The same area lay before Twilight's eyes: the odd forest surrounding the still lake. The same obelisk stretched upward from the lake's center, emitting the same beam from its peak. "Twilight...", it whispered. She felt drawn to the monument, taking small, yet steady steps toward the lake. Again, just as before, she looked down into the reflective surface of the water, only now she saw nopony but Euclid. A shadowy memory occurred to her of the kiss they had shared that night, and the scene played out in the water. Twilight reveled in the display, but fell into disgust and horror when Euclid's face appeared to blacken and mould into a shapeless form. The Obelisk let out a deep, resonant tone that reverberated in her ears. "I grow impatient. Celestia must know of my return." A bright red shockwave erupted from its peak, throwing Twilight back a few feet. "Know this: whether or not you inform her of me is irrelevant. I simply wish you to have a fair chance at resisting me for a short while. However useless such resistance may be." The same feeling of euphoric trauma washed over Twilight as she awoke yet again.
***
"Ugh...how weird can dreams get?" Twilight staggered out of bed, groggy and grumpy. The strange sight of Spike's empty bed started to become a regular part of Twilight's usual morning picture. Even though the dream didn't mean anything more to her than the first, she couldn't shake this odd sense of dread that blanketed her mind. The voice of the obelisk still echoed in her head, not in words, but in its general tone. So deep and dark; it seemed almost terrifyingly hypnotic. With a few vigorous shakes of her head, these dis-settling thoughts evaporated into the usual morning routine. She started when she heard the noise of clattering pans in her kitchen, and half-ran, half-staggered downstairs. Her worry subsided after waves of a pleasant odor permeated her nostrils. She soon found herself within the kitchen, staring upon the somewhat blurry figure of Euclid juggling plates, pans, and culinary concoctions with his magic. He turned around and smiled warmly.
"Good morning, sleepy head. I just felt like making breakfast, and I thought, why not make it for the most wonderful pony in all of Equestria?" He set everything down for a moment, and walked over the drowsy, yet incredibly happy mare. Although some might find it somewhat hasty, Twilight hoped that he would kiss her again. The weight in her chest got heavier and heavier as Euclid got closer and closer, and eventually, her wish was granted. He leaned in for a second kiss, and this time, Twilight leaned forward to meet him. It seemed so odd. Their first kiss had seemed so perfect, so serene, so wonderful; yet this one seemed awkward and clumsy. 'Oh well', thought Twilight. 'It'll become more refined with continuous practice.'
"So, what were you so kind as to prepare me for breakfast, Euclid?"
He walked back over to his work. "Oh, just a bit of this and that. I threw together some stuff that I thought would go well together." He held up a spoonful of the material and tasted it, tilting his head back afterwards as if in thought of any necessary additional ingredients or seasonings. He pulled out a jar of some herb and dashed the dish with just a small bit of it, then returned it to its place. The morning commenced in this manner, happy, giddy, and just plain wonderful. The two sat down to a scrumptiously prepared meal, of course spending more time in infatuated conversation than in focusing on consumption. Twilight could care less about the food that sat on the plate in front of her, for the colt of her dreams sat just a few feet further away. Her thoughts floated over the other ponies and their acerbic words towards each other the night before. While this wonderful colt in front of her gave her the highest sense of elation she'd ever felt at the present moment, a shadow of dread crept over her heart. Her friends had never said such things to each other, not even when they had been corrupted by Discord. She came to the conclusion that Euclid was such a jewel of a pony, it was of no coincidence that mares would bicker and argue over his affections.
After about half an hour of intellectual conversation, Euclid stood up from his seat and started to head to the door. "I'll see you later, Twilight. I have some business of my own to tend to." He turned before departing completely. "I love you, Twilight Sparkle."
"I love you too, Euclid.", said Twilight, flushed and blushing. He bowed and exited the house. As he walked through the streets of Ponyville, every citizen therein found it absolutely necessary that he or she should give formal greeting and salutation to him. Shops had just begun opening their doors for the daily customers, and Euclid made sure to stop every single one, either introducing himself to the keepers he had yet to meet, or simply giving a "Hey there" or "How are you doing today?" to ones he already acquainted. He headed for the bridge that crossed over the circumventing stream and took the path leading to Sweet Apple Acres. Passing through the entrance gate, he inhaled the fresh scent of apples drifting in the air. He walked though the orchard until he came to the same red barn he'd seen the day before, and started looking for Applejack. This didn't prove to be a difficult task, as the sound of hooves against tree trunk echoed from a nearby location. He followed the constant report to the sight of a lovely orange mare bucking apples out of trees, as expected.
"Hey there, Applejack!", he shouted. Applejack looked up from her work to see him approaching.
"Oh, hey Euclid." Her voice reverberated with a melancholic tone. She looked at the ground in obvious shame.
"What's the matter?", asked Euclid.
Applejack looked up, seemingly on the verge of tears. "I'm so ashamed of myself. I've never said anything so awful to my own friends. They're practically my family!" With this outburst, tears began to flow forth from her green eyes. Euclid put his hoof on her shoulder.
"Applejack, it was just a fight. Friends get into fights all the time."
"I know, but not fights where we're trying to tear each other's feelings to shreds!" Her downpour continued with increasing severity. Euclid wrapped his arms around her and softly stroked her hair. She responded by throwing her arms abound him and sinking her cries into his shoulder. He could feel her shaking sobs against his own body. She did nothing to protest this unexpected, yet entirely wanted physical contact. She eventually calmed down, but she still clung to his frame, which felt much stronger and sturdier than she had assumed. He eventually pulled back far enough so that they could look at each other while still embracing.
"Don't worry about it anymore, Applejack. I still love you." His green eyes stared intently into the pair that now stood widened and surprised.
"You...you what?" Her receded tears of sorrow started coming back in the form of shock and joy.
In the same manner he had done with Twilight, his lips came forward and locked with Applejack's. Her entire person went limp for one moment, then immediately burned with interior passion, spurring her to kiss back full force. The act ceased as suddenly as it started, and the two stared at each other with deep longing. This time, Applejack made the initial move, and the two ensued in the same duplicitous act of ecstasy.
"You know, I've been absolutely dying for another wrestling match.", said Euclid after the second bout had ended, the statement being punctuated with his signature smile.
Applejack was sweating and shaking by this point, but she simply smiled back. Something inside of her, some old notion of loyalty and honor to her friends tried to oust the feelings of lust that surged through her entire being, but her feelings for Euclid consumed her. "I'd be happy to oblige, lover boy." Euclid looked up at the red barn atop the hill.
"I think I know a perfect place to have our match." He nodded his head in the direction of the barn, and Applejack giggled and blushed. The two interloped ponies made their way to the appointed location, and made certain to shut the door securely behind them.
***
Rarity stood over her finished work, scanning it for any errors. "Ah, this dress has turned out to be rather lovely." Having made the dress in an effort to make amends with Applejack, she wanted to be entirely sure of its quality. She lifted it it up with her magic, put a thin plastic shroud over it to keep it clean, and began to walk out the door. She was interrupted, however by the sound of sobs approaching her house. Before she could reach the door, a soft, meager knock struck its frame. A stifled, "Rarity", soon followed. It sounded like Fluttershy. She set the dress down on a table, went over to the door, and opened it to the tear-drenched pink-haired Pegasus.
"Oh Rarity, it's awful! Just awful!", she sobbed. She threw herself upon the speechless designer, and continued to heave out her sorrow.
Rarity began to pat her back in an effort to comfort her. "Why, Fluttershy, what ever is the matter?! You're positively drowning in your own tears! What's this all about?"
Fluttershy tried to hold back her crying, and made an effort to speak without stuttering so much. "I....I went ov-over to Applejack's place to....to try and apologize, and you just......you wouldn't believe what.....what.......". With this last word, she slurred back into a fit of tears.
"Now, now, Fluttershy, just calm down and tell me what happened. What did Applejack do?" Rarity was now eager to know what sort of atrocious act the farmpony had committed against poor, innocent Fluttershy.
"I just.....I just can't even begin to describe how bad it made me feel towards her! I never want to speak to her again! Oh Rarity! She and Euclid....were...."
Rarity's heart sank. She was terrified of what she might have to hear. She hoped with all of her heart that Fluttershy wouldn't tell her what she thought she was going to tell her.
Fluttershy sighed. "I walked up to the red barn, because I thought she might be there. I didn't see her, but her hat was laying on a stack of hay right outside the door. Naturally, I assumed she might be inside, so I walked over to the door. But before I could open it, I heard her voice come from inside, along....along with Euclid's. I didn't presume the worst at first, but when I listened for a moment, I could hear.........things.......things I don't want to describe.......coming from inside." Her eyes watered up again, and it took every ounce of her being not to break down again.
Rarity's cheeks were flushed with anger by this point. Her eyes were just as teary as Fluttershy's, and her lips were tightly pursed. She opened her mouth to say something, but nothing would come out. Seeing her in mutual distress, Fluttershy couldn't help but to start crying again, which set Rarity off into crying as well. The two mares hugged each other and wept for a considerable amount of time.
"Oh, Fluttershy! It'd would've been much better had that stallion never even come to Ponyville! How can such a horrid pony be the son of such an illustrious one as Fancy Pants?" Their depression was interrupted by the approach of said horrid pony. He had the suit he had bought from Rarity with him. Rarity narrowed her eyes as he got closer.
"Well, well, well! Speak of the devil, and I mean the DEVIL himself!", she huffed at Euclid.
Euclid stopped walked toward them. "I beg your pardon?" His voice seemed confused, but Rarity pressed on.
"Don't act all innocent of the matter at hand you dastardly wretch of a colt! Why don't you just take your little show on the road, and leave us simple Ponyville mares out of your foreplay?!" Her voice still shook with sobs.
Euclid started to shrink down from the yelling pony. "What are you talking about, Rarity?"
"You know very well what I'm talking about! You and that country bumpkin going about and trampling everypony's feelings is what I'm talking about!" Rarity could hardly speak without exploding into pure rage.
Euclid ruffled his eyebrows. "Rarity, I can't help it if you all feel this way towards me, and I'm sorry it's causing all of you such pain, but I won't have you going off at the mouth about Twilight like that."
Now Rarity was the one confused. "Twilight?! Twilight too?!" She was downright appalled. "Oh you bastard! You disgust me! Go back to your father and tell him that he ought to be ashamed to have ever conceived such a lowly, loose nag!"
Euclid's eyes burned with anger, but he held his composure and began to walk away. Before he left, he turned back to Rarity. "It really is a wonder why Twilight associates herself with ponies who speak so ill of her behind her back. If you think I'm lowly for loving Twilight instead of you, maybe you should take a look in the mirror and reevaluate who you believe is unworthy of love." With this, he departed. Rarity ran back to Fluttershy.
"We must find Pinkie Pie, before the little brute lays his hooves on her unsuspecting heart, too." Rarity and Fluttershy made off quickly for Sugarcube Corner.
Meanwhile, Euclid galloped around town in search of Rainbow Dash. She was easy to spot, thanks to her streaks of rainbows that she left behind. "Hey Rainbow Dash!", he called. "It's me, Euclid!" Rainbow stopped dead in her tracks and zoomed down to meet him. A look of repressed excitement crossed her countenance.
"Oh, hey Euclid! Whatcha need?"
"Nothing really, I just wanted to know if you could fly me around again. If it's not too much trouble, of course. I found it rather exhilarating." He smiled at the susceptible mare, who had a huge grin on her face.
"Oh my gosh, of course! Just put your arms around me, and get ready for takeoff!" She turned her back towards Euclid and assumed a stance that led Euclid to wrap his arms around her torso, as instructed. Rainbow Dash took off, and flew extremely high up into the clouds. She decided after about fifteen seconds of ascension that she'd gone high enough, and began to cruise slowly through the atmosphere. Euclid looked down at the world around him, which made him dizzy for a moment, but he then turned his head back towards Rainbow, who was looking straight back at him with dazzling eyes and a soft smile. She landed on a cloud, and let Euclid settle on top of her. "If you don't want to fall off of the cloud, just lay on me, and you won't." Euclid smiled at this obvious flirtatious action. He accepted her proposal and lay with his weight equally distributed over her body. The two were silent for a few moments, just staring at each other, both of them blushing ever so slightly.
"You know...", said Euclid, "...I really enjoy the view of the ground from here. I wouldn't mind staying up here for a little while."
Rainbow Dash's blush grew even deeper. "Not a problem, Euclid, just let me know when you want me to fly you down." She started to see the absolute ludicrous nature of her rash actions. She had spoken to this stallion only twice, both times within one day, and now he was poised over her body atop a cloud. She wondered what had gotten a hold of her senses, and why she couldn't help but be irreversibly attracted to Euclid. Too embarrassed to speak, though, she remained silent, even as he made the move to kiss her. The feelings of desire inside of her inflamed as his lips met with hers, yet unlike Applejack, her sense of discomfort didn't altogether vanish. In fact, the way her feelings surged made her feel even more uncomfortable, and she tried to pull back from the kiss. Euclid stared at her in shock and surprise.
"What's the matter, Rainbow?" His voice sounded even more like milk and honey than it had before the kiss.
"Oh, nothing." Her eyes couldn't seem to meet with his. "I just don't feel like now's the right time."
His eyes were constantly searching for contact with Rainbow's. "Look at me, Rainbow Dash." She indulged herself one moment of eye-to-eye contact with Euclid, but in that one moment, her feelings overcame her sense of rationale. The deep green, beautiful sea that surged behind his stare swelled into her soul like the waves of an oncoming tide. She pulled him in for a kiss this time, and the satisfaction she derived from it completely quelled any resistance she previously held. After quite a few hours of pecking and cuddling with each other, the two lovestruck ponies descended the sky and landed on the ground in front of Twilight's house. Euclid looked inside to see that Twilight was staring out the window, and had happened to notice them. He gave her a smug smile, reached his hoof behind Rainbow's head, and pulled her in for a long, drawn-out kiss. Rainbow smiled and flew off after telling Euclid that she'd be seeing him around. Twilight couldn't believe her eyes. Her heart was torn in two pieces, and completely trampled by this heartless, careless colt she had dared to hope for in love. Euclid smiled at her, and began to walk down the road to his house. She tore herself away from the window and began to throw books off of the shelves, and collapsed onto the floor, shaking and shuddering with heaves and sobs of tears. She looked out her window, up into the stars. The billions of twinkling little specks of light offered some form of comfort, but it was choked out by the black void that lay just behind them. If only Spike were here to comfort her, she thought. He'd be able to snap her out of this miserable state, and be able to talk some sense into her. She'd only known him for two days, anyways, so why was she crying so heavily over his deceptive affections? Why did she love him with her entire being without even entirely knowing who he was? None of these thoughts comforted her in the least bit.
"Why......why did I have to fool myself into thinking that somepony would actually love me? Think next time, Twilight! THINK!" She yelled and chastised herself in this manner until the sun fell behind the horizon. Alone, dilapidated on the hard, wooden floor, Twilight looked back on her past, seeing no moment of greater longing nor hope than Euclid's kiss had given her. Now, that memory lay in tatters, along with her feelings, her resolve, and her air of confidence. The darkening sky started to take its toll on the poor mare, and she tried despondently to keep herself from drifting into sleep, but the atmosphere of nighttime overtook her. Nodding into a half-dream, she heard a voice that seemed distant, and very, VERY familiar.
"Twilight, Twilight, Twilight. You knew this would happen, yet you proceeded with daft intentions and a weak-willed heart. I could say that I know how you feel, but let's face it: you and I both know that this would never happen to someone as illustrious as myself. So why do you do this to yourself, my dear? Why do you persist in being these pony's friend when all they do is make your life miserable? I'll give you some good advice, so you'd better listen up. When a deceptive lover chooses one of your peers, why not get revenge instead of wallowing in tears?" A flamboyant laugh soon followed.