days. You know?"
"I know exactly what you mean Anon. Everypony seems to be wearing big, happy smiles today. What can I get you?"
"Hmm... Let's see..." You mutter as you look through the transparent case at the carefully prepared delicacies.
You pull out the final envelope from your pocket.
"How about... your attendance." you say, showing her the invitation.
"My attendance?" Pinkie inquires with a smile. "Of course silly! What do you want to do?"
"Well, I'm having the gang over at my place tonight for a party, and-"
You no more say the word party when you see the twinkle in Pinkie's eye. Mrs. Cake sneaks into the kitchen with a slight worry on her face.
"You are throwing a PARTY!?" Pinkie screams with excitement.
She hops up and down behind the counter with the biggest smile on her face and her eyes closed.
"OhMyGosh. Nonny. You HAVE to let me help you make the most awesome super partyriffic party EVER!"
"Pinkie."
The bouncing mare's voice begins to speed up, and drown out your attempts to snap some reason into her.
"There can be streamers and balloons and hats and cake and ice cream and games and music and dancing and the PARTY CANNON! OH! AND WE CAN BRING GUMMY AND INVITE-"
For some reason Pinkie begins to, quite literally, bounce off the walls. No wonder the cakes don't let her touch the sugar. The idea of Pinkie being let loose on a full bag of sugar hurts your head.
You leap into the air and manage to grab Pinkie as she travels overhead from one wall to another as her voice reaches terminal velocity. Placing your hand over her mouth, she stops.
"Pinkie. Thank you for your ideas, but I just want a small get together with you and the other girls. Nothing big. Nothing special."
Pinkie nods and you set her down.
"But Anon... why do you want to have a party if you don't want it to be special? I mean, isn't that why parties happen? To celebrate something special?"
You carefully choose your words from your mentally prepared list of answers.
"I do have something special. Celebrate the friendships I've made with you and the girls. Isn't that reason enough?"
Pinkie eyes you curiously and her head tilts.
"I suppose... but it's just not like you. You are normally quiet and keep to yourself, no offense."
"None taken." you answer truthfully.
She's telling the truth, for the most part you liked to be left alone.
"But either way! I think it sounds like fun and I'd like for you to be there."
Pinkie nods her head viciously.
"I'll be there, on OOOOONE condition." she says excitedly.
Oh great. Pinkie being her typical self.
"You have to let me decorate! Oooh! We at very least need balloons and streamers!"
You chuckle. Every battle can't be won, Anon.
"Sure. As long as you are there, that's what matters to me."
"WHEEE!" She says bouncing up and down again. "It'll be spectacular Nonny. You just wait."
"Oh I'm excited alright." you causally answer as you head out the door. "See ya tonight!"
"See ya later, alligator!"
The door chimes as you head back outside, a breeze chilling your skin. That could have gone much worse. Here you were thinking Pinkie would blow this into some massive deal. She's a smart mare and can respect your wishes.
When it looks like the last pony leaves, you look around at your mess of a house with a contented sigh. You plop yourself down on your couch with a pomf and reflect on the day. What could have today possibly missed?
There were your favorite things. No work. You had all of your friends over for a fun little party. And at the end, none of them figured out in the slightest that it was your birthday!
Your smile is wide and proud at a plan well executed. Mindlessly kicking a balloon on the floor, your chuckle. Everything went perfect.
Then, something doesn't feel right. You look around the room, as if something was out of place. The feeling in your gut deepens and upsets your stomach. Everything seems right...
You lay back on your couch. With a sigh, you feel the gut feeling turn to a gentle disappointment. No, there was something you messed up. Something small... something little. The disappointment turns to sadness.
How could you be sad? You don't have a reason to be sad.
It's your birthday!
Normal people don't get sad on their birthday!
Suck it up, Anon.
You place your head in your hands as you look up at the banner that Pinkie posted earlier today.
"The No Real Reason Party."
You sniff. Not one person told you Happy Birthday today. And it's your own fault.
What did you expect if you didn't tell anyone? Was not being in the spotlight really worth it?
Would it have been worth tolerating a night of pointless activities and embarrassing moments of you in the spotlight just to hear someone say that to you?
The once warm and vibrant room has become cold and lonely. You know your friends care. They would say the simple words if you just told them... But your own private fears got the best of you and now you regret your missed opportunity. You take a deep breath and cover your face with your hands.
Great job, Anon. You fucked it up. Again.
Like you always do.
Every. Fucking. Time.
Tears form in your eyes. A light brush of hair caresses your hands, making you jump. Fluttershy sits in front of you with a small red package, held in her mouth by a yellow ribbon.
You open your mouth lightly, when she sets the package in your lap.
"Happy Birthday, Anon." Fluttershy soothingly says with a smile.
The muscles in your arms tense up and the feeling in your gut turns into butterflies. You look from the wrapped gift, to Fluttershy's innocent smile.
"H-how'd you know?" you ask curiously.
Fluttershy giggles a little bit.
"We aren't that different, Anon." Fluttershy answers you.
She points up to the banner and looks at it carefully.
"Pinkie didn't have to have that made just for you... she needs it for my party... once a year."
You look down to the gift, elegantly wrapped, then back to the happy yellow pegasus.
"Open it," she urges you.
Grabbing one of the ends of the bow, you easily pull off the ribbon and take off the red wrapping paper. You open the box to pull out a brand new red tie.
"You don't wear the clothes that you came to Ponyville with often anymore... I thought maybe... with a new tie, you would wear them more?" she says, questioning herself.
Running your fingers along the silky smooth tie, you feel the care put into every little stitch.
"Did Rarity make this?" you ask her.
She shakes her head.
"I did... just for you."
This was the first thing that anyone in Ponyville gave you. Your eyes run over every little detail of the simple tie.
"D-do you like it?" she asks.
You open your mouth, trying to find the right words to say. Instead, you just wrap your arms around the yellow pony. She jumps in surprise, but holds you back just as hold. Your body feels warm. Not because the way her warm fur holds you like a blanket, or that the way that she holds you makes you not feel so alone in this world of pastel ponies.
But because, for the first time, in a long time, you feel loved. A few stray tears make their way into her fur, but she ignores them.
"Thank you. Fluttershy. You have no idea how much it means to me."
A hoof rubs your back gently.
"I think I have an idea." she gently coos.
Fluttershy buries her head into your shoulder, enjoying this rare moment with her love.
"As much as I want to stay... I should probably go..."
"You don't have to." you say reflexively.
The words spilled out of your mouth faster than you could think about them. She looks into your eyes and smiles.
"Isn't that a little fast, Anon?" she teases.
The two of you share a chuckle. Fluttershy breaks your embrace and heads to the door to your home. But, before she leaves, she turns back to you.
"Uhm, Anon... Would you mind coming over tomorrow night?"
You look to her with a smile.
"Sure. Why, may I ask?"
She giggles as she opens the door to your home, letting in the cold night air.
"No real reason," she says with a sing-song voice.
She looks into your eyes and gives a quick wink.
"Of course then. I look forward to it." you say with a smile.
Fluttershy steps out of your home and closes it softly behind her. You lay down on your couch, taking a light sip of the refined cider AJ gave you. To your surprise, today was the best birthday ever. All because of that amazing pony, Fluttershy
