Final Straw Ch.4

>You exit Zecora's hut with a basket full of the various things you need for home. Her hut looked about the same as it usually did, various herbs, flowers, mushrooms, tribal decorations, and her big bubbling cauldron.

>Zecora was the first being you met when you arrived here, more specifically in the Everfree. When she first brought you to her hut, that cauldron and her tribal appearance made you think she was going to eat you. She got a laugh out of that when you told her as the ponies had similar thoughts about her when she first arrived.

"Thanks again for helping me out."

>"It was no trouble, so do not fret; as there is still to home that you must get. Stay on the trail until you're there, and you will soon reach familiar air."

>With a wave you leave the zebra to making whatever it is she makes in there. It's hard to guess while in the Everfree, but you think it's probably some time between mid afternoon or early evening. You stayed longer than you originally intended.

>Watching Zecora make stuff was fun, and with some of the harmless mixes and common ingredients she'd even let you help and teach you.

>Science was fun. You weren't very adept, but she said you were making good progress.  She didn't let you touch the more volatile or hard to get ingredients, but she did let you watch her mix them, which was pretty interesting and taught you the "do's and don't's" of some plants and wildlife around the forest. You weren't bothered by the ones whose effects were magical like poison joke, but there were plenty that had some pretty nasty natural affects.

>Like the time you tried to touch that very colorful frog. You still feel your wrist hurt from when she smacked it away. Turns out just touching it was a good way to shorten your lifespan. You think you remember something like that back on earth. Oh well, guess you shouldn't expect everything to be completely different.

>Even in the middle of the day the forest is dark, most the light blocked out by the forest canopy. You're not that deep into the forest, so it's not nearly as thick hear allowing some specks of light through.

>The forest floor is thick with bushes and trees, making traveling through near impossible save a few animal and the blazed trail to and from Zecora's, which makes you wonder even more how you managed twice getting lost and not ending up stuck in a thorn bush or something.  

>The trees themselves seemed to radiate an unwelcoming aura. You remember AJ telling you about the time the chased Nightmare Moon in here and her turning the trees on you. You suspect that she didn't need to do that as the trees did a fine enough job of that on their own.

>You can understand why ponies hated coming here, if you didn't have business with Zecora, you wouldn't come here either.

>The trip home is fortunately uneventful. No roar from a manticore, no howls of timberwolves, no getting lost, and no creepy ominous deer.

>You enter your home and just set the basket on the table. After walking around the forest and learning about plants and herbs with Zecora, the couch was calling your name.

>Your house was very, very, simple; one floor, a bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, living room,  and sparsely furnished. Cheap, but it did about all a house needed to do.

>It was a couple of steps above a hovel.

>Once you get comfortable, the question now is what to do with the rest of your day? You could go to town and more than likely get into another fight.

>And by fight, you mean riot.

>Perhaps its best you don't go into town for a while.

>You haven't had a day off since you started working for Applejack, and now that you do, it really hits hard at how there's nothing else for you here.

"This place sucks."

>"We were not aware of any vacuums or tornadoes in the area. Please tell us where so that we may investigate whatever it is that 'sucks'."

>Oh God, there's only one being in the land who would say something like that with all the seriousness of a snakebite. You stand up and address the owner of the voice as you turn to face her.

"Princess Luna, to what do I owe the pleasure?"

>It doesn't take a genius to realize why she's here, though you were expecting Celestia, and you thought you might have at least a whole day before she came. Seems that wasn't the case. Oh well, just keep in mind what Zecora said and this shouldn't go too bad.

>You hope.

>"We came because we received word of an altercation between you and the Element of Loyalty. We came to investigate this accusation, but upon hearing of this place that 'sucks', it sounds more serious and should be looked into immediately."

>A thousand years on the moon is a long time, but really, does that mean she needs to take everything literally?

>Surely ponies had expressions and turn of phrases before her banishment.

>It reminds you of the time she unintentionally said something funny while interviewing you when you first arrived, and you couldn't withhold the laughter. When she asked what was wrong, your reply of "You're killing me!" was met with a defensive attitude as she tried to explain how she was not, in fact, killing you.

"It's just an expression, Princess, it means I find this place unpleasant."

>"Oh, then apologies. Back to the reason I'm here then. Explain to us the reason for this violence."

>Say what you will about Luna, she doesn't beat around the bush.

"Well have a seat. I don't have much in the way of refreshments, but I have some water and apples. I'll explain it to you from my point of view, as I'm sure some pony has told you 'their' version of it."

>"We feel more comfortable standing and are in no need of refreshment, but please continue."

>If she isn't sitting, it'd probably be rude to sit yourself.

>That was something you noticed when you met the princesses. You would often have to meet with one or both of them during the first few months of your stay to gauge if it were safe to allow you to live within the borders of Equestria.

>Every time you met with them, they would initially be seated, but then instantly stand at attention when you entered the meeting room, as if on alert. They wouldn't sit, drink, or eat in your presence. They were polite enough, but there was still an odd tension in the room.

>It was during these meeting you learned of your ridiculous levels of magic resistance, which they said wasn't quite accurate and that it was more like magic nullification, which was absolutely unheard of before your arrival and the term had to be made just to fit for you.

>Originally you only needed to meet Celestia once so she could place something of a monitor spell on you. It would work basically like a camera hovering over your shoulder showing the princess what you were doing and saying.

>You weren't entirely comfortable with the idea of it, but it at least kinda sounded better than having an actual pony physically stand behind you doing the same thing.

>But like most magical efforts, it proved fruitless. She said she could do it, but the amount of magic it would take to not only plant it but also sustain it would sap the bulk of her strength after raising and lowering the sun each day and that it just wouldn't be a realistic option.

>You weren't absolutely immune, as she later tested your resistance by lifting you, which took a considerable amount of effort and concentration to get you an inch off the ground, even by Alicorn standards. It took enough magic power to affect you that an average unicorn could kill themselves from using all of their magic on casting the simplest of spells and still accomplish nothing.

>Luckily you managed to talk her into regular visits and checkups rather than having another shadow.

>Back to the present.

"Well, long story short. I was walking through town that morning, getting insulted as usual, when a couple of mares insulted Applejack just because she's nice to me. I can take them making fun of me, but every man's got a line, and they crossed it. So I turned back to them, put on what I guess was my scary face,"

>Just for emphasis you try to look intimidating like you did then, which might not have been the smartest move as Luna straightens and stiffens, her wings unfolding as though preparing to fight or fly if need be.

>You make a mental not not to do that again, and go back to looking normal.

>She however stays in her current position for a few moments longer.

"...and asked them to repeat that. I think I scared them..."

>If you drew that kinda of reaction from Luna with that look, you're a bit surprised those two didn't die from fear on the spot.

"...but then AJ showed up and pulled me away. Well, later after work on my way home through town, Rainbow Dash confronted me. She gets in my face asking me where I get off talking to the two from that morning like that. I'm guessing somepony told her something that didn't happen. Well, we go back and forth insulting each other, then she hits me. So I did what any self-respecting individual does when insulted and attacked, I retaliated. I hit her one time square in the nose, called the crowd out on what a load of sh-, garbage, this was, and walked away. And that's the gist of it. I assume the other version is that I break into homes and eat babies, and that Rainbow Dash is the hero of the people?"

>"We have yet to speak to Rainbow Dash, we thought it better to come directly to you first and get your side before the citizens knew we were here. But we must admit, we find it hard to believe one of our subjects, no less an Element of Harmony, would start an altercation without provocation. Is there anything you can think of that may have warranted this reaction."

>She's bias towards her people, can't blame her for that. If the roles were reversed you'd do the same. At least she isn't outright calling you a liar and giving you first crack at explaining the situation.

>Which you really gotta give her credit for. Like you side, she didn't beat around the bush. if she thought you were a liar, she'd tell you.

>And then probably smash you into the ground.

"Aside from being alive, nothing that I can think of. My life for the past few months consists of wake up, work on AJ's farm, go home, go to sleep, and occasionally visit Zecora. Not much room for offending anybody unless not having a social life is offensive."

>"We shall look more into the matter, and both you and Rainbow Dash will speak and apologize later, so that the two of you may overcome your feelings of animosity once we finish our inquires into this matter."

"If I might ask, why is a princess getting involved in a brawl that didn't go passed the second punch? Seems like something a simple guard would be sent to handle."

>She scuffs the floor with her hoof, and tries to look at the ground, but her eyes never leave you. It's like they can't leave you. As long as you were around them, the princesses' eyes never let you out of their sight, even on their home turf in the castle.

>"We shall not lie, Anonymous. It is because of your particular nature that we came ourself. We remember your time in the palace. We had to remove the guards from the halls in your presence, as they became highly agitated and irritable. We feared sending a guard alone to meet with you would have... unpleasant results."

"You mean we'd have fought?"

>"Yes. Speaking of you, my sister believes she may know why ponies act the way they do, but she is still uncertain. More time and observation is needed to be positive. However, she says if her theory is correct, there is nothing that can be done for it. Our apologies."

"Did she tell you what it was?"

>"No, she wants to be sure before she divulges that information to anypony. We believe we may have an idea, but forgive us if we do not wish to share what our sister desires to keep secret for now."

"Well, if it's what you think and nothing can be done, guess it won't hurt me to not know."

>Welp, so much for getting ponies to like you. Griffon country is starting to sound more appealing by the minute. Maybe you can learn to love heights and hang-gliding?

>"If that is all, we must take our leave. We have inquiries to make, and other duties to see to, though it is unlikely any formal charges will be brought against either as you both participated in the fight, we shall see to it that this does not occur again. We wish you a pleasant night, Anonymous, and we apologize if we could not be of more assistance. Perhaps our next meeting will be held under better circumstances."

>You look out the window. Sure enough, the sun is setting. The sky begins taking an orange/reddish hue. Time flies when you're talking with someone other than Applejack who isn't either giving you the stink eye, yelling at you, or trying to get away from you as fast as possible. Even if the topic was getting in a fight with the natives.

"It was my pleasure. Can you I walk you to the door?"

>You turn back from the window and begin to move forward to her and the door, but she backs up a step to match yours.

>"That shall not be necessary, we can show ourselves out. Farewell."

>Rather than turn and leave, she ungraciously backs out, her eyes on you the whole time as she finally makes her way out the door. A powerful beat of her wings and she's gone.

 

>You sit back down, and just think about the events of the evening. Luna herself came to question you about the fight, which isn't the part that truly worries you. It's the expediency in which she did.

>Sure, a fight between one of her subjects and an alien might be a bit of deal, but it was two punches, one a piece.

>Maybe it was because she was an Element of Harmony? Oh well, no sense worrying over it, you got enough problems as it is.

>Relaxing as best you can, you just let your mind mull over the events of the night.

"Well, that went better than expected. At least I'm not in prison."

>"Are you not already in a prison?"

>A voice speaks to you, seemingly from every direction, and you're back to standing, but more alert and cautious due to the unknown voice.

"What do you mean?"

>"Look at your 'home'. Your life consists of sleeping here and working, under constant observation and surrounded by those who hate you, wish you harm, distrust you, and cheat you at every turn. What else can you call this 'life' but a prison? Your cell is just a large cage with invisible bars."

"I can go wherever I want anytime I want."

>"And so you just choose to live here, under these conditions? If you could leave, why not go to one of the cities if you find this place 'sucks' so much?"

>The voice has been listening to you, at the very least since Luna's arrival. It's choice to emphasize 'sucks' wasn't purely a whim.

>"You don't because you can't. Your mere presence agitates the ponies, and Celestia doesn't want you in one of the more populated cities. But that's not the main reason she keeps you here, and I'm sure you figured that out by now, yes?"

>The voice isn't telling you anything you don't already know, and you can tell by the tone that it knows that as well.

>"As I'm sure you asked yourself, 'Why would Luna herself come so quick for something so trivial as a brawl?' Common ponies get into fights occasionally, but it doesn't warrant a Princess' intervention. So what's different about this fight, hmmm?"

>You're pretty sure you know where this is going, the thought already having crossed your mind.

>"Maybe it's because you're an alien? An alien fighting their cute little ponies would draw the princesses' attention, yes?"

>No

>"No, that doesn't sound right. Hmmm, what other factor is there that would lead to such an outcome?"

>The voice's fake ignorance is grating your patience, it already knows or at least has a good idea, so why play dumb?

>"Ah! I know! It's because you fought an Element of Harmony! That surely must be it. But why would that matter, I wonder? Why would the princesses care so much that an ALIEN attacked a Element bearer? One of the six ponies NECESSARY for using the most POWERFUL magical artifacts in the land? You don't think they might have reason or motive for this, do you? Hmm, no, I doubt it has anything to do with the bearers, maybe they just like those six better than the others. Yes, that must be it. Its not like they would plot against you or anything, now would they?"

>You hate the point the voice is making, but you can't deny that it has a good one. But maybe its a trick, and its just bending things out of context? Besides, you can't just take something at face value if you can't even see the face of the one telling it to you.

"If you know so much about me, tell me who you are. It's only fair."

>"'Who' does not matter for now, let's just say I'm a friend."

"I don't have many friends who hide while speaking to me like this."

>"You do not have many friends, period."

>Ouch, low blow. But the voice is right, while the princesses didn't treat you badly, you still wouldn't exactly call them friends. AJ and Zecora were the only ones who qualified for that.

>"For now, just trust that we mean you no harm."

>'We'?

"We?"

>"Yes, 'we'. For now I shall let you rest to think on what I have told you. It is perhaps best you kept this conversation to yourself."

>That's not cryptic at all. A part of you tells you this is bad, that no one with good intentions and motivations would be this secretive, but the voice raises some good points. You aren't so much living as you are merely alive. Best to be cautious and keep your options open for now though, but not look or sound too easy to your new 'friend'.

"What if I don't? You haven't really given me any reason to trust you."

>"Then that is your choice to make. We 'trust' you will make the right one. And with that, I bid you farewell. For now."

>You wait to see if your mysterious guest says anything else, but after ten minutes of silence it's safe to assume it's gone. Or at the least just done talking to you. But you would definitely need to think on this. You find it doubtful, even with Luna's words, that this event was just going to die down or blow over. It was gonna get worse, just as it had been before this.

>First the ponies just outright avoided you. Then they gave you the stink eye, followed by whispering when they thought you were out of earshot, to eventually just outright humiliating in you public. It's only gotten worse, and it's only going to get worse.

>Maybe waterfront property in the Griffon Kingdom isn't too high?