Second Chances II: Love and Courage

Second Chances II: Love and Courage
By Hero541
Chapter 11: Root of the Problem

Josh, Sweetie Belle, Vinyl, and Rarity all sat in Josh and Vinyl’s home, the filly asleep curled up on the human’s lap. After the incident in the park with Rose Blossom, neither Josh nor Sweetie had any urge to continue to play. Instead, they returned to Josh’s home, where both instead sulked for awhile. They weren’t upset at each other, however. The two were just so depressed by what had happened that day.

Vinyl sat on the nearby sofa along with Rarity, her eyes locked on Sweetie’s sleeping form, watching the tiny white body rise and fall with each breath. When she arrived home and heard about what happened from Josh, she had become extremely upset. She had known Rose Blossom for years, and the mare was always unbelievably welcoming of Josh. To think that she could change so suddenly, without a single bit of warning, it was insane.

Rarity, upon returning from Canterlot after a long day of buying supplies, immediately went to Josh and Vinyl’s home to grab Sweetie Belle. However, when she arrived at the house and found out about what had happened, she decided to stay there for a bit and help console her sister. It blew her mind that Rose Blossom would act like that as well. However, that was completely eclipsed by the mere thought that anypony would act like that towards Josh. Never in all her years in Ponyville had she ever heard of somepony being so bigoted.

All four ponies sat in a rather uncomfortable silence, all knowing what they wanted to say, but none wanting to say it. Josh looked to his marefriend on the couch, her sad eyes peering into his own.

“Are we gonna talk about all this or not?” she asked, a slight twinge of annoyance in her voice, “We can’t just let it sit here and fester.”

Josh nodded. Slowly and carefully, he scooped Sweetie Belle up in his arms and took her into the nearby guest bedroom, laying her down on the bed and giving her a small kiss on the forehead before exiting and shutting the door. He made his way back into the living room and took his place in his chair once more, still silent as ever.

“Can I just start by asking what the fuck Rose Blossom’s problem is?” asked Vinyl, jumping down from the couch and pacing about, her voice beginning to rise a little.

“If I knew, I’d be more than happy to tell you, Vinyl.” said Josh simply, watching his marefriend pace.

“Darling,” said Rarity, her ears pressed against her head and hesitation filling her voice, “I must admit, I’m wondering the same thing myself. What in all of Equestria could make somepony like that be so afraid of you so suddenly?”

“Again, if I knew, I’d tell you.”

Nopony said anything for a little while after that, all of them simply continuing to stew over their own thoughts.

“What’re the odds that this has something to do with Filthy Rich?” asked Vinyl finally after what seemed like an eternity of silence.

Josh thought about that possibility. He hadn’t heard anything about the bigoted stallion in quite awhile, a fact he’d reveled in.

“Filthy Rich?” asked Rarity, cocking her head to the side in confusion, “Certainly he’s not an instigator in all this? I know he can be fairly opinionated, but he’s never been one to simply speak his mind about something like that.”

“Didn’t Octavia or Sweetie Belle ever tell you about what happened at the school after Diamond Tiara insulted Josh?” asked Vinyl, raising an eyebrow to the indigo-maned unicorn.

Rarity shook her head, looking confusedly between Josh and Vinyl.

“I had noticed that Sweetie seemed rather down when she came home from school one day,” she said, “but she never mentioned anything that had happened.”

Josh and Vinyl glanced at each other, silently debating who would tell the story. Eventually, Josh started it off by telling about what happened at the schoolhouse during show and tell. After that, Vinyl explained what happened at the conference Cheerilee had held, how Filthy had openly insulted them both and Josh held her back from attacking the stallion. As she listened, Rarity’s expression changed from that of shock and confusion, to one of indignation at Filthy’s words.

“How can somepony be so bigoted to another?” she finally said as Vinyl finished her explanation, “He doesn’t even know you!”

“He doesn’t have to know me to not like me, Rares.” said Josh, looking to the white unicorn, “Racism isn’t based off who you know.”

“That’s not any excuse!” Rarity almost shouted, putting a hoof to her mouth as soon as she finished speaking.

Josh looked to the spare bedroom as an eerie silence fell, listening for the sound of Sweetie Belle waking up. Thankfully, that sound never came.

“Again, he doesn’t need any excuse.” said Josh, easing up once more.

“He also doesn’t have to be like that!” said Vinyl, trying her best to keep her voice in check, “You’ve not done anything to him at all!”

“I’m sure he’s well aware of that, and he doesn’t give a shit.” said Josh simply, not moving from his chair.

“What I want to know is why he’s so bold all of a sudden.” said Rarity, standing and joining Vinyl in her pacing, “You say he claims to know all about your past life away from here. If he’s known about it for as long as it seems he has, then why would he sit on it for so long?”

Josh thought about that for a second. It did indeed seem rather sudden that Filthy would go and begin to spread his knowledge of Josh’s past life to everypony in Ponyville. Why hadn’t the stallion gone out and did this sooner? Josh could think of no reason why, instead choosing to believe that the incident with Diamond Tiara had spurred him to become more bold.

“That doesn’t matter.” said Vinyl, stopping her pacing and glancing between Josh and Rarity, “What’s important is that we stop his little rampage before he corrupts anypony else here. I’m not gonna have any more speaking against my coltfriend.”

Josh looked to Vinyl and smiled a little inwardly. She’s so cute when she gets upset like that he thought I’m so lucky to have someone like her there for me in all this. As Josh was about to reply to her statement, a knock sounded from the door. Josh raised an eyebrow in confusion, knowing that they’d already received the mail that day. Perhaps Derpy had forgotten a letter or two.

“I’ll get it, dear.” said Rarity, striding over and opening the door wide. As she glanced around, she noticed the only thing out of place: a bright green flyer plastered against the wall. Removing it, she made her way back into the house, beginning to read it as she entered.

“What is it, Rarity?” asked Vinyl, moving over to the other mare and glancing over the paper with her.

Neither pony said a thing as they read. The only indication of any kind they gave was the shifting of their expressions, from confused to angry. Josh noticed this and rose quickly to see the flyer. As he made his way over to the two mares, Vinyl’s eyes began to fill with angry tears and she turned away, not wanting to continue staring at the paper. Josh reached out and grabbed the flyer, glancing it over.

Dear Follow Equestrians,
For some time now, we’ve had a creature in our midst who claims to be harmless and friendly. This creature lives among us, attempting to blend into our society, even going so far as to claim to be in love with one of us. We have simply accepted the fact that this creature is here, some of us even embracing it and taking it in with open forelegs.
I know the truth of this monstrosity, however, and I’m willing to share my knowledge with all of you. If you come to City Hall tomorrow, I’ll be more than willing to spread what I know to all of you. Together, we can keep Equestria safe, should this creature ever decide to turn on us. Always remember my friends, this is a land made by ponies, for ponies, and I intend to keep it that way.
Sincerely, your trusted friend,
Filthy Rich

Josh finished reading and looked to both Vinyl and Rarity. The two mares simply stared at him, both with watery and angry eyes. Looking at them, Josh just wished everything could go back to normal, back to the way it had been before all this shit had happened. However, he knew full well that there was no way that could happen now.

“I guess we’re headed to city hall tomorrow.” he said, placing the flyer down and heading into the guest bedroom to check on Sweetie Belle, leaving Rarity and Vinyl to simply stare at one another.