Hearts and Hooves Day

Hearts and Hooves Day

Chapter 8: It's not a rocky relationship nor jealousy...it's abuse

After spending 30 minutes in the sauna, Silver Dollar and I got up, grabbed our stuff, and left this hot oven. The grey unicorn opens the door as I followed behind, hoping to see Aloe and Daryl still in the massage area. I hope Aloe is okay though because for the past few minutes, I've been thinking about her and how she sounded like all depressed.

As the both of us entered the massage area, there was no sign of Aloe nor Daryl. It was empty like a ghost town. I wonder what happened to them? Did they went home? Did they went out? Where? I stood there looking at the same exact massage table where I was on right before Daryl took over. I began to have a flashback about the event from earlier as it played in mind.

“Yeah...I...I'm done. I'm just going to get my robe...and go to the sauna. I apologize if I did cause any trouble.”

Daryl rolls his eyes. “Whatever. Next time, there won't be an apology if I ever catch you with her again.”

I didn't say anything but went to grab my robe. I looked at Aloe and noticed her eyes were a bit watery like she was going to cry. I wanted to help her but I feel as though Daryl will murder me if I try.

“MOVE IT!!!” Daryl commanded at me.

I backed up and walked towards the sauna. Before I entered the door, I looked back once more and saw Aloe giving Daryl a back massage.

“AND MAKE SURE YOU GIVE ME A LONG ONE!!!” He ordered at Aloe.

“...Yes, Daryl.” The spa pony said in a tone of depression.”

“Frank...Frank...”

“...FRANK!!!” a familiar voice from a stallion exclaimed in the room.

I snapped out of my episode and I turned my head to see Silver Dollar standing next to the door to the hallway of the Spa.

“What's gotten into you?” He questioned with a concerned face.

I shook my head and regain my concentration. “Nothing. Just daydreaming.”

“You sure you okay, man? Did something happened between you an...”

“Silver Dollar! I said I'm fine. Let me just go in the locker room, get changed, and we'll meet up outside. There's nothing to talk about and there's no issue.”

The rich unicorn just nodded his head and walked into the lobby as I departed towards the locker room. I went to my locker, grabbed my gym bag, and opened it up. I took out the clothes from earlier and put them on while putting away my sweaty, workout clothes in the bag. I took out my deodorant and body spray and used them to make myself smell fresh as I exit out of the place. I certainly don't want anyone to think that I am gross for having poor hygiene. Once my body was covered with a pleasant smell, I left the locker room with my gym bag in tow and went towards the Exit door that leads to the lobby.

I opened the door and noticed Silver Dollar tapping his left fore hoof on the ground waiting patiently. Besides him, I turned my head to the counter and saw Lotus reading the local newspaper while munching on an apple. Behind her was her Dru writing on a message on his notepad while drinking a cup of coffee. However, Vera was not present anywhere nor Aloe. I got to ask for some answers.

“Ready to head out?” Silver Dollar asked me.

I turned to him. “Uh...go right ahead and I'll catch up. I got to talk to somepony.”

He stared at me for a second until he shrugs, opens the front door, and exits. I walked towards the counter to meet up with Lotus and Dru. Lotus puts down the paper as I approached her and greets me with a warm a smile on her face.

“Hi Frank!” Lotus said.

“Hey, Lotus.” I replied.

“How was your day here at the spa? I would love to hear some feedback.”

“It wasn't bad but the yoga class was fun. I might have to come back next week for another round. However, Lotus...I want to ask you something.”

Lotus blinked. “Hmmm? What?”

I took a deep breath and began to ask away. “Do you know where Aloe is? I mean, I didn't see her after I left the sauna.”

The blue spa pony put her right fore hoof to her chin to think for a moment. After a few seconds, she set her hoof down and looks back at me with a straight face.

“Oh, Aloe left 12 minutes ago with Daryl and Vera.” Lotus explained. “She had to go to the train station to say goodbye to Daryl because he had to leave to Dodge Junction. He works the night shift at the Cherry Hill Ranch as a Supervisor.”

“Dodge Junction? Why that far?”

“Well...” Dru said as he jumped into the conversation. “He used to work here but left because he wasn't satisfied with the payrate. When Daryl heard about Applejack's previous work experience in Dodge Junction, he traveled down there and accepted the job. He got promoted within three months of working and became supervisor for the company.”

This was rather intriguing to hear about but I have to get to the point.

“Yeah but I want to know something about Daryl.” I said. “Have you two ever witness Daryl doing something...uncalled for with Aloe?”

The two lovers looked at me with blank faces and glanced at each other. After staring, they looked back towards me.

“What do you mean?” Lotus questioned.

“I mean,” I continued. “Have you two seen Aloe all in the dumps or torn whenever she's with him?”

“Are you saying that Daryl is hurting my sister?” The spa pony asked with her voice sounding all worried.

“I wouldn't say that but...more like...abusing her.”

Lotus' azure eyes opened up wide in shock as she gasped after what I just said. She even try to cover up her gasp by putting her fore hooves to her mouth and hung her head down in disbelief. Dru got up from his chair and went over to comfort his fiance by wrapping his arms around her. Was it something that I said that sounded bad?

“It's okay my love.” Dru whispered to his special somepony. “I'm right here.”

“Lotus?” I said. “Are you okay?”

“Mate, why would you say that to her?!?” Dru shot at me. “Have you know shame?”

“What?” I questioned with a sudden surprise. “I'm just asking if Daryl had done something bad. Last night, I escorted Aloe home to her place when Daryl appeared in the front door and he didn't seem kind of nice and just shouted out loud for Aloe to come inside. Then earlier today, Aloe was giving me a massage when Daryl intervenes again out of nowhere. However, he just...I don't know...he...threatened me, forced Aloe to give him a massage, I wen...”

“Frank!” Lotus stops me. “I don't want to hear this! I don't know what kind of nonsense you're speaking of but this is ridiculous.”

Nonsense? Is Lotus calling me a liar? I never lie to all of my friends and I'll be damned if I did.

“What do you mean?!?” I said. “I...I...just witness Daryl...”

“Frank, mate!” Dru interrupts. “If Daryl did something awful to my future sister-in-law, I would've taken care of that bloody bastard. Did I took care of him? No! You want to know why? When I saw Daryl, Aloe, and Vera left for the station, Daryl was being very nice to Aloe so therefore she seemed very fine.”

This was strange! Are they brainwashed? Am I missing something? Daryl being “nice” to Aloe...even after I saw Daryl being rude to her and me in the massage room? What exactly happened for the past few minutes when I wasn't present?

“Are you sure about that?” I asked Dru. "I mean, are you talking about The Daryl Blackburn and not A Daryl Blackburn?"

“Frank, enough!” Lotus spoke. “Daryl is a nice man and he wouldn't do anything bad to my sister! I think you should go right now because Dru and I have a lot of work to do. Now, I'm not mad at you or anything since you are one of my best friends and all but for the love of Celestia, don't ever tell me anymore lies. Understand?”

I nodded. “Yeah...I'm sorry about that. You two have a great day.”

I headed towards the front door and exited out of the spa where my best friend was waiting. As I did, I can see the look on his face that he was rather impatient than calm. I never seen him look like this before but only defending me from outrage customers at the pawn shop.

“Frank, you mind telling me what's going on?” Silver Dollar interrogated.

I sighed. “Silver Dollar...let me ask you this: what do you know about relationships?”

The rich unicorn tilted his head back in surprised.

“What?!?” He asked.

“What do you know about relationships?” I repeated. “What do you know about when a gu...er...stal...stallion...gets out of ha...er...hoof when he comes in contact with his mare talking or seeing another...stallion?”

“Uh...I don't know. I never had that experience.”

He began to trot away to the direction to the train station. I decide to walk with him and continue the conversation. Speaking of the train station, this could be an opportunity to confront Aloe and Vera about Daryl and see if they can at least answer me on what is Daryl's problem.

“What do you mean, Silver?” I asked. “I'm just asking if you ever witness something like that. When a mare has a friend...and that friend and that mare are like 'close'...and that stallion who is that mare's coltfriend...happens to barge in and cause a scene thinking that the two are almost seeing each other behind his back. However, the friend tries to explain that is not true on what the coltfriend thinks and then the coltfriend starts arguing and harassing the mare in front of the friend...”

“Frank, I'm not following this. Can you start making sense?”

I shook my head and just got to the point. “Remember you asked me earlier if I'm okay in the sauna?”

“Yeah?” Silver Dollar said. “Why?”

“Well, there was something wrong with me. You see, earlier, Aloe became my assigned massager and we were just having a pleasant conversation about you inviting me over to the movies and such. As she was about to tell me something, her boyfriend, some dude named Daryl Blackburn, barges in like a bat out of hell and...starts yelling at us.”

“Why would he yell at you?” The grey unicorn asked in a confused manner.

I threw my arms out and shrugged. “I don't know! He...he just...yelled at me and accused me of nearly kissing his marefriend but I didn't! I mean, I never kissed a woman...or mare...before. Not only did he accused me but he also did it to Aloe but the both us told him the truth: I was only getting a massage and that's all. Finally, he yells at me to leave while he demands a long massage from Aloe. She was very helpless and tearing up and I wasn't able to help her.”

We approached another street and turned right towards the station up ahead.

“Sounds like he's a total bucking moron.” Silver Dollar said. “What kind of guy would treat his special somepony like that?”

“I don't know.” I replied. “I mean, last night, Aloe and I were walking home just having a conversation and she was about to tell me something until Daryl pops up from the doorway of her house. That's when I met him for the first time and...suddenly...he just doesn't feel like talking to me so he just grabs the groceries from Aloe and tells her 'lets go' and in a few minutes he says 'ALOE! GET IN HERE NOW!' What is up with that?”

The rich unicorn ponders for a moment as we finally approached the station. The station wasn't as busy as I thought it would be on a Saturday afternoon though most of the times when I go to work on the weekends, it's was a pain in the ass to wait in line to get a ticket with a bunch of ponies and humans going to several different cities. At least I got to work on time so that's all that matters.

I surveyed the area to see if I can spot Aloe and Vera but to my disappointment, they weren't there. I believe I just missed them and wasted a chance to speak to those two about Daryl. I felt like kicking myself for failing. I accompanied Silver Dollar to the ticket booth and he purchases his ticket to the next train that leaves to Canterlot.

“So...” I went on. “What do you think?”

“To me,” Silver Dollar said as he got onto the train platform. “I believe it's more like a rocky relationship.”

I was dumbfounded by this. “Rocky relationship?”

The grey unicorn nodded. “Yeah. Daryl and Aloe must have had their ups and downs; confusions, arguments; yada yada yada! In the end, the issue will be solved and the two will be happier again. Does that solve anything?”

“Actually...no. I don't believe that's the issue.”

“What do you mean by that?" Silver Dollar questioned.

“I'm mean,” I continued. “If it was rocky relationship, Daryl wouldn't cause a ruckus the next following day with Aloe and I again. He could have been more peaceful and friendly but not act like a fucking asshole.”

“Okay...then...maybe he's jealous.”

I feel like stomping my foot on the ground in frustration. “JEALOUS?!? I don't even buy it! It's not a rocky relationship nor is it jealousy! I believe it's abuse and he's pretending to be like a total nice guy behind the backs of Aloe's family. Even when I tell them about Daryl, they don't believe me. They say 'Frank, Daryl is a nice guy. He would never hurt Aloe.' Have I lost my mind?!? Has everypony and everyone not see what I'm seeing?!? What can I do, Silver?!?”

After ranting a bit, a train pulled up behind Silver Dollar. It was destined to depart towards Canterlot. The grey unicorn grabs his gym bag and walks towards one of the passenger cars. Before he went on, he turns back to me to say one last thing.

“I don't know what to tell you, Frank,” Silver Dollar said. “But if you want my advice, you should talk to an expert or why don't you speak to Princess Celestia, Luna, Cadence, or Twilight Sparkle. For me personally, I never was in a situation like this nor had any experience. Maybe it's a rocky relationship or maybe it's jealousy but abuse? If Daryl was abusing Aloe and pretending to be nice in front of her family, then he's breaking Human/Equine Law. You remember the terms to that law, right?”

“Yeah I remember that.” I explained. “The law states:If a human abuses, cheats, or harms his special somepony in an unprofessional manner, punishment will be tolerated by the R.A.S. In other words, a human came here to Equestria to find happiness, friendship, and love. If you fuck up, you don't get another chance. Still, I'm sticking to what I'm saying and I need to find out what's going on.”

“I understand that.” Silver Dollar agreed. “Just go talk to the princesses and see what they said. Other than that, just be careful, okay? I have to go right now so you see at work on Monday.”

“Right.” I replied. “Have a safe trip back home.”

I waved goodbye to my friend as he goes inside the passenger car. Within minutes, the train departs to its destination as I began to walk back into Ponyville. With my gymbag in my hand, I stroll down the street towards City Hall while trying to come up with a plan. Should I talk to Princess Celestia and address the issue or just figure it out on my own? If I don't come up with something soon, Daryl would still be abusing Aloe and still make threats towards me. Damn, that's one thing I left out when I was explaining to Silver Dollar about Daryl's attitude: that threat I got earlier. That's another thing about breaking Human/Equine Law: never make threats! Alright, I might as well talk to Celestia about this...but how?

I stopped thinking for a minute and realized that I was a bit hungry. I changed my route and headed towards Sugarcube Corner. I can go for a brownie, a chocolate cupcake, a muffin, a soda pop, an...wait! A muffin?!? The moment I thought about a muffin had a light bulb lit in my brain. Now, I know exactly what to do to talk to Celestia: I need a pegasus to send her a message for a private meeting. I took my bag and began to jog towards the bakery. I just hope that ditzy pegasus can work out a deal with me because hey, who else can't resist muffins?