Heartless 1: It Begins

>Day 'IT'S HAPPENING' in Equestria.
>You're so sick and tired of this
>You just got done dealing with another one of Fluttershy's absurd stabs at guessing your fetish
>In all honesty, you probably could have gone the rest of your life without knowing how many eggs she could fit in her marehood.
*shudder*
>But that's fine.
>It's okay
>Today is the last day that fucking pegasus is going to harrass you
>By this time next week, Fluttershy will no longer be your problem
>Ever
>And this thought sits uncomfortably in your mind
>As much as you're giddy over the thought of finally ending these months of abuse, you still feel bad
>I mean, she WAS your best friend for the longest while.....
>No
>This behaviour is inexcusable
>And it'll all be over soon
>You hum quietly as you rinse out the largest, heaviest vase you own
>Tomorrow is going to be eventful



*Eight months ago*
>Cider Squeezin' Season at Sweet Apple Acres
>Even before you were trasported to Equestria, you loved hard cider
>It was your alcohol of choice, and when you found out that not only did the Apples make it, but it was the best cider in the kingdom.....
>Well, let's just say you started saving your bits
>To celebrate the first day of cider season, you bought the first barrel Applejack pulled out
>You planned on getting thouroughly sloshed with your friends that night
>Long story short, you did
>And how
>Applejack, Rainbow, and Pinkie were matching you drink for drink
>Due to the size difference, though, your drinks were three times theirs
>It seemed to be fair, though;  all four of you were about the same level of inebriated
>Rarity and Twilight were taking it slower, laughing at the four of you getting more and more drunk
>Fluttershy just sat there next to you with what seemed to be the same cup of cider the whole night
>Everyone was having fun, and gradually started getting louder and sloppier
>You decided to stop matching drinks when Pinkie puked in Applejack's hat
>Applejack was pissed, but as the saying goes, comedy is tragedy happening to someone else
>And that was REALLY tragic for Applejack



>As the party wound down, candy horses started passing out on your couch and floor
>For some reason, Rainbow decided it was a good idea to sleep in the chandelier
>As everyone assumes the Irish Yoga positions, the only two left up are you and Fluttershy
>It's not terrible, because she's your best friend, and the one who introduced you to the rest of her friends
>You start talking about everything and nothing, as drunks are wont to do
>You're still pretty hammered, and decide you want to pet her while you're talking
>You pull her onto your lap and begin running your fingers through her hair while continuing conversation
>She lets out an *eep*, but then relaxes
>She seems to enjoy this, and you're fine with it
>You're a cuddly drunk
>And so, you start cuddling with her
>She's giggling and obviously having the time of her life
>You start tickling her, and she tries to stop you, but not very hard
>It seems she loves the attention
>As you're tickling her, a thought hits you
>You stop, and she looks at you, confused
>That look of confusion quickly turns to surprise as you both find your mouth on hers
>It's then your turn to be surprised when she returns the kiss
>She returns that kiss HARD
>She kisses you like she'll die without it
>On a normal day, this would raise an alarm, but FUCK IT YOU'RE SHITFACED
>And it feels really good
>.....Until you burp up stale cider/bile smell in her mouth right before passing out on her
>Because you're just the CLASSIEST of drunks



*Next morning, but still eight months ago*
>There's groaning coming from everywhere around your house
>It seems that everyone feels as hungover as you do
>Well, most everyone
>Twilight won't stop talking about how she doesn't regret pacing herself with a glass of water in between each drink because hangovers are caused by dehydration and it's important to...
Twilight
>She looks at you
We know
Stop talking
>There's a chorus of groans in the affirmative and Twilight stops talking
>'Hey there mister'
>The quietest voice in Equestria is apparently the only sound that doesn't send your head into hate spasms
>You open your eyes to see ButterHush an inch away from you with a contented smile on her face
*PROCESSING*
*PROCESSING*
>Uh oh....
'Uhm, Fluttershy, we didn't..... did we?'
>'Oh, no.  Not yet.  You did tell me you loved me, though, and that's good enough for now'
>She cuddles up closer to you
>Oh no....
I actually said I loved you?
>'Well, no, but you kissed me!  And I could tell you really like me!'
>This is going to be bad



>Fluttershy's your first and best friend
>You've never thought of her that way
>I mean, you have nothing against p0nies, but....
>It'd be weird with Fluttershy
Fluttershy, you know I like you....
>Her eyes widen and she starts grinning
...as a friend....
>Her face goes from happy to shock, then confusion
... and I respect our friendship too much to risk it on something like this.
I'm sorry, but I can't do this.
>You seriously hope you didn't just introduce the concept of friendzoning to Equestria
>Meanwhile, it takes her a full three seconds to react
>But when she does....
>You immediately regret your decision
>You've never personally witnessed a heart break before, but you're sure that doesn't describe it
>Her heart is rending in front of you
>Her eyes focus to small points, and her face shudders into a mask of despair
>She sputters, but any words are lost as she sobs, hyperventilates, and dry heaves all at once.
>You've been friendzoned before, but any sadness you felt is trivial compared to what this mare appears to be going through right now
>Oh God, this is going horribly
>Either she's been hiding these feelings from you for a while or she forms attatchments unnaturally fast
>Being the Element of Kindness, it would make sense that she wouldn't have much experience with this
>It seems her body can't process all the emotions she's going through at the same time
>First through the breach are incredulity and anguish



>She's lost any sense of self awareness,  so when she finally does speak it's through a waterfall of tears and snot
>'A-ANON!  I*hic*-I DON'T UNDERSTAND!  wHY WOULD *snrk* YOU KISS ME IF YOU DIDN'T *cough* IF YOU DIDN'T LOVE ME?!'
>The throbbing ache in your head from her volume is barely noticed from the sympathy you have for her
>She really did get a raw deal this time, and it's entirely your fault.
I'm sorry, Fluttershy, I was really drunk and didn't know what I was doing
It was a mistake
>'A.... A mistake?'
>She stops shrieking, but he voice is still laden with sorrow
>'But..*snff*  But I thought.....  I thought you *hic* loved me....'
>'Of course you d-d-don't.  *snff*  Fluttershy, you're so stupid.....'
>You need to say something
>Anything
>To make this stop
>Your heart can't take this anymore, you've emotionally destroyed this mare in less than two minutes
>You take her hoof, trying to comfort her
>She doesn't resist, but she's shaking like a leaf
Fluttershy
>She slowly looks up at you, trying to hold back tears and barely succeeding
It's not that I'll NEVER like you like that....
>Woah, brain, hold up what are you doing
.....It's just that I don't right now.
>She calms down slightly



>'Really?'
>It is true;  you don't DISLIKE her
>You've just never thought about her as more than a friend
>You know this is only a temporary fix, but it's the best you can do
>And besides, it's future Anon's problem now
>And seriously.  Fuck that guy
Yes.  Just be patient.
>She still seems upset, but she's calm enough to be stable for now
>But then you see a determination in her eyes, as if something just cemented in her brain
>You're not entirely sure you like it, but at least she's not hysterical
>Meanwhile, her shrieking has disturbed the rest of the house
>The other four p0nies are writhing on the ground in agony from the noise
>Fluttershy notices this and begins to apologize profusely, quickly tending to the hungover horses.
>Things seem bad, but they could definitely be worse.