A night to remember: Part 2

 

>You march unhappily towards the outskirts of town

>The cobbled road gives way to a dirt track as the well built townhouses give way to trees

>You hope to god you didn't embarrass yourself in front of Fluttershy

>From what you've seen of her thus far, she doesn't seem the type to take shit in the form of a rampaging Anon very well

>You near her cottage

>Passing a bush, you see a cider bottle lodged firmly between two branches

>What evil have you wrought here, Anon?

>You reach the front door

>It looks like something has been smeared on it

>It reeks

>It's fecal matter

>You decide to call out instead of touching the door

"Fluttershy? You home?"

>From inside, you hear quiet sobbing

>Holy shit Anon, what did you DO?

"Fluttershy, can you at least open the do-"

>At this, she cries even harder

>Oh right, the shit

>This is getting you nowhere

>You walk over to the window and pry it open

>Pushing the lace curtains aside, you survey the room

 

>It's a mess

>The bird cages usually hanging from the ceiling are on the floor, trampled and broken

>Her couch has been ripped up, the stuffing of which has been strewn around the room

>It's a wreck in here

>In the middle of it all sits Fluttershy, her long hair covering her face

>She's sobbing bitterly

"Fluttershy?"

>She doesn't look at you

>"Go away..."

>She says it softly, no different from she says everything else, but it breaks your heart to hear it just the same

"Would you at least give me a chance to explain myself?"

>She doesn't make a sound

>You take this as a queue to crawl through the window

>No way you were ever touching that door again

>She looks up at you for the first time, shocked that you entered

>Her eyes are red from crying

>She stares at you looking, for lack of a better word, betrayed

"So, clearly I stopped by last night-"

>She bawls loudly and covers her head again

"Fluttershy you have to understand, I'm sorry for whatever I did, I just really need your help right now!"

>Her crying settles down

>She sniffs and looks up at you

>"Do you really mean it? You don't remember anything?"

>You nod vigorously

>"Then I suppose you can't be held responsible..."

>You shake your head equally as vigorously

"I'm sorry about your house. Looks like I really did a number on this place"

>She shakes her head

>"This wasn't your fault, Anon. Well, not entirely."

>You're genuinely shocked

>If you didn't cause this mess, then what did?

 

>Seeing your confusion, she continues

>"It all started late last night. I was sitting down on my couch with a nice warm cup of tea, when I heard noises coming from the garden."

>You sit down cross legged. For better or for worse, this was going to be an interesting story

>"When I looked outside, all I could see was you, standing there with Winona, waking up all of my animal friends. They seemed really mad at having been woken up so late, especially Harry."

>You cock your head in a questioning way

>"Oh, Harry is a bear"

>Your eyes widen in shock

>You woke up a bear?

>Well, clearly you survived it, so you motion for Fluttershy to continue

>She clears her throat

>"As I was saying, you woke up all the animals and gathered them around a trough. You had a big bottle in your hand. In fact, I've still got it here."

>She hands you an empty bottle. You read the printed lettering on the sticker

"190 proof Everfree grain alcohol"

>"You poured the whole bottle into the trough. Everyone drank from it, including you. After a few minutes, I.."

>She looks away

"What is it? It could be helpful"

>Her eyes are tearing up again

>"You took off all of your clothes and started shouting that I was the 'bourgeoisie oppressor of the noble animals of the forest', and that they needed to 'take back their freedom'."

>The tears are running down her cheeks again

>"It all happened so quickly. All of my animal friends stormed into the house, breaking everything... It was.."

>She breaks off, unable to continue

>You nod, wrapping your arm around her understandingly

"And then they defiled your front door... What monsters..."

 

>She looks up at you with those big blue eyes

>"Actually Anon, that was you"

>You will yourself into a straight face

>Hide your shame Anon

"Oh... Is that right... Well, I'd better leave now... Goodbye..."

>You get up and walk stiffly to the doo-

>To the window

>Halfway out, you feel a yellow hoof on your arm

>"Anon, wait. I know this is asking a lot, but could you take Winona back to Applejack? She's been stumbling all over the place since she woke up this morning, and I really think she needs to go home"

>She hands you a leash without waiting for your response

>You follow it with your eyes to see a very hungover dog

>Winona looks a mess. Her fur is matted, she won't stop hiccoughing, and she can barely stand up

>Applejack loves that dog

>The pony (or person) who brings her back in this state is fucked

>You open your mouth to protest, but then you take one last look around the room

"...Fine"

>You shat on her door. It's the least you can do

 

>The two of you trudge slowly towards Sweet Apple Acres

>This is not a journey you are making willingly

>But then again, your theft of Winona proves you were at Sweet Apple Acres last night

>Maybe you lost the bag there

>At least it gives you time to piece together what you know happened so far

>Shit! You forgot to ask Fluttershy if the bag was at her house!

>Although, considering the state her house was in

>You may not want to find it there

>The afternoon sun shines down on you

>Walking under the trees, you notice the sunlight spilling through the leaves

>It's actually quite beautiful out

>You wonder why your travels from shitstorm to shitstorm have been so tranquil

>Probably just the universe's idea of hammering home just how much of a mess you made by contrasting it so violently with your peaceful walks

>Winona is faring pretty badly beside you

>She looks as sick as a dog, if you'll excuse the pun

>You put her out of her misery and hoist her up onto your back

>She's too exhausted to put up a fight, and probably grateful for the lift

>You ponder your motivation for stealing her

>Did you think her a priceless treasure?

>Or perhaps you just liked the way her fur felt

>Both possibilities seem equally plausible

>Hell, anything seems plausible in the wake of last night

>>You shake your head, as if to clear your thoughts as an etch-a-sketch is wiped of images

>Your blood alcohol level is still too high to think philosophically properly

 

>However your musings did cover the last leg of your walk to Sweet Apple Acres

>You stride meaningfully past the big red barn, the paintwork flaking in the sun

>Out of nowhere, an apple slams into the side of the barn, narrowly missing your head

>"Ah didn't have to miss, ya know"

>Still in reflexive I'll-use-this-karate-I-don't-know Anon mode, you lower your arms into more of a peaceful gesture

>Standing under the shade of a nearby apple tree stands the orange mare in question

>She's scowling at you

>By her side, a pile of apples sits

>You gulp

>You don't doubt she could have connected with your head

"Applejack, I-"

>She was pissed

>"Don't you 'Applejack ah' me! You got ten seconds to gimme back mah dog and explain yerself before ah turn you into mulch!"

>You place Winona on the floor

>She stumbles towards her master, swaying on her feet, before flopping onto her side and snoring loudly

>Applejack looks horrified

>You'd better defuse the situation

"I know it looks bad, but I don't think there's any real cause for concer-  oof!"

>You're struck heavily in the stomach by a golden delicious

 

>Get out of here Anon! You're no match for mach speed fruit!

>Crawling away from the heavy apple fire, you manage to open the barn door

>You clumsily forward roll inside, shutting the door behind you

>You hear a muffled shout from outside

>"Git out here and die on your hooves like uh real stallion!"

>You crack open the door

"I don't have hooves and you know it!"

>Which is followed by three heavy impacts as apple after apple hits the wood

>Shit, you need a plan

>The only thing in here are buckets and buckets of apples

>Oh, and a slingshot

>Must belong to Applejacks sister

>Hey, wait a second

>It's just like the end of that one cowboy videogame you used to play

>Spurred on by that image, you pick up the slingshot and pocket several apples

>Spying a coiled rope hanging on the door, you grab it too because if you're going to die, you'll do it looking like a cold-ass honky

>You crack the door open again

"Alright AJ, you got me. I'm coming out"

>You stand back and breathe, inhaling and exhaling slowly

>Your moment of calm before the storm

>Raising your leg, you kick open the door

>Apples begin to fly, both launched by you from the slingshot, and kicked with frightening accuracy by Applejack

>You take a couple to the chest, but give as good as you get

>You don't know how long you can withstand this punishment

>Launching one last shiny red missile, you give your best barbaric yawp

>The shot hits her right in between the eyes

>Oh she's mad

>Giving an enraged yell, she charges you

>Your pupils dilate as an orange blur comes hurtling towards you

>You deftly sidestep at the last second, allowing her to continue past you

>Right into the barn door

>She stumbles back, dazed

>Taking this opportunity, you grab one of her hooves and proceed to hog tie her

>It's not as if you're going to gt her to stop any other way

>"Lemme go! When ah get free, Anon ah swear-!"

>You've had enough

 

"Just shut up for a second, okay!?"

>She scowls at you, but does as you ask

"I don't remember a thing from last night"

>Jeeze, you were starting to sound like a broken record

"Now I'm sorry for stealing your dog, but kicking apples at me? Seriously? That was the best way you could think of dealing with the situation?"

>She turns away, looking angrily embarrassed

"I've brought your dog back, and I'm sorry. Are we square?"

>She's still pissed, but you can tell she's calmed down

>"That remains to be seen. But ya can lemme up now. Ah won't fight, ah promise"

>You untie the ropes and help Applejack up

"I'm looking for a saddlebag full of gems. The one I had at the celebration last night. Did I by any chance leave it here?"

>She thinks about the question for a moment

>"Nope, ah ain't seen hide nor hair of it since you took it away with you last night"

>You went somewhere after the party?

"Took it where?"

>She chuckles

>"You really don't reme-"

>You cut her off

"Yeah, that line's starting to get old. Can we skip to where I went?"

>"You, Pinkie and Rainbow went to sugarcube corner"

"I thought that place was closed at night?"

>She laughs

>"Oh, it is"