Doing Things for Your Waifu, Maud – Part 5
 
>”Anon, are you sure you’re alright to travel?”
>You nod, continuing to do push ups.
“Don’t worry, Twilight. I’m… *huff* doing absolutely fine.”
>Twilight gives you a worried look.
>”Anon… you haven’t quite been yourself since-“
“Look, Twi.”
 
>You get up and stretch.
“I appreciate you caring about me I really do.”
>You gently pet her on the head.
>She smiles at you.
“I couldn’t expect anything less from my best friend. But… I’m okay. Alright?”
>Twilight frowns at you.
>”Really?”
“Really.”
 
>”I just… I just want to make sure that you’re feeling like… yourself. Like Anon.”
>You give her a confused look.
“I’m not sure... what you mean. I can assure you that I am me, myself, and I. Anon. The one and only.”
>You flex goofily.
>Twilight laughs.
>”Stop it. You know what I mean.”
>You head over to your luggage bag, checking and double-checking it one more time.
“I think… I’m good to go.”
>Twilight trots up to you and hugs you tightly.
>You return the hug, coughing.
>”Please write as soon as you arrive, Anon. To let me know you made it there safely.”
>You nod and pat Twilight’s back.
“I will. See you in a week or two, Twilight.”
>Twilight gives you a worried smile before exiting your house.
 
>You zip up your luggage and carry it to the door.
>This trip to Vanhoover to visit Maud was going to be good for you.
>Lately, you’ve been feeling really… angry.
>By lately, you mean the last few months.
>You’re not sure why.
>You’ve tried to counter it with exercising, which has helped tremendously.
>If anything, you are much healthier.
>Your anger remains, though.
>Keeping in touch with Maud has also helped immensely.
>Her letters calm you down more than anything else.
>They kept you happy and optimistic.
 
>You haven’t gotten a letter from Maud in a few weeks.
 
>It was quite unlike her to not respond to you.
>The two of you had literally been talking at least once every week for the last several months.
>You’ve sent her multiple letters, but have gotten no responses.
>You’re still hoping that she will be okay with you coming to visit her.
>You set the date a while ago, and her forgetting about it wouldn’t make sense.
 
>You take out the last letter you received from her.
>Short, but sweet and to the point:
 
Hello, Anonymous.
 
I am thrilled to see you in a few weeks. I have cleaned my home to make it suitable for you staying here. There is no sense in you getting a hotel. I have even left out a few of my favorite rocks for us to examine. I cannot wait to tell you all about them.
 
I hope you are feeling better. Do not ever let the anger get the best of you. You are much better than that.
I will see you soon. Let me know if you feel any different, Anonymous.
 
Take care,
 
Maud Pie
 
>No matter.
>You try and remain calm.
>You will see Maud soon.
>Maybe that will be enough to remove this anger from within.
 
>So you hope.
 
~
 
>You arrive in Vanhoover in the late evening.
>Tired, and hungry, you stumble off the train and head for a diner for a quick bite.
 
>It was a quiet train ride.
>You read for most of it.
>A book on typical Vanhoovian cuisine that Twilight lent you.
>The images and descriptions of the food….
>Damn if it didn’t make you hungrier.
 
>You pull your luggage into a small diner on the corner of the street.
>You figured you’d grab a quick yogurt or something and head out to Maud’s apartment near the Institute she works at.
>You head up to the counter with a parfait and banana in hand.
>The pony behind the register eyes you nervously at first.
>Typical reaction.
>You smile at the pony.
“How are you, ma’am? Err…”
>You peer at her nametag.
 
“Ruby Daze?”
 
>The unicorn shifts nervously.
>”F-fine, sir…. Will that be all?”
>You nod.
>Ruby’s eyes do not meet yours.
>Did you say something wrong?
 
>She presses some buttons on the register, shaking nervously.
>You start to become worried.
“Are you okay? You seem a bit-“
>”T-that’ll be 6 b-bits, sir….”
 
>You shrug and reach into your pocket for your bits bag.
>As you pull out your money, you are pushed to the ground with an immense force.
>Your money is thrown all over the floor.
>”Ruby, who is this chump?”
>A few ponies begin to clamor in the background.
>”RUBY.”
>”It’s… it’s n-no-“
>Your assailant picks you up from the ground.
>He is a gruff and large stallion, glaring daggers at you.
>”You hitting on my girl, monkey?”
 
“Let go of me.”
>The stallion laughs loudly.
>A few of the ponies beginning to yell at the stallion.
>”You hit on MY girl, then you try telling ME what to do?”
“Let. Go. Of. Me. Right now.”
>The stallion throws you back on the ground.
>”Flint, stop! Not in here!”
 
>You stand yourself up.
>You barely tower over him.
>Your eyes lock onto his.
>His dark orange eyes meet yours.
 
>You do not like this pony.
 
>”You’re DAMN lucky, monkey.”
>The stallion turns to Ruby.
>”I’ll see YOU later.”
>He storms out of the diner, slamming the door behind him.
>You angrily pick up all of your money from the ground.
>A few ponies come to your side and help you.
>You thank them.
>It was good to see that there were SOME nice ponies around here.
>With a shaky hand, you calmly place six bits on the counter.
>”T-thank you, sir… I am so sorry about-“
 
“Have a good night, Ruby.”
>You take your luggage and food and leave.
 
 
>Your head is pounding.
>Your vision is blurred.
>Who did that guy think he was?
>FUCK HIM!
“FUCK!”
>What was his name?
>Fred?
>You don’t remember.
>You can’t think.
>If you see him again… you would….
>You stop walking and close your eyes.
 
>Relax, Anon.
>Relax.
 
>You take a deep breath and sigh.
 
>You had forgotten why you were in Vanhoover.
>You were here to see Maud.
>That’s all.
>You weren’t here to deal with the frustrating residents.
 
>Your walk is made more unpleasant as snow begins to fall.
>You never liked snow.
>It was cold.
>And wet.
>And frustrating!
>It made you so angry to deal with.
>Why… why even….
 
>You increase the speed of your walk.
>The sooner you get to Maud the better.
 
>You’re lost.
 
>You’ve walked for hours.
>And now you’re lost.
>Because the snow had picked up, there weren’t any ponies out and about.
>No one to help you.
>You sit under a tree at what seems like the edge of the city.
>It’s useless.
>You don’t know where you are.
>Or where to go.
 
>You pick up a bit of snow.
>Awful.
>It just aggravates you to look at it.
>The snow had covered much of the ground by this point.
>You shut your eyes.
>You feel surrounded by anger and anxiety.
>That, and you’re cold.
 
>Breathe.
>Relax.
>Think, Anon.
 
>What do you do now….
 
>A shouting stallion in the distance interrupts your thoughts.
 
>It sounds… oddly familiar.
 
>It’s just as infuriating as the damn snow.
>You open your eyes and look for the cause of the shouting.
 
>You quickly hide behind the tree; carefully bring your luggage bag with you.
>You peek around the trunk.
>The same large gruff stallion from earlier was walking with Ruby.
>He was… shouting at her.
>She walked close to him, but she seemed frightened.
>His shouting became clearer as he got closer.
>”…and you just THINK THAT YOU CAN TALK TO ME LIKE THAT!?”
 
>You feel your fury come back.
>You would have enjoyed not seeing this pony for the rest of your life.
>The stallion towers over Ruby, waving a hoof at her.
 
>”FUCK. YOU! You’re so damn useless!”
>Your heart drops as you see the stallion push Ruby to the ground.
>Her horn begins to glow, though she is unable to do anything.
>She begins to shake her head.
>You feel as if she was begging him not to do anything else….
>She puts her hooves up at him, but she is soon struck across the face.
>Her hooves fall to her side, and she remains motionless.
 
>”You dumb bitch. Good riddance.”
>The stallion trots away quickly.
 
>No more.
>You get up from behind the tree and run towards her.
“Ruby! Ruby!”
>You rush over to her side.
>With shaky hands, you try and turn her body over.
 
>A small amount of blood leaks out of her mouth and nose.
“Fuck, fuck….”
>You carefully rub her sides.
>She whimpers.
“Ruby, it’s okay. It’s okay.”
>She doesn’t move.
“Ruby, come on. Wake up.”
 
>She coughs up a bit of blood.
>You carefully cradle her head.
“It’s alright, that stallion is-“
>”D-d-don’t… h-h-hurt me, any-….”
>Ruby begins to cry.
>”P-p-p-please… d-don’t hurt….”
>You hold her close, shushing her.
>You needed to get her help.
>You couldn’t just leave her here.
 
>You shut your eyes.
>How could this happen?
>How is someone like that allowed to live?
>He is a monster.
 
>It’s just like the dream you had.
>Your vision becomes shaky.
>Your mind empties itself.
>You feel… lightheaded.
>Your vision blurs.
>You feel sick.
>In pain.
 
>You look around.
“Help! Someone… h-help…”
>”Are you okay over there!?”
>You look around.
>Everything is dark.
>You hear something approach.
>It talks to you, but you can’t understand it.
“Please… h-help… her….”
 
>You let yourself go.
>And blackness overtakes you.
 
~
 
>”I’ve missed you, babe….”
 
>Flint smiles at you.
>”I’ve really missed you.”
>He reaches over to you.
>You push his hoof away.
 
“Why are you here, Flint?”
>He laughs loudly.
>”You tried to leave me. You can’t LEAVE Flint.”
“…”
>”You’re mine, Maud. Do you understand me?”
“…”
>“MINE! I OWN YOU!”
>You stand your ground.
“You do not own me.”
>”Excuse me?”
“You do not own me, Flint.”
 
>No more pain.
>No more being pushed around.
>Nothing will happen to you anymore.
>Anon will be here soon.
>That is all you need.
 
>Flint moves closer to you.
>”You must be a bit confused.”
“…”
>”But I will forgive you, just this once.”
>He pats your cheek.
“Leave here. Now.”
>His expression changes.
>His brow furrows.
>”What was that?”
“…”
 
>Flint pins you against the wall.
>He gives you a big smile.
>”What. Was. That?”
>You stare into his eyes.
“You cannot hurt me.”
>Flint laughs.
>”You are stupider than ever, Maud.”
>He lets you go, causing you to fall to the ground.
 
>”I came here to get what’s mine.”
>Flint yells and knocks over your bookshelf, causing many of your belongings to fall to the ground.
>You don’t flinch.
>”I moved all the way out here to get what I lost.”
“…”
>Flint heads for the exit.
 
>”You best be DAMN sure I’m going to get what I want.”
 
~
 
>Your eyes snap open and reality returns.
 
>Sweat pours down your face.
>You are breathing heavily.
>You feel extremely sick….
 
>You cough loudly, your head pounding more furiously than ever.
>Your vision is blurred, but everything slowly comes back into focus.
>You are lying on a bed in what looks like a hospital.
>”Are you okay, sir?”
 
>A pony nurse walk up to you.
>You stare at her.
>”You… can you understand me?”
>You look around anxiously.
>Ruby was gone.
“Ruby.”
>”Excuse me, sir?”
“Where is Ruby!?”
 
>The nurse steps backwards, trembling slightly.
>”The mare that was with you?”
>You nod, sitting up.
>”S-she’s okay! She is b-being treated in another room.”
>You shakily get up.
>”Sir, where are you-“
“Ruby was assaulted. I found her in the snow like that.”
 
>The nurse nods.
>”We know, sir! She told us that and-“
“Great. I’m leaving now.”
>”W-what!?’
>You get up from the bed.
>Everything around you is blurry.
“Where is my….”
>You see your luggage is next to you bed.
>Though you are dizzy, you grab your luggage and prepare to leave.
 
>The nurse pony holds onto your arm.
>”You can’t leave sir!”
“Let me go.”
>”Wait! It’s snowing like crazy out there.”
>You pull your arm away from the nurse.
>”Sir! Stop!”
>You ignore the mare and leave the hospital.
 
>It is darker and colder than earlier.
>Snow falls at a rapid place.
>You exit the hospital.
 
>Flint.
>His name is Flint.
>Maud’s abusive ex.
>You feel stupid for not catching it earlier.
>But you won’t make this mistake twice.
 
>You undoubtedly had another peek into Maud’s past.
>If that’s true… then Flint has found Maud.
>You’ve never felt angrier.
>You grit your teeth as you brave the storm.
>You’re not going to let him touch Maud anymore.
 
>That stallion was as good as dead.
 
~
 
END of Part 5