Equestria Handyman

While continuing to get soaked by an intense thunderstorm, Mark realized how he was currently digging a big hole in the middle of the Everfree Forest, until something hard stopped his advance and filled him with curiosity. Moving the mud and water around he found what appeared to be the head of a wooden box but before he could inquire more about the strange object, the surface broke down, swallowed the human whole and into a deep dark cavern with the brand new hole as the only source of light.

Looking around it took a moment for the human to realize what was happening but when his eyes adjusted he could see fist marks engraved everywhere which started to fill him with dread as the rain soon turned to blood and looking up noticed how the cavern was in reality a clean hole in someone's torso.

Startled, he moved his feet away from the arm of Tirek who was crawling at him in terror, missing his lower half before falling dead.

Starting to hyperventilate, he starts to crawl backwards only to hit something behind him, and looking back a lighting strike illuminates the cavern showing the corpses of his herd with horror filled expressions frozen on their faces.

"No!"

Standing up he trips and feels his arms wet, when looking down he sees them soaking in fresh blood. Before seeing the decapitated head of Celestia floating to the surface, scaring him to no end as one by one more and more corpses start to fill the cavern some of which even having fist shaped imprinted holes

"NOOOOOO!"

Waking up with a startle the human sat up on his bed with a cold sweat running down his spine, and doing all he could to stop his racing heart as he held his chest closer. Shaking like he could only hug himself trying and failing miserably to forget what he just dreamed, a recurring dream that hasn’t let go ever since his return from Canterlot.

“I’m sorry.” He lamented while rocking himself back and forth.

One Week Later

“…and then I went to the balcony and saw the sunrise, Applejack you have no idea. How the light reflected on the pure white snow while holding a hot cocoa in your hands, it was simply magnificent!” Photo Finish must have thought that too because she found me and took a photo of me staring into the distance before I could realize it!” Autumn finished her story of the snowy mountains of Equines to the farmer.

“Glad to hear it, you really seem to have made your mark as a model partner.”

“Oh yeah and I’m so happy all my effort has brought so much attention here.” She extends her arm showing the Kirin town, which seems to be bursting with tourist life of various ponies visiting and interacting with the locals.

The pair stop once they spot Mark hard at work with Big Mac as they both finish building an info Gazebo for everyone to enjoy in the middle of the park.

“Oh hey Marky! Didn’t know you were here.” Autumn calls for him and both stallions and human stops and waves at them.

“Neither was I?” Applejack mentions with a raised eyebrow. “I knew Big Mac came for a job but didn’t know Mark joined in. How are you holding up, sugar cube?”

“What do you mean Applejack?” Mark questions, cleaning his hands.

“Well I haven’t seen you much around ponyville and when I went to check, Fluttershy told me that you were taking some days off, to clear your mind.”

“Oh that, yeah that was poor phrasing. I meant to take days off to cross off the jobs I had been building up, sorry for the mistake.” He confesses with an embarrassed look. “Anyway i should go back to work”

“Isn’t it finished already?” Applejack looked at the structure once more.

“Yeah this one, I still have five more to do.”

“Five?” Big Mac looked at him confused.

“Not you, me. We need to help tourists find their way. Rain mentioned that it could be a long term project but hey the faster, the better right?”

“Ah, Mark?” Applejack tried to stop him but he was already moving.

“Oh ho, I have seen this before.”

“What have you seen Applejack?” Autumn looks at her in curiosity.

“The distracting mentality, Twilight went through the same when she moved in from the castle and didn’t want to think of what happened to the tree house, she buried herself in as much work as possible just to avoid going to her new home.”

“Eeyup.” Mac confirmed remembering the help on the farm.

“And those five are clearly lies, Rain would never ask him to build that many gazebos.”

“Oh.” Autumn looks back in worry in the direction Mark left. “Should we stop him then?”

“He will only deny it, we need to approach this delicately.” She takes out her scroll. “And ask someone who might know better how long this has been going on.”

Little did Applejack know the same mare she wanted to contact was in the middle of a meeting call with her other herd sisters.

“…so you also think there has been something different going on with Mark?”

“I think so, it was hard to tell at first but he has been overcompensating somewhat. When he came to visit, I asked if he could move some boxes in the store, but he not only did so, he packed the respective products, sealed them, checked the addresses and went and delivered every package. It took him all day and by the end he simply asked if there was something else he could do.”

“Yeah something similar happened during a photo session. I thought he came to pose again but instead somehow he convinced Photo Finish to let him carry all the equipment, wash the clothes and even somehow went and fetch the dry cleaning that she needed to pick up. Some new models were asking me if that was some kind of initiation. Things became more awkward after that with how he seems to just be asking for more chores.” Umbral recalls her experience.

“What about you Fluttershy, what did he do when helping you?”

“Ah…well it wasn’t much of what he did to help and more how he…well…is performing, i-in bed.”

Everyone stays quiet for a moment. “I really didn’t want to bring it up but if it happens with you two, I need to know if it is the same. What exactly happened?”

“I’m not sure how to describe it but well…he has been over focusing on me now. Like he doesn’t think of his own pleasure at all and erased himself from the equation. Just focusing on pleasing me, with his fingers, mouth and even toys but well never himself. He didn’t even take a…a sip of milk, despite how much he wanted. I could see it, he was virtually in pain but no matter how much I coached him, he…”

“…only smiled and said ‘you first.’” Umbral and Milky reply having experienced the same.

“Yep, I knew it.” Umbral nods

“Do you think he is doing it on purpose? Like he is trying to punish himself for something he did?”

“This is the only explanation. The freaking bug and centaur really messed him up. Star has clearly been trying to put on a brave face but now I’m starting to fear that he views himself as unworthy.”

“But he is…I mean he shouldn't punish himself, he didn’t do anything? And we forgave him for getting himself in danger” Fluttershy reason''.

“It is not that easy Fluttershy, you know how that guy is, trying his best at being kind, and attentive, not to mention noble, but now, the commotion he caused, the ordeal with Chrysalis, and Tirek? Celestia! I think Chrysalis is the first mare he actually hurt like that. Maybe he is terrified of leaving us in a hip cast now.”

“Umbral is right, there is a lot on his mind right now and he needs time to process it.”

“But how?”

“I have an idea, please keep me informed if anything else happens I will make a call to a mare I think will help him clear his mind.”

“Who?”

“Surprise, don’t let that goofy personality fool you Fluttershy, when it comes to things like this, Surprise really knows what she is doing. Nice call Milky, our stallion could really use a vacation and it was time he and Surprise got to know each other anyway.”

“I just hope she can help. It’s breaking my heart looking at my hunter suffering this much.”

“All of us Fluttershy, we all just miss him, gosh I just gathered that I have been missing the real thing. At this point he is gonna make me stay away from toys for life!” Umbral mentions. “Talk to you later.”

They all end the call and start their preparations.

A week later the 3 mares went to see the human, who was currently, under the blazing sun of spring, with a long sleeve shirt and sunglasses, clearly burning himself alive as he dug a hole in the ground, as the first step for a community pool the mayor was asking for manual labour.

“Girls, it getting worse.” Fluttershy whispers in worry.

“I know remember things could get tricky, we must approach him like a wounded animal” Milky reminded her as they nod and slowly made their way toward him.

“Hi Mark, hard at work?” Milky starts with a friendly smile.

“Huh?” Looking up he smiles and waves at them. “Oh hey girls, yeah a bit of hard work, helping Mayor Mare with some pool projects she had in store for this summer.”

“Only you?” Umbral asks with a raised eyebrow, before noticing there was no one there at the moment.

“I…decided to get a head start on things and,” He goes to shovel again only to flinch and hold his arm in pain.

“Mark!” Fluttershy rushes and before he could protest she had already grabbed his arms and inspected them. “You said you were feeling better! Didn’t Nurse Redheart give you strict instructions on not putting too much stress on your arm until further notice?”

“It's nothing really, just getting used to it” Mark replies, trying to take his arm away, but she doesn't budge and just flinches when she adds pressure again. “Does THIS look like it’s better?”

“Really Fl-Fluttershy I…I’m ok.”

“Oh no, you are not.” Umbral says, grabbing the shovel and taking it away from him. “And I draw the line at self harm. Sorry Mark, but this is for your own good.”

“What are you talking about?”

Milky sighs and approaches him. “Mark, we are worried about you, ever since we returned, you have been on edge. You distract yourself with work, you ignore instructions to calm down, you ignore even your own pleasure when being with us, just look at yourself!” She points at his shirt “You are purposely burning yourself!”

“I simply didn’t have anything else to…”

“DON’T!” Milky warns him pointing at his face with teary glaring eyes. “If you truly loved us you would stop with this nonsense and stop lying to us, right this instant!”

He tries to protest but looking at their distressed faces, he can only sigh in defeat and looks down. “I don’t deserve to simply walk away without any punishment”

“Mark, why are you treating yourself like a criminal? Why are you being this harsh with yourself?”

“I don’t know!” He finally replies by taking his arm away and turns around. “I just don’t know, but I feel it. The guilt…the pain, the recurring nightmares.”

He takes off his sunglasses and shows them the bags under his eyes. “I can still see his face. His expression of terror, and how, I just…can’t accept it, I killed someone! I did it and got away with it! How is that fair?”

They sigh and look at one another. “We figured as much, and understand this is something that you need to cope with properly.” Milky suggests, handing over a travel brochure to the Bayhamas with a zeppelin ticket ready.

“You…are sending me to a beach?”

“No, we are sending you on a long overdue vacation!” She says with finality. “One that is NOT up for discussion.”

“You are leaving first thing in the morning.” Umbral mentions. “All your clothes are packed and ready.”

“And your arm stays like this until I say you can use it again!” Fluttershy orders pointing at his now elevated arm which she improvised a cloth to keep it resting.

“When did you…?”

“Are we clear?” Milky presses on. “Understand this Mark, we love you, we are concerned for your well being, and we want to support you wholeheartedly, but the only way to do so will be by restoring your confidence and helping you cope with this. So you. ARE. GOING!”

“A-Are you going too?”

Milky only sighs and looks away, same as the rest. “We would only get in her way. You are just way too concerned for us, to think of your own well being.” She smiles and turning back gives him a kiss. “We will be here waiting for you.”

“Her?” Mark question her

“Please Mark, please don’t be afraid.” Fluttershy pleads with teary eyes as she hugs him too. “Go and rest, and come back as the Mark we know and loved”

“Just give up and accept your fate, Marky.” Umbral warns him. “I will personally kick you into that balloon if I have too.”

He can only blink at her, realizing she wasn’t joking.

The next day and after a long trip in the air, Mark finally reaches the Bayhamas with a big backpack on his back as he talks with his mares over the scroll.

“Ok I just arrived, just as you wanted.” Mark informed them per their request, putting them in a video call. “Is this really necessary?”

“Yes!” They all yell at the same time. “I can’t see your arm, put the scroll down so I can see it.” Fluttershy orders and Mark complies, showing how he was still using the sling Redheart gave him when he left the hospital.

“Like promised, still wearing the sling.” He brings the scroll to eye level again.

“Good, thank you so much for doing this Mark, you understand why I’m being so harsh with you about it right?”

“I do, and I love you for that Fluttershy, I really don’t deserve having such loving mares as my…”

“Stop!” Milky interrupts him. “You are doing it again, you are self degrading and I will not stand for it. But don’t worry, she will help you fight it.” Milky mentions with a smirk. “And just as an incentive. Here is what is waiting for you.” Milky surprises him by flashing him briefly before putting her shirt back leaving the poor human red, especially with Umbral and Fluttershy following her example.

“They miss you already, and just want one big sucking kiss.” Umbral mentions with a sultry voice.

“Ah…I just…wh…” Mark is unable to utter words, causing them to giggle, and blow him a kiss. “Have fun you two, Mark? Listen to everything she has to say.”

“Listen to who?” He asks but all of them hang up, in time for someone to hug his neck from behind. “Marky!”

Feeling his face pressed against a bouncy chest he looks up slightly at the grinning face of a familiar white pegasus with blond mane and tail, wearing a flower shirt and straw hat. “So glad that you came!”

“Surprise?”

“No silly that's what I’m supposed to be saying.” Surprise says with a giggle before kissing his forehead. “Don’t worry about a single thing, I have a whole day ahead planned just for the two of us! You are staying with me in my suite and I am not taking a no for an answer! I already prepared your bed and Milky herself insisted so you don’t have a choice now.”

“S-She did? A-A Surprise I’m happy to see you too but my head is…”

“I know.” She uses her other arm and with her wing pulls him right in between her breast as she keeps hugging. “You have been very sad lately, but that ends now, your pal Surprise is here for you.” She shushes him while patting his head, seemingly not caring of the compromising position she left him in.

He tries to push her away but flashes of his fight come back and stop him from reacting, leaving him at the mercy of the busty pegasus and surrender to his fate, trying to keep his hip as far away as possible from her while the hug lasts.