Sadly for Feather tomorrow had come and with it responsibilities he’d already forgotten. Responsibilities with one incredibly exuberant mare. Matter of fact she had been practically so excited from making a new friend she could hardly find a wink of sleep. Up until the chirping of birds returned there was truly no point left fighting for an wink and so she began her day just a little early.

Feather’s Perspective

*KNOCK*
*KNOCK*
*KNOCK*

The sound nearly makes me leap from my bed in panic. In a sprawl of bedsheets I angrily looked toward the clock knowing all too well it had to be early. Seven… in the morning. Even the damn birds were still waking up! Whoever it was would have to come back another time cause currently I’m not home.

*KNOCK*
*KNOCK*
*KNOCK*

Again they knock.

“Is murder legal in Ponyville?”

Stumbling down my stairs in a blurred stupor I stomped loudly before opening the door. Consider it a little passive aggressive symbol of my appreciation, one I’m sure they could hear. With a flick of the lock I peeked a small bit as to see the harasser.

Sweetie?

“Morning!”

She chirped to me without a care in the world, clearly disturbed from the time of day as well given her appearance. Although she smiled brightly those heavy bags under her eyes and that strong smell of coffee wasn’t fooling anyone.

“Yo… do you know what time it is?”

Rubbing my eyes and squinting I noticed how angry I might’ve sounded but I was too tired to care. She showed up at the fucking crack of dawn, she shouldn’t mind if I’m a little frustrated.

“Uhhh actually now that I think about I didn’t check when I left home but, it’s probably like 8”

When you left home… you live like two feet away from me! I made sure to pinch the bridge of my muzzle to really sell the point.

“Hm… early. What was it exactly you um knocked on my door for?”

Sweetie caught the hint fairly quick and properly adjusted, swirling the coffee in her hoof. Also sorta confused me, like how did she carry it to my door while walking?

“Ahem sorry if I uh woke you up. I didn’t mean to- I shouldn’t have came over so soon. I was up early and I remembered how you said you’d come over and help with my business and I didn’t really think much about the time. I know most ponies don’t wake up this early, I shouldn’t have knocked”

Sweetie faced the ground distraught, disappointed with her own actions. She hadn’t meant to wake me up nor piss me off, she only wanted to fix her finances clearly. A true avid entrepreneur, inspiring in this pony world. I should lighten up and at least amuse the mare.

“It’s fine. I’m a little tired but, *yawn* that’s nothing a good coffee can’t fix right?”

There, I extended an olive branch. How’s that for peace fucking Nuremberg trials.

Slowly, Sweetie rose her head suddenly picking up what I said. I guess my apology surprised her.

“I-I already brewed some at my place if you’d like a cup? Err coffee, some coffee”

“Yeah sure, let me just get my key first and lock up”

I stumbled back inside grateful for the much dimmer interior, taking a second to grab the key from my bedside. By itself I really felt like I needed more keys or some sort of keychain to keep myself from losing this little bastard. On its own without a single key amigo it kinda felt stupid to carry around, or at least looked.

Stepping back outside Sweetie was still waiting patiently by the door finishing the rest of her cup. I guess I should’ve at least invited her in for the moment, oops. I had to get better at this neighbor stuff over time though. It was my first time living in my own home, an apartment a whole different beast. Shit I didn’t even think about stuff like yard work!

“You coming?”

Sweetie had noticing me blanking out near the door, still holding my key.

“Oh yeah sorry”

With a twist, lock, and strut I was back at her side in only a few seconds.

“Heh, you don’t need to apologize for that, unless that’s another one of those weird things you city ponies do”

“Hm? What else do we do that’s weird?”

“Well for starters how you said friends were only ponies who you really got to know. I mean that’s crazy talk”

When did I say that? Oh… last night. Actually thinking back I nearly gave away the fact I was an alien with the way I was talking. Might as well mentioned Earth while I was at it!

“That’s not weird. For example, what would you call pony you didn’t know well but got along with?”

“A friend”

David, you literally just described the two of us you doofus.

“Bad question, let me rephrase. What would you consider a pony you know that’s not a friend?”

“Well that’s silly cause if I know them we are probably friends and if we weren’t friends I wouldn’t know them, duh”

“Duh? That makes no sense. What about a pony you don’t like that you’ve met and got to know? Surely you have at least one pony you know like that. Like they were cool in high school or whatever but they changed and suck now”

“They I wouldn’t know them Feather. What are you talking about?”

Giggling she clearly had no idea what I had meant. It was a level of innocence and ignorance I thought I’d never see. Ignorance might be a little far though, perhaps a difference of perspective.

“What’s the difference then from a friend and a best friend? Or like a lover?”

She blushed up from the question alone.

“A best friend? I don’t know if I could call any of my friends a best friend, that feels a little wrong. Like what if one of them feels less important that way? As for a lover, I guess… a pony I love? Like I like love them ya know?”

“Like love huh?”

Embarrassed from the conversation Sweetie trotted over to her door trying her best to move on.

“I don’t know! I never had a pony I loved like that before! That sorta thing you have to experience it to know, ya know?”

Seeing her all flustered like that was enough payback for waking me up early for now, even made me smile a little. Honestly the nice smell of morning dew combined with a slight chill in the air worked wonders at both waking and calming my angered spirit. Unlike most people I always appreciated the cold, plus it was much better than the alternative of sweating to death. Although it’s probably a forced opinion thanks to my condition, so I guess I could never fairly judge an opposing view.

Having opened the door letting us inside Sweetie pointed over to her nearby couch on my right as she headed deeper into the house.

“Please, get comfy. I’m going to get that coffee I owe ya”

“Thanks… two creams two sugars by the way if that’s okay”

Left by myself I plopped onto the couch doing exactly as she asked. In an instant it felt as if I sunk in leaving a pony imprint molded into the cushioning.

“…kinda nice”

The rest of the surroundings were kinda bare. Behind me would have been the entrance and to its left only a potted plant and a window while to its right, or my front, there rest a loveseat and the couch only separated by a low ottoman. No photos, no books, no paintings, only the window outside if a person wish to peek. Sorta made me curious of the rest of her house, maybe mine wasn’t so bad? The only part really left to explore is whatever is down the hall near the stairs.

Sweeties return was easy to hear as her hooves clopped loudly against the wooden floor.

“Two sugars two cream?”

I extended a hoof taking it.

“Yeah”

Hot, not to my liking but I never specified. My own fault really. Sadly though I couldn’t wait for it to cool as Sweeties judging eyes clearly looked for my opinion. So I took a swig.

“Is it okay? Need any more sugar?”

Putting her own down I notice it’s light color. If I didn’t know any better I’d think it chocolate milk.

“No it’s good. Tastes good”

She lit up smiling brightly and joined me on the couch sitting a little closer then I would have liked.

“So… excited for your new job?”

And here I thought she woke me up for finacial advice. Oh I could hit myself for being so gullible. Ponies David, they are ponies. They like friends, everything is about making friends.

“I guess” I sighed. “I mean the pay is nearly the same which is nice and my new home is definitely bigger than that damn apartment. Actually picture this, take this whole room and like double it and a half and you have my whole apartment”

“Why would you live there? Couldn’t you move?”

“Couldn’t afford elsewhere. Houses in the city are expensive as hell and usually are split between two owners anyway. Plus I’m not exactly a uh pony person so I prefer the privacy”

“I didn’t bother you too much by coming over did I?”

I hadn’t realized her complete change of expression, much more worried then before.

“Huh? No that was fine just, be sure not to come so early if you need something”

“Sorry again heheh”

Jeez now I feel bad and I haven’t taken another sip of that friken hot ass coffee in a bit too. She’s probably going to think she fucked that up as well!

I took another drink for good measure and it sure made me start to sweat.

“You’re fine but, I never answered your question if I was excited”

“Well are you?”

“Yeah. I mean new town, new opportunities and I can’t imagine there’s another financial advisor around. It’s basically like giving a crack addict a spoon err sorry dark analogy, a dog a bone”

“You’re the first advisor I’ve heard of in Ponyville”

“Perfect”

“Do you know where your new work is though? Like where to go or how to get there?”

“I was told Ponyville had a library? Apparently there’s some mare that lives there named Twilight that’s my new boss. Celestia said she was her pupil or something, I don’t know”

Sweetie meanwhile sat there in shock. Was it something I said?

“Y-you know C-Celestia?! Twilight Sparkle is your boss?! CELESTIA WAS YOUR BOSS?!”

“Yeah, I told you yesterday I worked for Canterlot”

“Yeah I thought you meant like for a firm! Who the hay works for the princesses!?”

“Uh me? Well I did… sorta still do. Honestly I don’t know anymore. Celestia got all upset because I wasn’t, ‘focusing on the client as much as I did their finances’. It’s literally my job to focus on their finances like what the hell does she mean? I’m quite literally focusing on the client by focusing on their finances”

I took another hot swig without thinking burning my mouth. Thankfully Sweetie didn’t notice as she was completely absorbed at what I said previously.

“This is crazy! To think I’d be neighbors with Celestia’s own financial advisor. Did I mention this is crazy?”

“Twice and I’m not Celestia’s advisor. I worked on a team and we all worked for her. Wether it was for one of the court nobles, high officials, or sometimes even foreign diplomats we sorta met together and discussed a lot of our decisions. I mean we did until I ended up here. I’m guessing Celestia wants me to help her pupil with whatever she plans to do here and on top of that try to make me, ‘think of the customer’. She’s killing two birds with one stone”

“Your analogies are consistently dark you know that?”

I shrugged taking another drink, this time trying my best to just finish the damn thing, failing miserably. It was just way too hot and honestly beginning to piss me off. Unfortunately for me this was a terrible idea and my more smoldering parts became that much more, uncomfortable. I could only shuffle in place opening to catch a cold breeze.

“Anyways that’s my story I guess, what about you?”

“Oh I’m just a small town mare making a living as a seamstress”

Twirling her hoof into the couch cushion Sweetie was obviously embarrassed. It seemed talking about herself was a little more difficult than taking about others. Hopefully though she’s more comfortable than me cause this coffee has me lightheaded.

“You live here your whole life?”

“Yep, since I was a filly. Moved away and got my own place only about a year ago. Couldn’t exactly afford one for a while once I started paying for the store. You’d be surprised how much it costs to restock linen”

Damn I feel dizzy.

“I’ve seen some pretty crazy expenses before trust me but, I’ll tell you.. about those another time. For now let’s uh…”

“Feather?”

“… hm.. I… sorry I’m a little light headed”

“Oh jeez I didn’t even notice, you’re sweating and your face is all red too! Are you okay? I didn’t know you were sick! Yesterday you seemed fine, oh I’m such a dolt!”

“N-no it fine.. you’re fine.. I’m just a.. just a little too hot”

Oh she’s going to know, she’s going to know!

“Can I get you a water or..?”

“Y-yeah! Yeah, that would be perfect”

Rushing off Sweetie left me to myself with the evil mug of coffee steaming nearby. Ugh I felt sticky and sitting on this couch wasn’t feeling much better either, it retained heat so well! I had to get up, find a bathroom or something to cool off before I stained her couch. I’d already made a fool of myself, why make it worse? So I stood up and made sure to promptly fall face first onto the floor.

In an instant my forehead was cold as if the floor itself was covered in an inch of water. Hell it even felt like water was leaking across the sides of my head. It could’ve been sweat though but, it was awfully cool. Wait… why am I laying on my back?

I opened my eyes somehow back on Sweetie couch. The cold pressure a wet towel carefully placed across my forehead and at my feet, Sweetie working away on a laptop. She hadn’t noticed yet, distracted in her work, her screens reflection not bright enough to hide the emerald in her eyes. Seeing her so focused and calm was like seeing a whole new pony. It even made me feel a little strange inside, like a little twinge rumbling away in my stomach. Like I was seeing something I wasn’t supposed to.

Sadly she spotted me looking her way and flushed up in an instant.

“H-hey! You’re awake! I uh… wasn’t sure if I should call for a doctor when I came back”

“Sorry I… I guess I should explain”

“Please cause I nearly had a heart attack. I thought a pony died in my living room and that started making me worry about ghosts and the afterlife and how much it would cost to unghost a home. You wouldn’t haunt me if you died right?”

“Sweetie”

Ehhh that feels much more awkward to say out loud.

“Sorry. So what made you feint? Low blood sugar?”

“I’ll be honest I really don’t like explaining this because I’ve already done it a thousand times so please keep this to yourself. Remember how I told you yesterday I don’t do well in the heat?”

“I remember something like that, yeah”

“I wasn’t entirely honest. I don’t do well with really any heat, not just the weather” her eyes immediately shifted to the fresh mug of coffee she left beside me. “This was entirely my fault, don’t blame the coffee”

She sorta shifted in her seat unsure what to say.

“Are you.. okay? It’s not like a serious thing is it?”

Was I okay? Physically for sure, it was a lucky move on Sweeties part to mistake it for a fever but, mentally? Shit, there was only a handful of individuals I’ve told about my condition so telling this mare only after two days? Maybe the stress of moving was getting to me.

The towel in my hoof dripped lightly against my legs with a cold chill, bringing my focus back. I needed to be alone. I needed to recalibrate.

“Y-yeah, yeah… actually I feel a lot better now that I’ve cooled off. Thanks uh by the way for… for helping. It’s sorta something I like to keep a secret... my heat thing I mean”

I wouldn’t explain it any more then I needed to.

“Then I’ll keep it a secret”

“Thanks…”

“It was nothing… really, a-and if you ever need help again I can totally uh, help which hopefully I won’t have to. Not saying that I wouldn’t want to but, like it would be a bad thing if… you know what I’m saying”

“Yeah. I’ll um… definitely remember that but, I gotta be honest the whole waking up early thing and passing out on your floor has sorta tired me out so”

Making a motion to get up I could tell Sweetie clearly was still bothered by what happened but, I wouldn’t be swayed. Sure I knew how to be polite but, I also knew how to treat myself responsively.

“Look I’m really sorry about what happened I mean if I knew about the coffee being too much I wouldn’t have offered”

“No it was my fault for not saying no. I could have easily said no”

“You were being nice! You probably felt like you had to because I woke you up stupid early. I pressured you into it!”

“I promise you didn’t pressure me into anything alright? Here I’ll prove it, how about sometime later this week we try this again? How’s that sound? Then we can pretend today never happened and it’s sorta like a fresh start”

It was more than a fair offer and this way we both win. Otherwise I might as well kill myself from embarrassment.

“You swear I didn’t pressure you?”

“I swear”

She sighed shaking her head.

“Still I’m really sorry Feather. If you still want to help me with my work sometime then please stop by whenever but, don’t do it if it’s because you feel bad”

She just looked so damn sad sitting there alone on her couch. I had to say something.

“Bee, we’re friends, I’ll come over”

Oh god that was cheesy. Yuck! I think I’m gonna hurl!

“R-really?”

“I mean you did help me get a nice mattress. That and we are kinda neighbors so… be a little awkward if we didn’t get along”

She nearly jumped from joy.

“New friendship! Sick! Am I your first Ponyville friend as well? I gotta be right?”

“My only”

“Even better but, I’ll make sure to introduce you to some of my friends too. Can’t exactly have only one friend and expect to live happy now can we?”

I can.

“Maybe. I don’t know but, I’m going home and I’m going back to bed. You take it easy and don’t think you did anything wrong today... besides waking me up early, that wasn’t cool”

“You’re right, that wasn’t cool but, I won’t make that mistake again. Unless there’s an emergency”

“Fair enough. See ya later”

“See ya”

Going into autopilot mode I was back in bed before I knew it, landing with a soft poof. Left with a whole bunch of new anxieties and worries before I’ve even worked a single day of my new job, it was clear what Ponyville had in store for me. I was out of my element.

Author's Note

In case you’re wondering when there will be Sweeties perspective, I’m saving it until Feather knows her a little more.

Think of it as a locked character that we gotta build experience towards

Thanks for reading, have a wonderful day/night :)