Prompt: >Me? With Anon? >Oh Rarity, ha ha, you're so funny sometimes! >Like I'd ever be interested in that loser! Story Start: >"He shouldn't even be here, I mean really, a human?" >Twilight's voice echoes through your ears. >"Why would I like him? He's not even all that interesting for an alien anyways. He hardly ever wants to talk about what he did back on Earth, and he's so...blunt." >Pffft, best you got? >"Oh Darling I understand completely! He's such a brute, it's almost unbearable." >You'd not expected this, but god damn their insults weren't even that bad. >Too bad the twinge in your chest betrayed at least somewhat of how you really felt. >It wasn't the insults honestly. >It was the meaning behind them. >"Now y'all are bein' a bit unfair here. Anon is a good worker, which ain't somthin' yerselves would know too much about." >You supposed AJ defending you didn't seem out of place. >Then again, you did live with her and the rest of the family. >"AJ, I'm sorry but I'm just being honest. Anon really isn't anything more than a stranger here." >"Darling I really do have to agree with Twilight on this one." >Riiiight. >And they don't have any flaws or anything. >At least behind closed doors they're honest. >Standing up fully from your semi-crouched position, you stretch your legs out a little. >You didn't even mean to eavesdrop, but it was a little late now. >Though, this did spark some curiosity in you. >What did the others think of you? >...fuck it, you didn't really want to find out. >Walking around the rest of the way to the door, you knocked lightly. >"Come in!" Twilight's voice called from the other side of the wooden portal. >Passing through the threshold, you looked at the three ponies gathered in the library. >A table was set up with tea and biscuits, and the whole scene appeared to be rather comfortable. >Save for the subtle look of surprise on Rarity's face. >That, and Twilight's not-so-subtle expression of what you could only describe as fear. >Applejack had her nose scrunched up and wasn't looking at the other two. "Well, weren't you going to finish that, Twilight?" >You pour yourself a cup of tea as silence reigns above all in the room. >None of them seem to be even breathing. >Applejack is looking at the floor, her nose scrunched up. >Rarity's lower jaw seemed to be trying its hardest to detach from the upper portion, as she gaped at you. >Twilight though, just managed to look at you with her eyes as wide as dinner plates. >You ignored it all as you pulled up a seat and collected yourself. "Come on, I want to hear what you have to say. Are you really going to leave me out of the conversation?" >Your question seemed to break the spell. >"A-anon did you h-" >Twilight began to stammer as Rarity's sputtering to form cohesive words was lost on you. "Woah woah woah, slow down. I just said continue from where you left off, what's this reaction here?" >"Uhhh w-we didn't mean anything by it." >You give Twilight a look that you hadn't used in years. >It could make the un-initiated feel as though the sun itself was glaring directly at them. >Or so you'd been told. >It may have been your reaction to their criticisms of your character that threw them off the most at any rate. >"I-I'm sorry Anon." Twilight finally managed to say. >"Mister Mous, please, I was just gossiping, neither of us meant anything by it." >Damage control protocols activate! >Standing up, you move over to Applejack and give her a kiss on the cheek." >She looks up finally, surprised out of her shame by the look of it. "Thanks AJ. I know you weren't really involved in all this." >The other's reaction to your actions don't seem too extreme at least. >Taking your seat again, Rarity stands up and begins to make a line for the door. "Where are you going Miss Belle?" you call. >She turns to face you after stopping dead in her tracks. >"Oh Mister Mous, I just remembered I have an order to finish back at the Boutique." >She seems to have gotten it together quickly. >Must be experience. >Then again, poise and perception were everything to those of her...mindset. "I'll stop by later then. I'd love to hear more of your opinions." >You knew this was getting them, but you weren't about to let this go unpunished. >Yes, you weren't the friendliest character, but you'd done everything you could for these ponies. >Ever since you were flung to this world four years ago, you'd done nothing but try your hardest to fit in. >It kept you from falling into the state that would get you killed. >The girls had been so nice to you, but then again there were always days that bothered you. >You assumed it was something much more innocent than it has turned out to be. >At least now you knew one of them was trustworthy. >Though, as before, you weren't sure you cared to know what the other three thought. >Two were too shallow it seemed. >Pushing these thoughts aside though, you looked over at Twilight and Applejack. >They were looking at you and Rarity as she departed in a flash of dust. "Well, I'm sorry about that. Where were we?" >You return to your seat and sip on your tea. >Applejack pipes in this time. >"Now Sugarcube, ah'm sure they don't really mean nuthin' by it." >Oh dear. "Applejack, I'm sure they don't. Regardless, I'd love to hear their criticism. I mean, if it really doesn't mean anything, why is it only said behind closed doors?" >Her ears flatten out at this. "Not that there's anything wrong with having differing opinions, but I'd really love to hear what my dear friends have to say." >Twilight began to visibly shake at this, tears forming in the corners of her eyes. >"Anon I'm sorry I really didn't mean it." she begins. "Rarity just asked me some questions and I let s-some of my t-thoughts just...come a-aloud." >She's starting to cry a little. >Too bad that doesn't phase you. >The only thing slowing you down is the ever growing feeling of pain in your chest. "Twilight, this really is too melodramatic. No offense to her, but you aren't Rarity." >This only seems to cause her to cry harder. "Your reaction says enough. At least you had the decency to only somewhat lie to me." >Her eyes said it all. >She'd been caught in a bold-faced lie. >Hell, it's been written out in comic sans and underlined. "If you didn't want to keep interacting with me, all you had to do was say so." >"I didn't mean to s-say it though!" she responds, more force in her voice this time. >She then catches herself. "So you're admitting that you didn't mean to vocalize your disdain for me? That's reassuring." >You couldn't help but jab at the cracks in her armor. >Applejack just sat there, stunned at what you garnered was a new revelation on her part as well. >In fact, she looked about ready to give Twilight a tongue lashi- "Twilaght! What in the name o' Tartarus gives! Y'all been lyin' this whole time and never once thought ta' try fixin' it?!" >For some reason you felt the need to stop her. >"Why ah' thought you an' I were best friends! Me an' the other girls talked about everythin' together an-" "AJ, please. I think it'd be best if you headed home. I hate to try ordering you to do anything, but I would like to have this conversation with Twilight." you begin, reaching out and stroking her neck and back. >It calmed her down almost instantly, even if it was somewhat involuntary on her part. >You'd learned a technique or two over the years that you used to your advantage from time to time. >They seemed to work especially well on her. >"A-ah' guess..." "Please do so. Is there any chance you could ask Granny to make one of her pies for dessert tonight as well? I had a surprise in store for dinner anyways." >She nods her head in approval, sorrow still apparent in her eyes. >Standing up, she gives you a light nuzzle before trotting away. >As the door closed, you felt the tension rise again. >Taking in a deep breath, you looked back towards the purple wonder before you. >It occurred to you now just how sweet she really looked. >So much that it scrambled your guts now. "You know, you really could have solved this a long time ago." >She didn't reply, but the tears did slow down at least a little. >You even pushed a handkerchief towards her, so that she might wipe up her nose and eyes a little. >"I-I'm sorry, I just th-thought-" "That's something you do way too much of. At least now I know. Though, I suppose that leads to the other question that I didn't want to ask." >You give her a moment to recover with the hankie. >You also just realized you'd rescinded that previous internal statement. "What do the others think of me then?" >It hung in the air, like a taboo spoken aloud. >"W-what does that have to do with this?" >Damage control protocol, still in effect. "Why Twilight, If that's your way of saying that they all dislike me, we might be in deeper trouble than I initially thought." >Her eyes grow harder at this. >"F-fine, if you w-want to know so bucking b-badly." >Hoboy, here we go. >"R-rainbow hates you, Fluttershy t-thinks you're a m-monster, and P-pinkie almost thinks you're a bad friend." >The first two don't surprise you, but the Pinkie statement catches you off guard. >She was always a sweetheart to you, and you always offered to help her when she needed it, or offer an ear to listen. >Then again, that might explain why she constantly rejected your offers for help. >Maybe it had to do with your rejection of the first party she wanted to throw for you. >And the seventh. >That may have been a little harsh. >Though, you manage to hold form. >Even if a look of sad triumph is present in Twilight's face. >"S-so there you have it. A-and the other ponies around town n-never thought I should h-have let you stay as long as y-you have." >Her tears are almost dried now, but the words are coming out just as badly as before. >Though, that place where your heart was supposed to be felt pretty sharp and pointy right now. >Almost like it was covered in spines, within and without. "So what you're saying, in a fully truthful manner, is that not a single one of the ponies around here likes me, save for Applejack?" >The question itself was a perfect setup for her final attack, but you needed to hear it from her mouth. >The confidence behind it would be your answer. >Sadly, you miscalculated. >"Yes, except for Lyra and AJ's close family." >Her voice carried with it a tone and confidence that said she was telling the truth. >Taking a deep breath in, you sipped more tea. "You do make some really good tea, you know that?" >She's unmoved by the comment. "I suppose it's too bad that this couldn't have all been said years ago." >Standing up, you didn't give her the dignity of another response before walking out deliberately and dignified. >As the door closed behind you though, you began to walk along without breaking stride. >Some ponies gave you greetings or smiles here and there, but it was tainted. >You now saw things you'd never seen before. >Amusement at you. >What seemed like a genuine smile was ruined in this new light. >Taking an audible breath, you smiled back at the memories, when you were ignorant of these things. >You'd always known Rainbow disliked you, but that didn't bug you. >Fluttershy was always afraid of you, but she'd began to actually talk to you in the last few years even more than the other ponies outside of her friend group. >Twilight...you weren't really expecting it in the end, but that was done. >Rarity? You could care less, but not a whole lot less. >She was the archetype that only the most vain of stuck-up bitches could achieve. >Pinkie...that one hurt. >Best not to dwell on it. >Letting your legs take you on your way though, you realized you weren't sure where you were going. >You'd gone a ways uphill, but were exiting the town. >Well, a walk was always good. >Just before you left, a voice called to you. "Anon!" >Hmm? >"HIYA!" >Oh Lyra. >Squeezing the mare that was latched onto you, the irony of the situation was not lost on your racing mind. >In fact... >This would be a perfect time to give her what you'd been working on all week. >The thing you'd gone to Twilight's library to give to AJ. >The fact that you'd made two was great, but the two you had in mind really seemed to deserve them now. "Hey, I had something for you." >"Oooh, is it the super secret thing you were talking about yesterday?~" >Her voice lilted as she said this, but you couldn't help but smile at it. >Reaching into your pocket, you pulled out the precious cargo. >The thing you'd almost forgotten about in the mess that today had become. >Her eyes widened as she recognized it for what it was. >A small necklace made of wood, shaped into a heart and with her name on it. >It wasn't your best work, but it was looking pretty good in your opinion. >She squealed as you put it around her neck, instantly showering you with kisses. >Pulling her off after basking in the glow, you looked at her. >She was radiant. >In fact... "Hey, could you do me a favor?" >"ANYTHING!" >Pulling the other one out of your pocket, you give a similar looking necklace to her that has the initials 'AJ' and 'AM' carved into it. "Take this to AJ for me? I have to take care of something important, but she needs to get this as soon as possible." >She looks confused, almost questioning as to why you don't want to give it to her yourself, but she complies. >The fact that she has her own is probably blowing her mind. >In fact, a trail of dust is all that's left as she takes off. >Smiling, you continue on your short trek. >Leaving the town, you come to a thicket of trees that lead deeper down the path. >The ground has evened out, even declining slightly. >The sound of water begins to grace your ears, alongside that of birds chirping. >Nature out here was different than in the town. >Less regulated, more...beautiful. >Grinning, you come to a large bridge. >It's actually quite a breathtaking sight. >You'd never come this way before, but it was enough to make you happy to see it. >The sound of rushing water was odd though, as you came to it. >The river itself was deceptively far down from this place. >Then again, you did go quite a ways uphill... >Admiring the beauty of nature around you, the sudden jolt of weakness took hold. >Your heart suddenly grew heavy, lead filling it. >Reaching to the small piece of metal hanging from your neck, you tugged out your own small necklace. >It had been the template for your carvings, but this was wrought in gold. >Undoing the clasp, you admired the picture inside. >For some reason, it started raining, because water was streaming down your face. >Huh. >Inexplicable event, that one was. "Oh Lilly..." >The small image of your daughter inside of the little necklace brought another jolt of pain to your heart. >It made you yearn for the life so far away... >Tugging it off, you set it down on the bridge. >Looking at the image in the other half of the heart, you began to feel even worse. >An image of a younger you in uniform, smiling and holding your wife. >The amazing woman that died during childbirth, giving you your angel. >The Angel that you lost in the car-wreck that ended your life, bringing you here. >More water streamed down your face. >Damn, it must have been raining hard. "Don't worry girls. Daddy is coming home." you manage to say aloud, before stepping up to the cobblestone siding on the bridge. >The water really was quite far down... >It would be enough though. >Leaning forward, you let the pain that you'd hidden away finally come free. >Applejack probably wouldn't understand at first, but you loved her as well. >She deserved better than the damaged person that was you. >Lyra was already happy, this wouldn't stop her. >The two friends you really needed would be okay. "I'm almost there girls." you say, before falling from grace.