Second Chances II: Love and Courage

Second Chances II: Love and Courage
By Hero541
Chapter 19: Why so Hateful?

Twilight and Pinkie made their way through the town of Ponyville, both on their way to visit Josh in jail. Pinkie, as usual, was bouncing along the road, though admittedly with less vigor than usual. The minute Twilight had gotten to her and told her about what had happened to Josh, she didn’t hesitate for a second, grabbing Applejack and checking on Vinyl and Octavia to see how they were coping. She had to resist the urge to cry her own eyes out when she’d arrived at the house that night and seen the forlorn expressions that both ponies had on their faces. It was there that she made a silent vow to herself to do anything and everything she could to help both Josh and Vinyl through this situation. Right now, that consisted of her taking a few of her breakfast cookies to the human.

Twilight had also vowed to help the best she could. To do so, she had begun to study Equestrian law, knowing that Josh would need somepony to represent him when he undoubtedly would have to go to court. She’d been up all night perusing her law books, jotting down all kinds of notes and having Spike quiz her before he went to bed. In only one night, she’d managed to get a good enough grasp on what she needed to say to give Josh a chance in the courtroom. However, she still didn’t know if it’d be enough…

“I hope Joshie’s had a good day so far.” said Pinkie suddenly, stopping her bouncing as they rounded a corner and passed the marketplace.

“Rarity and Sweetie Belle stopped by to see him earlier this morning. I’m sure that alone helped brighten his day.” Twilight said, waving a little to Roseluck as she passed her stall.

“What do you think about all this, Twilight?” Pinkie asked, stopping for a second as she spoke.

Twilight stopped in her own tracks and turned back to Pinkie. The lavender unicorn's emotions weren't readily visible throughout this whole thing so far, but she made it very clear that she was very upset by what had happened. Like the others, she didn't think it was fair that Josh was being so heavily discriminated by the population when it was more than apparent that he had never hurt anypony there or anywhere, save for Filthy Rich, who more than deserved what he got.

"I think that Josh is too good to have everypony hate him so much like this." she said, resuming her walk, Pinkie trailing behind her, "However, I also think he sort of did the right thing by going to jail without a fight."

"Why would you think that's the right thing for him to do?!" shouted Pinkie, attracting unwanted attention from all around.

"Well," began Twilight, putting a hoof to her chin as she thought about what she wanted to say, "he acknowledges the fact that him attacking Filthy like that was wrong, even if he was defending Vinyl. He's going through this whole thing with a peaceful mindset, which can benefit him in the long run if he can prove to the ponies here that Filthy's just been spouting hot air the entire time."

"But, he hasn't." said Pinkie, "We know that. Josh told us all about his past when he got back, remember? He said that was the whole reason he'd left in the first place."

Twilight thought back to that day, which seemed like an eternity ago. Josh had sat them all down after he'd returned to Equestria and explained why he'd left. He'd said that he feared the truth of his past getting out to them and making them lose their faith in him. Twilight and the others were at first a little shocked by what he told them, mostly by the cynicism and anger which filled his heart. However, they still embraced him, knowing in their heart of hearts that he wouldn't do what he'd done before.

"Filthy may know about Josh's past," replied Twilight, frowning at the thought of Filthy Rich, "but he forgets that Josh has never done anything like what he'd done before since he's been here. It's all speculation. I don't understand why ponies are so quick to go to his side on this whole thing..."

"Filthy's making Josh seem like an animal, like he's always gonna be that bad." said Pinkie, continuing to trail behind Twilight as the two ponies made their way to the jailhouse, "It may just be speculation, but he's also drawing on when Josh attacked him. That alone'll probably get ponies to follow his mindset."

Twilight stopped once more and turned to Pinkie, not expecting to hear such intelligent analysis from her friend, even if the unicorn was already aware of what Pinkie had just elaborated on.

"What?" asked Pinkie incredulously as Twilight stared at her.

The unicorn shook her head and continued her walk once more, eager to get to the jailhouse and see Josh and make sure he was alright.

"I just wish there was something we could do." said Pinkie, "Maybe we ought to try and get Vinyl here to see him. I'm sure that'll cheer the both of them up at least a little. I can only imagine how lonely they both must be..."

"Vinyl probably doesn't want to see Josh like this." Twilight pointed out, rounding the corner and entering the town square.

"Why not?" said the party pony, her voice high and somewhat angry, "Doesn't she love him enough to come and make sure he's okay?"

"Of course she does!" replied Twilight, unable to keep the shock at Pinkie's words out of her voice, "She's in a lot of pain right now, more pain than you or I could believe. She's without the love of her life and probably depressed beyond all belief. She'll go see him when she feels the time is right, I'm sure."

The two walked in silence for a bit longer after that, all their attention focused on their friends. As they approached the town center, the two ponies saw a rather large crowd gathered nearby.

“What in the hay’s that all about?” asked Pinkie, gravitating towards the ponies, Twilight following behind her.

As they reached the crowd, they began to hear somepony talking very loudly to the rest of the assembly.

“So, to those of you who have taken up the cause so far, I thank you greatly.” said the voice, a rather gruff one with a slight southern drawl, “For the rest of you, the ones who have doubted my words and have continued to say I have no evidence here, listen well.”

Twilight’s horn glowed and she grabbed Pinkie’s hoof, teleporting them both to the head of the crowd. As soon as she was able to see again, Twilight felt anger burn in her chest at who she saw was speaking. Filthy Rich stood at the center of the crowd, a smug smile on his face as he noticed the two ponies pop out of nowhere.

“That heathen sits in a jail cell right now for assaulting me, all because I said something that he didn’t like.” he continued, not acknowledging Pinkie or Twilight, “So, for those of you who have been doubting, do so no more. I have seen with my own two eyes what he can do when enraged, and I…”

“Why don’t you tell everypony exactly why he attacked you!” shouted Pinkie suddenly, dropping the box of cookies she had been carrying on her back and rushing up to Filthy.

The stallion just stared at her for a second, a blank expression on his face. Soon, however, he smiled once more, silently accepting the challenge posed to him by the angry pink party pony.

“I’ve already made it known why he did so.” he replied, glaring at Pinkie, “I feel no need to repeat myself, Pinkamena.”

“You bucking liar!” she shouted, Twilight rushing up behind her friend to help restrain her should she make a move on Filthy, “Tell them all how you called her a slut!”

An audible gasp was heard from the crowd at those words. Pinkie smiled a little, believing herself to have won this argument and completely shot down Filthy Rich. However, the stallion merely wore a blank expression as he continued to address the crowd.

“It is true.” he said, no trace of fear or trepidation in his voice as he spoke, “I did say some harsh words to her, as anypony else would when they become angry.”

Filthy looked back at Pinkie, his smug smile back once again, “However, she is a traitor to her own kind!”, he said, his eyes becoming wild as he spoke to the crowd again, "She lives and even fornicates with this abomination, one who, I might like to remind you all, seems to have little compunction when it comes to hurting somepony who says something he doesn't like."

More murmuring could be heard from the crowd as Filthy addressed them. Twilight stepped forward this time, her own anger coming to a boil.

“If somepony insults Vinyl like that, right in front of him, then they should expect him to lash out!” she shouted, getting up in Filthy’s face and glaring daggers at him.

“Perhaps if I actually attacked her that would be a different story.” he replied, returning her glare with full force, “However, I made no move to attempt to hurt her, or even him. There is no law saying that he can defend her like that from my words. And you are a traitor as well to support him!”

In an instant, Twilight’s ears flattened against her skull as Filthy yelled those words at her, advancing upon her and making her back off. Pinkie stepped in front of Twilight, ready to defend her should she have to. However, Filthy’s advance was short lived before he turned back and addressed the crowd once more.

“These ponies have been corrupted by that monster!” he shouted, pointing to Pinkie and Twilight next to him, “They want to do the same as Vinyl and pretend that he’s a friend, that he’s one of us, and that he deserves to be here with the rest of us.”

“He does!” shouted Pinkie, but Filthy never heard her as he continued his tirade against Josh.

“He deserves no better than the filthy Diamond Dogs who dwell beneath our very hooves! He is a threat and you are naive and idiotic to think that he's not dangerous to us all after what he did to me, whether you believe he was justified or not!”

The crowd continued their murmuring, most of them nodding their heads in agreement of Filthy’s words. He smiled as he continued.

“This is a world by ponies, for ponies.” he said, “It is all of our jobs to keep it safe from the likes of him, and I’ll be damned if we fail at that now.”

The crowd had begun to cheer, stomping their hooves and shouting their approval at Filthy’s words. Pinkie and Twilight could only watch as everypony who had once loved Josh so much turn on him and want to force him from the place he called home.

“H-how c-can you be so hateful to him?” shouted Pinkie at Filthy Rich over the noise of the crowd.

"I'm doing my civic duty, my dear." said Filthy, turning back to the crowd to bask in their glorious cheers at his words.

Twilight grabbed Pinkie again and teleported the two of them away from the now angry mob. As they popped back nearby, they immediately made for the jailhouse, needing to tell Josh all about what they had just seen. Both couldn't believe how quickly everypony had just turned on their friend, a guy who was once so loved in this town. Even Twilight and the others now would undoubtedly be targeted just like Josh had. Or worse thought Twilight as she ran alongside Pinkie, heading for the jailhouse they may target Vinyl too...