It had been a rough couple of days for Rachel. Trying, confusing, tough days that had tested her mettle to its very core. Getting kicked out of your house by a magical talking horse who stole your boyfriend right out from under your nose tended to leave people a little worse for wear. Most people would have broken down if such a thing would have happened to them, given in to despair and hopelessness, but she wasn’t most people.
The moment that she had left her old apartment building, she had made a promise to herself. She wasn’t going to let what happened break her. She wasn’t going to let it dishearten or disconcert her. She was going to forget James and move on. She was going to rise above the madness.
The day after James had broken up with her, she worked quickly. Making a few phone calls, she had gotten one of her friends to let her stay at her place. Yes, her commute to work was a little longer, yes the room that she was sleeping in was a little smaller than she was used to, and yes she was still a little upset about what had happened, but she was going to move on to bigger and better places. She still had to get the rest of her things from James, but after that she’d be completely free of him, and after that the world was her oyster.
A meaner part of her wanted to start hitting on James’s friends, maybe go on a date with one or two of them just to try and rile him up, but in the end she decided against it. She had told herself that she wouldn’t bother with him anymore and she meant it. If he cared so little for her that he’d dump her for some animal that he had met only a few hours prior, he wasn’t worth the effort. And besides, most of his friends were just as big of weirdos as he was.
She had already dropped hints to every single, eligible guy that she knew that she was single and ready to mingle. It would only be a matter of time until the boys were pounding at her door. She’d have another boyfriend before James had the chance to realize the mistake he made and come crawling back to her. She’d show him. She’d show him, rub it in his face, and walk away laughing.
One of the men that she had in mind was a guy that she had known in high school and was still friends with to this day. He might have been a little odd in his own way, but she didn’t know a guy that was harder-working or as on the straight and narrow as he was. Not to mention that he was one heck of a looker, with a big, strong frame, pretty, almost haunting icy blue eyes, and a face that screamed rugged.
While trying to get such a guy might have seemed a daunting task for most women, Rachel was almost positive that she’d have him with little effort. All she’d need to do was put on something nice, walk down to his shop, and ask if he wanted to maybe get a cup of coffee and she’d be completely over James by the end of the week.
It'd be easy. All he'd have to do was say—
“No? What do you mean no?”
“I’m actually going out with someone later today,” Andrew told her as he carefully preened a rose bush.
“Going out with someone?” Rachel parroted. “You?”
Andrew grinned. “I know right?” he joked. “I’m a bit surprise myself.”
Rachel stared up at the young man as he tended to the bush in disbelief. Andrew wasn’t the type of person that went out on dates.Most times his guy friends had a heck of a time in getting him to leave his house! He was a pretty reserved guy, especially around women, usually preferring to stay in his little flower shop rather than go out.
Though she was more than a little disappointed, Rachel found herself smiling slightly, happy that he had finally found someone. “Well, I hope you enjoy yourself,” she said, almost able to keep the grumble out of her voice.
Andrew looked away from his roses to flash her a bright, cheery smile. “I hope so too. And hey, don’t let me saying no bring you down. I’m sure that you’ll find someone twice as good as me within the week.”
Rachel found herself nodding again. She was sure that he was right. Though he might have been her first choice there were still a ton of guys that she could look at. This really was no real loss. But a small part of her wanted to know who had snatched him up before her. Though he had never said it, Andrew did have a crush on her. He had had one for years. For him to turn down her offer he must have met one heck of a woman.
“Do you mind if I ask who’s the lucky lady?” she asked, shifting her weight from the balls of her feet to her heels. "Is it anyone I know or did you meet someone out of town?"
Andrew’s eyes drifted over her shoulder and settled onto something. “I’ll do you one better,” he said as his face lit up and his smile widened. “She’s coming over right now so I’ll let you meet her. Hey Junebug. How’s it going?”
Rachel’s brow furrowed. Before she could look over her shoulder to see who Andrew was talking to she felt something brush across her leg. Though she was wearing pants she could feel the thick, soft, plush fur of whatever it was. Her first thought was that it was a dog. A very big, very furry dog; no doubt the pet of the girl that Andrew was about to introduce her to.
“Oh I’m sorry, excuse me,” a feminine voice, warm and airy with a spoonful of country twang in it, apologized.
“It’s alright,” Rachel said automatically, side-stepping out of the way while also looking down so she could see what kind of breed of dog it was. “It’s my fault for standing—” She stiffened as a pony smiled up at her apologetically. “—In the middle of the…”
This one wasn’t like the pony that she had seen a few days ago. This pony was smaller for one, with the top of its head maybe reaching to the center of her stomach. It had neither wings or a horn and its mane and tail weren’t moving as if floating in a gentle breeze. Its fur was this pale olive color and its mane was the color of an orange creamsicle. A pair of lime green eyes, just as big and as expressive as the other pony’s eyes had been, stared up at her with a bright and friendly smile. Rachel could only stare back, one of her eyes twitching and a sinking feeling coming to her stomach.
“No, no, I should have been watching where I was going,” the pony said with a flick of her head, causing her curly mane to bounce. “I’m the one that should be apologizing, not you.”
Andrew, with a chuckle, kneeled down and spread his arms out wide. The movement caught the mare’s eye, causing her to look over at him. She grinned as their eyes met, her tail flicking.
“Again, I’m sorry about bumping into you,” the pony said before making her way toward the young man without another word.
Rachel could see that the mare was struggling to contain herself. She could see that the muscles in her withers and rump were tensed. One could also see the desire on her face; they could see it in the way that she moved and the want in her eyes. The pony wanted to charge toward Andrew, she wanted close what little distance there was between the two as quickly as possible.
With each step the pony began to move faster and faster, a casual walk turning into a power walk which turned into a light jog, all in the span of a few feet. Finally, as she got within arm’s length of him, the pony lost all restraint. Crouching low to the ground, she leapt into the air and into a laughing Andrew’s arms.
Hooves intertwined with arms as their bodies came together. The pony buried her muzzle into Andrew’s neck. Andrew, meanwhile, pulled the mare closer against him, pressing his cheek against hers.
“I missed you,” Rachel could hear the pony mutter into Andrew’s neck, her mane bobbing with each breath.
“You saw me yesterday, silly,” he said as he rubbed his cheek against the pony’s.
“I know. But I still missed you,” the mare muttered stubbornly.
The young man smiled as the pony relaxed against him. There was a twinkle in his eyes as he held the mare close, his fingers lightly toying with her back. Just like with his plants Andrew’s touch was gentle, loving. His fingers traced the pony’s spine, parting and moving the fur, before he dug his fingers into the muscles underneath her shoulder blades and began to knead. The mare’s tail flicked as she let out a happy mewl, nuzzling herself closer against him.
Rachel had never seen that twinkle in Andrew’s eyes before, nor had she ever seen him smile like that. It was a happy twinkle, but it wasn't just that. She could also see contentment in that gaze, joy, excitement, jubilation. If there was a happy emotion she could see it in those pretty eyes of his. He was really, truly, fully happy, and he didn’t care who saw it. In fact, he wanted the whole world to see it.
And she couldn’t understand it. She couldn’t understand it at all. In fact, seeing this, seeing him holding this... thing like he was with that look in his eyes made her upset. Very upset.
“I… um… what?” Rachel took a few nervous steps backward in retreat. “Andrew…? Who’s this… pony?” she asked, looking around.
She couldn’t see anyone hiding in the flower shop. As far as she could tell the pony holding Andrew was as real as could be.
Shock, anger, and indignation filled the woman as she stared at the two. This wasn’t right. James might have been weird/stupid enough to try and go out with a talking horse but Andrew wasn’t! He was smart! He had common sense! He thought things through!
Chest heaving, she took a few more steps away from the two. These ponies must be doing something. That was it! There was no other explanation. They were doing something that was controlling men. Some kind of mind control, pheromones, something.
Andrew’s eyes flicked up at her as she placed a hand on her chest, horror as clear as day on her features. “Rachel, this is Junebug. The one that I was telling you about.”
Rachel opened and closed her mouth like a fish out of water. She didn’t know what to say. How could she say anything?
“O-Oh…” she finally muttered, looking everywhere but at the two.
“Junebug, this is Rachel,” Andrew said, looking down at the little pony in his arms. “She’s an old friend from high school.”
When Rachel finally found the courage to look at the two, she found Junebug staring up at her with those olive green eyes of hers. They were pretty eyes, she noticed, innocent and honest and without a hint of a malice. The sinking, sickening feeling in her stomach grew and grew the longer that she stared into them.
“It’s very nice to meet you, Rachel,” the pony chirped, still as polite as ever.
Rachel did her best to smile, though she felt that she wasn't doing a very good job of it. “It’s… nice to meet you too, Junebug,” she said as she fussed with the bottom of her shirt.
Junebug’s head cocked to the side. In an instant those big, pretty eyes of hers were filled with concern. “Are you alright, Rachel?” she asked with a flick of her tail. “You seem a little…”
Andrew’s blue eyes traveled up and down the squirming woman in front of him, finally noticing her distress. “She might feel a little awkward since she just asked me out for coffee and I had to tell her no because the two of us have that thing that we’re going to tonight,” he guessed with a bit of confused hesitation.
Junebug’s eyes lit up in realization. “Oh… yeah, and with me…”
“No, no. It’s not that,” Rachel spoke up, desperately trying to keep herself composed. “It’s just... that I’m a little… confused?”
Both Junebug and Andrew looked at each other. The two of them clearly looked baffled by her statement.
“Confused? What’s there to be confused about?” Andrew questioned.
Rachel bit her lip. “Well, it’s just that he’s… and you are…”
“I’m what?” Junebug asked, the picture of adorable innocence.
Rachel bit her lip even harder and tugged at the bottom of her shirt so hard that she was surprised it didn’t rip. “Well… you’re a… pony and he’s… a person…”
Once again realization flashed across Junebug’s face. “Oh! Anny told me that some pon—er, people might find us a little… odd. As a couple I mean”
“I don’t think you’re odd,” Rachel quickly insisted. “It’s just… people really don’t date… poni—” she groaned in frustration, no longer able to keep herself composed. “What the heck is another talking horse even doing here?!”
Though she looked a tad insulted, Junebug did not comment on the remark. Andrew, on the other hand, did not have the restraint that the little mare had.
“What the hell’s your problem, Rachel?” he demanded, frowning.
“What’s my problem?” the young woman growled. “My problem is that you’re looking at me like I’m weird when you’re the one hugging some big-eyed alien that came from lord knows where!”
Huffing, she threw up her arms. “Instead of doing what any normal person would do and call the cops when you saw this thing you decided to—”
“Junebug is not a thing, Rach!” Andrew growled. “ Look, I know that you’re a little broken up about what happened with James or whatever, but that doesn’t give you the right to come in here and start being a bitch to people that you don’t know.”
Rachel flicked as if struck. “Bitch?! I’d rather be a bitch than some weirdo that thinks it’s alright to date some smelly animal!” she screeched.
Junebug’s smile turned sickeningly sweet. “Which is why he’s going on a date tonight with me and not you, sweetheart.”
As Rachel sputtered, Junebug turned around wrapped her hooves around Andrew’s neck. “Are all human mares like this one, hon?” she murmured, nosing his cheek. “If my mom saw me talking to a stallion like that she’d beat the horse apples out of me...”
Andrew smiled at her, some of the tension leaving his body as he wrapped his arms around her barrel and buried his nose into her mane. “I’m sorry about this, June,” he muttered. “Rach usually isn’t like this.”
“You have nothing to be sorry about, Anny,” Junebug said reassured as she rubbed his back. “She’s just jealous that I was lucky enough to swoop in and snatch you up before she could.”
“You didn’t swoop in you filthy pack animal!” Rachel snapped, jabbing a finger her. “You had to have done something to him. There’s no way in hell that he’d—”
Gently loosening Junebug’s hold on his neck, Andrew abruptly stood up and stared at her. Gone was the warmth and happiness in those haunting blue eyes. There was only anger.
“About a week ago Junebug came into the store lost,” he, obviously trying to keep the anger out of his voice. “I brought her into the back and offered her something to drink since she looked thirsty and the two of us started talking.”
He took a step toward her, and she found herself taking a step back. Andrew was usually a very laidback and carefree guy, but with each step Rachel could see his anger grow and grow.
“I found out that Junebug here tends to flowers too,” He continued as he slowly drove her back. “So we started talking about how we tended to our flowers, what we grew, stuff like that. After that the two of us decided to talk about ourselves.”
“Andrew, if you’d just—”
“We talked so much, in fact, that before I knew it the sun had set and I needed to close the store.”
Andrew stopped just as Rachel’s back hit the door, his eyes narrowing. “When she asked me if I wanted to go out I said yes because I wanted to, Rachel, because Junebug is one hell of a girl—”
“She’s a horse, Andrew!” Rachel cried, stomping her foot. "A. Horse!"
Andrew look her up and down, his anger turning into disappointment. “Unlike you I don’t judge people by how they look. Horse or not she’s a wonderful, hardworking girl that I’m very lucky to have met.” Not giving her a chance to respond, he jabbed a thumb toward the door. “Now get out of my store. If you’re going to act like this then I don’t want you in here.”
“I, you can’t, I didn’t,” Rachel shimmered as Andrew turned away from her. “Andrew, I wasn’t—”
Junebug, who was no longer smiling, took a step toward her. “If I was you I’d listen to him, filly,” she said, chillingly calm. "Before you end up getting yourself booped.”
Rachel looked at Andrew, then at the small, colorful horse. Her eye twitched and she stomped her foot again. “You know what? fine! If you want to let this animal control you then I'll leave you to it!”
Throwing open the door, she marched through it with a huff. Spinning around and giving the two a glare, she then slammed it as hard as she could. “I hope that she probes you, you freakin’ jerk,” she muttered. “Probes you and feeds you to her weird alien babies…”
Peering through the window, she saw that the pony was making her way over to Andrew. She could hear the two of them talking, though the glass muffled their voices just enough she that she couldn’t clearly hear what was being said. The tones were gentle, she could hear them clearly enough to hear that. Gentle, low, caring, and even though it sounded like gibberish to her ears, Rachel’s chest tightened as she heard it.
Junebug, pushing herself onto her back legs, awkwardly stumbled over to Andrew and wrapped her hooves around his middle. She was a good deal taller now than when she was on all fours, but even so she was still a head shorter than him. That meant that, as he wrapped his arms around her, Andrew could place his chin on the top of her head as the two of them hugged.
They were whispering to each other as they embraced each other. Junebug was looking up at him with a smile, her eyes filled up with affection and… something else.
It was this something else that made Rachel’s heart seize up. She took a few steps backward, biting her lip hard as the voice in her head told her things that she didn’t want to hear.