> The Rainbow Savior > by Kerberos > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > The Rainbow Savior > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Haha, look at the loser Anon, all by himself, just like every day. Anon is such a loser, he doesn't even have any friends." You are Anon, and she is right. Ever since you came to Equestria, ponies never gave you the time of day. Pinkie is probably the only one that actually tries to be nice to you. "Hey monkey! Are you listening?" You look back up to your tormentor. "What do you want today?" She smirks. "Oh nothing, just wanted to tell you how useless you are." It’s the same thing every day. She makes sure at least once a day to remind you how she and the rest of Ponyville feels about you… well, being here. But today, you really could care less. "Okay, you can go now." Her face changes from a smirk, to one of shock. "That's it? No comeback? No emotional crap? What the hay is wrong with you?" You sit up in the alleyway you call home. Shrugging your shoulders, you look at her with blank emotionless eyes. She is so used to getting a reaction out of you, whether it is rage, crying, trying to run away. "I guess I am just tired. And frankly, I just don't care anymore." That got her to almost stop mid flap. Not wanting to look dumb, she lands on the ground. "What are you talking about?" You pick up an ice pick that you found one day and slide it over to her. "Make it quick." She looks at the ice pick, then at you. She seems really confused and the next part isn't going to help. "Kill me." Her eyes widen to the size of dinner plates. No one in Equestria is above being mean, but murder, suicide, etc is almost unheard of. "I'm not going to do that! What's wrong with you!?" You can tell she is starting to freak out. But how would you react for a person to just straight up ask you to kill them? "I guess a lot of things. But like you said, I'm all alone and I'm a loser. No one would even miss me." Her wings fold up as she suddenly realized what she has been doing for the past months. She has been pushing you to the point that you no longer cares if you live or die. "But if you're not going to do it, give it back." You reach out to grab the ice pick and she panics. Slapping your hand away, she throws the ice pick as far away as possible. "Don't even joke about that! I know some ponies will miss you!" It's funny how someone, or some-pony, can switch attitudes just at the mention of suicide. "Who? I'm dying to know." She flinches at the word die while she struggles to think of a pony. "What about Twilight, Applejack, Fluttershy, Rarity, and Pinkie?" You look at her with a raised eyebrow. Feeling more confident, she presses on. "We are the elements of harmony. If anyone would miss you, it would be us." Thinking she won, she crosses her forelegs. "Nothing more than a science experiment. Doesn't care for other species. Too scared to even talk to me. Same as Applejack. Pinkie tries, but she doesn't like me anyways." Her mouth opens wide. She never would have guess her friends acted like that around you. She knew you weren't liked, but still. "Then you make sure each and every day to make sure I don't forget it." Her mouth shuts and she starts to feel something she hasn't felt around you. Guilt. The guilt about putting you down. The guilt about pushing you to the point that you don't care if you live or die. The guilt that you actually wanted her to kill you. Something then happened that you would have never guessed she would do in a million years. "I'm sorry." You look at her with an unamused expression. "I asked you to put me out of my misery. Not to torture me any more." She stops her hoof on the ground. "I'm sorry okay! I was wrong and stupid! But I want to make it up to you! Just please, don't do anything like this." You let out a snort. "What do you care? No one else does. Forgive me for not leaping with joy when you have had weeks to figure this out. You just don't want to be the one responsible." She opens her mouth to argue, but closes it when she can't think of a reason other than the guilt. If word came out about you killing yourself because of her, her Wonderbolt dream would be crushed. She still thinks about something she could say. Something to keep you in the land of the living. That's when she gets an idea. "You're right. I don't like you. I doubt anypony likes you." "Thanks for the reminder." She winces at that, but continues anyway. "But that doesn't mean any of us wants to see you dead. So I'll tell you what I'm going to do. I will visit you at least three times every day so you can get some food. While I'm here, we can talk, play a game, do whatever you want that DOESN'T hurt you. I'm even going to start right now." She walks up next to you and plops down on the ground. You don't move away or even try to shoo her away. The prospect of food and company seems really nice right now. Plus, you doubt you have enough courage to kill yourself anymore. Not that you had it in the first place. Sure, you didn't care if another person did it, but doing yourself is a whole new ball game. "Fine, I'll do it. But don't bring any hay, flowers, or grass." "Alright." You both sit in silence. Dash struggles stay still and not say anything she will regret while you just remain like a statue. She is finding it hard to see you as a friend rather than an animal, but she is at least trying. If you were asked, you wouldn't admit it, but you like the company. Even if it is her. It doesn't take too long for it to get dark. She says that she will be back in the morning and makes sure to find and take the ice pick home. The next day, she shows up with a bowl of fruit, as promised. She doesn't stay too long because of her job, but she comes back for lunch and supper. Each time, bringing you something to eat and she talks about her day. It is always a one sided conversation because of you doing nothing, but she does it anyways. This goes on for weeks and Dash never forgets once to come, give you food, and company. Even when she was with her friends, she would make excuses to go see you. That would lead to some unfortunate events.   Twilight Sparkle POV You are currently having a picnic with all your best friends. Rainbow and Applejack are tossing a hoofball back and forth while the rest of you eat and idly chat. "... Don't you think so Twilight dear?" You turn back back to Rarity. "Sorry, I was just thinking about some of the new princess duties that I still have to do. Oh My Gosh! I hope I made that check list!" Rarity is quick to help you calm down. "Twilight, look at me. You don't need a checklist for being a princess. Calm down." The sound of Rarity's voice helped calm you down. You give a weak chuckle. "Heh, sorry about that. It feels strange no longer being a student. I doubt I will ever get used to it." "Used to what, egghead?" Turning your head, Rainbow and Applejack must have gotten board of tossing the hoofball. "Oh nothing, just talking about princess life. It is so stressful. Sometimes I just wish I could sit in the library with Owlowiscious." Fluttershy perks up when you finish your sentence. "I know what you mean Twilight. Sometimes, I just wish I could stay at home and feed my animals all day." For some reason, Rainbow tenses up. "Rainbow, are you alright." She looks at the sun, then back to you. "I-I gotta go. I forgot to feed... tank." With that she flies off towards her house. You cock your head and watch her disappear in the sky. "I wonder what that was all about." It isn’t like Rainbow to just take off like that. Was it something you said? "Ah don't know Twi. But I got a feelin that she's hidin somthin from us." If it were any other pony, you would have waved it off, but this came from the Element of Honesty "Do you really think she would hide something from us? I mean, we are her friends." "Ah don't know, but Ah want ta find out. She's been leavin around this time every day and I want to know why." Looking at the rest of your friends, they have have a face that tells you that they are thinking the same thing "Fine, lets go see what she is up too." It isn’t very nice to follow your friend around while they don’t know it, but you are somewhat worried. You and your friends gather all the picnic supplies and head back into town Once all your things are put away, all of you head to Rainbow's cloud house However, before you get there, Pinkie points out Rainbow sneaking around down the street Pinkie pulls all of you into a bush as you watch Rainbow walk down the road. She is carrying a basket of fruit, a salad, and… "Is that shrimp?" You look back at Rarity like she has gone mad. But before you say anything you take another look at that basket. Looking closer, you can see a sealed package labeled shrimp Normally you can't get much seafood in Ponyville unless you order it from Manehattan Even then, it is pretty expensive stuff since it is mainly served in higher end restaurants in Canterlot. Rainbow trots past the bush, looking around nervously. "Where does she think she's goin?" "I don't know, but did you see what she was taking. That shrimp must have cost a wing and a leg. I wonder if it is a secret rendezvous with a special somepony." You roll your eyes at Rarity's comment. She needs to spend less time reading those romance novels and more time reading something informational. Like “The Complete Art of Dressmaking” that you have been hinting at her to take. "I don't know, but if she is, why wouldn't she tell us?” you questioned. "She might be embarrassed to show her feminine side. Don't you remember her trip to the spa? She wouldn't dare let a pony touch her hoof." That was true. She tries so hard to be as macho as a stallion that she often forgets that she is a mare. "Look, she has gone in that alleyway." You squint your eyes just in time to catch the end of her rainbow tail. Well, it’s now or never. "Come on girls. Let's find out what she is up to." You and your friends walk out of the bush and creep up to the alley entrance. None of you dared stick your head out when you heard voices. "Thanks Dash. I was wondering if you would show up." "Like I said, I will be here for you at least three times a day." She apparently was talking with some stallion. Looking up a Rarity, she had an "I told you so" look on her face. You just roll your eyes and listen to the conversation. "Here, I got something you might like." "Is... is that shrimp. Jeez, this must have cost you a fortune. "Well, I figured you are worth it. I mean, you are looking better than you were a month ago." "Thanks, I don't know what I would have done if you didn't come along." You hear a sniff come from behind you. Rarity is levitating a handkerchief to her watering eyes. "I wish I could have a secret lover. This is just too romantic. I have to know who this stallion is." Rarity starts to walk forward but you and Applejack hold her back. "Shush. Ah don't want to go and spoil their date, even if Ah do want ta know who this feller is." She sits back down with a pout. "Fine, but I WILL found out who this stallion is." "Maybe later, but I don't want to do anything that we might regret." You turn your ear back to the alley. "So, I was wondering if you wanted to go out and do something." "You know that I don't want to be around other ponies." So he is shy, that's why she hasn't said anything. "But that's the thing, you won't be. It will just be us at the park, throwing a hoofball or something. There shouldn't be anypony else there." "I... guess that could be fun. Sure." "Cool, we can leave when you're done. I'll make sure to scout around just in case my friends are still there." Okay, this pony may be shy, but even Fluttershy can be around others. It is healthy to have social interaction, so you think of a plan to give him that. "Okay girls, I have a plan so we can meet this mystery pony."   Rainbow Dash POV You have finally convinced Anon to leave his alley for once. You’re not quite sure how long he has been in there, but you might be able to convince him to take a bath in the pond. Baby steps. Anon finishes his meal and stands up. You almost forgot how tall he is since he is always sitting down. "Alright. Let's go." You peek out of the alley and make sure no ponies are out there. Seeing that the coast is clear, you and Anon head for the park. Just like you predicted, all your friends have already left. Lucky for you, they left the hoofball under the tree. "Alright, looks like nopony is around. You want to play a game of catch?" "I guess so." You take the hoofball and fly a few feet away. "You ready!?" "Whenever you are!" You give the ball a good toss. Anon struggles to catch it, but you can't blame him for being a little weak. "Nice catch!" You see him start to smile. Seeing him smile is a lot better than watching him cry. He arranges the ball in his hands then pulls back his arm. Giving it a good toss, you had to get airborne to catch it. "Wow. I didn't know you could throw like that!" "Me neither." As you prepare to throw the ball back, you spy a yellow bird heading towards you. Squinting, you realize that it wasn't a bird. It was Fluttershy. "Anon, I think we should go. Like now!" He looks to where you are looking at and panics. You rush over to him, grab his hand, and pull him towards White Tail Woods. You really didn't want to ruin his day by having ponies show up and make fun of him. He deserves better than that. Once you enter the tree line, you both hid behind a tree. Fluttershy walks right past the tree's you are hiding behind and continues on the path. That was close. Once she is out of your sight, you look back at Anon. "I think she's gone. We should probably get back to the alley." "Yeah, your probably right." You and Anon stay in the tree line as long as you can before making a break for Ponyville. Walking down the streets, it is awfully quiet. Looking through an alley, you can see all the other streets have plenty of ponies on them. But this one had no pony, cart, or open shop. This is starting to make you nervous. "Isn't this street normally one of the busier ones?" That's right. Normally this street is packed with ponies. Where did they go? "I have a bad feeling about this. Let's just get you to the alley and everything will be alright." You reached the alley, not seeing a single pony on the street. Once you turn down the alley, all of your friends jump out. "Surprise!" You are shocked, but that is barely scratching the surface of how Anon is handling it. He is having what you would describe as a panic attack. All your friend's faces turn from happy, to one of shock. Anon grabs his chest and starts to breath heavily. "Anon. Anon! You need to calm down. Just breathe slowly. Look at me Anon." You pull his face to look at yours. "Just look at me. Breathe slow." None of your friends dare make a sound. Anon looks into your eyes and starts to calm down. His breathing is still irregular and his eyes try to dart around. You lower him down so he can sit on the ground. Believing Anon has calmed down, you turn to your friends. "What the buck was that about!" All your friends shy away from your outburst, but it just looks that way because you were yelling. "Well!?" "We just wanted to meet your secret coltfriend darling. No need to get upset. By the way, where is the poor dear. Did the human scare him off? I always knew he was a bad influence." Is she being serious right now? Rarity didn't even call him by his name. You even overlook her talking about a coltfriend as small fire ignites in your belly. Is this how you treated him? You at least called him by his name, right? Now, you are faced with a decision. Either you can blow them off and act like you normally do. Or you stand up for Anon. Saving your reputation and killing Anon, versus doing what's right and possibly losing you friends. After a moment of thinking, you know what you have to do. "What? No! I was just hanging out with Anon." All your friends rear back their heads in disgust. Applejack just frowns. "Rainbow, Ah know you don't actually like this... thing. Does he have some dirt on ya? Don't worry Ah'll take care of this." She starts to charge at Anon, but you get in her way. "Gosh darnit Rainbow, move out of the way so Ah can buck his teeth out!" You stare at her in shock. This isn't the Applejack you know. This is something different. At least you never hurt him. You just called him names. "I'm not going to sit by and let you hurt my... my friend!" Your friend's jaws all hit the floor. "But... But... But he can't be your friend! He's not even a pony!" "Kinda like Gilda huh? Remember when you ran her out of town?" Pinkie steps up. "That's different. She was being a real meany pants! Don't you want to be our friend?" You are given the same choice again, but with more extreme stakes. Either go back to your comfortable life, join the Wonderbolts and live a long and fulfilling life. Or you can choose to stay with Anon, probably get kicked out of Ponyville, and live in a secluded area for the rest of your life. Your dream, or what's right.   You look at your friends, the ponies that you have grown to know on a level deeper than anypony else you have known. You have been with through thick and thin, saving Equestria countless times. Then there is Anon. A human from some strange planet that just wants to be happy. You have tortured him almost since he arrived. You are probably only being nice so you won't be blamed for his death, not that anypony would care. But, over a month's time, you have gotten to really know him. He's sweet, kind, and gentle. He listens to your day, even if you have nothing really interesting to say. "I... I can't be your friends if that means hurting Anon." All the mares gasp at your decision. Goodbye Wonderbolts. Goodbye Ponyville. Goodbye the life you have come to know. You look at all your friends. They all look sad at your decision, but it's your's to make. Applejack seems to be taking it harder than anypony else. "Ya... ya can't do this! What did you do to her you damn dirty human!?" She lunges at Anon, only to be held back by Twilight's magic. "Let go of me! I'm going to buck the ugly right off him, Ah swear to Celestia! You're dead! You hear me!?" You take a step back from Applejack. Or, the pony that used to be Applejack. Now, she is just a pony full of hate. "I think it would be best if you leave. And please, don't come back." You look at Twilight. She looks like she is about to cry, along with Fluttershy and Pinkie. Rarity just gives you a cold glare. "Yeah, you're probably right." You walk up to Anon, who has been staring at you wide eyed the whole time. "C'mon Anon. Let's go." "You don't have to do this Rainbow. I can always-" "I said let's go!" Your eyes start to water. Anon doesn't say another thing when he get's up and follows you out of town. Once you read a few miles down the road, you break down crying. Your dreams are crushed. You lost all of your friends. And all you have to show for it, is Anon. You cry and cry into your hooves until you feel something warm lift you up. Anon picks you up like a newborn foal and hold you close. You end up sobbing into his neck. Was it worth it? Giving up everything for a creature that no pony likes. He continues to carry you while you cry. Anon must really care about you. He better for what you just did for him. Your crying dies down to just some lingering sniffs. He just continues to carry you as you fall asleep in his arms. Maybe... just maybe, this won't be as bad as you thought.