//------------------------------//
// Motivations 
// Story: Tales of Troubled Teens 
// by ActivistVictor 
//------------------------------//

Monday August 17, 3:35 PM



Pocket Pair and Applejack walked out of the building in utter silence. Both of them wanted to say something, but due to the gravity of the situation both of them were at a loss as to what exactly it was that they did want to say. Eventually however, Applejack couldn't hold it in anymore and turned to Pocket Pair. "AAAARGH," she groaned, "DAMN IT P PAIR! WHY DID YA'LL HAVE TO GO AND DO SOMETHIN LIKE THAT! Ah told ya the dangers of messin with that girl clear as day. AH mean ah  knew ya really wanted to talk to her, but ah thought maybe, just maybe, if ah talked some sense to ya and showed ya how dangerous what ya'll were gettin into was and helped ya find another way to handle the situation,  an intelligent person like you would see the error of yer choice and decide to take a different course of action. But did ya'll listen? NO, like a stubborn faggot ya'll went ahead and talked to Sunset anyways, and just like ah knew was gonna happen she turned ya down and caused ya to lose yer temper and call her out! And now, because ya'll dared to challenge her,  she's swore year long revenge on ya and will stop at nuthin to make yer life miserable in every way possible. So tell me P Pair,  Was it worth it to talk to her even though ah told ya not to?" She said getting in his face, "WAS IT!"



"Alright, ALRIGHT, I GET IT!!!" Pocket Pair shouted back at her pushing her off of him. "Like always, i'm wrong and you're right. SO ha ha Applejack, you get to say I told you so like you wanted to this whole time. You win, I lose, just like it always is for me!" Pocket Pair said, before a worried look crossed his face and he said "She isn't really going to ruin me ruin me for what I said is she Applejack?"



"P Pair," Applejack said, "Ah could try and sugarcoat it for ya and tell ya everything's gonna be peachy keen, but ah think the far better thing for me to do it just pony up and tell ya the truth. So Ah'll lay it to ya straight P Pair,  Yer in manure, REAL deep manure. What you said to Sunset, while true and clever, was something Sunset perceived as a challenge to her iron like rule of Canterlot High, and Sunset is NOT  the type of person who is gonna take such behavior against her lyin down. She'll use everything in her fancy repertoire of manipulation to get under yer skin, find out your deepest darkest fears and secrets and tell the whole school abou them, and make your life a living hell to the best of her ability by isolatin you from everyone and making you more alone than ya have ever been."



Pocket Pair nervous beyond description at the scenatrio Applejack laid out for him,  then turned to her and asked her "You're not 100% positive about this being what she'll do right? I mean theres still a chance I could hit a runner runner flush and win in the end isn't there?"



"P Pair, ah'm sure as apples have cores that's what Sunset is gonna do to ya fer standing up to her like that." Applejack said, "After all, ya'll can't suck out against someone who already holds all the cards."



Pocket Pair, still hoping he could find some doubt in Applejack, asked her "And how do you know this is what she does to people anyways? I mean I haven't seen anyone stand up to her since I've gotten here so it's not like you have an example to draw this theory from do you?"



"P Pair, how ah know aint important," Applejack replied. "What's important is THAT ah know." 



"But HOW do you know Applejack?" Pocket Pair asked again hoping she had some doubt. "Do you personally know someone she did that to in the past or something?"



What?" Applejack said turning away and getting defensive. "No! Ah don't know anyone she did that to!"Of course not!" 



"But you must know SOMEONE right?" Pocket Pair said, " I mean if you that sure of yourself..."



"Ah'm that sure of mahself because ah KNOW Sunset!" Applejack said. "Now can ya'll let the issue drop so we can focus on more serious things!"



"I guess..." Pocket Pair said, "But I still want to know, how do you know this? I mean if you don't know anyone then maybe there's a chance you're wrong..."



"P Pair, ah aint wrong! Now stop askin me!", Applejack said getting angry, "Ah told ya what ya wanted to know so just let the issue drop!"



"I know, but it still seems..." Pocket Pair said.



"Dangit, ah'm warning you!" Applejack said getting enraged.



"... but... I" Pocket Pair tried to continue before Applejack cut him off.



"GOD DANGIT P PAIR!" Applejack said suddenly turning towards him and snapping at him. "Just stop askin me already! Ah told ya what ya wanted ta know and that aint gonna magically change just because ya'll keep pesterin me about it. So please STOP ASKIN ME WILL YA?"



"Hhmph, maybe" Pocket Pair said turning away, hurt at her outburst at him.



"Look, ah'm sorry ok!," Applejack said putting a hand on his shoulder, which he promptly brushed away "IT's just  we got FAR more important things to focus on right now, such as the fact that Sunset is gonna pull out all the stops to make yer life a livin hell if we dont do somethin to stop it."



"Yeah, you're know what, you're right." Pocket Pair said, before he reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell phone.



"What in tarnation are ya'll doin?!" Applejack said.



'Playing poker," Pocket Pair said opening his favorite poker app.



"And how on Earth can ya'll  think about playing poker at a time like this?" Applejack asked incredulous.



"Oh I can't really," Pocket Pair said, "I'm sure that I'm much too flustered to play rationally right now. But it is on my bucket list to play in the high seas casino and my bankroll isn't going to build itsself."



"Bucket list?" Applejack said. "P Pair, why mention a bucket list, ya'll aint gonna die or nuthin."



"Oh yes I am," Pocket Pair said as he put all his earnings on the table, "From what you said to me about what Sunset is gonna do I'm gonna die a slow and painful death over the course of the rest of this year so I better get started on my life goals before that time comes."



“Woah woah woah now!?" Applejack said taking his phone from him. 



"HEY, GIVE THAT BACK!" Pocket Pair shouted at her.  



"Not until you listen to what ah gotta say," Applejack said, "P Pair, ya'll are NOT dyin this year."



“But I am going to die Applejack,” Pocket Pair said. Even if she doesn't drive me to commit suicide, she WILL drive me to go into ANOTHER depression and lose all drive to do anything, thus rendering me dead inside. Dead.. DEAD!!!" 



“P Pair?" Applejack said.



"DEAD I TELL YOU DEAD!?!?!?" Pocket Pair said garbbing his head and begining to rock back and forth.



"P Pair? P PAIR! Hey! Snap out of it!" Applejack said grabbing him and shaking him to get his attention.



"Huh, what?" Pocket Pair said confused.



"P Pair, listen to me," Applejack said looking into his eyes, "Ya'll are NOT gonna die!"



“And how can you be so sure huh?” Pocket Pair said. “I've already lived through most of my life without friends or hope and it's done a number on me.  And now that I might finally be escaping some alpha bitch wants to throw me headlong right back in there?! I CAN'T go back to that dark place again, I just CAN'T!"



"And ya'll WON'T go back there P Pair," Applejack said "Not if ah have anything to say about it."



"And just what are YOU gonna do huh Applejack?" Pocket Pair said. "What can you do or say that will prevent Sunset from bringing her wrath down on me in full force? You said yourself she will pull out all the stops to make sure my life is miserable!"



"You're right, ah did say that," Applejack responded, "And ah'll admit there aint much ah personally can do to physically stop Sunset from goin after ya if that's what she decides she wants to do. But ah can promise ya this! No matter what happens, no matter how rough things get, no matter what stops Sunset pulls, ah'll have yer back P Pair."



"Uh huh, sure," Pocket Pair said sarcasticaly, "I TOTALLY believe you."



"P Pair, ah'm serious!" Applejack said annoyed. "Yer mah best friend, and ah aint gonna bail on ya!"



"Heh, sure you are, and I'm the pope." Pocket Pair said sarcastically. 



"Gosh dangit P Pair, why don't ya believe me?" applejack said annoyed.



"Oh I think you know FULL WELL why I don't believe you!" Pocket Pair said.



"No ah don't!" Applejack  said. "Hence why ah'm askin!"



"Oh yes you do," Pocket Pair said. "You're just asking because you want to play dumb, and act innocent so I let my guard down. WELL IT WON'T WORK!"



"Gosh dangit P Pair, listen to yerself!" Applejack said. "Ya'll really think ah got the time an motivation to come up with so convoluted a scheme considerin ah get absolutely no benefit from doing so to you?"



"Well..." Pocket Pair said, "I don't know."



"Exactly," Applejack said, "So since ah aint got the time or motivation to do that clearly ah'm not aware of the reason why ya'll don't view me as a friend. So will ya'll just please tell me why ya'll think that way about me already?"



"Alright fine!" Pocket Pair said. "You want to hear my reasoning, well then listen up! I don't believe you because EVERYONE in my life who has ever said they are my friend or will have my back has failed me in the end. Oh sure they SAY they'll have my back and support me, but then, when the chips go in the middle and it's time for them to back up their statement,  ALL THEY HAVE IS FOUR HIGH, showing once again they were just full of shit the whole time, and No one, and I repeat NO ONE,  has ever deviated from that sadistic cruel plan. So given the fact that i've been putting up with this for years,  what makes YOU think you've earned the right for me to believe you at face value? Huh Applejack?"



Applejack then sighed and said to him, "P Pair, ah'm sorry aint no one has had your back. Ya'll want friends, it's clear that's the case, and ah'm sorry so many people have let ya down and turned such a simple desire into a lifelong struggle for ya. But ah'm different P Pair."



"Oh yeah," Pocket Pair said bitterly, "And how the HELL is that the case?"



"Because," Applejack said,  "Ah CAN be counted on, ah do have yer back, and  ah'm gonna try my damnedest to prove that to ya every day from now on, startin with helpin create a plan of action to fix this situation ya'll have gotten into and making it so Sunset doesn't inflict too much pain."



“Oh really?” Pocket Pair said dejectedly. "And just what do you supposed I do about this situation then huh?  Am I supposed to just hide and hope she can't find me for the rest of the year?"



"No," Applejack said, "Ah mean ya'll could do that but it sure as sugar aint gonna work. So instead, what ah suggest ya do is tell yer parents about this issue as soon as ya get home and see if they can't help ya out."



"My parents?" Pocket Pair said shocked.



"Yes, them," Applejack said, "If you tell them then they can tell the school about this bullyin issue and Sunset will be under eyes more watchful than a hawk's, makin it much more difficult to even try anything and nearly impossible for her to get away with it."



“Ok, Applejack," Pocket Pair said,  "I'm going to try and put this as gently as possible. THAT IDEA SUCKS! My parents never listen to me about anything and right now my mom is pissed at me for calling her a bitch in passing this morning. What motivation would they posibly have to help me?"



“Because they're yer family P Pair, and families help each other out no matter what." Applejack said.



"Heh, sure they do." Pocket Pair said cynically, "That's why the mob family's way of helping people out who get into trouble it to make them sleep with the fishes."



"P Pair, come on!" Applejack said, "Do ya'll really think yer family is gonna respond to ya tellin em yer in trouble by killin ya and dumpin yer body in a river?"



"No, but they still won't listen!" Pocket Pair said, "After all, they never listen to anything else I say!"



"P Pair, ah know yer family and ya aint on the closest of terms," Applejack said, "But ah still think yer wrong about them not carin for ya at all. And in any case it can't hurt to at least try and talk to them now can it?"



"Maybe not," Pocket Pair said skeptically.



"Good," Applejack said, "So will ya promise me ya'll will at least try and talk to them?" Applejack asked as they approached the walk in front of Pocket Pair's house.



“I... I guess so..." Pocket Pair said. 



“Good," Applejack said as he separated from her turned down his walkway. Pocket Pair then waved good bye to Applejack  and  said "See you later I guess. If I live long enough that to do so thatis."



"See ya tomorrow P Pair," Applejack said, "And ah promise you, ah aint gonna let ya down, and Sunset AINT gonna win this fight" Applejack said as she turned away and walked down the block.



Pocket Pair then turned around,  opened the front door and closed it behind him before he walked into the kitchen.



"Well well well, look who's home?" His dad quickly said as he entered the kitchen.



“Oh, hey dad," Pocket Pair said, "Listen, we need to talk about something real quick..."



“Yes indeed we do,” his dad said, “Namely the fact that you called your mother a bitch this morning."



“Oh heh heh yeah, about that...,” Pocket pair said, "The thing is, what I have to discuss is slightly more. important than...”



“What's IMPORTANT," His dad said cutting him off, "Is that you apologize to her right now for getting out of line at her again!"



“Excuse me?" Pocket Pair said agitated. “ And why should I apologize? It's not like I just said that for fun, she provoked me!"



“Maybe so," His father said, “But regardless, She's your mother and you need to respect her, and if you don't aplogize to her there ARE going to be consequences."



"And why does SHE garner unconditional respect?" Pocket Pair said angrily, "Just because she's older than me?"



“Yes, I mean no, I mean that's not the point," His dad said. "The point is you cannot call your mother those things and you need to apologize for saying them to her RIGHT NOW!"



"Oh yeah," Pocket Pair said, "Well guess what! I Won't apologize! Anyone who is going to play a stupid age trump card to get out of being held responsible for their instigating behavior towards me and then turn around and expect me to kiss their boots is not going to get anything from me except a verbal lashing!"



"Ok, so you wanna be that way?" his dad said angrily, "Well then go up to your room. You need to think about what you'done and don't even think of coming back out until you have. Got it?”



“Yeah, whatever, it’s better than being down here,” Pocket Pair said as he headed upstairs. As he entered his room, he said “Well THAT couldn't have gone worse!"



“Mow ow,” Princess said from his bed.



“Oh, my parents just used the age trump card on me AGAIN, what else is new?" Pocket Pair said. "And to make matters worse, that isn't even the biggest of my problems right now."



"Mow ow?” Princess said.



“Can I talk about it later?" Pocket Pair said. "Right now I'm so angry I can't even think straight, and I think I need to just put my head down and relax for a little while before I do anything else." he said before he laid down next to Princess and closed his eyes.



………………………………………..



Applejack walked away form Pocket Pair’s house and said, "Well, now that P Pair is gonna talk to his parents about this whole Sunset Shimmer issue, ah think it's high time to have a little 'chat' with that British boy about what happened today." she said before she whipped out her phone and dialed Ralph up.



After the phone ringed a few times, Ralph picked up and said "Oh, hello Applejack love, it's so good to hear from you calling me on  the phone. To what do I owe the pleasure of this call?"



“Oh nuthin," Applejack said dodging the question. "Ah just wanted to have a little chat with ya and discuss what Pocket Pair did right after school today."



"OH boy, what is it now," Ralph said irritated, "ANOTHER attention scheme he forced you to listen to?"



“Nope, not exactly," Applejack said, “He actually up and talked to someone,  someone with bacon hair, a leather jacket, and a BAD attitude, does that ring any bells in yer head?"



“Oh no," Ralph gulped, "YOu don't mean Sunset Shimmer do you?"



"Clever boy Ralph," Applejack said "Right after school he up and talked to Sunset Shimmer and actually asked her out, and do you know what she said?"



"Heh, do I even need to ask?" Ralph said smartly, "How long did it take for her to turn him down, ten seconds flat?"



"Oh, not long at all," Applejack said, "And CERTAINLY no longer than it took for her to insult him causin him to lose his temper, him to call her out, and her to respond by swearing eternal revenge on him for his outburst!" Applejack shouted into the phone.



"Wait, what?" Ralph said.



Applejack, ignoring his question, shouted into the phone again. "Ah told ya, AH TOLD YA, he wasn't sayin that stuff fer attention ya stubborn faggot, but did ya'll listen to me? No! Instead, ya'll just HAD to go through with that stupid bet of yers anyways to prove some stupid point, and now, P Pair is shapin up to have the worst yer of his school career BAR NONE!"



"Oh geez," Ralph said mind blown, "That's messed up!"



"Yeah, it is messed up!" Applejack said. "And because YOU were a direct cause of this mess with your stupid $100 bet, YOU are gonna help me and P Pair DISCUSS this issue so we can come up with a plan of action to minimize the damage."



"Uh, I don't know about that..." Ralph said sheepishly.



"YA'LL DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT?!??!" Applejack shouted, "Just who in the hay do ya'll think you are? IF ya'll hadn't taken him up on that stupid bet none of this woulda happened, so it's time for ya to own up to yer mistakes and help fix em fer once!"



"Listen, Applejack, I'd love to do that and all..." Ralph said. " I mean don't get me wrong, it's not like I WANT Sunset aiming her wrath at him or anything, but I DON'T think I should be expected to put MYSELF at risk by planning to oppose Sunset just because Pocket Pair chose not to keep his mouth shut."



"DAMNIT RALPH." Applejack shouted, "YER HIS FRIEND, HELP HIM OUT!"



"Friend?" Ralph said, "Oh I wouldn't use a word THAT strong. After all, Pocket Pair always goes on and on about how we're acquaintances at best..."



"So you're saying you won't help then?!" Applejack said as her anger rose and she threw his arm off of her.



"No, I'm sorry" Ralph said, "It's simply too dangerous for me to risk becoming  target of Sunset Shimmer's wrath to help Pocket Pair out especially considering this whole thing could have easily been avoided... unless."



"Unless?" Applejack asked, "Unless WHAT?"



"YOu agree to go out with ME, this next week Applejack." Ralph said.



"A DATE!?!?!?!" Applejack shouted, "Are you SERIOUS right now? Our friend is in trouble and ya'll are gonna use that to try and secure yerself a DATE!?"



"Our acquaintance you mean Applejack," Ralph said, "And if you don't want to agree to the terms, then I don't think there's sufficient incentive for me to put myself at risk to help Pocket Pair out. So good bye Applejack..."



"WAIT!" Applejack shouted into the phone.



"Yes.." Ralph said.



"GAh... " Applejack said, "Ok fine, Ah'll go on a stupid date with ya."



"Alright then Applejack, you're a smart girl love," Ralph said into the phone, "So we will go out to sugarcube corner this Saturday evening, and then we'll enjoy a night on the town."



"Fine," Applejack said agitated,  "But only if YOU agree to actualy come tonight andf make a serious effort to help fix this probloem, no half assing it!"



"Fair enough," Ralph said,  "Well in any case I better go. I need to get ready for my date, with destiny. Au revoir, mon charie." Ralph said, before he hung up the phone.



Applejack, after she was sure he hung up,  shouted,  “GAH! What a FAGGOT. Using a problem with his friend to try and score a date with ME!? Who in the hay does he think he is anyways? Ah really have half a mind to shove my foot up his ass for trying to pull a stunt like this..." She then sighed and said, "Well in any case, ah better text Pocket Pair and let him know about this meetin. It concerns him and we could definitely use his brain power to help us, considerin we only got 1 brain between the rest of us since it's clear Ralph is only thinking with that head between his legs." She then typed “meeting at Sugarcube Corner at 8 to discuss solutions to Sunset issue. Don’t be late.” She then sent it and said “ah sure hope we’re able to come up with something, ah can't bear to watch P Pair go through even half of what ah went through freshman year."She then sighed again and continued walking towards her house to get some rest before that night's meeting.