>You gulp
"I...of course."
>You look down
"I'm really really really so-"
>A pair of hooves connect with your face
>You stay on the ground in shock and pain
>Look up
Twilight is trotting away in a huff
>Yeah, you deserved that.
>The elements of harmony leave
>Anon comes over and crouches next to you
>"Thing? I'm sorry, but I have to do this"
>He takes out a necklace and puts it around your neck
>It digs into your flesh
"Gnnnh!"
>"I'm sorry. It has to be this way, though. It'll take a long while to earn back their trust though, if ever. Hell, even my trust might ber hard, I'm sorry to say.
>You nod solemnly
"Is there any way I can make this up to you?"
>He pauses
>"Be a good person. Be you. That's pretty much all I ask"
>You hug him
>Tight
>You never want to let go
>Fast-forward a year
>Twilight has made amazing advances after doing research on you
>She can de-thing-ify ponies
>The first one was Applejack
>She volunteered, even though she had pheomenal powers like yours
>Well, it's not like you can't see why
>Ponies have gotten to know what you are
>Some have moved out of ponyville
>Most have started to somewhat trust you
>The elements of harmony aren't outright hostile to you anymore, but you're still not welcome with them anymore
>Anon, though...
>Anon is wary of you
>Cautious
>He sleeps on the couch
>Your life's...
>Not ruined per se
>But pretty close to it
>You recognize you've been a fool
>Well, were
>You've behaved exemplarily the last year
>You even took down a timberwolf that was trying to kill the mayor
>One day, you can't take it anymore
>The crushing loneliness
>Everyone being so distant from you
>No matter how nice you are
>Even when you have a magically bound collar that will incinerate you if you step even slightly out of line
>You leave Anon a note
>Then head up to a nearby hill
>Quite a tall one
>Kind of a cliff, even
>Maybe you ought to just jump off of it
>End it all
>Couldn't be more painful than your current situation
>Oh well
>You asked Anon to meet you there in your note
>This way, though, he could prepare as much as he wanted before coming
>Maybe he'd bring spinke
>His go-to never-goes-empty flamethrower
>Or just a regular one
>You lay down and wait
>The sun moves across the sky
>All the while dousing you in comfortable warmth
>You've got no idea what time it is
>But it's kind of nice to just be away from it all on your own terms
>If that makes any sort of sense
>Escaping the ostracism
>"You alright, Thing?"
>You jump
"Holy shit, anon! Don't scare me like that!"
>He smiles weakly
>"I'm not gonna say sorry. But anyway, what was it you wanted?"
"I can't stand it anymore, Anon."
>"It?"
>He scratches his head
>Then snaps his fingers
>"Oh. Like that. Well...what can I do about it?"
>You lay your head down on the ground and sigh
"I...I would say 'not treat me like a dangerous criminal', but that's kind of exactly what I am, isn't it."
>You sigh
"I don't know. Kill me or something. I can't live like this, Anon."
>You notice you're speaking in a much colder, monotone voice than usual
>Unintended
>Anon sits down next to you
>"I'm not going to kill you, Thing. Not unless you give me a damn good reason."
>He puts a hand over your heart
>You tilt your head
>"You're a living, breathing, thinking person like us all. You made a crazy bad decision once, that's true, but...I couldn't stand to think of you dying."
"T-then...then why have you been so damn distant ever since the incident?"
>"Because...I was afraid, Thing. Really, really afraid. You threatened to eat me, remember?"
>You gulp
"S-s-sorry..sorry anon."
>He rubs his temples
>"I know you didn't mean it, but for the love of all that's good, you can maybe see how I was a bit afraid? You're...you're incredibly powerful, Thing, and with great power comes great responsibility. I know you did good when you saved the mayor. But...I've been so afraid you'd eat me in my sleep. It's what I would've done with powers like that. If only for revenge."
>He shakes his head
>"That doesn't feel like enough of a justification, though. Maybe I just felt like you'd betrayed my trust. And if you did that, then why ought I give you my trust again?"
>You whimper as each word becomes another laceration on your already bleeding heart
"I...understand, anon."
>You let the silence take its course
>The two of you watch the sun move further
>The wind blows
>Ponyville is bathed in the sun's golden rays
"What can I do, Anon, to redeem myself? I've been trying as best I can to just be a good citizen. A good friend. But nopony's been willing to let me be their friend."
>You feel the familiar sting of tears behind your eyes