Hearts and Hooves Day

Hearts and Hooves Day

Chapter 15: Night of Lies

I couldn't believe on what I just heard from the Element of Love's muzzle! I mean, everything that I predicted before coming here to finally seek justice and bring an end to this drama somehow shattered in front of me. As I said before, I remember reading every word written on the Human/Equine Law and even was tested before being accepted as an Equestrian Citizen. Questions that were multiple choice, True or False; short sentences, and an essay, etc; I passed them all. Yet, how can I not remember the one important aspect of filing criminal charges on a human when he hurts his special somepony? Yelling and threats by the use of words are not life threating because there's no body harm to it? Damn! I sure was stupid enough for the fact that I written the E.V.A.N. Incident hours ago on my journal and not even reading a second take to find out that the four former Equestrian humans hurt their someponies with weapons or violent sexual act and neither of them got in trouble for words spoken out of their mouths.

I raised my left palm and lowered my head right into it. I shook in disbelief as I try to wrap this around my head. I traveled up here to meet the only alicorn in charge while I busted my ass earlier doing an investigation through pages of backstory, nearly getting stabbed by guards, having an ignorant prince challenging me to a brawl, a hyper pink pony pounce on me, follow by a hungry fashionita, and a princess from a distant kingdom obliterating my chances of seeking justice.

“I can't believe this.” I mumbled to myself, hoping Cadance didn't hear me. “The hell am I going to do now?”

“I'm sorry, Frank,” Cadance said as she approached me a bit. “Did you say something?”

I lifted my head up from my palm and meet her eye to eye. “No...I...I didn't say anything...but...aren't you going to investigate this somehow? I mean, couldn't you at least...ask Daryl what his side of the story is and why Al...”

“What did I just tell you, Frank?” The princess of love cut me off like she's on her last nerve. “The law states that only an investigation about the troublesome between a human and his special somepony can be done if physical evidence is present based on your claims. Just because Daryl Blackburn yelled and said mean things to Aloe does not mean we're going to arrest him or send him to jail.”

“Then...what shall be done?” I opened and shook my arms around demanding an answer.

“My only suggestion is counseling between those two with some of our best counselors involving romantic couples.”

“FUCK THAT, PRINCESS!” I said out loud in a disagreeing fashion.

“Watch your mouth!” Cadance yelled back. “You don't talk that way to me! You understand? You lived here long enough to know better not to use foul language in front of a royal princess!”

“Alright, alright, my bad!” I apologized, feeling a bit guilty when I cussed in front of her. “I have no idea why nor any reason why those words slipped out.”

Princess Cadance stared at me with a disapproval look on her face. Within a few seconds, she nodded. “Good...good. Now, our meeting is over. Enjoy the rest of your night.”

“Wa...wait, wait!” I stopped her before she walked towards the doors back to the ballroom. “That's it?!? You're not going to help me out? You're not going to send a guard over to his workplace and bring him here?”

As soon as she heard my protest, Cadance stopped in her tracks and side-eyed me with an annoyed look on her face. “I don't have time to argue with you, Frank. If you don't mind, I have important royal duties to take care of and I'm behind schedule.”

Her horn began to glow a magic aura and she used her magic to open the doors back to the ballroom. I follow closely behind as I continued to protest behind her. A quick glimpse away from Cadance, I noticed that Twilight and her friends, along with Applejack who just happened to show up, all gathered in a social circle discussing something that I had no clue about. Their heads turned to my direction as they saw me trying to get Cadance to turn around with sudden protest. Luna's guard from earlier was also there and standing near the doorway at ease with a spear while the both of us entered the ballroom.

“Come on, Cadance!” I complained. “You're supposed to help me out...and you're walking away like it's not a personal matter! Do you even care about us humans?”

“GUARD!!!” The Princess of Love spoke out loud So loud that her voice was heard throughout the castle that could've waken anyone and anypony around the building.

The Luna guard approached me from behind and faced towards me with is spear nearly touching my nose, threatening to stab me if I try anything funny. I heard a few gasps from Twilight and her friends who witnessed the whole occasion. Even looking at the spear near the center of my nose had leak a few sweat drops from my head in fear.

“Make sure he does not follow me!” Cadance instructed the guard. The guard nodded in response to the order. “I have a lot of royal duties to do, Frank. If you're done here, you may leave immediately.”

With that being said, the pink, alicorn princess trotted out of the ballroom and took a right turn in the corridor and out of sight. The guard backed up a few steps while still aiming his spear and gives me the “I'm watching you” gesture with his left forehoof. As he backs away to the corridor, he too follows the same route as Cadance, leaving me alone with Princess Twilight Sparkle and her friends.

I shook my head in sheer disappointment as I let out an amount air of anger out of my lungs. As I did, the corner of my right eye caught a glimpse of Rarity, Applejack, Twilight Sparkle, Pinkie Pie, and Spike approaching me with worried looks.

“Are you okay der, Frank?” Applejack asked. “You seemed to be madder than a tortoise with a broken shell.”

“Er...it's not worth talking about, AJ.” I answered her question. “Not at this time.”

“Darling, I'm quite sure whatever is the matter,” Rarity spoke, lending a comforting hoof to my side. “We can at least help you out.”

I shook my head a bit. “I don't think there's no helping on what I'm going through.” Once I said my statement, the fashionita released her hoof from my side and took a step back near Spike with a worried face. When all was quiet in the ballroom with Twilight and her friends, I began to walk to the corridor that leads to the front entrance of the castle. This whole meeting was a waste of my time anyway. Plus, what can I do now?

“Frank?” Applejack shouted. “You want us to come along with ya? Maybe grab some cider or grab some of my homemade pie?”

“...No.” I replied with a voice of defeat. “...thanks.”

I turned left down the corridor near the two libraries. I lowered my head and looked at the floor while putting my hands in my pocket as I try to wonder what to do next. “Son of a bitch.” I whispered to myself. “Nice going, Frank Archer. You ruined a perfect weekend of R&R with your PS3, book reading, watching DVDs, and doing absolutely nothing. How do you plea?!?”

As I taunt and question myself, I was passing the Regular Library and approaching the Private one. “Oh, I don't know! Guilty! Not guilty! What do you think, Mr. Tattle Ta...OOMPH!!!”

I wasn't able to say “Tattle Tail” when I got bumped into something – or somepony, when I was not looking. Regaining my concentration, I looked up to see who I bumped into. It was another guard, only this time, it was Celestia's. The white, male pegasus huffed angrily at me as he dust his armor off with his forehooves. Not only that, on the floor was my journal and a book next to my right foot that could've belonged to the guard. I bent down and picked them both up with both of my hands, not before reading the title of the book that read Sacrificial Dark Magic and Love. That's kind of...weird. Never heard about this one nor know anything about it. Though, question where did he get it?

“Sorry about that, sir.” I handed the guard his book. “I'll pay attention next time.”

“You better!” The guard hissed and snatches the book away with his teeth...that had fang marks! What kind of pegasus is he? “Because there won't be a next time if we meet again, scum! You will fall before us! Now get out of my way!”

He gallops past me on my right while still clamping down on his item. He turns a right down the corridor and out of sight he goes. What got into him as of late and more so, what did he meant by “you will fall before us?” Who's us? What is he talking about? If he's talking about Princess Celestia or Luna or Cadance or someone from the Royal Alicorn Society, he is sadly mistaken because there's no way any of the Princess will try to make the humans and I kneel before them like were slaves or something. I bet the guard, whomever he is, must've read too many books or seen a lot of movies as of late.

I need to get going! I can't stay here any longer as I have work tomorrow. Time for me to leave ASAP.

I got out of the castle while passing all the guards' posts on the grounds and into the the streets of Canterlot under the night sky. The streets were still a bit populated by rich ponies, mostly unicorns, as they did their late shopping sprees or grabbing some quick dinner at some of the restaurants. However, I don't see any humans as of late but I know they are here somewhere in this enchanted city. If I see any I recognized, I'll holler at them. Looking at my watch, the next train does not arrive until another hour. Great! What can I do to past the time when I got nothing to do?!?!? Perhaps the Arcade-O-Rama down four blocks or walk in circles at the turnabout?

...Whoopee.

I sighed and shook my head once more as I started my walk towards the train station while leaving the castle's front gate behind.

“FRANK!” A familiar female voice called out from above, followed by the sound of flapping pegasus wings.

I turned myself around and looked up into the sky to see at who could it be. To my surprise, it was none other than Princess Twilight Sparkle, using her wings to descend to my spot. What could she want now?

“Twilight?” I raised an eyebrow. “What are you doing here?”

“I just want to talk,” She admits. “What exactly happened between you and Cadance that lead to her yelling at you?”

“It's not worth talking about! Didn't I just say that earlier?!? Did you not listen to be before your sister-in-law called a guard?!?”

The sound of my voice and my attitude was near my breaking point of me snapping in front of this alicorn. Seriously, I'm getting sick of it! I don't need to repeat my actions again since I have nothing left to solve this issue. What is the point?!?

I turned myself to head back to the station, not before Twilight Sparkle decided to trot alongside with me. “I did hear what you said. Though, I know that something is inside your mind that you refuse to share with me.”

“Share?” I asked in a confused manner. “I rather keep that certain thought locked up in my head forever.”

“I won't tell anypony if you let it out! Friends, like you and I, can express our problems and the both of us can find a solution.”

“I said No!”

The young alicorn princess took a small jump from my left side and blocks my path in front of me. She looks at me with her face all worried. “Please tell me, Frank. What happened earlier? If you tell me, I'll stop bothering you for the night and you can go home to Ponyville.”

I stared at her for a bit until I looked at the ground next to me. I thought for a second about whether or not I should discuss my problem or just walk past Princess Twilight Sparkle and head to my train. Guess I have no other choice but to spill the beans for her only.

“...He did what?” Twilight Sparkle said out loud, nearly spilling her milkshake when she tried to take a sip with her magic.

“That's what I said.” I reminded her. “Daryl threatened me and he's treating Aloe like trash. I explained the whole thing to Cadance and she told me that it's not an infringement. In her opinion, it's not even worth investigating.”

I raised my right arm on the dining table and let my head rest on right palm. A few minutes ago, Twilight and I decided to talk on what's been happening right next to the nearest cafe in front of the castle. She ordered a strawberry milkshake while I ordered a bottle of water with a small order of prench fries. Though, the fries were meant for me only since the magical bookworm wanted to be on a diet for awhile before eating junk food again. I explained to her about Daryl Blackburn and asked if she met him before. Twilight Sparkle said yes she does know him and had seen him last week on a Tuesday. The princess told me that she went to the Ponyville Spa with Rarity, Fluttershy, and Spike for an appointment. As all four of them were getting treated by the patrons, Daryl happened to show up and deliver lunch for Aloe. In my mind, I was expecting Twilight to say that Daryl did something to the food or threw Aloe's lunch bag at her face. Instead, the 61st human gave his marefriend the food and kissed her on the lips as Aloe happily squealed in delight.

Wish Twilight was kidding, but unfortunately, no.

Right after Daryl left, Rarity asked Aloe how her relationship with Daryl has been going throughout the past years since they've been together. The pink spa pony told the fashionita that her life has been wonderful with him. Fluttershy went as far as to ask if she would take this relationship to a new level, like she did with Discord in the past. Aloe said she doesn't know yet nor does Daryl Blackburn since they haven't discussed about it. She did say that Daryl was planning to take her to the Hearts and Hooves Day Ball (which happens to be this week) along with Dru and Lotus; and Vera and her special somepony from their native country. They spent the rest of the whole day talking about the ball and more so that Rarity has to design more clothes and dresses for her clients before the event. That is all Twilight recounted as I listened.

After she was finished, I told Twilight Sparkle about what happened between Daryl, Aloe, and myself and how things are different between my encounter and hers. At first, she thought I was lying but knowing how we've been friends for a long time and the fact that I never tell lies in my life, she began to believe me as I continued my story. Now, my last bit of hope is to have Twilight Sparkle to help me find answers so Daryl Blackburn can be exposed.

“So can you help me?” I asked Twilight Sparkle as I picked up five pieces of prench fries and munched on them. “Please?”

“Well...”Twilight thought as she stared at the ground. “I don't know if...”

That's it! I had enough of this crap! I slashed my bottle of water, making little splashes off the table and onto the concrete of the cafe. The princess nearly got scared out of her fur due to my anger. She has never seen this side of me before but this all due to my frustration. “LOOK, TWILIGHT! I NEED YOUR HELP! I NEED YOU TO TAKE ME TO DARYL AND WE CAN SORT THIS ALL OUT!!!”

“Frank, Frank!” Twilight raised her hooves. “Please calm down! There's no need for you to explode.”

I calmed myself down a bit. “I'm sorry. I...I...I'm just going through some things in my head. Sorry.”

“It's okay. I understand your problem and you know, I'm willing to help you.”

“You...you would?”

Twilight Sparkle took another sip of her milkshake and sets it down. “Of course...well...just keep it between you and me, I would only help you so you can get it off your chest and that you promise that you won't tell the R.A.S that I went against the law about investigating without evidence. Besides, what's more important is that Aloe is one of Rarity's BFFs and if Rarity finds out about the truth, she would have an episode that she would never get over.”

“Then what are we waiting for?” I stood up from the table. “Let's go and see Daryl Blackburn immediately! I'll tell you where he's located.”

Back at the castle, Twilight Sparkle and I went to the courtyard where all of the royal chariots were stored. The both of us walked on a marble pathway with lanterns lighting our way on each side. Similar to a heliport, the chariots were parked side by side with four of them designed after an Equestria princess and a small golden one made for guests only. I should point out that I hate riding in these things because none of them have seatbelts for humans. So when it comes to flying on one of these, I have to hold on for dear life on the nearest object that hands can grasp on. Yeah, I'm afraid of heights. Go figure!

As we approached the Guest Chariot, we discovered that we weren't alone. Twilight and I saw two gray unicorn guards, wearing armor with flowing crests, patrolling the night with magic flashlight illuminating from their horns. One of them shone his light at us as we shielded our eyes from the brightness. Uh oh! We're busted...or so I thought.

"HALT!" Called out the guard who found us and made an approach with his fellow guard. "Do not move a musc...oh...Princess Twilight Sparkle! My apologizes, mam. What are you doing here?"

The unicorn guard turned his light off and allowed Twilight Sparkle to regain her vision. "Frank and I need to borrow the Guest Chariot. Would you please do me a favor and bring two pegasi guards to escort us to Dodge Junction?”

The two guards wide eyed and looked at each other. “But...princess! Ar...Are you going against protocol?”

“Do as I say!” She commanded by stomping her hoof. “Just do your job and I might give you a raise for helping us.”

“Err...uh...yes, mam. Right away, mam!”

The both of them saluted and hurried to get the two pegasi guards needed for the chariot.

“Talk about blackmail.” I said in a sarcastic, humorous manner to Twilight Sparkle. Though, she didn't chuckled and stood silent.

With the two pegasi guards in tow, we took off into the night sky towards Dodge Junction. As always, I held onto the side railing of the chariot as the wind blew my face and hair back. Twilight Sparkle sat in front watching the pegasi guards do their thing as they let their wings flap in the air. During our flight, I began to feel butterflies in my stomach as thoughts came to my head on what might be a prediction towards the meeting with Daryl Blackburn. Is he going to tell the truth? Is Twilight Sparkle going to punish him? Though, another problem that came to mind is that Twilight Sparkle stretched the rules of the law and if the R.A.S or Cadance find out about it, Twilight will be in serious trouble. She might be the first princess to be dethroned and that is one of the things that worries me. More importantly, my human friends and the other humans around Equestria could be zapped back to Earth and all of this would be blamed on me for doing it. So many things in running in my head and I'm about to explode at any minute.

I looked over the railing and, trying to get over my fear of heights, saw below me a small western town with a few buildings and a train station. I'm assuming that this might be Dodge Junction, a community located south in Equestria's desert region. As I surveyed from above, there was also a one way street,  or a Main Street, that separates the buildings apart. However, I saw no one and no pony on the street at this time of night. I take it that the only residents here must be inside their living quarters on the upstairs at each building. I mean, I guess but I don't know because I've been to this place before in my life. At the end of the Main Street was a huge, warehouse-like barn that had their lights on and smoke coming out form the chimney. To my surprise, the back of the barn had a lot of plantation surrounding it: tons of grass, lichen, and trees that kind of reminds of Sweet Apple Acres that's the size of 15 football fields. The barn was also surrounded by wooden fences with a guard post at the entrance for security reasons and a silo at the upper right. To top it off, there was a sign up front with a picture of a red cherry with the words CHERRY HILL RANCH underneath. This is the place! We found Daryl's location at last!

“Land down here, sirs!” Twilight commanded the pegasi. “Right in front of the gate.”

The pegasi nodded and I felt the chariot descend to the to the ground below. I held on tight to the railing once the golden wheels rolled on the sandy, dusty road as it came to a full stop in front of the guard house. I got off by jumping over the golden railing while Twilight Sparkle got out from the back.

“Stay here and guard the chariot.” The young, alicorn princess told the guard, in which they nod and salute in response.

Twilight Sparkle and I left the chariot behind as we approached the guard house of the Cherry Hill Ranch. The guard house looked almost like 4' by 8' teardrop trailer, only that it's made out of wood. Right in front of it was a propane gas tank and battery pack on the towing hook. On both sides were small windows with the lights inside on. I'm guessing that someone or somepony, a security guard that is, could be inside of that trailer though not entirely sure on what he or she is doing.

The both of us approached the trailer cautiously. Twilight knocked on the front door with her right forehoof and stood back to my right side. In an instant, the door opened to reveal a male Earth Pony with a mohawk mane colored gray and white. He was wearing what looked like a police uniform with a cutie mark of a police badge and he had a flashlight in his mouth that was lit on our faces. I covered my eyes with my arm left arm while Twilight shut her eyes tightly.

The Earth Stallion lowers his head and sets his flashlight down in front of him. “My apologies for the light, Princess Twilight Sparkle. How may I help you?”

“It's okay, Night Watch.” Twilight smiled as she reopened her eyes again. “We came here to see a worker. You mind if you go inside the Cherry Hill Ranch and get Daryl Blackburn to come talk to us outside?”

Night Watch nodded. “Yes, mam. I'll be right back.”

He steps off his trailer and gallops towards the left door next to the huge barn door of the Cherry Hill Ranch. I stood by with my arms folded next to Twilight as we witness enter the building and disappear. Hopefully, Daryl should be in there and ready to face justice.

Within minutes of waiting, Twilight Sparkle and I saw the front door opened. Coming out of the productive warehouse were Night Watch and...Daryl Blackburn! Oh crap! Now my gut started to tighten with intensity.

The 61st human approached us while still wearing a white smock, a head net, and a white cotton mask on his face. Instead of having an angered face or a terrified one, he kept it straight like nothing happened to him. He can keep pretending but I know what he did and I won't let it happen again. I just want to grab him and choke him for what he did to Aloe and that will be the end of it.

Once Daryl Blackburn came to us, Night Watch went back inside his teardrop trailer and shuts the door. It's only Twilight, myself, and Daryl outside the Cherry Hill Ranch in the dead of night. No turning back now! It's time for Daryl to crack!

“Yes, Princess?” Daryl Blackburn while bowing to her and standing back up again. “You wanted to talk to me?”

“Damn, right!” I said as I unfolded my arms. “You have a lot of explai...”

“FRANK, stop!” Twilight Sparkle interrupted. “Let me do the questioning while you stand back and not say anything.”

I looked at the purple alicorn and shrugged in response. I took a little step back while refolding my arms. My eyes, however, narrowed in anger right at Daryl's face.

“Daryl,” Twilight said out loud “I am here with Frank Archer because he told me that you are abusing Aloe and you threatened him at the spa. He also said that you are lying to Lotus, Dru, and Vera about your relationship with Aloe and broke off the friendship between you and the other three humans named Dean, Jerome, and Richard. What do you have to say for yourself?!?”

The 61st brute cocked an eyebrow, looks at Twilight's face and then at mine; and spits to his side, avoiding a micro splash in front of us. “Is that the reason why you brought me out here during my work hours?”

“JUST...ANSWER...THE QUESTION!” The alicorn stumped. I'm beginning to like this as a little smile formed on my face.

The 61st human put his hands to his hips, then darts his eyes to the ground while kicking a little bit of dirt under his shoe. He looks back at Twilight, then at me, and exhales a sigh of annoyance.

Daryl Blackburn clears his throat and looks at Twilight. “I have a a lot to say...but what I'm about to tell you is nothing but the truth.”

I rolled my eyes.

“I was rude to Aloe,” He continued. “and I yelled at her...because...”

There was a sudden moment of silence. I waited and waited for Daryl to finish. Unfortunately, he kept stalling.

“Be...cause...” Daryl stammered.

“Because why?!?” I asked, narrowing my eyes at him.

He bit his lip and looks at me. “...I was...jealous!”

Huh? Jealous? What does he mean by jealous, I thought.

“Care to explain?” Twilight questioned.

“I was jealous,” Daryl confessed. “And I was being overprotective to my special somepony. Last week, I had a rough time at work and I came home and Aloe was not there. I had no dinner made and I didn't feel like making dinner due to the stress I was going through. You know how painful being a supervisor is? Dealing with employees who want to start drama? Attending meetings and making significant changes to our work policy when the workers don't want to accept these changes and they yell at me for it like I was to be blamed? It's tttttoooo mmmmuuuccchhh!”

I looked at Twilight while she looks at me all baffled. The both of us looked back to Daryl Blackburn spilling the beans.

“So once I was home,” Daryl went on. “I heard some noise outside and I opened the door to see Aloe and Frank carrying grocery bags. Me being emotional that day, I grabbed the food and went in, expecting Aloe to follow. She didn't! So I yelled out her name and she came in. When I set the food on the table, we had an argument that lasted nearly 40 minutes and...Aloe said she was just hanging out with Frank and he walked her home and I yelled at her for not making me any food and that she should not have been out there in Ponyville by herself. Aloe could've been abducted and never seen again and I'll never be as happy as I was.”

Daryl takes a deep breath and looks at me. “The reason why I yelled at you is because seeing you with Aloe reminds me of my time on Earth when my late girlfriend, Kelly, spent most of her time hanging with this guy I used to know at old job. It pissed me off because I feared that I might lose her to some other guy and I wasn't going to allow that happen. Before she died the next month, Kelly told me that the guy she was hanging with, whom she thought was a friend of hers, began to make advances towards her. So much as so that he stalked her on Facebook and Twitter and leaving her nasty messages that I wanted to find the fucker and kill him.”

Daryl stops for a moment. He closes his eyes and massages them gently with his right index finger and thumb to prevent tears forming. “I was too late! He got her...and she's gone. Taken away from me and my life! When I came to Equestria, I made a vow that I will protect my special somepony from seeing another man.”

“But she was not seeing me!” I interrupted. “I had no intentions to take her as my marefriend. Aloe and I are just friends and I don't...feel that way about her and I'm pretty sure she doesn't feel the same, too.”

“Then why would you bring your ass here to confront me about this?” Daryl interrogated.

“I came here with Twilight Sparkle because she was the only alicorn to help me find out on what's been bothering you. I had to spend the whole Sunday researching about the E.V.A.N. Incident and the lockdowns; something that you know.”

“Yeah! I do know about those two events but what does that have to do with me?”

“My point is that you might be breaking the Human/Equine Law! You lied to your friends about your relationship with Aloe and you ruined a perfect friendship with three other people in the past! If Celestia, Luna, or the Royal Alicorn Society hears about this on what you've done, then you are as guilty as the last four humans that try to play the innocent ga...”

"I UNDERSTAND THAT!" Daryl Blackburn exploded. "I GET IT! I FUCKED UP! MY BAD! WHATEVER!"

I tilted my head a little but my mood and facial expression does not change, neither does Twilight Sparkle.

The troublemaker calms down a bit. "Look, I'm sorry for what I did. I lied to my future in-laws and everypony because I did it for a reason: I was trying to protect Aloe and teach her a lesson about seeing any other human that's not me unless she introduced me first. I broke the friendship between Jerome, Dean, Richard, and myself because we had disagreements in the past. Sometime we get along and other times we don't."

"Then what about the birthday incident?" I questioned him. "What happened to the dancers and what's your relation with Green Envy?"

Daryl Blackburn's eyes widen a bit. It looks like he's a bit surprised that I know about the other part of the story aside from my three Earth Brothers. I can sense that he's cornered and has nowhere to go from escaping the truth.

"My relation...," Daryl paused just so he can channel enough energy to prevent another anger explosion, "...my relation with her...was nothing! I was just a client and she was getting paid professionally and the thre..."

"BULLSHIT!" I yelled and pointed my right index finger. "YOU...ARE A LIAR! YOU HAD SEX WITH GREEN ENVY BEHIND ALOE'S BACK AND YOU ARE CHEATING ON HER!"

"I AM NOT FUCKING A LIAR!"

“YES YOU ARE!!!”

The both of us had an indistinct shouting match. We met face to face with our mouths reaching high volumes of anger and jealously. Our words exchange like bullets fired from two machine guns without reloading. Our chests were nearly touching each other and by any minute, our fists will all start flying. So much as so, that I balled up my fists with enough rage that I want to throw the first punch!

Until...

“BOYS!” Twilight intervened by using her magic to freeze us. “ENOUGH!!!”

Daryl and I couldn't budge within our own magical aura given by the young alicorn.

“I had enough to hear from the both of you!” Twilight Sparkle said. “You two are acting like children when you should be acting as grown adults and settle this peacefully!”

The princess's magic from her horn dissipated and we were released from the energy. I looked at her with my eyebrows cocked in knowing on what she meant.

“What do you mean peacefully?” I said with arms shrugging.

“What I mean,” Twilight Sparkle continued. “Is that you two should resolve this without violence. Furthermore, Frank Archer, I think you've done quite enough on getting the truth out of Daryl, so I believe that you are happy on getting what you wanted. And Daryl Blackburn, I would do anything in my power than to report this Celestia and the Royal Alicorn Society to have justice serve for your cruelest actions in the past. However, since the both of you do not want to face the death penalty of being zapped back to Earth, I'm giving you both...one option!”

One option? What is it? Please don't tell me that we have to...ugh..should I say it? Dare I say it? Hug...each...other!

Twilight Sparkle took a step back and pointed her right hoof towards us. “I want the two of you...to shake hands!”

OH...HELL...NO! I'm not doing that! I refuse to do that!

“I want the both of you to shake hands and call it peace,” Twilight instructed. “NOW!”

I looked at Daryl for a minute who is keeping a straight face and then to Twilight. My only response to this so called demand was nothing more than my shaking in disagreement. "I'm not doing it, Twilight."

"Frank!" She steamed. "Must I remind you that I'm stretching the rules of my duty for you privately. If the R.A.S. find out, I can imagine the amounts of respect you'll lose if you don't do what I tell you."

Whoa! That's a little harsh.

"Can we jus..." I try my best to stall her.

"NOW!"

I couldn't stand it anymore. Out of all the things that could've been resolved, it has to end this way with a handshake. A handshake...with someone who will still be with Aloe forever and more like so will continue to hurt her behind everyone and everypony's back. Even after his little explanation of what he's been doing in the past to current events, I still don't buy it. I know that he's still hiding something and wouldn't let it out. If there was some way for him to actually confess; something that will drive Daryl to his breaking point that he had no other choice.

But let's face facts: I tried! I failed! I wasted a perfect Sunday for me! It's time to get this over with and go to bed for I have to return to the pawn shop tomorrow.

I extended my right hand slowly towards him, insisting a handshake. “Under one condition: you allow me to see Aloe and threaten me again. Understand?”

Daryl looks at my eyes, thinking I might be playing. Though, I am not. What I just said is what I meant and that I get to see Aloe as much as I want without him bothering us.

He lifts his right hand, grasps mine tightly, and we both shake three times without saying a word to each other. Daryl releases his grip and looks at Twilight Sparkle. “May I go now?”

The alicorn princess bows her head. “You may. Have a nice night at work.”

Before Daryl Blackburn turned back to the Cherry Hill Ranch, he takes one more look at me. “...Sorry.”

I did not respond to his last word. You may  be sorry, Daryl, but I know that you are still a heartless bastard. I witness him walk go back to the front door, opening it, and closing it as he steps through. Once he was gone, I let out a deep sigh of defeat and turned my back to the chariot as I followed Twilight Sparkle.

“We have to get back to the castle before midnight,” Twilight spoke to we as we walked. “Otherwise, Cadance will get worried and sh...Frank...are you okay?”

I stopped in my tracks and crossed my legs while standing. I can feel that my bowels are in need of attention immediately!

“Ah, dang!” I said in a bit frantic. “I need to pee! Where's the nearest bathroom at?!? I need to go bad!”

Twilight sighed. “Come with me to the front door of the ranch. We'll ask Daryl or somepony that will allow you in.”

Holding in my expecting urine, Twilight Sparkle and I headed towards the door quickly and Twilight knocked while I stood back trying my best not to think of anything that's water. There was another moment of silence of nothing happening until Twilight knocked again. Then, there was a sound of footsteps approaching the door and the sound of the handle turning. The door opened to reveal...Daryl Blackburn...again.

“Yes?” Daryl greeted.

“Excuse me, Daryl.” Twiligh said. “Frank needs to use the bathroom quickly. Do you mind if he goes inside and use it?”

Daryl shook his head. “Sorry, Princess but that's against policy. However, Frank can go around the back to the Guest House and use the bathroom there.”

The 61st human got out of the there and pointed around the corner to a small, wooden two floor house with a porch that is near the line of cherry trees in the back. I'm guessing that's where I have to go right?

“Gee, thanks!” I shouted quickly and ran to the place.

I lifted the toilet seat up, unzipped my pants, and began to release my urine into the toilet bowl. I let out a relieved sigh as I let my mind wander a bit until I began to take a turn for thinking of what to do next.

“Damn, so much for finding out.” I said to myself. “Guess there is no shame left and he walks away as victor.”

As my toilet use came to an end, I flushed the toilet, and went to the sink. I turned on the facet to wipe my hands with soap and water while looking at my reflection in the mirror. Right next to me on left was a window being covered in drapes designed with red cherries and a towel rack with a small brown towel

“Gotta think, gotta think.” I whispered. “What can I do?”

I shut off the water and grabbed the small towel next to the window. As I wiped my hands, my right eyeball caught a glimpse of a dimming light coming from the outside of the window. I diverted my attention to the dimming light...which began to move upper northwest away from the Guest House to the cherry trees.

“The hell?” I spoke softly as my right hand moved the drape away cautiously and carefully not to be seen.

What I saw was a bit surprising: it was Daryl Blackburn again...and he's carrying a latern. What is he doing with a lantern at this time of night when he should be working at his job? He might be up to something and I have a hunch that whatever he's doing might not be pretty.

I closed the drape, exit the bathroom, and walked out of the Guest House silently. My eyes were still focused on Daryl's lantern as it moved from northwest to northeast. Where is he going? In a stealth like fashion, I followed by moving silently while following his latern, ducking behind trees and bushes as I got closer to him. I was feeling my stomach turning and my heart rate was going off the charts. Beads of sweat came down my forehead and my breathing got a bit heavy. The more I continued to follow him, the more nervous I got.

I ducked behind another tree as Daryl exited out of the line of cherry trees to an open field. Once more, I crept to another tree to get a better view on what he's doing with the lantern in his left hand. Good news is that he has not spotted me nor know the fact I'm 30 feet away from him. He's all alone with nopony and no one else but his lantern. I witness him lift up the lantern...and start touching it with his right in some weird way. One minute he's tapping it and the other he's holding and then tapping again. I know what he's doing: he's communicating to something in morse code! However, who is he talking to? All I see ahead of him in the distance that was miles away from where I at was a snow covered mountain range and nothing in the desert.

I continued to watch Daryl tapping and holding the lantern when suddenly, there was a response! Up at the tip of the mountain range was another light – a green one – flickering on and off as to send a message back to Daryl!

“The fuck is that?” I whispered silently as I continued to watch Daryl send another message. The mysterious green light responded again and in flash, flew off the mountain range and into the night sky to the south of the mountain range. To simply put, it vanished out of sight in break neck speed!

All was quiet between Daryl and myself behind a tree. The 61st human lowered his lantern and slowly turns around back to entering where he came from – right towards my hiding spot! I gasped quietly and hid to the nearest bush before he had a chance to see me. I held my breath and covered my mouth as saw Daryl past my hiding spot while holding his lit lantern. As I continued to watch in the darkness, he went down the same path as before by going through the Cherry Tree lines as his source of light got smaller and smaller in the distance.

When the coast was cleared, I got out of the bush and ran as fast I can to get out this area.

"Gotta tell Twilight!" I huffed as I continued to dash. "Gotta tell Twilight!"