When somepony shows themselves to be bad, it is enough for many to simply categorise them as evil and move on. But not for Pipp. Pipp doesn't believe in evil. So when Sprout was locked up following his assault, it wasn't long before Pipp found herself sitting just a meter away from the demon, cold steel being the only separator. Sprout looked up through the rusty metal bars and stared at his visitor. His fur was matted, his expression bleak and his eyes were bloodshot, staring daggers right through Pipp's equally determined glare. Pipp blinked, and her eyes softened.
"How am I?" Sprout had a hint of surprise in his voice. Pipp and Sprout were sat facing each other on the cold stone floor of the sheriffs office. It was dark, the lights were switched off. Most of the lighting was coming from the tiny barred window in the corner of the otherwise desolate cell. "On the inside, dread, guilt, sadness. It's all my fault. Outside, everypony hates me. They think I should be locked up, and they'd be right. I vitalised their fear into hate. I am unforgivable." Sprout stole a glance towards the small window. "Even the sun wants to avoid me."
"Why?" Perhaps that was a foolish question. After all, everypony else was satisfied with how Sprouts actions had been treated.
"Growing up, everyone believed it. The lie about pegasi and unicorns. But while everyone else learned to live with it, I couldn't. Mum's goal was to equip ponies with tools they could use to defend themselves, but I never thought that was right. After all, why should earth ponies have to defend themselves against unicorns and pegasi?" Sprout paused for a moment. "Perhaps I was just jealous of the fact that everypony else was moving on. Hitch to become the the beloved sheriff of Maretime Bay and Sunny to carry her fathers torch forward. I guess I always wanted to somepony like that. Somepony ponies cared about" Sprout looked up inquisitively. "Can you understand how I feel?" Pipp wasn't amused.
"I think I might." Sprout's calm demeanor turned.
"How absurd! Nopony could understand how I feel! Least of all a pretty pegasus princess!" Sprout took a tired breath. "Sorry, I shouldn't yell."
"Can I tell you a story?"
"Sure, I guess"
"I wasn't always popular. Before I became famous for my music, I was no more than a curse upon my mother and the the royal family." Sprout cocked his head.
"Oh?"
"The primary reason my mother chose to get pregnant was so she would have an successor to her throne." Pipp ran a hoof over the smooth floor. "I'm a Fraternal twin, not a crown princess. I wasn't wanted. My very existence was a mistake." Sprout chuckled.
"That makes two of us."
"Nobody said so of course, but it was obvious what they were all thinking. My sister was, on the other hoof, perfect. She was smart, engaged and even had proper wings." Pipp gazed at the steel bars with a serious expression. "I've faced death before. I was afraid back then. Now I can kill myself any time I want."
"So why didn't you?" Pipp's serious expression melted into a smile.
"Music! I used to spend so much time in the castle's music room when I was young. Tapping a piano or strumming a guitar made me feel at ease. I can play just about any instrument in there now. At night I'd stay up late and write cringe lyrics. Nowadays they call me the Pony of Pop."
"But that's all they see you as?"
"Pretty much. But that's ok. I have friends now. And I'm not a curse to them. But what about you? You used to be the deputy sheriff here."
"But only because Hitch gave me the job."
"That must have made you popular. Like Hitch?"
"Not at all. Hitch always handled the big cases. You know, the ones that get all the love and admiration." Pipp smiled sweetly.
"That's funny. I crossed an old mare on the way here struggling to get her cat out of a tree. Said you always used to help since Hitch is usually to busy to do anything about a small case like that." Sprout perked up a bit.
"But-"
"Sunny told me that even after you two fell out, you wouldn't hesitate to physically defend her."
"Well-" Anypony would have done that right? He grew to resent Sunny, but seeing her get hurt over her words just felt, wrong? Pipp didn't stop.
"A stallion I met at Sunny's stand also said it was a shame how things turned out because you used to care a lot about stuff that Hitch didn't consider a "priority"." Sprout was silent. Pipp's voice became soft. "Sprout, you were always appreciated and loved as deputy."
"Then I guess it's true what they say: you don't know what you have until you lose it."
"Do you wish you could go back?"
"Even if I did they'd never accept me."
"And what if they did?" Pipp's swift rebuttal caught Sprout of guard.
"I..." Sprout was lost in thought.
"You miss it, don't you?"
"Now that I think about it, ponies did rely on me. Hitch was always so busy with the more serious cases, ponies appreciated that I would listen to their problems no matter what. Maby that's why I feel so low right now. Helping the little pony made me happy." Sprout's voice saddened. "I really was somepony after all. Not that that does much good for me now."
"Ya know, I could talk Hitch into lightening your sentence..."
"R-really? You'd do that for me?" Pipp grinned.
"Of course! Ponies trusted you. I think they can do so again."
"That would mean a lot to me."
"Then it's settled." As Pipp got up to leave, Sprout called out to her.
"Thank you."
Pipp looked back with a bright smile, and for the first time in a while, Sprout smiled too.
