The Rise of Passion

Gallus sat in front of the door in Applejack's office. The shades had been drawn, the windows had been closed, and a guard had been posted at the entrance to the tower that looked into the office. The area had been searched, and finding a poison dart and a dart gun, Twilight's trust in Gallus had been fortified. He was considered a trusted friend.

Not quite so much in Applejack's eyes. Despite the fact that he was often just standing off to the side and checking every doorway, window and tapestry for hidden threats, he was a huge distraction to her. Every thirty seconds, she'd glance at him to make sure he wasn't doing anything untoward.

There had been five instances where she'd tried to leave him behind, all toilet-related. Twice, she'd tried sneak out the window where he could not go, and he'd taken to cuffing her to another mare whenever she went to the lavatory after that. Three times, he'd needed to pee, and she'd run off, leading to him carrying around a bottle, something she found utterly disgusting. The past week had been hell for them both because of this. They were always butting heads, with him wanting to make Twilight proud by protecting Applejack, and her treating him as if he were openly committing treason.

The only time Gallus wasn't with her was when they both were sleeping, and a rotation of guards stayed outside of her bedroom for that. As a result, Gallus was feeling very pent up. From two or three times daily to not at all was a pretty drastic change, but any time spent in his dorm was spent sleeping. He needed it, after spending the whole day fighting with Applejack.

"At least we know your food is safe," he said one day while they were having dinner. "Having your own brother bring it means the likelihood that it's poisoned is ridiculously low."

Applejack looked up from her dinner. "And jus' what are you accusin' mah brother of doin'?" she growled.

"Nothing," shrugged Gallus. "That was my whole point. If you had somepony else bringing it, I'd have to test everything to make sure it was safe, but your brother probably won't poison you."

"Whad'd'ya mean, "probably?" Mah brother is more trustworthy than you'd ever be. Ah trust him with mah life. A wouldn't trust you ta deliver choc'late bunnies."

Gallus shook his head. "What do I have to do to clear my name? I'm not responsible for the deaths of any of your friends."

"Ya didn't protect 'em, neither. An' yer not even protectin' me. Ain't nopony comin' after me, an' you know it. That letter ya gave Twilight is a fake. Ah jus' don't know how to prove it, an' Ah can't figure it out with you loomin' over mah shoulder."

Gallus placed a claw against his chest. "That hurts, Applejack."

"Miss Applejack."

Gallus shook his head and rewrapped his egg salad sandwich. "Now you've gone and spoiled my appetite. I don't understand why you detest me so."

"It's because Ah know you're behind all of this."

"Why do you think that?"

"Ah don't think it, Ah know it."

"What makes you so sure?"

"Ah know a liar when Ah see one."

Gallus sighed and folded his claws. "Fine. You don't have to believe me. You don't have to do anything. It's me that's being restricted, here."

"Not restricted enough, if ya ask me."

"This isn't ideal for me, either. While I harbor no animosity towards you, I'd much rather be protecting Twilight."

"That's what Ah'm doin'."

Not wanting to argue anymore, Gallus just sighed and leaned back. He glanced at the windows, then the door, and resumed his stoic stance. He had to remind himself why he was putting up with this. He was acting as Applejack's bodyguard, intentionally making her angry so that she would raise a complaint to Twilight, or perhaps do something that would force Twilight's hoof. He really didn't like arguing with her, but he absolutely knew that he should push her harder.

"What's it going to take?" he asked. "If, perchance, you'd been the one to disappear with Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy would have little effort trusting me. Rainbow Dash would be working with me, Rarity would be appreciative, and Pinkie... Well, who knows how Pinkie would react? They would be far less abrasive, I think. Why are you fighting me on this?"

"Ya don't listen very good, do ya?" snorted Applejack. "Ah know you're involved. Ah feel it in mah gut. Ah smell it in the air around you. But Ah have nothin' ta back me up."

"Twilight trusts me," reasoned Gallus. "You don't have to trust me outright. Put your trust in her. Let her decision on who can and cannot be trusted put you at ease."

"She ain't always right," sighed Applejack. "She's wrong about you, for example."

"Surely, the fact that the two of you disagree is evidence that one of you is wrong. Surely, this is a call for a third opinion? Perhaps Starlight, or Trixie, or Sunburst?"

"Or how about your other co-conspirators, like Zephyr Breeze?"

Gallus snorted. "If you know where he is, why not ask him what happened to Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy?"

"Just because they all disappeared at once does not mean they're all together."

"You think they're not?"

"Ah think you know exactly where they are."

Gallus held his claw in the air. "Applejack, I swear to you, I have not seen them since the day they disappeared. I don't know what else I can tell you."

"How 'bout the truth?"

"I just told you the truth. The last time I saw them, they were here at the school, locking themselves in Rainbow Dash's office. I went back to my dorm with Smolder and Ocellus when we separated from them. You can ask them; they were there. I have an alibi for that night."

"Ah've read their statements. Ah believe that you were with them. Ah even believe that you were injured that night by chemicals that splashed in yer eyes. Ah'd even considered askin' ya why there were chemicals in yer eyes in the first place. But if Ah don't believe yer claims of not bein' involved in their disappearances, why in Equestria would I believe anythin' else ya have ta say?"

Gallus shrugged. "I don't know what to tell you."