Aloe groaned when the first sounds of the day awoke him. In this case, it was his sister waking up, the springs above his head jumping around. His throat was sore and his eyes were covered in gunk. A small trail of drool snaked our of the corner of his mouth, leaving a small spot on his pillow. Last night had hardly been pleasant. He let out a soft eek when his sister started climbing down the ladder. His hooves frantically flipped the pillow over and wiped the mess from his mouth and gunk out of his eyes as best he could.
“Feeling better, dear?” Lotus asked, in Equestrian this time, once she finished climbing out.
“A little,” he mumbled before smiling to her. “Thanks for... not ummm...”
She moved forward and gave him a hug. “It's okay, darling. I know how that must have hurt. I would never have wished for you to suffer like that. Do you feel you will be able to make it through the day?”
He grinned and nodded. “I feel, ummm... right as river!”
“Right as rain, dear.” Lotus turned and walked to the mirror, beginning to brush her hair. “I call dibs on first shower.” Within a few moments it was finished to her satisfaction, and she trotted to the bathroom.
Aloe chuckled, but once she was gone he quickly moved to the mirror to assess the damage. To his relief, aside from slightly swollen eyes, there was no noticeable effect. With a little extra makeup he doubted anypony would even notice. Aside from his sister. He then started brushing his hair, getting it nice and straight while his mind wandered.
He still felt a small amount of pain in his chest, but after his sister's tending and a good night sleep, it was more a dull, fading ache than a knife through the heart. Aloe glanced to the bathroom and smiled, he didn't know what he'd do without his sister.
When he got his chance to shower, he let out a happy sigh at the feeling of warm water washing away the fatigue. By the time he was finished, he felt ready to take on the world! The smell of breakfast was already wafting in from the hall when he walked into their bedroom. A little rule they had was first to use the shower had to make breakfast, so he couldn't help but feel eternally grateful for his sister's kindness in allowing him extra time to prepare in the morning.
He began with his eyes, applying his long eye lashes before gently batting them, making gentle kissing motions to himself. He leaned back and practiced his come hither look, slowly wiggling the lashes about before giggling. With a slight blush, he wondered if it would work on mares as well as it did on stallions. Next came make up. His sister had been the one to teach him. Just a little bit, too much wasn't good for the skin and wasn't subtle. Just enough to accentuate the curves of his face and draw attention to his adorable little nose. Yes, his nose was adorable, and he knew it. He'd even yelled it from the window at one time. To be fair, he had been a tad tipsy at the time.
Once everything else was finished, he got to work on his mane and tail, giving them a few gentle brush throughs, just straightening them, not doing too much because they were still damp. Finally, the collar and headband came on. He glanced back at himself in the mirror, letting out a soft sigh. He knew he looked adorable and he absolutely loved it. He did feel a tiny bit bad about being so vain, but no pony could see, so he knew that it would be his little secret. Besides, it made him feel a lot better. With one last happy glance at the mirror, he trotted away and made his way towards the kitchen down the hall.
His sister was there, humming softly as she cooked up some delightful breakfast burritos. The mornings paper was laid out on the table and a cup of tea, still steaming, had been placed in front of his chair. He sat down and took it, smelling the gentle scent before sipping the soothing liquid. It cascaded down his throat, relieving the tender pain from his late night sobbing.
“Are you sure you'll be up for today?”
“Mmmm hmmm. I'll go start preparing the shop once I've finished the tea. Thanks for letting me go second this morning...”
“I have no idea what you're talking about,” Lotus said with a knowing smile. “Breakfast will be ready soon. If you want to take it easy today, I understand.”
“I'll be fine. Throwing myself into work is just what I need. I, uhhhh... did you... tell them?” he asked sheepishly, his back hooves gently tapping together while they dangled over the chair. “That I didn't mean it? That I was sorry?”
“Yes. Miss Applejack stayed after to help clean. I told her you were sorry. She did express interest about how come it affected you so, but... I told her that wasn't my story to tell. If you still intend to pursue her, you'll need to tell her.”
His face turned bright red as he choked on the tea. After a few moments of sputtering, he pulled it away from his mouth. “I-I have no idea what y-you're talking about!”
“Dear. You just said that in Prench.”
He, somehow, turned even redder before lowering his gaze. He tried again, in Equestrian. “I, ummm...” He hated that. Whenever he got too upset, the words just cobbled together and he reverted to his first language. Lotus never had that problem, she'd always been much better with Equestrian than he had. “I just... she's not like other ponies and I don't even know if I really like her or if I'm just making up thoughts in my head because she, well, is nice to me even though she knows.”
“Mmmm hmm. And it has nothing at all to do with the fact she has legs powerful enough to buck you into orbit? Oh, and I imagine a nice kick too.”
He sunk into his chair. “T-there is nothing wrong with a strong, powerful woman. Besides, she's a lot of other things. Kind, compassionate, a shrewd business woman, loving sister. I'd think you and her would get along wonderfully.”
“Oh? Maybe we would. Perhaps I should ask her out.” Lotus flipped over the burritos.
“W-well maybe you should. She'd probably like you a lot more than she would me...” Aloe said with a small pout, scrunching up his nose.
“Oh dear. Darling, no pony likes a whiner. Besides, you had plenty of mare friends who appreciated that side of you in college. How about that, ummm, Strawberry Tart?”
“She was more interested in having a friend to go shopping with than anything else. She was just interested because we were the same dress size.” A light snort from Lotus brought a glare in her direction. “You know what I mean! Most ponies see me more as a... friend friend, than a colt friend. I just can't... do any of the things that a stallion is supposed to. I'm horrible at getting rid of spiders and things.”
Lotus snickered. “Maybe that's why you're so fascinated in Applejack. I doubt she'd have a problem doing most the things that 'stallions' are supposed to do.” She eyed her brother for a moment. “Why, she might be willing to try most the things a stallion would do. I've heard stories about some farm ponies, you know. Apparently they're insatiable. Not much entertainment out there on the farm, especially during the winter times. Well, except what--”
“I'm going!” Aloe shrieked in Prench before galloping out the door, leaving his tea half empty. He trotted down stairs and grumbled to himself. “The nerve of her! She gets on my case about teasing our guests so much, then goes and does that!”
He kept grumbling to himself as he trotted around the shop, opening windows, starting the equipment to give it time to warm up. Once he did that, he peeped out the door. Many mornings there would be a pony outside, waiting for an early morning appointment, usually desperate. This morning was no exception.
Standing outside was a pony that... well, he could hardly be called a pony. He was just a mass of muscles, every inch of his white coat, aside from his almost microscopic wings, bulging with them. His blonde mane and tail were hacked up, almost shaved off completely. The mere sight of him made Aloe take a step back and whimper, before slowly opening the door. “H-hello Snowflake,” he managed to say, his voice very nervous.
The stallion had never done anything deserving such fear. Aloe was just a little intimidated by ponies that were the size of three of him, and likely able to crush him with a single flex. It didn't help that the pony almost always looked angry and had a tendency to yell.
“YEOWWWW!” Snowflake howled as he limped inside. One look at the poor, limping pegasus made the earth pony gasp in horror. He knew that walk well.
“Oh, you poor darling! Not again!” Aloe said before galloping to the pony's side. “Lean on me. Oh, you poor dear. Come, come! We will do whatever we can to relieve your suffering!” He felt a little guilty now. No wonder the stallion looked extra angry today, the pain in his back must have been tremendous. “Tell me, what happened?”
“Guhhhh. WEIGHTS! SHOWED OFF! GAHHHHH!” Every syllable was filled with pain, making Aloe shake his head in pity until he was finally able to help the poor dear into one of their massage beds.
“Now just lay here, let's see...” He slowly moved his hoof along the ponies back, humming softly. It didn't take him long to find the troubled area and, to his relief, it wasn't actually serious. A few movements with his hooves began the process.
“GYAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” Snowflake yelled so loud the nearby jars rattled, but after a soft pop the pony went completely limp.
“There, better darling? I'm sorry that had to hurt, but, ahhh, sometimes it must get worse before it can get better.”
The stallion whimpered, but nodded. “T-thank you.”
“Good. Now, I'll be back in a few moments. Just relax, and lay still. You'll still need a bit more rest before we can finish, and especially before you should walk. Understand?”
“YEAHHHHH!” the pony said with such vigor it almost toppled Aloe over.
The earth pony chuckled and walked towards the stairs, his sister already halfway down. “What was that?” the mare asked, panic flooding her voice.
“Snowflake again. Another workout accident. That stallion is seriously going to hurt himself one day.”
Lotus sighed and shook her head. “Come along, breakfast is finished. I take it he left?”
“No. He needed a bit of rest. Realignment was, ahhh, a painful and draining experience. I thought he might appreciate the relaxation. I know I will enjoy having a full stomach.” He trotted up besides his sister with a smile.
After a delicious, filling breakfast the twins got to work. Massaging Snowflake's back was a slow, difficult process, namely because his muscles were like granite. Still, Aloe powered through, and eventually succeeded at his task. He didn't make any jokes towards the stallion though. He could never feel quite at ease with him, to afraid that one joke might turn the pegasus into a violent threat. He was overjoyed when the task was done and he could send the bulging pony away. “Whew...”
“You look exhausted,” Lotus said before holding out a towel.
“He's always a tad intimidating, rocks like muscles. Errr...” Aloe gently dabbed the sweat from his brow.
“Hee hee. I don't know. He always seems so sweet. His child is an absolute doll, as well. Shame about his wife.”
Aloe shrugged. “He really must stop showing off though, this is the second time this month. He's going to end up in the hospital at this rate.”
“I assume you lectured him about such dangers, no?”
“Err...” the stallion looked at the ground, gently poking the hoofboards. “I did... mention it but ummm...”
“Oh dear. Don't tell me you're frightened to tell him such things! Oh brother,” Lotus rolled her eyes. “Sure, yelling at the mayor for a half an hour about her brand of hair dye is no concern, but telling that harmless lug to stop hurting himself is too much?”
“That brand was a travesty and you know it! A few years and her mane would have been lost, beyond repair! And... and I've told him. Just... not quite as loudly.” He gently tapped his hooves together. “He... he reminds me of some of... them.”
Lotus stopped, and shook her head. “He is an absolute dear. He never, and would never, participate in such deplorable behavior. Not to mention none of them were that big. I'm pretty sure if you took just a few moments to get to know him, you'd find you have a lot in common.”
“He might decide to crush me like a can if he got to know me,” Aloe whispered under his breath. He trotted after her and looked at the schedule once he got behind the desk. It was going to be another busy day but, fortunately, no Rarity or her friends. He was certain he could handle things without her around. Most importantly, there was no Discord.
------
By mid afternoon Aloe felt like a brand new pony. All the anger and pain had finished leaking away when he spent the day tending to the needs of their guests. He loved the sounds and looks of ponies as all their suffering just disappeared under his experienced hooves. When he finally left the shop to go get lunch for everypony, he did it with a smile on his face and skip in his step.
So, as always, the universe conspires to ruin such things. He headed to a wonderful little shop, known for their delicious daisy sandwiches, and had just finished ordering their meals. It would take a while for them to be ready, so he had taken a seat, expecting a nice, relaxing wait. Instead, he soon heard a cough behind him. A gentle cough. In fact, it was so gentle most ponies would have likely ignored it or assumed it was the wind. But not he, no. He'd heard that cough a few times, quite a few times. He didn't even have to turn around to know who it was.
Settling in for what he knew was coming, he let out a sigh. “Hello Fluttershy,” he said dryly. Sure enough, a small yellow pegasus with a pink mane stepped forward.
“I, ummm, I-I hate to be a bother, err, d-do you mind if I sit here? I mean, I just saw you come in, and I thought maybe I could, ummm...” The mare looked down at the ground as she spoke, struggling to invite herself while also trying to hide from view.
“Please Fluttershy, have a seat.” Aloe watched the mare get into the chair opposite him, and sighed. He knew what this was about. Any pony would. Discord. Fluttershy was one of the kindest, most gentle mares in all of Equestria, not to mention one of the Elements of Harmony. She somehow could see the good in any pony, even when it didn't exist. For example, in abominable creatures like Discord. She was the one who had turned the monster to 'good', though Aloe didn't buy it.
“I ummm, I just, err, I-I talked with Discord and he--”
“Oh, I imagine that creature had all kinds of things to say,” Aloe said with a growl. He struggled not to raise his voice, though it was a fight he was quickly losing.
“Well, errr, I understand you and him don't get along. At all, but, I errr, I-I just wanted to talk to you about that. Y-you see, he's, ummm, h-he's not... like that any more.” With every word the pegasus got lower and lower in her seat, by the end her eyes were just barely peeking over the table. “I-I'm sure if you got to know him now, you'd see he's really quite sweet. There's no longer any need for him to be turned to stone.”
“Oh, I don't think he should be turned to stone.”
“Really?” Fluttershy said with a happy sqwee. She quickly sat up. “He'll be oh so happy to hear you aren't mad any--”
“That thing should be destroyed!” Aloe said with an angry hiss. “Torn asunder! Turned to stone then shattered, pieces to the four corners of the realm! A hundred, no, a thousand pieces!” He tried, but couldn't hold the venom back from his voice as he watched the pegasus wilt under his words.
“I-I'm so sorry. But... I-I think if you just gave him a chance. I mean, it was just a haircut, I-I'm sure he never meant to upset--”
“JUST A HAIRCUT?” Aloe practically howled the words and stood up. He blushed and sat down, suddenly aware of how many eyes were watching them. He shook his head. “Fluttershy, you're a dear. Really, you are. You're just too trusting. That thing is an abomination. It'll turn on all of us the moment it gets a chance. I know you're the element of kindness, but even you should be able to see where this is going. Something will happen, then he will destroy us all! You can't be friends with a thing like that. It's not possible!”
“I... I think you're wrong,” Fluttershy said before sinking into her chair. “I-I'm sorry. I just... he's not that bad any more. He's working on it, on everything. He's trying really hard to fix his mistakes. If you'll just give him a chance, I'm sure you'll see he's worth forgiving.”
“There is nothing that creature could possibly do to make me forgive him. Fluttershy, I'm sorry, but no. He's a monster. If you want to run around, putting your head in his jaws, then fine. But don't ask me to let that... that thing near me.”
“What if he--”
“Nope.”
“How about--”
“Nope.”
“But--”
“NO! Fluttershy, just let it go! I want nothing to do with that creature! I hope it dies in a pit, torn asunder by scorpions, knowing until it's last possible breath that nothing, NOPONY ever cared about such a cruel, sick, twisted creature.” He regretted the words almost instantly as the tears began to form in Fluttershy's eyes. “No, wait, Fluttershy, please don't--” But, it was too late. The pegasus got to her hooves and galloped from him, leaving him standing there as everypony just stared at him, glaring. “I was talking about Discord!” His revelation caused many of the ponies to nod knowingly before going back to their meals, though a few still glared. After a few minutes his food was ready and he returned to the spa, his mood successfully ruined. Again.
------
The next few days passed relatively smoothly. Rarity and her friends were giving him a wide berth, fortunately. However, his mind began playing little tricks on him. After upsetting Fluttershy, he began imagining things that Discord might do to... get him back. He woke up more than once from dreams where his bed suddenly snapped down on him, eating him whole. He kept thinking he was seeing the beast in the mirror out of the corner of his eye, or taking the form of a shampoo bottle when he looked away. It was quickly getting to the point where he was afraid to be in his room alone, and could barely fall asleep.
He knew his sister noticed, though she didn't say anything. However, he was unsurprised when the door jingled one evening and an all to familiar(and beautiful) earth pony stood in the doorway. Hat and all. He gulped nervously. “H-hello again Miss Applejack. Did you wish to make an appointment or...?” his voice nervously trailed off as he watched her. Though he knew she walked towards him in a normal pace, he swore she was moving in slow motion. The sweat gently glistened off her glorious coat, making her shine in the lobbies lights.
“Ah came here for you,” she said before glancing out. “Sorry, ah kinda had tah rush down here 'fore yah all closed. Didn't get time tah freshen up.”
“I... I hardly n-noticed...” he said gently, unable to look away as he swore steam had to be coming out of his ears.
“Come again? Ah think yah said that in Prench, sugarcube.”
Oh by Luna's flank he wished he could be her sugarcube. To be a gentle sweetness on her tongue and, ahh! Focus! “O-oh! Sorry! I meant, I could make you some tea? W-wait, you came here for mwa? Whatever for?” Oh, he hoped she was going to kidnap him away. Eeee, she might even tie him up first! She had the lasso on her hip!
“Well... it's about what happened a few days ago.” All his fantasies shattered.
“Oh.”
“Yeah. Now, ah reckon what happened in the past is your business and ain't none ah ours. However, yah gotta understand Fluttershy means her best. She really jus' wants everypony tah get along, even ones like Discord. Ah know he's not... exactly the most trustworthy ah creatures. But when yah go ahead an' just tear into Fluttershy like that, we gotta bit of a problem.”
“I... I never meant to yell at her,” Aloe squeaked as he sunk into his chair. He wanted to get mad, but Sweatyjack was just a bit too much for him to get mad at.
“Ah know. But right now, this whole things got yah more tensed up than a rattlesnake. Since ah reckon it's our fault bringin' the troublemaker here, it's our fault fixin' it.” She paused for a moment. “Well, mah fault. Rarity's still in a bit of a tizzy thinkin' you'll banish her for good.”
“It's... it's really fine, I-I've got it under control. I just...” He trailed off and lowered his eyes, chewing on his lower lip.
Applejack watched him for a few moments before shaking her head. “Listen. Yah already...” She paused for a moment and looked around, making sure no pony was listening. “Told me yer big secret. Ah haven't told anypony. But ah reckon whatever this is has got yah all chewed up on the inside like a worm in ah apple. Ah don't say yah gotta tell anypony, but ah am tellin' yah I'm here tah listen if yah need somepony other than your sis tah talk tah.”
Aloe slowly nodded, poking his hooves together. “Okay.” Granted, he wasn't sure if he really agreed or it was the power of Sweatyjack. She probably could have convinced him to switch to maple syrup shampoo with a look like that.
“Well, alright then. Yah ever wanna talk about it, jus' let me know. Yah all know where tah find meh.” She turned and trotted towards the door.
“No... I mean. Okay. I'd like to... talk about it. If you... if you have the time? Now? We have the kitchen upstairs, I could make some tea. I'd just need to get Fluffyhoof to watch the counter for a bit. O-or if you want to take a shower first.” He had to pause for a moment there, the idea of her doing that a bit too much for his delicate mind to handle. “I uhhh, we'll be closing soon. Maybe before you were done. You wouldn't be a bother, at all!”
The mare smiled and nodded. “Ah reckon that'll work out fine. A shower would be nice.”
Aloe grinned and gave her directions to the bathroom, watching her go up the stairs with less than civil eyes. He did look away after a few moments, but he knew that image would haunt his memories for a long, long time. He knew he wouldn't mind dreaming about it, at least.