PART 1 PASTEBIN: http://pastebin.com/ACSQ11iw

SYNOPSIS
Lyra's paying your rent and giving you hot pony sex, but while you may be in love, she's still going out with Bonbon. The time is coming you'll have to do something about that.

LAST TIME...
Home sick, you felt a little abandoned by Lyra, but fulfilled your chores like the good roommate and secret lover that you are (even extinguishing a Level 30 Elite Flaming Papa Smurf the Parrot). With a bit of cold-cure soup, you recovered enough to go out, accepted Derpy's invitation to the Hearth's Warming play, and accepted Bonbon's job offer to help out at her candy shop.

INVENTORY:
AEIOU Survey - academic research about your ponyfucking habits
Sex Stamina Spice - do not mix with cold cure
Thermos of Cold Cure Soup - keeps you warm and healthy

[CONT'D]

>>1708267
NOTE: I've retconned the ending parts of Part 1 to give you options to explore and interact. Go forth!

"I'll let you two get back to your plans for the day." Lyra and Bonbon wave goodbye and continue towards Whitetail Road, on the far edge of Ponyville.

Although Zecora's concoction has inured you to the cold, you can still feel a dull pain. You slurp more cold-cure soup from your thermos; as long as you have soup you can spend more time in town.

You can visit the nearby post office or Town Hall. You can fill and mail out the AEIOU survey or get some details about Hearth's Warming Eve.

If you're curious about Bonbon's store, the Candy Bag, it's on the market street leading away from the town center. Maybe you can learn a little bit about the job offer from Bonbon's coworkers.

You can also revisit the site of your epic snowball fight in Riverside Park on the edge of town. Who knows who you might find?

If there's some other place you'd like to go, please specify.

[And Go. I'll just guesstimate the soup levels, so don't feel too intimidated about traveling.]

>>1708314
Well that snowball fight locations sounds like it is promising items. I love items.

>>1708314
>You can also revisit the site of your epic snowball fight in Riverside Park on the edge of town. Who knows who you might find?
Sounds like a hint.

Okay. Let's go visit the site of the snowball fight, then go to the post office afterward to fill it out.

>>1708376
Let's go to BonBon's shop afterwards. Filling out the survey sounds like a fun activity to do with Lyra.

>>1708414

Hmm... alright. I suppose we can mail order our gold-rimmed hat anytime.

>>1708346
>>1708376
Okay, here's your agenda:
1. check out Riverside Park
2. visit Bonbon's Candy Bag

RIVERSIDE PARK
It seems that the snowball fighting has escalated from yesterday's shenanigans, with at least a dozen foals involved with no clear teams picked out. A few chaperones and parents look on with muted concern, except for Berry Punch, the local oenophile.

Out by the namesake river, you can see the frozen pond. There's a handful of ice skating ponies here, but Pinkie Pie stands out amongst them. It's strange seeing her renowned exuberance and energy channeled into such focused grace.

To the pond, or check out the snowball fight?

>>1708673
Pond.

>>1708673
head towards the pond, it's too early to be near berry pnuch and you'd rather sully your neutral name by playing with the little ponies

plus pinkie pie might have something useful to give/say

>>1708673

I don't trust that frozen pond with our 150+ lbs of human. Especially with a cold.

Go to the snowball fight.

>>1708718
>>1708730
ach. Looks like I was outvoted.

>>1708754
i don't trust those little ponies period, despite their parents being there

we have a better chance of staying dry on top of a thin sheet of ice

>>1708821
Shit, one of them might have hidden rocks in their snowballs.
We could have died.

>>1708821
>>1708833

Kids do tend to be assholes, especially towards things that are different from them. Maybe you're right.

>>1708833
>>1708863
well i meant that we were participating yesterday, and they might think we reentered the match if we got close

but that works too!

>>1708863
Maybe?
Shit
we WOULD have died

>>1708718 >>1708730 >>1708821 >>1708833
Quickly leaving the zone of collateral damage, you take the path towards the pond. It's not very long before Pinkie Pie notices you and grinds to a stop, kicking up ice.

"My arch-nemesis! We meet again." She has a hard expression for all of a second before busting out laughing. "You look TERRIBLE! What are you doing out here with a cold? Does Lyra know you're out of the house?"

Her giggling makes her wobble a bit on the ice as she walks up to you on her toepicks. "So, whatcha come out here for, Anon? A rematch?"

>>1708923
Ask her if she knows of any cold curing pastries.

>>1708923
offer another time, and ask about the hearths warming eve play

>>1708923

Tell her that it wouldn't be a great idea given your condition.

>>1708923
What's the backstory here? I'm not seeing anything with Pinkie in the pastebin.

>>1708969
I apologize. The intro to Part 1 mentioned that you were sick with a cold after participating in a snowball fight against Pinkie Pie the previous day. You're still recovering from that.

>>1708969
did you ctrl + f pinkie?

>>1709029
Yes. I also did Pie.

>>1709042
odd, but it should've been early up in the pastebin

anyways i hope pinkie speaks of a cold curing remedy

>>1708942
>>1708951
>>1708964
You shake your head and tell her you're still recovering from yesterday, and she seems to beam with pride at this knowledge. And when you ask her about any cold cures she may know about, she is DEFINITELY proud.

"Haha, no one topples the Snow Queen without paying the price! But now that you ask, I can't really offer you anything for a cold, that just comes and goes. But you can still treat the symptoms! Mostly by eating lots of good, warm and healthy food. Food always makes me feel good. You know what I like to eat when I'm sick? SPICY food! You can't taste it as well because you're all stuffed up, but then it hits you and you'll clear up quite a bit. Hey, hey, you wanna try wasabi snooters? That stuff will make you breathe. And then there's my special Hotterpeno™ Cupcakes, my very own recipe! Pour some hot sauce over the a normal cupcake and BAM, you'll have smoke coming out of your ears. I could make some right now if I were at Sugarcube Corner. In fact, we could go to Sugarcube Corner right now, but I need to wait here for Rainbow Dash. We were going to make snowcones. With real snow!"

"...Did you get all that, Anon?"

ded?

>>1709188
Thank her, but tell her we have to look into a job opportunity with Bonbon.

>>1709197
>what is the archive

New horse here
>>1708138
>>1708138

>>1709188
thank her for the advice, we might have time to drop around SC later, but now we should want to head to the candy bag

oh and don't tell her we'll be working at the candy bag

it might not go over so well

>>1709240
Why wouldn't it?

>>1709188

Thank her for the suggestions, and tell her you need to get going.

>>1709263
What could possibly go wrong?

>>1709263

They might be rivals in business or something. We could still tell her if we want, I mean she's our friend and all.

>>1709263
if she takes it lightly then we might get stuffed full of sweets by pinkie pie because she thinks SC has better sweets, therefore you should work over there or not work at the candybag

>>1709225 >>1709240 >>1709277
You tilt your head and consider Pinkie's advice for a bit, but you tell her you can't afford to stand around in the cold while waiting.

"Hey, I understand. Sorry I couldn't help—oh, wait! I need to ask you a favor." Pinkie clambers after you on her toepicks. "I'm making a special order for Hearth's Warming Eve, but we're out of special Ice Crystal Sugar to get it done. You're friends with Lyra, right?"

You nod.

"And Lyra's going out with Bonbon."

You nod.

"Okay! So, if you ever see Lyra, or Bonbon, ask Bonbon to make a new batch of Ice Crystal Sugar and have it delivered to Sugarcube Corner, stat!"

>mission get

Well, it was a good thing she asked you for that favor, since you're headed to Bonbon's store anyways!
Nervously creeping past the snowball warzone, you take a drink of cold-cure from your thermos for the trip back into town.

BONBON'S CANDY BAG
Bonbon's store is less of a bakery and more of a combined confectionery and ice cream parlor, and while both establishments do compete for sweets, their distinct specialties attract different crowds. For easily deductible reasons, Bonbon's Candy Bag is the preferred hangout for "mature" ponies. It's certainly a calm atmosphere, and the scent of warm hot chocolate sets you at ease.

Even with the slightly off-tune screeching of the redheaded filly in the middle of the parlor. She wears an apron and sings while dutifully mopping up a spill on the floor. "Who can take a thunrithe, thprinkle it with dew~"

Behind the counter is a stallion expertly mixing up another shake and sliding it across the bar to a customer. He takes notice of you. "Hey, you're that... uh, that guy."

>>1709188
ask what else she's doing later in the week

we might have some free time and could spend it getting more friends to bunk with incase we get outsed

>>1709534
quickly finish the mission

>>1709534
Tell him that Bonbon offered us a job here and ask if we can look around a bit and see what it's like to work here. Find Bonbon and tell her about Pinkie's order.

>>1709534

Ask them if the boss is in.

we ded

>>1709534

Give Twist a pat on the head for being such a good employee.

>>1709578 >>1709580 >>1709586
First off, you ask if Bonbon is in. At this, the barrister shakes his head. You internally curse yourself, as you should have known this; you just saw Bonbon going out with Lyra earlier this afternoon.

Second, you introduce yourself and tell him that Bonbon had offered you a job here, and this really gets his attention. He invites you to have a seat right over there, and he pours out a nice warm cup of hot chocolate for you.

The redheaded filly in the apron passes behind you. "...wrap it in a thigh, thoak it in the thun and make a thtrawberry lemon pie~"

"Name's Cherry Cola, I'm Bonbon's second-in-command and uncontested barrister. So you're Anon, huh?" He raises an eyebrow at you. "Now that I see you up close, I don't see what makes humans so special..."

>>1709810
Wiggle your fingers.

>>1709810
Ask him if he's always this nice or if he just likes us.

>>1709810
tell him it's a genetic disease

should we relay what pinkie pie needs? i mean a second in command is usually more zealous about something than the leader

>>1709810

hold your hands up and turn then back and forth.

>>1709900
and maybe remove clothes

i kid i kid

>>1709879

I'm sure we can ask him about the Ice Crystal Sugar order.

>>1709949
well Cherry is already gauging our importance to the shop in just a few minutes. do you think he'd be ok with us continuing with pinkie's order?

>>1710049

Perhaps. We should get acquainted before discussing business.

>>1709833
>>1709900
Well, I can't say no to TWO dubs.

You wiggle your fingers and display the wondrous angles made possible by your bone structure. Mr. Cola looks the least bit nonplussed. "Yeah, I've seen those on minotaurs. And?"

You put on your best Adam Jensen impression. "Are you always this nice, or do you actually like me?" Cola guffaws quite heartily in response.

"Ah, sun above, just testing you. If Lyra hasn't kicked you out already, I can assume you're an okay guy."

>>1709879
You sigh and shake your head. "If you're looking to test me, I just bumped into Pinkie Pie earlier. Mentioned she needed more Ice Crystal Sugar for a special order, and that this was the place to get it."

"Ah, that one. I'll relay it to the staff in the back." He pulls out a pencil between his teeth and makes a note, then passes it through to the kitchen. "What, were you expecting to help make that stuff? Sorry, that's a specialty recipe. Just because the boss lady herself made you an offer doesn't mean you won't start on the bottom of the totem pole."

"And where would that be?"

He nods towards the redheaded filly across the floor. She's delivering shakes to customers seated at a booth. "Right under her."

>>1710149

Man. Not having a cutie mark sucks.

>>1710149
Let's go talk to our new boss.

>>1710199
but she makes pastries though
>>1710149
mention that we're still recovering from our ailment but offer to get a runthrough of our job specifics
taking a shower so i'll be away for awhile

>>1710231
that could actually hurt our status in the workplace, even if it might get us out of the bottom rung.

i say we slog through and earn our keep

>>1710266
How in the hell would talking to our new boss about our job responsibilities hurt our status in the work place?

>>1710292
>>1710266
I think >>1710231 meant to go talk to Pinkie Pie. Could you clarify, anon?

>>1710313
Wait. Wait. I think he could also mean Twist.

PLEASE RESPOND

>>1710313
I'm >>1710292. Why would you think that I thought Pinkie Pie was our new boss? Do you need some sleep?

>>1710361
>>1710247 said "she makes pastries" so my mind kinda went derp

Okay, updating.

>>1710199
"Is this because I don't have a cutie mark?"
"If you did, it'd be the first thing you showed me. I hear enough from Lyra about you people to know you don't have them. And if you were a serious confectioner, you'd have already applied here personally."

>>1710231
"So I take it that kid's my new boss?"
"Yes and no. Orders come from the customers, and from top brass." Cola brushes his hoof off against his chest. "But Twist can show you the ropes for serving and deliveries."

>>1710247
"I'm a little under the weather right now, but after Bonbon made that offer to me today I—wait, did you already know about that?"
"She's been considering it ever since you moved in. It's genuinely bothering her how you've been... well, not my place to talk about it. Point is, once you're well again, we can get you started on training."

Cola kicks up a glass and towels it down idly. "So, you go rest up, unless you want to stick around for another treat. First hot chocolate of the day's on the house, but you'll have to pay for anything else. And don't get any of the other customers sick."

>>1710522
leave, save that choco for when we might need it

now go finish that survey

>>1710522
Take the hot chocolate and head back to the house to wait for Lyra.

>>1710522
wander ponyville and ask around about that hearts and hooves play

>>1710522

Thank him for the cocoa and tell him you're going to go rest up.

Head to the town hall. We need to find out about Hearth's Warming Eve. Our survey can wait.

>>1710619
We'll go with this one: heading to Town Hall!

You take the hot chocolate to go and turn to leave. A few steps out into the street, you pause to take a sip of the warm beverage. You won't need to refuel on soup for this leg of the journey.

You feel a slight tugging at your leg, and look down to see Twist, still in her apron and carrying a small pink-and-white banded package. "Um, exthcuthe me thir, but would before you leave would you be interethted in a free thample of my Thuper Thweet Thnow Mintth? It'th a holiday thpecial."

Despite the hard sale, she seems a little sad for some reason.

>>1710706
Tell her yes and ask her if something is wrong.

>>1710706

Tell her you would love one and ask if something is wrong.

>>1710727
this

>>1710727
>>1710749
"Sure, I'd love one." You take a mint. It's a double-chocolate wafer coated in white chocolate, and layered with minty sugar cream. "This... is amazing."

"Oh, thankth tho much! You don't know how much hearing that maketh my day." Her cheeks turn quite rosy, thought that could just be the cold.

"What's bothering you, anyhow?"
"Oh, it'th jutht... well, I wanted to thell thethe to my clathmateth at firtht for the Hearth'th Warming Play, but then Thilver Thpoon thtarted thpreading rumorth and the other kidth refuthe to buy any now, and Diamond Tiara'th thelling thome other junk to them..."

Twist nudges her thick-rimmed glasses up on her nose. "I'm thorry if thith ith jutht boring you. I didn't mean to bother."

>>1710911
suggest that she should sell 'em at the store and offer them for free at school

>>1710911
Ask her what the rumor is and ask why she doesn't give out free samples in class.

>>1710911

Ask - Rumor?

Buh

System thinks my post is spam. Please hold.

>>1711185
Put spoiler tags in front of pony every time you use the word.

>>1710952
Okay, fuck it, I had a whole great monologue going on but apparently it's too wall of texty? Let's just go with exposition.

Turns out Diamond Tiara's father brought out his stores of Zap Apple jam to help DT make her own goods. Zap Apple jam being a local delicacy, this destroys any chances of Twist's mints getting noticed. On top of all that, Silver Spoon spread a rumor that Twist and Snails were a thing, and this made another girl who was crushing on Snails rally her friends against Twist.

Apple Bloom would help if she weren't busy building the sets for the play.

[CONT'D]

>>1710952
"I don't see why your classmates couldn't give it a try. These are great."
"Well, Diamond Tiara'th not playing fair. Herth are made with Thap Apple jam, and only her dad would be rich enough to have a thtockpile to latht into winter. Tho naturally, they all wantth a tathte of that inthtead of boring old mintth. Ath if that weren't enough, Thilver Thpoon thaid thhe thaw me kithing Thnailth, which ith ridiculouth, I don't even like Thnailth, but that made one of the other girlth mad at me becauthe the'th got a cruthh on him tho the told her friendth not to try my mintth and then it jutht thnowballed from there! I wathn't even popular to begin with, and I jutht wanted to prove thomething. Apple Bloom wath trying to help me but the'th tho buthy building the new thetth for the play."

Twist's voice rises and falls with alternating anger and sadness. God, why are kids such assholes to each other? You shake your head as you try to process all the lisping.

"Okay, Twist, look. Don't let anyone—anypony tell you these mints are anything but divine. I'm actually headed to Town Hall right now, I'll take a box over there and hand them out."

Twist gasps, her glasses sliding down over nose again. "You'd do that?"

"Bonbon offered me a job in the store. I figured it's not too soon to start helping out."

"Thankth, mithter!" And with that she seizes your leg in a little hug. You try not to spill your hot chocolate. Before you continue on to Town Hall, you introduce yourself to Twist and make a new friend.

>Box of Thuper Thweet Mintth get

[CONT'D]

>>1711371

Thweet!

>>1711371
>[CONT'D]
Hello?

Wow, these 503s.

TOWN HALL
Back in the center of town, the rounded structure of the civic center makes it seem smaller than it really is. You're stopped at the entrance by a security guard, and you fast-talk an explanation that you have a delivery from Bonbon's Candy Bag (good thing you took that box). Directly inside is the auditorium, which is festooned in brightly colored decorations and lined with simply-illustrated historic scenes depicting the traditions of Hearth's Warming.

On one end of the stage you see a group of foals being directed by the schoolteacher, Cheerilee. They aren't in costume, but by the sound of it they're practicing for the play. Diamond Tiara isn't part of the dramatics, but she zealously guards her table of "Ginger Zaps" in the backstage.

On the other end of the stage is the unceremonious rhythm of power tools and the delicate protestations of Rarity the unicorn as she attempts to explain the finer points of design to Apple Bloom.

>>1711602

Perhaps we should speak with Cheerilee about how to set up our own table of these confections.

>>1711602
Go ask Rarity if there is anything we can do to help and give Applebloom the box of mints after asking her if she can help Twist hand them out.

>>1711638
then ask when the play will take place

>>1711638
You decide to approach Cheerilee first so you can make a big scene of the mints.

"Oh, hello, Mister Anon. I didn't know you were volunteering to help with the play?"
"Actually, Miss Cheerilee, I'm here to make a special delivery on behalf of Bonbon's Candy Bag. These special holiday mints are for all the children to enjoy, free of charge." You get down on one knee and present the box, opening it up to the wonderment of the gathered schoolchildren. No sooner do you do this than Diamond Tiara's big pink ass upstages you.

"There's no need to spoil our special treats so early. We still have plenty of Ginger Zaps in the back!" And she snatches the box away from you and puts on the "sweetest" and most "endearing" "smile" you've seen. "We can save these for a special occasion. Say, the night of the play?"
"Wonderful idea, Diamond Tiara. Although, I would like to try just one—"
"I'm in charge of catering, Miss Cheerilee. Don't you worry, I'll save some for you!"

This is going badly. What do?

>>1711838
Scold her and tell her Bonbon wouldn't be happy if she knew she was hording the mints instead of handing them out.

>>1711878
this

>>1711838

We'll need to supplant some infallible logic.

>>1711878
>>1711913

If we reprimand her, she'll only use it to her advantage. Diamond Tiara strikes me as that kind.

How about this: We nonchalantly say that Bon Bon needs the verdict on these treats right now since she's planning to have surprise deliveries made.
Tell the little ones that they will be the first to taste them.
(bluff check)

>>1711940
>We nonchalantly say that Bon Bon needs the verdict on these treats right now since she's planning to have surprise deliveries made.

She strikes me as the kind of girl that would hear this and 'accidentally' drop them when she hands them back to you.

>>1711985

What's stopping her from doing that after being scolded?

>>1712000
Good question.

>>1711878
You decide to place what little reputation you have on the line as you step in to scold Diamond Tiara.

"Look, little miss, but I was specifically instructed to hand these out to all of the foals here. My employer won't be happy to hear you kept us from sharing our holiday cheer... You said you were in charge of the catering, and I think it's in your best interest to maintain a good relationship with the professionals. Isn't that right, Miss Cheerilee?" You turn to the fuchsia mare, and she nods sagely.

Diamond Tiara doesn't look at all fazed as she strides back towards the crowd. "Alright, then. Here, take one, each of you. But only if you really want one." She stares down each of the foals quite readily. Despite Cheerilee excitedly snatching up two mints for herself, the students all seem petrified by some intangible sway Tiara has over them. You figure there's some kind of blackmail going on here, but you don't have the time to sort it out.

"I'll take one!" A voice cracks out from within the group, and an orange pegasus steps forward. Tiara tries to pull back, but the tomboyish filly quickly steals a wafer. "Come on, Sweetie!"
"Um... I really like mint!" Another filly, this one a unicorn, pulls a mint towards herself with a glow of her horn. "Mmm."
At this, the rest of the children ease up and swarm Tiara, and soon the box is as empty as Tiara's pride.

"Anon, do send my thanks to Bonbon for these. They're delish." Cheerilee hungrily licks crumbs off her hooves and snout.
"Don't thank me. These were Twist's creations. She wanted to do catering for your stage crew, but I guess that didn't work out."

[cont'd]

>>1712081
With the little ones' snack attack satisfied (and DT summarily shown up as they each sing the praises of these wonder mints). You can see Rarity and Apple Bloom getting their share of the sweets from Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo.

"Ah, Anon! I was hoping I'd get to speak with you." The Mayor has been observing the general proceedings and chooses this time to approach you. "I understand this would be your first Hearth's Warming ever. It's so nice to see you getting involved! Is it true you're working for Bonbon?"

"Just—XYZZY—started. Excuse me." You blow your nose and retrieve your thermos, downing another gulp of soup. It's almost empty. "Sorry, bit of a cold, running around in this weather. You were saying, ma'am?"

"You've already settled quite nicely into the community. I don't suppose you'll be moving into your own home soon?"

Care to talk about your life plans?

>>1712212
Tell her that we hope to be getting our own home once we pay back Lyra for the free room and board and have the money to buy our own.

>>1712267

This. Keep it simple.

>>1712267
"My first priority is paying Lyra back for the help she's given me."

"Ah, you two have become good friends, I gather. I thought she took a gamble, accepting Ponyville's first human into her home, but you certainly seem to be worth the trouble. No doubt you'll be at her wedding." The Mayor chuckles, and you try your best to smile despite this reminder.
"Aside from what I left behind, yeah, Lyra's the only family I've got out here. I definitely want to be there for her, whatever happens." Hell, she's your secret lover.

"Well, if you really do want to learn what it's like to live among ponies, you just come talk to me and I might be able to find an opening for you to fill. I want to make sure everyp—everyone in my town is getting along."

Press further, or conclude your business here? You don't have enough soup left to travel anyplace else (unless you want to risk it; always up to you).

>>1712467
Ask her about the Hearthswarming Eve play. We need to know since Derpy invited us.

>>1712508
This. We need to talk to Lyra about her plans for the future when we get home though.

>>1712552

yikes. Not looking forward to that conversation...

>>1712508
"Well, before I go, there is the matter of the play. Derpy invited me to come watch..."
"Oh, yes, well, the festivities are open to all members of the community, though civil servants, including postal workers, get special front-row seating, for themselves plus guests. Most of us use that for family, but Derpy's only ever used it for close friends like Ms. Harvest..." The Mayor ponders this for a second. "I'll have a word with her next time I see her to get that cleared up."

Satisfied with the sweet deal you're getting, you can confidently march out of Town Hall and finally, after a long afternoon, trudge up the path to Lyra's doorstep. Your doorstep.

On the way home you empty the thermos into your mouth. This serving wasn't as big as the others, and you hurry home as you can feel the cold cure starting to wear out. Your fingers fumble with the cold metal keys (and these are damn big keys, seeing as ponies don't have hands), but you drop them in the snow. Fatigue is setting into your bones, and you nearly stumble over onto your ass when you catch on something.

"Whoa! Anon, watch yourself! Did you spend the whole afternoon out? Oh sweet sun you look awful..." Lyra cradles you in her forelegs for a moment before magicking the door open with her unicorn power. She guides you towards the couch, and soon you are exactly where you started: feverish and miserable.

Except this time Lyra's with you.

[PART 2 END]

>>1712552 >>1712577
I was originally hoping for that to happen tonight but alas! That and the ponyfucking. Definitely gotta save that and more for part 3 next week!

This session started late and ended early, due to my planning going to shit (especially with the 503s and word filter rattling me). I feel like such a noob, but I'm glad to see you're feeling the anticipation being built up here.

So how'd we do this time around?

>>1712753
Not bad at all.

>>1712753

Quite well. We needed to perform those quests in order to gain the future reward of ponysex.

Thanks for continuing to run this thing.

Part 2 Pastebin: http://pastebin.com/vuDWd0gN

>>1712891

nice.