Title:           Safe As Houses 1 (Anon x Coco, Romance, Drama)
Author:          JeffMango
Pastebin link:   http://pastebin.com/zqbcuHvc
First Edit:      Tuesday 2nd of September 2014 04:17:21 PM CDT
Last Edit:       Last edit on: Wednesday 10th of December 2014 01:35:07 PM CDT

>You are Anonymous, only human stranded in a world of talking horses, the usual drill
>And it's raining again
>The drops cascade from the gray heavens above, plunking against the porch roof of Rarity's boutique before sliding off in little rivulets into the grass
>Outside, the air is damp, and cool
>Your fingers fumble in your pocket for a cigarette, then for a lighter
>The smoke fills your lungs, bringing with it a brief sense of calm
>"Anonymoooooooooous~"
>A calm which disappears all to quickly
>You decline to answer, hoping for just a few more minutes out here alone, before
>"Anonymous!"
>The door to the boutique bangs open, and there stands Rarity, glaring at you
>Your marefriend of almost a year is dressed in one of her best, newest dresses, and her face is coated in pony makeup
>"There you are! What in Equestria are you still doing out here? You need to get ready, or you'll make us both late!"
"I thought this thing wasn't starting for another hour."
>"This 'thing' is the Grand Galloping Galla, dear. We can't take any chances! Now come inside, I've already got your favorite suit ironed and a hot bath running. Oh, and put that disgusting thing out."
>Rarity's magic grabs hold of your cigarette, and crushes it
 
>The train ride into Canterlot is spent listening to Rarity's fervent instructions on how to behave at the event
>"You must always be polite, dear. Politeness over all. And you must make sure to always stick close to me, otherwise other mares might get the wrong idea. I will always introduce the two of us together, and I expect you to do the same. But really you should let me do the talking, because..."
>One of your favorite things about Rarity is how easy she is to shut out
>You lean against the window, watching the rain leave its little streaks across the glass
>As soon as you arrive at the big event, you can already tell you don't fit in
>Hordes of ponies mill about in the palace courtyard, all of them dressed in expensive, silky clothing
>And then there's you, three feet taller than anyone else, looking frumpy and gray next to all this pristine, colored beauty
>"Anon, dear, this way..."
>Rarity grabs your hand in her aura, and tugs you along after her
 
>After only fifteen minutes, you're exhausted
>Rarity seems to feel the need to introduce you to every single pony she sees, inevitably inviting the awkward party smalltalk
>You hate awkward party small talk
>Each time you try to escape, Rarity pulls you back with a glare and a whispered reprimand
>"Anonymous, honestly, please behave yourself."
>Mostly, you end up standing silently behind Rarity, hands in your pockets, eyes wandering across the room
>Occasionally, one of Rarity's acquaintances will ask you a question, but for the most part you're just an interesting decoration following the unicorn around the room
 
>Finally, Rarity gets involved enough with some Sapphire Shimmy or whatever that you manage your escape, making a beeline for the refreshment table at the far end of the room
>You're halfway there when you plow into something small, and soft
"Agh!"
>You stumble backward, arms pinwheeling to balance yourself
>In front of you, curled on the ground and massaging her noggin, lies a little cream-colored pony in an aqua blue dress
"Oh, shit, I'm sorry. You okay?"
>The pony looks up at you, and squeaks in terror
>She quickly scrambles to her hooves, and darts away, melding into the crowd before you get a chance to say more
>Weird...
>You feel a little bad, but the guilt quickly disappears as you finally reach the table
>And no Rarity in sight
>You grab a plastic cup and fill it with the pink sugary junk they're serving you
>Seriously, what is it with these horses and their aversion to alcohol?
>You lean against the wall, surveying the rest of the party as--
>"Heeeeeey Anon."
>Your vision is suddenly filled by a pink blob and two blue eyes
"Hey, Pinkie."
>As usual, Pinkie can detect the annoyance in your voice
>"Well, somebody sure is a sourpuss today. What's the matter, don't like the punch?"
"No, Pinkie."
>"The music?"
"The music's fine, Pinkie."
>"Then why so sad?"
>Pinkie grabs your face in her hooves
>You brush her off
"I'm not sad, I just don't like big social facades like this."
>"Big social what-now's?"
"Nevermind."
>Pinkie looks at you suspiciously
>"Okaaay, Anon. But if you aren't having fun when I come back, you are gonna be in big trouble!"
"Okay, Pinkie."
>Both eyes still trained on you, Pinkie bounces away, somehow managing to avoid colliding with anything on the way
>Well, for all of Pinkie's weirdness, talking to her has cheered you up a little
>Maybe this won't be so bad after--
>"Anonymous! There you are!"
>Rarity yanks your hand so hard you think she might have dislocated your shoulder
>"I told you that you were to stay with me at all times. Honestly, Anonymous, can you come out of your own little world for just a few hours? And talking to another mare as well? I can't believe you."
"It was just Pinkie!"
>"I don't care if it was 'just Pinkie.' You are to remain by my side, and that's final. Now come on, a dear old friend of mine is here, and I'd like you to meet her."
>You open your mouth to retort, but Rarity yanks you away again before you can say anything
>She drags you through the crowd of ponies, and out of the main room, leading you down a bustling hallway onto a sheltered, open-air terrace
>The rain is still pouring down outside, and the air is filled with a fine mist
>Rarity drags you to a table near the edge, and plunks you down, daintily getting into the chair next to you
>Across from you sits a light purple mare with a curly, 20's-esque updo, and a gaze so fierce and intelligent you can practically feel yourself being sized up from the moment she sees you
>"Mmm, Rarity, so good to see you again. I take it this is your, heh, coltfriend?"
>Something about the way she says 'coltfriend' tells you that you're not gonna be friends
>Next to her sits another pony, but they currently have their face buried in the menu, hiding them from view
>"Yes, this is my coltfriend Anonymous. In fact, he and I are celebrating out one-year anniversary just next week! Isn't that exciting."
>"Oh, mhm, yeah."
>You're surprised Rarity isn't able to pick up on this mare's obvious disdain
>"And Anon, this is my friend Suri Polomare. We met in the Ponyville Knitter's league, back when we were both just fillies."
>Suri chuckles, though you're not sure at what
>"The two of us eventually went out separate ways after she moved out of Ponyville, but now we're reunited at last. How sweet is that?"
>Rarity smiles, and touches a hoof to her chest
>"Mm, yeah, it's great."
>Suri sounds bored now
>"Coco! Go ask one of the waiters what's taking so long."
>The menu across from you moves, and a cream-colored face peeks out over the top
>It's the pony you nearly ran over earlier
>She says something, but her voice is inaudible over the rain
>"What was that? Speak up, mmkay?"
>"I think the waiters are just busy with all the ponies right now. There are a lot of us here, after all."
>Suri rolls her eyes
>"Well they should've though to hire more staff for a such a large event. Now go!"
>The cream pony, Coco, apparently, shuffles meekly away, dodging between tables
"That was a little rude, wasn't it?"
>Rarity gasps, and Suri just glances over at you, still with that same bored expression
>"Oh? And now you're going to tell me how to treat my own assistant, monkey boy? It's not my fault if she's incompetent, mmkay?"
"She's not incompetent, she brought up a valid point, and-- mmf!"
>Rarity's aura clamps around your jaws, closing them shut
>"Hahaha, pay him no mind, Suri, he just has a bit of a weird sense of humor!"
>Rarity drags your head down to eye-level with her, and grabs a menu to hide you from Suri
>"*What the hay are you doing!?*"
>Her voice is a harsh whisper
"You saw how she treated that other mare. I can't just let something like that slide."
>"How she treats her assistant is none of your business. Just behave yourself!"
>Rarity pulls the menu away, and the two of you sit back up
>"Anyway, I was thinking the hay mignon here looks simply delightful..."
 
>Rarity and Suri make idle chitchat about God-knows-what while you focus your attention on other tables
>The one next to you contains some skinny supermodel pony with a gaggle of four or five stallions constantly following her
>And the one on the right contains Twilight Sparkle, who's been talking about books for nearly twenty minutes now
>Nothing much catches you interest though, until Coco returns
>She stares solemnly at the ground, and her cheeks burn red with embarrassment
>Suri glares at her with calculating, disapproving eyes that seem to demand an explanation
>"They said they were busy, and they'd be with us as soon as possible."
>Suri just shakes her head
>"Coco... ugh, why do I even bother? I give you one simple task to do, and you can't even manage that for me."
>"I tried! But they--"
>Suri holds up a hoof, silencing her
>"Mhm. 'Try' all you want, it doesn't change the fact that you haven't done a single thing right since I hired you."
>"But--"
>Suri silences Coco again, and the cream colored mare turns, and runs off, disappearing back into the main hall
>You look to Rarity, who seems to be trying her best to ignore the situation
>She gives you a look as if to say 'don't start something'
>Well, fuck that, you're starting something
>Without a word, you stand up and chase after Coco
>You feel Rarity's aura trying to close around you, but she can't quite get a hold
>Girl never could hit a moving target
>Ponies yelp and curse at you as you push past them
>Crossing the main hall is like navigating a minefield of cartoon characters, but eventually you emerge onto the other side, panting and ruffled
>You exit the main hall, finding yourself on a quiet garden terrace, looking out over the rest of the city
>A pathway runs through the ornamentations of trees and flowers, leading to a simple balcony at the edge
>And at the ledge you spy Coco, leaning against the rail and gazing at the moon
>She turns at the sound of your approach, and her eyes widen when she sees you
>"Eep! I'm sorry about bumping into you earlier, please don't be mad at me!"
"What? I'm not mad."
>"Y-you're not? Um, thanks."
>She paws at the ground, and seems to have trouble looking you in the face
"You don't have to thank me, it was my fault..."
>Damn, this is awkward
"Are you, um... are you okay?"
>"Me? Oh, yes, I'm fine. Takes a bit more than a bump on the head to hurt me."
>She smiles weakly
"I mean about what Suri said."
>"Oh, that... that's nothing. She says stuff like that all the time."
"All the time?"
>"I mean, she doesn't mean it, or anything. She can just be a little strict sometimes."
"A little strict?"
>Coco doesn't seem comfortable with the direction the conversation is going, and is starting to edge away, looking worse than before
>Shit, you gotta say something
"I like your dress."
>You mentally facepalm, but Coco's face lights up
>"Really?"
"Yeah. The colors go great with your, uh, mane."
>Coco blushes, and puts a hoof to her face
>"Th-thanks. Ponies don't usually compliment my work..."
"Your work? You made that?"
>She nods enthusiastically
>"Uh-huh! I love dressmaking. I want to be a famous designer one day."
"Wow, that's actually pretty cool. You should talk to Rarity, she knows all about that stuff."
>Coco's happy expression fades
>Christ, you feel like a jackass
>"Yes, she's pretty successful, isn't she? That must be why she and Suri get along so well."
"I didn't mean it like..."
>You shake your head
"You know, I think the one you're wearing looks better than any of the gaudy stuff Rarity cranks out."
>"Thanks, Mr... uh, what was your name again?"
"Anonymous. Now, will you come back to the table? I don't wanna have to face the two of them alone."
>Coco giggles, and follows you back to the dining terrace
>When you arrive, the look on Rarity's face... damn
>She's redder than Big Mac, and the veins on her forehead pulsate with fury
>"Anonymous, dear~"
>She grits her teeth around the 'dear'
>"You really shouldn't be leaving the table when we have company."
>Her aura grabs your tie, and pulls you down to face level
>"*And you especially shouldn't be doing it to chase other mares*"
>Her whisper drags like a knife across your ears
>Before you get a chance to respond, Rarity flings you into the chair next to you
>Coco clambers into a spot across from you, trying hard not to look Suri in the eye
>"So, anyway, where were we?"
>Suri starts the conversation, and Rarity joins in quickly, speaking surprisingly calmly despite the fact that she looks like a cherry with purple hair
 
>Eventually, the waiters show up at your table, and you order some weird, fancy pony food before they disappear again
>You and Coco keep silent for most of the wait, and then the meal afterwards
>Rarity will occasionally ask you to chime in on something, which you do with exactly as much enthusiasm as you feel
>"So, Anonymous, what did you think about the Princess' outfit tonight? Absolutely regal, was it not?"
"Hmm."
>"Aha, always a man of few words. Well, yes, you see..."
>The brief happiness you felt when speaking to Coco is gone now, and you're slipping back into your usual funk
>Suri keeps giving you dirty looks, whenever Rarity isn't paying attention
>She also berates Coco for her 'poor table manners'
>Meaning the cream pony used the wrong fork, or something stupid
>How much longer is this supposed to go on?
>Finally, the meal finishes, and the four of you meander back into the main hall
>You're not sure why Suri feels the need to stick with you and Rarity when there's plenty of other ponies to converse with
>Coco trails behind the group, eyes trained on the ground
>Every time she bumps into a pony, she apologizes fervently, even though most of them don't seem to care
>Inside the main hall, ponies have cleared the center of the floor, and a quartet of ponies are playing an uplifting waltz
>Rarity tugs you along after her, pulling you out onto the dance floor with the other pony couples
>You're not sure why she always insists on dancing with you at parties; it's incredibly awkward
>She rears up on her hind legs and wraps her forelegs around your waist
>You put your hands on her withers, and the two of you rotate as you step through the crowd of far-more-graceful dancers
>Occasionally, you catch glimpses of Suri and Coco watching from the sidelines
>Suri looks like she's trying not to laugh, but Coco just looks sad
>Well, not quite sad, more... jealous?
>Eh, that's probably just wishful thinking
>A cute little thing like her wouldn't want you
>You're lucky to have Rarity, and you shouldn't fuck that up
 
>The dance ends, and the two of you rejoin Suri and Coco
>"Mmm, where'd you learn to dance like that, Rarity?"
>Suri has her hoof pressed against her mouth, and you can tell she's trying not to snicker
>Rarity ignores her, and you can tell she's starting to get a little annoyed with Suri's antics as well
>"I thought it was nice..."
>"Hmm, you would now, wouldn't you?"
>The was Suri says it seems to imply some ulterior meaning
>Coco's face reddens, and she hangs her head
>Immediately, you're filled with a bizarre desire to protect this mare you barely know
>Something about Coco just makes the sight of her being abused immensely painful
>Unfortunately, Rarity and Suri don't seem to share your sentiments, and the poor girl's discomfort goes unnoticed
>In fact, Suri just laughs, causing Coco's head to droop deeper
>So you do something stupid
"You want to dance next?"
>Coco looks up, looking towards the other mares before realizing you're talking to her
>"M-me? Dance with me? But won't Rarity mind?"
>Rarity opens her mouth, probably to tell you exactly how much she will mind, but you grab Coco before she gets the chance, and drag her out onto the floor
>Coco's stuttering the entire way
>"A-Anonymous, you really d-don't have to do this, I-I'll be fine just waiting back there, your marefriend might be mad..."
"Let me worry about Rarity. C'mon, you deserve a little fun after she's been treating you all night."
>"I dunno... I'm not much of a dancer."
"Neither am I. Who cares?"
>You reach out and touch Coco's wither, causing her to flinch
>Quickly, you draw your hand away, apology already forming on your lips
"Sorry."
>"Sorry..."
>You and Coco both glance away from each other
>"It's been a little while..."
"Yeah... You know, if you don't want to dance, it's fine."
>"No, no, sorry, just an old habit."
>Old habit?
>What the hell is that supposed to mean?
>Before you have more time to ponder, Coco rears onto her hind legs, and grabs your waist
>You quickly grab her withers, and another waltz begins
>Coco shuts her eyes, and begins to move
>As it turns out, she's actually a pretty good dancer, and follows you as perfectly as a partner half your size can
>Your thoughts start off focusing on keeping the rhythm of steps, but slowly began to drift
>You find yourself thinking less about where to put your feet next, and more about the incredibly softness of Coco's back
>Gradually, you move from guiding her along, to almost caressing her
>And you swear Coco's hooves are doing the same to you
>Easy, Anon, easy
>You're just overreacting
>And besides, you have a marefriend already anyway
>Just focus on the dance...
>But no matter how hard you try to focus on the simple waltz you and Coco are performing, you can't help but find yourself glancing down at her round little face, the curves of her flanks, perfectly outlined by the silk dress
>No, stop
>By the time the dance ends, you're short of breath
>But it's not just do to the exercise
>Coco disengages herself from you, slowly
>"Th-thanks, Anonymous."
"Anon."
>"Thanks, Anon."
>God, could she get any more bashful?
>Coco's staring at the floor, her rear legs crossed under her dress
>Not thinking, you reach out and cup her cheek in your hand
>"Anon?"
>She looks up at you with those aqua-blue eyes, so full of sadness, and confusion
>Your thumb strokes along the soft fur of her face
>Coco closes her eyes again, and leans her face into your palm
>Holy shit, you're heart is beating fast--
"ANONYMOUS!"
>You feel a crushing force constrict around your hand, dragging you away from Coco with such force that you can almost feel your arm tearing in half
>"DARLING, I think it's time for us to LEAVE."
>She spits her words at you like little globs of sulfuric acid
>You were expecting Rarity to be pissed, but this is... kinda fucking scary
>Turning your head, you try to get a last glimpse of Coco
>But the crowd has already swallowed the little cream mare up
>Rarity barges past ponies without apology or explanation, all concern for politeness gone
>She sweeps down the elegant front steps, skirts skittering around her hooves
"Rarity, wait, I can--"
>"I'm NOT in the mood to hear it right now, Anonymous. I think it's time we get YOU home."
>She tightens her grip around your hand, so tight now she's almost crushing the bones
"Hey, ease up!"
>She pulls you in close, forcibly bending you down to eye level
>"No, darling, I think it's YOU who needs to ease up."
>She hisses each word, sending little bits of spit flying into your face
>Outside, she drags you to the train, and far, far into the back, past all the other ponies leaving early, and into the farthest car back
>It's dark inside, and you're the only two there
>Rarity flings you into a seat, rattling every bone in your body
>Christ, she's strong when she's mad
>Before you can react, she's climbing on top of you, her hooves at your neck
"Ack!"
>You panic, and bring your hands to Rarity's sides, ready to shove her off you
>She presses her lips against your mouth, kissing you viciously
"Mmf"
>Rarity slams against you, a living wall of marshmallow and silk
>Her hooves pin you back, and she bites your lips, panting heavily
>You're mind is reeling to hard for you to react properly
>One minute she's trying to tear you apart, the next she's trying to shove her tongue down your throat
>Rarity's face is pressed so hard against yours it's become difficult to breathe
>You reach up and try to pry her away, but her magic grips your hands and holds you down
>"You're not gonna ignore me again, are you, Anon?"
"Ignore you? I wasn't--mm"
>She shuts you up by kissing you again, nipping your lower lip
"Ack! What the hell?"
>Rarity begins running her hooves over her chest
>"I'm the only mare you need, Anonymous. After I'm done, you'll never think of another girl again."
>You can feel her magic expertly stripping away your clothes, the soft smoothness of her bare body pressing against yours
>As you slide into her, she gasps, gripping you to push herself down harder
>"I'm the only one you need. The only one you need."
>She punctuates her sentences with little kisses
>"I'm the only one you love."
>But you can only think of Coco as you grip Rarity and climax into her shuddering marshmallow body
 
>As the glow your coitus fades, Rarity cuddles up against you, her dress crumbled on the floor in front of you
>You stroke her back, half-heartedly
>Why are you such a shitty person?
>This mare loves you, she's crazy about you
>Why can't you just be happy with that?
>Bending down, you fumble around for a cigarette
>"Are you really going to light one of those dreadful things in here?"
>You nod as you do so, pulling the smoke into your lungs
>Rarity grimaces, but places her head back against you
>Your hand moves up to toy with her mane, something she's always liked
>As long as you didn't mess it up too much
>Fuck, man, why do you feel so shitty?
>No matter what else you try to focus on, that Coco girl's face keeps popping back into your head
>Yeah, she was nice, and she was cute
>So what?
>She doesn't even live in the same city as you
>And besides, you're happy with Rarity
>Sure she can be demanding, but the two of you have a good thing going
>So why the fuck can't you stop thinking about that other mare?
>Rarity seems to be able to sense your agitation
>"Darling? Is everything alright?"
"Yeah. I just need a little fresh air."
>"Ooh, that does sound like a fine idea. Let me put my dress back on."
"Actually, I'd like to be... alone, for a bit."
>"Alone?"
"Yeah, I'll be back in a few minutes."
>Dressed only in your trousers, you step out the caboose door and onto the small platform at the back of the train
>You wonder what Coco's doing right now...
>Is she even still thinking about you?
 
>You and Rarity don't speak much on the way back
>When the two of you finally arrive at the boutique, you both stumble inside, exhausted, and collapse into your shared bed
>On most nights, you'd cuddle with Rarity for a bit first, but tonight...
>You're just not in the mood
>And why do you feel so guilty about it?
>You dream about that dance with Coco, only this time there's no Rarity to interrupt you
>Just you, stroking her cheek, those eyes looking up at you
>But there's no sadness in them anymore
>Somehow you know that you helped her, you're protecting her from Suri, and who knows what else
>You've never wanted anything more
>When you wake up, a thick, empty feeling has settled in your chest
>The sun hasn't risen, so you just sit up in bed, staring out the window at the rest of sleepy Ponyville
>Try as you might, you can't push the dream out of your head
>Coco...
>Your own marefriend is sleeping two feet from you, and you've never felt more lonely in your life
 
>The next morning is dreary, and sluggish
>Rarity is acting unusually chipper, and brings you a tray laden with breakfast
>You're not hungry, but you eat it all anyway, just to make her happy
>It's the least you can do for ruining last night
>Eventually, she heads into her workroom for the day to concoct some new gaudy horsewear
>Normally, you'd head into town and spend your time doing odd jobs for the local populace
>But today, you don't feel like doing much
>In fact, you probably would have sat in bed all day...
>If there hadn't been a knock on the door around noon
>You head downstairs and pull open the door, not bothering to dress yourself
>It's probably just Twilight with some asinine request for you
>But it turns out to be quite a different purple pony than you expected
>"Didn't even bother to putting on clothes this morning, hmm? Classy."
>Suri grins smugly at you, leaning up against the doorframe
"What the hell are you--"
>Suri barges in past you
>"Shut up monkey. I'm here to see Rarity. Where is she?"
"Fuck off, I ain't telling you."
>"Oh, real mature. Why don't you just go back to your cage, or wherever Rarity keeps you, and let the adults do the talking, 'mkay?"
>For one brief instant, you imagine picking Suri up by the tail, and flinging her into one of Rarity's expensive vases
>But it quickly fades; you don't even have the energy to be mad today
>So instead, you flip Suri off, and leave the house
>It's a total beta move, sure, whatever, but you're really not too worried about Suri's opinion of you
>Outside, the sun is high and bright, a direct contrast to your dour mood
 
>You make it to the center of Ponyville, sitting on a bench in front of Town Hall
>All around you, the colorful little equines go about their daily business, chatting and laughing as they drag vegetable carts and carry paper-wrapped packages to and fro
>You reach into your pocket, only to find that you left your cigarettes back at the Boutique
>Fuck
>Ponies stare at you less than when you first arrived, but you can still their discomfort as they pass by
>And you can't really blame them, you stick out like a blemish on this colorful world
>Okay, no, you're not gonna sit here and wallow in self-pity
>There has to be something around town to do, right?
>Legs aching, you stand up and set to wandering about
>You make it about as far as Sugar Cube Corner before you come to a fairly-obvious realization
>Coco is Suri's assistant
>Suri is in Ponyville
>Pain in your legs forgotten, you take off running like a madman
>Ponies hurry to get out of your way as you tear past them, not entirely sure yet where you're headed
>You scan the various storefronts as you sprint past, hoping for some glimpse of a vanilla coat
>Ponyville's not that big of a place, eventually you're sure to run into--
>SMACK!
>You ram into something small and soft, tripping over it and skidding across the ground
>That hurt
>Dimly you sit up, rubbing a fresh lump on your head and looking for the pony you just trampled
>Coco's curled on the ground, eyes closed and hooves placed defensively over her head
>An ugly purple bruise is already forming on her side
>"I'm so sorry! I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"
>She's shaking
"Coco! It's me! Are you okay?"
>She opens a single eye, and glances up at you
>Her quivering calms as she recognizes you
>"Anon?"
"Yeah. Fuck, I'm really sorry about that. I didn't hurt you, did I?"
>Of course you did, fucking jackass; that bruise hurts just to look at
>"Oh, heh, no, I'm okay. I guess I just need to learn to watch where I'm going."
"No, it was my fault, I was in a hurry to--"
>'to see you again' sounds really creepy in this situation
"Nevermind. Are you sure you're alright? Ponyville General's just a few blocks that way."
>"No, I'm really alright."
>Coco gets to her hooves slowly, and you can tell she's in a lot more pain than she lets on
"You know, how about we head down just in case?"
>"Anon, I'm really--"
"I know you are, so it'll be a quick visit. C'mon."
>You usher for Coco to follow you
>She bends to pick up her saddle bags, grimacing as they brush her side
"Lemme get those for you."
>"Anon, I can--"
"I know you can. I'm just helping. Now come on."
>The two of you begin the trip to the hospital
>The first thing that comes to your mind is 'this is a weird first date'
>You quickly push the thought away
>After all, it's not a date
>You're happy with Rarity, and you shouldn't be in such a rush to fuck that up
>"Anon?"
"Hmm?"
>"You okay?"
>You look at Coco, who's limping slightly on her bruised side
>She's asking if you're okay?
"Uh, yeah, I'm fine. I'm more worried about--"
>"Are you worried about your marefriend?"
>Coco blurts the words out, quickly covering her mouth
>"I'm sorry, I don't mean to pry. Forget I said anything."
>She purses her lips into a thin, narrow line, and struts ahead of you
>Well, alright then
>Part of you screams out to tell Coco the truth, about how you felt after last night's dance
>But wouldn't that just cause more harm than good?
>Besides, Coco will probably be leaving before too long anyway...
>The thought of that depresses you way more than it has any right to
 
"Here it is."
>You and Coco arrive in front of Ponyville General
>Her limp is a lot more pronounced now, and a sheen of sweat shines on her face
>She begins wavering off the path, and you reach out to steady her
>And before you know it, you're carrying Coco inside
>A white mare greets you, looking somewhat skeptically at the dazed pony draped in your arms
>"Um... can I help you?"
>You explain the situation with Coco, trying not to drop her as she squirms in your grasp
>"Anon, let me go... I'm fine..."
>Her breathing is ragged, and each one sends a little shudder of pain through her body
>God damn, you really hit her hard
>You're surprised she managed to make it as far as she did without help
>When you finish, the nurse pony still doesn't look convinced, but leads you down the hall to an empty room
>You place Coco on a table, and the nurse pony immediately shoos you out
>"Wait outside, I need to have a few words with you after I'm through."
>Not entirely sure of what she means, you step out of the room, and she shuts the door after you
>Fucking weird
>Seeing as there's nothing better to do, you set to wandering around the hospital
>You last about five minutes before the endless smell of antiseptic and the disturbing stillness of the place drive you back outside
"Aaaaah."
>You take a huge gulp of the fresh outside air
>Man, you wish you had a cigarette right now...
 
>You elect to wait outside the hospital instead, and spend an hour or so watching some ponies trim their hedges until the nurse calls you back in
>She beckons for you to follow, and leads you into a cramped, windowless office overflowing with papers
>The nurse mare sits, and gestures for you to do the same
>There isn't another chair, though, so you just lean awkwardly against the corner, waiting for her to begin
>"So."
>She reaches down, and begins organizing some papers as she speaks
>"What really happened to this mare?"
"To Coco? I told you, I wasn't watching where I was going, and ran into her."
>"Mm hmm. Mr. Anonymous, is it?"
"Yes ma'am."
>"Do I need to remind you that I am a trained medical professional, Mr. Anonymous?"
"No ma'am."
>"I'd like to think that. But it seems like you've forgotten that I can see things that most ponies can't."
"I don't follow."
>Christ, will she just get to the point
>"I'm sure you don't."
>She sighs, before clearing her throat
>"It is my professional opinion that this mare you've brought me is, or has been, a victim of domestic abuse. Possibly for some time."
>You feel a sickening, squelching feeling in your stomach at the thought
>Though, when you think about it, it makes a disturbing amount of sense
"Oh god... Wait, you're not accusing me, are you?"
>"Well, it's pretty hard to believe you broke two of this pony's ribs just by running into her."
>You broke two of her ribs?
>Fuck, they can just give you the 'world's biggest jackass' trophy right now; no one's ever gonna top this
"Maybe it does seem kinda stupid... but it's what happened. I could never hurt a pony like her."
>The nurse raises an eyebrow
>"So you know her well?"
"Well, not very well, but..."
>You're not entirely sure what to follow that with
>"I see. I take it you'll be the one picking her up when she checks out?"
>Well, it's you or Suri...
"Yeah. It'll be me."
>"Okay. I'll see you tomorrow then. And Anonymous..."
"Mm?"
>"I'll be watching the both of you."
>You nod to her, and step out
>As soon as the door closes, you flip the bitchy nurse mare off
>How dare she accuse you of hurting innocent little Coco?
>Just thinking about it makes you sick
>Christ... what kind of monster could hit someone like her?
>One with a purple updo and an annoying voice, you guess
>Still, you never saw Suri actually attack Coco...
>Various ugly thoughts spin through your head as you step out of the hospital for some more fresh air
>This place really skeeves you out, plus you don't feel like getting another interrogation from nurse mare
>Maybe you can just find a nice place to--
>"Anonymous!"
>Fuck
>In two seconds, Rarity is upon you
>"What in Equestria happened to you? Why are you missing your shirt? Why are you so filthy? Where'd this lump come from? Why'd you run off? Explain!"
>She puts on her demanding face
"Um..."
>You'd really rather not tell Rarity you ran into Coco again, that might set her off a bit
"I, uh, had a bit of an accident while I was in town, you know, tripped over a, uh... over a rock... and fell down."
>Master storytelling right here
"So I came here, but they just told me I was fine! So now I'm here, heheh."
>Wow, you're bad at this
>Rarity just shrugs though, and some of the tension leaves her face
>"I swear, Anon, you're nothing if not clumsy. Well, come on then, we need to get Sweetie Belle from school."
"Uh..."
>Goddammit, you were supposed to wait here to pick up Coco
>Quick, think of an excuse, think of an excuse...
"...I left my watch in the hospital. Lemme just go get it and--YAH"
>Rarity grabs your hand, and begins dragging you along behind her, away from the hospital
>After a few seconds of struggle, you're reminded how futile it is to try and break from her magic
>Well... hopefully they'll keep Coco a little while, and you'll have time to get back
>As usual, Sweetie Belle is ecstatic to see you
>Ever since you started dating Rarity, she's looked up to you as some sort of older brother figure
>You did your best to fit the role
>The colts and fillies files out from the main school building, and Sweetie runs over as soon as she sees you, jumping into your arms
>"Hey, Anon! Hey, Rarity!"
>You ruffle her mane, and she nuzzles your chest before you set her back down
"How was school today?"
>"It was great! Me and Scootaloo lit Snips' tail on fire! We think we might be able to get our Cutie Marks in arson!"
>Rarity's eyes widen, and you can tell she's about to reprimand her younger sister
>But no one can hear her over your laughter
>Rarity shifts her focus to you, slapping you with her tail
>"I swear, Anonymous, must you encourage this rowdy behavior?"
"Of course! It's hilarious!"
>You and Sweetie high-five, before your little group begins to head back to the boutique
>The cloud that had settled over you earlier has begun to lift
>For now, you feel like part of a family again
 
>Sweetie is still chatting excitedly about Snips' reaction to the sudden combustion of his tail when the three of you reach home
>You step in, ready to clean up and finally put a shirt on
>Only to stop dead in your tracks when you see that a certain purple mare is currently sprawled across Rarity's couch, leafing through some pony tabloids
>Suri looks up with an annoyed expression
>"Oh, great. The ape--"
>She cuts herself off when she sees Rarity
>"Anonymous, you remember Suri from last night, don't you?"
"How could I forget?"
>You try to pour all your hatred into a single angry glance
>"Rarity looks between the two of you, a little put off by the tension
>"Well, yes, um... she's going to be staying here for a little while."
>...
>You resist the sudden urge to skewer your eyeballs on Rarity's horn
"She's staying... here?"
>"Yes. You see, there's a very important fashion competition coming up next month in Manehattan, and Suri has contacts who could enter us as partners. So, she'll be staying here while we work. I hope that isn't a problem for you?"
>Behind Rarity's back, Suri's grinning devilishly
>She's just waiting for you to complain, you can tell
"Of course not."
>You try to subtly inject a menacing tone into your voice, staring straight at Suri
"Not a problem at all."
>Rarity looks between the two of you, still a little uncomfortable
>"Well... excellent! Alright then, Anonymous, Suri, I think this new partnership calls for a round of celebration! Don't you agree?"
>"Uh, duh? When have I ever not been down to party, Rarity?"
>Rarity looks to you, expectant
>"Anon?"
>Suri chuckles
>"Anon's looking a little rough around the edges. Maybe he should stay in tonight and rest."
It's not a particularly insulting thing to say, but the tone of her voice sends hot waves of anger rolling through your body
"You know what? I think I could use a good night out. After all, I've been dealing with an unusual amount of unpleasant distractions lately."
>Before Suri can get another snide comment in, you turn and head upstairs to shower and dress yourself
>Fucking bitch
>In a poorly-disguised effort to show off, Rarity takes the two of you two the single finest restaurant in Ponyville
>'Citizen Mane's'
>They serve hay
>Normally, just the site of this place would set your teeth on edge
>But right now you've got someone else monopolizing your hatred
>Suri's been revealing her talents as a master of subtle insults, taking jabs so slight at you that they fly right under Rarity's radar
>"Anonymous would know all about fillies, wouldn't he?"
>"I'd be scared too, if I was her."
>"Honestly, Rarity, you must have the patience of a saint."
>By the time you've sat down and ordered, you're ready to pick her up and break her over a knee, Bane-style
>But you don't
>Instead, you just act as if every single comment Suri makes is the most asinine, stupid thing you've ever heard
>And you can tell that's starting to get at her
>Her insults are becoming more obvious, and Rarity is starting to get that uncomfortable look on her face again
>You're not sure if she gets what's going on or not
>The plates arrive, and a large platter of fancily prepared hay is set down in front of you
>"Hmmf, surprised they'd waste all that on you..."
>"Suri!"
>Suri's eyes widen, realizing suddenly she's gone too far
>"Uh... oh, come on, I was just joking, Rarity. Me and Anon here are just having a little back-and-forth."
"Emphasis on 'little.'"
>Suri glowers, but doesn't look at you
>Rarity looks placated, for now
>"Well, alright. It is good to know you're getting along, I guess. But I'd prefer it if you two would keep things civil at the dinner table."
"Right."
>"Mm-hmm."
>Rarity focuses back on her food, and you and Suri lock eyes
>It's you could somehow stare pure hatred into her, you would
>And you're guessing she'd do the same
>Neither of you look up as you continue your meal
 
>"So! Who's ready for dessert?"
>Rarity picks up the smaller dessert menu, and begins leafing through it happily
>You and Suri don't break from your staredown, until Rarity shoves the menu in your face
>"Look at this one, Anon. Doesn't it look heavenly?"
>It's some sort of chocolate mousse concoction
>Vanilla, cream, cocoa beans...
>The name sends a pang through your heart as you remember the mare you hospitalized today
>Fucking jackass
>You begin to squirm in your seat, wanting nothing more than to get the hell out of here and head over to Ponyville General
>Rarity and Suri are going on and on about stitching, or something stupid like that
>Christ, it hurts your ears just to listen to them
>Suri's voice in particular makes you sick to your stomach
>She just keeps talking
>All those 'hmm, yeah?'s and 'mmkay's
>Each one hits you like a poke to the cerebellum
>You're starting to feel physically sick now
>You just wanna see Coco, and make sure she's okay
>What if you hurt her worse than the nurse pony realized?
>No, no, don't think about that
>She'll be fine, right?
>You'll just wait until this dinner is over...
>"And then I tried to go with a rear-cross stitch, but the horse who ordered it absolutely demanded I place it in front!"
>"I hear you, Rarity. I had this time when a customer came in, ranting about how my hemline was too far off..."
>God, why are you even here?
>This is like some form of acute mental torture
>Please be okay, Coco...
>"Anon?"
"Huh?"
>"Are you alright, dear? You look a little green around the proverbial gills."
"No, I'm fine. I think I just need to step out for a little air."
>"Aright then. Be back soon, I think our dessert's almost ready."
>You stand, and excuse yourself from the table
>Outside, the air is crisp, and the sun is slowly sinking in the west
>You take several large puffs of it to clean your lungs, before removing a cigarette from your pocket to dirty them
>It calms you, slightly, but you can't get the thoughts of Coco out of your head
>You think of the poor little mare, sitting in the dark hospital all alone
>The bitchy nurse won't let her leave, no friends to comfort her, bored and probably scared
>Ugh, you can't take this anymore
>You put out your cigarette and flick it over your shoulder, take a deep breath, and take off running
 
>By the time you get to the hospital, you're panting and out of breath
>You really need to start exercising more
>As soon as you step inside, nurse mare is upon you
>"There you are! Where in all of Equestria did you disappear to?"
"I had to--"
>"Ugh, nevermind. The poor thing's been awake for hours, with no one to check on her! Do you have any idea how much of a liability issue this is?"
"Yeah, I know, I know."
>"No, you don't! This is a very serious--"
>You barge in past nurse mare, cutting her off
>Why does every single pony want to give you shit today?
>You walk down to Coco's room, and let yourself in despite nurse mare's protests
>Inside, Coco is sitting in a hospital bed, staring blankly out the window
>She's dressed in a little hospital gown, and her hair is mussed and tangled
>At the sound of your entry, she starts, and looks over at you
>"Anon! Wh-what are you doing here?"
>She pulls the blankets up close around her, as if to hide
"I brought you here, remember?"
>"Yes, but... can you excuse me a minute?"
"Um... I guess?"
>You step outside, and shut the door
>Through the door, you can hear the ruffling of fabric, followed by weight shifting in the bed
>"Okay, I'm good."
>Back in the room, Coco's laying down now, blankets all the way up around her neck
>What's up with that?
>Part of you wants to ask, but you get the feeling that isn't a conversation you want right now
>Besides, there's other things you have to say
"Coco... holy shit, I'm really sorry. It's not too bad, is it?"
>She shakes her head
>"No, they said I should be ready to leave by tomorrow."
>She sounds weirdly chipper for a girl who's had her ribs smashed
>You let a little of your relief show in your voice
"That's good to hear. But, Coco... aren't you mad at all? I mean, I injured you pretty badly acting like dumbass. I'd be mad if I were you."
>She shakes her head
>"I don't let myself get mad over silly things like this."
>'silly things'
>You nearly trampled her
>What is 'silly' about any of this?
"Oh. Well, that's understandable, I guess. But I want to make this up to you, somehow."
>"What do you mean?"
"I mean, I hospitalized you. I think you deserve at least, I dunno, something to make up for it."
>"Oh."
>Coco looks abashed
>"You don't have to do anything for me, Anon."
"I know, but I'm still going to. So... what would you like?"
>Her forehooves fidget under the blanket
>"Well, um... I've never been on, like, a real date before..."
"A real date?"
>"You know, going to a park, getting dinner... stuff like that."
>Coco's face is beet red, and you can practically feel her heart thumping
"If that's what you want, I can do that."
>"R-really?"
>Coco beams, giving you a little smile
"Of course. Just as soon as you're all healed up."
>Coco nods, her tousled mane bouncing around her neck
>"Thank you so much, Anon."
"Why are you thanking me? I pretty much ruined your whole day."
>She shakes her head
>"It wasn't going very well already. Suri sent me out to find this really rare fabric, and I searched through every store I could find, but they never had it. I got kinda lost..."
>Something about this sounds suspicious
"What was the fabric?"
>"I don't know. Suri didn't give me a very good description. But she said I couldn't come back until I found it, so I got really worried, and..."
>Coco sighs
>Suri sent her assistant into town on a purposefully impossible errand, just to get her lost for a few hours?
>Why?
>Are you ever going to learn anything about that mare that doesn't make you want to bash her head in?
"Did Suri even find you a place to stay?"
>Coco shakes her head
>"She said she would, but I haven't seen her since this morning..."
>Coco hangs her head
>"She's going to be so mad at me..."
>Coco sniffles, and for a second you think she's about to cry
>But she doesn't, she just stares dejectedly down at her sheets, hoof tracing lazy circles in the fabric
"Coco... why do you work for that mare? She treats you like garbage."
>Coco looks taken aback
>"Garbage? No, Suri's been very good to me. She just gets a little angry when I mess things up. I kinda... do that a lot."
"A little angry? Coco, she's terrible to you."
>"She is not!"
>Coco puffs out her cheeks, and pouts at you
>"You don't understand her, Anon. She's a very strong, very proud mare. A nobody like me should be thankful to be working for her."
>Hearing her rag on herself like this makes you sick
"A nobody? You're not a nobody, Coco. You're one of the nicest ponies I've ever met. And you made the dress from last night, so I know you've got some real talent."
>Coco blinks twice, then shakes her head
>"It's nice to hear you say that. But I don't have any talent compared to a real professional like Suri or Rarity. They sell dresses every day, I've never sold one."
"There's more to talent than just business, you know. Why don't you try working on your own?"
>"On my own?"
"Yeah. Sell your own dresses. Be your own mare."
>She looks at you as if you just told her to jump to the moon
>"I could never do that. I don't have the skills, or the know-how to make it in fashion. That's why I have to stick with Suri."
>You give up trying to persuade her, letting your shoulders slump
>Coco reaches over, and pats your shoulder
>You catch a brief glimpse of what she was trying to conceal
>Beneath the blankets, and her green paper gown, her midsection is wrapped thickly in rows of clean linen bandages
>The sight sends a sour spike of guilt through your heart
>God, only you could do something like that to a mare like this
>"Don't worry about me, Anon."
>Coco tilts your chins up, and your eyes meet hers
>"I'm happy with Suri, really. I appreciate your concern, but I'm one mare you don't have to worry about."
>She gives you a small smile, and you can tell she really means it
"Well... alright."
>You lean back in the plastic hospital chair, still watching Coco
>Right now, you have a bizarre urge to wrap your arms around the little cream mare
>It's so strong your right arm twitches
>Coco's looking back at you, the ghost of the smile still on her face
>How would she react if you hugged her?
>"Anon?"
"Huh? What?"
>"You zoned out for a second there."
"Oh yeah."
>...
"So, did you say you didn't have a place to stay?"
>Coco shakes her head
>Whoa, wait a minute there, Anon
>Are you really about to invite another mare to stay in your home?
>Rarity wouldn't be pleased, to say the least
>But, still, you can't just leave her out on her own
"Well, if you need one..."
>Well, you've doomed yourself to more angry Rarity
>But at least this'll be another way to annoy Suri
"...there's always plenty of room at the boutique."
>"The... boutique?"
"Where I live."
>"Oh. Oh!"
>Coco brings a hoof to her mouth, pink splotches appearing on her cheeks
>"Are you sure that's, um, okay? I mean, you have a marefriend and all..."
"Eh, Rarity won't mind."
 
>"You did WHAT?!"
>She minds, all right
>It's been twenty five minutes since you left the hospital, and for some reason you thought it would be a good idea to inform Rarity of your decision
>Seemed smart at the time
"She needed a place to stay! And she's Suri's assistant anyway, so I don't know why you're freaking out about this so much!"
>"I am not 'freaking out!' I am understandably upset that my own coltfriend invited a strange mare to stay in my house!"
"She's not strange, for one, and two: she needs a goddamn place! Why can't you just trust me?!"
>Rarity crosses her forelegs, and turns her nose up
>"You haven't been giving me a lot of reasons to trust you lately, Anonymous."
"Seriously? What the hell are you going on about?"
>"You know perfectly well what! Ignoring me at the Gala, dancing with that other mare, disappearing after dinner today. Suspicious, despicable behavior!"
"Ignore you?! I-- ugh, fuck it, nevermind. Guess I'll just go tell Coco she has to sleep out on the street because the Element of Generosity can't spare another room in her enormous fucking house."
>"This has nothing to do with generosity! This is about you fraternizing with strange mares."
"She is not a strange mare! Goddammit, Rarity, get past your petty bullshit for one second, okay?"
>"Petty? How dare you!"
>Rarity looks as if she'd like nothing more than to smack you, if you were a bit closer to the ground
>You're getting a pretty similar feeling, in the opposite direction
>She closes her eyes, and takes a deep breath, wiping a hoof across her eyes
>"Anon... I like you a lot. I really do. But you're hurting me with all this. I'm starting to worry that you're drifting away."
>She glances at the ground, and you see tears welling in the corners of her eyes
>Leave it to Rarity to make you feel guilty about doing the right thing
"Drifting away? No, Rarity..."
>She's right
>You know she's right
>Even before the Gala, you've been having second thoughts about your relationship with Rarity
>You'd kinda assumed she shared them, but if she doesn't...
>Oof, you can't deal with this right now
"I just... can I have some time to think?"
>"Time to think? What do you mean by that?"
"I don't know right now. I just need to be alone."
>"Anon-- okay. We'll finish this discussion tomorrow morning."
>You nod, trying to ignore the tears now sparkling in Rarity's eyes
>She'll cry herself to sleep tonight, you know; she's done it plenty before
>Your marefriend hangs her head, and tramps up the stairs to your shared bedroom
>You, meanwhile, head out the front door to your usual spot on the porch
>Thankfully, you've got your cigarettes back
>You light one, and pull the smoke into your lungs
>It doesn't have quite the same kick as the ones from earth, but it soothes your now-crackling nerves
>Fuck, man, you're just trying to do the right thing
>Now Rarity's pissed at you
>And, as much as your ego tries to rationalize what you did, it's mostly your fault
>You just can't get over Coco
>Something about that mare...
>As fucked-up as it is, you feel like she needs you
>Or at least someone to protect her
>'It is my professional opinion that this mare you've brought me is, or has been, a victim of domestic abuse. Possibly for some time.'
>Nurse mare's words echo unbidden in your head
>Just the idea of someone hurting her makes you ill
>Plus, being with her, even for those brief moments the two of you have shared, you've felt... happy
>Coco accepts you for you; it seems like just your presence is enough to cheer her up
>Rarity, meanwhile, wants to turn you into someone else
>Every time you go out with her, you feel small, and scrutinized...
>...
>Are you really going to go down this path?
>Are you really comparing a mare you barely know, to your girlfriend of almost a year?
>You might be completely misreading the signs from Coco anyway
>What if she's just being friendly, and you're sitting here wracking your brains over nothing?
>Are you gonna tear apart a relationship, break Rarity's heart, and crush poor Sweetie Belle over a possibility of attention from another mare?
>Heh, listen to you, 'break Rarity's heart'
>How could someone ever like you possibly mean that much to a mare like her?
>"Well, you certainly got Rarity all worked up. What'd you do, insult her mane?"
>Oh, fuck no
>There's a voice you didn't want to hear right now
>Suri stands in the front doorway, grinning smugly at you as she leans up against the frame
"Fuck off."
>She snickers
>"What's the matter? Did I touch a nerve?"
"What the hell is your problem?"
>"I think that should be pretty obvious. You're standing right in front of me."
"Me? What have I ever done to you?"
>She shakes her head
>"Anon, Anon, Anon. I think it's time to grow up, mmkay?"
>You cock an eyebrow, trying to keep your calm
>"Ugh, really? You don't get it? I hate you because of anything you did, I hate you because of who you are. You're a disgusting, freakish creature that doesn't belong in this world. And that'd be fine, if you'd just realize it. But no, you have to act like you fit in with us. And even worse, you act like you deserve so much, like you deserve Rarity, or Coco. You're a self-obsessed loser, and I can only hope Rarity will realize that before too long."
>Whoa
"I-- I--"
>"Uh huh. That's what I thought."
>She turns and heads back inside, flicking her tail at you
>You sink deeper in your chair, trying to process everything that just happened
>Suri's words hurt, but not in the normal way an insult would
>Because part of you agrees with her
>By the time your last three cigarettes have found themselves burnt and wafting through your lungs, you can't bear to be on Rarity's front porch any longer
>Looks like it's time for a midnight walk
 
>The streets of Ponyville are quiet and peaceful, a direct contrast to the storm of emotion and worry currently raging through your mind
>What the hell are you gonna do?
>The lights were off in Rarity's room when you left, so you hope she's gone to sleep
>A mare like her shouldn't be crying over someone like you...
>There you go, self deprecating again
>It's become more and more of a natural thing to do lately
>And Suri's words definitely didn't help
>Maybe you should just pack up and leave
>Why would any of these ponies even want you here?
>They usually seem happy when you're around, but... well, they seem kinda happy all the time
>They're probably just being polite
>Still... it's not like you have anywhere else to go
>The one time you ventured outside Ponyville, you ended up nearly getting killed in the Everfree
>Who knew a land inhabited by cartoon horses could be so damn violent?
>Your legs carry you through the town square, and on towards the hospital
>You hope Coco is sleeping soundly inside
>In the dark, the place seems haunting, and lonely
>The thought of Coco in there alone, shivering in those thin hospital sheets...
>Fuck, why do visiting hours have to be so short?
>You stop short
>If you remember correctly, Coco's room is on the first floor, and with a single window
>A window which you, theoretically, could reach
>You begin creeping toward's the building, head swiveling to watch for security
>Are you really going to do this?
>All it takes is a second of imagining returning to Rarity's boutique to make your decision for you
>You reach the wall, standing just a few inches to the side of what you believe is Coco's window
>There doesn't seem to be much of any security around, so you risk a peek inside
>Coco sits up in the hospital bed, illuminated by a pool of moonlight splashing over the covers, staring blankly at the wall in front of her
>The scene is almost breathtaking in its loneliness
> As quietly as possible, you rap your knuckles against the pane of purple-tinged glass
>Coco's jolts, and looks toward the window
>You force a smile, realizing how creepy this must seem to her
>"Anon?"
>She mouthes
>You nod, and motion for her to open the window
>She gets up, slowly, from the bed, wincing as she does so
>Gingerly, she plods over to the window, and unlatches it
>You push it open, and step into the room as quietly as possible
>"Wh-what are you doing here?"
>Coco's voice is a whisper, but her embarrassment still shows through
"I couldn't just leave you alone in a place like this."
>"But the visiting hours say..."
"Do I look like the kinda guy who cares about visiting hours?"
>"I guess not..."
>Coco glances at the ground
>"I was getting kinda lonely though..."
>She turns, and sluggishly tries to pull herself back into bed
>She can't quite make it, though, and you can see the strain on her face as she works against the pain in her ribs
>Gingerly, you place your hands around her thighs, and boost her up into bed
>Coco squeaks in surprise, and pink blotches appear on her cheeks
>"A-anon... careful..."
>She wriggles the rest of the way to the pillow, pulling the covers tightly around her
>"Thank you, though."
"Don't mention it."
>You circle around the room, and sit back in one of the uncomfortable plastic hospital chairs
>Coco's fidgeting with her hooves again
>She looks like she has something she'd like to say, but is afraid to
"So, uh... I didn't wake you, did I?"
>She shakes her head
>"No... it's hard to sleep here. It's so cold, and everything's so still. It reminds me of... nevermind."
>She shudders a little under the blankets, though you're not entirely sure if it's just from the cold
>A few seconds' silence stretches between you, the hospital's silence eerie and grave-like
>"Anon...?"
"Yeah?"
>"I know you have a marefriend and all, so maybe this is a bad question to ask, but could you, um... spend the night here? With me?"
>You look at her, surprised
>"I-I mean, you invited me over to your place, so I assumed it was okay, I didn't mean... I'm sorry."
"No, it's fine. I can wait here until morning."
>"Actually, it's pretty cold, and I wouldn't mind it if you... you know... shared the bed... with me..."
>Coco sounds so nervous, she can barely force the words out
"Shared the bed?"
>"N-not like that! Just... it's so cold, and I don't like being alone like this..."
>Oh jeez
>You want nothing more than to cuddle the hell out of this pony
>But what would Rarity think?
>Does this count as cheating?
>You're not the kind of man to cheat on someone
>But, seeing Coco lying there, cold and lonesome in the hospital bed
>Wrapped in her little paper gown...
>Fuck, it's not the right thing to do, but...
>You find yourself stepping out of your shoes, and gently testing your wait on the bed's frame
>It holds, but creaks as you clamber onto it
>Coco scoots to the side, and you lay yourself down next to her
>There's not much room, and she presses against your side
>You can feel shivers running through Coco's tiny body, but there's also a comforting warmth emanating from beneath her fur
>Coco keeps her back turned to you, using her hooves to push herself into your side
>You can hear her breathing slowing, and she lets out a contented sigh
>"Thanks, Anon."
"Right."
>She snuggles closer
>"You're really warm."
"Um... thanks?"
>Coco giggles softly, and one of her hooves kicks against your thigh
>"Goodnight, Anon."
"Goodnight."
>Coco's breathing deepens and slows as she drifts to sleep, making soft little snoring noises each time she exhales
 
>You wake next morning to find Coco laying across your chest, her cheek pressed against yours
>Her forehooves lie near your neck, and your right arm is wrapped around her midsection
>Well... this is awkward
>Gently, you try to scoot yourself out from under Coco
>However, she wraps her forelegs around your neck, drawing herself closer to you as she mumbles in her sleep
>"Noooo..."
"Dammit, Coco, let go."
>You try to pry her off of you, but she clings to your chest like a tiny, fluffy parasite
>"Noooooo... don' lemme go..."
>And that's how you ended up spending an hour awake in a hospital bed, cradling a mare you barely know
 
>When Coco finally wakes, she stretches out on your chest, yawning in your face
>She opens her eyes, glancing blearily around the room
>"Mornin' Anon..."
>When she realizes the position the two of you ended up in, she squeaks, and her face goes red
>"Oh no! I'm so sorry! Sometimes when I sleep, I get a little clingy, and... oh no, I'm sorry, I'm sorry..."
"Whoa, slow down. It's fine. You're fine."
>You reach up and pet Coco's back reassuringly
>"Well, um... do you want me to get off you?"
"Uh..."
>Coco's staring at you, and you can feel the heat of her breath against your face
>It tickles your lips
>God damn, your heart is beating fast
>You hold Coco's gaze, your face hot, acutely aware of every plush curve of her body pressing against you
>Her head begins to move towards yours, and her eyes slowly close
>You do the same, mouth inching toward's Coco's trembling lips...
>*BAM BAM BAM*
>A sudden, thunderous knock on the door echoes through the room
>"Coco? You awake? Nurse Redheart's here for your morning check-up!"
>You pull Coco off of you, hopping over the edge of the bed, and rolling under it
>The sheets dangle close enough to the floor that you're given some modest concealment
>The mattress above you groans and creaks as Coco pulls the covers her
>"Yes! I'm in here!"
>Even when shouting, her voice still has that diminutive quality
>The door slides open, and four white hooves step into your view, presumably belonging to Nurse Redheart
>She walks across to Coco's bed, standing just a few inches from your face
>"So, Ms. Pommel, how are you feeling today?"
>"Better. Much better."
>Coco sounds out of breath
>"Are you sure? You seem feverish."
>One of Redheart's forehooves disappears from view
>"You feel hot. Are you sure you're okay?"
>"Yes, I just... might have caught a little bit of a cold."
>"Hmmm..."
>Redheart rears back onto her hind legs, and you can hear rustling from above as she inspects Coco
>Coco lets out an involuntarily squeak at her touch
>Nurse Redheart removes her hooves, and the room falls silent
>"Ms. Pommel, I'm afraid you may not be ready to be discharged just yet?"
>"What? But I'm fine, really. Just a little sick, that's all."
>"That's not what I'm referring to. The damage to your ribs appears more significant than I first thought."
>Another pang of guilt hits you
>"It's not, really. I'm fine."
>"I'm sorry, Ms. Pommel, but..."
>"No, please. You don't understand, I... I can't stay here."
>"You can't? And why would that be."
>Some silent communication takes place, and Redheart leans in
>Coco whispers something above you, but you can't make it out
>When she returns to her original position, her tone of voice is decidedly less commanding
>"I see... Very well. Collect your things, and you'll be discharged."
>With that, Redheart turns and leaves
>Whoa
>You pull yourself out from under the bed, your left side and back now covered in a layer of dust
>Coco steps gingerly to the ground, wincing slightly as she does so
"Coco... are you sure you're okay to leave?"
>"Of course, Anon. I've handled worse than this."
>You raise an eyebrow at that
>"Oh! I mean, um... uh..."
"Coco?"
>"Yes?"
"What did you tell Redheart? To make her let you leave?"
>"Oh, that. I told her I didn't... have insurance?"
>Her face scrunches, and you can tell she's lying
>But, seeing as you're probably not going to get the answer out of her anyway, you decide to head home
>You can worry about Coco's history later
 
>Outside, the day is sunny and warm
>One of those days that just makes your bones crackle with life
>You can tell Coco's feeling it too, and she seems to skip along next to you, despite her injury
>You're carrying her saddle bags, and you have to admit you're surprised by the amount of weight this little pony can lug around
"God damn, Coco, what the hell is in these?"
>"Oh, nothing, just some fabrics."
"Just fabrics?"
>You pull open one of the laps, to confirm
>It's like someone condensed the entirety of Rarity's home into a leather satchel
>Easily a dozen shades of fabric, all in neat little rolls, scissors, thread, needles, glitter, gems, sequins...
"Hot damn. Is this all yours?"
>She nods
>"Suri won't let me use any of her materials, so I've gotten used to carrying my own."
"That's pretty badass, I have to hand it to you."
>Coco beams, pleased
>"Really? Suri always said it was a stupid idea."
"I think you need to start putting less faith in what Suri says..."
>Speaking of your leas favorite purple horse, the two of you are almost back to Rarity's house
>Which raises an important question: how the hell are you going to go about this?
>Suri's words echo in your mind again
>"You act like you deserve so much..."
>No, she's wrong
>You're just trying to do the right thing, right?
>Coco needs a place to stay, and you're trying to help her find one
>Sure, you do kinda enjoy the thought of her staying with you
>Getting to see her every day
>Occasionally getting to touch her warm, soft fur...
>No, stop, you barely know this mare
>Stop trying to ruin your life on this stupid crush
>"Anon? Are you really sure this is okay?"
"What is?"
>"Me staying with you. You look kinda worried."
>Coco looks up at you with concern-filled sapphire eyes
"Eh, well..."
>Should you tell Coco the truth, or not?
"Well, uh... my marefriend really isn't that happy with you staying here."
>Coco's eyes go wide
>"Oh! No, I don't want to come between the two of you, no. You should have told me, Anon, I can find another place to stay, I just..."
>She starts backing away, head shaking
>"Oh no, I must have given Rarity the wrong impression! Oh no, oh no..."
>She looks way more flustered about this than you thought she would
"Hey, it's easy, she just... has jealousy issues sometimes. Suri's already staying with us anyway."
>"She is? Why didn't she tell me?"
>Gee, you wonder why
"I think she was trying to get rid of you, Coco."
>Coco looks at you like that's the most ridiculous things she's ever heard
>"Why would Ms. Suri ever want to get rid of me? I'm her assistant, and she appreciates my work!"
"Um... okay?"
>Coco narrows her eyes at you
>"She does!"
"Okay, Coco, okay. Anyway, let's go talk to Rarity."
>"I thought you said she didn't want me to stay."
"Well, I'm sure if you just talk to her, and make her realize that you're a good, trustworthy mare, she'll see the light."
>"Are you really sure?"
"Of course."
>"Then why did you look so worried back there?"
"Coco, you ask a lot of questions. C'mon, let's just do this."
>Still not looking terribly confident with the plan, Coco follows you up to Rarity's front door
>You suppose it's your front door too, in a way, since you live here
>Still, it's hard to think of a house involving so much purple glitter as being in any way yours
>You let yourself in
"Rarity? Uh... I'm back!"
>You hear a clip-clop noise, and Rarity appears on the staircase, descending onto the ground floor
>She looks... well, not great
>Her mane is a frizzled mess, her makeup is smeared, and the fur around her eyes is matted with tears
>Despite this, she smiles when she sees you
>"Good morning, Anonymous. Good morning... Coco."
>Her smile wavers slightly when she addresses the mare next to you
>Coco picks up on it as well, and you can tell it's making her extremely uncomfortable
>"Um, hello, Ms. Rarity."
>"Ms.? Oho, dear, you do know Anonymous and I are engaged, do you not?"
>Woah, what?
>You're sure the surprise is just as evident on your face as it is on Coco's
>"You're getting married? Um... wow, congratulations!"
>Coco smiles awkwardly, glancing up at you
>You stare at Rarity, unbelieving
>She's always been one to overreact, but this is a little... damn
"Heheh, yeah, thanks. Um Rarity, dear, could I speak with you a minute?"
>"Why certainly, Anonymous."
>Rarity extends a foreleg, and allows you to lead her into the kitchen, out of Coco's earshot
"What the hell do you mean, engaged?"
>"Are you saying you have a problem with that?"
"Well, no, but that's not the kind of thing you just spring on someone."
>"Neither is running off in the middle of the night, and bringing home a strange mare the next morning!"
"I told you, it's not like that!"
>"Oh, it's not? Then what's it like, Anon? What exactly is your relationship with this Coco horse!?"
>Well, so much for keeping things quiet
"We're friends. Just friends. I enjoy being with her because, unlike some ponies, she doesn't try to turn every single thing I do into a huge argument."
>"A huge... what exactly are you implying there, Anonymous? Are you calling me high strung?"
"What? No, I'm just saying..."
>"Oh, you're just saying, great. How about you quit saying, and start doing?"
"Quit say-- what?"
>Rarity huffs and stomps out of the kitchen
"I'm going to be upstairs. If you'd rather be with your new little friend, go ahead. And if you'd like to make the right choice, I'll be..."
>Rarity's voice cracks, and you hear her hiccup
>"I'll be waiting..."
>With that, she storms off, her hooves smacking angrily against the stairs as she climbs
>You start to follow her, but turn quickly to check on Coco
>Judging by the look on her face, she heard every word
>"Anon, I'm really sorry about this."
>Her eyes are downcast, and her ears droop along both sides of her head
"What do you mean? You didn't do anything."
>"No, I... I didn't mean to let myself come between you and your maref-- fiancée. I... I should have realized a great stallion like you wouldn't be settling for somepony like me."
"Somepony like-- Coco, what are you saying?"
>The little cream mare shakes her head
>"Nothing. Thanks Anon, but I think I'm going to find somewhere else to stay."
"Coco, no. Come on, you're really welcome here. I'll just go find Rarity, and--"
>Coco holds up a hoof, silencing you
>"Thanks, Anon, but really... I should be going now."
>Before you can get another word in, Coco turns and begins heading out from the boutique
>A door slams somewhere upstairs, meaning Rarity's in her bedroom now
>You know you should go and comfort her-- she's your marefriend, after all, even if she is acting a bit over-the-top lately-- but you feel an overwhelming urge to chase after Coco
>Oh shit, man, you aren't cut out for this kind of thing
>Who do you pick?
 
>Fuck it, you're not letting Rarity control you like that
>You turn on your heel and bolt out the door after Coco
"Coco! Coco, wait!"
>"Anon? I told you, I'm finding somewhere else."
"I know, I know. Please, just hear me out real quick."
>Coco looks a little skeptical, but she halts and allows you to catch up
>You try to think of a good way to put things
"Look... Rarity wasn't being exactly truthful back there. We're not engaged. She just said she was out of jealousy, I think. She's been acting really weirdly lately."
>Coco has a guilty expression on her face
>"Because of me?"
"No, no, not because of you. She's just... I don't know, she's been acting really weird lately."
>"I see. Anon, you really don't need to worry about me. I can find my own place to stay."
"I know, it's... it's not that. It's that other thing you said. About a great stallion not settling for a pony like you."
>Coco blushes
>"I didn't mean to say that, it just kinda... slipped out."
"Oh... well..."
>You scratch the back of your head, suddenly unsure as to wether or not this is a good idea
"I... need to talk to you about something. Can we meet up later?"
>"Talk to me about what?"
>Coco looks confused, but you think you can detect a little hope in her voice
"I'd rather not say now. But I'd like it to be somewhere private, okay?"
>"Um... I dunno..."
>Coco paws the ground nervously
>You realize, too late, how creepy that sounded
"Oh, no, I don't mean private as in, like, 'isolated.' Just somewhere where we can talk. It doesn't have to be... not like somewhere weird, you know, just..."
>Coco silences you again
>"I get it, Anon, I get it."
>She smiles
>"Eight o'clock?
"Yeah, eight. Eight's perfect."
>"Alrighty, should we meet here?"
"Umm... how about meet a block that way..."
>You gesture down the street, away form the boutique
>Coco nods
>"That's fine by me. See you then?"
"Yeah. See ya then."
>Awkwardly, the two of you exchange goodbyes, before you turn and head back in
>Looks like you've got a marefriend to comfort
>Upstairs, you knock softly on Rarity's door
>You're met with a weak, watery 'come in'
>The door glides open soundlessly, and you step into Rarity's bedroom
>The curtains are drawn, but even in the darkness you can see that her room is unusually messy, a sure sign Rarity's in a bad mood
>Your special somepony lies curled on the bed, face in her hooves
>"It took you a while."
"Yeah, I..."
>"You were talking to that other mare, weren't you?"
"No, of course not. I just had to think of somethign to say."
>"Anon, please don't lie to me."
>Rarity slowly sits up in the bed, turning her bloodshot eyes to face you
>"Do you like that mare more than me? Is she better than me?"
>Rarity hops off the bed, and begins prowling toward you
>Her eyes are visible even in the meager light, and you don't like she look she's giving you
"Of course not! She's just a friend, Rares. Really. You know you're the only one I love."
>Rarity grins, and jumps toward you, tackling you backwards onto the ground
>She lands on top of you, grinding her body along your chest and hips
>"I know I am. And you're going to show me how much you love me, right Anon?"
"Yeah, of course. Wh-what did you have in mind."
>Rarity traces a hoof under your chin
>"Well, you know what I like..."
>She presses her hips against you
>"What say you and I take a night for just us, and you can remind me just how important a mare I am?"
>She flutters her eyelids, and licks her lips
"Umm..."
>You were going to meet with Coco tonight
>Shit, man, how're you going to make this work?
>"Umm? Is there something wrong with that, Anonymous?"
>A steely edge creepy into Rarity's voice
"Nothing, I just had a, eh, prior engagement tonight."
>"Oh? A prior engagement with whom?"
"Uh..."
>Your mind spins, and picks the first pony you can think of
"Twilight. I'm helping her organize some books."
>It's not a stretch; you've helped Twilight out a fair bit before
>"And this is more important than a night with me?"
"Well, no, but..."
>"But what, Anonymous? Are you trying to blow me off?"
"What? No! No, it's just... you know how Twilight can be..."
>"Anon, you're lying to me again. You know I don't like that..."
>She wraps her forelegs around your neck, dragging herself across your chest until the two of you are face-to-face
>"Now, how about you tell me again. And this time... tell me the truth."
"I'm, uh... I have to get something..."
>Think, Anon, think, think, think...
"For our... anniversary."
>Rarity's eyes go wide, and her expression immediately softens
>"Oh! Right, that's only a week away, isn't it!"
>She looks away, guiltily
>"I should have realized... I'm sorry about that, Anonymous."
>She drags her body off of you, getting to her hooves and dusting herself off
"No, you're fine. You're fine..."
>"Anon? Are you okay? I didn't, um, jostle you too hard did I?"
"No, it's not that. I just think I need a bit of alone time."
>"Alone? Okay. But... you'll still find time for us, right?"
>She looks up at you, hopeful, and for a second you see the mare you fell in love with again
"Yeah. Of course."
>As you turn to leave, you try your best not to imagine how she'll probably flop right back into that bed as soon as you're gone
>The rest of the house is eerily quiet after the chaos of the past few days
>What are you gonna do, man?
>Outside, you begin strolling through town, hoping to happen upon something for you to do
>You know, maybe you could actually go by Twilight's
>She's smart, right?
>Maybe she could give you some practical advice
>It'd be better than sitting around hating yourself all day, at least
>Pushing your fatigue down, you pick up the pace on your way to Twilight's treehouse
>Thankfully, a feeling of unusual calm has come over you after your argument with Rarity
>Wonder how long it'll last...
 
>Upon reaching Twilight's house, you take a moment to appreciate the aesthetics of the place before heading up to knock on the front door
>Spike opens it, and his face falls when he sees you
>"Oh. Hey Anon."
"Hey Spike. Is Twilight here?"
>"Yeah. She's upstairs."
>Spike leaves the door half opened and scurries away
>Little guy's hated you ever since you started dating Rarity
>You'd be lying if you said it didn't make you feel a little guilty, but... seriously?
>The kid's like eight years old, did he really think he had a chance with a grown mare?
>You climb the stairs to Twilight's personal study, knocking softly on the door to alert her to your presence
>She opens it, peeking up at you
>Her reaction is quite a bit different form Spike's
>"Anon! Good to see you. We didn't get to talk at the Gala. How have you been?"
>She ushers you inside the study, continuing to pepper you with questions
>"Did you see that I was given a place of honor next to Princess Celestia? It was so amazing, we talked about Canterlot, and continuing my studies, and delegation to the Crystal Empire, and..."
>Twilight leads you to a seat near her desk, continuing to prance in a circle around you, filling you in on every detail of her three-foot-tall purple life
>You do your best to nod and be polite, but, honestly, you really don't care about the new shipment of transformation tomes that just arrived
>"So, anyway, how have you been?"
"Well, uh, I actually came here to talk about something."
>"Oh, really? What is it, Anon?"
>A chair levitates toward her, and Twilight takes a seat directly across from you, violet eyes sparkling with interest
>Well, you've got her attention at least
>But is this really something you can disclose to Twilight?
>You think she's trustworthy, and you definitely need some advice, but... what if this leads to more drama?
>Wait a minute, how could you possibly be involved in more drama than you are right now?
"Well, uh... it's about me and Rarity."
>Twilight leans in closer, so intrigued that she doesn't even bother to correct your grammatical mistake
>"Yes? What about you and Rarity? Did you... you know, break up?"
"What? No, of course not. It's just... there's been some issues with, um..."
>Oh jeez, how do you put this without sounding like a douche?
>Twilight's probably going to think you're a terrible person when she hears this
"There's... there's another mare, who I really like, and I'm not sure..."
>You scratch awkwardly at the back of your neck
"I really like Rarity, I do... but she might not be the right one for me."
>Twilight smiles
>"I know what you mean, Anon."
"You do?"
>She nods
>"Of course, it's only natural. So... who's this other mare?"
>Something about the way she says it seems a little off
>Little pink blotches appear on her cheeks, and she rubs her forehooves together in front of her chest
"Well, uh..."
>The chair seems to scoot forward of its own accord
>"Yeeeees?"
"I'm not sure if you know her."
>"Oh, of course I don't."
>She smiles, as if the two of you are sharing some secret joke
"Umm... okay. Anyway, do you have any advice on what I should do? Anything at all?"
>"Well, Anon... I think you should tell this mystery mare how you feel... maybe she feels the same way..."
>Twilight keeps that same conspiratorial smile on her face the entire time
>It's not the reaction you expected her to have, but at least she isn't mad at you
>In fact, she seems kinda... excited
>Her breathing is really heavy
"But what about Rarity? I mean I really want to tell Co-- the other mare how I feel about her, but... I don't want to hurt Rarity either. I still like her, Twilight, even if this other mare's started to grab my attention to. I feel like such a terrible person about it, and I don't know what to do."
>Twilight nods, her ears twitching
>"I understand, Anon. But it's okay. If Rarity's not the one you really love, you deserve to be with the pony you do. She'll understand that, in time, even if she's hurt right now. And I think, ah... I think this mystery mare deserves to know also."
>Did she just raise her eyebrows at you?
>Fucking Twilight being weird again
"You really think that's what I should do?"
>Twilight nods fervently
>"Of course, Anon. You know, maybe I could let this 'other mare' know for you."
"No, no, I need to work up the courage to tell her myself. But I think... I think I'm gonna do it."
>Twilight squees
>"That's great! I'm so-- I mean, the mystery mare will be so happy to hear that!"
"Heh, yeah... so happy..."
>How's Coco going to react to this, you wonder
"Well, I should probably get going now. Thanks for talking to me though, Twilight."
>"You're going already?"
>She looks disappointed, for some reason
"Yeah, I need to be alone for a bit to think. I'll see ya around, okay?"
>"Yeah, heheh... okay. Come back really soon, okay?"
"Right."
>Twilight shows you out, and Spike goes and hides as he sees you coming down the stairs
>Seriously, kid, you had no chance with her
>Get over it
 
>It's barely four o'clock, meaning you've got another four hours before your meeting with Coco
>What to do in the meantime?
>Twilight wasn't as helpful as you'd hoped, but a part of what she said sticks with you
>Would Coco really be happy to hear what you think of her?
>You envisioned it being something awkward and somewhat embarrassing for her, but...
>If it'll really make her happy, you have to do it
>That mare needs some happiness in her life
>Speaking of Coco, you wonder what she's up to right now
>You think of her, sitting alone in a motel somewhere, stitching something together out of her endless supply of fabric
>Dammit, now you feel bad
>You wish you could visit her, or do anything to spend more time with her
>Man, that sounds pathetic
>Your walk through Ponyville brings you to one of the benches outside town hall, one of the best places you know to kill a few hours
>Ponies bustle on past you, doing their best to ignore the strange creature staring at them
>They all look so happy, it's actually a little disconcerting
>They're just lugging carts around, why are they so smiley?
>Instinctively, your fingers scrabble around in your pocket for a cigarette, until you remember you ran out
>This is gonna be a long four hours, isn't it?
 
>By seven thirty, the sun has already long since sunken, leaving the sky streaked with a dull purple
>You stand, stretching cramps from your legs, and head to the place you agreed to meet Coco
>Well, the general area in which you agreed to meet Coco
>As you walk, a lump begins to form in your throat, and your stomach is filled with that quivery nervous feeling
>Are you really going to do this?
>You've gotten the impression Coco might like you too, but... what if she doesn't?
>What if she tells Rarity?
>Oh Jesus, man, what if this ruins your friendship with every single pony in this town?
>Your palms are starting to sweat
>Maybe you should just think up something to tell Coco instead
>Something about her work, or...
>No
>You're doing this
>If she gets upset and you ruin everything, well... at least you tried
>And you can blame Twilight for giving you shit advice
 
>As you get closer, you notice Coco standing in the light coming from a storefront
>She looks small, lonely, and more than a little nervous
>Strange, considering how safe Ponyville probably is compared to Manehattan
"Coco! Hey!"
>She jumps at the sound of your voice, but quickly comes trotting over to you
>"Oh, hey Anon. You're here early."
"Yeah, I, uh... got outta work early."
>"Really? Where do you work?"
"Um, well, at the... anyway, how are you?"
>Coco shrugs
>"About the same as I was this morning. So what did you want to talk to me about?"
"Well, uh... can we wait until we get somewhere a little more private?"
>"What do you mean? There's no one around."
>She's right, it's barely dark and Ponyville's streets are almost completely deserted
>Still... you're really not fond of the idea that someone might overhear you
"This is just something, uh... private."
>"Oh... and you're chose to share it with me?"
>Coco looks up at you skeptically
>It kinda hurts to think that, even after several days in each other's company, she still doesn't trust you
>Well, actually... you can imagine why she might not be terribly trusting
>You lead Coco out to one of the meadows that lie in and around Ponyville
>The one you're in now lies exactly on the edge of the town, and you're fairly confident you'll have some privacy here
>Plus, it just feels... right
>"So, uh, Anon? Why'd you bring me out here?"
>You shuffle your feet, once again nervous and unsure of how to begin
"Coco, I, uh... you know that night we met at the Gala?"
>Coco nods, a curious expression forming on her face
"Well... I realized something there. Something not necessarily good, but... I something I think you deserve to know about."
>"Yeah...?"
>You run a hand through your hair
>Goddamn, why are you so nervous all of a sudden?
"I... I like you."
>"Um... thanks?"
"No, I mean... I *like* you, you know?"
>Coco's face goes beet red
>"O-oh my! Anon! I... oh, wow."
>She does this weird little wiggle move where she stands, running her forehooves through her mane
>"But... I thought Rarity was your marefriend."
"She is. That... kinda makes this a bit of a problem."
>"I... I see."
>Coco trots away from you, taking a seat on a simple wooden bench
>You follow, and sit next to her
>...
>"Did you really mean that? About liking me?"
"I did."
>"Really? But I'm, I'm so... so boring. Suri say--"
"Seriously? Suri? What does she have to do with this?"
>"She always said I'd have to make myself interesting to find a stallion. That I needed to work harder."
"Well, she's full of shit. You're a great mare, Coco."
>Coco falls silent
>She stares off across the rest of the park, eyes sparkling in the starlight
>You hear her sniffle
>"Thanks, Anon..."
>She curls up in a little ball at the edge of the bench
>You scoot a little closer to her, running your hand along her back
>She shivers at your touch, but doesn't pull away
>"No one's ever said something like that about me."
"No one? Seriously?"
>"Yeah. I can see why, though. I mean, not that I don't appreciate what you said about me, but... I don't think it's true. I'm not a great mare. I think you'll realize that soon enough."
"Whoa, what? Coco, don't talk like that about yourself. You're kind, selfless, strong... what on earth isn't good about you?"
>"I... I don't think I trust you well enough to tell you that yet, Anon."
"Oh, I... I see."
>Your hand slows on her back
"Well, I don't care. I still like you, Coco. You're a real knockout mare as far as I'm concerned."
>Coco sits up, staring at you
>"Do you really mean that?"
"Yeah."
>"Really really? You promise?"
"Yes."
>"You really, really promise you mean that you like me? For real?"
"Goddammit, yes, Coco, I-- oof!"
>Coco flings herself toward you, wrapping her forelegs around your neck
>She clings to you, burying her face in your neck
>"No one's ever said something like that to me before. Thank you, Anon. Thank you so much."
>Her nose us rubbing against your cheek
>Gingerly, and somewhat awkwardly, you pat her on the back
"Hey, no need to thank me. I'm just telling you how I feel."
>"I know, but... no one's ever told me they liked me. Or called me a great mare. It's just so... oh, wow."
>Coco sits back in your lap, facing you
>Her forehooves stay placed at your shoulders
>"But... you have a marefriend. I thought you wouldn't be allowed to like me."
"I'm not. But... I do. I was hoping you might have some advice on what to do."
>"Me? I don't know, Anon. I don't want Rarity to be hurt, she seems so nice, but... I... I kinda like you too."
>The redness begins to return to her face, and her ears droop a little
>Hearing her say it, though, it feels like cool water washing over your parched, smoky soul
>This time, it's you hugging Coco
>The two of you sit there for several minutes, clinging together on the bench
>She's so warm, so soft
>And, if you left Rarity, you could hold her like this forever...
>Well, you've now officially had that thought
>Coco breaks off the hug, looking up at you wish a mixture of longing and confusion
>"I'm sorry, Anon, but... this isn't right. I feel like I'm helping you do something bad."
"I know. I shouldn't be dragging you into this, Coco. I just... I felt like you deserved to know."
>Coco sighs
>"The one stallion who really likes me... he's already taken. Guess that's about what I should have expected."
"Actually..."
>Coco looks back at you, quizzically
"I'm not sure... how much longer I'll be taken."
>"What do you mean? Are you and Rarity breaking up?"
"Well, no, but... maybe. I don't know anymore.
>"Okay. Well, uh..."
>Coco quickly leans in, and pecks you on the cheek
>"Thanks for tonight, Anon. Even if we can't... you know, be a couple, that meant a lot to me to hear."
>She gives you a sad smile, then hops down from the bench and begins to walk back towards Ponyville
>You put a hand to your cheek, trying to preserve that little warm feeling her lips left on your face
>You linger on the bench for a few minutes after she disappears from view, head swimming as if you were drunk
>Why are you so infatuated with this mare?
>Just that one kiss, and you're as lovesick as a schoolgirl
>It's hard to even feel bad about it now, you're so happy
>Slowly, you stand, wavering slightly
>That... went a lot better than you expected it to
>Maybe things are finally going to straighten themselves out--
>That though disappears as soon as you see who's approaching the bench
>"Out a little late, aren't we?"
>Suri brushes her mane from her eyes, grinning hungrily
"Yeah. Don't see why that's any of your business."
>"Oh, it's not. But Rarity's a friend of mine, and when I see her coltfriend out with my assistant, I get a little suspicious, mmkay?"
>You feel like someone just dunked you in ice water
>How much did Suri see?
>As if she read your mind, Suri answers your question
>"And yes, I saw what the two of you did. Little Coco, isn't she just so sweet?"
"I don't know what you're talking about."
>"Oh, of course you don't. But Rarity might, mm?"
"You wouldn't."
>"Heehee, I won't."
>Suri pouts
>"I would never do something so terribly to anypony... assuming they stay on my good side, that is."
"Good side?"
>Suri begins expecting the edges of her forehooves, fussing over some minute imperfection
>"Of course. You just, say, do one or two tiny little things for me, and I'll forget I ever saw you putting the moves on little Coco there."
>The pit of dread in your stomach is widening
"What sort of things?"
>"Oh, I like to keep my options open. But I'll make sure to remind you when the time is right."
>Suri winks
>You clench your fists, nails biting into your palms
>What the hell do you do now?
>The thought of being in debt to this purple bitch makes you physically sick
>But, if you don't do anything... she'll tell Rarity
>Wait... how bad would it be if she did tell Rarity?
>You could always try to act like she's lying
>But who would Rarity believe?
>The two of you are already on shaky ground, and she doesn't seem to trust Coco...
>Still, you'd like to think she'd value the word of her coltfriend over that of this purple bitch who just showed up
>But... you can't be sure
>Do you take the risk?
>Or do you run a favor or two for Suri, as awful as that might be?
 
>One look at Suri answers that question
"Get bent. I haven't done anything wrong."
>Suri looks taken aback, but quickly recovers
>"Ooo, a bit of a struggle, hmm? I like it. But don't worry, you'll be bowing at my hooves soon enough. We'll see how Rarity feels about your little escapades."
>Suri winks at you, and tromps off
>You give her ass the fingers as she walks away
>Fucking terrible horse
 
>Good mood ruined, you storm back towards Rarity's boutique
>Until you remember that Suri is living there now too
>Fuck, man, you just wanna go home to your own bed...
>...which Rarity sleeps in...
>Jesus, man, is there nowhere you can go?
>Maybe you could go stay with Twilight
>It wouldn't be the first time, but the purple princess gets a little... weird whenever you stay over
>And you're really not in the mood for her antics
>You and Rainbow have been decent friends since you arrived, but she has weird issues about her house
>One day it was raining like a motherfucker, and all you did was ask her if you could come inside
>She freaked the fuck out and didn't speak to you for weeks
>So, yeah, no Rainbow
>...
>Well, now you're walking in circles like a jackass
>You're just trying to find a place to stay!
>Why is this so hard?
 
>In the end, you drag yourself over to Sweet Apple Acres, and crash in AJ's barn
>She'll bitch you out in the morning, but you're too tired to care
>What's she gonna do to you, anyway?
>The hay is musky and not terribly comfortable compared to your bed back home, but at least it's something
>As the haze of sleep fills your skull, you find yourself looking at the creamy, shy form of Coco Pommel
>She's standing on a rocky ledge, next to a pool of steaming water
>Her cute little collar is missing from her neck, making her look strangely naked
>Naked-er than usual, you mean
>Slowly she dips a forehoof into the water, shivering as her limp breaks the surface
>She turns back to you, and gives you a sly little grin before stepping slowly into the water
>"Ooooo..."
>Coco lets out a little moan as she immerses herself, sinking in the water up to her snout
>She swishes her hips under the surface, tail spreading into a pale blue streak in the water
>The water ripples along her body she raises herself back up, steamy rivulets of water running from her coat
>She turns in slow motion, displaying the curves of her body as she raises her plot toward you
>Her wet tail slides across her plush cheeks, from cutie mark to cutie mark, inviting you in
>Slowly, you step into the water, feeling its warmth filling your calved, then thighs
>You place your hands on Coco's rump, squeezing the soft mounds of her ass
>She squees softly in delight
>"C'mon, Anon... you like me, right?"
"Oh, God yes..."
>"Show me how much you like me... show me what a great little mare I am..."
>You place yourself at Coco's entrance, slowly beginning to press into her tight, soft folds
>"Anon... oh, Anon... Anon... Anon! ANON! ANON!"
"Gah!"
>Your eyes fly open, revealing an angry orange face filling your vision
>"Anon! What in tarnation are ya doin' in mah barn!"
"Oh, fuck! Uh..."
>Quick, think of something clever
"I'm, uh, inspecting the ceiling."
>That wasn't clever
>"Inspectin' the what now? You've been been drinkin' again, haven't ya?"
"What? No! I just... uh..."
>Right, Applejack's the element of honesty, or whatever
>You literally cannot lie to her
>So... what the fuck do you say?
"Uh, well, you see..."
>Applejack narrows her eyes at you, scanning for any sign of dishonesty
"It's Rarity. There's been some, eh... problems between us?"
>Technically not a lie, even if it's vague
>"What sorts o' problems?"
>Suspicions begins to enter AJ's face; she's never been terribly trusting of you since you arrived
"I don't really think that's any of your business, AJ."
>Being rudely awoken and this borderline interrogation are not doing wonders for your mood
>"You made it mah business when ya decided to spend the night in mah barn! Now tell me what's the deal with you an' Rarity! Y'all better notta done wrong by her, or so help me..."
>AJ gestures violently with a hoof
"Done wrong by her? No, we've just been... having a rough spot."
>Still not technically a lie
>AJ doesn't look terribly placated though
>"Even if yer not lyin', I can still tell yer hidin' somethin' from me. I'll let ya go this time, but if I hear you played Rares... it ain't gonna end well for you Anon."
>Is she threatening you?
>She's like a fourth your size at best
>Still, you should probably not aim to get yourself into even more trouble right now
>So you stand, sarcastically thank AJ for her hospitality, and take off
>You figure you should probably head home, before Rarity starts to worry
>She'll probably have some errands she'll want you to take care of anyway
>Assuming Suri hasn't already told her...
 
>But the look on that purple cunt's face the minute you walk in the door tells you she already has
>"Afternoon, Anon. Your marefriend's a little... upset. Might wanna talk to her, mmkay?"
>She smirks as you dash up the stairs, ready to go full damage control mode
>You're expecting tears, hysterics, plenty of histrionic Rara antics
>But what you don't expect is the stony, gloomy silence that awaits you inside Rarity's bedroom
>Your marefriend sits patiently on a chair next to her bed, the darkness of the unlit room pooled around her
>Her eyes seem to glow in the darkness, giving her a slightly menacing appearance
>You stand there in silence, Rarity's unwavering purple glare raising the hair on the back of your neck
>"Explain."
"Explain what?"
>Rarity blinks once
>"You know what I mean, darling. I want you to explain where you were last night. And I want you to explain why Suri tells me she saw you *kissing* another mare."
"Look, Rares..."
>Well, here it is, the moment of truth
>What do you say?
>If you really try, you could convince Rarity that nothing's happened between you and Coco
>But... part of you thinks it might be best to cut this off now
>Wait, what the hell are you thinking?
>You and Rarity have dated for almost a year now
>And, even if things have been stressed a bit lately, you still remember the happy times you used to share
>You can't throw away everything that's happened between the two of you just because of a few bad weeks, can you?
>"Anonymous? I'm waiting..."
>Fuck, just gimme a minute diamond-mallow
>So...
>What do you say?
"Okay, uh, Rarity? I haven't been... entirely honest with you these past few days."
>"Shocking."
>You think the temperature in the room drops a few degrees from Rarity's tone alone
"So, you remember Coco, right?"
>"I do."
"Well, uh... fuck Rarity, there's no nice way for me to put this. We've been drifting apart, you said it yourself, and I..."
>"You what, Anonymous?"
>You're half-surprised there aren't icicles hanging from Rarity's snout, she's so frigid
"I just... I let myself, you know... develop feelings."
>"Is this where you were last night?"
"Yes."
>"So Suri's telling the truth."
"Yes..."
>"And you've been lying to me for almost a week, while also seeing another mare behind my back?"
>You feel yourself shrink an extra inch with every word she says
"Well, not exactly 'seeing,' but... yeah."
>You hang your head, shame burning hot on your brow
>Rarity hasn't exactly been the most supportive, caring marefriend ever lately as well, but you feel like now might be a bad time to mention that
>"Anon... how could you do this to me?"
>Or maybe it's not
"Look, Rarity... I love you, I really do..."
>Do you?
"But... you've been acting really weird lately. Dragging me around like a prop, getting furious over every little thing... I think we need some time apart."
>Your words shock Rarity out of her sullen demeanor
>"Time apart? What on earth do you mean?"
"I mean, I'm not sure if we should be living together like this. At least not right now. I think... I need a little time away."
>Rarity's expression quickly changes to one of anger
>"Liar! You just want more time with that Coco mare, don't you!? You're trying to keep me as your side girl, while... how dare you!"
>Rarity heaves a ball of yarn at you
"No! It's not that-- ah!"
>You duck as she heaves a book of sewing patterns at you
"Rarity, what the hell?! Would you just listen to me?"
>"Why? So you can lie to me more? I trusted you, Anon! I TRUSTED YOU!"
>Rarity lifts a unicorn statuette from her desk and chucks that at you too
>You manage to duck away, but the statuette's horn catches your temple
>Blood quickly begins running down the side of your face
>Slowly, you stand back up, looking Rarity dead in the eye
"I'm leaving."
>Her expression changes quickly from anger to shock
>"Wait-- no! Anon, I didn't mean to do that! I'm sorry! Don't go!"
>Ignoring her, you turn and head through her bedroom door
>Rarity throws herself onto you, trying in vain to drag you back into her room
>"You can't go, Anon! I didn't mean what I said, I just got a little carried away, please understand. You can't do this! You can't!"
>You lift you arm into the air, and Rarity with it
"What the hell is this? Thirty seconds ago you were trying to brain me with a statue!"
>"I didn't mean it!"
"You what? No, fuck this, I'm out."
>You try to toss Rarity away, but she quickly scampers back up to you
>"You can't go, Anon! You can't! I forbid you!"
>Her aura closes in around your hand, holding you in place
>Slowly, you turn to face her
"You forbid me? Seriously?"
>Rarity has a crazed look in her eye, and her mane is tangled and frayed
>"Oh, you know I don't mean it like that, darling. But I need you here. You can't leave me and Sweetie. This is your home now."
>Man, you wish Sweetie were here to talk some sense into her older sister
"Rarity... I think you're taking things a little too far right now..."
>"Too far? Anon, I'm only doing what I must for you, dear. You're not right in the head, this Coco mare, she's poisoned you! But I'll make you all better, Anon, don't worry."
>Rarity's aura pulls your hand toward the ground, bending you over
>She reaches out and pats your head
>"I'll make you all better, darling."
"Rarity?"
>"Yes, dearest?"
"I'm sorry."
>"Don't worry darling, I've already forgiven you."
"Not for that. For this."
>With your free hand, you reach out and flick her horn
>"Gaaah!"
>Rarity cries out in pain, collapsing back onto the ground, her aura dissipating
>It's a fucking disgusting thing of you to do, but... you weren't about to let her imprison you there
>You jog down the stairs, not pausing to grab anything
>As you pass Suri, you can't help but notice the expression on her face
>She's smug as hell, as you'd expect from her, but this time it's less haughty and more... triumphant?
>You try to push the thought from your head as you duck through the front door, Rarity's moans of pain fading in your ears
 
>Anon has long since left when the awful pain splitting Rarity's skull finally fades
>"Anon..."
>She curls into a ball in the middle of the floor, hugging her forelegs close to her chest
>"I'm sorry..."
>Rarity squeezes her eyes tightly shut, feeling the hot flood of tears welling behind them
>"I just hate... sleeping alone..."
 
>You don't slow your pace until you're a good three blocks from the boutique
>Fucking Rarity...
>She's gotten a little weird with you before, but that...
>You shiver a little
>You can't help but feel a little bad for smacking her horn like that; you know how painful it was for her
>But... you had no other choice, right?
>Anyway, you've got bigger questions to answer right now
>Like where the hell are you going to stay tonight?
>There's always Twilight's, she herself said she'd be happy to have you over
>But... she's kinda weird, and she's one of Rarity's closest friends
>That could get awkward
>There's also Zecora, you figure
>The two of you get along pretty well, being outcasts and all
>She can be kinda weird too, in her own way, but you're pretty sure she's not concerned with Rari-drama
>Who to choose?
>Eh, Zecora may be chill as hell, but Twilight's closer to town
>Plus, she doesn't live in the middle of a monster-inhabited forest
>Still, you make a mental note to go and visit the zebra at some point
>At the very least, she can hook you up with some insane pony drugs
 
>Twilight's treehouse is as cozy as it's ever been when you arrive
>Man, you'd hate it if something happened to this place
>Knocking on the door, you find yourself greeted by Spike's diminutive scowling form
>"Oh. Hey, Anon."
>Again with the attitude
>Rarity's three times your age, kid, give it up
"Hey there, Spike. What's up, little dude?"
>You stoop down and try to give the baby dragon a high-five
>He just crosses his arms, eyes narrowing at you
>"What do you want?"
"Um... is Twilight here?"
>Spike shakes his head
>"She's in Canterlot until tonight. Why?"
"No reason, heheh. See you around!"
>You moonwalk away from the treehouse, not terribly keen on sharing your plans with the grouchy little ball of scales
>Spike rolls his eyes, and closes the door
 
>Well... now what?
>You've got nowhere to stay, and nothing really to do
>Fuck, who'd have thought a world of cartoon characters could be so boring?
>You guess now would be an alright time to visit Zecora
>Eh, but she's really far away, and you're still sore from sleeping in the barn
>Instead you decide to just chill at Sugarcube Corner for a few hours
>Pinkie's always amusing, right?
 
>The familiar Candy Store stickss out even amongst the colorful landscape of Ponyville
>Place looks like it's made of doughnuts or something
>Pinkie seems to gravitate toward you the second you open the door
>"Heeeeeeeya Anon!"
"Hey Pinks. How's the store today?"
>"Oh, it's been super slow all morning. I had to eat all of this morning's fresh-baked doughnuts myself!"
>She exaggeratedly licks her lips, smiling contentedly
>"How have you been, Nonny-moose? Still a grump like usual?"
>You lead yourself toward a booth in the far corner of the room with Pinkie bounding along besides you
"I'm not a grump, Pinkie."
>"Silly Anon, if you're not a grump, then my tail's yellow!"
>She swishes her tail in front of your face to remind you that it is, in fact, pink
"I've just had a lot on my mind lately."
>"Oooooooooh. I know what that's like. The other day, I just couldn't stop thinking about frosting."
>She grabs your arm, pressing her face uncomfortably close to yours
>"I just... couldn't... stop."
>You gently push her away
"Um... okay then. Anyway, you're fine if I just chill here for a little bit, right?
>"Of course! Just try not to bring the mood down too much, 'kay?"
"Right, right..."
>You lean back in your chair, shutting your eyes for a moment
>At least you can finally catch up on a little rest...
>You hear the front door of the store open but think nothing of it
>Just another customer, you figure
>"Heeey Applejack! What brings you here?"
>"I'm lookin' fer Anon. I know he comes here when he wants to sulk."
>You shrink down in your chair, hoping AJ doesn't notice you
>"That's fine! He's right over..."
>Suddenly, Pinkie appears behind your chair, forelegs grabbing you shoulders
>"Here!"
>You begin scanning the room for an exit as AJ strides toward you
>Maybe you could throw yourself through that window--
>"Anon! What's this I hear about you walkin' out on Rarity?"
"Whoa, what? I-- how'd you know about that?"
>"Whaddaya mean how'd I know? I care about mah friends, Anon. The same can't be said about some ponies, unfortunately."
"And just what exactly are you accusing me of?"
>"I'm sayin' it wasn't proper what you did ta Rarity. I want ya to go back there an apologize."
"Aplogize? She attacked me, AJ. I don't think she's in a very good place right no-- OW!"
>AJ smacks you upside the head
>"Of course she ain't in a good palce! Yer breakin' the poor thing's heart!"
"No I'm not. C'mon AJ, she's Rarity. She's just being melodramatic. She'll calm down in a few days, and.... and we'll discuss things from there."
>AJ rests her head in her hoof, eyes shut
>"Anon... ya just don't get it, do ya?"
>She raises her head up, emerald eyes boring into you from beneath her stetson
>"Rarity, eh... has a bit of trouble with stallions. Then you came along, an' she was so happy... you were everythin' to her, Anon. And pushin' her away like that... gosh darnit, it just ain't right!"
>AJ slams a hoof onto the table for emphasis
"Everything to he? She treated me like--"
>"Overbearing, always draggin' you to social events, always makin' demands, and startin' a big deal outta nothin'?
"Well... yeah."
>"Rarity's like that to all her friends. Poor girl doesn't know any other way t' be. But that's still no reason to crush her like ya did!"
"I didn't crush her! Why would me leaving crush her? She can do so much better than me, AJ."
>If anything, your words seem to surprise AJ out of her anger
>"Anon... what are ya sayin'?"
"I'm saying I didn't deserve Rarity to begin with!"
>Unbidden, an image of Suri's smirking face pops into your head
"Look, AJ, I liked Rarity a lot. I still do. But it wasn't working. I'm just not... I'm not right for her. But she'll find someone better than me. A pretty mare like her, she'll have no trouble."
>"Anon... you have no idea, do you?"
"What do you mean?"
>"Look around you, how many stallions do you see?"
"Well, we're the only ones in here, so..."
>"You know what I mean. See a lot of stallions?"
"Not really, I guess. But she's..."
>This time, AJ directly presses a hoof against your mouth to cut you off
>You slap her foreleg away
"She's gonna be better than she ever would've been with me, AJ."
>"No, Anon, she's not. That's what I'm tryin' to tell you. Before you showed up, Rarity was... she was really lonely, y'know? Poor girl felt unloved, unappreciated, and... well, friends just weren't enough. Then you showed up. After the two of you started gettin' close, well... I've never seen her so happy. It was like she was the pony she'd always wanted to be. And I'm not lettin' you take that away from her."
"AJ, stop. This isn't any of your business."
>"Darn right it is my business. This is one of my best friends you're messin' with here, Anon. I heard about what you did."
>She jabs at you accusingly with a hoof
>"You cheated on her. You did wrong by Rarity, just like I told ya not to, and I want ya to apologize."
"No."
>"Are you gonna make me drag you back there?"
>AJ tries to make herself look threatening, and the effect is so hilarious-looking that you can't help but laugh out loud
>Anger flares on her face, and she smacks you again
"Ow! Would you calm the fuck down?"
>"I'm not gonna calm down! This is serious, Anon. Now go an' patch things up with Rarity before I force ya to!"
"AJ, you're an eighth my size. You're not gonna force me to do anything."
>"Really now? I'll do it, Anon! I swear!"
"Sure you will."
>You stand, and begin walking towards the store's exit
>"Get back here! You have to apologize to Rarity!"
"Not gonna happen."
>"Gosh darnit, Anon, just do it! I don't wanna get violent!"
"Get violent. I honestly don't care."
>AJ's huffs in frustration, following along behind you
>"Anon, I'm warnin' you--"
"And I'm telling you: stay out of my business, AJ. Go comfort Rarity if you care about her. But stop trying to interfere with my relationships."
>You place a hand on the top of Applejack's head, and shove her away, sprinting quickly out the door with a wave to Pinkie, who's been watching the scene unfold with popcorn and a bottle of lemonade
>AJ appears in the doorway as you take off running down the street
>She yells at you as you run from the store, her voice carrying surprisingly well down the sunlit streets
>"Yer a selfish, no-good stallion, Anon! You were right, you don't deserve a mare like Rarity. You pushed her away, and yer gonna do the same to Coco! You don't deserve anyone! You hear me? You don't deserve anyone!"
>You flip her off as you run, trying your best to ignore her words
>It's not true what she's saying, right?
>You're not being selfish
>The relationship with Rarity was toxic, and you had to break it off
>Granted, getting with Coco before you'd officially broken off wasn't the best decision you've ever made, but...
>That doesn't mean you're doing the wrong thing, does it?
>You pick up your pace, not entirely sure where you're running to
>But anyplace would be better than here right now
>Unfortunately, years of smoking have not left your lungs in great shape, and you collapse, wheezing, to the ground after only a few blocks
>Today has not been a good day
 
>Eventually, you end up getting lunch at the local hayburger joint, and spend a few hours just chilling there
>While it may be true that you don't have many talents, you're at least patient as all hell
>You amuse yourself simply by watching the ponies around you do their thing
>Everything they do is so animated, so full of life
>It makes you feel gross, and flat
>It's an interesting feeling, at the very least
>A group of ponies near you are chatting on and on about Power Ponies comics, gesticulating wildly as they argue which is the best
>It's cute to watch, and provides a nice little distraction from the black thoughts lurking in your head
>As much as you try to ignore them, AJ's words keep popping back into your head, along with Suri's
>Both of them said almost the exact same thing about you
>Selfish, undeserving, only going to hurt the ponies close to you...
>They can't be right, though, can they?
>AJ was angry with you over Rarity, and Suri's' just a bitch
>They can't be right
>Fuck, you wish Coco were here
>Around her, you hate everything a whole lot less
>But you have no idea where she's staying, and you feel like tracking her down would send a pretty bad signal
>So, instead... you guess you'll just wait here until nightfall, then head over to Twilight's
>At least she'll be happy to see you, you hope
 
>"Happy" isn't a strong enough word to describe it
>Twilight's face lights up the minute she sees you at the door
>"Anon! I wasn't expecting you, come on in!"
>She practically drags you in by the arm, leading you up towards her study
>"I just got back from a visit to Canterlot on official princess business! Isn't that impressive?"
>She pulls you into the study and tosses you onto a chair, prancing about the room adjusting books as she regales you with her adventures in the Equestrian capitol
>"...and then princess Luna accidentally sneezed on the Saddle Arabian diplomat's turban, and he threatened to declare war on the entirety of Equestria, until I stood up and reminded him about the magic of international friendship! Isn't that cool."
>She's almost Pinkie-esque as she circles around you, gesticulating wildly as her story develops
>"And then Princess Celestia said that I've come a long way as a princess! Isn't that great? Only two months, and I've already come a long way."
>Story finished, she flaps her wings, launching herself into your lap
>You jump back a little, surprised by her sudden display of affection
>"So how's your day been, Anon? Been thinking about your mystery mare again?"
>She gives you that same weird conspiratorial smile, fluttering her eyelids
"Huh? You mean Coco?"
>"Heheh, yes Anon, I mean 'Co-co.'"
>She makes airquotes with her hooves
>Twilight leans in closer
>"I'm sure 'Co-co' will understand just how much you like her when you tell her, Anon. She sounds like a pretty great mare."
"Yeah, she is. She's sweet and caring, yet also determined and strong. I feel like myself when I'm around her...
>Twilight giggles, and little pink splotches appear on her cheeks
>"Awww... she sure sounds great, Anon. Tell me more about why you like her?"
"More? Well, she has all this passion for a hobby most ponies would consider useless, but she's amazing at it. And she's pretty cute too..."
>Twilight crosses her forehooves over her chest
>That's so sweet! Tell me more!"
"Why are you so interested?"
>"Come on, Anon, you know..."
>That same stupid conspiratorial smile
>She bumps your shoulder
"No, I really don't. Why are you acting so weird?"
>Twilight giggles
>"Aww, you wanna play innocent? That's okay by me, Anon."
>She winks at you
>"But I think this 'Co-co' mare would really like to know how you feel. And you might be pleasantly surprised with how she reacts."
"Uh-huh..."
>You're staring, confused, at Twilight now
>She's bouncing happily in your lap, rubbing her forehooves together
>Wait a minute, could she be...
>Nah, that'd be completely ridiculous
>You're probably just misreading her signs, as usual
>Why would newly-crowned princess Twilight want anything to do with you anyway?
"So, uh... listen, there's been some problems between me and Rarity lately, and I was wondering if I could stay here for a bit."
>Twilight looks like you just offered her a membership to the universe's largest library
>"Of course you can! This'll be great! I'll finally have a chance to break out that slumber party book again. Only this time, we'll get to use the later chapters..."
>The way she says the last sentence is a little suspect, but you try your best to think nothing of it
>She couldn't possibly mean... no, Anon, get you goddamn mind out of the gutter
>You're just gonna spend the night in her spare bedroom until you can find a better place to stay
>In the meantime, you need to stop yourself from reading Twilight's friendliness as sexual advance
>Twilight skips along as she leads you to
>"So whaddaya wanna do first, Anon?"
"Um... I kinda just wanna be alone right now."
>Twilight's face falls
>"Oh, uh... sorry. It is kinda late, isn't it?"
>She plods along the rest of the way to the room, ears drooping
>Twilight's magic pushes the door open, revealing a simply furnished bedroom, with a single circular window letting in the moonlight
>"Here you go."
>Her voice has lost all of its earlier excitement, and she turns to leave without another word
"Wait, uh, Twilight?"
>"Yes?"
"Can I talk to you about something?"
>That seems to breathe a little life back into the purple princess, and she turns back towards you, intrigued
>"Of course, Anon. What is it?"
"It's about me and Rarity."
>"Oh."
>Twilight goes back to looking bored
"Things haven't been so great between us. That's... that's actually why I'm here."
>Twilight's ears perk right back up
>"Oh! Of course, Anon, you can tell me anything you want about you and Rarity."
"Um... thanks?"
>Twilights bounds into the room after you
>"So, what's the problem? Did the two of you break up? Are you hoping for a mare to ease your poor shattered heart?"
"What? No. Well, kinda. I don't really know."
>Twilight puts a hoof on your shoulder
>"Then what's the matter? C'mon, you can tell me..."
>But the smile she gives you seems a lot less caring, and more... eager
"Well,uh... Rarity found out about the other mare."
>Fear flashes briefly in Twilight's eyes
>"Sh-she did? She's not mad, is she?"
"She was pretty mad. Started throwing stuff at me, and wasn't going to let me leave. It was messy."
>"Wow... I guess that's not too surprising, knowing Rarity. What are you going to do?"
>Twilight sits on the bed next to you
>Again, a little closer than the situation really calls for
>Easy, Anon, she's just being friendly
>Besides, you've already cheated on Rarity with one mare
>You're not going to let yourself go down that path again
"I'm not sure yet. I was hoping you might have some advice."
>"Advice? Oooh, wait, I think I've got a book on this! Stay right there."
>Twilight seems to pop out of existence, leaving only a faint purple glow behind
"Whoa."
>A few seconds later she reappears, a thick, leather-bound book clutched to her chest
>'Drama, and How to Avoid It'
>Man, you could really use that book
>Twilight opens the book up, and begins flipping through chapters, speedreading them with freakish ability
>"Oh, here we go! The chapter on special someponies, and inevitable end of relationships!"
>Inevitable?
>Twilight scans quickly through a few dozen pages, before perking up
>"There it is! The section on what to do when your special pony attacks you in a fit of anger!"
>Wow, you really need this book
>Twilight scans the section in about five seconds, then sets the book down
>"It says, um... it says you should probably break up."
>Well, that's not too surprising
>"But you should make it official. Let her know, and... try to be gentle about it."
"Right. I guess that makes sense."
>You're really not keen on the idea of directly breaking up with Rara
>There'll be a lot of tears, and probably a good amount of object throwing and unkind words
>But, the book's right, you need to get out of this now
>"So you're gonna do it? You're gonna break up with Rarity?"
"I think so."
>Twilight seems pretty happy for you
>"You're making the right decision, Anon. I'm sure Rarity will come to understand that too, eventually."
"I hope. I mean, I still care about her, even if it's, you know, not in the same way. I just wish there were some way I could do this without hurting the poor girl."
>Twilight shrugs
>"You can only do the best you can do, and you'll just have to hope that's enough for her."
>This time, the smile Twilight gives you is legitimately reassuring
"Thanks, Twi. You've been a really supportive friend to me lately."
>You reach out, and pat her on the back between her wings
>Twilight shivers a little at your touch, and she ruffles her feathers
>"Mmmm..."
"Uh, you okay?"
>"What? Oh, yeah, I'm fine, heehee."
>She wriggles closer to you, her side now pressed against yours
>She's just being friendly... she's just being friendly...
>"What are you gonna do now, Anon? Are you finally gonna let this 'Co-co' mare know how much you like her?"
"I already did, actually."
>"Wait, what?"
"Yeah. I met her in the park, and told her. She... she was pretty happy."
>Twilight pulls away from your side, looking confused
>"Wait... who are you talking about?"
"Coco. I just told you."
>"But, I thought... you were... but..."
>You've seen Twilight get flustered plenty of times before, never like this
>"You were talking about another mare the whole time?"
"Of course, who did you think I was... oh."
>Twilight hops of the bed and begins pacing back and forth across the tiny bedroom
>"This can't be happening, it can't, I calculated my own Activeness Index, and I scored much higher than any mare in this town. How could you like someone else? It's impossible!"
"Whoa, whoa, easy Twi. I'm not saying you're not attractive, it's just--"
>"Haha, I knew it! I knew you liked me."
>She jumps toward you, attempting to tackle you backwards onto the bed
"Twilight, calm down!"
>The purple princess has begun tonguing your neck, leaving a slippery trail under your chin
"Twilight, seriously!"
>You reach up and push her off you
>Twilight falls to the floor with a loud *oof*
>She just lays there, looking forlorn
>You wipe her spit off your neck with the back of your hand, before leaning down to make sure she's okay
"Twi? You alright?"
>"It's not right..."
"What?"
>"It's not right! You're supposed to like me, Anon! I'm the most statistically desirable pony in the entire town! I'm the best at magic, my body exhibits the most mathematical perfection, and I'm a princess! A very impressive princess!"
>She stomps a hoof
>"Why aren't you impressed by me!?"
"I am, Twi, really. But I... I just like another mare. I'm sorry."
>"How?! What does she have that I don't?"
"I don't know, Twi, she just... she just makes me happy."
>Immediately, all the anger seems to drain from Twilight's body
>She sits back onto her haunches, head drooping
>"Oh. I... I see. And I don't, I guess."
"No, you do, Twilight, really. Just... not in the same way, I guess. I'm really sorry."
>Twilight nods, but you can see her trying hard to hold back tears
>"I should have guessed. I'm a terrible friend, aren't I..."
"What was that?"
>Her voice is so quiet, you can barely hear her
>"Nothing, Anon. Nothing. I'll see you in the morning."
"Twi, wait--"
>In a purple flash, the alicorn disappears from the room
"...I'm sorry."
>You wait a few moments after Twilight vanishes, just staring at that spot on the floor as the purple glow fades from your eyes
>Man, you really cocked that up
>How could you not have picked up on her signs?
>Now you've hurt another mare
>AJ's and Suri's words force their way into your head again
>Do you really do nothing but hurt the people around you?
>Are you really that bad?
>No, you can't be
>You're going to go to Twilight right now, and you're gonna fix this
>Because you're not a bad person
>No matter what those two say
>You creep out from the guest bedroom, and head up the stairs
>You run across Spike just a few steps up, and he glares at you as you walk past
>"What did you do to her, Anon?"
"I don't know..."
>"Well, whatever it is, you messed up big time. I haven't seen her this bad in a long time."
"Look, I'm trying to fix things, okay? Back off."
>Spike shakes his head, and continues up the stairs
>"You better, Anon. You'd better."
>You ignore his attempt at a threat, and continue up to Twilight's room, knocking softly on the door
>"Spike? Is that you?"
"It's me. Can we talk?"
>A few moments of silence follow your words, then the door creaks open
>Twilight sits dejectedly on the corner of her bed, avoiding looking at you
>You cross the room quickly, and wrap your arms around her little purple body
>Twilight sucks in her breath as you embrace her, and you can feel her heartbeat skyrocketing
>"A-anon?"
"I'm really sorry, Twi. I dont'... I didn't mean to hurt you. I hope you understand that."
>Twilight sighs
>"I do, Anon, but... why not me? I'm a princess! I'm always nice to you! And I'm a very impressive pony, too!"
"I know, I know. And I think you're really great, Twi, but I just don't..."
>Twilight pushes herself away from you, and flops down onto her bed
>"I know. You've got somepony else. Again."
"Well... kinda, yeah."
>You stand up from the bed awkwardly, jamming your hands in your pockets
>"I think I'd like to be alone right now, Anon."
"Okay. I'm really sorry, Twilight."
>You're not sure why you keep apologizing; you're perfectly aware it's not going to fix anything
>Slowly, you back out of Twilight's room, and head back down to the guest bedroom
>Fuck, man
>That's two mares you've screwed over in a single day
>'You pushed her away, and yer gonna do the same to Coco! You don't deserve anyone!'
>You didn't mean for any of this to happen...
>Back in the guest bedroom, you collapse on the mattress exhausted
>One thing's for sure, you're not going to be staying here after tonight
>Which means you'll be back to look for a place to sleep come tomorrow
>You figure Zecora's your best bet, unless you can get Coco to let you agree to stay with her
>Your heart jumps at the thought of sharing a home with the little cream mare, but that seems like you'd be coming on a bit strong
>After all, you're still not exactly sure how she feels about you
>She did give you that kiss on the cheek, but maybe she was just being friendly
>Fuck, man, why is your life suddenly so complicated?
>Despite your exhaustion, it's a long time before you finally get to sleep
 
>When you awake, Twilight's house is completely empty; no pony princess, and no baby dragon
>Honestly, you're thankful you don't have to run into either of them
>Now is not the time for more drama
>Outside, the sun is high in a cloudless sky
>You begin your walk from Twilight's house aimlessly, wanting to keep yourself busy more than anything else
>Something in the back of your mind keeps telling you that you still need to officially break things off with Rarity
>Or at least, you'd like to get your stuff from her house...
>With that in mind, you allow your feet to carry you towards Rarity's boutique
>This is the last thing you want to do right now, but you need to
>Because you're not a bad person, no matter what these crazy horses may think
>You're gonna do the adult thing, gonna resolve the situation peacefully, and then--
>"How DARE you show your face here!?"
>You hear Rarity's voice blaring from the boutique up ahead
> Startled, you pick up the pace, feet hammering the ground as you sprint toward your former home
>"I never, EVER want to see you here again, you hear me?! Never!"
>You're almost to the boutique when the front door flies open, and Coco comes charging out like a missile
>Several of Rarity's household objects come flying out after her
>A heavy-looking tiara misses Coco by only a few inches, and you sprint forehead, scooping her up, and throwing your body over her protectively
>A sharp pain lances through your back as a hefty book strikes it
>Once the assault ends, Rarity appears in the doorway to see you with Coco still in your arms
>Immediately, the rage drains from her face
>"A-Anon?"
"What the hell is your problem?!"
>Rarity looks taken aback, but she quickly recovers, gesturing violently at Coco
>"She's my problem! She stole you from me!"
"Stole me? What in the hell are you talking about?"
>You set Coco down, and she awkwardly tries to avoid looking at either of you
>"It was supposed to be me! I'm the mare you're supposed to love! We were perfect for each other, until this little temptress poisoned your mind! Now I have to watch the stallion I love galavant with some lying little thief of a mare!"
>Coco hangs her head
>You place a hand on her back, trying to comfort her even as your body begins to shake with rage
>Why the hell is Rarity acting like this?
>She's always been overly dramatic, and you expected that now more than ever, but it's like she's deliberately taking things too far
"She didn't steal me."
>You're trying hard to keep your voice steady
"I chose her, Rarity. You were treating me like an object, dragging me around without ever caring how I felt and, well, now I found a mare who actually cares about me."
>Coco looks embarrassed as all hell, her cheeks rosy red and her eyes trained on the ground
>Rarity's looking between the two of you, aghast
>"Anon, are-- are you saying...?"
"Yes. We're through, Rares."
>The world around you seems to grow quieter as the words pass your lips, and Rarity just stares at you, numb
>Her mouth works silently attempting to form words
>"Y-You... you can't... no..."
>Her eyes are wide with horror now, all hints of her earlier rage gone
>"How will I-- no..."
>Suddenly, Rarity charges toward the you of you
>You step in front of Coco instinctively, fearing Rarity's going to attack her again
>But, instead, she throws herself toward you, wrapping her forelegs around your waist
>"Anon, please, you can't do this. I know I've been bad, but I can change. Please."
>She squeezes you with a strength you didn't know she had, closing around your stomach like a marshmallow vice
"Rarity, I'm sorry. But this is what has to happen. We're not right for each other."
>"We're perfect for each other, Anon. Please, don't throw me away. I can't... I can't let that happen. I don't want to be alone anymore..."
>Her eyes leave wet little mascara stain on your shirt as she presses her snout against your stomach
>Coco, meanwhile, looks like she wishes she were anywhere but here
>You reach down and try to pry Rarity away from you, but her forelegs are clamped down tight
>"Please, Anon, please... I need you to stay with me... Sweetie needs a big brother like you, and I need someone who loves me... Don't let me be alone anymore, please."
>Coco's starting to back away now, her face a mask of guilt
>She's doing her best to look anywhere but at you and Rarity
"Rarity, please... you're making a scene..."
>She's not, actually, but you need to say something to get her off you
>"I don't care, Anon, I don't care if all of Ponyville sees me like this... just please don't leave me behind... I can't take it. I can't."
>God, this might be the hardest thing you've ever had to do
"I'm sorry, Rarity, but this is... this is how it has to be. We're breaking up."
>"A-Anon... p-please..."
>She looks up at you with tear-filled eyes, her eyeliner running down her cheeks like little black worms
"No. We're done. Let go of me."
>Limply, Rarity's arms fall away from your waist, and sits back on the ground
>You take a step away, expecting her to leap up and grab you again
>But she doesn't
>Rarity just sits there, looking lifeless
>She's not even crying anymore, she's eerily still
"Goodbye, Rarity. I hope, one day, we can be friends again. But for now... goodbye. And I'm sorry."
>Slowly, you walk away from her, leaving the little diamond horse sitting dejectedly on the ground
>Coco's waiting for you a few paces from Rarity
>You place a hand on the back of her head, and the two of you set off
 
>The two of you walk through Ponyville, not speaking to each other
>Coco looks absolutely miserable, and you don't feel much better yourself
>As much as you want to believe you did the right thing... you're not entirely sure
>You weren't with Rarity, sure, but...
>Did you really have to do that to her?
>Something about the look on her face back there sends cold shivers across your skin
>Ugh
>At least she has her friends
>If anyone can pick her up, they can
>Right now, you have another mare to worry about
"Coco?"
>"Hmm?"
"Wanna get something to eat?"
>"Sure."
>Coco sounds like she doesn't care one way or another, but you figure the two of you could use some time together to sort things out
>You lead her to a small Ponyville café, and order coffee for the two of you, before asking Coco if there's anything else she'd like
>"I'm not really hungry."
>The two of you sit there in silence after the drinks arrive
"Are you okay?"
>Coco shrugs
>"I don't know. I feel really bad. Like all of this was my fault."
>You expected something like this, unfortunately
"Of course it's not your fault, Coco. This whole goddamn mess is on me."
>"But Rarity's right. I lead you away from her. I stole the only stallion she had."
"You didn't steal anyone. I made my choice. And... I hate that I had to hurt Rarity to do it. I feel fucking awful. But, Coco, if anyone here deserves that guilt it's me. You deserve some happiness."
>Coco smiles sadly at that, but it quickly fades
>"I know what you mean, Anon. But... nevermind."
>You raise an eyebrow, trying to encourage her to explain further
>Coco just shakes her head, staring bleakly down at the table
>"Sorry, that's not a story I can tell right now."
"Oh. Well, uh..."
>You know what you want to say, but you have no idea how to actually say it
"Coco, now that I'm, you know, single, I was wondering if... you'd like to start spending more time together?"
>Coco looks up at you, quizzical
>"You mean... like dating?"
"Well... yeah, I guess..."
>Coco's ears flatten against her head, and a pink flush creeps into her cheeks
>"I don't know, Anon. This is all so sudden, I mean... you're a great stallion, and I enjoy being around you, but... I 'd feel so guilty, I don't know if I can handle that right now. Sorry..."
>She glances to the side, shifting in the plastic café chair
"Oh."
>Well, fuck your life, then
>You shift to the side in your own chair, thinking about just leaving
>You begin to stand up, when you feel Coco's forelegs grab your arm
>"Th-that's not a no, by the way!"
>Coco looks up at you, eyes wide and flustered, leaning across the table to grab you
>"It's not a no. I just... I need a little time to think, okay?"
>The collapse back into the chair, sighing in relief
"Okay. Time to think. That... that makes sense, yeah. Sorry I sprung that on you so suddenly."
>"It's fine. I'm a little flattered, actually, even if..."
>Even if it came at the expense of another mare's heart
>God, are all your interactions going to go like this?
>At this point, you're a desperate for a change in subject
"So... how's work been?"
>The look on Coco's face shows you that was the exact wrong question to ask
>"It's, um, well... there's been some problems..."
>Coco looks down at the table, forehooves fiddling with her empty coffee mug
"Oh, shit. Sorry, I didn't mean to--"
>"No, it's fine. It's just, Rarity's best friends with Suri, and Suri's my boss, so..."
"Yeah..."
>Man, you're just knockin' em dead today, aren't you?
>"I'm sure it'll be okay, though. We should be leaving in a few weeks anyway."
>You nearly spit coffee out your nose at that
"You are?"
>"Of course. Manehattan's still my home, Anon. I'm not moving in here. I'm just staying to help Suri until she and Rarity finish their work for fashion week."
"Oh..."
>"Is something wrong, Anon?"
"Heh, no, nothing..."
>"It's not like I'm going to disappear off the face of Equestria, Anon. If you want to, you know... date me... and we both decide to do it... which I'm still not sure about... uh..."
>Coco's face is bright red again, and you can swear she's breaking out in sweat
>This girl gives Fluttershy a run for her money in the 'bashful' department
>"I'm just saying... you don't have to give up yet."
>She gives you a small smile, before dipping her face back into her mug of coffee, taking big, exaggerated gulps
>When she pulls back up, her muzzle is stained with the dark liquid, which she hastily wipes off
>"Anyway, uh... work should go fine, once things smooth out with Rarity. Suri's been in a really good mood lately, which is nice..."
>Why does every sentence this mare says make it sound like she's hiding something from you?
>And what horrible thing could have inspired to put a mare like Suri in a good mood?
"Well... that's good, I guess. Oh, and by the way, I hope this isn't creepy if I ask: where are you staying? I don't really have many ponies to visit anymore..."
>"It's not creepy, Anon. I rented a room over by town hall, right by that little park area. Know where I mean?"
>You do, a little too well
>That place has basically become sulk central for you in the past few days
"Yeah. I'll come by and visit sometime, if that's okay."
>Coco gives you first genuine smile you've seen on her all day
>"Of course it's okay. In fact, I've got some designs I'd like to make rough cuts of today, if you'd like to come over and, you know, keep me company? While I work?"
"Oh, yeah, that sounds great, actually."
>You smile back at Coco, feeling a tiny glimmer of happiness flutter to life in your chest
>The two of you stand, and you plunk some bits down onto the table before heading off after her
 
>The two of you are mostly silent as you head back towards Coco's house, but there's a much more amicable quality to the silence this time
>Something about Coco's presence is incredibly soothing to you, even with the endless stresses that continue to pile up inside your head
>You reach the city hall, and Coco sprints ahead, leading you to a small duplex-style house, climbing the steps to the left door
>You chase after her, stepping onto the landing behind her
>"It's not much compared to Rarity's, but it's enough for now."
>She unlocks the door, and you follow her in
>The place is small, as expected, but it's immensely cozy
>It's undecorated for the most part, but you spot a few books stacked next to the couch
>They look like travel guides
>Huh
>A door at the back of the tiny living room leads to an even smaller bedroom, with barely enough room to cram in a bed and a desk
>The desk is covered in scraps of fabric, and detailed little sketches of pony figures covered in all manner of intricate clothing
>She doesn't have a sewing machine, but you notice a pincushion of needles, and several spools of thread
"Wow. Quite the workstation you have here."
>Coco nods proudly
>"Mhm. I think I've done pretty nicely with what I have here."
"You definitely have. Did you make all these yourself?"
>You gesture to the various sketches
>"Mhmm. Suri says they're nowhere near professional-level work, but I still enjoy creating them. It just feels nice to make things, you know? Even if they're not very good."
"They look perfectly fine to me. I think Suri's just being a jealous cunt."
>Coco's cheeks turn pink
>"Why do you have to swear so much, Anon?"
"I dunno. It's just how I talk."
>"I know, but it makes you seem kinda... mean. And angry."
>Given what you've done to some of the mares closest to you in the past two days, 'mean' probably isn't a strong enough word
"Sorry. Didn't mean to bother you. I'll try to control it."
>"It doesn't bother me, it's just... it makes you sound like someone I used to know."
>You raise an eyebrow, again encouraging her to explain further
>Coco just shuffles out of the bedroom, leading you toward the kitchen
>Like everything else, it's small and sparsely furnished
>You can't help but notice there's only one chair at the dinner table
>"You want something to eat? I don't really have much, but..."
>She pulls open the fridge without waiting for your answer, removing a bottle of milk and pouring a glass for the both of you
"Well, I don't wanna impose, but I'm down for whatever you feel like cooking."
>Coco grins as she hands you your milk
>"That's what I like to hear."
>As she busies herself pulling ingredients from the fridge and mixing them on the gas stove, you peppers you with questions about Ponyville
>"So, how long have you been here, Anon? And where are you from, exactly?"
"Well... it's kind of a long story. I've been here in Ponyville for about a year and a half, I guess. But I'm not originally from Equestria at all."
>Coco giggles
>"I could guess that much, silly. So, where?"
"Uh..."
>The last thing you want to tell Coco now is the story of why you're really here
"I don't exactly know how to explain it. A different planet, maybe? A different dimension? I don't exactly know where Equestria is in relation to my home."
>Coco stares at you for a few seconds, before bursting into a soft, giggly laugh
>"Haha, yeah, right, you're an alien. And I'm secretly a manticore."
"I'm seriousness. My world... dimension... place doesn't look anything like this."
>"Oh, really, now? Heehee. I know I can be a little naïve sometimes, Anon, but I'm not THAT gullible."
>You sigh
>This mare definitely has a stubborn streak
"Okay, fine, don't believe me. But I can guarantee I'm not from anywhere you've ever heard of."
>Coco grins smugly
>"Don't be so sure about that. I know about a lot of places."
>You remember the stack of travel guides next to her couch
>Seems like a better topic than this one, anyway
"You do?"
>Coco nods, excited
>"Mhm. I've read guides on almost every place in the entire world."
"Oh, cool. You travel a lot?"
>You take a seat on the floor, wedging yourself between the wall and Coco's tiny kitchen table
>"Well... not really. I've actually only been outside Manehattan a few times. But I hope that one day, when ponies have started to recognize my work, I'll get to start touring and saving money to travel on my own. And then I'll get a chance to visit all the places I've read about."
>She's grinning now, staring out the window with eyes glittering in the midday sun
"That sounds pretty great. Where do you wanna go?"
>"Everywhere, of course."
"Okay, where most of all?"
>"Hmmm... well, I've always wanted to actually spend time in Canterlot. Not just follow Suri around at the Gala, but actually get a chance to visit the shops, and maybe meet some of the famous designers who live there. I hoped I would get a chance this year, but... well, Suri decided we'd come down here instead."
>Her ears droop a little
"Wait, Canterlot? Hell, I could take you there. It's not that hard to get to."
>Coco's ears perk up, and her face brightens
>"You could? Really?"
"Of course. I'm friends with the Elements of Harmony, remember?"
>Well, half of them, at least
>Actually, without Twilight or Rarity's help, this could be more difficult than you thought
>Still, you can find a way for Coco
>"That'd be... oh, that'd be amazing, Anon!"
>She leaps into your lap, wrapping her forelegs around your neck, squeezing with an impressive amount of soft, cuddly strength
>You hug her back, slightly more gently, as she nuzzles your cheek
>Have you ever gotten signals this mixed from a mare before?
"Um... Coco?"
>"Yeah?"
"I think the eggs are burning..."
 
>After a few small missteps, Coco removes a steaming vegetable casserole from the oven, beaming proudly as she does so
>"It's ready!"
>The two of you end up sitting in her living room to eat, as there isn' enough room in the kitchen
>Coco watches intently as you take your first bite of the casserole
>"How is it? It's not bad, right? I thought I might have used a little too much salt, but--"
"It's great, actually."
>You're not lying, this shit is delicious, especially for horse food
>"Really? You mean it?"
"Yes, of course I mean it. Why do you always ask that?"
>"Ehhh... no reason. But you really like it, right?"
"Dammit, Coco-- I mean yes, it's actually really good."
>You really do swear a lot, don't you?
>She smiles, and wriggles in her spot on the couch
>"Thanks, Anon. You know, it's pretty nice to be around someone who compliments me all the time."
>Coco nudges your shoulder
"Just calling it like I see it. You're too used to being around ponies like Suri."
>Coco shrugs, and returns to her food
>The two of you eat in silence for a few minutes, before she breaks it with another question
>"Anon? Why don't you like Suri?"
"Why? Because she's awful, Coco. Can't you see that?"
>Coco shakes her head
>"You're too hard on her. Suri's given me a good job, she's promised to get me my own position in the industry as soon as one opens, and she's been very forgiving of my... mistakes."
"Your mistakes?"
>Coco starts fidgeting with her fork
>"Yeah,I've done some... bad things in the past. But Suri's been willing to look past all of that, and I've learned a lot from her. Even if she can be a little... critical, sometimes, it's only because she wants me to be the best mare she can be. So... please be nicer to her."
>You open and close your mouth a few times, trying to hold back some scathing details on Suri
>Although, should you really hold these back?
>Letting Coco know about what a terrible mare her boss has been would upset her, and might even make her less trusting of you
>But... a part of you feels like she deserves to know
>Coco's gone back to her eggs, still looking a little uncomfortable from the confrontation
>What should you say?
"Coco... a good boss wouldn't berate you, and put you down the way she does. If Suri really does care about you, she needs to understand that."
>"She does care about me, Anon. If she didn't, why would she be helping me get my start in the fashion industry? Just 'cause she can be a little strict, doesn't mean she's not a good boss."
>Coco scrunches her nose at you, looking more than a little flustered
>You hold up your hands
"Okay... sorry, I didn't mean to insult your friend. I just... she worries me a little, Coco, that's all. I don't want to see a good-hearted girl like you be taken advantage of. But, if you trust her... I guess I trust you. Just, please... don't be afraid to stick up to Suri. If she's a good boss, she'll understand."
>Coco nods
>"I know, Anon. I can take care of myself."
"Of course you can, you're tough as hell. It's just... I worry a lot about the ponies I care about, okay? Even though we haven't known each other that long, if you got hurt... it'd hurt me too, okay? So if I'm a little distrusting of Suri, it's just because I'm worried about her hurting you. Sorry."
>You look down at the ground, expecting a reprimand
>Instead, Coco gently lays a hoof onto your hand
>You look up into her aqua-blue eyes, to find all traces of her brief anger gone
>Instead, they seem to shimmer with emotion in the apartment's dim light
>"Thank you, Anon."
>She slowly begins to stroke the back of your hand
"For what?"
>"For caring about me. Aside from Suri, I really don't have many close friends. And you've been so good to me, and... I don't know what to say."
>She puts down her plate, and scoots up next to you, leaning her plush, warm little body against your side
>You wrap an arm around her withers, letting her rest her head against your bicep
>She snuggles in, letting out a little cooing noise as she does so
>More mixed signals?
>You honestly don't know what it is with this mare
>Lazily, you scratch the soft, silky fur of her back
>Now here's a pony you could snuggle all day
>Still... what does all this mean?
>Coco's made it clear she likes you on multiple occasions, and it doesn't seem like she has any other stallions in her life
>Why wouldn't she want to date you?
>Should you ask her about this?
>Slowly, you move your scratching hand lower down Coco's back, reaching the space just a few inches above the base of her tail
>A little shiver runs through Coco's body, but she doesn't ask you to stop
>Does that mean keep going?
>The last thing you want to do is take advantage of this mare
>But it sure seems like she's giving you the "all clear"
>Slowly, you scratch down to the base of her tail, then slowly circle around her hips, running a fingers across her cutie mark
>Coco lets out a little squeak, and you pause
>She doesn't move away though
>With your free hand, you grab one of her hooves, running your thumb across its smooth surface
>Coco opens her eyes, and looks up at you
>Her face is really red, and she's breathing heavily
"Coco? You okay?"
>She doesn't respond, but instead pulls herself up and into your lap, wrapping her forelegs around your neck
>Her eyes are closed, she's blushing like crazy, and her lips are slightly puckered under her round little snout
>Slowly, you raise your hands onto Coco's back, and pull her in closer
>As if in slow motion, face inches toward yours
>And your lips miss hers, ending up on the tip of her nose
>Coco's eyes open
>She giggles, and you can't help but laugh at your own clumsiness
>And then you grab her once again and pull her body into yours, pressing your mouth to hers
>"Mmmf..."
>Coco coos into your mouth, lips tight and quivering as you kiss her
>She definitely hasn't practiced this much, but she's so god damned adorable you don't even care
>Your hands stroke along the silky coat of her back, trailing from her withers down to her hips
>Coco wriggles a little in your lap, tail swishing up to tickle your wrists
>You grab her sides, and adjust her so the two of you can kiss better
>You've kissed Rarity plenty of times before, and Rainbow once when you were really drunk, but none of that ever compared to this moment right here with Coco
>Her little body so impossibly soft and silky, and seems to quiver with excitement at your touch
>Gradually, Coco's lips soften under yours as she calms down, but you don't want to spook her by turning this into a full-on makeout
>Instead, you simply cradle her, laying gentle little kisses on her pony lips
>One of her kind legs kicks reflexively, jostling your shoulder
>Coco giggle-snorts, before pulling you back in for another long kiss
>Deciding to try out a trick Rarity always liked, you gently nibble Coco's bottom lip
>She kicks again, and this time you grab her hoof
>You feel her mouth smiling under yours, and you release your lip
>Your hand begins sliding up Coco's leg, making it up to her thing before you feel her wriggle in your lap again
>She presses her hips into your stomach, and you feel a little wet spot soak into the fabric of your shirt
>Immediately, your heart rate seems to double
>Your hand moves up, and cups Coco's plot
>She squeaks, and recoils slightly, before pressing into another kiss
>Okay... so far so good?
>Placing a hand on Coco's back, you gently lift her onto the couch with you
>The two of you lay there, side by side, both barely fitting together, and continue kissing
>Coco squeezes up against you, breath tickling your nostrils as her face meets yours against and again
>She's breathing heavily now, and you can feel her heart hammering away inside her fluffy little chest
>The hand cupping her plot gives it a gentle little squeeze, and Coco presses her hips into you again
>You begin rhythmically squishing Coco's ass, and you can feel the wetness on your stomach slowly growing as Coco rubs up against you
>The hand on her back moves up to cup her cheek, and occasionally toys with her ear
>Meanwhile, down below, your fingers are creeping further along Coco's inner thigh
>Her curves are similar to Rarity's, yet slimmer, and you can feel muscle underneath their softness
>Either, way, you're close; you can feel the heat radiating from Coco's marehood at your fingertips
>You pull her into one final, long kiss as your hand makes contact with Coco's soaked entrance
>Immediately, Coco bolts upright, lips leaving yours as she pulls her hips away from your fingers
>"W-wait..."
>She's panting heavily now
>"Maybe we should, um... move to my bed first. Yeah."
>She smiles uneasily, trying to cross her hind legs to hide the sopping mess between them
"Uh... okay..."
>You're a little out of breath too, heart pounding and your erection painfully tight in your jeans
>You scoop Coco up in your arms, and carry her into her bedroom, plopping as gently as you can down onto the bed
>She keeps her hind legs firmly crossed the entire time, ears flattened in embarrassment
>Slowly, you lay yourself down on top of you, keeping most of your weight on your legs and elbows to avoid squishing the little mare
>You lean in, and kiss Coco again
>She starts off stiff again, but her mouth quickly softens, and she wraps her forelegs around your neck, kissing you back
>Her hind legs open too, and you move your hand back to her thigh, ticking her inner leg as you hand moves to her sex
>This time, she squeals when you touch her, bucking her hips up into your hand
>Your fingers trace along her slippery lower lips, and you feel little shudders of pleasure running through Coco
>You're so hard now it's painful, and you begin unbuckling your pants, and fumble with the waistband as you begin to slide them down
>Swollen and stiff, your manhood springs forth from the fabric, tingling in ancipitation of Coco's warm, wet insides
>You shift yourself on the bed, lowering it towards her glistening folds
>Just as your tip touches her, Coco's eyes fly open
>"Wait!"
>You pull away from Coco, startled by her sudden outburst
>She curls up underneath you, all her dripping wet glory now concealed by her legs and tail
>You roll to the side, lying half-dressed next to Coco
>She curls up tighter, hiding her face from you
>"I'm sorry! I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Please don't be mad..."
>Coco brings her forelegs up over her head, as if anticipating a blow
"Coco, snap out of it!"
>You reach out and try to comfort her, but Coco pulls away
>"I'm sorry, Anon. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean too, I just... I just..."
>She's starting to shake uncontrollably, and sounds close to tears
"Coco. Coco?"
>You pet her back as she begins to sob
>"I'm sorry, Anon... I broke up you and Rarity... all for me... I did it again..."
"No, no, Coco, you didn't do anything."
>"I did. It's all my fault. Why am I such a terrible pony?"
"Terrible? Coco, you're one of the nicest ponies I've ever met."
>"I'm not, Anon. I've done a lot of things... a lot of really bad things. And now I'm doing it all over again..."
>Her words are lost as she hiccups, burying her face into the bed
>Unsure of what to say, you hike your pants back up, and pull Coco closer, cuddling the little sobbing ball of pony against your chest
"It's okay, Coco. No matter what you did, you're still a good mare."
>She doesn't respond, but instead smushes her tear-streaked face into your shoulder
>"I want to believe you, Anon... but it's not true. The things I've done..."
>She sniffles, and you can feel her tears seeping into your shirt
>You keep silent, continuing to stroke Coco until her crying subsides
>She snorts, and slowly rolls away form you, sitting on the edge of the bed
>You sit up as well, scooting up next to her
>"I'm sorry I led you on like that, Anon."
"It's fine. I shouldn't have been pushing you like that."
>Coco places her forehooves in her lap, eyes set on the ground
>Tentatively, you reach out, and wrap your arm around her withers
>She leans against you, her mane a little tangled from your session earlier
>You do your best to smooth it out with your free hand, before wiping the tears from her eyes
>Coco lets out a wet-sounding giggle at your efforts, and reaches up to rearrange her mane herself, returning it to it's usual tight little style
>When she finishes, Coco checks herself in a small mirror next to the bed before stepping slowly to the floor
>You follow her out into the living room, and help her clean up the casserole dishes, piling them into the kitchen sink
>The two of you work in silence, and you notice that Coco seems to be avoiding looking at you
>Is it out of fear, or guilt?
>After the place is clean, she sits on the couch, staring out the single tiny window
>You join her, watching as the sun slowly sinks below the treetops outside, wondering where you should go from here
>Zecora's?
>At this point, she seems like your only option, unless you want to bunk with some of Fluttershy's animals
>So, yeah... and you really don't feel like walking through the Everfree at night, so you'd better get going
"Well, uh... I'm gonna head out. I guess I'll come by again tomorrow?"
>You stand to leave, but you feel Coco's forelegs grab your wrist
>"You don't have to go yet, Anon. Let me tell you about some of those..."
>She gestures to her books
>"And I still need to work on my sewing. You said you'd keep me company, right?"
"I guess. But I still need to find a place to sleep tonight, Coco."
>Coco glances to the side, and taps her hooves in front of her chest
>"You can stay with me. I don't really like... sleeping alone."
>You blink twice
>The mixed signals continue
"Oh. Yeah, that's good too."
>Coco smiles, and claps her hooves
>"Yay! It'll be just like a sleepover! We can stay up late, I can tell you about fashion, we can read books..."
>She trots back into her room, still rattling off activities for the two of you to do
>Honestly, you're just happy to have a place to stay
>And the fact that it's with Coco just makes it that much better
>This is the perfect opportunity to get to know her better
>But... what part of Coco do you want to get to know?
>You could try to ease her into talking about her past
>Or you could just find out more about her interests, and save that for later
>Still... all the mystery around this mare is starting to drive you crazy
>Coco trots back in, collar and bow missing, and four little pink fuzzy slippers on her hooves
>"So, what do you wanna do first? There's not much, but I've got my books. I've got my sketches, if you'd like to look at those. Or we could just talk."
"Well..."
>What do you want to do?
>Ideas of what to say to Coco spin through your head as she stares at you, expectantly
"Well... how about you tell me about some of the places in these?"
>You gesture to the stack of travel guides
"I've barely even been outside of Ponyville, so hearing about more of Equestria would be pretty cool."
>Coco squeals in delight, and you can tell that's exactly what she was hoping to hear
>"Of course! So what do you want to start with? The Griffon Kingdom? The Crystal Empire? Cloudsdale?"
"Ummm... well, which is your favorite?"
>Coco scratches her head, shuffling through the stack of books
>"Huh. I'm not really sure..."
>She perks up
>"How about I just tell you about them all?"
"Sounds good."
>Well, you had no idea what you were getting into when you said that
>Coco launches into a lengthy, animated, incredibly-detailed explanation of the Griffon Empire, gesticulating wildly with her hooves every time she gets to a particularly interesting bit
>At one point she even brings out her sketchbook, drawing some huge, spiky building apparently located in the griffon capitol
>She makes a big circle on the space next to the building, and sketches in some smiling little stick-figure griffons
>"And there's this huge celebration here on the fourth of october every single year, where everypony gets together and there's music and wrestling and flying competitions and all sorts of food, well it's all griffon food of course, so not good for ponies, but then after that they..."
>As much as you like Coco, you find your mind beginning to wander as she talks
>The place doesn't have much in the way of decoration, but what little there is stands out that much more
>You notice there's a tiny porcelain coffee mug emblazoned with Coco's cutie mark on the edge of the living room table
>It looks old and worn down, like she's had it a while
>Also, the only item currently on the bookshelves is a framed photograph of Coco and Suri
>Both of them look at least five years younger; Suri looks early-twenties and Coco's barely a teenager
>You can't help but notice how happy the two of them look
>"And their Hearthswarming Eve is so much better than it is in Manehattan. Only they don't call it Hearthwarming Eve, it's called Wintertide, and huge snowball wars spring up all over the kingdom, and they don't end until one single griffon has been declared Winter's Champion. Sometimes the fights last for days..."
>Suri in particular looks nothing like you're used to
>She has this huge, superbly genuine smile, and her cascades in neat little curls down around her withers
>Her arm's wrapped around Coco, and their cheeks are pressed together to fit both their faces in the frame
>It's cute... and a little uncanny
>Because something has to have happened to land them in their current relationship
>"Anyway... that's almost all I can remember about the griffons, pretty cool, huh?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah, it's awesome."
>"Anon? What're you looking at?"
>Coco follows your gaze to where the photograph stands on the shelf
>"Oh, heh, that's me and Suri."
>She gets up, and trots over to the bookshelf, picking the photograph up
>"Wow... it really has been a while, hasn't it?"
>Coco stares into the picture, eyes glazing over as she loses herself in happier memories
"How long have you and Suri known each other?"
>"Since I was a filly. We went to school together. Suri was a few grades above me, and she was in charge of the fashion club. I didn't really have a lot of friends, so she invited me to join. She was like an older sister to me, really."
>A small smile plays on Coco's lips, and she strokes the photograph fondly
>"We were really close."
"Were?"
>"I mean, we still are now, it's just..."
"Just...?"
>Coco replaces the photograph, turning away from you
>"Sorry, Anon... that's a story I'm not ready to share right now."
>You lean back against the couch, afraid you just killed the friendly mood between you two
>Fortunately, it turns out you haven't; Coco immediately turns back to you, enthusiastic grin once again adorning her dollish features
>"So, would you like to hear about the Crystal Empire now?"
"Of course."
 
>It's been a good two hours before Coco pauses in her descriptions of crystal towers representing thousands of years of Equestrian history
>You're trying hard to keep your eyes open, even as she prances about the room with seemingly boundless energy
>Her hooves flail wildly as she describes the battle against King Sombra, and the liberation of the empire by Twilight and her friends
>Coco tells the story much better than Twilight, though
>Finally, as she gets to the end, Coco collapses onto the couch, chest heaving
>"It'll be so great if I ever get to go there..."
>You reach up, and scratch between her ears
"You mean when you do."
>She giggles
>"Since when are you the optimistic one?"
"Hey, I'm allowed to be optimistic when it's about my... friends."
>Coco notices the pause, and she casts her eyes back towards the ground
>"Friends?"
>Her voice has lost a fair bit of enthusiasm
"Well... what else are we? You yourself said we aren't dating."
>"I know but... nevermind. Anyway, want me to make us some dinner?"
>She hops up and away from you, awkwardly forcing her enthusiasm
>"I don't have much I can make, actually, but, uh... I could order a pizza. Do they have takeout in Ponyville? I could, uh..."
"Coco?"
>"What? You don't like pizza..."
>Coco turns away from you, her voice trailing off
>You can tell this is a subject she's trying to avoid, and you don't want to make her uncomfortable
>But you'd also like to settle this issue now
>What should you say?
"Coco, I can tell something's bothering you."
>She remains facing away from you, staring out the window
>"We could get Chi-neighse. Do they have Chi-neighse in Ponyville...?"
>You kneel down behind Coco, laying your hand on her wither
"Coco? Will you tell me what's wrong?"
>Coco sighs, her head drooping
>"I don't want to talk about it, Anon. I don't... I don't want you to know."
>A cold feeling is growing in the pit of your stomach
"Why not? You can trust me, Coco."
>"I know I can. I'm worried...
>She looks up at you from beneath her bangs, shifting her weight from leg to leg
>"I'm worried you'll stop liking me."
>Fuck
"Stop liking you? Coco, nothing you did could be that bad."
>She doesn't look so sure
"Coco... please? I really like you, and that's not going to change. And, if you're willing, I'd like you to be my, y'know, my marefriend. Not trying to push you into anything, but that's how I feel. And you feel the same way... that'd be really great."
>You scratch at the back of your neck
"I guess I'm kinda rambling right now. But I really like you, Coco. You can tell me anything, and I promise I'll understand. I want you to be able to trust me."
>Coco squirms under your touch, but she doesn't pull away
>"I don't know, Anon... maybe... maybe we could wait?"
"Wait? Wait for what?"
>"I don't know... I'm just not ready yet. I'm sorry, Anon. I'm really not the great mare you thought I was, huh?"
"What? No. Coco, you don't have to put yourself down like this. I promise, no matter what it is, I won't stop liking you."
>Coco hesitates
>"Okay. I'll tell you. Just... not tonight. Please."
"Not tonight. But soon."
>Coco nods again
>And suddenly leaps into your arms, embracing you
>"Thanks, Anon. I'm really sorry about earlier, but... I'm glad you're here."
>She nuzzles your neck
"Glad to be here. You're a fun mare to be with, Coco."
>You stroke the back of her mane
"So tell me what you need to tell me, when you're ready. But until then..."
>You purposely let the question trail off, hoping Coco will fill in with her own answer
>"Anon... I really don't want to disappoint you."
>Coco pulls out of the embrace
>She walks over to the kitchen table, and sits on its single chair
>"But, I don't really have much experience with dating... I'm not sure if I want to rush into this. I'm afraid of doing something wrong."
"Wrong? What could you possibly do wrong?"
>Coco flinches at that question
"Sorry. I am being kind of pushy, aren't I?"
>"A little, but... I guess I'm being a little difficult too. I like you, Anon, I really do. Since I met you, I've been really, really happy. Much more than I was in Manehattan. But I'm afraid of ruining that. I already forced you and Rarity apart..."
"Coco, that wasn't your fault."
>"Maybe not completely, but I was part of the reason. I didn't mean to do it, but I broke the two of you apart, just like..."
>Coco clamps her mouth shut, wincing as painful memories return
>"I don't mean to tease you, or lead you on. But I'm afraid, Anon. I don't want to hurt you like I've hurt others."
>You step behind the chair, and put a hand on Coco's withers
"Coco, I've been through a lot of shit, and it's made me pretty tough. You don't have to worry about me. Just do what makes you happy. You deserve that much."
>Coco nods, and leans back against your hand
>"Thanks, Anon. I'll try."
>She gives you a small, sad smile
>You return it, and scratch near the back of her neck, causing the little cream mare to hum in contentment
"So... is there anything else you'd like to do?"
>"Well... I'm still kinda hungry."
>She winks at you
>"I made lunch. How about you cook us something this time?"
>Oh shit
"Ummm..."
>You're about as good at cooking as Rainbow Dash is at personal hygiene
>Which is to say, abysmal
>But the hopeful look on Coco's face demands that you try
"Yeah. I'll give it a shot."
>You sure hope she has hot pockets and instant mashed potatoes
>But opening Coco's fridge no such godsends
>You're on your own this time
>Coco's watching intently from her spot at the kitchen table
>Okay... how hard could this be?
>Just chop stuff up and put it in a pan, right?
>That's what Rarity always seemed to do, at least
>You pull out two onions, laying them on the countertop next to a carrot, a few leaves of lettuce, and some olive oil
>A quick glance over your shoulder shows that Coco is still watching patiently
>She gives you an encouraging smile, clapping her hooves together
>Well... here it goes
>You grab the largest, sharpest knife you can find, and begin chopping the onions
>The acrid smell stings your eyes, and it soon become difficult to tell what you're doing
>You dump the handfuls of chopped onions into the pan, and pour a healthy amount of oil over them
>The gas stove brings the pan to a sizzle, and the smell of frying onions fills the kitchen
>Coco wrinkles her nose, but doesn't say anything
>It's okay, you can fix this...
>You quickly butcher the carrot, and tear the lettuce into more manageable pieces ,tossing both into the pan as well
>They mask the smell slightly, but damn
>You look through Coco's fridge for something else to throw in
>All you find is more vegetables, bread, and eggs
>Eh, fuck it
>You crack an egg, and toss it whole into the pan, scrambling it in with the vegetables
>And, for good measure, you slice a tomato and throw it in as well
>You're not even sure what you're smelling now
>It's like a greenhouse on a really hot day
>Coco's doing her best to look encouraging, but you can tell she's having doubts
>After letting the veggies cook for a few more minutes, you turn off the stove and dumb the pan's contents onto two plates
>It looks like a fried salad
>You place one of the plates on the table in front of Coco, and sit on the floor next to her with your own
>She hesitantly takes a bite, struggling to keep a straight face as she does so
"How is it?"
>"It's g-good. R-really g-good..."
>Coco squeezes her eyes shut, and forces the glob of your concoction down her throat
>"You must, uh, really like onions..."
>You try a bite yourself
>It tastes like pure onion and olive oil, but with the leafy consistency of lettuce
>Blech
>Coco tentatively lifts another forkful to her mouth, looking very much like she'd rather not
"Coco... you don't have to eat that."
>"No, Anon, you made it for me. I should..."
"Coco. Seriously."
>"Alright. Sorry, Anon. I guess the food from where you're from is different than in Equestria, huh?"
>Actually you just suck at cooking, but you don't feel like telling Coco that
"Heh, yeah. Here, how about I go get us something. You like hayburgers?"
>Coco smiles, and nods
>And that's how you ended up heading to pony McDonald's at eleven o'clock at night
 
>After a quick Coco-hug, you find yourself strolling through Ponyville's darkened streets in your quest for fast food
>Fortunately, you've only got about two blocks to go
>Just enough time to try to work things out in your head
>It's clear that Coco messed up something in a past relationship
>And judging by what she let slip, you can assume she accidentally came between two ponies in the past
>Was one of them Suri?
>That would explain a fair bit
>Either way, all this mess has just made you feel that much more affection for Coco
>Poor girl's had so much shit happen to her
>You just want to make her happy
>And... you'd kind of like to be happy to
 
>The neon glow of the hayburger joint stands out like a blinding splotch in the darkness
>Inside, you can see that the place empty, thank Christ
>You don't feel like dealing with any other ponies today
>The inside of the store has that greasy, mouth-watering fast-food join smell, and you find that you're still pretty hungry, even after that vegetable catastrophe you swallowed in the kitchen
>Some nerdy-looking glasses pony takes your order, then scurries back off into the kitchen
>You lean against an empty table, gazing at your reflection in the dark glass
>It's strange, you get so used to the cartoon colorful-ness of this world, seeing your plain, boring self is always kind of... uncanny
>Though it helps you understand why you always seem so out-of-place
>Your musing are interrupted by the jingling of bells as the store's front door opens
>You don't bother looking at the visitor, and keep your eyes trained on your reflection
>When did your hair start getting so shaggy?
>"A-Anon?"
>Oh shit, you know that voice
>Twilight stands in the doorway, looking up at you with reddened, bleary violet eyes
"Oh, uh, hey Twi."
>You try to act as friendly as possible, though you're sure she can still tell how uncomfortable you are
>Twilight slinks toward the counter, eyes still trained on you
>"How have you been?"
"I'm alright. How are you?"
>A stupid question, and you regret it the minute you say it
>"I'm... I'm fine. Spent most of the day with Fluttershy. It's been nice. Where are you staying now?"
"With, uh... Zecora."
>Given the state Twilight's in, you couldn't bear informing her that you're currently living with another mare
>She still doesn't look terribly happy about that
>"I see. I'm glad you found a place. Wouldn't want you out on Ponyville's streets, haha..."
>She forces a smile, and a small watery chuckle
>"Anyway, I'm just gonna go ahead and get myself some food, if you wanna join me. Eating alone is never fun, you know..."
>She gives you a hopeful look, perking up a little
"I... I can stay for a bit, I guess. But I'd better get back before too long. It's getting late."
>Twilight looks a little disappointed, but she quickly covers it
>"Oh, yeah, that's okay. Still better than nothing, I guess."
>Twilight goes to the counter, and places her own order of greasy horse food
>You sit down in the booth, and she joins you after the nerdy pony disappears back into the kitchen
>"So... how's your day been."
"It's been... eventful."
>Twilight nods
>"I heard about you and Rarity. Sounds like it was pretty bad."
"Yeah... you could say that."
>"Worse for her than for you, I would guess?"
>You nod, Twilight's mention of Rarity bringing a familiar guilt creeping into the back of your mind
>Why do you still feel so bad about this?
>It was her fault too, wasn't it?
>'You drove her away, and you'll do the same to Coco...'
>You shudder a little
>"Anon? You okay?"
"Yeah, sorry. Listen, Twi, can you... can you answer something for me?"
>She seems to sit up a little straighter after hearing your question
>"Well, I'd like to think I'm a pretty smart pony. So I hope so."
"Do you think..."
>Fuck, how do you put this?
"Am I a bad person?"
>Twilight looks genuinely taken aback
>"A bad person? I mean... you've made some mistakes... you've hurt some ponies pretty badly... but you didn't mean to do it, right? You're no Element of Harmony, that's for sure. But bad? No, I wouldn't call you bad."
>She shakes her head, purple mane bouncing around her horn
>"You're just... I don't know what you are. There's a lot of bad stuff inside of you, I guess. But you don't mean to hurt anyone, right?"
"Of course not."
>"So... not bad. But not good either. I'm sorry, Anon. I guess you asked the one question I can't answer."
>Twilight hangs her head
>You let your breath out in a single huff, feeling your chest deflate
"Wow. I guess that's about what I should have expected to hear."
>"Sorry. I wasn't trying to hurt your feelings, I was just being--"
"No, you're right. Spot-on, in fact."
>You adjust the edges of your shirt, acutely aware of Twilight's wide, fiercely-intelligent eyes following your every little motion
"I... I didn't tell you the truth earlier. I'm not staying with Zecora."
>Twilight slumps again, staring at the floor
>"It's Coco, isn't it?"
"Yeah..."
>Twilight sniffs, and nods
>"As long as you're happy with her..."
"I am, I guess. Twi... what did you mean by 'I've got bad stuff inside of me?'"
>Twilight shrugs
>"I'm not entirely sure. You always seem so unhappy, Anon. So angry about nothing at all. Rarity used to complain about it all the time, after the two of you started dating it. She was worried it was her fault. But... it wasn't. You just seem like you're never happy."
"Oh. That."
>"Maybe this is just the way humans are. But to us, it's a little... unnatural. Rarity came to accept it, of course, and I think the rest of us did too. But still... I don't know, Anon. Maybe I shouldn't have said that."
"No, I'm glad you did. I guess I forget you guys aren't human sometimes. It just feels like--"
>"ANON!"
>Your conversation is interrupted by the nerdy pony's voice calling from behind the counter
>Groaning, you stand and grab your paper bag of food
>Returning to the table, you place a hand on Twilight's withers
"I gotta get going now. But... I'll keep stopping by the library, if you're okay with that."
>Twilight smiles sadly
>"I would be. But you can stay a little while longer, can't you? I'm sure Coco will understand if you're a few minutes late..."
>She looks up at you, ears perked and face hopeful
"Coco's expecting me. Sorry, but I gotta go."
>Twilight's expression falls, and her ears droop along either side of her head
>"I understand. It was just wishful thinking."
>You give her a little scratch at the base of her neck
"Hey, I can be by tomorrow. Is that okay?"
>Twilight nods, dully
>"Yeah, that's fine. Have fun with Coco, Anon."
>She tries to hold it back, but you can hear the bitterness in her voice
>Dammit
>Slowly, you turn and head back out into the darkened, silent Ponyville
 
>Why the hell does Twilight like you so much?
>She said it herself: you're no Element of Harmony
>In fact, you're basically a harbinger of pain to the ponies around you
>So why in the hell do they keep falling for you?
>And why isn't this the dream-come-true you'd think it'd be?
>Seriously, the lonely, awkward you from back on earth would rejoice at the idea that he'd one day have three different girls fawning over him
>But instead you just feel more like human trash than ever
>Poor Twilight...
>Rarity may have treated you like shit, but she's never done anything wrong to you
>Yet you still have to crush the poor girl's dreams
>Needless to say, but the time you get back to Coco's, you're not in the greatest of moods
>She looks up from the couch as you open the door, trotting happily over to you
>"Hey, Anon. How much did you get?"
>Her little smile chips away at the gnawing misery inside of you, and you allow yourself a moment of genuine happiness as you lay the bag's contents out over the kitchen table
>Coco hops into her seat, happily clapping her hooves over the bounty of grease and grain in front of her
>Like before, you sit on the floor next to her, and grab a burger and some fries for yourself
>Fried hay's actually pretty tasty; who knew?
>Coco scarfs hers down, wolfing down a surprising amount of food for such a small pony
>She leans back, patting her belly contentedly, and lets out a small burp
>"Heehee... sorry."
 
>After dinner, the two of you chitchat about nothing in particular, just doing that thing close friends do where you throw around increasingly ridiculous ideas until you get to a point where you have no idea how the conversation even started
>By the time you're arguing with Coco about wether or not Celestia's butt does equal the mass of the sun, you realize it's time for bed
>You inform her of this discovery, and throw yourself onto the couch, stretching out along its length
>It's not quite human-sized, but it's better than the floor of AJ's barn
>"Are you sure you want to sleep there, Anon?"
>Coco stands next to your shoulder, face peering over yours
"I guess. I don't see a guest bed anywhere."
>"Well, uh... you could share my bed. If you want."
>You blink
>She just starts, stops, then starts right up again, doesn't she?
>Coco notices the look you're giving her, and blushes furiously
>"N-not like that. I just meant, you know... I get lonely at night. And having someone else with me would be, you know, kinda nice. You don't have to, I wasn't trying to push you or anything, it's just, you know..."
>You hold a finger up to Coco's mouth, cutting her off
"That sounds fine, Coco."
>She sighs, eyes closed, and smiles
>"Thanks, Anon."
 
>Electric heating doesn't exist in Ponyville, obviously, so the warmth of Coco's body is incredibly welcoming as you lay in bed next to her
>She keeps her distance, like you expected, but still...
>Just knowing she's here, so close to you, brings a greater calm to your mind than you've felt in months
>Even if it's just for tonight, you're okay
>You feel Coco's hoof slip into your open hand
>Your fingers wrap around it, and you give her a little squeeze
>Coco giggles, and scoots ever so lightly closer to you, to the point where you can barely feel her breath on your cheek
>You're not sure how long the two of you lie there before you sleep
>But, however long it is, it's easily the single most calming, secure little chunk of time you've ever experienced
 
>Moonlight barely manages to seep through Rarity's curtains, painting her room with a dim, gray light
>She squeezes her pillow tighter to her chest, burying her face in its plush edges
>Anonymous has been gone almost an entire day now
>She'd have thought he'd come back sooner
>He couldn't have really meant that, about leaving her
>He simply couldn't
>She expected him to come strolling back through the door at any minute, laughing at his own stupid joke
>She'd pretend to be mad, and he'd pick her up and hug her with those strong arms, he's kiss her on that spot right below her horn...
>He'd come back to the bed with her, and stroke her mane in that way she'd always likes
>Her horn lights up, and Rarity's aura strokes along her mane the same way Anon would
>It's not the same
>But he'll be back, right?
>Tomorrow, or the day after
>He could never leave her like this forever
>Right?
>You wake next morning in a similar fashion to how you did back in the hospital
>That is to say, Coco's sprawled across your chest, her muggy morning breath warming your cheek
>Your right arm lays across her, pressing her fluffy little body into yours, rising and falling as you breathe
>And, in that moment, you realize something
>You want every morning to be like this
>It's a strange feeling, and one you haven't felt before
>You've gotten to know Coco pretty well, and you've liked her since the two of you first spoke together
>But this feeling... it's like a confirmation of all of that
>This is a mare you could see yourself spending a very, very long time with
>As if reacting to her thoughts, Coco stirs
>Her eyes slowly flutter open, and they glance lazily around the room before landing on you
>She takes a minute to process the position the two of you have found yourselves in
>Coco closes her eyes, and smiles
>"Good morning, Anon."
"Good morning, Coco."
>"Sleep well?"
>You nod
"You?"
>Coco gives you a little kiss on the forehead
>"Perfectly."
>With that, she slowly pulls herself off your chest, and plods out of the bedroom
>You hear the gas stove ignite, and something begins to sizzle, enticing you out of bed and into the kitchen
>Coco's still wearing her slippers, only now she has a little white apron to go with them
>She's bent over the stove, cooking pancakes
>Could this girl get any better?
>Breakfast is delicious, as you would expect from Coco
>The two of you eat in silence, for the most part, her at the kitchen table and you next to her on the floor
"So, what're your plans for today?"
>"Well, Suri's going to be over in an hour to look at my new designs. After that, she's probably going to need me to help her with some of her projects. So... we might not get to spend much time together today."
>You're a little disappointed, but not terribly surprised
"That's fine. There's always tomorrow, right?"
>Coco nods
>"Yep."
>She takes another few bites of her pancakes, staring out the widow
>"Anon? About what you said yesterday..."
>Oh, jeez
>Is she about to start more drama?
>"About, you know, taking me to Canterlot..."
>Oh, yeah, that
>"Do you think it could happen sometime, um, soon?"
"Soon? Like how soon."
>"Well... I know Suri wants to get back to her own workshop in Manehattan. She came here to work with Rarity, but we could move back any day. And I really don't want to miss this opportunity. Especially if it's gonna be with you."
>Coco gives you a toothy little grin
>How could you resist a face like that?
"Of course. But what was that about moving back to Manehattan? Is it really going to be that soon?"
>Coco's smile fades, and she glances at the floor
>"It might be. I'm not really sure what Suri's planning at this point. Either way... I'm not going to be here for more than a month."
>The pancakes seem to turn to lead in your stomach at the reminder
"Right. I knew that."
>You put your plate down
"So... what then? Will you ever be back?"
>"I'm not really sure. I can visit, but... I can't live here. I can't compete with a mare like Rarity. I need someplace like the big city, where I can thrive. I... I hope you understand."
"Of course. I knew this was going to happen. I guess I just didn't want to think about it."
>Coco nods, and lays a hoof on your shoulder
>"It'll be alright. We have time now, right? And I'll make sure I come back as much as possible. Or..."
>Coco scratches her chin
>"...you could always come stay with me..."
"Wait, seriously?"
>"Of course. I mean, not in the same apartment, but... you could move there. You could help me with my work, and we could see each other every day! And maybe, we could... you know..."
"Make this official?"
>"Yeah..."
>Coco rubs her foreleg, having a hard time meeting your eyes
"That's... wow. That's not a choice I can make right now, Coco."
>"Oh, no, you don't have to make it now. Just... think about it, please? It'd be nice to have a nice stallion like you in Manehattan. The city can be such an ugly place, having you there would be really, really nice."
>Coco runs her hoof through your hair, jostling your head a bit
>As if it wasn't jostled enough
"Well... jeez, Coco, that'd be amazing. But I've got a lot of friends here too, I... I'll think about it, okay?"
>"Okay. Just let me know when you've decided, okay?"
"Right. But, until then... what are we, Coco?"
>Coco cocks her head, taking a few seconds to get your meaning
>"Oh, well... I don't really know, Anon. I like you a lot, and I feel like I can trust you, but... I don't want either of us getting hurt. Rarity's been hurt already because of--"
"Coco, that wasn't your--"
>"I know it wasn't my fault, Anon, but it still happened. And I don't want it to happen again. But I also don't want to have to go back to... to being alone. I don't know what to do."
>You sigh, and lean back against the kitchen wall
"Neither do I. Neither do I..."
>Coco gathers her dishes and yours, piling them neatly into the sink
>"Anon... I'm sorry I've been difficult. I know it probably seems like I'm leading you on, and maybe I am, but... please don't give up on me."
"Give up on you? Why would I do that?"
>"Just promise me you won't."
"Coco--"
>"Please, Anon."
"Okay, I promise. Even though you've got me a little confused right now, I'm not going to give up on you."
>Coco shuts her eyes and sighs in relief, a small smile playing across her lips
>She trots over to you, and kisses your cheek
>"Thanks, Anon."
>That's when the doorbell rings
>Coco jolts up
>"That must be Suri! I didn't think she'd be here so early."
>She peeks out the window, and the look on her face confirms that it is, in fact, Suri
>"She'll be so mad at me if she sees me with a stallion. C'mon, you gotta hide."
"Hide? That's cra--"
>"Just do it! C'mon."
>Coco grabs your arm in her forelegs, and drags you into her bathroom
>"Just wait here until we're in my room, then bolt, okay? Please try not to let Suri know you're here."
"But Suri already knows--"
>Before you can finish, Coco shuts the bathroom door in your face
>You pull it open just in time to see her answer the door, Suri's sour purple face visible for only a half second before you duck back into the bathroom
>Because she really is the last pony you want to deal with right now
>You hear their muffled conversation through the wooden door
>"Good morning, Suri."
>"Mmm, yeah, morning. You get the sketches done?"
>"Yep. Most of them, at least."
>"Most of them? The hay is that supposed to mean?"
>"Well, a dozen sketches is a lot to get done in one week. I wanted them to be as good as possible, so I've only finished seven so far..."
>"Seven? You think we can win Fashion Week with only seven designs? Come on, Coco, what do you think I pay you for? If you don't have the twelve done by the end of next week... hoo, you're not gonna enjoy life."
>Your hands ball into fists as you listen to Suri threaten Coco
>Damn, you want to smack that purple bitch around
>"I'll get them done, don't worry."
>"Of course you will. You remember what happened last time, don't you?"
>Coco squeaks out a weak little "yes."
>"That's good. Anyway, lemme take a look at what you have, mm?"
>"Alright. Just follow me back to my room, and--"
>"Follow you back to your room? You're my assistant, you bring them to me. And hurry up!"
>Coco yelps, and skitters past the bathroom door and into her room
>You can hear Suri mumbling under her breath, but you have no idea what she's saying
>It's probably not terribly pleasant, though
>A minute later, you hear Coco come bustling out of her room, and head back into the living room with Suri
>"Here they are. The best ones are on top, but I think the ones at the bottom are still--"
>"The best? These are absolute garbage. It seriously took you a week just to come up with this mess?"
>"Well, I... I..."
>"Hmm, I guess it was stupid of me to expect anything better from a pony like you. Just gimme those."
>You hear the crunch of paper as Suri rips the designs away from Coco
>"You're nothing but trouble, aren't you, Coco? Come on, we're going back to Rarity's."
>"Back to Rarity's? But last I was there, she--"
>"Yeah, yeah, I know, she got mad at you for screwing up her relationship with the love of her life. Something you have a little gift for, I might add. Anyway, she's been locked in her room all day. So it's gonna be just you and me."
>"If you don't like my designs, why do you need--"
>"Because I need someone generally useless to do the dirty work for me. Are you really too stupid to remember your one job?"
>"I... I..."
>Coco sounds close to tears right now
>"Ugh, quit your yammering, and just follow me. Oh, and by the way, I got a call from Gin. Apparently he's moving back to Manehattan next month. If you cock this up on me Coco, I swear to Celestia..."
>Some silent threat transpires between the two
>It's all you can do to keep yourself from running to Coco's defense
>Wait, why aren't you helping her?
>You know she told you not to, but...
>How can you just let this happen to her?
>You hear the door open, and slam shut as the two ponies leave
>The breath escapes your chest in a huff, and you lean against the bathroom door
>You could have stood up to Suri about Coco
>But that would've just made things worse between the two
>And, for whatever reason, Coco still considers Suri her friend
 
>Once you're sure that the two fashion ponies aren't going to be returning soon, you let yourself out of the bathroom
>The house seems lonely without Coco here
>You examine the photo of her and Suri, head spinning as you try to guess what could have happened to tear these two apart
>Suri mentioned something about a pony named "Gin"
>Did the two have a fight over another stallion?
>That would explain a fair bit of Coco's actions, actually
>She must have taken a stallion Suri was interested in, or maybe already dating
>But... Coco wouldn't do something like that, would she?
>'I'm not the great mare you think I am...'
>Well, fuck, she might have
>Still, even if she did steal Suri's sweetheart, that doesn't give the purple slag a reason to abuse her
>You either need to find a way of getting back at Suri, or better yet, a way to convince Coco to stand up to Suri by herself
>But she's so damn timid...
>Ugh, poor girl
>How're you going to pull a happy ending out of all this?
 
>Despite your rather-gloomy musings, Ponyville is as bright and cheerful as ever, the spring sun wrapping everything in a warm, slightly-muggy blanket
>Ponies tend to stay out of your way as you tromp through the dirt roads, but you don't really mind
>Honestly, most of them aren't even great conversation
>However, speaking of conversation, you did promise you'd visit Twilight today...
>The idea isn't terribly appealing to you right now, but you don't want to hurt the poor little princess even more than you already have
>And so you make the familiar trek through Ponyville towards Twilights treehouse
>The place looks the same as always, and you get that same disapproving glare from Spike when he opens the door
>"Oh. Anon. Why're you here?"
"Same reason as ever, Spike. Is Twilight here."
>"She is. But I don't really think I should let you in."
>He steps into the middle of the doorway, as if his two-foot-tall frame could actually impede you from going anywhere
"Oh? And why's that?"
>"I don't think you understand just how much you mean to Twilight, Anon. She wasn't herself ever since you started dating Rarity..."
>The way he says 'dating' seems to drip with venom
>"...and now that it turns out you don't even want her, she's... well, she's not happy. And if you keep hanging out with her like this, you're just giving her false hope. I don't like it."
"False hope? I think I've made it pretty clear that nothing's going to happen between us."
>Spike looks at you like you just said something unbelievably stupid
>Which, coming from a kid a third your age, is pretty insulting
>"Anon, this is Twilight we're talking about. Once she gets an idea in her head, it doesn't leave. No matter how much you try to tell her there's no hope, she's not going to accept it. So just stop trying to make things better."
>You just stare at Spike, trying to process what he just said
>"If you care about Twilight, just leave right n--"
>"Spike? Who are you talking to?"
>Twilight appears in the doorway behind Spike
>Her ears perk up, and her face brightens when she sees you
>"Anon! How nice to see you!"
>Before you or the baby dragon can react, Twilight grabs your arm and pulls you inside
>"I didn't think you would be here this early! C'mon, I've got all sorts of cool stuff I've got to tell you about!"
>Spike glares at you in disapproval as Twilight drags you up the stairs and into her study
>You're thrown onto a wooden chair as Twilight prances about you, going on about books
>"So, I've been reading through the most recent volume of Starswirl the Bearded's 'Principles on Advanced Teleportation,' and I found this new spell that could allow me to..."
>As much as you want to be a good friend to Twilight, you don't care
>You nod your head, occasionally saying "yeah" whenever there's a break in the conversation, but for the most part you're just... there
>At least being just there seems to make Twilight pretty happy
>"So, how've you been, Anon? Is there a book I can help you find?"
"Well, not really..."
>Twilight looks disappointed, but suddenly, a crazy little idea pops into your head
"Actually, there is. Do you have any books on cooking? Like, for beginners, or whatever?"
>That seems to cheer her up
>"Of course! Here, let me go get some!"
>And with a purple, glittery flash, she vanishes
>You take a minute to stretch out on the chair
>Looks like Spike was wrong, little purple faggot
>Twilight's perfectly happy just hanging out with you and talking about books
>Man, you sure are glad nothing weird is happening
>With a *pop*, Twilight reappears, a large stack of books clutched in her aura
"Uh, Twi, I really only need one..."
>"Of course you do! But we should really make sure it's the best one, right? You deserve the absolute best you can get, Anon!"
"O...kay?"
>Twilight sets the stack on her desk, and begins hurriedly flipping through them, eyes scanning the pages at an inhuman rate
>"Oh! Here, try this one."
"Alright."
>You reach for the book, only to have her fling it away just as your fingers close around it
>"Oops! Heehee, I'm so clumsy sometimes."
>Twilight trots over where the book landed
>"Here, let me get that for you."
>She bends down much further than necessary, and grabs the book in her mouth
>As she does so, her tail flips up, revealing... exactly what you would expect to be hidden under Twilight's tail
>You turn away, face hot
>Please let that have been an accident...
>Twilight turns back to you, book clasped in her mouth
>"Here you go!"
>The book opens in your lap, and you begin flipping through it
>It's mostly some simple recipes, along with some guides on using various kitchen implements
>All-in-all, it looks like a pretty good little guidebook
>You peer up from it to thank Twilight for her help
>Only to find her bent over her desk, scribbling something on a slip of parchment with her hips wiggling hypnotically
>NOPE
>You shut the book and press it into your lap, dissuading your dick from getting any bright ideas
>Spike was right
>The little shit was actually right
>You really shouldn't be here right now
"Hey, listen, Twi, I should really get going. Thanks a lot for the book though."
>You're starting to sweat really heavily, and you can't tear your eyes away from those swaying purple hips
>Twilight glances back at you, and follows your gaze
>A devious little smirk appears on her lips
>OKAY NOPE
>"See something you like~?"
>She wriggles again, a wet drop staining her coat as she winks open and closed
>No, dick, not now
>You have to be strong, for Coco
"Twi, I really gotta get back home..."
>"Home? Where's that, Anon? You don't live with Rarity anymore..."
"I'm, uh... gonna find somewhere else to stay. It's really important, and I'd better get going soon. Bye!"
>You sprint for the door, only to have the purple alicorn teleport directly in your path, blocking the exit
>"C'mon, Anon, you can spare a little time for me, right? I even picked up a new book, just for us..."
>She levitates a huge tome towards herself, displaying the cover to you
>"The Pony Sutra"
>You'd probably think that was hilarious, if you brain and your dick weren't currently engaged in a death match over what to do next
"Twilight, really. I'm don't like you like this. I'm sorry, but nothing in that book is going to happen between us."
>"You mean... you want to invent something new? Let's try it!"
>Twilight springs toward you, a wicked gleam in her eye
>You catch her in midair, holding her soft frame at arm's length
"No. I don't want to invent something new. I want to go find a new home, Twi."
>The expression on Twilight's face changes dramatically
>"But Anon, this can be your new home! Don't you realize how perfect everything here is? You can live here with Spike and me, in the treehouse, for as long as you want! You can be my coltfriend, and we can read books together all night, and--"
>Honestly, her offer tempts the hell out of you
>But you made a promise to Coco, didn't you?
>And no matter what AJ and Suri may say about you, you're not a bad person
>You're going to honor that promise
>Twilight's violet eyes seem to pierce right through you, hopeful yet slightly pleading
"No, Twi. That's tempting, it really is, but... I made a promise to another mare. To Coco. And I can't go back on that. I'm sorry."
>Twilight seems to deflate in your arms, all her earlier vigor draining from her
>Her stares at the floor, eyes dull and glassy
>Slowly, you lower her to the ground, before turning and heading for the door
>You're about halfway there when Twilight's voice sounds behind you
>"Anon...?"
>You pause
>"I'm a terrible princess, aren't I?"
>You sigh, and lean up against the doorframe
>As soon as you open your mouth to respond, Twilight cuts you off again
>"I drove you away, I let Rarity get hurt... I really haven't learned anything, have I?"
"You didn't drive anyone away, Twi. You just... lost sight of a few things. It doesn't mean you can't fix it."
>"No... you don't understand. I've been a terrible pony these last few months, Anon. I... you and Rarity..."
>She's starting to choke, and you can see a few stray tears dripping down her face
>Meanwhile, a cold feeling is creeping up between your shoulder blades
"A few months? Me and Rarity? Twilight, what are you saying?"
>"I... I let myself get jealous. It wasn't right, and I knew it, but... I couldn't help myself. I liked you since you first got here, I just didn't know how to show it. Then you and Rarity started hanging out so much, and you never payed any attention to me, and then the two of you started dating, and..."
"And...?"
>"I started rumors."
>The cold feeling has reached the top of your neck now
"Rumors? What kinda rumors?"
>"That you were getting bored, and thinking about looking for another mare... I knew Rarity would overreact, but I didn't think... it would be so bad."
>All of Rarity's bitchy, controlling attitude over the past few months...
>It was all based on a lie?
>You broke the poor girl's heart over a lie?
>A lie Twilight told her, no less?
>The world seems to move in slow motion, the silence in the room roaring in your ears
>"Anon? I'm sorry. I should have told you earlier."
>You say nothing, and instead turn, and pull the door open to leave
>"Anon! Wait!"
>Twilight tries to pull you back, but you easily wrestle away from her grasp, continuing down the stairs
>Spike isn't anywhere to be seen, at least
>You don't think you could bear the smug "I told you so" look he would no doubt give you right now
>Twilight follows you all the way down, frantically teleporting along either side of you
>"Anon! Please! I can explain!"
>You're deaf to her pleas, however, and continue down the stairs and toward her front door
>Desperate, Twilight teleports in front of you, forelegs outstretched as if to block your path
>"Anon! Stop! I'm sorry, okay? It was a stupid thing to do! Just please, please don't be mad at me!"
>You push right past the purple horse and out of her treehouse, out into the sun-drenched streets of Ponyville
>Twilight makes no further attempt to restrain you, but calls after you as you leave
>Her voice is shrill with desperation
>"Anon, please! I'm sorry! Come back!"
>She waits there in the doorway, long after you've disappeared from view, until she collapses against the doorframe
>Tears drip silently from her snout and onto the wood-paneled floor
>"Come back..."
 
>The world seems a blur around you as you stomp through Ponyville
>You threw away your entire relationship with Rarity over a lie
>If it hadn't been for Twilight...
>Unbidden, all the happy memories you and your now-ex-marefriend return to your mind
>Cuddling together in front of the fire last Hearth's Warming Eve, taking Sweetie on your trip to the beach, that time she randomly tackled you onto the bed and gave you the best head of your life...
>It's all gone
>Twilight's supposed to be a princess, isn't she?
>She should know better than to pull something like this
>How could she...?
>Now Coco's leaving, you crushed Rarity's heart, and almost the entire town hates you
>What the fuck?
>Sure, you weren't exactly a saint in your previous life on Earth, but... do you really deserve this?
 
>Your thoughts spiral farther and farther into misery as you walk through Ponyville
>And without Coco around, you're sure they have farther still to fall
>By the time you've reached the outskirts of town, your lungs are heaving
>As for why you came all the way out here, you're not entirely sure
>Perhaps you just wanted to be as far from Twilight as possible
>But, as long as you're here, might as well visit Zecora
>You could use her advice at a time like this
>And it'll be nice to talk to someone who isn't currently up to their eyebrows in the drama that surrounds your life
>Looking down, you realize you still have the cookbook from Twilight's clutched in your hand
>For a moment, you consider chucking the book as far as you can into the trees
>But this could be useful
>And so you tuck the book under your arm, do the best to push the darker thoughts farther back in your mind, and head into the trees