A Not So Simple Rejection (Short Story)

Prompt:
>Me? With Anon?
>Oh Rarity, ha ha, you're so funny sometimes!
>Like I'd ever be interested in that loser!


Story Start:

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