//------------------------------// // Anger // Story: Last // by Alan Smithee //------------------------------// It was a bright, beautiful day in Ponyville, and it matched Simon’s mood perfectly. He was thinking about Rarity, his friends, and his future. What was he going to do with it? He was a human in a world of magic and ponies, and for the first time since his bizarre new life began, he could consider that thought without discomfort or distaste: He felt welcome in the land of Equestria; he felt loved. The warmth of the sun on his skin matched his heart. He was wandering up the dusty path to Sweet Apple Acres. The smell of the orchard was always welcoming. Rows and rows of apple trees lined the path, hemmed off by a simple wooden fence. Somewhere in front of him, he saw something fly above the fence and across the path, followed by a small creature wriggling under the fence after it. He heard barking. Simon jogged ahead just in time to find Wynona, the Apple family dog, bringing the thrown stick back across the road to a waiting Apple Bloom. “Hi, Sahmon!” she called out cheerfully. She waved him over with her hoof. Simon smiled and waved back. Wynona rushed toward him and wriggled happily as she sniffed his feet. “Wanna throw a few?” The young apple pony invited before offering the stick in her mouth. Wynona looked up at him and wagged her tail. He took the stick offered him. He reeled his arm back, and flung the stick as far as he could. The stick sailed far and true into the bare field opposite the Apple’s trees. Wynona shot off into the grass, and disappeared. “Go, Wynona! Go get it!” Apple Bloom cheered. She had climbed up the fence and was dangling from her forehooves. She was eye-to-eye with Simon. “Wow, Sahmon, you can throw far!” Wynona, having found the stick, was eagerly pounding her way back to the fence. She was so excited, she forgot to slow down, and sailed right into the fence with a loud thud. “Whoooa!” Apple Bloom shouted as she lost her grip on the shaking fence. She fell to the ground, with another thud. The hardy young Earth Pony filly arose from her fall, a little sore, and very red from embarrassment. Wynona rose, halfheartedly wagging her tail in embarrassment. Simon silently laughed hysterically. It was a perfect moment. Rarity hadn’t said when Simon’s new clothes would be ready. He wanted to visit her and ask. He stopped by Carousel Boutique and found Rarity, Twilight, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Fluttershy and Spike. They were carting a massive convoy of wagons, each fully loaded with hundreds of jewels. The girls were all laughing and chatting amongst themselves. Twilight took notice of him. She waved him over. Applejack started shaking the harness on her back. “Can somepony help get this thing off me? It’s rougher’n a dry dragon’s scales” Simon reached out and grabbed the harness. It was dirty, heavy, and mean-looking. He dropped it on the ground. The chains connecting it to the wagon rattled. The wagon squeaked rustily. The harness left a dark, greasy stain on Applejack’s coat. Twilight looked up at him, “You’re probably wondering what happened” She said. Simon nodded. Rarity cleared her throat, “Well, dear Spikey and I were out in the rock fields West of Ponyville searching for gems…” she began, “When we were suddenly attacked by a pack of wild, mangy Diamond Dogs!” Spike interrupted, “they grabbed Rarity and took her down to their underground caves!” “Spikey fought so bravely” cooed Rarity, nuzzling her cheek against his. “I ran back to Ponyville and got these guys to help” Spike said, gesturing to the ponies around him. "We ran to them rock fields faster 'n chickens from a badger!" Applejack chimed in. "When we got there, the Diamond Dogs had dug up half the field! There were holes everywhere!" Twilight added. "We tried to get down the holes, but the Dogs filled them up too fast. They came from every which way. It was horrible!" Fluttershy shuddered. "'n then little Spike here had the idea to bait the Dogs with a diamond he'd got! Led us right to ‘em!" Applejack said, patting Spike's head approvingly. "We followed the trail of diamonds to the Dogs' lair, when suddenly, a whole PACK of them jumped on us and tried to bridle us!" Twilight said. "MORE WORK HORSES!" Pinkie Pie rasped, in imitation of her would-be captor. She giggled at her own voice. "But then we bucked them off and sent those dogs flying!!" Rainbow Dash cheered. Spike said, "When we got into their lair, we found Rarity...." "...They wanted me to dig diamonds for them, and pull their wretched carts about like a common mule! I convinced them they would not benefit from such an arrangement" Rarity finished with a self-satisfied grin. "...They even let her have all these gems!" Spike finished, tossing an enormous red sapphire into his mouth. The team of ponies stood, proud of all they’d accomplished that day. "Well, girls. I have a huge order to fill. I shall see you all in a few days" Rarity declared, disappearing into her boutique. Rainbow Dash Dashed away, Pinkie Pie skipped away, Applejack moseyed away, and Fluttershy fluttered away. Soon only Simon, Spike and Twilight were left. Simon was still absorbing the story he’d just heard. He felt ill. That night, Simon ate dinner with Spike and Twilight. They sat at a long table in the kitchen and ate. Their meal consisted of a combination of steamed and raw vegetables. His hands were shaking too hard to hold his fork, and his stomach was too sick to let him eat. He imagined Rarity, chained to a wagon-cart while giant, slavering dogs ordered her about. He imagined Twilight, Applejack, and Pinkie Pie in the same situation. Their coats were stained, their manes were matted. They were trapped in a black pit of despair, and he was helpless to help them find a way out... He must have stared at his plate without eating for too long. Twilight moved closer to him and asked, “What’s wrong?” With the pencil and paper that was always nearby, Simon wrote, Today with Rarity. What’s going to happen? Twilight cocked her head. “What are you talking about?” Those dogs took Rarity as a slave. Aren’t they going to be punished? Twilight tapped her chin with her hoof in thought, “...Well, they lost all of their jewels, and I’m sure they’ll never harm Rarity or, hopefully, any pony after their experience. I’d say they’ve learned their lesson.” Simon could hardly keep his pencil straight as he wrote, That’s not right. They wanted to make Rarity a wagon-puller. They're evil, and they should be punished Simon breathed heavily as he wrote. His heart was pounding, and he'd begun to perspire lightly. Twilight’s hoof stroked his arm lightly. “It sounds like you're shaken up by what happened to Rarity. I think you should go talk to her...she'll tell you she's all right” He nodded in agreement, rose from the table, and left Twilight, Spike, and his half-eaten dinner. "I didn't mean now!" Twilight yelled angrily, too late for him to hear. The bell chimed happily over the door to Carousel Boutique. A smiling Rarity trotted from the back. “Welcome to Carousel B...oh, it’s you” Rarity’s countenance fell as soon as she saw who her customer was. She looked haggard. “I’m sorry, Simon, dear. I’m afraid your clothes aren’t ready yet” Rarity turned around and walked to the back of the boutique. Simon followed her. The back room was filled with piles of jewels from the Diamond Dogs. Rarity took her place in front of a bright, white, jewel-studded suit, to which she continued to attach yet more jewels. Simon sat down behind her and scribbled, Can we talk? He held the note for her to read. The jewels hovering by stopped in mid-air as she read. “Ugh. Now’s not the best time, darling. I have a huge order for Sapphire Shores that I have to fill by next week. I’m lucky I got kidnapped by the Diamond Dogs, or else I’d have lost a lot more time searching for jewels. As it is, I barely have time to get it done” Simon’s eyes bulged. You’re happy you were kidnapped? Again, Rarity stopped to read his message. “Well, obviously I’m not happy I was kidnapped by a bunch of mangy dogs, but considering what I got out of it…” The white unicorn gestured toward the immense pile of jewels. “...it could have been worse” She went back to work. Simon wrote furiously, You’re not even a little affected by what happened? Rarity groaned, “Simon, I don’t have time to stop and read every time you want to say something” Rarity stared intently and silently at her outfit, affixing a hundred jewels to it in determined silence before she sighed, “I’m sorry. I’m under a lot of pressure right now. How about I take a break, and we can talk?” She turned to find that he had left some time ago. Twilight read by the fireside; the glowing warmth of the fire gently caressed her back and lit the book in front of her. Her stomach was full from a delicious dinner. She gave a huge sigh of contentedness. Simon burst in through the door; his face was red. He stomped moodily across the room, to the basement door, and disappeared downstairs. He was upset about something, again. She gave a huge sigh of frustration. Simon fumed in his room. He had to do something. He wanted to make everything go back to the way it was. He felt distressed, unsafe, and....scared for his pony friends. Rarity was not who she was three days ago. Her experience with the Diamond Dogs had changed her. They’d changed everything. All his happiness and comfort was sapped away. With a shaky hand, he reached under his bed, and pulled out a leather strap with a matching holster. His hand was steadied by the comforting weight of his gun. He brushed the straw off his holster and put it on. He took the revolver out of the pouch. He looked at his gun. It was clean and shiny and well-cared for. He opened the chamber: Fully loaded. Nopony knew he had it. The door at the top of the stairs creaked open. He quickly slipped it into his hidden holster and zipped his jacket. Down the stairs came a hat on top of a pony. “Sahmon, Twilight says you're upset over what happened to Rarity. Ya got a minute?” Simon looked at her, rocking on his bed. He looked up to the top of the stairs where he caught a glimpse of Twilight Sparkle slinking away. Applejack trotted over to his bed, and sat on her haunches in front of him. “Ah know them Diamond Dogs can seem a little scary…” she tried to stifle a laugh under her breath, “But it’s over now: they’re not gonna hurt anypony anymore” Simon stared at her. “Ya wanna talk about it?” He shook his head.  “Well, if y’all need ta talk, remember we’re here for ya!” Applejack cheerfully ascended the stairs, and closed the door behind her. Simon reached into his jacket and touched his gun. Applejack meant well, but Simon couldn't stand the idea of dark creatures living just outside these ponies' homes....outside his home, kidnapping and enslaving and taking away their freedoms. He needed to make things normal again. Twilight entered the room. She smiled down at him awkwardly from the top of the stairs, and said, “Simon...you should know, Princess Celestia is paying a royal visit tomorrow, so… olease try to look nice, alright? Sleep tight, okay?” She turned away and left. Simon rocked himself. A royal visit would be a perfect oppourtunity to slip away from Ponyville, and do what needed to be done. He slept with his holster on.