That Night....

This day... That night... That's when it all went IMMEDIATELY to hell in a fucking hand basket... I got up the morning after a great day of work, paying off a parking ticket and getting a marefriend better than Berrie. I woke up to my favorite song that morning. My phone sat nearby on a side table. One close enough for me to wake up to my alarm and close enough to a power outlet. I had my new clothes for that day set on the coffee table right next to my keys, a soda and a package of toaster pastries. I got up throwing the blanket covering me off as I got up. Pajamas: Basket ball shorts and a tshirt. Just as I picked up my phone to turn the alarm off I hear a door open upstairs. I looked to the stairs and see Scootaloo walking down with her stuffed animal. "Morning Scoot!" I said. "You feeling better?"

Scootaloo gave me a nod as she rubbed her eye. "...Mommy and Daddy up yet?" She asked. I shook my head. She hopped up on the couch and took the blanket wrapping herself in it. I came back and turned the TV on sitting next to her.

"You know you did look cute in that picture mom sent me yesterday." I said. Scootaloo blushed a bit. "Didn't mom tell you about that?" She shook her head. I knew she was embarrassed but hey I cant help it. That picture was so cute! Another door opened up stairs. This time mom came down. She wore a bathrobe this morning. I didn't even want to ask what was going on the night before but I had a good clue as to what. "Morning ma!"

Our mother yawned. "....Don't talk to me... I need my coffee..." She said. I gave a laugh getting up as I followed her to into the kitchen.

"C'mon ma not in front of Scoot. You didn't sleep well last night?" She shook her head.

"...Don't blame me... Blame your father... He did nothing but ride my ass last night and wasn't very gentle..." I sat down at the table laughing a bit as she went to the coffee pot.

"Mom keep it PG! Was he kicking you in his sleep again?" She nodded as she waited for the coffee to brew. "Anyways I have GREAT news! I mean really REALLY great news!" She looked back at me as the coffee started pouring into the pot.

"What did you catch Pinkie Pie's crazy?" I shook my head. "Excited for work today?" I shook my head again. "Ryder don't tell me you talked with Berrie behind my back! I told you she is bad news!"

"Mom it isn't her! I don't even know who she is anymore!" My mom tilted her head as she poured her coffee. "I am in love that is true but this mare just took my heart from the first day I got back!"

"Who is this mare you're talking so much about?"

I took a deep breath but before I could answer Scootaloo came in dragging my blanket in. Dad followed her. "...Mornin' everyone..." He said yawning. "...You waiting on the coffee Ry?" I gave a sigh.

"No Dad." I said. "You know I get jittery with coffee. I was just about to tell mom that I was in love with Applejack!!"

My parents and my little sister looked at me shocked. I'm lucky mom put the coffee pot down and hadn't even picked her coffee up yet. She probably would've choked on her coffee. "Ryder?" Scootaloo said. "Why do you love my best friends sister?" I laughed a bit and picked her up.

"I'll tell you after you get ready for school. I'm gonna try and pick Applebloom and Sweetie Belle to go to school." Scootaloo smiled.

"Okay Ryder! And... Can you put me down? I gotta go to the bathroom." I nodded and put her back on the ground. She ran out and I sighed feeling great. Like I was important to her somehow. I didn't know how true that was. Not until now. My mom cleared her throat.

"...Applejack?" She said confused. "I thought Big Mac would've scared you away from her..." I sighed.

"He was pissed at me because I busted his truck and he's always blinded by how much he loved his truck. Applejack forgave me right then and there while Big Mac just yelled at me... She was even the one who just had me rest the first few days I was back home... It honestly felt nice... I just....Hell if I was scared of Big Mac I wouldn't be here as a sitting duck ready to be beaten to apple sauce..."

My dad laughed and patted my back. "Atta boy! Get away from that dumb bitch berrie!" He said. "Hey you might need to get dressed too. I'm pretty sure Sugarcube Corner has a dress code and it isn't your PJ's! Go on get out of here! Get yourself ready for work!"

I gave a nod and went back out of the kitchen. I picked up my phone again and saw I had a few texts. One from Applejack, one from Rarity and another from AJ. I read the one from Rarity first.

'Sweetie Belle is wondering if Scootaloo is okay to go to school today. And I'm wondering if I have to take them to school again. Applebloom nearly stained my seats with a half eaten apple.' It read.

I sighed and replied.

'Rarity Scoot is fine, I can pick the girls up before work. Hey maybe come visit if you aren't tending to a client. Might actually need your help going out to a restaurant with Applejack <3'

Yes. I did use the '<3' emoticon. Do I have to explain everything? After I sent that text off I checked my texts from Applejack. The first one read: 'Hey sugarcube! Big Mac is punishing himself for scaring me out of the house the other night. I told him I stayed with Pinkie and she backed me up on that. He's doing all the work himself today and he has done it before which means I'm free the whole day! Maybe come pick me and Applebloom up at the gate and I can help out at Sugarcube Corner again!'

The other said: 'Oh and by the way... Love you~'

I blushed and replied back.

'Sure thing. I'll be by in a bit. Love you too my little apple-bite.'

Afterwards I got dressed and was out the door with Scootaloo. Today she wore a pair of jeans and a blood orange colored short sleeved tshirt with a grey hoodie on. The breeze outside made the air colder than even I expected. "Ryder?" She said. "Can you please tell me why you love my best friends sister?"

I sighed closing the door before hurrying to the drivers side door. I glanced in the rearview mirror after I started my car. "Well Scoot... She's just cute... Her accent just gives me the chills and when ever she calls me sugarcube.... OH it just makes me wanna melt!" I said. "Lets pick her up first before Big Mac suspects something alright? We'll get Sweetie Belle on the way to the school." Scootaloo nodded and I pulled away from the curb. I really wish I had a radio to keep my mood going. I'd call the rock radio station, request an up-beat happy song to listen to but it wouldn't do any good with my radio still broken. I looked back at my sister as we stopped at a red light. "Is Ms. Berrie substituting again today?" Scootaloo shook her head.

"Nope!" She said. "My usual teacher Ms. Cheerilee is teaching again! Ms. Berrie only had to teach two days."

"Thats good. You might wanna tell Ms. Cheerilee about your bully problem. We don't want those bullies coming back and starting problems again." I looked back to the road just seconds before the light turned green.

"I think the principal told Ms. Cheerilee about Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon.... I think...." Scootaloo grunted. "THOSE STUPID BITCHES!"

"SCOOTALOO! WATCH YOUR MOUTH! Do you want me to turn this car around?! I will take you back home so mom and dad could punish you!" She screamed a bit covering her mouth.

"SORRY SORRY SORRY! PLEASE DONT TELL MOMMY AND DADDY!"

"Then dont curse! No matter HOW mad you are. Got me?" I glanced in the rear view mirror seeing Scootaloo shaking with tears in her eyes as she nodded. "Scoot take a few deep breaths and please don't ever do that again! I know Mom and Dad wouldn't wanna see me punish you for doing something like that."

Scootaloo nodded and took deep breaths wiping her eyes. By the time we got to the gate of Sweet Apple Acres she had her hood on as she hugged her school bag. She was still a bit frightened but not as bad. As we pulled up to the gate I saw Applejack and Applebloom. Applebloom had a yellow flannel shirt on with her overalls. Applejack had a leather jacket on. It looked a bit old but still warm. Applebloom hopped in the back with her friend before Applejack sat in the passenger seat and gave me a big kiss. "Mornin' there sugarcube!" AJ said. "You sleep well last night? Hope my strummin' your heartstrings didn't keep ya up much!"

I whipped around going back towards down giving a laugh. "You can do that all you want Applejack and it wont affect me!" I said. "I hope your brother doesn't mind I'm taking you to dinner tonight!"

"Well I hope you have a coat. Supposed to get a bit of rain tonight!" She said. I glanced into the sky as we got into town. Saw what she meant. Clouds were moving in. My sunny mood blocked out the bad weather. I even laughed a bit nervously.

"...Maybe I should swing by the house grab a jacket for myself... Maybe Dash could even grab one for me... Don't wanna be stuck in the rain!" Applejack laughed a bit.

"Thatcha don't sugarcube! I'll give her on the horn after you drop me back at home! Give her something to do before the rain gets in! ....Why them damn Cloudsdale pegasai gotta schedule rain I got no clue..."

Applebloom yawned a bit stretching. "...Sis can we stop off for somethin' to wake me up...?" She asked. "...I didn't get much sleep last night.... You can probably guess why..." Applejack looked back at her sister.

"Applebloom you n I both know them teachers are gonna keep an eye on ya after what happened but they aint gonna punish ya worse than what me n your brother could! If they did that then that school wouldn't existed and you'd have me and who ever else to teach ya stuff you'd need in life." AJ looked over at me as I was going through a few green lights. "'Bloom's been having nightmares about getting into another fight and them teachers smackin' her ass up n down the slide. Anyways Scootaloo okay? Seems all mopey this morning." I gave a sigh.

"Yeah she just said the wrong thing to me and she's just scared that I snapped at her. It was pretty much an empty threat. Just like the blanks in a gun. Loud but wont hurt you for anything."

I kinda did feel bad for snapping at Scootaloo when I dropped her off at school along with her friends. After Sweetie Belle's place it started drizzling a bit and the clouds hadn't even covered the whole sky. By the time I parked at Sugarcube Corner it was lightly raining. Being a Pegasus you'd think I'd love every type of weather. Wrong. Thunder. Hate it almost like I hate getting my heart broken. Of course it wasn't that hard of rain for that. Anyways I had to get out of my car and hurry over to the passenger side. Applejack opened and shut the door while I covered her with my wing. I didn't care about the cold with her smiling face warming me up. As we stepped inside we were greeted by Pinkie. "Hey guys! You ready for work today?" She said. We both nodded barely breaking away from each other. "Ryder you go upstairs and change! Sorry but Mr. Cake thought you looked weird yesterday but he didn't say anything because he was trying to be nice!" I huffed a bit.

"Well I don't really have a change of clothes...." I said losing my good mood. Pinkie gave me a smile.

"Don't worry!" She replied. "Mr. Cake found a few things in his closet that don't fit him and work perfectly for work! Now go on get up there!"

Pinkie pushed me towards the Cake's personal kitchen and towards the stairs. Not long I came back down looking like Applejack's cousin Braeburn but a classier looking version. Dress shirt, dress pants and a black vest Mr. Cake gave me the option of wearing a tie but... Me and ties not the best together. I had most of my clothes in a plastic bag which Pinkie had to put in my car. Lucky me I could keep my sneakers on. I felt like some sort of casual Friday laid back guy. Sneakers and half a monkey suit. REALLY casual huh? As I came out into the shop I saw heavy rain outside, Applejack sitting with Pinkie pie and my cousin all having a soda. Rainbow Dash. My cousin. She wore a rain coat with sweat pants and canvas shoes. You know with the white toe. She looked at me and busted up laughing. "Sweet Celestia you look like a DWEEB!" She said.

Applejack looked up at me and laughed a bit. I wanted to slap the shit out of my cousin. Too bad it was during business hours. "Dash!" She said. "C'mon lighten up he didn't wanna wear that! Pinkie kinda made him wear that! You still got his jacket don't ya?" Dash sighed and tossed me a thick jacket. I caught it and put it on. It was a triple layered fluffy one. Felt really nice. Just then Applejack's phone rang. She dug into her pocket and pulled her phone out. "...Damn... Thought he'd've kept working through the damn rain!" She looked up at me. "Big Mac's calling me. My ATV's prolly there at the house." Then she looked over at Pinkie as she stood up. "You think you can take me home sugarcube? Dash's bike is all wet, and Ryder cant be near my brother on a count of the truck." Pinkie nodded and stood up before going into the back. AJ got up and hugged me giving me a kiss.

I blushed hard and enjoyed the kiss. We must've shared that kiss for a few minutes because Pinkie came back down stairs in a long rain coat and an umbrella. She pried her away leaving me alone with Dash. I sighed lovingly as I sat with my cousin. "...Damn... That AJ sure knows how to make me feel like her families Zap-apple jam..." I said. "...Glad she hasn't told Big Mac about me and her..."

"What'd you do anyways?" Dash said kicking back. I sighed.

"Remember when I called you because I got fired from my job at the garage?" I replied. She nodded. "Well... I crashed a car because it wasn't balanced properly... That car was actually Big Mac's truck... Told him a few days ago... AJ forgave me while Big Mac almost made me eat dirt."

"Woah... Heavy stuff Ry... Didn't realize that's why you got booted from the party... Thought you just didn't want it... Big Mac even paid for something just for you and he couldn't return it. He didn't even say what it was to me, Pinkie or AJ. Lucky Pinkie was nice enough to give him a refund for the party."

"You're kidding right...?" Dash shook her head. "...Fuck... Just fucking great... He probably broke it or is probably selling it for at least half what he bought it for... You up to pay for something easy so I don't have to make you leave?"

Of course Dash nodded. I grabbed her a soda but as a bit of pay back I grabbed one for myself and she paid double. When Mr. and Mrs. Cake asked I told them I quote 'had the nicest cousin a guy could ask for.' We didn't have a customer all morning. Even after Pinkie got back from dropping Applejack off which took about fifteen minutes. Dash stayed around till lunch time which was around 11:00. Not too early and not too late. Just that right time to where you're distracted by hunger but not to where you're complaining. Mr. Cake was in the kitchen making some tomato soup and grilled cheese for Pinkie and I. Dash was just having a little granola bar. Mrs. Cake sat at the table with me, Dash n Pinkie. "Ryder!" She said. "Pinkie tells me you and Applejack are going out for a dinner tonight!" I blushed and nodded.

Mr. Cake looked over at me as he dished our meals. "I did already give you that outfit to keep. None of it fits me and I'm not sure if anyone would buy it off of me." He said. "The tie is still up for the offer and it might do wonders for that date tonight!" I blushed even more.

"Yeah... Mr. and Mrs. Cake do you think I can get paid for yesterdays work? Not much business today and no use getting paid for no work." Mr. Cake sighed.

"You're not wrong there." He replied. "Days like this keep ponies inside and away from sweets. They only go out for a movie and maybe a drink but me personally I'd take my beautiful cupcake there to the movies and right back here to snuggle!"

Mrs. Cake blushed and laughed a bit as her husband came over with a few bowls of soup setting them in front of me and Pinkie. "Thanks Mr. Cake!" Pinkie said giving a bright smile. "Don't worry about paying him! I'll give him a bit of money for helping out with everything lately! I'll wait till we close to pay him!"

Right there. That's when something stopped inside me. Not my heart but my mind. Scootaloo was on my mind. Yesterday SCC closed at seven. If I wasn't gonna be there to pick Scoot up I had to get someone to do it. Rarity. She was the only one who had a car and that could pick up the girls. I got up from the table and took my phone from my pocket quickly dialing Rarity. I put it up to my ear leaning against the wall. The phone buzzed a few times before a click. "Ryder I'm very busy at the moment! This dress needs to be done with in the hour!" Rarity said. "What is so important that you'd have to interrupt me?!" I took a deep breath.

"Rarity listen." I said. "I want you to pick Scootaloo up along with Applebloom when you pick Sweetie Belle up. Keep her with you until I can come pick her up. Have her with you until I can pick her up. I'll text the old man, tell him he and mom can have the place to themselves tonight." That was probably the best thing I had said that day. Rarity agreed to pick our sisters up and I hung up. I went and texted my dad.

'Dad, I'm working late tonight, you and mom relax. You can probably have Scootaloo stay the night at her friends place. Alright with you?'

I waited a moment and my Dad replied with: 'Yeah its fine. I cant even go anywhere anyways. Damn truck doesn't work right in the rain.' I smiled and put my phone back in my pocket.

I thought it was gonna be just that. Going home to parents just to be happy and warm. Nope. A warm night with my marefriend is another thing but... I can say it didn't go well. On the way over to Applejack's I had her on the phone. I was shaking. Not sure if I was cold, awaiting a thunder clap, or excited. It was probably all three. I didn't even bother turning on the heater. "Ry I'm just so excite yet so nervous at the same time!" AJ said. "Excited cuz you're gettin' dinner for both us and nervous cuz.... Well Big Mac.... He don't exactly know we're a thing and I cant really say I'm going for a walk at night and in the damn rain!" I pulled up to a red light and just then a car pulled out of my street. A familiar car. It was a car I've seen many times before yet I could barely see inside. I had other things on my mind. "Ryder? Ryder sugarcube you there?"

I shook my head snapping out of my mind adrift in thinking about that car. "Yeah! Yeah I'm here AJ." I said. "I was uh... Trying to get my radio to work. It actually worked earlier but... Stupid rain must've messed with the signal." My heart pounded a bit as a bit of thunder rolled. The feathers on my wings ruffled just as the light turned green. "AJ I'm gonna let you go. I need to concentrate on the road. Be there soon baby! And I'll handle Big Mac when the time comes."

"Alright Sugarcube you be safe now. I'll be in the living room watchin' TV. Just knock."

I smiled and picked up my phone hanging up. My mind went back to the car. The rain and the darkness made it hard to make out the make and model. Every turn it made, I made. I studied the car. License plate. B34413. The way it handled in the rain. Well but hesitant on turns. Made it harder than it seems to think about who owned the car. Just as the car went through a light going out of town I took the red. I hit my steering wheel and looked around. Nothing. No cars ANYWHERE other than mine and the mysterious car. Well... There were cars just not even anywhere near me. I just blew it. Fuck it. I drove through the red light. I needed to know who the hell was driving this car. I pulled into the mud starting to get a bad feeling in my gut. I was right. I saw the car turn down Sweet Apple Acres and speed up. I sped up too. The car stopped slinging mud into the trees while I stopped just at the mouth of the opening. Lights were on in the house. Enough to shed light on who it was. A shadow stepped into the light from a window. I saw a mares body. Hoodie, sweat pants and- a gun. A pistol. That's when I took my keys from the ignition hopping out of my car and started to run towards the figure. I tackled her and the gun went off as we hit the ground. It flew from her hands and landed in the mud. I heard commotion inside as I punched and pinned the mare. A lightning bolt lit up the sky and the gun woman. Berrie. It was fucking BERRIE! I stopped hitting her and just sat there as the front door opened up. Big Mac came out with his shotgun and Applejack with a flashlight pointed right at me and Berrie. Berrie looked up at me. "RYDER! Why'd you do that?" She asked.

"Why'd I do that?!" I replied. "Why the fuck are you here at my marefriends house with a GUN?!"

Big Mac cocked his shotgun and stood us up. "Make one god damn move and someone here is getting splattered over the damn ground!" He said. "Now tell me why you're both here!"

Applejack picked up the pistol and found it was empty, clip and chamber. "I-I was here to finish the job!" Berrie said. "But SOMEONE RUINED IT! All I had was three bullets! I thought it was all I needed!" I looked over at Berrie.

"Finish the job?!" I said. "What the hell did you need to finish?!" Berrie turned to me and looked into my eyes taking my hands.

"I wanted us to be together..." She said. "I needed to remove those who stood in our way... Your parents and HER!" She looked over to Applejack as my heart DROPPED. I felt like something snapped in me. I quickly took my hands back and punched berrie in the gut, kicking her in the face and I head butted Big Mac for his shotgun and.... I ... I shot her.... Twice... I wanted to fire one more but by that time I threw up dropping the gun.

Applejack helped me up and away from my vomit and from her brother. "C'mon Ry work with me we gotta get to your house quick!" She said. "And I mean NOW! Your ex just killed your parents and I got a text from Rarity askin if my sister can stay at your place and she's on her way to YOUR house and if Scootaloo sees those bodies before we stop her she's gonna freak!" I had to move but I couldn't. Frozen. I was paralyzed from my now dead ex's words and from what I did. She slapped me and I started to move my feet. I ran to my car and hopped in with Applejack getting into the passenger seat. I peeled out and booked it down the road while Applejack called 911. "Hello? Yeah There's been a shooting at Sweet Apple Acres and at 3644 Farnet Way! Both are related! In what way? A mare just killed my coltfriends parents and was trying to kill me! Where am I? I'm with my coltfriend going to stop his little sister! JUST SEND SOME CARS DAMMIT!"

AJ hung up the phone and I slowed down to make a turn. With my adrenaline going I thought it was only just a few minutes. Turns out it was about ten. Right when I pulled up I left my keys in my car and got out. I was too late. Scootaloo sat near the front door crying her eyes out with Applebloom, Sweetie Belle and Rarity holding her there. I ran to the door and Rarity looked up just as I looked in. She pulled me away but I've already seen enough. Blood pools under my parents bodies and all over their faces. They fell and landed just right to where they were hand in hand. Rarity looked at me and pinned me against the wall. "Ryder! Ryder snap out of it!" She said. I shook. "Ryder please! Go to your sister!" I didn't wanna move. I just lied against the wall and slid down where I broke down crying. I sat there the whole time until I saw Red and Blue lights flashing.

I heard nothing. No sirens. No crying. Not even my own voice. My parents voices rang out in my head as if they were screaming for help. Then the gunshots. Both from the pistol. And the Shotgun. I snapped back to reality hearing someone call my name. I looked up and noticed the rain had died down from a shower to a lighter rain. Not as light as a drizzle but- Fuck i'm getting off track! That yelling came from Scootaloo! I saw her struggling in the arms of a guard. "RYDER!" She screamed. "RYDER! DONT LET THEM TAKE ME!"

I got up and rushed the guard giving him a good punch to the face making him drop Scootaloo. "GET YOUR FUCKING HANDS OFF MY SISTER!" I yelled. I picked Scootaloo up and hugged her. She cried hard into my ear.

The guard I punched got up and wrapped his arms around my neck. "You let go of the girl and I don't fight you anymore." He said. Other guards saw this and drew guns. They didn't aim them. Not with my sister in my arms.

"You let my sister go with my marefriend over there and I go peacefully." I said. "You don't do that I start giving you guys the fight of your fucking life." I looked to Applejack who looked as if she were just pissing herself worried. "AJ! Come here and get Scootaloo out of here! Use my car!" I brought Scootaloo up off my shoulder. "Scootaloo! Scoot look at me! Look at me!" She didn't even want to open her eyes all the way when she met my teary gaze. "...I'm gonna be fine... I'm giving you to Applejack and she's taking you to..." I thought a moment. Another body would fuck her up more. "...She's gonna take you away from here... Have her call Dash so she can let you in... Can you please do that for me? Please?" Scootaloo hesitantly nodded as Applejack pushed through guards.

"...I-I love you Ryder..." She said before Applejack took her.

That's when I broke down crying. I watched as Applejack hurried over to my car with my little sister in her arms. Rarity stood off to the side speaking with a few guards with Applebloom and Sweetie Belle hugging her scared. In that time the guard released me as I put my hands up. He took each hand and put them behind my back cuffing me. Arresting me. He sat me in a truck similar to Shining's. Another guard approached with a blanket. "Here." He said draping it over me.

"Wait!" I said before he tried stepping away. He looked at me. "...That was my sister he tried taking.... She's all I have left... Don't... Don't take her away from me..." He looked me in the eye.

"In most cases I would say no." He said. "But since you have good company... I'll let her stay.... But you wont be out for a while for assaulting an officer. A year to ten. You might be lucky if you post bail before your court date. You're gonna have a few weeks for that." I sniffled and nodded before he closed the door. Something tells me you're confused on how I was in jail yet able to be there for my sister. Don't worry. Big Mac can tell you that.