Bonds - 1

>Day GET READY FOR JUMPING BACK AND FORTH, 'CAUSE THIS SHIT'S PRESENTED OUT OF ORDER FOR MAXIMUM IMPACT

 

>You swear your arms are about to pull out of their sockets.

>Everything in you is trying to make you let go, from your aching muscles to the sweat on your palms, and the added slickness from the rain certainly doesn't help.

>A howling gust of wind blows her mane out of her eyes, and you see tears sparkling in the moonlight.

 

>The soil beneath you shifts, and a chunk of the cliff cracks.

>You can feel the both of you tilting slowly toward the crevice, and now your eyes are misting up as well.

>"I've got you."

 

>She sniffles and nods.

 

>A bolt of lightning splits the heavens and destroys the tree you were desperately clinging to, shards of charred bark scattering in all directions.

>Your hand stings from the lacerations and the tiny, jagged bits of wood stuck in them, but much worse is that now you have only your flimsy footing to keep you up here.

>If Equestria has a God, he's a cruel bastard.

 

>"Anon?" she says, swallowing a lump in her throat and trying her best not to look down.

 

>"Yeah?"

 

>"Do you think... if you let me go-"

 

>"Not happening!"

 

>"P-please, just answer... if you let me go, do you think you could get away?"

 

>You close your eyes and shake your head.

>"MAYBE."

>Fixing your gaze on her and hardening your resolve, you reach down with your other hand to go for a last-ditch pull.

>"But it's a pointless train of thought, because I am NOT letting you die!"

 

>Your feet dig into the earth as you strain and pull, but it's no use.

>For every inch you might've gained, the ground sinks further as the cracks spread and her fate seals.

>Maybe if you were stronger...

>If you'd spent one fucking day in your life exercising or playing a sport instead of being a useless lump of fat...

>The maybe, just maybe, you could've made a difference when it counted.

 

>You can feel the both of you slipping...

 

 

>Day 47 - A Glimmer

 

>Following Apple Bloom up into the swanky little treehouse, you stop dead in your tracks at the sight of that orange pegasus.

>Your blood turns to ice as she glares daggers at you and you spin on your heel to walk out.

 

>Apple Bloom smiles innocently up at you and blinks her adorable little eyes a few times.

>"Anon?  I thought you were gonna help us out today?"

 

>"He can help by getting out of my sight!"

 

>She pokes her head around your leg and stares at her friend.

>"Scootaloo, it was an accident and you know it!"

 

>"It's fine!  I'll... I'll just have to do something else for you some other time."

 

>With a cute pout and a weak stomp of her hoof, she plants herself in your way and fixes you with a firm gaze.

>"Nuh-uh.  Ain't no reason for this kinda... this kinda..."

 

>"Animosity?" Sweetie Belle offers.

 

>"Yeah!  That!  I know it's not always easy, but you didn't do anything wrong and Scootaloo needs to forgive ya.  The fewer enemies ya have, the better, an' I'd rather none of my friends hated eachother."

 

>You say nothing, and she continues to stare at you.

>With a reluctant 180, you grin sheepishly and hold out a hand.

>"Truce?"

 

>Scootaloo jerks her head to the left and turns her nose up, "hmph"ing loudly.

 

>What can you do, here?  Her feelings are perfectly justified, but Apple Bloom seems adamant...

>A lightbulb clicks on in your head.

>Applejack would kill you if she found out, but you know how kids are... especially the active ones like Scootaloo.

>It's perfect, and you'll be there to make sure nothing goes wrong...

>You decide it's the only course of action that works.

>"Would you girls like to learn how to make fireworks?"

 

>The corner of Scootaloo's mouth twitches up, trying to form a smile, but she forces it down.

>She opens one eye and looks over at you for a moment before trotting to meet you at the door and extending a hoof.

>"Truce," she mutters.

 

 

>Day 61 - Turning Point

 

>With a sigh, you set the basket down and wipe your brow.

>Farm work is hard work, but you can't complain too much.

>Except when sudden streaks of blue knock a dozen apples out of a nearby tree as they whoosh past.

>You frown a little.

 

>"Yo, AJ, you got a snoop sneaking around the farm!"

>Dash hovers in place, holding a wriggling Scootaloo by the scruff of her neck.

 

>"Lemme go!"

 

>"Sorry, squirt, but you were acting pretty suspicious..."

 

>She writhes some more, trying and failing to free herself.

>"I just... I just wanted to talk to Anon."

 

>Applejack tilts her hat up and gestures back to you.

>"Well shoot, he's right there.  Have at it."

 

>She blushes and looks away.

>"Alone," she mumbles.

 

>Dash floats a few feet off the ground, then plops the filly down, lands, and trots over to Applejack.

>"Sure, I guess.  I have something to talk to AJ about anyway."

 

>Applejack raises an eyebrow.

 

>"You KNOW... that THING we were gonna have a chat about."

 

>Sudden realization washes over her face, and she lowers her hat back into place, silently walking off with Dash.

 

>The sun beats down on you, and Scootaloo fidgets, watching the two mares disappearing over the horizon.

 

>"Well?"

 

>Snapping to attention, she slowly moves closer to you.

 

>You can't get a read on her intentions.

>She doesn't SEEM hostile...

 

>She stops just in front of you and looks up into your face.

>"I forgive you."

>Her lower lip trembles a little before she buries her face in the leg of your pants, wrapping her hooves around your lower limbs and trapping you in an entirely unexpected hug.

>She clings to you in silence, but you can feel her body shuddering as she suppresses her sobs.

 

>All you can think to do is lean down and hug her back, stroking her mane and whispering that everything would be okay.

>The two of you sit against the dirt for a while, her finally letting out her pent up sorrow as you do your best to comfort her.

>This wasn't the plan.  This wasn't the plan at all.

>You have no idea how to console any grieving child, let alone deal with this particular jumblefuck of conflicting emotion.

>All you know is that when you see her cry, you remember some very painful things you've tried very hard to forget.

>She doesn't deserve that.

>You squeeze her tighter as the sun begins to set.

 

 

>Day 62 - Family

 

>You close the door, yawn, and scratch your ass before walking out toward the kitchen.

 

>Applejack is leaning against the fridge.

>"Anon, I think it's about time we had a little talk."

 

>Oh shit, did she catch you peeking on her in the bath?

>You really, really hope not.

>You don't even WANT to fuck horses, you were just curious!

>Which honestly, is pretty stupid given that ponies around here are naked pretty much all the time.

 

>"I know."

 

>Fuck, she DOES know!

>She thinks you want to put your dick in her and she's disgusted and she's going to ask you to leave and-

 

>"I'm not mad."

 

>Oh thank fucking GOD.

>Then what does she want to talk about?

 

>"I just wanna know why."

 

>Well, that isn't much better!

>'I kinda got a little bit of a boner a while back watching you work the fields, and then well, when in Rome...'

>You gulp.

>"Why?"

 

>She nods once.  You notice she's not wearing her hat.  Golden strands cascade down the back of her neck, spilling over her shoulder and dangling in front of her legs.

>You really do think she's attractive...

>"Why would you lie like that?"

 

>Hubwuh?

 

>"I SHOULD be mad at ya!  Lyin's not somethin' I tend to approve of, but usually it's 'cuz a pony gets somethin' they don't deserve out of it, and I just can't figger out yer game here.  Why would you tell her that?"

 

>...

>Oh.

>OH!

>She knows that...

>Shit, is that all?

>This is an easy one!

>... as far as explaining yourself goes, at least.

>You hope you can hold yourself together long enough to tell the story without breaking down and sobbing in front of her.

>You take a deep breath.

>"Applejack, who are the ponies that are most important to you?"

 

>She shoots you a confused look.

 

>"It's not a trick question or anything, and I think the answer should be pretty easy for you."

 

>She rubs a hoof against the back of her neck and chuckles.

>"Well, I reckon Apple Bloom, Macintosh, and Granny would probably fill that in."

 

>"That's what I thought."

>You nod to yourself and turn around.

>Your eyes feel pretty dry suddenly.

>"Family.  Family's really, really important.  To pretty much everyone.  They're... they're the center of your life.  Losing a family member hurts."

>You turn back to look at her.

>"A lot."

 

>She offers a single, solemn nod.

 

>"Can you even begin to imagine what it's like... to lose your entire family?  All at once?  To have everything ripped away from you, leaving you alone in the world?"

 

>Her jaw moves as if to respond, but nothing comes out.

 

>"It's even worse for a child.  All the pain, all the loneliness, and the weight of the world on your shoulders because it's all too much for you to take.  Just learning how to live in the first place, and not ready for any loss - let alone such a devastating one."

>Droplets of moisture line the bottom of your eyes.

>You do your best to blink them away.

>"I don't have to imagine it."

 

>Her pupils shrink to pinpricks.

 

>"And there's absolutey no way I could let anybody go through that if I can make an ounce of difference."

 

>"I don't... I don't understand, Anon... how does... how did you think you'd be helpin'?"

 

>You shake your head and shrug.

>"I didn't grow up right, so I've probably got a pretty warped view of things, but I know that my biggest problem was the anger."

>Teardrops splash against the cold kitchen floor.

 

>"Oh sugarcube..."

>She takes a step toward you.

>"

>"I was so MAD, but there was nothing I could do!  I couldn't even let it out!  I had nothing to hate because there was nobody to blame.  Some stranger out there who I'd never find took my parents away from me, and holding on to that frustration and rage did a lot of damage to me.  And my friends."

 

>"Anonymous,"

>She pats you with a hoof.

>"The sentiment is powerful sweet, but it's misguided somethin' fierce.  She's gotta know the truth."

 

>"Why?"

 

>"Why?  Because tain't right to grow up harboring a grudge like that!"

 

>You deflate and lower your head.

>"She doesn't."

 

>"Say again?"

 

>Everything swirls together and you start talking rapidly, almost forgetting to breathe.

>"She... she doesn't hate me, and I don't know why, and she's still hurting and I want to help her so bad, but I can't because I don't know how!  She has nothing and she thinks I'm the reason and she still came to me.  I don't know what to do, but it has to be something because otherwise she's just going to keep crying and I can't stand that!"

 

>Applejack sighs.

>"Do you know what Granny Smith did when my folks passed away?"

 

>You don't respond.

 

>"Nothin' special.  She just kept on doin' her best to raise us and love us and take care of us."

 

>"But Scootaloo doesn't HAVE anyone to do those things!  There's nobody left who loves her!  Cheerilee is doing her best to keep her fed and sheltered, but it's not the same!  Cheerilee's a very sweet mare, and I would never accuse her of not caring, but she doesn't LOVE her."

 

>She stifles a chuckle with a hoof.

>"I realize now's not the time, but you're even thicker than Rainbow gives you credit for."

>Leaning in close, she pecks you on the cheek and then opens the fridge.

>"I'm gonna make breakfast now - we got a lot of work ahead of us today."