>After making her clean up that pancake mess she made, you followed the cyan menace to where your newfound friend was located. You thought you'd forget? That shit was gross.
>Being out in the daytime brings up the feelings of anxiousness, but if you can see Octavia again, it'll be worth it.
"Do we have to go far? I-I don't like being out in public like this..."
>"You'll be fine! You have me with you! Just follow along!"
>Ponies pass by, some glancing at you briefly. It sends tingles up your spine. The beginnings of a panic attack are creeping up.
>You start to shake and breathe harder, until a wing wraps around your head.
>"Dude. Chill. It's okay."
>Rainbow perches on your shoulder, with a concerned face.
"I-I'm good. L-let's go."
>"Nah. We're here. Got her during your episode."
>She points to a group of ponies playing instruments together in a plaza for passing citizens.
>A stallion on the piano, a mare on horns, and right there in the flesh is Octavia!
>A small smile comes across your face, as you get closer.
>They play in perfect harmony, with all the skill of a professional Orchestra. It's so soothing to hear.
>Each one has their eyes closed in deep concentration, while they play. This song must've been played numerous times by them, since no one on the stage has sheet music.
>Unless they have it tatted on the inside of their eyelids.
>That's pretty morbid.
>"Snooooooresville.These tunes are more Rarity's speed."
"Shh!"
>Rainbow responds with a wing in your face, forcing you to spit her feathers out.
>The music goes on, your smile growing wider, until it ends in a long smooth note.
>You hear hoof clops which is applause you figure. You join in making sure to not be too loud.
>Rainbow merely sits on your shoulder silently, as they disband, leaving you, Dash, and the instrument playing ponies.
>You slowly get closer, Octavia taking notice of your presence.
>She whips her head to her bandmates and to you.
"Hello Octavia. It's nice to see you again! Your music was absolutely beautiful-"
>"I'm sorry, but how do you know Octavia, and who are you?"
>The piano Stallion gives you a look like he's talking to trash.
"M-me? I'm Ant-"
>"Better yet, nevermind. I'd rather not know. Are you a fan of Octavia's? Or a stalker perhaps?"
"Stalker? I'm no such thing! I met her last night at-"
>Octavia's eyes widen.
>"I'VE NEVER MET THIS CREATURE IN MY LIFE!"
>Your eyes widen now, as Dash stays silent.
"W-what do you mean? I'm sure it was you! I'd never mistake that voice or look-"
>The band ponies all look to a sweating Octavia, whose eyes are darting around in fear.
>She then flips her hair.
"I'm afraid that you ARE in fact mistaken, monkey thing-"
"Monkey-?"
>She grins evilly.
>"Are you in love with me or something Monkey? Absolute rubbish."
>The other ponies chuckle, as Octavia continues to feign ignorance.
>"So sorry, but I don't associate with monkeys, much less go on dates with them!"
>That small flicker of hope that was nestling in your heart begins to dim into nothingness, as her words cut deep.
"But, I--I don't understand--?"
>Piano Stallion pipes up again.
>"I belive she made her point Ape creature. I think it'd be best that you return to your tree fort, lest you frighten off out viewers. Ta-Ta!"
>You're silent.
>What can you say?
>How could you have been so wrong about a person?
>Why did you let your guard down like you did?
>A assortment of self-destructive thoughts trample though your mind.
>"Hey Ant...c'mon. Let's get out of here-"
>Rainbow Dash strokes the side of your head, while glaring at the insulting ponies.
>"-Before I do something I won't regret!"
>You're just stunned. You want to run home.
>As beta as it sounds, you want to just lock yourself away and cry to death.
"Y-yeah."
>Slowly turning around, you hang your head, starring at the earth as you walk home, Dash by your side.
>They're watching you but the sadness is blocking out the fear.
>"H-hey. Ant..."
>Dash's words are heard, but they don't necessarily stick.
>Everything inside you just wants to hide. To be invisible to the world. Your brain nettling, and taunting you for opening up, when no one can be trusted. Individuals will always hurt you, or use you. Get some sort of sick pleasure from uplifting you, and then squashing you underfoot like a bug.
>"Ant, please. Say something! I'm talking to you here! Ant!"
>There goes Dash again. What was she saying?
>That's right. She told you this would happen. Has she done this to others before?
>You feel tugging on your right arm.
>"Antoine! WAKE UP!"
>You look up from the brown soil,to notice you managed to drag yourself home, with a dragged RainBow.
>You wordlessly look at her.
>"Don't zombie out on me! Look I-"
"You were right. You told me what would happen, and it happened. I'm sorry for doubting you."
>She frowns up to you, but it's not one of anger, but guilt.
>"I wasn't doing it to hurt you-"
"I'm just gonna go to bed. Was there anything else you wanted...?"
>"Aw Come on! Don't lock yourself away again! Please Ant!"
>You push her off.
"I'm just tired. I'll talk to you later. Ok?"
>You reach for the doorknob, but the steely form of Rainbow Dash prevents that.
>"Don't do this dude. It took WEEKS for you to even come out to just go to the grocery store! Don't let one idiot ruin all that hard work! You're doing so --"
>You shove her out the way, and go in slamming the door behind you, a meek "well" creeping in.
>You'll apologize later, if you choose to talk to her again after today.
>The house seems so much darker, or maybe it's your imagination?
>In any case, why does that matter? You just feel cold, and exhausted. Even the rumbling of your front door seems to drown out into the ether of your home.
>You kick off your shoes, not caring where they fall, and close your curtains, before sliding into bed.
"...I hate this place so much."
>The "sleep" was hardly that.
>Just the usual empty comfortable silence from when you arrived, and when you lived back on Earth. Empty. Comfort.
>Rainbow eventually stopped pounding on your door, and went home, or wherever.
>Don't really care. You just want to be alone.
>A sigh pierces the abyssal-like darkness.
>Was it so wrong to want a friend? Honestly, you don't regret it thinking clearly now. That fleeting moment of happiness was special in itself.
>Maybe someday you'll have the strength to seek it agaig. but that won't be for a long while.
>Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.
>Focusing on the clock you try to go back to sleep.
>Tak tak tak.
>That's not the clock. What time is it anyway?
>Just let it go. They'll go away soon. Probably Dash again.
>"Hello? Is anypo-Any human home? Blast my timing..."
>Your eyes shoot open, and you fling the cover off of you, and make your way through the darkness to the front door.
"It can't be-"
>It just can't. She doesn't even know where you live!
>Breathing becoming hard. Head hazy-
>You're about to grab the doorknob, when what happened flashes through your head.
"...What am I doing?"
>When someone serves you humble pie, why go back for seconds?
>You back away from the door, and lay on your couch, and stare at the wall in silence.
>Tak tak tak.
>Tears begin to stream down your face.
>The thought of Death begins to seem appealing with each knock, only to force her to live with the thought she brought it to Ponyville with her words.
>Anger replaces, sorrow. Rage. FURY.
>What is happening to you? What is this feeling? It can't be described in words. It's like Poison.
>It's like-
>Like-
>....
>Li....
>Nh..
>There's no familiar feeling of warmth. No sunlight beaming through your eyelids.
>No blue leg draped over you.
>Just soreness, and swollen eyes.
>You sit up, scanning your dimly lit silent home, partly wishing yesterday was merely a dream. A hallucination brought on by some sort of drug or bacteria.
>Anything to keep from having to face the truth.
>Was that really Octavia outside? Was your mind playing with you?
>THUNKA THUNKA THUNKA-
>"Open up! I know you're inside!"
>You stretch, feeling those familiar pops and cracks.
>No point in asking yourself what she wants when you already know.
>To save yourself the cost of replacing your front door, you Acquiescence to her demands, and answer her call.
>THUNKA THUNKA THUNKA-
>You swing the door wide, causing her to fall into your chest, back first.
"Were you bucking my door?"
>She scrambles to face you, taking your face in her hooves.
>"Why didn't you answer the door last night?! I came by like seventy-billion times! I thought you were hurting yourself!"
>You frown.
"Why would I do that?"
>She looks away unsure of how to answer.
>"I--it's just you looked so down, I thought you'd given up and--uh..."
>She looks you in the eyes.
>"Have you been crying?"
"No."
>You lie effortlessly.
>"Have you eaten something yet? You have to eat something!"
"No thanks."
>Your answers are becoming more, and more cold, and distant.
>"Come on Ant...you can't let this beat you. You're were doing amazing. One sour Apple doesn't suin the whole barrel. See? Now I'm Applejack."
>You manage to let out a little chuckle.
>"See? You're okay. Don't give up on the world just yet bud. It always rains before the rainbow!"
"That...that was actually pretty clever. For you at least."
>She gently head bumps you.
>"There's that sassy jerk I know, and love."
>You don't know how, but brash as all hell Rainbow Dash managed to cheer you up somehow. Somehow.
>She takes a deep breath looking away, still holding your face.
>"Now don't freak-"
"About what?"
>She bites her lip.
>"I want you to go out to eat with me. Right now."
>That growing smile instantly falls.
"No. NO."
>"Aw c'mon Ant! It'll be okay!"
>You pry her off you, and back into your home, but Dash isn't letting you go that easy.
>She moves with you before you can close the door on her, latching onto your face.
>"Ant! No! Hear me out!"
"Mmrf! MMnh!"
>You wrestle around trying to pull her off.
>"Hey! Stop! You're not gonna get over this thing unless you put yourself out there one more time! Trust me!"
>If you ate something, you might have more strength to get her off.
>"I know she hurt you! It happens! Become stronger for it! I'll protect you!"
>You stop moving, and sit on the cold floor.
>"Have you calmed down?"
>She releases you, letting your head hang.
"Do you mean it...?"
>"Do I mean what?"
>She sits in front of you.
"You'll protect me?"
>"Of course! I'm your multicolored guardian! You can count on me!"
>She poses in mid-air.
"You're a nut."
>You smile slightly, getting another headbutt from Rainbow.
>"I got you. I'll always have your back..."
"Okay. I'll go."
>With a happy neigh from Rainbow you washed up, and changed clothes, setting out to go get something to eat with your best friend, easily missing a sealed letter strategically hidden in your bushes, branding a familiar Cutie Mark emblem, and the initials O.M on the front.