Four days. It's been four days.

Avoid everyone. You've already fucked up enough to get everyone pissed off at each other. I sighed. I couldn't even go back to the cottage. I know she'd let me stay, but that just isn't fair to her. I don't want to alienate her friends to an even greater extent. I should have just swallowed my pride and let myself take the blame. Yet some part of me still believes that it's not my fault. Why the hell do I feel guilty? I just helped her out. She's acting like I stole something important or awakened some demonic forces by not letting her deal with some extra problems that I believe she couldn't handle. She couldn't. But maybe she could have. This is all just so frustrating!

Seeing you stew in your own guilt brings a smile to my face.

I'd be surprised if it didn't...

…

Wait, Tormentor? You sneaky son of a bitch.

Harder than you thought, isn't it?

I sighed. "No," I spoke softly, "I knew it would be difficult."

You're angry.

"Of course I am! Why the hell would I not be?"

Why are you angry?

"For obvious reasons that I think you already know," I told him.

I don't think that's entirely true.

I thought about that. "I suppose that I'm also angry at myself," I told him. "For breaking up a group of friends that are integral to save this world."

…

"And for letting my involvement in these ponies' lives boost my ego. I should never assume that makes me better than everyone else. This land thrives on kindness and compassion. It's not like everyone else does that here."

…

"And for involving myself in that mess at all. Leaving myself out probably would have been the best bet. I wouldn't even have to make amends with anyone!"

…

"And now I'm angry for waiting days to solve a problem that I could have solved much faster!"

…

"… the fuck is wrong with me?" I hang my head down into the ground. Why the hell have I just been stewing for days? That fixes nothing.

Now you see the error of your ways.

Another sigh escaped, muffled into the ground before I lift my head up and speak again. "Yes."

Then do something about it.

I really don't get his motives, "Why are you helping me?"

As much as I like seeing you suffer, I can't let you just avoid everyone. That's boring.

What are you, watching this live? Am I in some virtual reality controlled by a mastermind; a sick, twisted freak whose goal is to toy with me emotionally and physically?

"You're good," I reply coyly, "whoever you are."

…

And he's gone. Damn him and his omnipresence.

…

I get up from under the shade of this tree I had been calling my home, or at least my bed. At least it was comfortable for the time being. I stretch my limbs and get a good look at my surroundings, small building, and a few ponies walking around. I kept close to town so that I could have consistent food and water. It was a nice day, a bit too hot for me, but I prefer the cold, so it's only natural.

I walk into the town and was greeted by a friendly shop-pony, offering a free sample of alfalfa. Hey, free is free. I snagged a sample and told him that I'd be back again soon. That was a lie. I never keep my word. It's best to just lie straight through your teeth than to tell the truth to someone. More often than not, people don't care about your life story.

People don't. These creatures sure seem to listen. I wouldn't be surprised if they helped pay for your college tuition.

There are booths everywhere. Maybe it's some event? Whatever it was, there was a damn lot of food present, and it all looked delicious. Unfortunately, as generous and caring this town is, it's not a charity. These ponies have families to support, or businesses to take care of.

I feel the wind blow through my mane and look up at the trees to which the leaves brush against one another. I notice that one detaches and watch as it gently drifts to the ground. Almost immediately, I hear some noise coming from my left. I turn and then a much clearer, and as a matter of fact, a familiar voice, one I have been avoiding, not out of any fear, but rather sorrow.

"All right little ones, this way," the voice said as she looked behind her temporarily. "Mama duck, you're free and clear."

It was Fluttershy, leading some ducks down the middle of town. Lost, possibly? Whatever, they're in good hand… er-hooves, now. I duck behind a tree as to keep myself out of sight. I didn't want her to become distracted by my presence. She has a job to do.

Now I'm thinking, why exactly am I hiding? She won't be angry to see me; more surprised or shocked, but not upset. Well, maybe she will, she made new friends and I had to tear them all apart for no good reason. But, you know, she listens to reason. As do I, we're not much for talking. Maybe she's had time to think about this, and she knows that I have too. But, for all I know she could be completely different. She could have done a total 180. The next new villain for the series. All right, let's not be ridiculous, you need to make amends, and now's a good time to do it.

I take a deep breath and rehearse a short apology to myself. From afar, I hear another voice, this time much more harsh and aggressive.

"Hey."

"Please excuse me," says the quiet one, apologetically.

"I'm walkin' here."

I focus on the confrontation now, getting a look at the other's face.

Uh oh, I think to myself. This could be a problem. Griffons and ponies don't mix well. I start walking slowly towards them, just in case things get ugly. Nothing a little apology and a "have a nice day" can't fix.

"Oh, um," she starts, tears forming in her eyes, "I'm sorry. I-I was just trying to…"

Unable to finish her thought, this griffon decides to take things to a whole new level. Now mocking her, she finishes her statement: "Why don't you just watch where you're going, doofus?"

…

Ok, you asked for it. I think as I sprint to this fight.

Beware of your involvement.

Oh, fuck you, Tormentor! You've been nothing but vague and unhelpful! You only make yourself known just to toy with me!

Let's take this griffon down. "Hey!" I yell towards her, "Who the hell do you think you are?"

She replies condescendingly. "Well, well, well. Standing up to your little friend over there?"

Of course. "Don't you dare talk to her like that."

"Or what?" she replied, her front legs folded.

I hate you. I extended my hoof towards her, pointing at her. I honestly don't know what to say to her.

"We can make sure that meanies like you don't show up around here anymore!" a familiar, usually chipper, but in this case hostile, voice to my right called out. Thank the gods, it's Pinkie Pie. I almost forgot that she knew about this too.

"You guys are pathetic," Gilda taunts us.

"As pathetic as a griffon who treats other ponies like garbage, when in fact the only pile of shit here is you?" I tell her.

"And who steals food and money from others?" Pinkie Pie added. Way to go, Pinkie. Bring on the guilt.

"You spying on me?" she added, as the last self-defense. She was done with us. "This town's dumb. I'm gonna bail."

As she flies away, I turn to my right a thank this pony who literally just saved this town from a scrap that would have torn these booths to shreds. "Thanks. I was about to take some extreme measures."

She smiled at me. "I don't always agree with you, but one thing's for sure: Gilda's a super-duper, no-doubt-about-it, 100%-positive, absopositivalootly, grumpified griffon!"

"Yeah," I said, lost midway through the adjectives, "I hope we never see her again."

"Well," she told me, "She's not gone juuuuust yet. I have one last party to send her home with."

And a damn good one it will be. I remember how it turns out. "I'm sure it will be," I told her. "Go ahead and take care of it. I've got some other issues to take care of."

She smiled, nodded, and walked towards Sugarcube Corner. Meanwhile, I went to console a very concerned and scared Fluttershy.

…

"Hey," I said softly, offering a helping hand, er-hoof, "Are you all right?"

She looked up at me, tears in her eyes, some running down her face. I can tell she's trying to be strong about this; she's not one for confrontation. "Y-Yeah," she said slowly, as I pulled her up, "I'm OK," she finished, as she wiped a tear from her face.

Having idiots like that is common on Earth, but I have to make her feel better. "I'm sorry you had to go through that," I told her.

"I'm sorry," she sniffled, "that I wasn't able to defend myself."

"Listen," I started. "It's not your fault." It really isn't. A simple 'excuse me' would have sent both on their merry ways. But Gilda decided to take it a step further and insult and berate some pony that didn't deserve it. "Gilda's just a hardcore b…" I stopped suddenly and decided to say a much softer, albeit less accurate word, "…meanie," I cringed. "I felt like I needed to intervene. I couldn't stand hearing that being said about you," I added. "Some pony had to put her in her place."

She looked up at me. "Thanks," she told me, in a much more recovered state.

"You feeling better?" I asked her.

She nodded, with a small smile. Thank God. I'm glad I caught her before she flew off to god-knows-where. In fact, isn't that what she did originally? Ah, I don't remember exactly what happened.

"Hopefully you don't have to meet her again," I remarked.

That smile disappeared as she told me some bad news. "Well," she started, "I promised Pinkie Pie that I'd be able to go to Gilda's farewell party."

This might not end well. "Well," I started, "I can show a few ways to fight back, if necessary."

"But what if I…"

"Don't think about it," I told her. Excuses lead to paranoia, paranoia leads to stress, and stress leads to weakness. "You are strong enough to stand up for yourself."

She sighed. "OK."

"It's quite simple," I told her. "Gilda is never in the right. Every bad thing she does will come full circle."

"She is Rainbow Dash's friend," she told me.

"Sometimes you have to let go of a friendship once it becomes toxic," I told her. "Once things become difficult between others; any abuse or whatever, it needs to stop." I stopped, taking a short break from my counseling session. "I know her type. All they do is deceive, cheat, lie, and steal. Friends don't do that."

"I guess that makes sense…" she said.

"By the way," I wondered. "Who all is going to this party?"

"Me, Pinkie, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity, for sure, as well as some others," she told me.

"What about Twilight and Applejack?" I asked her.

"Twilight told us that she'd be too busy with her studies to come to a party," she told. Strike one. "And I haven't heard from Applejack…" Strike two. "…ever since the argument."

Strike two-and-a-half. Foul tip. I'm still in the game.

I have to get those two to the party. Twilight can't stay away and Applejack completes this group of friends, as much as I dislike her at this moment. "I'm going to see if I can change their minds," I told her. "Just go help Pinkie out for now."

She nodded, and we parted ways. I headed towards the library. This is going to be one tough mission.

…

Well, the library's not engulfed in flames. That's a good sign.

But it's also not good that she might still be in there. I could be wasting my time. She could be any number of places, but I'll start with her home.

I sighed, approached the door, and knocked.

…

A short while later, a small purple dragon opened the door.

"Zenith?" he asked. "What are you doing here?"

I got straight to the point. "Is Twilight here?"

"Uh, yeah," he stalled slightly. "But she's pretty busy right now. You need something?"

Yes, I need her to get to this party! "I need her to…" I paused. This won't solve anything, and it looks very suspicious. How in the hell do I cover this up?

…

I sighed. I know one way, but I won't like it.

"I came to apologize to her."

Spike looked dumbfounded. "What?"

"I want to let her know that I'm sorry for blaming her and all of her friends for being pawns in one of my stupid plans," I explained further. Even though you all agreed to do so. "I hope she can forgive me."

…

"Wait right here, I'm gonna go get her," he told me.

"Ok."

I waited a few seconds and pressed my ear to the door.

Spike spoke first. "Hey, Twilight."

Twilight, irritable, responded. "What is it, Spike?"

"Zenith's here to speak with you."

A small pause. "Why?" she asked, sounding confounded.

"He said he came here to apologize."

Another pause. "That doesn't sound like him," she said. True. "He's rather blunt with his actions and about as stubborn as Applejack."

"I promise. He's at the front door."

She sighed. "All right, Spike, tell him to come in."

Good start. Now to just swallow my pride and take it like a man. Or I guess stallion in this case. I'm still not used to this horse terminology.

I pulled back from the door and stood a few feet away, kicking at some dirt. Spike opened the door. "Come on in. She's upstairs," he told me.

I follow him in and took a look around. "Nice place," I remarked. "Looks quite cozy. Must be a bookworm's dream."

"Yeah, tell me about it," he said as we walked upstairs. "She's had me re-organize all these books seven times! By color, alphabet, author, contents, and even by synopsis!"

"She…knows these books inside and out that well?" I asked.

"Yeah," he said, "kinda nerdy if you ask me…"

"I'd say more…knowledgeable, but you live with her, so you might know better." I told him.

On the opposite side of the stairs, there she sat, looking through another book, jotting quick notes every once in a while, we approached slowly.

"Is she still mad at me?" I whispered to him.

"Well," he stopped talking and thought about it, "I wouldn't say she's 'mad'. More like 'disheartened'."

I chuckled. "Did she teach you that one?"

"When you live in a place like this," he gestured, "you're bound to learn a few new words every once in a while."

"I suppose that makes sense."

I lifted my head up and spoke to her.

"Twilight?"

"What?" she said sharply, not even looking up from her book.

"I know that I might be the last pers, er-pony that you want to see right now, but," I started. "I wanted to say that I'm sorry."

Not even a glance.

"I should never have even brought you all into my plan," I told her. "It was invasive, rude, inconsiderate, and dishonest." I stopped and felt a twinge in my heart. Do I actually feel remorse for this? I continued. "I feel bad for dragging you all down into something that was clearly my idea in the first place."

She stopped reading, I think. So, she might be listening.

"I never should have broken you all apart. Each one of you has a unique role in this land and I took advantage of a situation that I shouldn't have. And for that," I took a deep breath, "I am sorry."

…

I believe every word that I just spoke. This wasn't just some rehearsed apology. What the hell was I thinking? How stupid is it to quietly sneak around and do someone else's job? Especially someone with a role as big as hers! Why in the hell did I intervene?

"Anyway, that's all I had to say," I told her. "I'll show myself out now." I finished as I turned around.

…

"No."

…

What? Did she just say…?

"No, Zenith," she told me. "I'm sorry."

"For what?" I genuinely asked.

She turned and looked at me. "For placing you as the only scapegoat in that plan. I should have been honest with Applejack."

"It's not your…"

"I was more concerned about preserving my friendship with her that, at that moment, I valued her friendship over yours."

"I still believe…"

"Never should one value a friend as such," she told me. "And for that," she paused. "I am deeply sorry."

All she wanted to do was preserve a very integral friendship that this world needs to protect itself! She could sacrifice me, what the hell use do I have? I sighed. She doesn't need to hear that.

"I forgive you." I somberly spoke with a relieved tone in my voice. "You were doing what felt right."

We came close and embraced shortly. "And I forgive you," she told me. "You've now reminded me of how important honesty is in friendship."

"Agreed," I responded. And now to begin phase 2 of this mission. "And I believe we've got one other pony to tell that to. Shall we?"

She smiled. "Let's go."

Sweet Apple Acres was within sight. We didn't have much time. Only about half an hour to be precise. We opened the gate and walked towards the barn.

"I hope she's not too mad at me after all these days," I offhandedly mentioned to Twilight.

"I'm sure she's had time to cool down," she told me.

"I know, but," I stalled, "I regret my certain choice of words to her."

"Even with the vulgarity of your word choice," she reassured. "All you have to do is apologize."

I sighed. "Whatever you say…"

I gulped once I saw that orange mare chucking some bales of hay. I hate situations like these. And I'm up to talk first. Great.

I took a deep breath and approached her. "Applejack?"

She stopped what she was doing and looked me straight in the eye. "Whaddya want?" she said angrily.

"I wanted to come here to apologize for my actions."

She picked up another bale of hay, seemingly ignoring my words.

I continued. "I never should have gone behind your back. Not only was it inconsiderate towards you, but more importantly, I was dishonest in my methods. I should never have lied and deceived the others."

She sighed. "Ah suppose that's a good start…" she said as she finished piling another bale of hay.

Twilight then continued our combined apology. "And I'm sorry too, Applejack." That got her to stop. "I should have been honest with you from the beginning."

She looked at both of us, the anger subsiding.

"We all overlooked one of the most important aspects of a friendship," she paused, "Honesty."

I continued, "My methods were deplorable and immoral."

"I treated my friends like objects and not like ponies," Twilight added.

"And I never should have involved myself in someone else's problems."

"I couldn't stand the thought of losing such good friends so quickly."

"So I…," we both said, unintentionally arriving at the same point. I let her explain, "Go ahead."

"What we were saying," she started, "is that we are sorry for acting completely untrustworthy towards a friend that encompasses such values," she finished as we let that sink in for a moment.

…

Her face turned somber.

"Applejack," I told her. "If there's anything that we can do to help this rough patch become easier, just let us know."

"We're here for you. We're sorry that you ever felt betrayed," Twilight added.

"Just-" she stammered, "just promise me that you'll ask before doing somethin' for me," she told us.

"Of course," Twilight said.

"You have our word," I added.

She addressed Twilight. "Ah'm sorry for worryin' ya," she said. "You must've felt awful about this whole thing."

"All is forgiven," she told her. This went way better than I expected. "Actually, Zenith, don't you have something else to apologize for?"

What? Oh. "I'm also sorry for, uh, using some unkind words towards you. There was absolutely no need for that."

She chuckled. "I understand. I was yellin' at ya for no good reason."

"I still feel a little bad."

"It's fine, sugarcube."

I think we've got the old Applejack back.

"Ok," I started. "We should probably head over."

"Over to what?" Applejack asked me.

Oh, forgot nobody told her. "Oh, just a party for one of Rainbow Dash's friends. Shouldn't be too long."

"Do we need to bring anything?" Twilight asked me.

I laughed. "Only some karma," I said, referring to what was going to happen to Gilda, while both just stared at me confused. I added, jokingly, "Well, maybe some snacks and soda."

Holy shit, that was difficult. I'm glad I got them all back together. Time to go laugh at Gilda at her expense.

…

Wait a second. 'Beware of your involvement.' Was he referring to this? Will something bad happen if I go to this party? Will it change the outcome? I thought about it. Of course it will. She and I will be nonstop arguing and there will be no time for her true colors to come out. She's an evil, manipulative, and self-centered freak. They have to be here without me. I turned around and began to walk away.

One pony chases me immediately. "Wait!" she tells me. "Where are you going?"

Fluttershy, I'm sorry, but I can't be there with you. "Back to the cottage if you don't mind."

"But what about…me?" she asked.

I sighed. "You're strong enough. You guys don't need us to argue through the whole party."

"Gilda will…" she started.

"No, she won't," I told her. "You have many others that have your back once she exposes her inner self."

"I know, but…"

"Listen to me," I ordered. "Out of you and Gilda, which one of you would save an innocent pony from a dangerous, wild animal infested forest by yourself?"

"I don't understand…"

"The point is," I paused. "Gilda wouldn't. She didn't. You did. Gilda's weaker than you. You have to believe that. She just got the upper hand for a moment."

"I guess…"

"No," I said. "You know."

"I know," she said softly.

"That didn't sound very confident to me…" I remarked.

She cleared her throat and spoke a tiny bit louder. "I know."

It's a start. "That's more like it. Now go and have fun. I'll clean the cottage while you're gone." She smiled as we each parted ways.

I arrived at the cottage after a short while. Man, I was exhausted after this whole ordeal. Maybe next time will be easier. Maybe next time I just have to read a book or sit on the couch all day.

Oh, who am I kidding? It's never this easy. I opened the door and a mess makes itself known after tin by the door falls over, making a loud bang on the ground.

It's never this easy.

I lean the fallen container against a different wall and gather some papers that had flown off a desk. One was a letter, or at least the beginnings of one. I hadn't done any writing since I've arrived here, mostly because I can't with these damn hooves.

I miss it…

And what better time to practice getting better than now?

Author's Note

Four months late, but it's here! Thanks for reading!