> A Vicious Triangle
>  by EternalShadow54
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> Chapter 1
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Allow me to set the mood. Love. What is love? I, for one, have many different perspectives of the word. A cruel mistress tugging at the heartstrings of a pure harp made of the very essence of a pony. A wonderful disaster, one that both calms the nerves, yet tears at the soul. A majestic longing that can never be comprehended, the feelings of both full warmth and joy, shot down by its counterparts of emptiness and sorrow. These feelings explain what I think of love. Sounds dreary right? Heh, then again, you don't know my story. I could be wrong. You could know, picture and imagine my story just by looking at me, just by what I've said. Go ahead, pull up a chair and let's see who was right. Let me explain the story of my life and the two mares that so willingly wrote that description of love into my heart's dictionary with ease...





The glistening sky shone with a bright audacity, grass from the fertile earth prickling softly against my coat as I lay there thinking about my move from the early settlement of Ponyville on the other side of the Everfree. This town, Mareietta, had become my new home. It was usually quiet around, the only things to dare bother and disturb the soothing solace of the outside world being the soft singing of the blue jays, the gentle hum of insects buzzing about around the flourish flowers that littered the plains, and the lofting, almost incoherent whisper of the weaving wind as it threaded through the air, carrying with it the light rays of the summer sunshine and filling the day with its magnificent and much needed warmth.

I'm a stallion, deep forest green with a solid black mane, eyes a bright, luminous emerald. My cutie mark is that of a crimson red triangle, hair and tail roughly kempt. I have  a few scars from foalhood accidents under my left foreleg, and a faint mark on my back from a time with a manticore in the Everfree. I traveled here by hoof, hoping to escape the stale, lonely life I used to live in that pitiful, dirt poor town. I hear that they've discovered something called zap apples that turn into the most delicious of jams, but I can't imagine that it'll do them much good.

The day had been running slowly, having just moved there a few days ago. The ponies around didn't seem much for socializing, appearing to take extra caution to avoid me at any expense, and even when encountered, the only response I would receive usually was an "excuse me" or something in that manner. I knew I was an outsider, invading their turf and spoiling their way of life with my unorthodox ways. I could feel their distasteful glares at they set them upon me in my exploration of the town. It was there though, the very pasture which I laid, that she came along, tripping past my vision rather clumsily. She was sniffing the plantlife, taking no notice to my presence.

She was beautiful. Truly, in my perspective, a sight to behold by any mortal eye. Her blood red mane flowed elegantly in the hands of the wind, coat the cutest hue of pink. Catching a glimpse of her eyes, I could see that they were ruby red. The mark on her flank, her cutie mark, resembled a twisted rose, completely free of all thorns and petals perfectly placed in alignment to that of flawless. Her body was slim, sleek, and appealing to anypony that dared laid eyes upon it. Without knowing that I was there, I was able to see her smile. That naturally convincing smile that, if she were to just turn and grace you with it, you would feel like all the worries of the world had just disappeared, and that you could do anything, just as long as she kept that smile faced at you.

What could I do but to just stand and admire, to watch with a jealous heart at the magnificent mare before me. In what way would she want anything to do with me? And what was I thinking? She had probably had a stallion already, possibly engaged to somepony much more deserving than I, though I would later find that assumption to be rather misplaced. I had turned my head to start off, to leave her alone in that field to enjoy herself among her and her examination of the flowers that she took so much interest in when, suddenly, I heard a  small gasp, a soft shriek from behind that could only mean one thing, that she had finally lifted her sight from the earth and all its wonders to see me  walking away. I froze, my muscles contracted and tensed as I listened for her to speak, to say an accusation on account of my new coming, but nothing ever came. Instead, I heard hoofsteps in my direction, and I heard her voice, her heavenly, melodious voice, lightly ensnare my attention.

"Why hello there!" She spoke with a kind of tone that only the most talented singers of all Equestria could only wish to achieve. The actual hearing nearly melted me inside. I didn't move. I'm a shy pony as it is to start with, so having a perfect mare speaking to me didn't help my case of the silent. Within my peripheral vision, I could just barely see as she continued to step towards me, that almost unbelieveable smile staring me down with its aura of self confidence. "You're the new pony around town, aren't you?" she proceeded. "Leafy Summers?"

With hesitation, I turned to see the female equine before me, her body only mere hooves away. Staring into her glamorous and sophisticated gaze, I was at a loss of words, baffled by her beauty. Her elegance, her pure and unaltered magnificence, it struck me stunned and dumbfounded. Stammering and stuttering, I was eventually able to communicate my response to the mare.

"Y-yes," I replied, nervousness vivid in my speech. Her almost plastered smile never lifted, not for a single moment, as she spoke her reply.

"Come now, you don't have to be so nervous around me. I'm Rezzly, Rezzly Reed." Even her name came off as unique, much like her personality at this point. "Has anypony else given you a show of the town?" She asked like she had already known that nopony was bothering to associate with me, but had inquired just to make sure of her precise assumption.

"N-no, they haven't." My voice trembled and quivered, shaking to the core. I could tell I was a wreck the second I saw her smile grow that little inch bigger, and she apparently was eating this state of mine up with a joyful heart.

"Well, don't worry your silly little head over it. Most ponies here are pretty shy and aren't used to having new ponies coming about. Come, let me show you around." Rezzly began her advancement past me, the beaming aura about her automatically causing myself to step on the side and allow her to lead. In honesty, I didn't really want to follow her, but something pulled at me. An invisible rope hung around my ribs were being tugged at, my body close behind the mare. She was perfect in every way so far, by my standards at least, but even by how low they were, she exceeded them exponentially and with ease. She was far too good for me, so my initial thoughts were pushed from my mind, locked away to be mocked by myself come later days, and I continued to keep in and copy the general direction of her hoofsteps.

It had only taken a minute before we found ourselves at the edge of my new hometown, the tiny village with little bustle about it. It was a rather unyielding tour, the mare wanting to see every location she had considered the best, a lake on the edge one of her more favourites. It seemed like she was doing these things just to try and impress me, showing off the gorgeous scenery and asking about me and my past life every time we stopped. I never really spoke to ponies about my past, and she wasn’t an exception. I tend to try and forget things like that. Memories are always best left memories, though many I have met in my life disagree with that statement.

After a grueling hour, she finally stopped, to my mistaking for a break. The location, however, struck me perplexed. It was a two story building, almost like the design of a mansion without the illustrious extravagance of a sunrise behind it to glorify the full wonder of the establishment, though that was the only thing missing. Every other detail fit the ticket. A marble pond of an ancient design lay center of the yard, thirty hooves away from the sterling silver gates before us that halted our journey. The hedges were decorated with random, generic pony stances, and the roadway was of the smoothest limestone one could imagine. With no time lost at arriving, she spun around from her lead and said with a gleeful expression, "Welcome to my home!"

I was aghast, taken aback and flabbergasted at the statement. "T-this is w-where you live?" My melancholy tone dispersed in that statement, for I was truly in awe at that point. To think that the first pony in this town to speak to me would be one of the most important. Rezzly just giggled at my amazement with resolve.

"Why else would I bring you here?” If she had left it at that, I wouldn’t have been able to answer. Thankfully, she didn’t. “Come on inside! I want to show you around." The first house I'm invited into, and it had to be a mansion. I wasn't in the proper mindset entering in. I figured it must have looked silly and possibly have come off rude when I stepped into the main atrium, my jaw hanging from the hinges as I took in the sight before my eyes, my own vocabulary unable to express fully the glory of the view I saw.

A diamond encrusted statuette stood proudly as the centerpiece, a stairway to the second floor above wide at its base, and narrowed as it continued upward until hitting the back wall, in which it split in two and rounded the sides. A chandelier loomed overhead, grasping tightly to the roof above as it glittered with majestic sparkling like that of a starry sky in a winter night. The room itself was painted an oceanic blue pastel, conveying and portraying a few small encryptions of a foreign language all across the walls. The floor was mosaic, a burgundy red complemented with a coffee brown littered the floor in random arrangement, appealing to the sense with greater attention than that of all the other things.

She had been born into wealth, taking over the family estate upon her mother and father's  recent decease. Though I would have never considered asking her about them, or any other family, two portraits of them were placed at each side of the front double doors, the mahogany texture silky to the touch and blended quite nicely with the surroundings. Rezzly never let up her smile as she proceeded with her 'grand tour' of her own establishment, showing me every room in the house. At one time, she even took me around back to catch a glance at her garden, which had once been her mother's. When the showing was over, she invited me to stay a bit longer and have dinner with her. My first thought was to say no and be on my way before I made an even bigger fool of myself, but she looked at me with those eyes, those big, round, puppy dog eyes that nopony with a caring heart would ever be able to resist saying yes to. Against my better judgement, I agreed.

The clock struck about five in the afternoon after I accepted her offer, the outside light starting to fade behind hills of green and the sky lighting up with a bright fiery orange that could only be described in 'oooh's and 'aaah's. Watching from inside her house, outside that window, I could almost convince myself that all the sun was doing was hiding behind that hill, waiting for somepony to say 'found you' before springing back into the darkening sky with a newfound pep in its step. That was only a thought though.

I had lost track of the time watching the day tick away, her clock striking six in what felt like only a few seconds. I heard her call from a distance, a far distance as the kitchen was a few rooms away, doors both shut and open throughout. I didn't need her call to know that the food was done. I could smell it, more easily than you could pick up a pencil. It was intoxicating indeed, my mouth watering and drooling from the unidentifiable aroma.

I traversed the rooms and hallways, trying my best to navigate my way through the maze of rooms to the one that held the only bit of importance to me. Following the strength of the smell, I was finally able to find myself at the door to the dining room. Opening the door, the room had little to no more affect on me than when I had first entered the establishment.

The decor was a unique sight indeed. A maple table, rounded at the ends and edged with sharp, three prong lines, gloriously set for a feast fit for a king, sat in the middle. The four chairs followed suit in the material, yet the design were of completely different standard. They nearly glowed a slightly different color by how diverse it was to the main furniture, the rounded leg rests and pointed backs, all so strangely smooth to the touch that one could hardly believe it. The walls were acrylic green, upon which were the makings of various plant life and inhabitants of said plant, an almost jungle feel with a hint of regular forest taking the mood of the area, a few real vines hanging from the roof and the corners. The whole floor was the same acrylic color, made from carpet that was softer than a baby kitten.

I respectively took my seat, waiting on my hostess to return from wherever it was she had run off to. Rezzly seemed nice enough, but everything had to come at a price. Her sweet, dreamy voice. The wealthy lifestyle. Her tender personality. It all had to have a catch, something to help deter my thoughts of this perfect mare.

I didn't have to wait long. Only a short time passed before she nearly crashed through the door, an elegant silver platter sat upon her back, presumably the main dish. I lifted a hoof to help, but she shot me a glance that gave clear indication that help was not needed, so I stayed my hoof and watched with slight guilt as the mare struggled tediously with the setup of the table. It was like I was her first guest in years.

"I hope I didn't take too long." I felt a bit bad for her for some reason. I barely knew her, yet I felt I already could tell all her problems.

"It's fine. I wasn't waiting too long." I immediately wish I had not said that when I did, because when the words left my mouth, she instantly perked up and turned that vicious, self convincing smile upon me.

"Oh thank goodness." She sounded like the mere mention that I wasn't affected had literally been a life or death situation. "Please, help yourself."

The night dragged on like any other would, the only exception that I was spending it with a mare I hardly understood, much less could hope to know on a personal level. Rezzly had told me plenty about herself that night, about her family, how she was an only child and how she had no nearby aunts or uncles. She also told me of why nopony ever came around her house, how she thinks that everypony is just trying to become her friend since she came into the money, and after her self examination on the life she currently lived, she had the unfortunate mistake of asking me about myself.

I told her what I told everypony else that would ask, that I didn't particularly like talking about myself. At first, she seemed disappointed, cocking her head as I tried in vain to express my reasoning. Sadly, she never quite could take the hint, and pressed the matter regardless. After a few times, I just started to ignore her. Not much else was said through the rest of the meal.

When dinner was finished by the both of us, it was around nine at night. She showed me to the door with overexpressed courtesy, explaining the history of her home to me along the way. The house had been here since even before the town's construction, becoming later the base headquarters and town hall for the city. Her grandfather however, bought the property for personal use, and turned the hall into a manner, adding and expanding to it as he saw fit, thus the whole second floor and bedrooms.

We finally reached the front doorway, her historical tour and my time there over. I reached for the front door, but she opened it for me, holding the pathway clear for my exit. I turned to her and thanked her for the lovely evening. I stepped outside, a soft chill running down my spine as I left the building. I only make it a hoofstep out the door before she called me back.

"Leafy!" She ran toward me, a rather embarrassed and faintly sheepish grin on her muzzle. I stood and waited, which it didn't take but only a moment considering I had just left the door. I was only able to reply with a simple 'what' before I felt her lips touch my cheek. "Do please come back..." She quickly turned away and dashed back into her house. I was left, standing in the slight cold, a wind breezing through my hair, and my mind a completely blank.





I nudged open the wooden door into my fairly acquainted home, having finally won the fight over myself to move from that spot outside her yard and trudging slowly in deep processing thought. The night air did little but to only stir and advance those renderings. I'll admit, I was confused, thrown into dismay's arena with ease, and so suddenly that I could hardly believe it, which I wouldn't have if I didn't live it. My whole trip back was spent entirely on what had taken place just little over an hour ago. Understanding was all that I lacked, the only piece I was missing from this puzzle, and I knew then I was never going to find that piece, but something inside drove me to continue staring at the puzzle, to wonder what it was that I knew I was without. I knew I should have left it alone, at least until I had the part I lacked, but I was never the best at making decisions in life, so I figured that this one wouldn't fare any different.

The housing was terribly under furnished, the only two objects to complement my hardwood drawer and rough cotton rug being an even more disappointing thing I called my bed. But I didn't care. It was something if anything. The lantern outside provided my only source of sight other than the gentle ray of the moonlit sky shining dimly on the side of the building that contained only one window. The home's tacky sandal wood walls and dirt soft floor contrasted nicely, a grassy patch of clovers springing new life in a corner.

I assumed that whatever pony who owned this place before me would have made a decent friend, his tasteless appeal similar to mine by the looks of things. My mind still racked over what happened, trying with all its capabilities to comprehend the situation. For a slow and easy going pony like me, it was all very fast. After a little time and much convincing to myself that it was nothing, just a sign of friendship, I was able to change the subject on my thoughts for a short time, long enough to sleep. It wasn't however until an hour or two later, my estimation around midnight or such, that I could lay my head down for the tireless night and fidgety slumber that would later come to plague me so...
	
> Chapter 2
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I awoke groggily to a knocking at my front door. Perceiving through the only window, I could still see the morning star just now breaking a distant tree line. It was early. Too early for me. Pulling off the hoof stitched quilt, I started wobbly toward the entrance. I took about a minute, the knocking having no attempt to cease in its barrage of poundings against the wooden foe that blocked its path. With heavy eyes and the weakness of a restless night, I started to ajar the door, the banging taking an immediate halt as its commander's objective moving inwardly. The more it budged, the more I began to see of her.

She wasn't the prettiest of the mares, her shiny silver mane russled and tethered tail unkempt. Her coat dulled with lavender, and her mark resembled a chain link, one that only prisoners would have on the lead spheres that hindered their ankles. A few scars were scattered among her body, some at the shoulders and one under her jaw. She was worse for wear than any other pony I've ever seen, yet her luminous aqua eyes captivated me, her devilish grin sinister.

“Well hi there!” she had said with glee upon noticing me. A moment passed, a sense of comprehension once more at a loss. What was it that stayed my hoof, that kept me from shutting the door like I obviously should have done like I would have for anypony else? A question I still wonder today. Gathering my thoughts, I started to think of a reason to ask her to leave, to go away before something happened, but as I began, so had her question that I wish I had never answered. “May I come in?”

Her  voice was gentle, like how a mother would coo her young in their time of distress. Her inquiry stunned me. I was unprepared, taken at shock to the perplexing question she so boldly asked. Under a possession that I could swear wasn’t my own, I lightly smiled and invited her into my home. She was a complete stranger, and I hadn’t seen her around town. In honesty, maybe it was sheer curiosity that took over, or maybe it was my own ignorance.

Warmly thanking me for my kindness, the mare nearly stumbled over herself coming inside, clearly intoxicated by the way she took her steps, yet strangely skilled enough to portray normal under the circumstances that if she didn’t have to move. Her speech was perfect, not slurred in the slightest. A mare that wasn't new to cider, that's for sure. After barely knicking what little amount of objects that stand in my house, she finally crashed down onto my bed, snuggling tightly to my pillow and wrapping herself comfortably in my covers.

I did know one thing however. If this was going to happen, I at least needed to know her name, to understand who it was I let stumble into my sanctuary and rest in my area of slumber. Taking a small hoofstep in her direction, I spoke aloud the question that bugged me so, saying, "Might I know your name?" Bustling from her own dreamy state, she lifted her head at me and responded with an indication of kindness, and with slight concern, as though I wasn't the first to ask, or the first to consider throwing her out.

"Lane. My name's Linky Lane."

Linky Lane. Once more a very unique name, one that would fit this mare's description more than either I or anypony else would realize. I was stumped. There didn't seem to be a point in trying to get her to leave. She was far too gone in her sleep, and I wouldn't feel right attempting to move her. From what I could gather, she didn't have anyplace elsewhere anyway. So, there I was, standing in my own establishment, the only area that should be mine and mine alone, and there was this pony, sleeping in a total stranger's home. My home.

What else could I do but to continue standing there? My first reaction would have naturally been to nudge her awake and question her. My next reaction should have been to just leave and come back later in the day, everything, what little there was, ransacked to my expectation of such things, but I did neither. Instead, I sat there, surrounded by my fortress with false security, ready for it to be broken at any moment from a suspected rouse, yet even that never came to be.

Some few hours passed as I stared at my wall, mind circulating an assumption of the mare. She moved a miniscule amount, and if it wasn't for her consistent snoring, I might have both gone mad and presumed her dead, accounted by how still she settled. I didn't look at her, nor even glance. A feeling of guilt and pity ran over me, though I couldn't tell you why. It wasn't until around eleven in the morning that she stirred, arousing a sudden awareness from me. A tint of fear and much hoarseness from waking, she spoke.

"W-where am I?" Lane sounded like a lost filly, separated from the tender and unbreakable feeling of safeness only a mother could provide. Bolting upright with a notion of distress in her eyes, the feminine equine fiercely shot a view at me. "Who are you?" Her speech grew cold suddenly, like I had indicated a false implication at her.

"The question is better directed toward yourself." I enunciated my response with a faulty bravery and delusive audaciousness. She answered harshly, glare even more furious than before.

"Linky Lane," she replied with a snort, pressing her mane. "What am I doing here? Last I remember I was at home, drinking cider from my personal stash alone." I retorted with the most logical riposte I could think of.

"You must have had a little too much and ended up here." That didn't seem good enough. With a hint of shock followed coincidentally with a shaky tone, she carefully chose her words.

"Did I... do... anything?" At first, I didn't want to respond. It felt a bit awkward to remark to the question, but I guessed I would eventually have to, regardless if I wanted to or not.

"You knocked on my door, let yourself in, and slept in my bed." Everything but the second part held truth, though it wouldn't have made much of a difference if I told her otherwise. The mare still didn't appear satisfied, and my tone didn't attribute to my cause either.

"Nothing else happened? Nothing that either of us would regret, right?" It struck me that this might not have been the first time this had happened to her, and from what I know now, it wouldn't be the last. She peered at me with her icy eyes, trying to vainly gain a solution through my expression. Shying only slightly back from the stare, I gave the response I felt most true.

"Nothing you'd regret." Lane quickly took up on my insinuating gesture and picked herself up off my bed, heading with sluggish pace in the general direction of her exit.

I don't know what came over me, nor why I did what I did, but as she opened the door, I told her my name. She froze as my words pierced her attentive ears. Without ever looking away from the outside world that was visible before her, she replied with her living location, which was coincidentally just on the other side of the lake that Rezzly loved so much. Without another word, she continued on, shutting the door behind her with minimal force. I figured it noon.





A stroll around town sounded good on my part. With nothing but a few bits in an old saddle bag, I was trotting around, observing the surroundings I would soon have to become greatly accustomed to. Just upon entering the city, you were faced with a mammoth of a store, the largest in the town. It was a general goods marketing building, holding most everyday appliances that one would need. It was large enough to house three families, and from what I understood about the owners lifestyle, that's how big they needed it. Just behind that was a small farmers market, several choppy stalls set up and selling mixed varieties of fruits and vegetables from local farmers that lived and worked on the outskirts. The rest of the city was just houses, all different types. Some were green, some blue, others of great many colors, and some with little to none. The houses were also old, not a single building that didn't have at least a few years on it. The only establishment left was the school where the children went to learn about subjects for a better future that was always promised to them, no matter their wealth or appearance.

The school caught my interest most of all. There was no playground, save only a single set of swings and an open pasture for the young ponies to run around in. The walls were brick, at once bright, but color leveled by years of rain and wind damage. It was about two, class surely nearing its end. I  decided to sit and wait for the bell, the loud and never familiar ringing that came an hour later. The children flocked out the door, a total equaling to a miniature mob scattering to their homes, a few in groups and heading off in their own direction together to do something as friends. There was one filly that did not go anywhere, did not rush as much out of, what it was to most young colts and fillies, the oppressive establishment. A sense of depression was not over her, for she seemed as happy as could be.

She was a cute little filly, mane a vibrant gold and her coat a soft purple, eyes an iron shade. She had no cutie mark, and she had the tiniest wings you could imagine on a adolescent pegasus. It wasn't until I saw the teacher of the school step out that I was truly shocked. It was Lane. The mare hoisted the young one up on her back and playfully bounced her up and down as she started off northward, toward the lake. My mind was blown, and the matter wasn't better when she noticed me in the corner of her eyes as she trotted with her child. I did my best to avoid eye contact, to act like I hadn't seen her, but she came up to me anyway, a gleeful expression framed on her muzzle.

"Well hello again!" I didn't answer right away. I pretended that she was speaking to somepony else at first, then turned around in false surprise to see her there.

"Oh! Hey there. Didn't recognize you at first." That response was stupid. Of course it wouldn't have been that hard to remember a mare that blatantly came into your house and passed out on your bed, but she seemed to buy it.

"Hope that I didn't cause too much trouble last night. You know how we mares can get when we've had a bit much. At least I could make it in time to teach a few hours of class." I couldn't understand what she was trying to deceive me into believing, but I figured it would be a lot less painful to just agree with a nod. She cocked her head a tad. "You don't talk much, do you?" I shook my head.

"Mommy! I want to talk to the stallion!" The little filly's voice sounded just like hers, the only thing altered being the pitch. Without even a glance to see if I would consent, she lowered her daughter down to speak to me. "Wow, you're really green." She spoke so innocently that taking offense would have been a crime in itself. I just smiled and nodded. "And his hair is so dark! Did you have a unicorn make it that dark?"

"Now, now Clary, don't bother the stallion. He's the one who helped mommy last night when she got lost." The young reincarnate grinned and hugged my leg.

"Thank you for helping mommy." I looked down at her. She was so sweet, and she was so oblivious to the cruel nature of the world. It was one of those moments where you wanted to just grasp a tiny bit of that unknowing and just place it upon yourself, to ease the troubles of your own universe. I pat her head with my free hoof and relinquished her back to Lane.

"You've got a nice kid there," I told her. She held her child close when she responded, nuzzling her daughter's mane.

"The only one I've got." A feeling of disheartenment emitted from her at that moment. "If only she had a father..." Realizing instantly what she had just said, she snapped back from her thoughts and faced me with a sheepish smile and a blush light enough to only just be noticed. "How about you join me for dinner tonight? My way of thanking you for what you did."

I began to say no, holding up my hoof to explain why I couldn't, even if what I thought up was a lie. But as I started to explain, the filly tugged at my hoof, saying, "Please won't you come?" I just felt downright terrible after that statement. Stuttering a few sentences I couldn't finish, I sighed and replied with a yes.

"Great! I'll expect you around eight or nine, whichever suits you." With that she was off, not looking back nor stopping to say hi to anypony else she ran into along the way. In some way, I felt as though I had been tricked, and at the time, I didn't seem to mind. That night would be the worst mistake of my life, the night that my heart would give to one, and later fall for another...
> Chapter 3
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

I arrived on time, not properly attired for the occasion. From what I understood, she dwelled just behind the lavish tree line that edged the sparkling lake, far enough to be shrouded from the naked eye, yet visible enough during a certain time of the day, when the sun hit it so, that it could appear to be only an illusion in a painting.

Her house wasn't the most extravagant in the town. On a seldom overlook, one might see the occasional torn planks jutting from the outside wall, or a hole in the low, silver, rusted metal roof that lay flat overhead. There was no front door, but just a cleverly set covering colorfully hanging from the front entrance, not a single window from what I could see. It was all so plain and tacky, the mood lightened slightly from the woodland fragrance that softly emitted from the thicket behind.

Passing the thin bramble concealing the front of the house, I was immediately met by the call of a young and familiar filly at my left, her voice both acknowledging my presence and rousing the attention of my soon to be hostess.

"You're here early," Lane yelled gently from within the building, poking her head from the front entrance. "It's only seven."

When I had left, my clock read at least half an hour past that time. It wasn't until then that I realized I had never set my clock back since my move. Not that it mattered that much, but it seemed a bit interesting to me all the same.

"O-oh... I h-hadn't realized..." I was sticking to my shied characteristics far too well, holding very closely to said roots as they showed through my nervous speech. She simply giggled at me and invited me inside, glancing at her daughter in a way that, in just that look itself, was enough to get her message of getting in the house through without a word spoken between them. Still on the shaky side, I took a small step onto the aged wooden porch, the boards creaking loudly at every paced contact of my hooves mixed along with the filly and Lane.

When I pushed through the rainbow cloth at the doorway, it had seemed like I had stepped right into a world all too familiar to me. The house was tiny, no larger than expected. The ceiling came low, enough to touch if I had only jumped. It was all one square, no walls or doors within to make separate rooms. A bed sat right in the middle, just a notch fancier than the one at my home. There was a smaller, much more bland mattress that occupied the left corner, a iron lantern and lace bound journal beside, presumably the filly's. To the right, there was a gravel stone stove, firewood cackling inside while a steaming cast iron pot rested on top, a delightful smell enticing me and filling the room. The ground was a roughly stitched carpet made of many types of fabrics and patterns. The walls were molded in a few places, a glimmer of mentioned mold every here and there throughout. In retrospect, it was simple with a hint of self reliance, and I liked simple.

"Sorry," she started suddenly, breaking me from my trance. "I thought I had a little more time to clean." Her face blushed away, clearly embarrassed.

"No, no. It's my fault for being early." What in Equestria was I saying? In no shape, form, or fashion was I the cause of this, but the words still held meaning to her as she, almost gracefully, waltzed over to the stove. The filly, whose name I believed to be Clary, trotted over to her bed, opening and quickly making an entry within her lace bound journal.

Standing at the entrance felt uncomfortable. I didn't exactly know where I was supposed to stand, or if I should just sit for that matter. Uneasy and unsure, I slowly lowered myself until I was awkwardly sitting in front of her doorway. Taking notice, she began to laugh.

"Now what am I to do if somepony else comes in?" I hastefully scurried off to the side. She laughed a bit harder. "You didn't have to move. I was just messing with ya." Even the filly started to chuckle at my outlandish and fickle behaviour. It was to my misfortune that I took everything far too seriously, even if stated sarcastic before or after the phrase or action. It didn't matter, not to them at least.

Not much happened the time I waited. Around eight or so it had began to grow dark, a humming of insects vividly heard just outside the thin walls. A drift flowed lightly behind me, chilling my blood while I sat, yet I never moved other than a periodical shift in weight. When it was about half past the time, the food had finished boiling.

"Food's done!" Lane said, lifing the pot with plain brown mits on her hooves. She carried the meal to her bed, setting it right in the middle. There was no gathering of bowls or plates, just the pot itself. Clary rushed over and nearly broke her muzzle lapping up whatever was in the container.

"Settle down. You're acting like you haven't eaten in days." If that had not been stated, I would have thought no different. She turned to me, a refrained smile breaking my nerves as she bid me to come over. The filly lifted her head from the cookware and tightly hugged her mother, thanking her for the 'wonderful' dinner and returning to her bed, continuing her journal.

It didn't feel right. By the time I was able to bring myself over, the steam from the iron pot had stopped ascending, the food now cold. Her gaze at me never averted its direction, and every step felt like another lead brick was tied down to my hoof. I took my seat, her eyes still laid heavily upon me as I peeked into the container.

"Boiled turnips," she said with my head looking down. "I grew them myself."

Turnips... of all the vegetables she could have made, it had to be turnips...

"It... certainly smelt like something different." Why did it have to be the one food I despised more than any other?

"I threw in a few spices I found near the lake after class." Her hoof hovered just from my unbroken stare at the repulsive, chilled meal. "Go on. Help yourself."

I can't stress how much I would have given to not have eaten, but I was raised differently than that, and my manners wouldn't permit rejecting a meal. Taking all the time in Equestria, I unwillingly brought the frozen iron cauldron up to my mouth and sipped at the distasteful water inside, avoiding the turnips. That in itself was almost enough to to unsettle my stomach. Offering the metal cookware to my host, I coughed a bit into my right hoof. Lane grabbed the pot and began to munch down on her own meal, so engorged that it was like I wasn't even there for a couple of those minutes. Finally, she finished, setting the now empty container back on her bed, never offering me another bite. Not that I minded or anything.

The rest of my time there was the most uneasy of my life, even more than being at Rezzly's. Lane, at one point, started ranting off about her job, all the children there, and how much she cared for each and every one of them. She went on to later talk about her late husband and how the ponies around were nice enough to have her teach the local school. They even offered to pay her, even though it wasn't much, but she refused, telling me that she was doing it out of the kindness of her heart.

I just listened, taking in every detail, even if I didn't want to. She continued relentlessly until the clock suddenly struck twelve.

"Oh my, look at the time!" She seemed so surprised that her constant ongoing had taken a good three hours of my life. Even Clary had fallen asleep some time ago during the conversation, which consisted of her speaking and her alone, my occasional nod of acknowledgement the only responses on my part.

"Heh, yea. It's getting late." I stood up. "I really should be getting home." Turning around, I aimed for my exit. Taking only half a step, forehoof still in the air, I felt something, or somepony, grab at my leg, hindering me. I stopped and spun myself around, Lane brushing her mane to straighten it.

"Let me see you out the door." I didn't object. I didn't think I'd have to. My first thought was that she was just being a nice pony, but here in a second, you'll see otherwise.

"Alright." She trotted past me, nudging her head off in the origin of the exit. Waiting at the door, she gave me a nervous grin. I walked up, turning to face and thank her for a lovely evening, but that didn't happen. Just like Rezzly, her lips connected to me, but with one difference. She had kissed me... on my lips...

It wasn't long, but it was a decent moment before she pulled away, cheeks flushed red. Embarrassed might have been the understatement of the century for this situation.

"I-I'm sorry," she muttered. "Nopony has ever spent this much time with me at once." I didn't speak.

"It's just that you listened so well, and you seem so nice." I didn't answer. I started once more for the door.

"You... will come back... right?" she proceeded on. I halted, not looking back like she had done to me at my own home. I waited on her to take the hint. "Or... I'll see you around town... right?" Still, I didn't respond. The only thing I said for the rest of that visit was a thanks for the dinner, and with that said, I left, heart pinched in a way I couldn't explain. In that one instant, that one split moment that felt longer than what it probably was, I felt... strangely contempt.





My head was spinning. The walk home was cold, and my body felt empty. What was it that made me feel so? Why did what happened happen? And to me of all ponies? I couldn't process it. I had heard everything about her, and she seemed so nice, but it was all so fast. Why did she kiss me? Why did she have to show up at my doorstep? Just... why?

The subject at hoof didn't get any better upon my arrival at home. Apparently, a certain somepony I had already met, a mare, had found out where I was living and had sent several gifts, all that were wrapped in that kind of wrapping that was almost too beautiful in itself to rip apart.

I didn't open them, at least not that night. I was tired, and my brain was overwhelmed. That was not to mention the feelings that were ripping at me on the inside. I did, however, read one of the notes on the gifts. It read as followed:

-Dear Leafy Summers,

I sent these in hopes that your stay would be more comfortable. Please, if I went too far, or if any of the gifts don't fit your pleasure, don't hesitate to let me know. You know where to find me, and my doors are always welcome to my new favourite guest.

~Signed, Rezzly Reed

Entering my home, I found that she had also found where I had hidden my key, the metal door opener setting on my dresser, though I didn't lock my door anyway. Why the gifts were outside then, I don't know, but why there was a wooden floor and a new plush yellow sofa in my house, I didn't want to know. I brought the presents inside, sat them in a corner, and laid down in my bed. Heh, funny. Even the sheets were new. I didn't think too much about it, but I was going to have to have a talk with my new friend, because these gifts weren't helping my case. In fact, it only made me feel even worse inside...
> Chapter 4
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The morning pierced my vision, the sun's rays shining gloriously onto my eyes as I raised from my nightly slumber. I felt strange, more refreshed in a sort of way. At first, it hit me oddly that there was these wrapped gifts sitting in the distance of my room, but as the mask of weariness lifted from my face, I began to remember what all had occurred the day before. The presents were from Rezzly, and I wouldn't feel right not accepting them, but something within urged me to just leave them be, to send them all back. Why didn't I? It would have made things so much easier.

Once more, I believe curiosity must have held its grasp upon me. Shamelessly, yet uneasily, I began to tear at the gifts little by little. The first box was small and foil wrapped, the gentle light from the outside showing a dancing arrangement of spotted lights all throughout my home. I carefully peeled away the foil, a brown cardboard box popping into my view from underneath. Nervously, I continued to tear bit by bit until all the covering was gone, nothing but a plain box in my hooves. Lifting the lid, I peered into the container. What I saw inside was certainly not what I expected.

Its contents consisted of a now withered bouquet of small pasture flowers, all of various colors and smells with an elegant card tying them together. I didn't read the card. The plants were now dead, so the meaning would have been pointless. Tossing the gift to my side, I started to rummage around through the other presents that awaited my attention. I must have appeared like a filly who had just woke up on Hearth's Warming Eve and was told about the hidden treasures under the tree. Me and my giddiness.

After an hour of simply ripping past all the wrapping and picking at every gift, opening but not really giving them much attention, I stopped myself to observe all that she had sent, taking in the objects before me.

One item appeared to be a very magnificent table lamp, the bulb within a luminous blue and the design a very exotic jungle theme. I didn't know what to do with this since I didn't have a plug outlet, or power for that matter. To the left of that were a few old books, the thickness of each over five inches easy. I wasn't much of a reader, so those didn't appeal that much to me. Still, the thought was nice. On top of those were the ocean scented candles, dull tan with a fragrance I couldn't tell true or false, considering I've never seen the big blue body of water myself. Lastly, she had sent an aged wind-up hoofwatch to help me keep track of time, the binding made of pure and flexible silver, the watch itself lined with gold. A bit too fancy in my general opinion.

I didn't know what to say, nor how to feel about accepting all of these. If I remembered the note correctly, I could send back any of this if I found them to be too much, but the more I thought about it, the more I wanted to keep them for some reason. Was it the simple pleasure of greed? Maybe the fact they were gifts and that they was intended for me in the first place? For whatever reason, I decided to keep them, even though it didn't quite feel right.

Setting my new watch with the time on my clock, I headed for town. Since my move here, I've been living off what I could afford to bring from my last home, which wasn't much other than the few pieces of furniture and the small amount of bits I concealed inside my saddle bag. I figured it best to go out in search of a job. This didn't prove a difficult task, but I probably would have fared better if I had never left my house.





I arrived in town with a sense of high spirit that day. Why I seemed so happy, I don't know. Still, the fact worked to my benefit. I assumed that the best place to try and seek out work might have been the behemoth of a store that I had seen upon my first walking into this town.

The building was easily three stories high, much larger than was obviously needed. The walls outside were decorated with fancy and graceful designs that I couldn't explain through normal vocabulary. A sign with the store name hung above their intricate stone porch, the steps leading upward smoother than silk, which ironically was the material the curtains hanging from the windows were made from, waving to me in its dance with the wind.

Trotting casually inside, the sight before me was almost too much to conceive. All around me was the merchandise of anything your heart could desire. There was bathing mineral salts immediately to my left, contained within small glass jars, a wonderful fragrance lofting into my nostrils from them. Above was a model hot air balloon floating only by a few strings, selling for a much lower price than expected. Right beside that was a model ship, one that could easily match the description of Blackmane the Pirate's boat. In front of me was the marble counter which, from behind, a cashier stood awaiting my entrance to greet me with the smile an employee must have to keep position.

I took my first step further inside, feeling the willow wooden floor under me and hearing the echoes of variating mechanisms within the hollow, yet filled, marketing establishment. If I recall correctly, the only thing they didn't sell there was food products, which those rights were strictly given to the farmers on account of their need of the business.

"Hello there!" The worker spoke to me like a long time friend, tone like he hadn't seen me in years. He didn't look like the average stallion, mane and tail a snowy while with a coat near sapphire blue. His iris shimmered a delicate gold, and his company vest was cleaner than a new whistle. "Welcome to Goods Galore! Let me know if you need any help with anything!"

Slowly, I approached the counter, the register having a preset total of twenty bits, more than likely from the last customer's purchase. He smiled at me with such glee that it almost rubbed off. I did say almost.

"Hey there." I sounded like I had just witnessed a horrible accident. My voice didn't tremble like it normally would, but I still had a feel of fickleness to my tone. "Are you the owner of this store?"

He snickered a bit at the comment. "Heh, no sir. Just the manager. My boss is out on vacation for the week and he left me in charge while he was away. Any particular reason?" It barely sounded like it, but I hinted an aura of concern.

"Well, see. I'm the new pony in town." The stallion quickly interrupted me.

"Leafy Summers, correct?"

"R-right..." I didn't particularly enjoy everypony in that town knowing my name before I even knew theirs. Even though I probably shouldn't have bothered asking, I inquired anyway. "How did you know?"

He shot me a stare as though I had insulted him. "Small town. Word gets around." I didn't like the way he presented that phrase.

"What exactly are you talking about?" Something certainly didn't feel right, and I was determined to figure out what.

"You're the same stallion who moved from Ponyville right? And the same pony who spent last afternoon at Linky Lane's?" After that, I began to grow a bit scared.

"Y-yea... what about it?" My fear amplified quite well through my speech. What was this stallion getting at?

"Well, she's a drunkard you know. She occasionally roams the streets on some nights, yelling and cursing at random townsfolk. One time, it was so bad, she had passed out in the streets. Her own daughter had to come and drag her back home."

My heart stopped. Was it all a coincidence? All just a happening at random? Everything. Every detail about her so far. Her style, the house, the being an only mother, being a drunkard... it all resembles so closely to her...





You probably don't know what I'm talking about huh? Well, listen closely, because I'm only going to share this with you once.

My mother was a single mom, father passing on during the first migration to Ponyville from our original home near Trottingham. Ever since that day, she never really was quite the same. She had to raise me alone, nopony else to help care for me, and life in Ponyville during that time was tough. Nopony could spare a bit even if they wanted to. Eventually, the stress of having to care for two on a one pony salary had gotten the best of her, causing her to fall into a deep depression followed by the massive consumption amount of cider. She never really ate much after that, only feeding me and spending the rest on her drink. We lived in poverty until I was of age to work, even which it still wasn't enough to support the both of us. She was found one night out in Ponyville's streets, unresponsive and unbreathing. They told me it was a simple heart failure, that at her age the cider had much more potent effects. I didn't care for the reason. All I know is I was never the same after that night. It's probably why I'm the way I am now, but... who knows...

Anyway, back to what I was telling ya. Don't want to get too sidetracked.





"R-really? She got that bad one night?" The clerk simply nodded. "Wow..."

"And I've also heard you've been hanging around that Rezzly mare." Word truly does get around fast in small villages.

"What about that? Anything wrong with her?" I've heard the rumor on Lane, might as well know what they say about my other friend.

"Well, from what I hear, she herself butchered her own parents for the money." Now I know that was a lie, or so I told myself. How was I really to know?

"W-what makes you s-say that?" Even though I didn't believe it, the rumor itself still broke my nerves.

"Well, she never leaves her house except once a week to buy from the food market, and we never received word on the deceit of her parents until a few days after estimated time of death." Frightened might not be enough to explain my feels on what I was hearing. "Anyway, what was it you came in for? Certainly not for idle gossip."

I almost didn't respond. I gulped rather loudly with my answer. "I-I came in l-looking for a job."

"A job?" He looked at me inquisitively. "I can't really do much without Mr. Pennyton's approval." He thought it over, rolling his eyes from side to side with a hoof at his chin. "But... I guess I could find you a little something something by tomorrow. You seem like a nice enough stallion. The name's Rex by the way." Rex. What a peculiar name. "Be here by eight?"

I nodded, never even asking of the pay or what the task would be. In truth, I didn't care. I had went in with  a beaming sense of unknown happiness, and I left that place with a familiar feeling of fearing the unknown. What was to become of me if these rumors were true? On either side my reputation, if I could ever build one, would be destroyed, true or not.

What was I to do? To one side there lay a mare, one whose life I could understand all too well. She's with child, widowed and poor, a drunkard in desperate need of guidance, one to look after her both physically and financially. But... to my other lay the perfect mare, one whose beauty was unmatched and could grant my every wish with her vast fortune, yet she possibly contains a grave past, one that if true, could very well end badly on my part. I was at a loss. What choice did I have? Both seemed nice, yet both had a reputation, a standing in this town that didn't exactly run over well, and this tugging in my chest didn't make the matter any better...

Author's note: A filler chapter, one to help you better understand the reputation of the mares and how this small town works. Not one of my better chapters... but I hope you enjoy all the same!
> Chapter 5
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Returning to my humble abode didn't seem like the better option, but sticking around town to wait on what they could think up on me wasn't ideal of a choice in itself either. I didn't want to visit the mares, since the only reason behind which would be to just ask if said rumors were true. The only safe place I could conceive that would be far enough from everything was the lake, save if Linky were to step outside from her home. It was the only location I could come up with that would be secluded other than home, and even that sanctuary had been defiled already.

I glanced at the time, which read four. The sun's gleam was already starting to slimmer away as I sluggishly traversed through town. I was in no rush. At the time, just making it to my destination was trivial enough, so a quickened advance was deemed unnecessary. It was about half past four by the time I reached the village's edge, bordering on both the city limits and the sight of the lake. Heh, strange that the morning star would be lowering at such a fast pace, but the season had been shifting even before I had arrived. Winter was near, indicated clearly by the shorter days and freezing nights. The flowers, however, had been very enduring this year, along with other plant life. Must be the little bit of warmth from the sun carried with the chilled afternoons that prolonged them.

There were a few bushes and a thin thicket of trees just before the small body of water I would have to navigate past before actually reaching my goal, but just upon entering them, I noticed another rustle off out of my sight. I suddenly crouched down, lightly treading on my hooves. Whoever it was, they wasn't trying to be quiet. From the sounds, I could tell it must have been more than one pony. The hoofsteps were numerous, rustling up leaves in an odd pattern. Slowly, I inched my way closer to the miniature forest's edge and peeked into the open field where the lake resided.

The sight of the liquid body was spectacular, for lack of a better word. The smooth ripples of the buzzing bugs touching the surface, the faint reflection of a fading scene portrayed inversely to anything around it. The mossy grass all around softened the dirt, the scent of clovers filling the air. The orange glow of a setting star set the whole place ablaze, a breeze trying hard to break through the trees that covered. It was marvelous, save one feature. Just to the side of my peripheral vision stood a blob of pink. When my sight focused, there she was, Rezzly Reed, glaring at the direction of the incoming noise.

From the threshold stepped Linky Lane, her daughter Clary close behind. If I remember correctly, I never did fix the time on my clock. School must have ended recently and they were on their way back home. They appeared just as shocked as me to have seen Rezzly standing there, peering at them with furious eyes. Then another thought hit me. Word spreads fast in small towns.

"Rezzly!" Lane greeted her with an unexpected hospitality complemented nicely with her surprised tone. "What are you doing here? It's been awhile since we last spoke." The other equine just continued her death glare at the other mare. Finally, after only a brief second, she replied, rather harsh in tone.

"Shut it Lane!" she nearly barked. Clary ducked behind her mother, who herself was taken aback at the outburst. "You know good and well why I'm here!"

"I'm sure I haven't a clue." Lane's reply was fear filled, gaze in horror, yet it came across bravely, like she was talking back to her. It was like a smart flank thief who was caught with money in hoof. Rezzly snarled, snorting at the comment.

"You better stay away from him if you know what's good for you. I heard what you did last night, trying to take him from me through your sappy sad story. Just keep your distance, for both your sakes." The lightly hued mare stepped toward them, brushing a stunned mother and child to her side upon reaching them. She only reached a few steps away before a certain filly broke the eerie silence between them.

"He doesn't like you!" Everything felt like it froze at that moment. All the bugs stopped, the ripples halted, our breaths ceased. "He likes mommy!"

One would swear they could see the fumes of anger emit from Rezzly, her temper easily above boiling. Spinning around, she growled viciously at the two, stomping towards them.

"He likes me! Understand you two! You have no chance! None! Nada! Zilch! So I suggest you get that through your thick skulls!" Even I knew when enough is enough. A few seconds after she had blared that remark, I stepped out from my hiding spot, pretending to had just arrived. As I left the bramble, they all nearly jumped and beamed at me with looks of terror.

"Oh hey there you two! What's going on?" This was much more outgoing than my usual mood, but it had to be done. All three glanced at me with sheepish smiles, Rezzly rubbing the back of her head and the other two poking a bit at the dirt.

"Oh nothing much. Just visiting an old friend," Rezzly replied. She was a terrible liar. Her averted eyes, the nervous grin, the sweat rolling down the side of her cheeks, she couldn't hide it, so I pretended not to find it. Lane and Clary shot each other a look before they stared back at me.

"Well how nice of you to do so. You two know each other then?" That's definitely one question I had wished I never asked.

"We graduated at the Mareietta Elementary School here together as fillies," Lane explained. "We were the best of friends." She glanced over to her side. "Were..."

"But the past is the past," Rezzly interjected. "There are just some things that can't be forgotten."

"Or forgiven huh?" Lane continued. The other scoffed before turning to face me.

"Come and see me sometime." She pecked my lips with hers, right in front of Lane, and trotted happily off back into town, heading home.

There I stood in my cloud of confusion, not alone in the process, but separated by reasoning. The mare gazed at me, the filly still clinging tightly to her. Not a word was spoken, and I wouldn't have had an answer to anything she might have asked anyway. It felt like a short eternity, but after the sun had totally vanished behind its hills, Lane stood up and silently walked home, Clary at her side being just as quiet.

A few moments passed after that, the air still and the lake bouncing off the moon's glow. It was, in fact, a full moon, and the wind picked up rather quickly after she had left. It didn't bother me though. I paced up to the water's edge, the small scaled earth cliff the only barrier from it and me. Staring into my reflection, I look at the pony who had caused the scene. His mane was rough, coat half decent. His glare lacked luster, his eyes were dull and void. He didn't have a perfect smile, and he certainly didn't have an eventful lifestyle. What was it about this stallion they saw? About him that could cause this all?

After a minute, I was done, tired of looking at myself and thinking. There was nothing special I had seen, just another stallion running from his problems. I wanted to just sit there, to just lie down and hope I would wake from it all. It all felt like a bad dream, just a figment of my imagination that would soon end with me in my bed, but that wasn't the case. What had happened did happen, and it was over me.

I know it wasn't my fault, but I felt downright despicable. Without taking a final look, I started back home, heart heavy with unreasonable guilt. Why did I feel this way? Why to all of this did I hold these feelings? Those two questions were all I thought on my way home.





This had seemed to become the routine for me, trotting back home with my mind whizzing around in a blank state. Routine for me was good, at least I knew what to expect. I don't like change. Contradictory to my move here, but that was a must.

The house came into view, my door open and a light illuminating from inside. I came from an odd angle, so I couldn't peer into the window without being seen anyway, or so I didn't think I could. It didn't cross over me with much thought. I was too lost in the deep corners of my mind to care. I had just thought I had left the door open and the lights on myself.

Entering in with my head down, I closed the door behind me and locked it. I was going to just stay in tomorrow, just going to pass up that opportunity with Rex and sleep in. I needed some time to think, but that wasn't going to be the case.

When I lifted my vision, there lay Rezzly, posed seductively on my bed with a lustful glare in her eyes. Out of all things that have taken place, this certainly was the most unnerving.

"Hello there Leafy." Her tone, the pose, her stare... I was literally nerve struck, so still I appeared painted on the wall. She shifted her slender body a bit, rolling around to look at me in a suggestive style. "See anything you like?"

I couldn't speak. What could I say anyway? I didn't know how to handle this situation, and the door was already locked behind me. I continued my unbroken glare, my face expressionless. With a slightly bewildered look, she stepped onto the floor, the next in my direction.

"What? Can't speak? Too much beauty to take in at once?" She started to circle around me, every pass in front waving her tail in my face. "Come now, you shouldn't be surprised. I can give you anything you want if you were to just ask." She leaned in and whispered in my ear. "Anything..."

"L... leave..." That might have been the hardest thing I had ever said in my life. Rezzly kept her seductive grin, but she looked confused.

"Heh, w... what?" A tiny hint of concern was heard. The next time saying it wasn't so hard, though I had to fight the dryness of my throat.

"Leave." That smile and that lustful sense vanished in that instant. It was replaced quickly with one of frustration.

"Fine!" I expected more of a response, but that's all she said before stomping toward my door furiously. If I didn't say anything, she might have broken the door down beating on it like she did.

"Ummm... it's locked." She snapped her fiery snare back at me, the sight itself scaring me.

"Unlock it then!" I hastefully started to look for where I had placed the key, but in my frantic search, I had forgotten where I had precisely put it.

"I... can't find the key." That didn't settle well with her at all. The bang on the door after that statement would have left me deaf if any louder. Remarkably, the door still stood. The look she gave was mean enough to kill just by the sight.

"You have another way out of this place!?" she blared. With fright, I shakily point to the window. She must of thought I was joking at first, turning and scoffing at the gesture, but I kept pointing, and it didn't take her that long to realize I was serious. "You've gotta be kidding." I shook my head.

As hilarious as it was to see her struggle and strain through that small and elevated square in my wall, I didn't laugh. That would have been a death wish if I ever wanted one. I'd say it took her a good five minutes before she was able to finally pull herself over and through, banging on the ground relentlessly as she went off into town, leaving me in my home, alone, frightened, and perplexed.

I sat there forever thinking about what had all happened that day. Eventful as it was, I still somehow wound up feeling worse than yesterday. Setting my watch to the correct time, preparing the alarm on the clock hanging from the wall, I laid my head to rest on the yellow sofa. I wasn't touching that bed, and it wasn't all that uncomfortable on the couch. Staring at the ceiling, I began to think. What just happened? For Rezzly, I feel both afraid yet... still drawn to her. Like that act of crawling through the window really showed how helpless she was, but that fire in her eyes, that inferno that cut...

And then I thought about Linky. What was her feelings on the matter? She seemed so taken by the fact I had known Rezzly, and the peck on the lips. What would that make her think?

It was all too much for me to think about then. Stretching out a bit and sprawling out as much as I could, I drifted off into my sleep, clearing my mind for reasons all too obvious to mention...
> Chapter 6
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

A loud ruckus of ringing drummed in my ears, the clock's alarm breaking the border between dream and reality that held so adamant  until that time. Lifting the lids of my eyes, I began to return from the deep cave of wonders that I would call my thoughts. In honesty, mornings just weren't my thing. The time read a quarter past seven, enough time to make it to my appointment with Rex if I were to have left right then. Note, that conclusion was only based on the fact if I didn't run into anything, or pony, on my way. My slow pace would most definitely factor in as well, but the more I started to think about it, the more I thought that maybe I was taking the whole matter too seriously, the job I mean. Regardless, I hopped out my sleeping quarters and rushed, or what I would call rushing, to the door. As soon as the hinges creaked and bended and the oversized wooden plank of wood moved from its original position, I was immediately met with the sight of a lavender mare I knew all too well.

There stood Lane at my door, her hoof in mid progress to knock upon my door. Her mane was groomed, coat brushed by first glance. It was like she had half-flank prepared for a partly formal occasion. The opening of the entrance startled her, causing her to recede back a bit at first.

I stood at the doorway, my vision blocked by only her. I only then took notice at the alarms still ringing from inside. It had taken me until then to realize that I had never turned them off in my rush to my previous engagement.

See, now I was in a predicament. I couldn't go back inside without inviting her into my home, at least not without feeling a little bad. It seemed I was already going to be late, so I turned around without even greeting the mare as I reached to shut off the clock. When the noise stopped, so did everything else, or so it felt. Lane kept posistion outside my door, apparently waiting for my acknowledgement to step in.

"Aren't you, oh I don't know, coming inside perhaps?" I asked with a slight humorous tone. The sound itself was playful, and this struck her odd. As such, she continued to wait outside my door.

"Is it alright? To come inside I mean. I... wouldn't want to impose if you're busy." She still stood there, kicking innocently at the dirt in a shy manner. Heaving a sigh, I waved for her to come on. The mare suddenly brightened up as she took the first step back into the house she had unexpectedly stayed at a few days ago. She took quick appeal to all the new items that were not there the last she had came. Rezzly's gifts appeared to impress her.

"Heh, wow. You sure do know how to fix a place up." She took a seat on the soft, new couch, me still fumbling around with the clock above my bed whose ringing was still buzzing around the room. "Where did you get all this new stuff?" I thought carefully before answering.

"They... were gifts from a friend." It wasn't a lie, and Lane didn't seem like she was in the mood to question, much less care. She had other things on her mind.

"So, I wanted to stop by," she began. "And I wanted to apologize to you. I didn't know that there was something between you and Rezzly so I-" I stopped her right there.

"Now hold on just one tick," I beckoned, nearly falling off my bed due to the clumsy nature I seldomly possess. "There's nothing going on between me and that mare."

This fact alone apparently baffled her.

"I... I don't understand. I saw her kiss you and-" Once more I interrupted, taking a seat beside her on the furniture.

"I don't know what she thinks, but there's really nothing between us, alright?" I placed my hoof on her shoulder, more of a calming thing that I used to do normally when I lived back in Ponyville. Lane glanced at me with a worried expression. I truthfully had no idea the significance of how it must have presented itself on the way my hoof was placed on her shoulder, but sure enough, she had taken it in a much different manner than intended.

"So... Rezzly was... just jealous then?" Taking my hoof and looking to the roof, I started my answer.

"I guess that you could say that. She was your friend before meeting me, so you know her much better than I do. You probably know her more than anypony around." My gaze came back to hers. The answer seemed to satisfy her, or so I thought. She didn't put off the worried vibe anymore. I figured that her visit was about over, assuming that the only reason she took a trip here in the first place was to apologize unnecessarily.

"So... there's really nothing between you two?" The constant questioning, and it being the same question no less, was starting to get redundant and annoying.

"No Lane. For the... second time? Yea, for the second time, there's nothing betwe-"

Her lips suddenly planted to mine, stopping me in mid sentence and bringing the meticulous explanation to a halt. I waited for her to break away, but as a few more seconds progress, I noticed her eyes were closed, the mare lost in the moment.

This was quite the difficult situation. When I had tried to pull away, she'd just lean in a bit more to keep the kiss from disconnecting. Upon my few attempts, I had eventually back myself up enough where I was barely on balance from falling flat on my back on the couch.

She opened her eyes, the kiss broken as she glared deeply in my eyes, contact dead center. Just in my peripheral could I see a mad grin growing wildly across her face.

"What? If you and Rezzly aren't together, then there's nothing wrong about this."

That phrase almost got me. I saw what she was playing at. Me and that pink pony weren't together, but the way she said that made it out that if I were to object, she then wouldn't believe me. It was almost like she was tricking me into this without actually meaning to, but with a slight hint of knowing what she was doing. Regardless, it felt like a lose lose situation.

"That is what you said, right? You and her aren't together, right?" Lane leaned forward for another kiss, which was the last requirement before I tumbled over myself topheavy backwards onto the couch and rolled into the floor. At first, there grew an awkward sense in the air, the mare staring at me from above while I was laying in a rather odd position. My eyes darted away, avoiding hers as I shakily stood up and mustered a reply.

"No, me and Rezzly aren't together." I shot her a look. "And as far as I'm concerned, neither are we."

At that moment, an expression showed from her. The sight made me feel like I had just committed the most soulless of deeds. Her eyes drooped low, muzzle now a frown as her body simply seemed to just sink into the furniture piece.

"O-oh... I-... I see..." She heaved sulkily. "I'm sorry to have bothered you." She stood, her knees almost buckled under her as she took her leading step back for the door. "I'll just... see myself out then..."

I am well aware of the word one is called when they commit an act that makes another pony feel bad. If I'm correct, the word is call a 'jerk', and I certainly felt like one, and for reasons I can't quite explain. She slugged toward the door, head hung low. I just felt so terrible.

"Wait!" I called. Her ears perked, head lifting a tad as she awaited for me to proceed with what I was saying. "You don't have to leave." At the remark, she spun around on the heel of her hooves, still drooped, but a smile now on her face nonetheless. At least her poise wasn’t a slouch anymore.

"No, but I know when my welcome has worn itself out." The feeling grew worse while she continued. "And I know when I've pushed too far."

Lane slowly came to my side, looking past me without even a glance. What she said next, I can't really explain how I felt.

"But... maybe... you'll consider it?" I almost started to ask, but we both understood what she meant. She turned to me, and I looked back. With our eyes locked, I nodded my head.

"I'll... give it consideration." Even if the answer satisfied her, it didn't me.

"And don't worry about being late with your meeting with Rex," she commented with a smile. "I stopped by today and told him you might be a little late."

"You didn't have to," I responded. "But I do appreciate it all the same." Her head cocked a bit to the side as she smirked.

"I'll see you around then?" I myself couldn't help but to grin while I replied.

"Sure. You'll see me around." With that, Lane turned head and went out the door without another word. What was I thinking? What was I doing? And more importantly, what did I just say? Everything that had happened then still feels like a blur to me, but I try to piece it together for my own sake. What I said is how I remember it, but I can't be completely sure.

Still, I didn't feel all that bad after that. Well... not until Rezzly came back to mind. She sounded downright determined when she yelled at Lane, and pretty serious too. Furious might be an understatement about how she felt when I asked her to leave last night as well. When it came to Rezzly, it was almost like... she wasn't going to take no for an answer.

At that point, I hadn't the clue of what to think anymore. Having just given Lane my consideration, I may have opened a door I never would have wanted opened, not to mention how my conscious wasn't going to leave me be until Rezzly was thoroughly considered as well. Both were obviously drawn to me, and the worst part about it is I have the same tugging force for each.

Rezzly. She held so much life, so much passion in what she does. Her attention grabbing abilities with her fierce and undeterred attitude held me in with interest, her clumsily comical attitude playing its role in her favor as well. She was what I had always seeked for in most mares, though I never really ever looked. And that's just the jist of her. Her wealth, good fortune, beauty... Everything about here just seemed too perfect. The only thing I can think that could steer my thoughts would be those rumors, but a tale's just a tale... right?

Then we had Lane. Her connectability and understanding on such a deeper level with me took its stand within me rather firmly as well. Her gentle nature followed by the generosity of herself to those who asked nothing from her, it's... something else entirely, and my feelings weren't diminished even in her trying to trick me. I could understand her conditions, though in honesty I probably didn't want to. She had nopony, save her daughter. Was that what drew me to her, or is it the dangerous risk and abrupt forwardness with me that kindled a flame? Her and Rezzly were so different, yet somehow... they were the same.

There were my options so far. I couldn't choose both, Celestia help me if I tried, but I also couldn't choose neither, the acceptance of which... unobtainable, through me and surely them as well...
> Chapter 7
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

A few days passed since my encounter with Lane. Rex was slightly disappointed with my expected tardiness that day, but all reasonable doubt about my work ethic was diminished through my hard and persistent labor. It really wouldn't seem like it from glance, but I'm actually a rather amazing worker when determined.

Rex had set me up as the janitor, or a 'hygienic professional' as he would put it. After that first day, I don't think a spot could have even hoped to have a smudge. I'll be honest, it isn't that much pay, but it's better than sitting at home all day doing nothing.

All through that time I never saw Rezzly or Lane. It was quite odd really, but maybe they had decided to leave me be and go on with their lives. I was sorely mistaken however.

It was a Saturday evening. The day had been rather slow for business and Rex was about to close up shop when Rezzly decided to make a rather sudden entry. I was off on the side, right beside a rack of old, dusty books. They were numerous considering how little anypony around here actually read. She made a direct course straight for me. She seemed upset. It appeared to be more of a mixture actually, one of anger and sadness all at once. When she reached me, the mare slapped me across the face with her left hoof, and drew me close for an embrace with the other. I stood as she spoke. She was just from sobbing.

"Why didn't you visit me?" she began. "Why didn't you pay me a visit this week? I waited for you to come."

"I..." I wasn't completely sure what to say. "I've been busy."

"Busy?" Rezzly flipped her hair out of her eye, tears barely forming. "What? Working here as a... a..."

"A janitor?" I finished. She looked disgusted with the uniform I was doomed to wear with the job, glaring at the name tag with distaste.

"Why would you do such a thing to yourself? You're better than this." Comforting words I didn't care to hear.

"Heh, well... what can ya do? I don't have anywhere else to work."

Rex spoke from out of sight. He must not have heard Rezzly come in. "Leafy! Have you finished up over there?"

"You know," she began. "You could come and work for me. Be my landscaper or my cook. I'd pay you handsomely." The way she finished that sentence chilled my spine.

"I... I'll be done in a minute!" I called back to Rex. I turned back to the mare and took a deep breath. "Look, Rezzly. You're nice and all to offer, but I can't just leave Rex. He says I'm the best custodian he's ever had."

"Making up excuses eh?" She chuckled. "Eh, I knew it was too much to hope for." Rezzly spun herself around and waltzed over toward the exit. "But I meant what I said. I've been waiting, and I still am. Come over sometime, please?"

"Maybe..." I replied, continuing my work as though nothing had happened.





"I'll see you Monday," Rex said, closing the shop behind him.

"Sure," I said back. "Not like I have anything better to do." It was getting dark, about five in the afternoon to be exact. I had come to know this town a little better, heard gossip about ponies and their lives as they came into the store for their everyday needs. All down Mainstreet sat four houses, each with their own strange and unique characters. On the left side facing South was Grainly and Frixon. Right side Hentson and Klindra. All four lives seperately, all unmarried and shut away from the town. They would come occasionally to parties that were held by Dranny or Vlank to boost their reputations in town as some of the more wealthy, but they usually left early. Why? Nopony really knows.

Toward the market, to your left sat the more wealthy ponies, mini mansions of pony families that have lived here for generations, building a reputation. Other than the two stated, who were also single, lived the Flake's family, a group of stuck-up aristocratic know-it-alls who never had anything to do with somepony without at least three hundred bits on hoof.

Another family were the Yenville's, a charitable bunch who thrived on attention. They went to the parties and donated large portions to the school, mostly for their own childrens benifit rather than anypony elses.

And last we have the Thriblin's, your average, run-of-the-mill hard working ponies who actually worked for their wealth in this world. The street down the front of the store contained the rest of the residence, an accumulation of about thirteen houses, each with another family with foals whom of which would one day grow up and leave or stay and take over whatever family job they had and live in the same house for the remained of their lives. The town was actually rather boring, save the parties I never attended, nor was ever invited to.

It truly is amazing what you can learn in about a week, especially through just listening to others speak. I decided to make my usual trip back home on a different path, thinking some change from Main Street would do me a little good. I mean, I never really liked change, but we all need it now and then for our own sake if nopony else.

I figured that I would head back toward the market and stroll through to the lake, maybe pay Lane a visit. I've seen Rezzly, might as well be fair about it.

It wasn't until I was half-way from the lake, about a few hundred hooves from the town, that I saw the mare, drunk and confused, staggering toward the city.

"Lane!" I yelled, running toward her. She had a fire in her eyes, a burning while I approached.

"Stay away from me!" Lane warned. "You don't care about me!" She growled as I stopped.

"What?" Although she wasn't entirely wrong, I couldn't just let her go into town like that. I remembered what Rex had said, but I never really believed it until now.

"You heard me you low life scum! You don't care about me and you know it as will as I do!" I didn't know why, but a pain hit my chest, like a knife cutting my heart every time it thumped.

"Lane, calm down. You're just drunk. You don't know what you're saying." I thought that maybe I could calm her down and take her home. She wasn't in any condition to be out and about, much less I knew what would happen to her daughter if she had to come looking for her.

"Don't tell me to calm down!" She started toward me. "I know your type, walking around in a state of melancholy acting like the world simply sucks and there's nothing you can do about it. Am I right so far?" Her statement was a little too close to home.

"Lane, just relax and-"

"And you know that there is a cure, but you avoid it." Lane was only a few hooves from me. "You know that there is a way to stop the pain, the cruelty of the world." She was to my face. "And that way is..." She closed her eyes and looked to the ground.

"Lane..." I placed my hoof on her shoulder. My voice was collected, sure of itself. "Come on, let's get you home. You shouldn't be out like this." Lane was near crying when she looked from the ground up. With a faint smile, she nodded.

Walking her back wasn't as hard as I would have thought. It required only one thing, and that was patience. Every few seconds she would stumble over herself, and every other second after that she would fall. It was really quite a wonder how she was able to walk earlier. I guessed all of her energy was worn from that ramble.

It took a while, about three hours to get her all the way back home. The lake was perhaps the hardest part, Lane dunking her head in and swimming around. The trees posed an even harder obstacle as she kept plastering into them.

Opening the door, I saw Clary over at her bed, writing in her journal. I was hoping she'd be asleep, but I had no such luck. The young one looked over as I entered, setting her mother to the side.

"Hey mister!" she smiled. "You brought her home?" I threw her off gently onto her bed.

"Yea. She's pretty far gone." I hate to say, but then, I actually felt a little bad for her.

"It's like this all the time. She'll be alright in a few hours." Clary stood up and walked over to me, wrapping her forehooves around one of mine. "Thank you for bringing her though. It was real nice of you." I wanted to puke.

"Yea... no problem." I turned and headed for the door.

"Please come back mister," she said as I started out. "She really misses you." I laughed a bit.

"I was actually on my way today." I turned and waved to the little pony. "Tell her I said hi, and she knows where to find me." Clary grinned and nodded, heading back to her journal.

I stepped out and looked to the sky. Night time, the time of day when all the stars were out. It was beautiful. I came to realize something that day. No matter how hard a shell you have, somepony else can crack it. It's a hard thing to admit, and living so long like it was, you don't really think of something ever hitting so close to home.

Walking back home, I began to think real hard about Rezzly and Lane. I knew what it was Lane was going to say back at the lake. It truly is the only thing, but I hold it for nopony. As far as I was concerned, I could consider them both friends, at the most...