Those Who Need A Friend

Sane woke the next morning with a drawn out sigh of contempt. It took him a minute to even want to get out of bed, but eventually rolled off, landing shakily on his hooves. In his closet sat his discarded guard armor he kept locked up when he didn't need it. He loathed it, and hated wearing the damn thing. A job is a job though...

Once he secured the last piece of his armor, his helmet in place, he picked his sheath and sword and strapped it around his waist. He scolded himself momentarily for waking up at the last minute as per the norm. Though he did so, so that he didn't sit in his room for thirty minutes bent up over the fact he had to work before he actually went to work.

Today wouldn't be so bad though, he was an escort, meaning he was a roving guard. He wasn't stuck at some gate all day staring at a dusty road for eight hours. His job wasn't really all that bad but his pessimistic side wouldn't let him register the fact.

Another good thing was he was to meet his relief at the Sugar Cube Corner Pastry Shop, which would be opening around the same time he arrived. Technically he wasn't supposed to become distracted or buy anything on duty but who was going to stop him? Hell none of the guards followed their procedures. Their Captain didn't much care either as long as their shenanigans didn't result in any collateral damage or hurt Equines. The Captain was quite lazy himself really, and never actually showed up anywhere he didn't absolutely have to be.

The Ponyville guard was a small off the grid unit, mainly for local protection. The main body force barely cast them a glance in their monthly reports. Which was just fine to the Ponyville guard force. This just meant they could do pretty much whatever they wanted. Now you would think this would lead to guards abusing their power but you'd be wrong.

If there was one thing the majority of the guard hated it was insubordinate guards. Sane remembered one time in particular where a new guard named Silver Oar, from somewhere he couldn't really remember had tagged along with their group. His first day of duty he caused a disturbance at some fruit stand over taking an apple from their cart.

Sane had been the second guard to arrive once he had heard the commotion. What he had seen had bewildered him at first. A big red stallion he had come to know as Big Mac was standing over Silver who was cowering at his hooves, having been beaten since less.

Naturally Sane had drew his sword and advanced on the monster of a pony but another of the guards stopped him, and spit in the dirt before speaking. The guard was an old one, nick named Rusty Shield for his rust colored coat and old gray mane. He was one of the meaner guards, even to this day.

He'd told him, “Steady your weapon colt. The trash got what he deserved.”

It was only then did Sane see that Rusty had Silver's sword. “What happened?”

“I'll tell y'all what happened.” An angry looking orange mare with a cowcolt hat stepped from around the bigger stallion. “That varmint right there came up and took one of our apples, refusin to pay because he said he was a guard. He's lucky Big Mac got him before I did or it woulda been a hell of a lot worse.”

Worse? Sane thought to himself. Two other guards had arrived in time to hear the mare's explanation and picked silver from the dirt who had begun to rouse.

“Oh Thank Celestia. There, the big red brute, seize him!” Silver sputtered.

One of the guards laughed a bit and shackled Silver's forehooves together who didn't seem to have caught on yet.

“What are you doing? This is treason! I'll have you know I am from one of the princess's highest courts!” Silver struggled but was much to sore and weak to fight. “The Princess will have your heads!”

Once Silver had been drug off far enough so as to not be heard any longer Sane approached the red stallion and orange mare. He felt the need to apologize as this was something he was afraid would have happened sooner or later. “I'm sure I speak for the whole of the Ponyville guard when I say I'm sorry for that problem. I can't say for certain but I'm pretty sure you'll be facing no charges, as you were defending your property.”

“Well I can say for certain.” Rusty added before walking off to disperse the crowd that had gathered. Sane was relieved to hear this. Rusty was quite a bit higher ranked than he himself.

The stallion said nothing, and walked off, though with a noticeable smile on his muzzle while the orange mare stayed.

“Don't worry bout it. We're just glad nothing worse happened. I think Big Mac actually enjoyed that anyway. Here.” She tossed him the apple in question. “Figure y'all might need that as evidence? You should probably taste it, make sure it's really an apple.” She winked at him, not giving him a chance to refuse before trotting back over to her cart. Sane rather enjoyed that apple.

The Ponyville guard force was later recognized by Celestia and Luna for their moral upbringing.

Yeah, a little laziness was just fine to the Captain as long as his guards acted when it mattered and didn't start too much trouble of their own. He just pretended not to see them napping in corners or playing card games in small groups at park benches or restaurant tables.

So once Sane had relieved the escort guard he entered the bakery without worry of repercussions. Then his heart sank. He had forgotten the Pink mare worked the counter for the bakery, and she'd already seen him. Who wouldn't see an armored pony?

Though she didn't pipe up when she saw him, instead she looked sad, almost worried. She didn't say anything to him as he approached the counter.

“Um... could I have just a bagel please?” Sane asked awkwardly. “Maybe some coffee?”

“Sure!” She replied with false enthusiasm. If she were trying to hide that she were upset she wasn't doing too good a job of it. “I have to get it out of the back though. Sorry, I haven't brought anything up yet.” She didn't wait for a response before she left.

Sane had his forehooves propped up on the counter as he waited in silence for the pink mare to return. He started to feel bad that he had left in such a hurry the other day. He could only imagine how he made her felt. Sane, having practiced so long, was good at hiding his emotions, and wore a smile that he hoped would cheer her up.

“Here ya go!” Pinkie dropped the paper bag with the bagel inside atop the counter and placed a hot cup of coffee beside it. “The sugars, and stuffs re over there.” She pointed toward a small island in the middle of the shop, with the condiments and what not organized about.

Sane pulled the money and placed it in her hoof, and turned to walk away. He wasn't going to need any sugar today. He just wanted to get out of there. He didn't make it halfway.

“Sane? It's Sane right?” Pinkie called.

When he turned he saw she no longer tried to hide her distress. “Yes?” Though he still acted as if he didn't notice.

“I'm really really sorry, I didn't know you didn't like being touched or anything, and I was being soooooo rude and I don't like upsetting ponies, and I was only trying to be nice, and it's my fault, an I'm sorry and and... I don't know...” Her breathing had grown rapid and she looked as if she were hyperventilating which worried Sane a bit who trotted rather quickly back to the counter.

“Pinkie, Pinkie it's fine. I'm not mad.” He wanted to calm her down before she passed out. How would he explain that? To his relief she did seem to slow down a bit.

“Oh Thank Celestia, I don't know what I'd do if anypony were mad at me. I'd have to move, or change my fur color or-”

“Pinkie! Please.” Sane couldn't listen to another outburst. Again she calmed herself.

“I'm sorry, Rainbow just told me-”

“Rainbow told you what?”

Pinkie flinched at the stallion's sudden change in demeanor. Her eyes grew wide as she realized her mistake. “Nothing, Rainbow told me nothing.” She shook her head, and replied with a higher pitched voice than usual. Again her breathing became rapid when Sane's glare didn't seem to lift. “Oh no! I just lied to a guard, please don't arrest me. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to! I just promised and and...” She burst into tears on the spot and let her head fall to the counter.

Sane was mad, but not with her. Pinkie hadn't done anything. So he put away his anger for the time being. He shouldn't have even let it show in the first place. “It's okay Pinkie.” He prodded her shoulder gently with a hoof. “I'm not arresting anypony. You were being a good friend.”

Pinkie lifted her head and sniffled. “Really?”

“Yeah, I would have lied to me to if I were trying to help somepony. It's fine.”

“B-but what about Dashie? Are you going to arrest Dashie?” Pinkie whimpered.

“No. I'm not going to do anything to her. Your friend will be fine.” Sane wasn't lying. He wasn't going to have anything to do with her now.

“I still broke a promise.” Pinkie whined.

“No you didn't Pinkie.” Sane reassured her. “You didn't tell me what Rainbow told you, and I don't want to know. So you haven't done anything wrong. Okay?” He surprised himself with how calm and well mannered he sounded. Then again he was always most calm when he was angry... Until he snapped.

“Oh?” Suddenly she sounded like her old self again. “You're right I didn't. So You don't know?”

“Nope, not a thing. Have a nice day Pinkie.” Sane turned away from the counter with his coffee and bagel.

“Bye, you too!” Pinkie waived.

When Sane got outside he tossed the bagel in the trash. He was too angry to eat, but he kept the coffee. He wanted something to drink to distract him from his thoughts. One day... She couldn't go one day without talking to somepony about me. How much did she tell her? Enough to upset Pinkie... It's your fault Sane. You knew better and you told her anyway. He scolded himself and took a seat on the curb around the corner. How many other ponies know now? How many did she talk to? Who cares. His anger grew apparent at the last thought. “Yeah who cares?” He asked aloud and shook his head.

Luckily there wasn't anypony else around at this time. A slow morning. His favorite kind of morning. He drew his sword and began to draw in the dirt with it, taking another sip of coffee as well. He grimaced at it's taste seeing as he had neglected the sugar or creamer, but the warm liquid felt good down his throat so he continued to drink it anyway.

However an hour passed by with little warning and the streets began to buzz with the early commute of hungry, or busy ponies. Once he had received one too many curious glances he sheathed his sword and got up from his seat on the curb. After discarding his cup he decided he would actually conduct his rounds. Not that he needed to really.

The streets of Ponyville were often uneventful, especially in the morning. Every Town or City had it's darker side but Ponyville's dark side was a watered down version of any other, and Sane wasn't even posted in that sector. Most of their threats came from outside ponies thinking they were going to make the town their own through street cred or some other nonsense they thought mattered.

Sane was more than happy to confront these idiots. Mostly because it gave him a reason to vent some of his frustration without seeming like he was over reacting. Unicorns gave him trouble though. More often than not any unicorn who wanted to start trouble was a piss poor magic user, and could barely move anypony with any spell. However on rare occasions, only one Sane could remember, there'd be a unicorn that was potentially dangerous. So there was always a rule that at least one Unicorn had to be on guard at all times.

However today was not going to be one of those days. Sane could feel it. It would be boring for the next seven, he checked the time and flinched, okay six hours of his shift. Well at least that was working in his favor. Where is the time going? He wondered.

Then time stopped. Rainbow Dash had landed just a few hooves away and spotted him. He pretended as if he didn't see her and trotted down another road toward the library. No good.

“Hey Sane,” came Rainbow's voice from beside him.

Sane bit back any venom that may have been in his voice long enough to reply. “Hey,” he grumbled.

“Going to the library?” She asked merrily.

“No, not if nothing is wrong there.”

Rainbow wasn't great at taking hints, but she did detect a bit of malice in his tone. “Having a bad day?”

“No.” Sane began to trot a bit faster. “I have things to do,” he called over his shoulder.

“Um, alright. I'll talk to you later then.” Rainbow called back but made no move to keep pace, actually stopping. Something is wrong. She thought then shook her head. “I guess it's best not to bug him while he is working though. Speaking of working.” Rainbow looked up to the sky and took off toward the weather station.

Seeing as Rainbow had a very off and on job she encountered Sane twice more that day before his shift was done. Though she'd only made one more attempt to speak with him. That hadn't ended well.

When she saw that he looked visibly, yet subtly worse than before she had pursued the subject. They weren't really any obvious tells. She guessed that once you know somepony has a habit of being upset and you look for the tells you can find them. Kinda like Flutershy. However when she persisted he had turned on her. Had all but shouted for her to leave him alone. Luckily there hadn't been many ponies around at the time and none that had taken notice. All except Rarity.

Once the guard had left Rarity trotted up to meet her with haste. “Rainbow dear, did you get into trouble?” The typical over dramatic hint in her voice.

“What? No.” Rainbow shook her head, very confused and a little upset that Sane had done that.

“Then, what was that about? Should we report that guard to the Princess?” Rarity seemed offended for her. Like all the rest she paid little attention to the guards and considered them just that, guards.

“No, no it's fine really.” Rainbow shrugged. “It was my fault.” She grumbled. Probably should have left him alone the first time.

“I thought you said you were not in trouble Rainbow.”

“I'm not.”

“Then-”

“It's complicated.” Rainbow cut her off, but made sure to give her a weak smile to try and mend any hurt feelings she may have caused with the gesture. “I'll talk to you later, k?”

Rarity sighed. “Okay Rainbow, but if you have any trouble you had better come and find me.” She stamped her hoof for emphasis.

“I will, I promise.” With this Rainbow took off again, leaving a disgruntled drama pony in her wake.

At last Sane made it back to Sugar Cube Corner where his relief was already waiting for him. He didn't even make it all the way there before the guard waived him off. Sane raised his hoof to acknowledge him before turning toward his house. He took a deep relaxing breath when he got through the door.

He made his way to his closet and took off his helmet, casting it against the opposite wall of the space. “Fuck that thing.” He muttered to himself before removing the rest of his armor. Once his sword hit the floor a knocking echoed through his room from the door. “What?' He'd all but forgotten the day's events...

Until he opened the door...

“What the hell has been wrong with you today?” Rainbow huffed.

All at once Sane became angry, but he caught himself before replying. “Get away from me.” He muttered.

“What!?” Rainbow stamped her hoof and suddenly looked bewildered. “For what!? If you don't want to talk that's fine but what the hay is your problem?”

It was obvious she wasn't going to leave unprompted, and her refusal to leave his personal space enraged him. Out of primitive instinct he crouched and his wings spread wide. “I said leave.” He growled.

Rainbow mimicked his pose. Not the reaction he wanted but if she wanted to fight then Sane was all to happy to oblige at the moment. “Not until you tell me what the fuck has gotten into you.” She spat.

“Last chance.” He growled between clenched teeth.

“Fuck that.” Rainbow replied, her anger getting the best of her.

That was all it took, Sane took a step in her direction. He didn't make it a second before Rainbow lashed out with uncanny speed, catching him on the side of the muzzle. He hadn't underestimated her, she was just simply fast. However one strike wasn't nearly enough to discourage him. Being a Stallion he was much more naturally built than a mare and his training had included taking a beating.

He wasn't going to allow her to press the assault. He ducked a second swing from the blue hoof, then rammed his shoulder into her exposed chest, knocking her off balance. She didn't fall, but stumbling left her vulnerable and Sane's forehoof caught her on the side of the head.

The only thing that saved her from another direct his was that she expected it, and just had time to block the strike. He was strong despite his size, stronger than Rainbow considered. She may have stopped any real damage but the blow still staggered her. She jumped back to regain her balance, flapping her wings for more ground.

Sane was reckless in his follow up and it cost him. His next attack wasn't accurate, and he wasn't fast enough to bring his hoof back up. As punishment he took another shot to the muzzle, causing his eyes to water. He also thought he tasted blood. Another crossed his cheek.

He drove through another hit and rammed her into the wall she had gotten too close to on her evade. She hit it with a cry but never stopped swinging. She tried body shots to try and back him off, and because she was too close to effectively hit his head. However Sane was not at this disadvantage.

After taking a few hits of her own she decided she needed to get off the wall. Being smaller and faster she ducked under his forehoof and slipped around him, turning back around before Sane even realized what she had done. He needed to move, couldn't have his back turned to her. However he blindly turned and lunged at her again. Another costly mistake.

Rainbow knew she couldn't over power him, but she knew all about momentum. She used his against him. Just before he hit her she jumped off to the side and pushed him farther along his path. Sane couldn't stop himself, nor land on his hooves. He crashed down to his side and slid until her hit the counter with a thud. When the rain of blows he expected never came, he got up.

He turned to face her. She was ready for a retaliation in the same aggressive stance she'd started in. However Sane had had enough.

“Your friend.” He conceded, wiping the blood from his muzzle.

“What?” Rainbow was confused, not thinking straight through the adrenalin, anger and heavy breathing.

“Y-your friend Pinkie. I talked to her this morning.” Sane replied, still trying to catch his breath.

“So what?” It hadn't hit her yet.

“What did you talk about after I left HayBurger?” He asked coldly.

All at once Rainbow visibly relaxed but she looked distraught. “S-Sane I can explain.” Her anger replaced with guilt and fear.

Sane relaxed now that the threat of violence had been neutralized. He spat more blood on the floor and glared at her. “Explain what? Huh? I knew I shouldn't have trusted you, trusted anypony. You told me you wouldn't tell anypony.” His voice cracked and tears welled up in his eyes. “I trusted you, when I knew I shouldn't have. I was fine dammit! Just Fine!” He exclaimed.

“Sane please.” Rainbow would have hated herself if she could hear herself right now. She never begged anypony for anything. However she wasn't thinking clearly.

“No! You told the first ponies you talked to. How can I trust you? You didn't make it one day.” Sane turned his head away as the tears began to fall. “Get out.” He growled.

“S-Sane.” Her voice came out a whimper, and a tear fell from her eye. “You have to understand. I just didn't catch myself. I'm so comfortable around them. I tell them everything. It was an accident. I trust them.” Her voice grew more and more desperate with every word.

“Must be nice to be able to trust somepony.” Sane muttered.

“Sa-”

“Get out.” Sane growled.

“Sane ple-”

“I said get out!” He shouted, loud enough for Rainbow to flinch.

“Fine.” She replied flatly. She trotted to the still open door and stopped just before it. “I'm sorry.” Not a moment later she took off into the evening.

Sane slammed the door to his room shut and stomped his way into the bedroom. As he passed by his dresser he swept a book of it's top in a impulse of rage. “Why why why?” He collapsed into his chair. “Why couldn't she just leave me in those woods? I was fine dammit” He let his head fall to the desk as he began to openly sob. A couple minutes later he started to recover. However he felt worse than ever.

Then that thought occured to him. His razor was hidden in the back of the first drawer. He hesitated only a second before opening it slowly, moving the contents around until he saw the blade. He removed it and placed it on the table. Such an evil instrument. However every evil had it's perks. This one offered peace.

He reclaimed the razor and sat back, looking down at his rear leg. He brought the blade down until it was pressed against his skin and through his fur. He just couldn't hold it steady. This was wrong. He knew it was wrong.

Though that had never stopped him before. He started to drag it across, a second later a small pool of blood rose from the wound. He stopped. For some reason this sickened him now. Made his stomach turn. “Fuck!” He threw the razor across the room without any further progress. “Why Dammit?” He jumped up from his chair and onto his bed.

He slammed his head into his pillow and began to sob anew He lay there and cried. Cried until he passed out from exhaustion