//------------------------------//
// Day 2 
// Story: Jealousy 
// by Flutterpriest 
//------------------------------//

	You open your eyes, feeling the daze of sleep still clinging tightly to your eyes. That’s weird. Your alarm isn’t going off. You actually managed to get some decent rest and wake up before your alarm for once. You smile and decide the best way to relish this moment would be to roll over and enjoy a few extra minutes of rest.

You roll over and promptly fall on the ground.

Your eyes shoot open and take in your surroundings. You’re in your living room. Not your bed. Shit. What time is it? Taking a step, you feel the numb, prickly feeling of your leg being asleep. Still, you charge your way into the kitchen and check the clock.

9am. You’re two hours late for work.

“Shit, shit, SHIT!” you groan, as you throw on your shoes and burst through the door to your home. You decide it’s best to head straight to Sweet Apple Acres, ignoring breakfast. Not that you’d want it anyway, you feel quite full.

Hell, if you’re lucky, you won’t even run into Fluttershy on the way there.

“Oh, right,” you say to yourself. “Fluttershy dumped me.”

Wait. The fuck are you saying. You two weren't a thing. You two were NEVER a thing. Yet, as you turn back to look at the entrance of your home, a part of you feels empty.

You sigh and shake your head. It’s just another thing to get used to.

Your jog turns into a walk as you decide that there’s not much sense in rushing. You’re already late. Being even later isn’t going to make things worse. Shoving your hands into your pockets, you watch the ground and kick whatever stones you find in your path. Fluttershy seems to be plaguing your thoughts, or at least what little good memories you had of her plague your thoughts. Like the time she sent you a bowl of soup when you were sick. Or when she thought giving you a cat would make you happier. Except, you were allergic to cats. That didn’t turn out well.

Maybe… Maybe you shouldn't have been so hard on her yesterday.

Pushing the thought away, you enter the Apple's farm. Maybe after work you  should try to make things better with Fluttershy. At very least, it could try to ease your troubled mind. But for now, it’s time to work. A hard day will be able to get your mind off of your situation for a little while.

"Great job, Anon! Let's grab the next field."

Wait. What.

"Thanks, AJ. This job is a piece of cake! I'm just happy you can help me earn some bits."

"No problem, partner. That’s what friends are for."

What the hell is that guy doing here? Doing your job?

"Hey Applejack. Anon."

You refuse to look at the only other human in this world.

"Bout time ya showed up, sleepy head! Thank goodness ah got Anon here to help pick up the slack."

"My bad. I had a rough night," you reply.

"That's a shame, cause my night was great. Didn't get too much sleep, though," Anon interjects.

Applejack casts Anon a glare while you refuse to let him have the satisfaction of a reaction.	

"Why don't we just get to work?" you ask.

Normally the hard work gets you a good workout and helps you focus, but today your head isn't in the game. By the time you clean out one tree, Anon completes two. You groan to yourself and feel your blood boil. How dare he?

"You know… You are going to tire yourself out if you keep that pace," you say to him snidely.

"You kiddin me? I'm on easy mode."

And then, he proved it. A monkey couldn't swing from branch to branch faster than his speed. He cleans out a tree almost as fast as Applejack bucks a fresh one. 

Hours pass. At the end of the day you’re exhausted, hungry, and beat. You hardily reached your normal apple harvest cap. Meanwhile, Anon hasn't even broke a sweat.

"Well boys, payday! Come'ere Anon, I'll give you a bit of an advance so you can get started."

Advance? AJ never gave you an advance in order to get your life on track. You had to do it through your own blood, sweat, and tears.

"Thanks Applejack, see you tomorrow! Can't keep Shy waiting!" Anon says.

He shoots a wink towards you. You make a fist. Daring him to start something.

"Hey, uh. I think we need to talk," Applejack says to you as Anon jogs away.

"Well, uh, okay Applejack. Whats up?"

"It's about your performance the last few days. You aren't workin’ at your normal pace," she says.

"Well. Uh. I’m Sorry, Applejack, I've just had a lot on my mind lately. I'll pick up the pace. I promise."

A lot is an overstatement. The only thing on your mind right now is Fluttershy and making amends. And that jerk.

"Well, here's the problem, partner. I can't keep two workers fer forever."

You lose your breath for a second.

"Ah know you've been here a long time, but ah need you to pull yourself together now,” she says bluntly, but honestly.

You nod. This is it.

"I'm gonna keep your pay for today, but that's because tomorrow is your last shot. Y'all decide if it's yer last paycheck. Ah hope it won't be."

Anon is slowly trying to take everything dear to you. He tried to take your home. Now your job… maybe even your friends. 

You won't let him.

"I understand, Applejack. I'll be on my A-game tomorrow."

"That’s the spirit," she says with a smile.

You head back towards Ponyville, thinking out a plan for how to make amends with Fluttershy and keep your job. Maybe Twilight would have some good advice? 

Probably not. She is too busy trying to learn and experiment with her new princess powers. There is always taking to Pinkie again.  Plus you should probably apologize about the cake yesterday. But then again, you would hate to bother her with all of your troubles.

Rainbow Dash is at the Wonderbolt Academy this week, so that's out of the question. Which leaves, Rarity.

You could go to her shop to get fitted with a new outfit, and ask for advice in the process. It seems like a good idea. But then again, she does love to pass around rumors. Could you really trust her?

Do you really have a choice?

The Boutique it is.





Once you reach the front door of the infamous Carousel Boutique, you pause to notice the closed sign hanging from the window. Sure enough, when you try to turn the knob, the door is locked tight. Maybe… Maybe it’s best to just go home.

No. You’ve came too far to stop now.

You give the door three hard knocks.

"We're closed for today!" calls the familiar voice of Rarity on the other side.

"Even for a friend?" you call back.

The door opens revealing the element of generosity with a wide smile.

"Oh! Of course! Come in. Come in! So good to see you! What can I do for you? You so rarely visit, I'm guessing you need new clothes?" she says.

You step inside, gazing around at the various outfits hanging from mannequins for display. Rarity closes and locks the door behind you as you turn to her.

"Yeah if you don't mind, but I got something else I'd like to talk to you about too."

Rarity trots over to a bench and begins to grab various pieces of black clothing for a suit.

"Oh? Do tell. Do tell. Oh! I had this most magnificent idea for an outfit for you today. I've been experimenting with leather and denim and winter is coming up, so I thought I-"

"It's about Fluttershy."

Rarity becomes quiet, and continues to grab more materials from her workroom. Maybe this wasn't a good idea. The whole store is quiet as you wait for her response. She re-enters the main room and begins drawing her ideas.

"Go on,” she says simply.

It’s hard to get any sort of beat on what she’s thinking. Perhaps she’s just focused into her work? Or is she mad?

"Well. I'm assuming that you heard about what happened yesterday," you start.

"Which part? You must be more specific. Could you get on the fitting platform? I'm almost done sketching this out," she says flatly.

You step onto the platform as she asked. You feel your gut begin to clench. Maybe coming here wasn’t such a good idea after all.

"Well, about Fluttershy... losing interest in me."

"You mean breaking up with you," she corrects you quickly.

There’s no point in fighting the story anymore.

"Yes."

"Then you admit it."

"Yes. Fine. We broke up."

"Good. That's the first step to recovery," she says flatly.

These fucking ponies. Whatever. Just play along.

"Well. I'm wondering if I should talk to her and try and make things better."

Suddenly a roll of denim, under Rarity's magic, wraps around your legs and begins to form a new pair of jeans.

"Why do you want to do that?"

"I've just been thinking and, well, maybe I was a little hard on her. I could have been better to her."

"Now are you doing this because she broke up with you, or because she is hanging around with Anon?"

Ouch. Rarity knew all the right questions.

"Shirt off please?" she asks.

"Sure."

You take off your shirt to show off your muscled physique. Rarity blushes.

“This will just take a second,” she says. 

A roll of cotton wraps around your arms and midsection, magically sewing a new t-shirt.

"Well?" she asks, waiting for your answer.

You shake your head and sigh.

"A little of both honestly. I miss her being around all the time. I feel like I lost a good friend."

What the hell are you saying?

Do you remember when she replaced all of your toilet paper with love letters? Remember when she assured you that you shouldn’t live anywhere than her petting zoo of a home, since you’re an animal in their world? Remember how she would still come to see you every day? Remember when she gave you that hug the first day that you came to Equestria? When you needed the moral support the most? Remember how she always cared for you? Even when you got hurt?

It was always her that took you to the hospital.

"Are you sure you aren't just jealous?" Rarity asks.

"No! I'm not just jealous, Rarity."

"It sounds to me like you might be jealous."

She wraps black leather around you, fitting for a leather jacket.

"This jacket is going to take a while to get done, since I haven't done one of these for a human. It'll be ready tomorrow morning."

"I'm not jealous."

"If you aren't jealous, then go talk things through with Fluttershy, but if you are, stay away."

"Fine. Thanks."

"I mean it,” she says firmly, a bleeding edge to her words. 

She stares bullets at you, and her once gentle voice now becomes hard and serious.

"I haven't seen Fluttershy this happy before. I don't want you to go breaking her heart or ruining her chances with Anon."

Ouch.

"At least he actually loves her."

"Who said I didn't love her."

"You did. All the time. Every day. And just a few moments ago."

The words burn on the inside. Maybe she really did listen to you.

“Well, I didn’t love her,” you say.

Rarity shakes her head and turns away from you.

"It tore me up to listen to her cry. Every time about you not loving her as she did for you. I won't allow you to do that to her again."

"Then I'm going to go set things straight," you say.

"Remember my words."

Silence falls over the store as you realize she’s finished speaking with you. You take careful steps to the door as she calls after you.

“Your jacket will be ready at 7am.”

You pause, hand on the door, and turn back to her.

"Thanks, Rarity."

"I didn't do a thing."

You open the door, hearing the entrance bell jingle.

"I know."

The door closes behind you as you set off at a jog towards Fluttershy's Cottage. What are you going to say when you get there? What could you possibly say that could make things better after all of the heartache you’ve caused her? You that will have to be figured out based on how she reacts. All that matters is setting things right.

When you approach the cottage the lights are on and the moon is starting to rise in the night sky.  Chances are, he’s probably there… but you’ll just have to tough through it. Maybe if you can just make things with Fluttershy, your mind will stop guilt tripping you so badly. That has to be it. It has to be that  your conscious is on overdrive.

You approach the door but stop, wondering if it might just be smarter to go back now. If you do, it could prevent some sort of confrontation or making things worse. On the other hand, you might be asking yourself ‘What If’ for the rest of your life in Equestria if you don’t try and do something.

‘No fucking way am I backing down now.’

You knock on the door and it immediately swings open to reveal an excited Fluttershy. Your heart skips a beat.

"Oh thank goodness you are back, Anon! I was beginning to get worried and-"

She cuts off her words when she sees your face.

"Oh, um. Hey. Was there something you needed? Otherwise it's late... um... if you don't mind."

Your happy energy and confidence drain from you like a cracked coffee mug.

"Yeah, um, I wanted to talk to you about something."

Her expression becomes exasperated and her tone heats up.

"About what? I'm sorry. I thought you were the one that said they needed time."

You take a step back. This was an assertive side of Fluttershy you haven’t seen before. Had you really been that awful to her? Maybe it’s best to take this very, very carefully.

"I just. I feel like I'm the one that should apologize. I never really treated you right. You were so kind to me and only wanted to make me happy.

She stares at you expecting more.

"... but I was an asshole. I kicked you off my doorstep, threw you out windows, made you face some of your worst fears-”

"Humiliated myself."

".. yes, and humiliate yourself."

"Get to the point,” she says flatly.

She’s clearly not having it. Maybe this was a waste of time. It’s now or never.

"I just wanted to say I'm sorry and see if there was anyway we could return to normal?"

Her face begins to become pink. And pinker... and pinker. Oh wait. That might be the darkness playing tricks on you. 

That’s red.

"How dare you."

You take a step back, feeling the chill in the air steep into your soul.

"How dare you!"

She flies in the air above you.

"I work hard for months to try and make you love me the way I loved you, and now when I finally found the special somepony of my dreams, you think you can walk over here on two legs and ask for me back!"

Time seems to freeze.

"How DARE you not think about what I may want. How DARE you ask for me back after everything I've done for you."

Guilt rises from your stomach to the back of your throat, destroying your ability to talk.

"Lastly.... How... How dare you..." 

Then Fluttershy sniffs, and her wings faulter. She falls to the ground on all four of her hooves and advances towards you. Guilt turns to self-loathing as she fights losing her composure. A losing fight, as tears form in the corners of her eyes.

"How dare you play with my emotions that way. Rarity had me convinced that you would never love me. I still tried so hard for you. I tried. SO. HARD."

You open your mouth, but words don't come.

"Now you come here, and play with my emotions like they are a filly's plaything! Even when I have somepony who really loves me."

She has nearly broken down into tears, she lands on the ground back inside the cottage.

"Well I'll put this in words I'm sure you will understand."

She stares directly into your soul. For the first time, you see the deep gentle person deep inside  her. The person you loved. The person you destroyed.


"We were never a thing."


The door slams in your face, and crushes all reality around you. Only one other sound fills the space around you. Fluttershy's deep sobs, which travel deeper into her house, until they are gone. Only silence envelops you, the landscape only lit by the pale full moon. 

You fall to you knees.

"Great job, Asshole,” says a crass voice.

You turn around to see him.

"Now I'm probably not getting any tonight."

Your numbness turns into fire, burning all of your senses. Thoughts and words become automatic as you rise to your feet, fists drawn.

"You know what. Fuck you. If you really cared, you would be inside taking care of her right now."

"You’re right, and I'm right here. What do you think that means?"

"Fuck you."

"No thanks, but I'm sure I can tell you how I fucked her."

"That is it."

You launch a fist towards him, but he steps aside.

"Hey buddy, you missed your chance. Now, it's my turn."

You charge towards him, fists extended, ready to destroy him. A purple barrier separates the two of you.

"WHAT THE FUCK?!" you scream.

"Thank you for your tip, Rarity," a voice says as two sets of hooves approch you.

"No problem, Twilight. I'm going to head inside and see how she is doing."

No longer shrouded by night, Princess Twilight and Rarity emerge from the darkness.

"As for you two. I can't have you hurting each other. At least not this way," Twilight says.

You stare at the only pony keeping you from attacking your enemy.

"Go on," you reply.

"I understand that you two are fighting to have the same job, same marefriend, and even the same residence from the mayor."

"Oh yeah, about that. You didn’t know, did you? Did you get your eviction notice?" he sneers at you.

You pound as hard as you can against Twilight's purple barrier, but it only hurts your hand.

"There’s rules for this, from old Equestria. Old duels of honor. I can allow you two to fight only on one condition."

You stare at her. If looks could kill, she would be on fire.

"The loser must be subject to my new teleportation spell. It should return the them to Earth. I think it’ll be more… well, humane than the death penalty," Twilight says

Your answer is pure reflex.

"I'm in."

You look to your opponent with murder in your eyes.

"I accept the challenge," Anon says.

"Fair enough. I will see you two at 7:30am outside the library. Now go home. Neither of you try anything funny."

You walk home. Never so determined about something in your life. You will fight. You will win. Kicking down the door to your home, you run upstairs, slam the window shut, and collapse into bed. Falling asleep will be no easy task, but you need to strength for tomorrow.

Tomorrow will be a huge day.

Maybe you can even win her back.