Grey Mane

"Hey, Grey Mane!"

Oh, for crap's sake! Grey Mane groaned in frustration as the mare with the rainbow mane and tail flew over him and landed in front of him. The grey pony really didn't want to talk, and kept walking.

"What's the big idea? We threw a party for you, and you just take off, just like that?"

Grey Mane just stared at the ground, keeping his pace. He didn't want to talk about that. Rainbow Dash was probably angry with him now. Rainbow stepped in front of him, making him stop.

"Excuse me, I am trying to talk to you," she said, annoyed.

"Well, I would really like to get something to eat." Grey Mane was also annoyed, though he also felt a bit of fear that he had done a bad thing by leaving the party.

"Well, what makes eating so important that it can't wait for just a few minutes?"

"Six PM?" Grey Mane deadpanned.

Rainbow Dash facehoofed and sighed. "Look, we just wanted to welcome you to our town. I mean, I could already tell that you weren't a social guy, but I thought that you would at least appreciate the effort we all put into it, as well as try to make some friends. But clearly, that party was all for nothing because you decided to ditch us."

This only made Grey Mane feel worse. The town had tried to do something nice for him, but he hated it. He always felt that he didn't deserve such nice things, but he knew that if he didn't accept them, he would risk upsetting others and then they would hate him. He was used to feeling hated, but he hated that feeling. He always wanted to have friends, but friendships never last for long. Sooner or later, they would leave to live somewhere else, or they would turn against him. He began to believe that he didn't deserve friendship, and whenever opportunity knocked, he slammed the door in its face. He pushed away every chance he got. He didn't deserve friends or anything else nice. It's like he was meant to live in misery.

"And you keep carrying these saddlebags around." The blue mare grabbed one of the bags and shook it, showing what she was talking about. Grey Mane quickly moved back a few steps. "What's up with that? It seems kind of weird to bring them with you everywhere you go. What, are you trying to hide something?"

"Um, I--" Grey Mane didn't know what to say due to the fear that the intimidating mare brought upon him. He couldn't tell her the truth, but he knew better than to lie too. "I don't--"

Rainbow Dash glared at the grey stallion, becoming more suspicious of his behavior. "You are hiding something, aren't you?"

"Well, I--I would really rather not--" He could no longer make eye contact.

"You would rather not say?" The mare finished. Somehow, Rainbow Dash had gone from nice and friendly to suspicious. "You know something... something that we don't and probably should. Is that why you are acting the way you are?"

What was I thinking?! I should have known they would be suspicious of me. Why didn't I just stay inside? Why am I always so stupid?

"Just what are you hiding? Are you a spy?" Her eyes narrowed.

Grey Mane lowered his head in fear. Tears started building up in his eyes. He tried to say something, but all that would come out was a small whimper.

"Rainbow Dash!" Bith ponies looked over at Applejack, who was glaring angrily at Rainbow as she stormed her way to the pegasus. "Just what in the hay do ya think you're doin'? You know better than to be treatin' someone like that!"

"He's hiding something AJ! I think he's after Twilight, just like his other friends." The blue mare gave Grey Mane an angry stare, and he shrunk back. He could already feel tears running down his cheeks.

"Rainbow, what is wrong with you?! That is a very harsh assumption to make. I doubt he really has anything to hide."

"Well I know he does. He just doesn't want to tell us."

Applejack sighed. She looked at Grey Mane and spoke calmly. "Grey Mane, if there is somethin' you don't want to tell us, then you don't need to tell us. Now you can go back to whatever it was you were doin'. Don't worry about her. I got this." She smiled at the terrified stallion before she lead the pegasus away from him.

He just nodded and walked back the way he came. He decided to find something at home to eat. He really needed the safety of his house more than ever.

The two ponies stopped when they reached the wall of a building. Applejack sighed, tilting her hat back to scratch her head, and tilting it forward again. She knew that since the three weeks that Twilight Sparkle has been a princess, Rainbow Dash has been a bit out of character. It was worrying the farm pony.

"Rainbow Dash, I know that for a while you have been kind of paranoid, but not everypony you see is gonna be after Twilight. You really need to stop worryin' so much."

"Applejack, there is something up with that guy. I mean--"

The orange earth pony held up her hoof, and the pegasus stopped talking. "I know your very suspicious of him. I understand that. And yes, it is kind of odd that he would carry his saddlebags everywhere he goes, but that don't give you no right to instantly place him on your list of suspects without a good reason."

Rainbow looked at her friend in disbelief. "Well, clearly, he has something to hide by wearing them all the time. I think we need to find out what it is."

Applejack groaned in annoyance. "You know what, Rainbow? I think he's hiding somethin' too. I think those bags are bein' used to cover somethin'."

"Exactly--"

But... I doubt it's anythin' worth freakin' out about. Maybe it's somethin' anyone would want to hide, whatever it might be. So why don't ya just quit worrying about him?

"Applejack, what is the matter with you? You weren't like this with any of those other guys who came before. Why are you defending this guy?"

"I can sniff out a spy from a mile away, but I haven't seen anything about Grey Mane worth worrying about."

"Well, still, I think we should keep an eye on both him and Twilight, 'cause, I mean, you never know."

Applejack sighed. "Rainbow Dash, why must ya make it impossible to reason with you. Stop worrying about her so much. I am sure he is not after Twilight. Besides, I think she can handle herself."

"After last week, I don't think we should take chances. She would have been dead if I wasn't there in time."

Applejacklooked confused. "What?"

"When you were gone at some family gathering in Appleoosa, some other dude actually almost killed her. Why do you think there are guards?"

Applejack was wide-eyed. "Oh."

Not everypony was fond of their ruler, but it had been a long time since anyone had tried to assassinate any of the princesses. But it had not happened since guards were positioned in the throne room in Canterlot. Celestia's bedroom however, was well protected by some kind of magic. It was the same for Luna. But Twilight hadn't been assigned guards as she has been working her brain, trying to figure out that strange six-lock box from the Tree of Harmony. She thought it wouldn't be that long, but now... now she has a couple guards outside her library.

"Well... I guess I understand why you were so protective, but still, I think that Grey Mane is not involved in this. I think you should lay off."

"I don't know, Applejack."

"Can you just trust me on this?"

Rainbow sighed. "Fine, I'll back off. But now he's gonna hate me after what I said to him."

"Well look on the bright side. That's all you will recieve for punishment, 'cause my original plan was to kick you in the jaw." Applejack gave her friend a little smirk.

**********

Grey Mane sat at the kitchen table at his home, just eating plain empty bread. The least his aunt could have done was buy more peanut butter before running out. This was obviously why they gave him the money. As he ate, his thoughts were filled with worry.

What was all that about? Earlier she was being all friendly, and then she suddenly hates me and thinks I am trying to kill someone?! Why would anyone think that just because of a pair of stupid saddlebags?!

If I leave my house, she's probably gonna attack me or something. Or someone else will, if she told anyone else. Everypony's gonna hate me.

He bangs his head on the table, groaning in anger. His angerwas not directed at Rainbow Dash entirely, but mostly at himself. He always hated the way he was. Why did he even exist anyway? Was there a point for him even being around?

He often wished he was never born, or that he was no longer alive. But he would never commit suicide, and he knew it. He was the type of pony who would continue to live his life, no matter how miserable he was. But if Rainbow Dash thought he was here to kill Princess Twilight, he might not have too much longer anyway.

So I will just have to stay inside.

That was the perfect plan. He would just stay inside his house, away from the fury of Rainbow Dash. She would certainly bring him harm if he were to be seen by her.

But he would have to leave the house eventually, when his aunt made him do so. He always felt like he didn't have a choice when the family gathers to celebrate something. He hated leaving home, his bedroom, his safe haven. He would prefer to stay here all day reading, writing, singing to himself, or just daydreaming. This was the only place he really wanted to be.

Here, he felt safe.

Buddy's tags jingled as he walk to Grey Mane and began sniffing his front leg. The stallion petted the dog. "Hey there, Buddy. Whatcha doin'?" he said in a high pitched voice. The dog stretched his head to sniff in front of Grey Mane's mouth, apparently smelling his breath. The pony chuckled. "You're so weird. Silly Buddy. Silly Buddy!" He was petting him with both hooves now. Meanwhile he was coninuing his train of thought.

He would eventually have to leave the house. And if he did, Rainbow Dash would get him. She was the absolute last pony he wanted to see now. She would take him down so easily. He was weak; he would never be able to defend himself. He hated violence. He wouldn't be able to run either. She could fly, and flying is faster.

His fear grew more and more as he thought, until Buddy started walking towards the back door. "You have to go outside?" He walked to the door and unlocked it. He opened the door and the dog rushed outside, sniffing the ground. Grey Mane let a different thought enter his mind.

You are the only friend I have in this place.