A Quiet Cabin On The Edge Of The Everfree

I dragged a cheap wooden chair onto the porch. In the two weeks since she left Rouge was making a name for herself, modeling, networking, living. I couldn't be mad at her, I really couldn't, but not having her here hurt me. I'd since pulled the wires for my porch lantern out and Jerry rigged something I could take outside. Winter was in full swing, the creatures of the Everfree were hibernating and I could always count on some company if I turned it on.

But the moths that came now, spazztic and jittery, couldn't be let into my house. They were like children, running around a mile a minute and tearing up my house like mad. Letting them inside would be carpentry suicide, and I wasn't about to let the last thing I had in my life get eaten up by a bunch of crazed children.

But, outside, wrapped up in a thick jacket and a thick pair of socks I could enjoy a little company. I flicked my fire hazard of a light switch on and sat back. The dark void that stared at me was terrifying, the very essences of my fear. I had to brave it though. Without the contact they gave me I would be truly alone, going mad like a hermit.

"What's up?" A gravely voice asked, followed by a soft, woosh, as a rather large pony fluttered down along the railing of my porch. A scaly mare, half dragon by her accounts, curled up her tail and picked at her claw. "Bug friends aren't gonna come around tonight, saw 'em all huddle up in a big pile."

She looked like any other pony. Normal body, but a pair of horns jutting out and curving along her skull were a dead give away, as were the leathery wings and scaly body. Like someone stretched a dragon over a pony skeleton.

I took a deep breath, "...You gonna stick around?"

"...I can?" Kiri pulled her claws back, her hand almost looking like a hoof when she did. "Do you want me to?"

"...It'd be nice." I muttered, setting the switch down. "...How've you been?" I asked, simply trying to get some kind of conversation going.

The dracony just stared at me, a confused look on her face. "...Fine, I mean...uh...." Kiri scratched her neck, "That's kind of a weird thing to say."

"...Is it?" I asked, staring out into the thick black void that sat beyond the trees. "I don't think it is...."

Kiri looked uncomfortable. "...I come here like...once a month...so I can't say this for sure, but then again some human moved into the crag a while ago so.... Dude you're acting funny." She blurted out, turning her hand up and stretching her claws. "And I grew up with dragons, so...I mean, I know funny."

"Ponies are weirder than dragons.... Dragons are just assholes." I stated, my tact annihilated a while ago. "...So what's up?"

Kiri started slowly digging her claws into my railing, her expression more frightened than I could have imagined. "Uh...nothing...." She continued to dig her claws into the wooden railing, tearing grooves into the hard wood. "What's up with you?"

I took a deep breath. "...Bought a gun." I stated, staring out, still waiting for something to come visit.

The half pony mare stepped down from her roost, "Um...why?"

I shrugged, a strange pudgy expression forming as I pushed my lips to the side. "Dunno'. Thought I might end it, blow my brains out, but-" I started laughing, "-idiot me forgot you need bullets. I sat in my den punning the hammer back all day."

Kiri stared at me. A muted expression rode her face as she sat at my front. "...Do you want a hug or something? Like, should I go into town and call someone to make sure you're alright?"

I started laughing, "I live in Equestria, I'm human, I can't bring myself to live in town so I live out in the sticks, I have no entertainment besides reading, the one romantic relationship I got past talking left for a better life, and I don't have the balls to go with her!" I jumped up, throwing my arms out. "Do I look alright!?"

The dragon spawn stared at me, slowly lifting a foreleg and putting the dull of her claw on my head. "Sit...sit down...yeah...." She pushed me into my seat, patting my head gently as she did. "There...now...I'm gonna take a step back, then freak out at you, okay?"

I shook my head. "Save it. This has been going on a long time, and I've already heard anything you could say." I rubbed my face. "God damn...I talk so clearly when I'm fucking mad...but as soon as I get out into a crowd it just- feels like I'm talking with food in my mouth."

Kiri put a claw on my knee. "Why did I get involved, Kiri you idiot...." She whispered, scratching my leg slightly. "Uh...so, what's the problem?"

I slumped back in my seat. "See...you don't even care. You care just enough to ask, that's it."

Kiri cocked her head. "Hey...I...sorta care. You're like one of the few people I talk to that doesn't immediately try to headbutt me. I mean, sure half dragon, but I don't have a lead skull!"

I rubbed my face, slumping further down. "You know...I'm asking for help and you keep bringing it back to yourself. That's...really nice."

Kiri cocked her head. "You were asking for help? But--"

"I was asking, subtly. If I ask outright it just sounds like I'm bitching." I stated, still rather angry. "...Wanna punch you right now."

Kiri shook her head. "You know...I was raised around a bunch of macho jerks. If you don't ask something outright, I'm gonna just ignore it."

"How nice." I mumbled, pulling at my chin, "...Why the fuck do I even bother shaving anymore...."

Kiri tapped her claws together, "Uh...so...you wanted help?"

I let out a tired huff, pulling a few letters from my sweater pocket. "...I was gonna just...here, burn these." I tossed Kiri the stack of saved up letters. "I'm letting it go...."

Kiri fumbled, dropping the letters across my deck. "Gah- shit!" She nabbed one out of the air, quickly turning it over to look at the name. "...Who the heck is Rouge."

I started chuckling. "...Remember what I said about caring just enough to ask?"

"Alright stop being a dick!" Kiri yelped, throwing a foreleg out. "I'm not good with this shit! Now who is this!?" She poked through the envelope with her claw. "What- read this to me!"

"Read it yourself." I shot back, tired, quiet. "Kiri just burn them for me! If I throw them away I'll just dig them out of the trash. I need them to be gone and I can't do it myself!"

Kiri grew a bit red, fire twirling from between her lips. "I can't freaking read pony. Now are you gonna--"

"It's the girl that left me!" I screamed, kicking a few letters into the snow. "Alright!? You fucking happy now!?"

Kiri glared at me, her horns forming a V as she lowered her head. "Stop...being, a dick." She commanded, picking up the few letters that remained on the porch. "Now...who did what?"

I started to yell, catching myself and stopping. "Are you fuck-- ...You know, I really want to be mad at you. But I really think you might just be stupid...." I rubbed my eyes, exhaustion slowly overtaking me. "That mare...the mare sending me letters, she left to go to Prance, make something of her life."

Kiri scratched the scales on her jaw. "Oh...that's fucked up man."

I waved her off, "She asked me if I wanted to come, so I can't really be mad."

Kiri glared at me. "Then why didn't you go!?"

I shook my head, tapping my toes on the ground. "I can't go to Prance. I'd break down, I wouldn't be able to go shopping for groceries without having a panic attack or screaming like an animal. I can't handle crowds, so heading to one of the most crowded cities in Equestria would be suicide."

Kiri moved her claw to her neck. "...Well...do you like...take something for it?"

"I did. Back before I came to Equestria. But they just messed with my head even worse. By the time Equestria had that portal open up, I was running out of options. I figured this place sounded really rural, spacious, ponies are short, crowds wouldn't be so bad, but no." I chuckled, "...Why the fuck am I laughing? I- I'm talking about the thing that killed my chances with every girl I ever liked, and I'm fucking laughing!" Thinking about it only made me laugh harder. "Jesus...I just- I'm a fucking loser. I'm such a fucking loser even I think it's funny!"

Kiri just sat there, staring at me, worried. "Um...so anyways, this mare...she went where?"

"Prance!" I shouted, not angry, but excited. "Oh yeah, big ol' Prance. Fucking sounds like a pun on France, get it!?"

Kiri looked at the letters. "...This...this the place? I'm alright with numbers." She stated, pointing at the return address.

I shook my head. "Shes got a house. She told me shes got a house. Not even an apartment, a fucking house. She got a dog...bet shes got another stallion or something. God damn...she left me and just went straight to the fucking top!" I screamed, my insides twisting into deep knots. "Oh god...god damn it all...." I jumped from my chair. "Jesus- fuck!" I screamed, running forehead first into the wall, my heart racing like mad. Fear consumed me, guiding me into a pitched frenzy. "God damn it, why!?" I screamed, clutching my chest, my heart feeling like it was trying to give up.

My breathing was shallow and weak. "I just- I don't know what else I can do! I tried to get help and nothing worked!"

"Dude...."

I felt like everything was locking up, the light growing narrow as the dark wood started squeezing tight with the borders of the forest. "Jesus- fuck- fuck!"

"Dude!" Kiri grabbed me, sending me skyrocketing into mania. I grabbed her forelegs, trying to kick her away.

"I can't fucking breathe!" I shouted, hyperventilating.

"What does she look like!?" Kiri snapped, forcing the letter into my face. "What does she look like!?"

"Red!" I screamed, kicking at Kiri's back legs. "Off, off me now!" I shouted, digging my nails fruitlessly against her scales. "Off now!"

Kiri held me in place. "Twenty-thirty-nine, Charda Road, Prance!?" She yelled, forcing the letter against my cheek. "Is that it!?"

"Fucking off me right now!"

"Sorry Henry, I'll watch your cabin." She stated, tossing the letter aside and ramming a claw into my gut. It felt like getting kicked straight in the stomach by a pony, the blunt end of her hand forcing me to my knees. I had two seconds of extreme pain before another slap slammed my head into the wall and sent me into a daze. "...Never been to Prance...." Kiri mumbled, rubbing her hoof and stretching her long neck. "Eh...free cabin." She groaned, lifting my onto her back and guiding me hands around her neck. "Now...hold on, maybe stop yelling."

"What- fuck?" I asked, my jaw starting to swell. "...Why?"

Kiri looked back as she stretched out her wings and took off. "Because you just bitched at me over a mare for about an hour! There's gotta be something there...maybe she can help you with...whatever your issue is."

I gave up. I'd known Kiri on and off for a few months and she wasn't exactly bright. I was going to die within the next few hours. Either from a concussion, from a panic attack, suicide or her dropping me from on high. But, maybe I'd get to die seeing Rouge a final time, and that's something I would never have done without some help.

But for now it was bed time, and maybe things would be better when I woke up. They certainly couldn't get much worse.