//------------------------------// // Support // Story: Love and Tolerance // by Final_Draft //------------------------------// Love and Tolerance My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic © Hasbro & Lauren Faust By: TOO S0BER --***::: Chapter 12 :::***-- Support Anger. Damned intense anger burned across my orange face as I glared daggers at Marcus's phone. This was not the voice I wanted to hear right now – in fact, screw that, it was a voice that I didn't want to hear, period. My vision went partially red and all I could see was the loathsome phone. “Hello...?” That voice repeated. My muzzle twitched, “Hello,” I muttered tersely. “Um, who is this?” she asked, and seemed partially nonplussed by my tone – problem was I did not give a shit. “A friend of Ashley's...” I replied back, and fought to keep my tone level for the time being. “Oh,” I heard some shuffling on the other end. “Is she... okay?” Ashley's mother asked, and I nearly missed the hesitant tone. And that did it – I lost it as I grit my teeth and growled into the phone. “And what the hell do you think!? Did you think she'd be fine being kicked out of the house like that!? I mean seriously, how can you even ask that!” If I were a unicorn, I'm certain my magic would have destroyed the phone on impulse – hell, the only reason I hadn't stomped the phone into disjointed junk was because it belonged to Marcus. There was a long silence on the other side, and I took the moment to see how Marcus was reacting. His face was fairly grim, but we seemed to be on the same page as far as the appropriateness of what was happening. Good, because if he tried to stop me from chewing her out, he was gonna lose teeth. I heard what sounded like Ashley's mom and someone else having a slight conversation on the other side. Despite the speaker, it was fairly difficult to hear. Normally I try to keep my impatience in check; nope, not this time. “Hello,” I said tersely, intentionally. “Er,” she stuttered, not really expecting me to catch her attention again. “I-I, uh, don't recognize your voice. Who are you, again?” the woman sounded fairly confused, tinged with irritation. Most likely that was because of the perception of a stranger chewing her out for her bullshit. “I'm Sam,” I reply back. “and before you ask, I know I sound friggin' different. I got changed into a freak too.” I added a semi-hateful venom to the word 'freak', letting her know I was not pleased, nor would I tolerate their crap. “Oh, hello Sam,” Ashley's mom sounded like she wanted to cheer up, but couldn't. I wanted to say I couldn't blame her, except that I could... I really, really could. I growled a little, “Just answer me this,” I paused, and took a deep breath, and unsuccessfully tried to assuage the growing burn in my chest. “why the hell did you do that to her? You're her mother. Just... why?” A long period of silence permeated the conversation as it came to a halt. After several moments, I glanced over at Marcus. He was watching directly – and I hoped we were stopped at a red light or something. My eye twitched at him, and a quick peek over the dash confirmed – yeah, we were stopped at a traffic light, thank god. Honk! A car horn sounded behind us, Marcus jumped and cursed lightly before refocusing on the road. I snickered at his flustered-ness, but quickly regained my steely loathing when the phone quirked back up. My ears strained to hear the sound, but it was pretty quiet. It wasn't words, just a kind of... was that sobbing? I couldn't really tell. My eyebrow arced incredulously, and my head tilted. No, that can't be sobbing or an emotion of sadness, no frigging way. “S-she's sa-safe...?” a choked voice finally answers. What...!? I huffed in sarcasm, “Like you even care whether she's safe or not!” I bent down to the phone, and growled out through grit teeth, staring heat beams into the device intended for the voice. “Threw. Her. Out! Remember? Do you want me to describe it to you? Want me to tell you about how hurt, and lost she is!? Want me to...” I trailed off as a pained wince escaped into the speaker. My head reeled back up, bemusement written across my fuzzy face. No! Don't even tell me she's regretful about that shit! Despite the turning conversation, my anger only doubled. Through a speaker a second voice, deeper and gruffer, chimed it. I couldn't hear what was said specifically, but the responses from Ashley's mother gave me the clue that it was her husband. “Yes... dear?” He probably just said some acknowledgement. “Who's on the phone?” “Um... Sam, one of,” she paused to sniff. “Ashley's friends...” I listen intently, and can barely make out the other voice. “Sam huh?” “Yeah.... uh, he was changed too...” she seemed hesitant on revealing that information. “Then get off the phone. Don't talk to any of those freaks. I don't want it to spread!” I had no idea what the man said, but the angry tone gave me enough information to go on. Everything seemed a little clearer; Ashley's mom apparently didn't want to do that to her daughter, it was all the father doing it for whatever reason. My cheeks burned, and I continued to listen balefully. Ashley's mother wasn't the very strong willed type. The woman was usually quiet, and she was usually pretty kind. She occasionally said the wrong thing; maybe she was kind of dense like that, but she was never outright rude. These facts dawned on me when the husband entered the conversation (kind of). “B-but dear!” she tried to retort back, and the volume lowered slightly – I guess she must have removed the phone from the side of her head. There was some shuffling, and it sounded like the phone was being jostled on their end. “Hello? Hello, what the hell's going on...” I cut off when the phone screen reported that the line had been disconnected. “Hey!” I shouted angrily, and jabbed at the device with a hoof. It was futile, my hoof made a poor tool to get the thing to re-connect. The screen filled with random numbers as the too-large tip triggered two, even three, numbers at a time. “Damn it!” I growled again, part of my fury was redirected at the phone and my damned pony body. I rose my hoof above my head, intent on smashing the damned thing – and paused at the last second. No, I can't do that; it's still Marcus's property, and no matter how pissed I got, that didn't make it right. I sighed heavily, then lowered the hoof raised in anger back onto the chair. After that, I just let my forehooves slip out from under me, and plopped down on the cushion, and stared at the car floor. My ears pasted back, and my anger towards those two devolved into depression. Her father sounded adamant. He wasn't going to let Ashley come back, and probably wouldn't even let her get her stuff. I wanted to believe that that would change, given some time, but my pessimism didn't really allow that false hope. For the umpteen-millionth time this week, I felt my eyes water. The SUV came to a stop, and I felt that hand on my shoulder again. I didn't look up, intent on eying the floor in my dour mood. He didn't really say anything, and simply rubbed my shoulder with his thumb. It did make me feel better... somewhat. But I wasn't the one that needed comfort right now; that belonged to Ashley. How do I break this to her? That her father more than likely wasn't going to take her back while she was a techni-colored equine, and that her mother, while she appeared remorseful about the whole thing, didn't seem to have the damned spine to tell her husband off? Will she even want to go back? I know I didn't want her to. Those parents, if they can even be called that still, were unworthy in my opinion. It wasn't right. I sigh heavily again, and drag myself up from the seat. I ask with more than a little glum in my voice, “Are we back yet...” __---***::: :::***---__ The car came to a halt in the front office parking lot. Though we didn't exit just yet, the two of us just sat there for long moments in silence, left to our thoughts. Right now I regretted this transformation more than I ever had since I first woke up like this. It wasn't so much for me, but for Ashley. My mother and sister were A-okay with this. Well, maybe not okay, but they didn't appear super concerned or despaired about it. I'd have to wait and see how Dad reacted later, and I wondered how much of a problem it will be. Although I doubt he will react with the borderline racism that Ashley's father showed. Her mother, however, seemed somewhat... regretful about the whole thing; like she was sorry, and I almost felt bad for giving her the third degree. Almost. I sighed, then sat back in the seat and stared woefully at the car's roof. Marcus fidgeted next to me, and finally turned off the SUV's rumbling engine, which had been sitting idle ever since we pulled up and parked. “Don't worry about it too much Sam,” he said plainly, laced with sympathy and sorrow. My ears twitched in response to his tone. “People... everyone... many of them simply cannot accept change. For one reason, or another. And unfortunately, it's far more common than I want to admit...” he sighed heavily, and then mimicked my lean into his own chair. My ears fold, “But... they're her parents...” I argued weakly, and lacked the strength to bring myself back up. He hummed disappointedly, “I know Sam... but there's simply nothing we can do to change their minds.” A familiar gravitational stone reappeared in my gut. I huffed sadly in response to the truth, “I'm just... thinking. How am I gonna break this to her...?” I turned my long-necked head to look at him, and he nodded with a frown. The man turns to match my stare, and replied, “Would you rather I...?” “No,” I lightly cut him off with a shake of my head, “no, I need to. I just... feel responsible for some reason...” I had no idea why I felt that way. I just did. Screw it, I'll figure it out later. I did not want to be the bearer of bad news... but it just felt right; like it should be me, so I could be there for her when the inevitable happened. He quirked his eyebrow at me, apparent puzzlement on his face. Marcus opened his mouth once to protest, but then closes it a second later. His response was just a nod. “Well, alright. Let's get going,” he announced, and clicked the door open. “Um,” I hold up a hoof, “Uh, can we just, uh, walk around the complex for a bit? I'm not really... ready to go back in just yet...” truthfully I wasn't. I did not look forward to being the bearer of bad news. There was a pregnant pause as he waited for me to finish. “Just... let's walk a bit. Two laps around the complex....” I mutter out semi-quietly, ears still flat against my skull. He smiled warmly, and nodded. Marcus exited the car and moved closer to my side while I fidgeted with the door handle again. Before I could finish, the heavy door popped open, held by my friend. I smirk, “What's gotten in to you...” I tease, raising my eyebrow. “You've never been this nice.” The man blinks, and his smile wanes. He looks elsewhere away from me, his cheeks tinged. The man's fingers tap rhythmically on the door frame for long seconds, then stop. Silence fills the air. Okay, not the reaction I was expecting. “So, how 'bout that walk...?” he asks after recovering. I blink, my confusion thick, “Um, right... okay...” Just like at the stores, I use my wings like a deployable parachute and glide my way down. Marcus snickered when I almost collided with the car parked next to us. Since we weren't going straight back to my apartment, we left the things we bought in his SUV for the time being. The complex was a lot more inviting during the daytime. The green shrubbery popped in the sunlight, long comforting shade cast by the trees. Although it wasn't all summer; the ground had begun to coat in  multi-colored oranges and reds from the falling leaves. A light breeze wafted by my coat as we walked, and I had to brush my bangs out of my face; it's so strange, having long hair like this all of a sudden. There were others around and about. A man in gym clothes running along the opposite sidewalk, an MP3 in his ears. Some kids were playing in the complex pool, the parents, I assumed, nearby on lounge chairs chatting while they splashed each other. I caught a tuft of a wild hair color in the water, a teal-ish blue that I almost missed on first look. Then a blue head with magenta eyes popped out a few seconds later. I smiled, there was yet another pony in the complex, and they seemed to be getting along fine with their apparent siblings and parents. The blue pony looked in my direction, and waved. Surprisingly, the other kids in the pool, as well as their folks, also turned and greeted me with a wave of their own. I smiled back, and rose a wing. Briefly they exchanged glances but took the new appendage in stride. Seconds after, one of the still human girls playfully tackled the pony, and they resumed their fun and games. A pang of jealousy clinched at my chest. Not for myself, but for Ashley. That pony's parents and siblings were getting along fine it seemed. Why couldn't she have that. And I guess that pang was for me a bit. Dan and I never got along, but now it was only going to get worse with me being a small equine. My mind felt at ease – everyone and everypony seemed to get along. Yeah, I knew it was just one so far, but still I maintain my point. “Hi Sam!” A shrill voice called out almost directly in my ear. “Gyaaaah~!!” I yelped in surprise and jumped halfway in the air, wings and limbs flailed up as I landed on the grass. I lifted my head up, and was greeted by the same pony I had chatted with the night before. Chloe again had a hoof to her mouth as she made a poor attempt to stifle her giggles at my expense. Once it became apparent that I was okay, Marcus joined in. My face a thin line of bemusement, I let my head fall back on the ground and just stared up at the sky, lightly cursing my so-called friend yet again. My ears perked as Chloe spoke up, “Hi Sam,” she stifled a laugh. “feeling better today?” “Until about ten seconds ago, no,” I smiled a bit and rolled onto my back on the grass to look back at her. I was actually glad that her cheery face showed up – I was getting depressed again. She looked puzzled a moment, but then caught on to my meaning, “Oh good,” the mare chirped. Marcus chuckled and I mock-glared at him as I stood back up, then gave my attention back to the other mare, “Chloe, this is Marcus,” I pointed a wing at the dark skinned man, “he's a good friend of mine. And Marcus, this is Chloe,” that wing now turned to her, “she lives in the same unit as me. We just met last night after you left.” Marcus smiled, and crouched down in front of Chloe, then offered a hand, “Good to meet you,” he offered politely. She rose a hoof and they shook. “Nice to meet you as well,” Chloe greeted warmly, and after a few more seconds she took her hoof back. I hummed happily, glad that my new friend and old friend seem to get along just fine. Chloe joined us for our walk, and Marcus revealed his penchant for the show. We learned from him that the 'regular ones' that didn't have wings like a pegasi or unicorn horns were called Earth ponies. He went on to say that while earth ponies could not perform magic or fly, they were usually hardier and stronger than that of the other two. Chloe commented that while on her walk last night, she had noticed that she did not get anywhere near as tired as she used to; adding that while she usually just did two or three miles, the night before she went nearly eight. The human went on to describe a few other fanfiction based theories and abilities. One particularly wild one was that earth ponies could affect plant life with their wills. That got a quirked eyebrow from me, as it sounded ridiculous but awesome at the same time. He revealed a few more different ones, but I was too busy wondering about the plant thing. Marcus paused and asked Chloe how her own first transformation day went, and I decided that I'd had enough. “Whelp,” I interjected softly. “I'll see you at the apartment, Marcus.” He gave a nod as Chloe paused her story and he hands me the keys. I took the ring in my wing tip, then trotted off towards my complex. It had simply been a while and I was starting to get tired. For some reason, going out to do anything always just sapped my energy; that, and I never really cared all that much about going out to places so often. Dunno why, I just didn't. I started to hum semi-happily as I made my way through the complex. My mood lifted somewhat from seeing Chloe again and for inadvertently introducing Marcus to her. I had a feeling they'd get along just fine. And Chloe was right in two ways. There were indeed more ponified in the complex other than that blue one at the pool. I saw a unicorn and an earth pony sitting on a bench outside their unit, just talking and discussing. Saw another in an open door, a pony inside reading a book – and a grimace on their face as they tried to turn the pages with hooves. I smirked a bit, for some reason finding humor in the situation. It seemed that ponified humans were fitting in more or less; or at the very least here at the complex. Second, Chloe was right about things looking up. It was a nice day, and nothing felt like it could go wrong! I smiled a little more, and looked forward to seeing Ashley as my pace picked up. __---***::: :::***---__ “Ow!” I spoke irritatedly as I rubbed my head. I had entered the door to my unit when the ground beneath me suddenly bucked. It wasn't that intense of a shake, but it startled me and I lost my balance. As a result my head bonked the wall. Nowhere near as bad as the coffee table yesterday morning, but it still hurt. I probably had a bruise from the table, and it throbbed more than it should – like getting hit twice in the same spot on the shoulder. I righted myself, and inspected the wall for any blood. It was kind of an unnecessary check, but I recalled my stained carpet. That was fairly unusual. In Tucson we never get earthquakes; or at least not ones powerful enough to feel their effects. That was supposedly only to happen elsewhere. The city wasn't on any fault lines that I was aware of. It only lasted a second, but I'd bet money that everyone noticed it. Perhaps there'd be something on the news later... That thought in mind I made my way passed the last few doors to my own. Fiddling with the keys, I muttered to myself, “Hope Ash isn't too bored...” I'd need more practice opening the door this way – it took a good bit of effort manipulating the keys. My frustration grew by granules until the lock finally clicked, and I pushed the door open. I hummed, closing the door behind me. I turned to the room; the television was on, and the room was mostly dark as the blinders were closed shut. I trotted over and manipulated the stick so the slits would let some light in. I turned back to the studio – and noticed the several dishes on the coffee table. Forks, spoons, knives – even some plates, bowls and glasses. I blinked, and wondered if I'd had any food at all left in my pantry and fridge. I frowned and did a double-take, something odd registering in my head. Every single one of the utensils and dishes were still clean. Not a crumb or saucy stain on any of them. I blinked again in surprise. What was she doing with all my dishes like this? My annoyance grew at what seemed like a pointless mess to make. I sighed when I noticed the shattered remains of a mug on the linoleum kitchen area, and I began looking around for more damage and mess. My ears twitched at the silence, and it slowly dawned on me that the gray unicorn was nowhere to be found. “Ashley?” I called out. I started looking around, and found no evidence of her. My concern began to grow by leaps and bounds. She wouldn't have left, right? She was still apprehensive about this pony thing. Although I had to admit I was more squeamish about going outside without clothes than she was. And she's been a girl her whole life... how weird is that? I would have chuckled at the thought if I wasn't pre-occupied with worry about where Ashley might have gone or what had happened. There wasn't a break in – the door was still locked and intact, and the only sign of damage was the broken mug. The window was nest; nope, secured and unharmed as well. My chest relaxed a bit as the clear facts denied my imagination the scenario of a burglar abducting the unicorn. So, what the hell happened then!? I got my answer a second later when my ears twisted towards the only other room in the apartment; the bathroom. It was closed, the light glowed softly under the door crack – and I heard what was unmistakably a sniffle. “Ashley?” I asked, and stood right outside the door. “You in there, Ash?” I rose a forehoof and knocked on the door a few times. The quiet sniffling stopped for several second. I waited patiently, and side glanced at something on the floor. The carpet by the couch and coffee table bore more red stains, joined by the tiny droplet when I hit my skull. The first thought chilled my veins. I shook my head in response, and said quietly to myself, “It's from the tomato soup. It's from the soup...” although I was not assured by my own words. I knocked again, a little more loudly and a bit more concerned, “Ashley, open the door please.” it was unlocked, but I wasn't about to just barge in. “D-don't c-come in!” her voice was recognizable, but choked with sorrow. I winced. “Ashley...” I started... There was a thump behind the door. My eyes widened in alarm, “Ashley!” Without another thought, and forgetting the door was unlocked, I turned and kicked the door open with my hind legs. The weak bolt tore away from the frame, the wood splintered and damaged. The odd, first-time motion nearly made me trip as I whirled back around to... Oh my God... I froze in place and stared, my eyes shrunk to pinpricks. She was indeed in the bathroom, but doing things that sent the coldest chill of fear down my spine. The gray unicorn was suspended in mid-air above the shower curtain rail, a poorly crafted noose tightened around her neck. In my peripheral, I noted several things. The sound I'd heard was the fall of a stool she'd been using to balance on just moments before. The white linoleum sported more red splotches – blood – and more of it dripped off of her left forehoof. Her gasping for breath snapped me back to what was happening. I reacted on instinct and galloped forward. Hurriedly I braced my shoulders under her hooves, and my own forehooves on the tub's ledge, trying to prop her up. In my haste, and already tired, my legs quivered a bit under her weight. “Sam,” she said, her voice raspy in the slightly loosened rope. “stop it!” “What!?” I nearly shouted, and twisted my head to gaze at her. “I need to do this!” she replied with a glare. I shook my head vehemently, “No! You're not committing suicide!” I said it with adamance, but there was a palpable underline of pleading. This was my worst fear, the thing I'd been dreading. Ashley's depression was getting the better of her, and she saw this as the only way. She'd given up. I'm sure as hell not about to! I grunted, her hooves digging into my shoulder. “No you don't!” I argued back. “Go away!” Ashley cried out, and tried to shuffle off me to her fate. I snapped my wings up, and cupped them around her legs and thighs, holding the unicorn in place. “No, Ashley! This isn't the way!” I shot back. She sobbed despairingly, and it would have broken my heart if not for the situation. “They don't love me any more...” she wailed, and leaned into the rope some more. I readjusted to keep the pressure off her throat. “What do I have to live for...” she asked, her tone suggesting there was no answer to be found. I grunted, her weight pressing on me, “Lots, Ash! You still have lots to live for! You don't need them.” I said, trying to nail the words home. She growled angrily as her eyes leaked more tears, “Like what Sam? How can you possibly understand what I'm feeling!? Your Mother still loves you!” I felt something tug hard on my tail, and noted her horn glowing. She was trying to pull me away so she could die. “I don't!” I replied truthfully, then added, “But I can't let you do this!” I hooked one of my forehooves on the tub's lip. “Let go!” Ashley reaffirmed with a strong enough pull to make my rear hooves briefly leave the floor, and I yelped. “No!” I shouted back, “I... I won't!” “There's nothing for me here!” she sobbed as she repeated yanked my rear. My own tears leaked, both from the pain in my rump and from the fear that clutched my chest if she were to succeed. “Don't be stupid, Ash!” Those words stung, but I knew it was just the despair talking, not the woman I loved. “Why do you care?!” she wailed again with a reproachful glare, “I turned you down! Why don't you hate me!” And that did it, “Because I still love you!” I screamed at the top of my lungs, never so scared in my life. She stared at me in shock, that angry look dissipating as well as the aura around her horn and my tail. A moment later and she bowed her head away from me in shame, shoulders heaving as she sobbed. “Ashley...” I stated softly. “this isn't the end of the world... I mean, there's still a lot to live for, yeah?” The woman-turned-mare didn't look at me. I felt so lame as I tried to think of what was the right thing to say. My heart was pounding. I knew if I didn't convince her now that she'd simply try again... and possibly succeed. The mere prospect had that chill come back to torment me. “Ash...” I started off plainly. “Don't do this... I can't...” I felt myself choke up a bit, the thought of her dieing just hung in my mind like an inescapable itch. “I couldn't bear to see you kill yourself...” this time she looked back down at me. I added softly, almost pleadingly, “Please...” She stayed silent as she studied my gaze while I examined her own, the two of us guessing at each other's thoughts. The uncertain fear clutched at my chest as I hoped my words would be enough to deter a follow-up attempt. Ashley was smart; since this attempt was thwarted, the mare would devise a careful plan that would succeed at a later date. It was her turn to convince me that she could be trusted to her own life, and if she failed, I'd make sure never to leave her alone again. I was not going to be the one to discover her cold corpse, or hear about it from Marcus or someone else. The simple fact was that I absolutely would not be able to take it. Ashley stared at me for long moments, before she finally spoke softly, “I just... don't know if I can do this, Sam...” I nodded. I had the same thoughts, even if they were in the back of my head. This pony thing was disturbingly new and the uncertainty was palpable. I forced a sympathetic smile, “Then instead of giving up, let's find out together...” I hummed after the question, and showed a gesture of trust by folding my wings back down. Ashley rewarded me with a small smile and a nod, “Okay...” her horn lit up again, and the glow ensnared the noose around her neck. The ropes loosened, and with assistance from her forehooves, she slipped it over her head. I helped her down, and then we tended to her slit wrist. “And... this...?” I gestured at the bandages, which we secured with some band aids. In the back of my mind I noted she'd gotten a good bit better at that magic thing. It clicked that that must be why there were so many dishes strewn about on my coffee table. Before the suicide attempt, she'd made use of the time to practice. Ashley frowned, “I... wasn't sure how to deal with the pain....” she answered pathetically with no small amount of embarrassment and shame. My response was a sigh, and after a moment I hugged her. My worry grew, the vision around my eyes blurring as water formed, “You scared me to death...” I sniffled. I heard her sigh, then with a bit of dejection, “I'm sorry...” Skepticism took over in my thoughts, and I wondered if she was genuinely sorry for terrifying me, or if she was sorry that the suicide attempt failed. As a result my muzzle curled in a frown and I was glad that she couldn't see it right now, her head facing over my shoulder from the embrace. I wanted to shove that thought away, scream and shout at it that it was wrong... But was it? I had no way of knowing other than being blunt and asking. Instead of pondering it longer, I just dropped the subject entirely – perhaps the answer would be revealed in time, and I desperately hoped it would be the answer I wanted. We held that embrace for quite a while – long enough that Marcus had entered the apartment after leaving Chloe for the day. The first words out of his mouth was, “Had a feast without me?” he sighed in mock-disappointment. “Must've been good... the plates are spotless.” I suppressed a chuckle, and wiped my eyes before parting from Ashley. Of course he'd make some joke, oblivious to what had occurred only a short while before. I studied the unicorn again. Part of it was judging her trustworthiness and the other part was admiring that face again. She was smiling, and it soothed some of my anxiety. I motioned Ashley to stay in the bathroom a moment while I distracted Marcus. Man, I thought with a mental sigh. The drama meter would have busted by now... how much more of this can I take before breaking down... With an adding thought before taking a seat, I added mentally. Again...