//------------------------------// // Food, Water, Shelter // Story: Lost and Alone // by Everfree23 //------------------------------// Jacob sniffed at a garbage bag, and recoiled in disgust. Whatever was in there, it probably wasn't food. He was starving. He was thirsty. He was tired. He missed his family. So he dug his face into his mattress, and cried. After a few hours of crying, he sniffled, and turned over onto his back and stared up at the starry black sky. He traced the constellations with his vision. His eyelids half closed, and he smiled a tiny bit. Twilight loved constellations. Twilight had hurt him deep, and she couldn't be forgiven yet. Slowly, he drifted off to sleep. When he woke up, he was even more starving than he had been yesterday. His mouth was like sandpaper, and he shivered lightly with undernourishment. He looked at his coat. it was filthy, a greeny-brown color with dirt caked to it. "Oh my stars darling, whatever are you doing in the trash?" asked a posh voice. Jacob's attention shot up towards the voice. "And darling, your coat! Follow me, let's go back to Ponyville, I have a boutique there," she gushed. "and get you all fixed up! By the way, my name is Rarity, Rarity the unicorn.". Rarity stared contently at the filthy pony. Even though he was dirty, his blue eyes made his look incredible. She could picture herself walking down the aisle, with him at the end. They would get married and have a filly named Sapphire Shine. It would be amazing! "Oh dear god, thank you." he melted. He stood to his shaky knees and carefully walked beside Rarity. He stumbled a few times during their walk, and then, fell to the ground about halfway to Ponyville. "I'm so sorry Rarity, but I just can't. I'm too hungry, to tired, too thirsty. I'm going to see if there's any food around here some where. Rarity gave him a sympathetic frown. "It's okay, just go to sleep, I'll carry you with my horn." she said. Jacob nodded, and drifted off to sleep. When he woke up, he was in a bathtub, covered in soap. He dunked under the water to wash the soap off, then poked his head back up. After cleaning himself thoroughly, he stepped out and dried off, draining the bath as he did so. "Rarity?" he called, stepping out into the hallway. "Come down stairs, darling!" she called from below. Jacob smiled at her as he came down. Her curling, shiny mane was so beautiful in the light of the dusk stars. Rarity's smile made his cheeks burn, and her voice could grow a flower. At least that's what Jacob thought. Her eyes were so bold and hopeful. "Follow me, I made you something to eat!" she grinned, walking off the the kitchen. On the table was an amazing plate of hay fries, and a daffodil and daisy sandwich. It looked delicious. "Oh my god Rarity, thank you so much!" he cheered, jumping into his seat and plowing through his food. Rarity giggled. Then, a knock on the door. "Oh, by the way, my name is Emerald Spark." Jacob added between bites. Rarity swung the door open, and Twilight stood there, looking tired and distressed. Something was obviously troubling her greatly. "Hey Rarity, I'm here to try on the dresses you told me about. I decided I may want to buy one after." she sighed. Jacob froze at the voice. He had already eaten all his food, so could he run away to upstairs? Should he just sit there and act like Twilight didn't exist? Twilight trotted into the boutique. Jacob carefully walked out of the kitchen. "Rarity, I better head home. Hopefully I can see you again real soon." he frowned. "Emerald, there is no way I'm letting you go live in a dump in South Detrot forever. You can live here, darling, you can sleep in the first room to your right, that's the guest room, but now it can be your room." she smiled sweetly. "EMERALD!" screamed Twilight, running over to him and tackling him to the ground in a hug. "My Celestia I've missed you so much! Where did you go? Please Emerald, please come home!" she choked out between sobs, hugging him tighter. Jacob frowned an anger frown and shoved her away. "No! Rarity treats me like a real pony! Rarity is letting me live here, feeding me, and she even carried me home! She even let me take a bath! You never did any of that! Rarity, I'm gonna take a nap, thank you so much for all you've done." he smiled weakly. Twilight's sobs were muffled by her forelegs. Jacob flopped back onto the plush bed and sighed in relief. A bottle of water sat on the bedside table. He took a sip, and thought hard. He was thinking hard about Twilight and her lavender coat, purple mane with the long pink streak, glistening eyes, shining smile, he used to have such a crush on that pony. Until everything changed. Until she didn't want him anymore. Until he didn't want her. Until Rarity took him in. His mind was swirling. Fluttershy, Rarity, Twilight. What a choice. Twilight's sobs could still be heard from downstairs, and they made Jacob think even harder. A light knock on his door. Jacob grunted and rolled over. "It's Rarity." called a concerned voice. "Come in." Jacob called back. The door creaked open and Rarity stepped in, frowning. "Emerald, are you okay? Can I get you anything? Twilight just left, you can come downstairs!" she cooed. Jacob nodded, and jumped off the bed. He and Rarity walked down the stairs silently, and he sat down on the couch. "I think I'm gonna head outside for a bit." Jacob sighed. "Okay." Rarity breathed. Jacob trotted outside, down the street and - "SURPRISE!!!" screamed Pinkie Pie. Jacob screamed and leaped into the air. "Oh my goodness! I'm so sorry Emerald, I didn't mean to scare you! I hate being scared but being surprised is fun I love being surprised do you love being surprised because being surprised is the best so I threw you this AWESOME PARTY!!!" Pinkie yipped. The ponies around him cheered. Pinkie's smile suddenly started to melt down and she looked at Jacob, The wide smile plastering his face was adorable. His babyish face was so smooth looking, so cute. His wide blue eyes and his caring voice went together so well! The way his purple strands of has moved ever so slightly in the breeze made his shudder with pure pleasure. "Welcome to Ponyville, Emerald Spark." she gushed.