False Hope's Influence

In hindsight, sleeping on the floor had been an awful idea. I woke up aching, the fur on my cheeks dried with tears, and my mane an utter mess.

"Great," I grumbled out loud, waiting a few long moments before finally hauling myself back to my hooves, only to gasp in pain when I'd rolled to the side.

"Oh, right," I winced, brushing away a few shards of broken glass. They were small, and only barely broke the skin. It had surprised me more than it had hurt. "Guess I'd better actually clean this shit up now, huh?"

The morning was spent pulling pieces of glass out of the carpet, then doing my best to clean the milk out of it as well. It took... Longer than I'll admit, but eventually it was like my little breakdown had never happened. I hopped into the couch with a groan, only for my stomach to immediately remind me of the most important meal of the day. Glancing up at the clock, I hummed. Apparently lunch was the most important meal. Go figure.

Once I'd gotten my saddlebags together, I headed out. I didn't have much left, but the bits I had should keep me going for a few more days, long enough until the next paycheck. I winced as the sunlight hit my eyes, shielding my face with a good until my eyes adjusted. "Ugh, it's brighter than my future out here!"

Not a single laugh met my joke. Life is suffering.

As with every time I left the house - which wasn't often mind you - nopony greeted me. I earned a few smiles if I met their eyes, and the shopkeepers were polite, but I was never stopped for a chat. Aside from expected pleasantries, nopony really wanted to talk to me. Why should they? I've lived in Ponyville for a few years now, and I've never tried to make friends. I couldn't even keep the one friend I had.

Bags half-full, and afternoon slowly approaching, I steadily made my way out of the bustling market and toward the main street home. At least that was over, the less I had to be surrounded by strangers, the better.

"Oh, Hot Shot, you're such a charmer~"

I flinched, immediately darting behind a set of barrels beside the bakery. The last thing I needed was to come face to face with them right now. I scanned the street, searching for the jackass and the traitor so that I could decide the best route to avoid them-

But while I did see Hot Shot, that big, stupid, handsome blue pegasus with the tan mane and tail... Marigold wasn't there. Instead, there was a white pegasus mare with a cropped pink and green mane. She was gazing at him adoringly, as if he were a god amongst ponies.

"Only for you, beautiful," Hot Shot purred in reply, placing a hoof under her chin and drawing her in for a kiss.

My eyes widened. Hot Shot was cheating on Marigold! That no good, disgusting, horrible, stupid-

I paused. Hot Shot was cheating on Marigold. That was... Perfect. I smiled, not caring that I must look like an idiot, smiling at a stack of barrels. This was perfect! It'd break Marigold's disloyal little heart to know that her precious stallion was being unfaithful! She'd come crying to me, bawling about how stallions were assholes, how she shouldn't have forgotten her best friend, how she'd been a fool. And I'd let her. Oh, I'd let her. I'd concede that ditching me for a stallion had been an awful mistake, but now she knew better. And she'd love me. She'd need me. She'd never leave me again!

But what if... What if she found out he was cheating on her with her best friend? She's never introduced me to Hot Shot, so it'd make sense that I didn't know they were together. It'd bring us closer! Bonding in our broken hearts! Oh this was just perfect!

Now I just... Had to... Figure out how to seduce Hot Shot?

"Sweet Celestia," I whispered in terror.