Mariko the Fequine

Mariko the Fequine is the eighth chapter of the second season of The Two Cats and the twentieth chapter overall. It was released on February 20, 2021.

Saturday Morning
Expi gets up before Mariko on a Saturday morning, and decides to watch Friendship is Magic, her favorite show as a teenager, before Mariko wakes up. It is revealed that Friendship is Magic was originally intended towards a younger audience, but had a following of older animals - including Expi herself, along with Timberly, that had spawned from a mix of online forum sites and word of mouth. Expi had been rewatching the show, and is in the middle of an episode when Mariko wakes up. Mariko tells her that she had found it strange that Expi enjoyed Friendship is Magic so much, citing how it was targeted at a young audience, but Expi tells her that adults can enjoy it too, and talks about the "Fequine" community, composed of older animals that enjoyed the series. Mariko replies saying that it's still weird how such a "low stakes kid show" can have a fanbase, but Expi tries to tell her that the writers wrote the show as something everyone can enjoy, and that they took lots of risks with the show and referring to it as well written. She even goes as far as to ask Mariko to watch it, but Mariko brushes off her claims and states that it wouldn't appeal to her, following up with a snarky comment about how she questions Expi's "taste in cartoons." Expi rolls her eyes at this, but they both decide to apologize to each other before having breakfast and watching "Battling on the Earth." Expi then says she should still watch the show, to which Mariko replies with "yeah, sure, whatever."

Unexpected Enjoyment
That night, Mariko finds herself struggling with a game that she had gotten for her Change Lite Pro, and decides to stop, but still wants to stay up for a bit longer. She then decides to watch something on Alflicks, and notices Friendship is Magic, causing her to remember that she agreed to watch it at some point. She is initially weary of the show, but grows more invested in the plotline, and decides to watch the next to see what ultimately happens. She is surprised to find it well written, and continues watching more episodes before stopping at the fifth and going to sleep. As she lays in bed, Mariko finds that she actually agrees with what Expi said, and considers talking to her about it, but out of fear of having what she said rubbed back into her face, she decides not to.

Mariko's Little Secret
Mariko wakes up the next morning as Expi continues watching episodes of Friendship is Magic. While she acts uninterested, she does try to pay attention to what is going on in the episode despite not knowing some of the early context. Mariko reveals that she watched the show, but tells Expi that she didn't enjoy it and felt that it was a "typical kids' show." Expi shrugs it off, understanding that it's not for everyone, just as long as Mariko doesn't become like one of the "anti-Fequines" that would insult her over her enjoyment of the show during it's run. Mariko does want to continue watching, but doesn't directly tell Expi - ultimately phrasing it as not minding if Expi wants to continue watching. Expi still tells her that she's fine watching something else with her as they eat breakfast. While Expi is in the kitchen, Mariko turns over to another show they had been watching together, before looking through MLP:FiM fanart on her phone. As she is saving one particular image, Expi comes back over, to which Mariko is surprised and closes out of her browser. Expi is confused by Mariko's odd behavior, but doesn't question it.

That night, she continues watching more episode of Friendship is Magic, but is bummed out about how worried she is about telling Expi that she enjoys it. She initially considers just not telling her and binge watching the show while she's at work or in bed, but decides that she will tell her after a few days, so that Expi has forgotten about the conversation.

The next day, Mariko spends the time between waking up and Expi coming back for lunch watching Friendship is Magic. Mariko stops just before Expi comes back, but as Expi puts her bag down, she notices that Mariko's Alflicks profile is up and showing Friendship is Magic as her most recently watched show. Expi questions this, but Mariko (while internally freaking out) tells her that it's because she was just using Alflicks for the first time in a few days and that Friendship is Magic was the last thing she watched, just during the night Mariko said she did. Expi shrugs this off, and just decides to go back to cable TV before noticing the recycling bin is full. Mariko agrees to go take it out, and while she does so, pick up a piece of Friendship is Magic merchandise for herself.

An Awkward Shopping Experience
After finishing the recycling work, Mariko finds a Rainbow Dash plush in Furmart and decides to buy it. She then worries over what the other people in the store will think, but as she goes up to the cashier desk, she tells the cashier that it's for her little sister (despite not having one). The cashier doesn't seem to care and tries ringing it up, but realizes the barcode had been scuffed up, and tells Mariko that they need to run a price check. Mariko tries to tell her how much it was, but is ignored as the cashier asks for assistance over the speakers (to Mariko's embarrassment). Another employee comes over, and asks if the cashier has a price check, to which she says she doesn't. Mariko once again tries to tell them the price, but once again it is announced over the speaker that they need a pricing chart for a stuffed pony toy. Mariko becomes even more embarrassed and buries her face in her paws, despite no one really showing any judgement. Afterwards, Mariko walks home, and after everything that had gone on that day, takes a two and a half hour nap.

The Truth is Revealed
Mariko gets up before Expi comes home, and decides to watch more episodes of Friendship is Magic on her laptop while also taking the plush out of the bag. However, in the middle of the episode she is watching, Expi returns home without Mariko noticing. Expi wonders why Mariko isn't out in the living room, and goes to check on her in her bedroom. As Expi approaches Mariko's room, she notices that the sounds coming from her room are familiar to her. When Expi goes to greet Mariko, Mariko swiftly shuts her laptop. Expi asks her if she is hearing her watch Friendship is Magic, but Mariko denies this, before Expi points out that Mariko is holding a Rainbow Dash plush. After denying it for a bit longer, Mariko decides to just admit she enjoys Friendship is Magic, and reveals that she didn't tell Expi because she felt bad after everything she had said. Expi tells her that she wouldn't laugh at her, and is just happy to know that she ended up really liking it after all. She also insists that it is perfectly okay to enjoy things once given the chance, "even after a bit of talking crap." The chapter ends with them agreeing to watch the show together - from the beginning.

Characters

 * Expi
 * Mariko
 * Timberly (mentioned)

Trivia

 * The show title "Friendship is Magic" is directly based off of the 2010 series "My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic," and the "Fequine" community is a reference to the "Brony" community that surrounded the show.
 * This chapter is largely based off ExpitheCat's own experiences with being introduced to the show and becoming a part of it's fanbase and community.
 * The title of the chapter is written in a (possibly fanmade) font "Celestia Redux," which is a recreation of one of the fonts used in the My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic logo.
 * The cover depicts Mariko holding a toy of Rainbow Dash, one of the characters of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.
 * ExpitheCat wasn't entirely happy with how the cover of the chapter turned out, largely feeling it was rushed due to wanting to get the chapter out by the end of the month while being overwhelmed with college work.