Xenotopia

A young Hispanic woman's pink lipstick was smudged beyond repair. She made her way over to a cracked storefront window on this late icy night. Long violet hair was a total mess, translucent blue eyes grew more tiresome by the second. Reluctantly she fluffed out her hair with bronze-colored hands, wearing her usual outfit.

A pink half jacket full of sass and flair. Black bustier showing off a beautifully curvy frame, a mini skirt of the jean variety cut above the thighs. Fishnets brought in the clients, but it was her four-inch heels that made them stay.

“Damn sexy, you looking for a good time!?” A lime green Cadillac pulled up from behind her reflection, a gruff but mysterious stranger spoke in a rowdy tone of voice.

“Mmm, always cutie pie!” she spun around giving a most playful wink.

“Well, I don't get paid until later, how about we have fun on credit!?” His smile curled into a sneer like a timberwolf on its first hunt.

A blaze of green fire engulfed her feminine frame in a bright flash. A once humanoid appearance shrunk down to roughly the size of a pony, as a slender turquoise body formed giving a little wiggle of its backside. “Jesus Christ, you're one of those Mimics!” he screamed out in sheer terror.

The creature lifted onto his hind hooves and popped inside the open window swiftly. “Actually, I'm a Changeling. - Mimics monopolize the voice hotlines though!” he squinted oversized pink eyes dripping with sarcasm.

As if he tossed a Molotov into the passenger seat the stranger was off in a blur of panic. The screech of tires echoed down the dark abyss of the street, the scent of burnt rubber stinging the changeling’s nostrils in a flurry of raw heat. *Yeah, you better run!” he flirtingly ran a hoof down his side.

“No way you could handle all this!” the creature burst into a loud snicker before giving his rump a firm slap for old times sake.

As if on cue the world's saddest pony happened to cross down his sidewalk. Lucky for the tiny bundle of nerves, this changeling considered her not a complete waste of time. “Jinx, how's it kicking pop tart?” he hastily switched back to his human persona, letting a feminine giggle waft into the starless night sky.

“What is it tonight, Masquerade?” Her head tilted upward clearly not amused by the antics.

Masquerade could sense she had another rough night at the cafe. He swore if he didn't see this pony working her hooves to the bone, he simply didn't see her. “Ouch, what's got ya’ horses in a bunch?” his nose scrunched cutely.

“Just a long...night.” a soft whiny escaped her lips.

“I know that girl! - Violet is my most busy personality of the whole week!” Both walked beside each other on a path towards her apartment.

“Don't you have something better to do!?” Jinx placed all her attention on this feminine imposter.

“Yeah, but he doesn't get here for another thirty minutes!” the woman let herself laugh out loud in an honest moment of amusement.

Jinx scoffed with the look of a genuine killjoy across her lonely innocent features. Knowing he wasn't the mushy sensitive type, she spun away breaking into a canter down the street. “Aww, c'mon! - Don't run off in a huff!” Masquerade yelled out through gritted teeth.

“Why do you even care!?” She came to a complete stop ahead, her head hung low in near defeat.

His body engulfed in a dim blaze of fire as he transformed back into his true form. “Because I'm trying to be the 'F’ word!?” he grumbled with ears slid back annoyed.

“Friendly?” Jinx pursed her lips.

“Sure, why not?” Masquerade held back a loud exhale.

Jinx’s gaze locked onto his own. Her hooves dripped with the damp moisture of a rain kissed street, for a moment he could sense something fundamentally broken deep down inside this mare. That insight being completely blocked as she lifted her defense once more, her head held high and chest puffed outward.

“I just want a sign.” She spoke in a raspy whisper.

“Like what?” Masquerade couldn't help but quirk a brow.

“Exactly…” Jinx turned in silence before walking away into the night.

Sure he could chop this up to her being a complete nut. But little did he know, those words would stick with him for longer than he'd like to admit. Jinx was a leaf on the breeze of life, she drifted wherever the wind took her with never a complaint. Though deep down, she dreamed of the one moment where life would surprise her.

The one sign that would reassure her…

That our lives meant something.

But he sure as hell wasn't the one to prove it, he had a date planned soon and needed to put back on his angel face.

The one people rather see.