As I sat there against Fluttershy's door, I tried to envision the cause of it all. How? Had I wanted that to happen? Well, she was hot. Had I thought that before? No I'd never made the conscious thought that I was honestly attracted to a member of a different species.

-But you have been. For a while now.

Nope! We are not going there! I've been here a day! I have no meds. I'm just trying to seek some kind of release. Something I can use to run away from this moment.

-You mean the Fact

-That you

-Are

-Alone?

Feeling like a child and hating myself for tearing up at that moment, I did not expect to hear Fluttershy call out from another room: "Brendon? Hello? I thought I heard someone?"

*sniff*

"Yeah, sorry. No one answered the door so I let myself in."

"That's alright. I was just feeding the chickens out back. Would you like something to drink?"

"Uh, water please. Actually something stronger. Tea, perhaps?"

"I'll put the kettle on."

"Thanks."

"Did everything go alright with Rarity?"

"Well...she was very…thorough."

"Oh yes, she is so good at her job. I can't wait to see what she makes you. By the way, do you want me to come to you or do you want to come to the kitchen?"

Apparently,without realizing it, I hadn't moved an inch. I slowly got up and walked to the kitchen, sitting at the little table. The setting sun came in through the window, giving everything a melancholy look to it. At least that's all my biased eyes could see.

Fluttershy saw something else in my face. She walked over and sat down next to me.

"Oh my goodness, Brendon! What's wrong?"

I was about to open my mouth to confess what a horrible person I was, what I'd turned her friend into, when an idea came to me. Maybe it was the calm atmosphere, or just looking at Fluttershy, but instead of ripping myself to pieces I suddenly remembered something Rarity had said.

"Ummm...the women from my world have a certain time of the month where...their bodies change a little bit. It has to do with having children. Is there...something like that which happens to ponies?"

Fluttershy looked at me in astonishment. Her ears went back, and then she got a look on her face. Like something clicked. She quickly stood up and went to a calendar on the wall. Her ears pricked up, she put her hand to her chest, looked at me, looked at the calendar, then back and forth again, and exclaimed: "Oh no! Rarity's in heat today!"

"What do you mean 'In heat?' What's that?"

"But that makes no sense that she'd...or that you'd...Oh no! Did she-?! Did you-?! Oh no!" Fluttershy looked like she was going to panic, and I could swear her face had the look of somepony losing something she couldn't get back. Her hands were cupping the sides of her face in an agony of distress.

How am I so good at reading faces?

-Counseling classes. Maybe.

What would she think she'd lose?

-You know nothing.

"Hold up! Hold up! Why don't I tell you what happened before we start jumping to conclusions!"

"Oh. You're right." Fluttershy took a moment and composed herself, ran a hand through her mane, smoothed out her skirt, took a deep breath, and sat back down.

I then explained how I had arrived at the boutique, Rarity was taking measurements, she started acting funny, there was a smell, and then things got bad. I left out the graphic details as well as the part about the pictures and the raging hardon.

"...so then I sprinted as fast as I could and came back here."

"Oh. Was that all?"

"Well, apart from some unimportant details. Why?"

"Well when a mare goes into heat, about once a month, nothing may really happen. She can become much more...umm…’enthralled’ by a stallion but only if he really catches her interest. Then she can get rather...umm…heated. And she produces a smell that is meant to drive stallions crazy, but they don't always. I can't imagine what would have caused such a stir in her."

"Uhhhh…"

"...yes?" Fluttershy looked at me with huge puppy dog eyes. I took a deep breath.

"When Rarity was measuring my waist...she…(oh God)...she may have put her hand on my...on my…"

"-oh!" Fluttershy sat bolt upright, her tail and mane frizzing out for just a second. There was a pause and her tail swished back and forth until she caught it and held it in place.

One day I'll get what that means.

“Oh, I see. That might do it. Especially if...uhhh…you had an...”

“Yeah, well, she ended up coming back to...feel...Oh God! I’m sorry, I can’t keep talking about this!”

"So…" she said, speaking slowly, "Were you thinking about her? Was that why you were-?"

"What?! No! Not at all!"

"Then why…?"

"I was thinking about some...thing else."

Shit! You almost said somepony!

"Oh."

"Yeah...so...I'm glad to know it wasn't my fault." I exhaled and felt my shoulders suddenly relax. I didn't know I was holding in all that tension.

Fluttershy shook her head. "Oh no, of course not."

I coughed nervously. I wanted to change the subject.

"You know, before she got all...heated, Rarity did tell me that you posed as a model? For a little while?"

"What? She told you that?" Fluttershy blushed and tried to hide in her mane again. The sight was taking a battering ram to my inner bastion against cuteness. "Did...did she show you the...pictures?" Her voice kept getting softer and softer until the word "pictures" came out as a tiny whisper.

Before the self-defense part of my brain could yell at my mouth to stop, I said, "Oh, yeah she did. They were great!"

Shit! Fuck! Damnation! Stupid piece of-

Fluttershy immediately perked up again. "You really thought so? It was so embarrassing. I'm...I'm glad you liked the dresses."

I grabbed onto that sentence like a life preserver. "Oh yeah, the dresses were really impressive! Rarity really has talent!" I felt like laughing hysterically.

Fluttershy suddenly looked up and stuck a finger under her chin. Her forehead furrowed.

"And...you saw these before Rarity measured your -?"

I jumped as the kettle screamed on the stove. I expected Fluttershy to get up but she hadn’t moved. She slowly turned her head towards me and then looked at me square in the face. Her lips were moving but no sound came out. Her tail would not stop swishing after she had let it go with limp fingers. I saw a flush come into her cheeks and slowly spread across her face. She kept on looking at me, like she was staring into my soul, or perhaps couldn’t believe what she was looking at.

A big, stupid pervert.

-Ho yeah, he’s big!

Shut up!

The kettle kept screaming.

“Uh, Fluttershy?”

I saw her mouth still moving silently.

“Fluttershy?”

“Yes?” It was so faint, I almost didn’t hear it.

“Fluttershy?”

“Yes, Brendon?” There was something in her voice, a soft intensity. She put a hand on the table and leaned forward, a look of expectation on her face. I looked down at my own hand on the table, a few inches from hers, then looked in her eyes.

“Umm...the kettle?”

“What? Oh my!” She started up. “I’m sorry. I’ll get that.”

“Sure. No problem.”

It’s all there. I’m just missing something. If I put it all together I’ll get it.

There was that nagging feeling in the back of my head again. Some realization was on the cusp of coming to life. All I had to do was sort the pieces and figure out what I was missing, and then it would all make sense. But what was it? What was it?

I leaned my head in my hand, putting my elbow on the table as I watched Fluttershy make the tea.

The tail. Why does it do that?

-It happened a few times.

When Fluttershy first saw you.

-When you held her hand in that awkward moment in the woods.

Especially when she ran and hugged you in the hospital and she wouldn’t let go

-When you complemented Rarity.

After Rarity touched your dick and her tail kept going more and more from there.

-When you told Fluttershy what Rarity had touched.

Just now when she was contemplating whether you had seen her pictures before you got a raging erection.

-She doesn’t know it was raging!

Oh no.

-Oh yes.

Oh no.

-Oh Yes! It means the pony likes you!

Or likes what you said.

-Or likes the thought that you got hard and then even more that you got hard for her.

Oooooooooooh. I am so STUPID!

This took about five seconds, and when it was done I felt like the biggest idiot in the world, while at the same time my brain was bursting with some feeling of relief and wonderful astonishment. It was like I’d seen the clouds part for a second, and sunlight came down. I couldn’t get all of it, but what I got made me smile softly. It seemed like a smile I'd forgotten how to make.

Fluttershy put two cups and saucers down and a teapot. I kept looking at the table, unaware of how I looked as I smiled to myself. Fluttershy poured the tea in silence. I didn’t look up at her until she sat down and picked up her own cup and gingerly sipped it. I picked up my own cup in silence. It suddenly seemed the most interesting, and safe, thing to look at.

“What are you thinking about?” she said.

“Hmm? Oh...” Test the waters. Do you really know? Even now, doubt ate at me. It was as though I refused to swim without a life preserver. “I was wondering what it was you were going to say before the kettle went off.”

“Oh my. Excuse me, I forgot for a moment…”

I sipped my tea.

“Well, I was thinking about what you said last night in your sleep.”

Spit take!

“Ugh! S-sorry, what?" I got up and looked for a towel to wipe down my mess. Finding a small cloth, I started on the table.

Oh, right, she did say something about talking in my sleep. Oh no, oh no, oh no...

"I, uh...I said something last night?”

“Oh? No. I mean, yes. Yes you did. You...you said…” She kept one eye on me as she turned away and tried to hide herself in her mane. “You said (mumble mumble).”

“What?”

“You said…(mumble mumble).”

I looked up from my task. “Fluttershy?”

She whispered so soft I only heard a small squeak come out.

“It’s...it’s okay, Fluttershy. You can tell me another time.” I tried to smile reassuringly, then got down to wipe the floor. I found myself wiping around her hooves. Glancing up, I could see her legs peeking out from her skirt. Immediately I blushed, as I was in a horrid/perfect angle to see up her legs. I turned back to the floor, finished quickly, then got back in my chair.

Stop thinking about it. When have I been a panty peeker? What is this world doing to me?

The tea was strong, but smooth. We sipped at it in awkward silence. I couldn’t stand the quiet, and I was beginning to fear what my thoughts might fill it with.

“I’m...I’m sorry if I said something awful, Fluttershy. You’ve been a great host and...I hate the thought of doing something to hurt you. Or any of your friends. Everyone has just been...so nice. Especially you.”

“...beautiful.” Fluttershy’s voice was a tiny whisper.

“...What?”

“You said...that I was so beautiful.”

If my eyes got any bigger, they’d fall out of my head. I opened my mouth, shut it again, and then my brain partly shut down.

Error! Cannot detect keyboard. Please press F1 to continue.

Fluttershy’s chin was down, her hands were in her lap, and she was staring at me with her pretty, blue eyes. No not quite blue. Wish I was an art major, then I’d know what it was. She looked hopeful and vulnerable at the same time.

“Did you...did you mean it?” Her tail moved again, just for a second. “Do you...do you think I’m beautiful?”

Denying the truth would be the worst thing you could do to her. Man up and face whatever comes next.

-Dude, you’re fucked.

Why? Why can't I believe I won't be rejected? Why am I still so afraid?

“Well, yes. Yes, of course I think you’re beautiful.”

“You mean...for a pony?” Still there was that hope in her face, but so unsure.

“...well, no. Even compared to what’s in my world, you’re still beautiful.”

“Oh...th-thank you. That’s very...nice of you to say.” There went the tail again. But more importantly, the smile on her face was...well, it shown.

Under her gaze, I scratched the back of my head and smiled nervously. “You’re, uh, you’re welcome. I’m just speaking the truth. Even without seeing those photos, I knew you were beautiful.”

For the first time, I saw Fluttershy look amused. An eyebrow went up and she leaned on an elbow, cupping her chin in her hand.

“And...when you saw the photos?”

I tried not to squirm under her gaze. Was that a knowing look on her face?

“I was...I was stunned! You were gorgeous, elegant and...I, uh, I…”

“Yes?” A smirk! I saw it! She’s enjoying this!

And I got hard! You were smoking hot! I wanted to see more! How could anyone not think you amazing? What the hell is wrong with me that I’m thinking this of someone who isn’t even my own kind?

"And I...I...I…" I sighed and hung my head. "I'm sorry, this isn't easy for me, it's a bit -"

"Hard?"

"-well, yeah it is -"

I stopped, realizing what I said. I looked up at Fluttershy. Did she guess everything? A smile crept, unbidden, into my face as I tried to hold back a laugh.

What’s gotten into her? Where did this side of her come from?

The moment lasted for only a few seconds, then Fluttershy’s ears went back, and the old look came into her eyes.

“Was...was that a ‘good one?’”

If you laugh, she might take it the wrong way.

Taking a moment to control myself, I looked at her - maybe with pride, perhaps with admiration - and said: “Yeah. Yeah it was. A real good one.”

“Oh good. Thank you.”

“Ho no, thank you.”

“So...was I right?”

“Hmmm?” I was drinking my tea.

“That it was hard?”

“Ulp!”

Drink it! Drink the damn tea and swallow it! You will not spit it out.

-And for your information, Miss fluttershy, it's not that it was hard. Now it is again.

Thanks for bringing it up.

-Ha! Good one!

“Heh, you might never find out.”

“Oh, that’s alright. Do you want to go for a walk? It’s lovely outside.”

“In a minute.”

“Oh, okay.”

We kept sitting there, drinking our tea. I started taking very small sips.

“We can always make more tea,” she said innocently. “And the sun is going down.”

“Please, just let me finish this cup.”

“That’s fine. Would you mind dumping out the teapot and putting it in the sink? I’ll do a quick clean up before we go.”

“Uh, you mean get up?”

“...yes?”

“From the table?”

“Mmmhmmm.”

Okay, do some quick adjustments under the table. Move the underwear there, untuck the shirt here, bounce the leg for a test run. We might make it.

“Sure!” I gulped down the rest of the tea, grabbed the teapot, turned quickly as I stood up and made my way to the sink. Fluttershy collected the cups and saucers, and started the water running. I was trying to reach around her to dump out the tea when she turned right into me and we collided gently. Collided in just the right way. There was no misunderstanding what we both felt.

She smells so nice.

I heard an, “Eep!” and Fluttershy turned around quickly. She stood stock still.

There was an awkward pause.

Solution! As in come up with one!

“Well, uh, we'd better head out before the sun gets any lower.”

Fluttershy peered a bit over her shoulder and nodded. “Mmm.”

“Anything wrong?”

Shake of the head. “Mmm mmm.”

“Alright. Let’s go.”

“Squeak.”

I’ll take that as an extremely timid yes.

I opened the back door and went outside first. Fluttershy came after. Wind was blowing through the trees, and it felt nice. All of it was very cooling after the warm afternoon.

And it’s working. Ahhhhh.

-So let’s go on as though nothing happened just now.

Eventually, I was able to end he awkward silence when I asked Fluttershy about her chickens. She brightened up immediately. She told me everything I needed to know about her chickens, even their morning habits, favorite feed, their friendship circles, and escape attempts. I asked where there was a nice place to walk and she led me down a little path on the outskirts of the forest. The sun was not quite at the horizon, the wind was blowing in our hair/mane, and it was lovely. We stood on the crest of a hill and just took it in.

“You know,” I said, breaking the silence, “I always liked windy days.”

“Really? Why is that?”

“I don’t know. It feels like anything can happen. Like an epic moment is right around the corner.”

“Epic?”

“You know, like that great part in a story where the hero turns everything around, or the cavalry - uhhh - I mean, all his friends arrive to help him out. Here’s where the adventure starts, or this is when the best scene happens.”

“Oh, wow. I never thought of it like that. I just like the way it feels.”

I wanted to run across the hills, I wanted to climb the nearest tree and peak out over the tops of the forest, I wanted to fall backwards and sigh at the sky, crying out how great it was to be alive!

But you won’t do any of those things. And you’re too self-conscious to yell something out. It’s only in private. In the little moments. When there’s little to risk. Then you do something.

“Fluttershy.”

“Yes?”

-You won’t say it.

“If...if I’ve done anything wrong, or if I’ve...made you uncomfortable, I’m really sorry.”

-Told you.

She turned to me quizzically, then looked down and smiled softly. “Anything wrong? No, Brendon, I can’t think of anything that you need to be sorry about.”

“It’s just that...this place, the air...it’s having this odd effect on me. I’ve got all this...energy. I ran faster than I ever run in my life today. And I feel like I could do it again. I feel almost like a kid again. It’s your world. I wish I knew how to describe it.”

“Is...is that the only thing that’s making you feel this way?”

“What?”

“Is it just Equestria?”

She was staring at the grass, but it was obvious there was a deeper question in her eyes. Her mane was blowing softly in the breeze, and her skirt rustled around her legs. She was really...something.

Do it.

“I think...I think we both know that’s not true.”

Fluttershy’s head never moved. But a tiny flush came into her cheeks, and her tail wiggled in the breeze ever so slightly.

“I’m...I’m very glad to hear that.”

We both gazed off at the sunset, each smiling our own private smile, and perhaps both were for the same feeling. I almost didn’t want to look at her, for fear of ruining this moment. We both watched something streak across the sky.

Oh look, a rainbow - oh! It’s her...

Rainbow Dash came flying down fast, landing perfectly on both hooves beside us. She was wearing the same tight black shorts and top with a small backpack over her shoulders.

“Hey, you two! How’d you like the clear sky I rustled up?”

Fluttershy waved. “Oh yes, it’s very nice. Thank you, Rainbow Dash.”

“Huh? You made the sky clear?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

The psychedelic pony stretched her arms out, like she had just done some heavy lifting. “Yep! I move the clouds around for the ponies in Ponyville.”

“What? Really?! That’s awesome!”

“Aw, go on! You give way too many complements.”

Fluttershy closed her eyes and smiled. “Oh yes, he’s very good at that.”

Rainbow grinned. “Actually I changed my mind, keep ‘em coming! By the way! I got a message for you.”

I blinked. “Me?”

“Yep. It’s private.”

Fluttershy began to walk away. “Oh, I’d better go.”

Rainbow waved at her nonchalantly. “It’s okay, Fluttershy! I got this!”

Quick as a flash, I felt strong hands reach around and grab me under the arms. Suddenly I was rocketed off the ground and shot off towards the forest, about a hundred yards away. Rainbow dropped me with little ceremony under a tree and then leaned her back against it, one leg bent at the knee.

“Ugh! Wonderful landing. So, what’s this message?”

Rainbow held up two fingers. “Hold up, newbie, I got two things to talk to you about. First is a message from Rarity.”

Future generations should be impressed that I did not, in fact, shit a brick.

“R-r-r-rarity?”

“Yep.”

“What’s the second thing?”

“We’ll get to that. Rarity sends you this message,” and she pulled out a piece of paper and gave her best Rarity impression, “I’m really very sorry for what happened. I feel just terrible about it and wish I could make it up to you. Here’s your first set of clothes, I made them as fast as I could. Had to get a little energy out, as you can understand. Please don’t be afraid to come back, I promise it won’t happen again. Yours truly, Rarity.”

Rainbow took off the backpack and handed it to me. I took it in silence, my face all apprehension at what this mare knew about my encounter with the unstable unicorn.

“By the way, Rarity told me everything.”

Shit! I’m dead! I’m so dead! They’ll never find my body!

Suddenly Rainbow’s face burst into a huge smile. “And I have to say, I’m impressed!” She slapped me on the back, nearly knocking me over. “How’d you resist that mare in full heat? There are stallions who would sell their mothers for even a date with Rarity!”

Oh thank God!

-It’s a trick! Don’t give in!

Shut up!

I sagged with relief, unable to hide it one bit. Nervously, I smiled and scratched the back of my head.

“Yeah, well, it wasn’t easy.”

“You mean it was...hard?” And Rainbow slapped her knee with laughter.

“Yeah, that joke’s been made already.”

“Really? By who?”

“Nevermind. So Rarity is...okay?”

“Well, she’s exhausted and now is more impressed with you than ever. Said you were quite the sweet talker.”

“Did...did she say anything else?”

Rainbow smirked. “Ohhhhh maaayyyybe.”

“Oh great.”

“Don’t you worry about a thing. Yet.”

Eep.

“So tell me, why’d you do it? Or not do it?”

“I...I couldn’t. Well, that’s not true, I mean I could but...she wasn’t herself. And I don’t feel that way about her. And even if I did, I don’t know...I’d need to know it wasn’t just because of some kind of...funk she was in.”

“Well, you set her off something fierce, that’s all I can say.” She glanced at me sideways and narrowed her eyes. “What was it like?”

Who knows what possessed me, but I had to get this out of my system.

“What was it like? Seeing a gorgeous woman - pony, whatever the hell it is - ready to do...anything to me? I mean looking like -” I gritted my teeth “-like that - and sounding like - oh God - and that smell, I mean, Jesus fucking Christ, I wanted it so bad but I just couldn’t do it! Mother fucking, piece of goddamn-”

“Whoa! Whoa! I get it! (Kind of.) And by the way, I didn’t even get half the curses you just used! And for what it’s worth,” she grinned, “I am sorry. Walking away from that must have stunk.”

“It did. It really did.”

But, oh! to smell that stink again!

I closed my eyes, shrugged, and sighed. “So, what’s the second thing?”

Before I could open my eyes, something hit me in the chest, hard, and I found myself pinned to a nearby tree. Rainbow dash was holding me by the scruff of my shirt with both hands. She seemed amused at my wide-eyed terror.

Strangely enough, her voice was not threatening.

“Okay, baldy. Fluttershy is my oldest friend. You’re a stallion. You’re in her house. If anything bad happens to her, I’ll fly you off to a volcano and drop you in!”

My face was sweating profusely but I still tried to smile. “Oh right, you’re loyalty.”

“You bet your bald face, I am.”

“I swear I haven’t done anything to her -”

“Duh! But what if you have plans for that innocent little mare back there?”

“I’d never! She’s been so kind to me. I’d never do anything to hurt her. She’s too wonderful a pony -”

“Yeah, yeah, stop being all weepy on me. Fluttershy vouches for you, and that whole thing with Rarity shows you have some good stuff in you…”

She put me down.

“...but what kind of friend would I be if I didn’t threaten to kill you?”

-Then eat you -

Shut up!

I bent double, rubbing my chest, trying to remember how to breathe.

“I...got it. Okay. No worries.”

Rainbow smiled sweetly and tilted her head to one side.

“Good!”

Before I could even stand up right, Rainbow snagged me again in the blink of an eye, and I found myself crashing down beside an astounded Fluttershy on the green grass.

“Oh my! Are you alright!”

I spoke through gritted teeth. “Sure. Fine. Never better. Hey Rainbow, thanks for the advice, and the clothes.”

“Oh that reminds me, you dropped this.” And Rainbow tossed the backpack at me. Somehow I caught it.

She leaned in, real close, and whispered: “Hey, you should be a delivery pony..."

I blinked at her in confusion.

"...since you have such a large package.” She was grinning ear to ear as she stood back up.

My face burned. Rainbow stood up straight, said good-bye, and then was suddenly a brightly colored line across the sky.

“What was that?” asked Fluttershy.

“Rarity apologized and sent clothes. And Rainbow proved she was a real good friend to you.”

“Excuse me?”

*Fwump!*

“I think I'll just lay down here. The sky is very pretty.”

“Oh, really? Well, that does sound very nice.” I could hear the smile in her voice. Was it amusement?

I heard a sound and looked back (or I guess, up, given where my head was) and saw a mass of pink hair a few inches from me. I gulped.

She’s right there!

I slowly looked back at the sky. Birds were chirping overhead. The wind blew across my body. All was peace and calm. I just needed my heart to follow suit.

Who knows how long we lay there like that. Eventually some clouds did float into view and we started calling out shapes to each other. One looked like a heart and Fluttershy called out that it looked like the Crystal Heart, which brought up a whole other conversation. The world got a little bit bigger for me.

When I pointed to a cloud that looked like an airplane, Fluttershy became curious and I told the story of the first time I remembered flying with my family. This led to a conversation about my family. As I was sharing happy memories of a faraway childhood, a melancholy smile was on my face. Tears threatened but I held them back.

"It's odd," I said. "It all seems so close since I left it just yesterday, and yet my whole world seems like it was years ago. It's so far away. I mean, it's far in every sense of the word. Am I making sense?"

"I think I understand," came Fluttershy's tender voice. "You must miss it all so much. I'm so very sorry for what you've lost, Brendon."

I turned and saw Fluttershy's face looking at me, and it seemed like she was about to cry. It struck me deep. I remembered a much younger me, going through great pains of youth, wishing there was someone who would weep for him; someone who saw all that he went through and wept with him. A childlike thought; nonsense really. But here it was.

My tears began to flow freely. My lips trembled. Quietly, a soft, fuzzy hand slipped into mine. I felt it squeeze as Fluttershy's face softened.

Her eyes were shining sympathy and her hand was calm comfort.

All I could do was nod and stare, unsure of what I should say or do. I squeezed that gentle hand, revelling in the different texture of it while I gazed back at her.

I've lost...everything.

-And yet…

Before I completely lost myself in those eyes, Fluttershy turned them up to the heavens.

“It sure is beautiful here.”

“Yeah. It really is.”

Eventually I looked up as well, my tears turning the sky into a blur of blue, orange, yellow, and white as the setting sun splashed its colors across the sky. I just silently wept and smiled at the wonder of it all. A new world, impossible loss, blossoming new friendship, and a hint at something more. And in the midst of it all, still the whisper of a dark pit of my mind into which I feared to fall.

We lay there in silence, letting the music of the wind and the chirping birds wash over us.

Eventually, I don’t know when, I slowly felt my eyes get tired.

Just a few seconds. A power nap. For ten seconds. I’ll wake up.

I woke up.

It was not ten seconds later.

Author's Note

Time to leave you all in suspense (or repose as they're lying down?). A further update will happen in the near future.

Speaking of which.

What am I doing? What the HELL am I doing? Someone tell me to stop this breakneck speed! But I just can't HELP myself. I want to know what's going to happen almost as much as you do!

Again, hit me with comments and complements and glaring criticism. Or don't. It's not like I have a fragile ego in need of constant outside input to gauge how well I'm doing. Wow, that was shallow.

Anyway, I would like to say one last thing about how much I appreciate everyone who reads this! All those favorites mean a lot to me, as well as those upvotes. All of you have a great day! Evening? Night? Whatever, I'm going to bed.