Everything Must Go - 4

>Applejack looks up at you with tears in her eyes.

>The white sclera have turned an angry red color.

>Her mane has become disheveled with her breakdown.

>"Fluttershy?"

>You fly over and put a leg around her.

"Shhh Applejack, I know what happened."

>Her bottom lip trembles and pokes out.

>"Ah jus, ah don't know what went wrong. Everything was so blurry..."

>As it should be, since you used The Stare on her.

"I'm sorry Applejack, I know you REALLY liked Anon. It was SO unfair how he treated you."

>You pat her mane while she cries into her stetson.

>"It's all over! I ruined it all! It's all gotta go back to the way it was!"

>Fighting back a smirk, you help her stand.

"Yes, everything must go."

>It takes quite some time to calm her down and get her straightened up again.

>The two of you leave Anon's house and begin the treck to Sweet Apple Acres.

>"Fluttershy? What... Happened in there?"

>You clear your throat.

"You confessed your true love to Anon. But he denied you and r-ran."

>Applejack looks miserably at the ground.

>"It's like ah was outta mah mind... It all went so fast and... Oh gosh, he said he wanted me out! Like somethin' disgusting!"

>This starts off a whole new wave of sobbing.

>You cover your mouth as you fly beside her and mumble.

"He told me he didn't think you should talk anymore..."

>This is the last little push.

>You can see all of the fight leave Applejack's eyes.

>She lets out a steady breath and stares into the distance.

>"Yer right Fluttershy. Everything's gotta go. It's over."

>Complete success.

>Now with Applejack and Rarity taken care of, you can move on to Anon.

 

 

>You are Spike.

>For a moment you stop and stare at Carousel Boutique.

>The door to the building is wide open with no one in sight, yet the lights are on.

>You can see the interior is trashed.

>Dresses have been ripped up and thrown all over.

>Tables and chairs have been flipped.

>On the wall outside in bright red paint is the word 'SLUT'.

>Rarity had pretty much been a slut.

>But did she deserve this?

>You hear a dramatic wail from inside, "MY DREESSSSEESSS!"

>Yeah, she deserved it.

>You leave quickly, silently thanking whoever was responsible for the redecoration.

>It was nice to see someone get what they deserved.

>Well, Anon did too.

>You wonder what he looked like after you got to him...

>The library is up ahead.

>With a sigh, you prepare yourself and jog up to the door.

>It's unlocked, so you enter.

>The inside is unlit and stagnantly quiet.

>Is she home?

"Twilight? You here?"

>No answer.

>Extremely rarely did Twilight go out of the library.

>There are a mess of bandages and some burn ointment on the table.

>If Anon is still here, you don't know what you'll do.

>Then you hear it.

>The sound of running water upstairs.

"Twilight?"

>You jog up to the second story calling out.

"Twilight are you here?"

>There's no answer.

>The bathroom door is closed with the sound of the shower running behind it.

"I'm coming in!"

 

 

>Twilight lays in the tub with her head draped over the back and her eyes closed.

>You can see the right one is just about swollen shut.

>The water sprays over her.

"Twilight!"

>You run over and lift her head up.

"Twilight! Twilight I'm so sorry! I-"

>She moans groggily and opens her good eye.

>"Spike? Izzat you?"

>You let go and breathe a sigh of relief.

"Yeah, it's me. Are you okay? Please tell me you're fine?"

>She yawns and winces, gingerly touching her eye.

>"I'm not... SPIKE!"

>You're pulled into a hug now that she's finally fully awake.

>The water pelts your scales and you feel that it's freezing cold.

>Her grip almost takes the air out of you and she moans into your shoulder.

>"I was so worried! I thought- I thought you were gone! I thought you weren't coming back to meeee!"

>You pat her neck.

"I'm sorry Twi. I'm so sorry. I was an idiot."

>She lets go and pokes your chest with a hoof.

>"That's right you were an idiot!"

>Even though she looks mad, you can tell she's relieved.

>Her horn glows, magic turning off the shower and summoning a towel to her.

>She steps out and begins drying off.

>You awkwardly shift your weight back and forth between each leg.

"Your eye..."

>Twilight wraps the towel around her mane and looks at you.

>The right eye looks deformed and has a dark angry looking color to it.

>She picks up a partially melted icepack off of the counter and lightly presses it to her face.

>"Don't worry Spike, I'll be fine."

>There's a moment of silence.

>"You're back. So, did you work things out with Anon?"

 

 

>The two of you sit in your room.

>Twilight lays on her bed with a new icepack on her face.

>You sit dangling your legs over the side.

>Finally you tell her everything that's been going on with you for the past few weeks.

>The confusing feelings. The changes. About Rarity and Anon.

>And Applejack.

"I didn't want to tell you because it just felt... Weird."

>You hear the icepack drop and Twilight wraps you in an embrace from behind.

>She speaks softly beside your head.

>"You can always talk to me Spike. I may not be the coolest pony or even be able to relate to what life is like for a growing dragon but I will always listen if you need to talk."

>Now you only feel worse for the crap you've pulled.

>You turn and hug Twilight back, burying your face in her coat.

>And you cry.

>You let it all come out.

>Apologizing over and over.

>It's only the two of you in the world at that moment.

>Twilight rocks you back and forth, squeezing you against her and resting her chin on your head.

>"Shh shh, let it all go Spike. You don't have to be angry anymore."

>Her warmth seeps into you making the sting of recent frequent let downs seem a little less severe.

>"Twilight are you here?"

>The two of you tense up at the sudden voice coming from downstairs.

>"It's me, Anon! There's some crazy shi-stuff going on and I just, I really need to stay somewhere that's not home."

>You make to get off the bed but Twilight stays you with a hoof.

>"I'll take care of this. You stay here."

>She gets up and walks to the door.

"Twilight, don't let him-"

>She turns back with a stern look on her face that makes you stop speaking.

>"Stay here Spike. I will take care of Anon."

 

 

>You are Anon.

>Aside from the wide open front door, Twilight's house looks the same as when you left it.

>Even the bandages and ointment are still out on the table.

>You begin to clean it up.

>Upstairs you can hear the sound of a door opening and hooves clopping across the wooden floor.

>If Twilight needed her space, there was really only one ideal option left.

>No way in hell were you going to Sweet Apple Acres, Carousel Boutique or Fluttershy's.

>And home just... Didn't sound appealing.

>Especially if Applejack was still there.

>So if Twilight wouldn't agree, it was either Pinky Pie's or the woods.

>Twilight comes down the stairs with a serious look on her face.

>The eye Spike smacked looks worse now.

>You smile courteously and hold up a bottle of ointment, wiggling it.

"Suppose I should keep this with me."

>She stops halfway down the stairs and stares at you.

>"You should take it all and go."

>The ointment stops moving between your fingers.

"Go? You uh, you need some alone time? Everything alright?"

>Twilight starts walking again.

>"I actually just had a very interesting conversation with Spike. He just came back to apologize and decided to tell me a few things about you."

>There's an uncomfortable feeling in your stomach.

"Listen Tiwlight, you should know that I was trying to help Spike out. Things just happened, it was all a big misunderstanding."

>Twilight points at the door.

>"It would be best if you took your stuff and left. Spike doesn't want to see you and honestly, I don't feel comfortable having you around anymore."

>Those words hurt.

"Twilight I can explain!"

>She looks frightened at your raised voice and backs away.

>"Please just go! We don't want you here!"

>Her horn is glowing.

>She is prepared to attack you.

>To defend herself and Spike.

>It's pointless to try explaining.

"Alright."

>You drop the ointment and back out of the library.

"Please tell Spike that I'm sorry."

>Twilight slowly closes the door.

>"Please don't come here anymore Anon."

 

 

>Things aren't looking too great.

>Twilight's words will stay with you for a while.

>It seems the only option now is to go to Pinkie Pie.

>Out of all the ponies you know, she seems the least judgmental.

>You sigh and head to Sugar Cube Corner.

>It's late but you hope she understands.

>Who are you kidding? Of course Pinkie will understand.

>As you walk, you try to put everything in order.

>Spike hates you, Twilight hates you, Applejack has gone off the deep end and probably hates you, Rarity doesn't care about you other than using you to get what she wants and...

>Rainbow Dash?

>Well, you have never really talked to her much.

>She doesn't seem like a pony you would share any common interests with.

>Pinkie Pie was truly the last option.

>The last option.

>How sad the thought was.

>Here you were: the only human in this world, burned, scratched and bitten. Cast out by your friends and pathetically limping down the road seeking attention.

>"Anon!"

>It never should have gone this way.

>"HEY ANON!"

>You stop and look to the right, where the high pitched voice came from.

>Sweetie Belle is running down the road wearing a little saddlebag.

>"Anon wait!"

>You stop and wait for her to get close.

>She skids to a halt in front of you, breathing heavily.

>Her face is adorned with sheer excited happiness.

>"I found you! I found you!"

>You scratch your head.

"Hey Sweetie Belle, listen, I'm kind of in a rush here and have to be somewhere."

>She reaches into her saddlebag, "but I have something for you! I wanted to know if you wanted to-"

>You bend down and pat her head.

"Sorry little one but can it wait some other time? You should probably head home, it's late."

>With that, you leave her, on your way again.

>Sweetie Belle watches you go.

>The extra ticket for the school dance falls from her hoof.

>It floats down, coming to a rest in the dirt.

>"Go..."

 

 

>Sugar Cube Corner is dark of course.

>Your plan to throw rocks at Pinkie Pie's window is interrupted.

>By Fluttershy.

>She stands in front of the door.

>"H-hello Anon."

>Dealing with her does not fit into your list of things to do.

"Why are you here Fluttershy?"

>She looks at the ground, "oh, well, you see, I was just in the neighborhood and decided to talk to Pinkie Pie."

>You roll your eyes.

"It's pretty late to be dropping in for a visit."

>"She's n-not here."

>You give her a curious look.

"Pinkie Pie?"

>She nods.

"Well where is she? I need to talk to her."

>Fluttershy won't look at you.

>"She's not h-here right now but I can talk. Want to um, go back to my place?"

>An impatient nerve has been struck.

"No Fluttershy. I don't want to go anywhere with you. I don't want anything from you. I'm tired and dealing with a lot of shit right now. All I want is to talk to Pinkie Pie and I WANT TO BE ALONE!"

>You realize you are shouting and Fluttershy is cringing away from you.

>A silence settles, leaving you wishing you hadn't been so loud in the middle of the night.

>"I'm s-sorry for what Applejack did..."

>This seems odd to you.

>How did she know anything about what Applejack did?

>Why was she apologizing?

>And come to think of it, you had seen her with-

"Fluttershy? Were you there? How do you know what Applejack did?"

>The flinch and whimper is all you need from her.

>You lunge forward and tower over her.

"DON'T THINK I HAVEN'T SEEN YOU WHISPERING THINGS TO SPIKE! TELL ME EVERYTHING! NOW!"

 

 

>You are Fluttershy.

>Anon is mad.

>Very mad at you.

>Your plan now faces total failure because of one slip.

>He looms over you, looking very intimidating with his bandages and reddening face.

>It's kind of attractive.

>But you have to focus!

>"What did you do Fluttershy?! Did you say something to Applejack?!"

"N-no!"

>He grabs his head and backs away.

>"Oh god, this was all your fault! From the very beginning! I have to go talk to Applejack!"

>You hold out your hoof, heart now beating against your chest.

"No! Please don't! Sh-she's not r-r-right!"

>It's too late.

>Anon takes off running.

>He's going to go to Sweet Apple Acres.

>He's going to Applejack.

>You can't let that happen.

>They absolutely cannot make up.

>Anon is not as fast as you.

>You take off around a building so he won't see you, flying faster than you ever have in your life.

>There's still a chance to see your plan through.

>A weapon still remains in your hooves and your hooves alone.

>The stare.

>It won't work on Anon, you have tried before.

>But it will work on others.

>In a short amount of time, you reach the farm and knock on the door.

>Fate smiles upon you and Big Macintosh answers.

>You focus and ensnare him in your gaze.

"Anon is coming here now to try to talk to your sister. Make him go away."

>He stares back at you with a brain dead gaze.

>"Eyup."

>Alright, now you hide.

>You fly past him and wait inside.

>Big Mac remains at the door.

>Waiting for Anon to arrive.

 

 

>When Anon arrives, he jogs straight up to Big Mac.

>You press your back to the wall just inside the door and listen.

>"M-Mac! I need to see Applejack!"

>"Nope."

>Excellent.

>The stare worked just fine on him.

>"You did sumthin' ta hurt my sister Anon. She doesn't want ta see you right now."

>You have no doubt Big Mac will absolutely not let Anon through.

>"I know! But that's why I'm here, I came to apologize and try to work things out!"

>Big Mac steps forward, "you gotta go."

>A frustrated growl escapes Anon.

>"I'm coming in!"

>Oh no.

>You peek around the corner a little and see Anon marching toward Big Mac.

>The Stallion puts a hoof on his chest, "don't do this Anon. Just go."

>Anon slaps Big Mac's hoof away and glares at him.

>In the blink of an eye, Big Mac thrusts his hoof into Anon's shoulder.

>Anon stumbles back, looking shocked.

>"You need ta leave here Anon. I'm sorry."

>Anon stares at him for a while.

>Then admits defeat, turning away and heading back into town, holding his cheek.

"Yay."

>You fly outside and hover in front of Big Mac.

>"Thank you. Now go inside and make sure Anon doesn't get anywhere near Applejack okay?"

>He stares at you.

>"Eyup."

>Looking up, you see Applejack look down out of her window.

>She looks miserable and a bit ragged.

>You wave up at her with a smile.

>Then turn to follow Anon.