The following morning, I awoke tired and heavy. These beds were without a doubt the most comfortable I have ever rested my big head on. It was a shame that I had to get up. I stretched, relieving my spine from its nightly rigor mortis with several cracks, and jumped out of bed.

The sun was slowly trekking over the shorter buildings at built the foundations of the Manehattan skyline. The rain had most likely just moved on the hour before. I could smell it on the breeze that invited itself into my room.

I left my room stepping out into the bright light bouncing around the suite. Then, something tickled my ears, or more likely, ground them mercilessly. I approached the loveseat to find the mare from last night out cold. “That’s just lovely…” I sighed. I expected her to have been long gone by now. Perhaps the couch was as comfortable as the bed. I shrugged and made my way to the kitchen; I needed a cup of joe.

I tried to focus on the gurgling water to drown out her mating call. If she didn’t wake up soon I half expected a wild boar to bust through the door. In a way I felt a little sympathetic. Celestia knows where she’s had to sleep and for how long. Then, the room phone rang breaking me out of my thought.

“Yes?” I answered.

“Mr. Gliss, there is a mare here to see you.”

“Who?” I asked thinking through a list of the mares that I’ve been in contact with. There were only about three. The stallion mumbled something.

“Octavia Philharmonica.”

“Octavia?” I was very much surprised that she made her way to my hotel. To be honest, I was happy that she came to see me. I needed to apologize for dodging her the other night. “Send her up.”

“Will do sir”

I quietly hung up the phone and hurriedly tip-toed back to my room to find something more to wear than my boxers. Yes, I was very happy that Octavia had decided to come by. I know I’ve said it before, but I felt bad about leaving her high and dry the other night. This was a tad bit odd, though. She never stayed in town no more than a day after a performance. She said that she prefers the quiet of her hometown. I would do the same, but the moment I go home, I’m going to be swarmed by my family.

I found a well enough shirt in my suitcase, and now all I had to do was find some pants. Anyway, I have a large family, I suppose. I was the youngest born, and also the only colt out of three sisters. Aside from that, my aunts and uncles with their kids live very close as well. Family get togethers always needed, like, a gymnasium to be rented out, and it was still a tight fit.

I heard a knock on the front door and quickly forced myself into a pair of old jeans that were way too tight. I stiffly waddled to the door, forgetting about the homeless mare on the couch. Octavia knocked again. I couldn’t ignore it.

“Hey, Tavi,” I greeted with a forced grin.

She looked me up and down with a grin, “I didn’t wake you, did I?”

“What? Oh, no. You did catch me a bit off guard though,” I chuckled.”Come in, come in.” She looked good today. Her long black hair rested in a bun, and she wore a light coat with slacks that hugged her thighs and butt quite nicely. What? I’m a stallion. I can look, but I only touch if granted permission.

“So, how are you, Glis--” The mare on the couch snorted loudly and shifted position. “What was that?” She asked peering over the couch at the comatose mare. “Gliss, she isn’t a prostitute, is she?!” Octavia sounded more jealous than shocked.

“No! Hell no!”

“Then why is there a naked mare on your couch?” The jealously was ever present now.

“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.” She raised her brow like a mother ready to lambast her child.

“She’s homeless. I was coming back from hanging with a friend from secondary school, and I saw her shivering in the rain, so I let her sleep there for the night.”

Octavia looked down on her, then back at me, “You’re ridiculous sometimes, Gliss,” she chuckled. I tilted my head in confusion. “So, back to what I was saying. How are you, Gliss?”

“Hm? Oh, I’m good. Slept pretty well, despite the noisemaker over here.”

“That’s good.” She sat down at the small kitchen table.

“How are you?” I asked, joining her.

“Very well. I have something to ask of you.” I shot her a curious look.

“Vinyl is DJing at a club tonight before we head back to Ponyville, and I was hoping that you’d join us. I know loud social gatherings with loud people and alcohol aren’t your forte, but--”

“I’m down.”

She stopped, flashing me with those big violet eyes. “I’ll go.

She blinked several times then cleared her throat, “Well, I half expected that to be a battle,” I grinned, causing her to blush and shift her eyes.

“What time?”

“Tonight at nine.”

“Okay, you’re gonna see this scruffy lookin’ gent fist pumping with the best of ‘em.” Octavia chuckled and rose from her seat.

“I’m going to grab a bite to eat. Care to come with?”

“Yeah, but I have to get the girl out of here.”

Octavia glanced at the couch and sighed, “I’ll be waiting in the lobby.” I watched her leave, and sat in the anticipation of what could be a good day.

I approached the mare and started to shake her vigorously. “Hey, hey. Time to get up,” I repeated until she began to stir with a couple of porcine grunts and snorts

“Huh…?” she yawned.

“Come on, time to get up.”

“Aah!” she swatted at my hand and flailed around until she fell off the loveseat.

“Are you okay?” I chuckled, peering over the couch.

“I’m fine,” she groggily replied.

“Well, it was fun having you soak this expensive futon, but it’s about time you took your leave.”

“Ugh… you didn’t do anything while I was sleep, did you? Cause, you’re still gonna have to pay up,” she yawned again.

“I didn’t fuck you, and I have no intention of doing so. I mean, you make it sound like there’s a mine shaft down there anyway.” She angrily glared up at me, hiding her modesty with the comforter. “I’ll go grab your clothes…”

I’m not sure what she did while I fetched her dry but stiff clothes. Part of me felt bad casting her back out to a life on the streets, but another part of me knew that she couldn’t stay with me. I’m not ready to have to hunt down some nameless mare because she mugged me. Well, she could have done it by now.

I came back into the main room, finding her rummaging through the cabinets. “Uh, I got your stuff.” She jumped and slipped on the linoleum floor exposing her modesty. I shook my head, set her stuff down next to her, and turned around.

“You could have asked me for something if you were hungry.” She didn’t answer so I continued to stand there awkwardly waiting for her to get dressed.

“You can look now,” she said with an annoyed growl.

“That’s better. So, a friend of mine has invited me out, which means I’m leaving.”

“And?”

“And that means that you can’t stay here. No offense, but I don’t trust you about as far as I can throw you.”

“Are you calling me fat?” I gave her my best unamused look, battling my urge to point out I wasn’t, and that she looked pretty nice for someone pulled from a gutter. “Fair point,” she shrugged.

“I’m gonna go change. Hold on…”

I watched in curiosity as he went back to his room. He says that he can’t trust me? Ha! I thought I’d end up on the news the next morning cut into little pieces. It was unfortunate that I couldn’t stay in this suite. I haven’t slept that hard since I was in foster care. He seemed nice enough though, so I guess I can loosen up some. He came back out, better dressed, with something in his hand.

“Here.” He held out his hand. I opened my own, and was met with the melodious jingle of bits falling into my hands. “You can get you something pretty decent to eat, if you want.”

“Why did you give me this…?”

“You were going through the cabinets like a rabid racoon. I can tell you’re hungry,” he said with a smile. This guy could not be for real. He takes me into this lavish hotel suite, does not advance at all, and drops a pocketful of bits in my hands. “Th-Thank you…”

“No problem at all. I’m about to go now. I don’t like keeping people waiting.” He escorted me to the door and locked it behind us. “Well, it was nice meeting you, lady.”

He turned to leave. I didn’t buy what he was doing, but he had at least deserved to know my name, “It’s, Kenmore…”

“Hmm?” he stopped and turned to me.

“My name is, Kenmore.”

He smiled and waved to me, “Until we meet again, Kenmore.” And with that he was gone, leaving me on the top floor of the most prestigious hotel in the city. I had no idea on what to do next. All I had was a handful of golden coins, a screaming belly, and a mind about to buckle under the weight of my curiosity.

Author's Note

This was mainly edited by, Kalash93