Author's Note
AN FROM B_25
Out of all the boys—excluding RarityEQM for obvious reasons—none have followed the mantra of the micro/macro religion better than Synesisbassist. What’s this? You’re asking for the wording of our prayer? There are two renditions:
Be a Bro; Write Macro
Tiny Guy and Giant Girl; Let’s Go
As you may have guessed: great intelligence isn’t required to join.
Synesis has been my pal for the last two years. Open-minded and kind and whom I trust if troubles strike the mind. He’s been kind to not only support yours truly, not only when I deserved it… but also when I didn't.
Hard to place a price on that.
Synesis has been not read through my drivel, but for whatever reason, has gone on to compose some of his own. Despite the kink not being of his own, he still writes micro/macro anyway, trying for what I might enjoy.
And that I do every word.
People tend to think you need to have a kink to write it well. Maybe that’s the case or maybe that’s horse shit. Truth tends to loom in-between. When an outsider attempts to create within the grounds of passion—gratitude and inspiration are bound to follow from those already there.
This story has inspired me in a myriad of ways. You’ll find delight—ironically enough—in the small things. Having Ben ride around in Rainbow’s sweater and be lightly pressed against the fluff of her chest by the fabric of her sweater is a stroke of genius. That, and how any other mare handling him not feeling right—opening another avenue of possibilities in my own work.
This is the defining truth of why everyone should try everything is a minuscule of interest permits it. These two elements are ones I wouldn’t have thought of. But both present something to attempt in my work. Different spin of the same act, of course, but ideas flourished upon reading these words.
Words inspire words. Stories inspire stories. Art inspires art.
A Small Friend
SynthBasist
Shut Up, and Curl up.
KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!
Hoof met door with a quick and rough rat-a-tat-tat. An annoyed scowl was definitely becoming plasteed across my face. This. Was. UNBELIEVABLE! A tapping sound filled the cold air as my leg bounced over and again against the concrete doorstep. Glancing up towards the dark night sky sprinkled with a few twinkling stars, I couldn’t help but groan. It seemed to take FOREVER for somepony to answer the gosh darn forsaken fu-
Crrrrrrrrreak~
“Hello?”
The voice broke my train of thought and sorta kinda surprised me; but I totally didn’t jump or anything, and I had to take a step back to get a good look at the mare that opened the door. Orange curled mane, an off yellow coat, grassy green eyes? Checkeroni! A stone cold yet flat and neutral stare? Yeeeep, got that too.
Yup.
This was Carrot Top alright. “H-Hey hey hey, Carrot Top! How’s it goin’? Life treating you well? How’s those carrot fields treating yaaaaaaaaaaa-and it’s winter ....”
There was a very awkward pause as she kinda just stared at me and I tried to find something else to look at. It probably didn’t help that I was standing on her front porch in socks and a sweatshirt with a pillow tucked under my wing. Probably not my best look ever... but hey! These were awesome Wonderbolt branded merchandise—super comfy on top of that!
Besides, I needed these for what I was missing at this very moment. Flicking an orange lock of my rainbow coloured mane from my face, I fumbled to find something to say. Just ask her if he’s home, it’s not hard Dash…. After a few moments of her just staring, a tired sigh pushed past her lips and she stepped out of the way, pointing inside. “He’s in his room, go get him. Just close the door when you leave the house this time, alright?”
Squee~
“Not a problem! I’ll be in and out in no time!” Giving a sheepish grin and sneaking past Carrot Top, I could only chuckle awkwardly before finding the stairs and; after fumbling with the first step, climbed them to the very top.
Nerves already overworked to their limit of broken social interactions, I needed a moment to collect my thoughts and took a deep breath before knocking on the closed door.
“Hey, B?” Pushing the door open and into the dimly lit room, sticking my nose into the small crack to peer into the room to try and spot the creature I was here for.
A bed laid perfectly made in the far corner seemingly untouched for a long time, not a spot of clothes on the floor; or anything else for that matter, kind of made me nervous for a moment before realization dawned on me.
I always looked at the wrong spot.
A window, adjacent to the bed and with a tall dresser right up against it, the top reaching just below the sill and that’s where I spotted his stuff. A tiny bed, mimicking the one in the room already, a tiny dresser that was a carbon copy of the one these objects sat on top of. There was a small night stand, a bookshelf, a tiny desk with even tinier pieces of paper and a quill on top of it.
“I’m not hungry, Carrot Top…” Ears flicking as the quiet voice was almost lost under the overwhelming noise of the door creaking open. They need to lube these doors up or something! Stepping further into the room as my eyes narrowed along with moving ears to try and figure out just where he was hiding. Like, yes he was small but I should be able to spot him no problem at all! Catching a soft sigh that could’ve been easily mistaken for my own breath in the silent room, my head turned and sitting at the far side of the window was just who I was looking for!
A quick trot across the room got me in front of the dresser, but I had to rear up on my hindlegs so I could peak over the top. Sitting with his hands and arms wrapped around his legs was the first, only, and smallest human in Equestria. His hair was wild; even by my standards, it was pretty long sticking out the front, but somehow still looked really good on him. His cheeks, chin, and up his jaw was covered in a five o’clock shadow I think he called it? Though, now it was more like an unshaven beard that hasn’t been tended to in a few days. A vacant stare in his normally shimmering green eyes kinda made me feel a little upset. He looked really hurt.
Like, on the inside.
“B?” I whispered as to not startle him, though he jolted out of his thoughts and turned his head quickly to look at me. And the look I got, Faust that look. He looked like he always did at first, so happy to see me; maybe even more so, but that quickly turned sour before he ripped his gaze from mine.
“Rainbow Dash…. Funny seeing you here.” Flat. To the point and very abrupt. My ears fell backwards, wincing at the cold tone that was not at all what I expected from him. What? Why is he so hostile? D-Did I hurt his feelings or something? Shuffling nervously on my sock clad hind hooves, I tried to wiggle a little closer.
“Ben? What’s wrong?” Asking very quietly, begrudgingly almost choking on my own words as my heart ached. I’d never seen him like this, never this miserable looking nor…. Angry. It was like he was angry at the entire world, even me. “I-I….” Clearing my throat, taking a deep breath before regaining my voice. “I just came from Twilight’s, and she told me you never answered the invitation, how come?”
This only seemed to make a flash of anger and frustration fill his neutral gaze. “Why did I not answer? Hard to answer when you never got one…” Spitting hatefully, lips turning slightly downwards as his eyes went back to looking out the window.
A pain filled my chest, my own eyes going wide as my brain processed just what he said. “N-Never got one? What are you talking about?! Pinkie said she hoof delivered all the invitations! She would never miss anypony!”
Chuckling darkly, clearly holding back tears, Ben wiped his right eye with the back of his small hand. “Yeah, well, I’m not a pony. It’s not surprising that she didn’t think of me, or better yet, she probably just didn’t want me ruining it all. None of you do. And I get that. It’s not like anyone cares for me in this godforsak-”
Stomping a rear hoof to silence the human, I felt my own anger boiling up inside me. “You shut up, right this second and listen to me! You know as well as I do that’s a lie, they all care about you more than you’re thinking right now. I care about you, you’re my friend just as much as you are theirs. I’m sure this is just a whole big misunderstanding that can easily be resolved when we go to the library and ask.”
Though he didn’t look convinced, instead curling up tighter and turning away from me again. “I’m not going…” He said simply, as if that was going to deter me into leaving. Surely, Ben had forgotten that I was one of the most stubborn pegasi ever to exist! And yes, I say that proudly. I never give up, not when there is a will there will always be a way.
An eyebrow raised, surprised turned to determination before I let out a little snort. “Oh yeah? And who’s gonna stop me from taking you with me, little guy?” Lifting a blue hoof up over the top of the dresser; and being very very delicate, I plucked the puny person from his perch upon the sill.
“Hey?! Let me go right now Rainbow!!” Ben yelped a little in surprise at being lifted up and over the bureau before being placed inside the neck area of my sweater. Feeling his hands cling to the fabric, his back being pressed lightly against my fluffy chest.
“No can do, B. Now hold on tight. We’re late enough as it is for Twilight’s sleepover!” Pulling the strings for the hood a little tighter so Ben wouldn’t accidently fall out, I turned and fell back down to all fours before dashing out of the room.
“R-Rainbow!!!” His voice trembled as I turned the corner and went down the stairs three at a time, out the front door (and making sure to close it this time!) and into the cold night once more. Getting my bearings for only a moment, I smiled widely before taking off like a bullet towards the library. Pillow still tucked snugly under a wing and Ben tightly held against my chest for safety and warmth, all my mind was focused on was getting to the library as quickly as I could. “D-D-Dash, I swear….”
I only smiled, dipping my nose down to breathe warm air down my collar while nuzzling his head with the tip of my nose. “Don’t worry little guy, I’m not gonna let anything bad happen to you, alright?” A strong surge of pride? No, happiness? Ehhh…. There’s a better word for it…. Fulfilled. Having him this close to her made her feel fulfilled, even though we’d done this many times before.
Many times I'd have him hold onto my mane, or my neck whenever we all would hang out as it was much easier for me to keep track of him. Or, at least that's what I told the others, though in truth I never felt right when somepony else carried him around.
So, I made it a point to carry him as much as I could, even going as far as to get a small pouch made to hang around my neck for him to ride in. It was much safer than letting him just hold on for dear life, clinging to hairs that separated him from a nasty fall. It felt a little shallower sometimes, so unless we were flying I usually just let him sit atop my head.
Though this felt different than any of those times before. This felt better. Far better than it ever had before. Taking him from wallowing in his own self pity to being around those that cared for him. Heck, having him this close to me was good enough to make my heart flutter a million times over. Giving him a small peck with my lips almost unconsciously, I doubled down and ran faster. Though my cheeks were red from the cold, there was no denying that a bit of the colour came from the embarrassment of the affection I felt for Ben.
I… I really don’t know why I felt the way I did, but it felt good. It was the most amazing thing I’d felt in a long time like life had finally given me a purpose instead of just perusing my own goals. It was to make him as happy as I could while protecting him from the big and scary world. Silently promising him and myself that I’d never let anypony hurt him ever again, I almost didn’t notice the library quickly coming into view.
All the lights were already on, a few shadows making themselves known in the panes of glass that dotted the outside. “Rainbow….” I could feel shivers coming from Ben, the sweater I had on probably did very little to keep the rushing cold air from quickly dropping his temperature. Another hot breath pushed down my neck in an attempt to keep him from getting too cold as the door came closer and-
Woosh!
Opening the door as quickly as I could and closing it shut behind me, panting for breath as all eyes landed on me. “Rainbow Dash! You’re back! Did you find Ben? Oh I hope he doesn’t think we don’t like him anymore, that would be awful!” Fluttershy quickly ambushed me at the door almost to the brink of tears, trying to clutch onto me for dear life.
“I-”
“Rainbow! Did you talk to him? Did you tell him that it was a misunderstanding? Oh please please please tell me he is still in Ponyville.” Twilight came from the other side, asking question after question that I couldn’t answer in time.
“No, he’s stil-”
“Dashie!! Oh you’re back you’re back you’re back! I mailed his letter but I wanted to make every invitation personalized so I made it really teeny tiny just like Ben is but I think the mailmare didn’t realize that it was a real letter because it was so itsy-bitsy like REAAAAAAAALLY small. OHHHHHHHH I knew I should’t have done that stupid stupid idea, please tell me he doesn’t hate me, PLEASE!!” Popping up from behind me somehow, Pinkie Pie wailed before landing on my back; though she surprisingly didn’t weigh anything...
“Pinkie, stop, he’s righ-”
Just as Applejack opened her mouth to ask yet another question, I groaned loudly and stomped a hoof. “HEY! Just, everypony shut your flappers for a moment, alright?! Geez, this isn’t twenty one questions. Besides, I’ve got him right here.”
Gently pulling back on the collar of my sweater, revealing the tiny human that held onto the fabric tightly. All eyes went to him and I could see that they were all preparing to talk at the same time, but Ben quickly cut them off. “You… You girls wanted me here?” Upturning my hoof so he could climb out onto it, the human sat cross legged in the center of my frog.
“Well of course we did, darling. I mean, you’re our friend after all. And friends never leave anypony out.” Rarity smiled, though her face was covered in that gross facemask stuff. “Rainbow Dash was the one that first suggested that we include you, and we all agreed that would be more than fine.”
A chuckle came from the orange cow pony next to her, her eyes looking into mine with a weird look. “Eeyup, she figured that you’d just absolutely love to come to a slumber party with her.”
My face felt warm, really warm but I just cleared my throat. “W-Well, I thought that you might like to, y-ya know just come and hang out with us and junk. Stay up late, read a book or two, eat some junk food and just, have a good time. Ya know?”
Ben turned to look up at me, as if searching for an answer to a question not yet spoken, but nevertheless he smiled and patted the bottom of my hoof. “I appreciate the thought, Dash. It’s nice to know I’ve got a good friend looking out for me. Thanks.”
A few ‘daws’ came from the group as I pushed though, trying to keep my face from engulfing in the fire that slowly rose. “Don’t m-mention it…” Trotting to the snack table and spotting the delicious cheese covered nachos that I had to turn away from earlier, I grabbed the plate I had left along with a cup full of punch, and walked over to the nook that I had claimed as my own. “I uh, would you want to do a bit of reading with me, Ben? I’ve got the new Daring Do book.”
Placing my pillow for my back and head to rest against inside the cozy nook, I quickly crawled in and slumped backwards while placing him onto my chest. “I’d love to Rainbow.” Ben looked way better than when I first saw him tonight, as if the world was lifted off his shoulders and his eyes slowly regained the life that I remember being in them. Snagging a blanket that I had ‘acquired’ from Twilight, I brought it up over my lower half and left enough for the small human.
The book resting between my hindlegs so we both could see it, I grabbed a hoof full of nachos to shove into my mouth as my belly growled. “Daring Do: The Quest for Crystal Quetzal. Chapter one, A Risky Spotter.” I began as Ben laid back, using my sweater like a makeshift bed and pulling the blanket up over himself. Reaching for the nachos once more, I grabbed one of the smaller broken pieces and offered it to him.
Taking it with a smile, his hand gently holding my hoof for a moment before I felt a pair of lips touch the fine hairs. “Thank you so much, really…” Blinking back tears as well as trying to regain a racing heart, I leaned down and nuzzled his hair once more.
“Thank you, for being as awesome as you are, Ben. I love you little guy.”
“.... I love you too, Dash.”
A moment or two passed, the library around us filled with the chatter of the others but I paid them no mind. This was my focus right here, right now. Just me, this book, and the best friend I could ever ask for. “Dawn. A new day started but Daring Do was up well before the sun even was. Though, to be specific, she had never fallen asleep the night before. Currently the mare was on a very risky, dangerous, and potentially life threatening stake out to catch Dr. Caballeron red hoofed in the act. This was her only chance to catc-”
I continued to read well into the night, sharing everything I could with Ben in every way I could think of. Food, drinks, stories and my warmth. Though as the night grew longer I held him gently with a hoof, his hand stroking the front side of it as the story drew to a close. Though as one story ended, another was quickly beginning.
