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Hopeless

By InkSlinger
Created: 2025-03-23 05:04:57
Updated: 2025-03-30 02:17:29
Expiry: Never
romancewipaieanonstallionhopeless magic

  1. Part I:
  2. >You gulp nervously and take a step closer towards the town square.
  3. >Today's the day.
  4. >The other townsponies glance your way for a brief moment before returning to their business.
  5. >The day you move into Ponyville.
  6. >A fruit vendor calls out to you, eager for her first sale of the morning.
  7. >The day you officially join equestrian society.
  8. >You stop to buy some apples and place them in your weathered saddlebags.
  9. >The day you can finally feel...NORMAL.
  10. >You reach the town hall where a tan mare with white hair happily greets you.
  11. >"Hello there! Welcome to Ponyville!"
  12. >She trots up to you and extends a hoof.
  13. >"I'm Mayor Mare, the mayor of this happy little town!
  14. "Hi, I'm Anonymous." You reply while shaking her hoof. "But you can call me Anon."
  15. >Normally you'd bumble through conversations like this, but today is special.
  16. >"It's a pleasure to meet you Mr. Mous!" She exclaims.
  17. >Damnit, you told her to call you Anon!
  18. >"I take it you're ready?" She asks after eyeing your saddlebags.
  19. >You nod with a smile.
  20. >"Splendid!" She clops her hooves together.
  21. >The kind mare guides you through the maze of happy cottages and shops until you're standing in front of the old town windmill.
  22. >"Here she is!" The mayor exclaims.
  23. >You look the place over and physically cringe.
  24. >The door is faded and full of cracks.
  25. >The windmill's blades crack and groan as they struggle to rotate.
  26. >Hell, the entire building looks like a remnant of the last pony war!
  27. "Well, it's uh, very....rustic?" You scratch your chin.
  28. >Words fail to adequately describe the state of this absolute trainwreck of a structure.
  29. >"Oh, wait until you see the interior!" The mayor happily hops in place.
  30. >Mayor Mare grabs the key hanging around her neck and unlocks the door.
  31. >*GROOOOAAAAANNNN*
  32. >Holy bits, it sounds like this place is ready to crumble!
  33. >You duck for cover in a nearby bush, earning a playful chuckle from the old mare.
  34. >"Oh my, did something spook you?" She asks.
  35. >You frantically shake your head.
  36. >Don't get cold hooves now, you bleedin' idiot!
  37.  
  38. Part II:
  39. >You cautiously follow Mayor Mare into the old windmill, its old floorboards creaking with every hoofstep.
  40. >The mayor stops and directs your attention towards a large room at the end of the entryway.
  41. >"This is the living room, perfect for those cozy little get-togethers with friends!"
  42. >You look around the rundown room in disbelief.
  43. >The floorboards are warped and splintered.
  44. >The curtains are torn and tattered.
  45. >The sofa is covered in dust and exposed springs.
  46. >The windows are muddy and dark.
  47. >Cozy for who exactly? Zombies? Ghosts?
  48. >The cheerful mare then trots past a winding set of stairs to the adjacent room.
  49. >"And this is the kitchen!" She declares.
  50. >Worn appliances huddle atop a grungy countertop while an old refrigerator hums against the opposite wall.
  51. >The stove is rusted with its door hanging open, revealing a small nest of mice among the debris.
  52. >You'll definitely be ordering takeout for the foreseeable future.
  53. >The more you see of this old place, the more you regret buying it.
  54. >You force a smile to avoid hurting the old mare's feelings.
  55. >After all, it's not like she was the one who ran this dump into the ground.
  56. >The mayor squees with delight at your reaction and continues the tour.
  57. >"And up here you'll find all the comforts of home."
  58. >Your ears perk up at the sounds of soft grunts floating down from the second floor.
  59. >Sounds like the poor mare and stairs don't get along very well.
  60. >You quickly trot upstairs after her and find yourself in a small windowless hallway lined with three doors.
  61. >Beyond the third door lies another, smaller set of stairs leading up to a dark room that's hard to make out.
  62. >"Phew! That counts as my workout for the day!" The mayor says in a huff.
  63. >You can't help but giggle at her joke.
  64. >"Y-You're too kind, Mr. Mous..."
  65. >The mare blushes and nervously plays with her gray mane.
  66. >"A-Anyhoo...this is the master bedroom!"
  67. >She quickly points to the faded blue door next to you.
  68. >The door almost flies off of its broken hinges as the two of you walk into the room.
  69. >She flips a switch on the nearby wall, flooding the room with a dim yellow light.
  70. >Your jaw drops.
  71.  
  72. Part III:
  73. >You see a large red bed sitting in the middle of the room.
  74. >The windows are clean and adorned with navy blue curtains.
  75. >Beautifully crafted wooden furniture lines the east and west walls.
  76. >The carpeting is vibrant and soft to the touch.
  77. >There isn't a thing out of place anywhere in the area.
  78. >Aside from a thick layer of dust, this room is immaculate!
  79. >You turn to the mayor and stare at her in shock.
  80. "How-?" You gasp.
  81. >"How what, Mr. Anon?" She asks in confusion.
  82. "How is this room so perfect when the downstairs looks like a-?!"
  83. >You stop short at the sight of tears forming in the old mayor's eyes.
  84. "Erm, w-when the downstairs areas look so dirty?" You quickly divert your train of thought.
  85. >The mayor sighs and turns towards the window.
  86. >"It's a long story." She confesses. "I wouldn't want to bore you with the silly details."
  87. >Okay, now she's DEFINITELY provoking your curiosity.
  88. "Tell me." You firmly respond.
  89. >The mare removes her glasses to look at the outside scenery.
  90. >"Once upon a time, a happy young couple moved into this windmill."
  91. >You stand by her side and pretend to look out the window.
  92. >"They were the sweetest lovers anypony had ever met, 'a match made in heaven' one might say."
  93. >Her voice suddenly drops to a whisper of sorts, compelling you to move closer.
  94. >"But one day something terrible happened."
  95. >Sheesh, what's with that cryptic undertone?
  96. "Well? What happened, Ms. Mare?"
  97. >She takes a deep breath and steels herself.
  98. >"One day, the stallion left without a word."
  99. >You swear she's fighting back sniffles as she speaks.
  100. >"The poor mare was *hic* heartbroken." She continues.
  101. >"As the days turned into weeks, weeks into months, she realized her husband was *sniffle* never coming back..."
  102. >You hand the sniffling mayor a tissue.
  103. >"Thank you, dear." She squeaks while blowing her nose.
  104.  
  105. Part IV:
  106. >"The town knew right away that something was wrong." She continued. "M-Myself included of course."
  107. >The afternoon sun washes over her face through the window.
  108. >"At first the mare frantically searched every street in Ponyville, desperate to find any trace of her beloved."
  109. >She wipes her eyes and places a hoof on the window pane.
  110. >"But everypony she asked said they hadn't seen him." The mare bites her quivering lip. "It was as though he vanished from the world altogether."
  111. >You feel a chill running down your spine, mainly because nopony ever mentioned that Equestria was h-haunted!
  112. >"The mare eventually gave up her search and sold this old place back to the town."
  113. >Why does it feel like she's still hiding something?
  114. >"As for the mare, she was never quite the same."
  115. >The mare slowly turns to face you and forces a smile.
  116. >"Oh my gracious, you must be bored to death hearing such a...silly stor-"
  117. >You wrap your hooves around the startled mare and hug her close.
  118. >Mayor Mare's eyes widen in surprise, but soon she's returning the favor with a snuggle of her own.
  119. >"Mmmm...." She coos.
  120. >You feel a wet spot on your neck where her head now rests.
  121. >It's not like you to dish up compassion to ponies you just met, but deep down you know she needs this.
  122. >Judging by her reactions, Ms. Mare knows she needs this as well.
  123. >After what feels like hours, the mare reluctantly breaks off the embrace and stares at you in amazement.
  124. >"Anon, I-"
  125. >She struggles to form the right words, unintentionally dragging the two of you into an awkward silence.
  126. "It's okay, Mayor." You reassure her. "I think I understand now."
  127. >The mayor's face turns beet red as she begins to realize the gravity of the situation.
  128. >"Was it that obvious?"
  129. >You nod.
  130. >"Then I've said too much." She sighs.
  131. >Your ears perk up at the sound of a clock chiming four times in a row.
  132. >"Good heavens, is that the time?!"
  133. >Mayor Mare looks at the clock and begins to panic.
  134. >"I still have to review the new trade proposal!"
  135. >You raise a hoof to try and calm her down, but the mare is already galloping downstairs.
  136. >The mayor reaches your front door and practically rips the poor thing from its hinges.
  137. >"EEEK! I've also forgotten about Princess Celestia's royal visit this weekend!"
  138. >The mare is two hooves out the door before you manage to catch up to her.
  139. "Thank you for the home tour, Ms. Mare."
  140. >She stops in her tracks, suddenly aware of the reason she came to visit in the first place.
  141. >"Y-You're very welcome." She replies. "If there's anything you need, please don't hesitate to ask."
  142. "Of course." You calmly reply. "Oh, and Mayor?"
  143. >"Yes, Anon?"
  144. "If you ever want to talk, I'm here."
  145. >The frazzled mare thanks you with a warm smile and shuts the door behind her.
  146. >Silence falls upon the windmill, but you no longer feel alone in this world.
  147.  
  148. Part V:
  149. >The next few weeks are a blur of unpacking, getting to know your new neighbors, and cleanup.
  150. >Lots and lots of cleanup.
  151. >With a little help from the townsponies, you were able to get the old mill up and running again.
  152. >Turns out that things like flour and gravel are fast-selling commodities in this world.
  153. >Thanks to the mayor's new trade deal, you were able to ship your goods out to all four corners of Equestria without too much trouble (or tax).
  154. >Life is good, if not a tad lonely at times.
  155. >There's no shortage of beautiful mares living here to woo, but your mind (and heart) continue drifting towards one particular mare.
  156. >The sun sets on the horizon just as you finish up the last of the house cleaning.
  157. >Its fading radiance bathes the entire town in a cozy swirl of orange and pink hues, a romantic sight if you've ever seen one.
  158. >It's almost as if Celestia herself is subtly telling you what needs to be done.
  159. >You enter Town Hall with a renewed vigor, eager to see a certain mayor about some personal business.
  160. >*KNOCK* *KNOCK* *KNOCK*
  161. >Your shaky green hoof taps on the door leading to Mayor Mare's office.
  162. >Wait a minute, why are your hooves shaking?!
  163. >Frazzled nerves were supposed to be a thing of the past!
  164. >The seeds of doubt quickly begin to take root in your mind.
  165. >What if you're not the mayor's type?
  166. >What if you do something stupid?
  167. >What if she only sees you as an acquaintance?
  168. >What if she's already seeing somepony?
  169. >What if she's not as nice as she seems?
  170. >WHAT IF SHE SAYS 'NO'?
  171. >WhAt iF-
  172. >"Anon?"
  173. >A soft voice snaps you out of the rabbit hole, causing you to stumble backwards in surprise.
  174. >Mayor Mare stands in the doorway of her office with a concerned expression on her face.
  175. >"May I...help you?" She asks.
  176. >Ah bits, you're already off to a great start.
  177. >You resist the urge to facehoof and clear your throat.
  178.  
  179. Part VI:
  180. "Uh, hi there, Mayor Mare." You smile a bit too intensely. "N-Nice day today huh?"
  181. >If you had pockets, they would be spilling over with spaghetti right about now.
  182. >What the buck is happening?!
  183. >"Why yes, it was a beautiful day." The mare stares at you awkwardly. "Did you need something?"
  184. >The fear of rejection has you freezing in place.
  185. >Come on, it's not that hard to ask a mare out.
  186. >USE YOUR WORDS!
  187. >The mayor locks up her office and tries to avoid staring at your dumbstruck face.
  188. >"It's getting rather late, perhaps we can discuss what's on your mind tomorrow?"
  189. >Mayor Mare steps out into the town square and beckons you with an impatient hoof.
  190. >Your ears droop.
  191. >Your heart pounds in your chest.
  192. >Sweat begins dripping down the sides of your head.
  193. >This golden opportunity is slipping through your hooves!
  194. >You quickly gallop over to the mayor's side as she begins to lock up town hall for the night.
  195. >Accursed words, why do they fail you in this crucial hour of need?!
  196. >"Well, it's been...interesting...chatting with you Anon, but I need to head home-"
  197. >It's now or never, make your choice.
  198. "WAAAAAAIIIIT!"
  199. >Your thunderous neigh almost knocks the frightened lady onto her rump.
  200. >A wise pony always did say that confronting your fears head on is the best way to overcome them.
  201. "M-Mayor Mare, please forgive me for shouting."
  202. >You take a deep breath and slowly approach her.
  203. "But I need to ask you something."
  204. >The poor mare is still shaking like a leaf, but ultimately agrees to hear you out.
  205. >You look her right in the eye.
  206. "Miss Mare, would you like to have dinner with....m-me?"
  207. >The mayor's jaw drops at the implications of your question.
  208. >"What did you...s-say?" She asks in a trembling voice.
  209.  
  210. Part VII:
  211. "I said: would you like to go out to dinner with me?" You ask again.
  212. >The mayor stumbles to her hooves and stares at you as though you've grown a second head.
  213. >You stand there eagerly waiting for the mare's answer.
  214. >Your burst of confidence begins to dwindle with each passing moment of silence.
  215. >Why doesn't she say something?!
  216. >Mayor Mare suddenly takes a few steps forward until her face is mere inches away from your own.
  217. >"You sure know how to flatter this old mare, Anon." She giggles. "But I'm afraid I have to decline."
  218. "Huh? W-Why not?"
  219. >You don't even try to hide the hurt in your voice.
  220. >The mare forces a smile, but it ultimately fails to soften the blow.
  221. >"It's nothing personal, Anon." She sighs. "It's just that, well, I-I'm simply not ready to date again."
  222. >Your heart sinks into the pit of your stomach.
  223. "Oh."
  224. >She places a hoof on your face.
  225. >"I'm sure a handsome stallion like you could easily find a younger, prettier mare to ask out."
  226. >She picks up her saddlebags and heads for the bridge behind you.
  227. >"Goodnight Anon."
  228. >Mayor Mare waves to you before disappearing over the bridge leading to her home.
  229. >Tears stream down your face.
  230. >She said no.
  231. >Your legs twitch.
  232. >SHE SAID NO.
  233. >Your spine tingles.
  234. >SHE SAID NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
  235. >Soon you're galloping back to the old windmill with the intent of NEVER leaving it again.
  236.  
  237. Part VIII:
  238. >What went wrong?
  239. >You toss and turn in bed as the morning sun warms your face.
  240. >WHAT THE BUCK WENT WRONG?
  241. >You want to lay in this bed for the rest of time, but the sun continues its relentless assault upon your body.
  242. >With a grunt of effort, you drag yourself out of bed and head for the bathroom.
  243. >Did you come on too strong? Were you too blunt? DID YOU FORGET TO WEAR COLOGNE?
  244. >*DING DONG*
  245. >Oh bits, not now!
  246. >You race downstairs to see who dares to interrupt your rejection crisis.
  247. >"H..llo? Mr...M...us?" A muffled voice calls out in between knocks.
  248. >You sigh and unlock the door to find a pink earth pony mare wearing a pilot hat.
  249. >"Oh, there you are!" She grins ear to ear. "Good morning Mr. Mous!"
  250. "Good morning, Cherry Berry." You do your best to sound pleasant. "And please, call me 'Anon'."
  251. >The cheerful mare's smile disappears after looking you over.
  252. >"Gosh, you don't look so good! Is everything okay?" She asks tenderly.
  253. >You turn to the conveniently-placed mirror in the entryway and gasp.
  254. >The vibrant green coat and black mane/tail combo you used to know are now pale and faded.
  255. >You turn to Cherry Berry and whinny in a nervous manner.
  256. "What's happening to me?!" You cry out.
  257. >"You might be coming down with something." Cherry Berry quickly steps back. "Wait, are you contagious?!"
  258. "How would I know?!" You snap back.
  259. >Of all the days to get sick, it has to be on a delivery day?!
  260. "Don't worry about me right now."
  261. >You dash past her and load up the wagon with today's deliveries.
  262. "We have a schedule to keep."
  263. >Cherry Berry scurries over and hitches herself to the wagon.
  264. "This load's destination is Hope Hollow."
  265. >You scribble out a receipt and stick it to the cargo.
  266. >Cherry Berry performs a cute little salute and begins trotting towards her hot air balloon.
  267. "Goodbye Mr. Mous!" She waves to you. "I hope you feel better soooooon~!"
  268. >You wave back and watch her disappear among the crowds of ponies.
  269. >"Dangit Cherry, I told you to call me 'Anon'." You mutter with a soft chuckle.
  270.  
  271. Part IX:
  272. >With the day's first delivery squared away, you pack a few things and head for the hospital.
  273. >The townsponies stop to gawk at you and murmur amongst themselves as you trot through the streets.
  274. >Geez, is your condition THAT noticeable?!
  275. >You blush with annoyance and try to avoid eye contact until reaching the hospital entrance.
  276. >Hopefully the medical staff can offer more compassion than your fellow villagers.
  277. >You take one step into the lobby and all tartarus breaks loose.
  278. >The sick and injured ponies begin to panic and stampede all over the place.
  279. >Nurses pour in from every hallway and whisk you away to the emergency room.
  280. >Doctors quickly form a defensive line and try to calm the crowd down before somepony gets hurt.
  281. >You're ushered into a dimly-lit doctor's office, where a white mare waits patiently.
  282. >"Please have a seat, sir." She softly commands. "We need to get started right away.
  283. >She motions towards a nearby examination table.
  284. >Without a word, you quickly shuffle onto the cold slab of steel and wait.
  285. >"I am Nurse Redheart, the head nurse of this hospital wing."
  286. "Hello..." You nervously reply.
  287. >There's just something about doctors and nurses that give you the chills.
  288. >Could be their ice cold stethoscopes.
  289. >Could be the sharp needles they stab into your bare flesh.
  290. >It could even be the way they're so unnaturally stoic in the face of medical emergencies.
  291. >"Can you please describe the events leading up to your, erm, unique medical condition?"
  292. >The nurse pulls out a notepad and prepares to record your testimony.
  293. "Well, it all started when-" You begin.
  294. >*POOF*
  295. >You're immediately sent flying off the table by some kind of magic explosion.
  296. >The nurse screams and runs for cover with her assistants.
  297. >When the dust settles, you see a purple alicorn mare standing tall in the center of the room.
  298. >She takes one look at you and squees with delight.
  299. >"Yes! I KNEW I'd find you here!" She exclaimed.
  300. >You cock your head in a mix of surprise and confusion.
  301. "Princess T-Twilight?" You stammer. "What are you doing here?"
  302.  
  303. Part X:
  304. >"Isn't it obvious?" She points at your faded coat.
  305. >Oh right your fading sickness, or whatever this is.
  306. "I appreciate your concern, but why would the royal family worry over a plain commoner like me?"
  307. >Princess Twilight sighs and steps closer towards you.
  308. >"What do you mean?" She narrows her eyes. "Should a princess NOT show concern for her subjects?"
  309. >Your ears droop as the gravity of your foolish words begin to set in.
  310. "I'm sorry Princess, that was a stupid question to ask."
  311. >You stare at the ground to avoid her piercing gaze.
  312. >The last thing you need is to be banished to Tartarus or turned into stone.
  313. >"It's okay, Anonymous." The purple horse smiles. "Let's focus on healing you."
  314. >She poofs a book out of thin air and carefully reads through a bookmarked section.
  315. "But Princess, what kind of sickness is this exactly?"
  316. >You tug at your faded coat, hopeful that the princess can find a cure in her book.
  317. >Twilight shakes her head and steps closer towards you.
  318. >"Anonymous, you're not suffering from any kind of medical illness."
  319. >Nurse Redheart pokes her head out from behind the makeshift barricade.
  320. "What do you mean, your highness?"
  321. >Yes, what DOES Princess Twilight mean by not calling this a typical sickness?
  322. >You and Nurse Redheart gather around Princess Twilight and anxiously wait for her response.
  323. >"The origins of your affliction are not biological, but instead MAGICAL."
  324. >Wait, you're sick with some kind of MAGIC? How is that even possible?!
  325. "I-I don't understand Princess..." Your voice trails off.
  326. >"My friends and I once traveled to a town full of ponies that were faded just like you."
  327. >Twilight turns the book around to show you an illustration depicting ponies with faded color schemes in a small town.
  328. >"We searched high and low to try and find out what was causing this strange epidemic."
  329. >You lean in closer with the eagerness of a young colt listening to his parents' wild stories.
  330. "Did you find out?"
  331. >The princess nods and poofs the book out of existence.
  332. >"Hope." The princess responds. "Or rather, the lack of it."
  333. >Your eyes widen in surprise.
  334. "Hopelessness, your majesty?"
  335. >"That is correct, dear Anonymous."
  336.  
  337. Part XI:
  338. >"The official term is 'Hopeless Magic'." She continues.
  339. >Your thoughts immediately drift back to the events that unfolded last night.
  340. >Asking Mayor Mare out to dinner was indeed supposed to instill hope in your heart.
  341. >Unfortunately, that hope was quickly killed and buried when she said no.
  342. >It's all coming together, and you don't like the implications.
  343. >"Do you understand now, my dear subject?" The princess asks in a soft voice.
  344. >You nod.
  345. >"Good."
  346. >Princess Twilight places a hoof on your shoulder.
  347. >"Hopeless magic is a terrible thing, Anonymous."
  348. >Tears begin running down the purple mare's cheeks.
  349. >"NOPONY should ever have to experience it."
  350. >Damn, this IS serious if it's making a princess cry!
  351. >"Oh dear, would you look at the time?"
  352. >Nurse Redheart giggles nervously and glances at her bare wrist.
  353. >"I have to get back to my rounds! Please excuse me, your highness!"
  354. >The frazzled nurse bows to the princess makes a quick exit along with her assistants.
  355. >"Farewell Princess Twilight! Anonymous!"
  356. >Her voice trails off as the door closes, leaving you and the princess in a deafening silence.
  357. "Give it to me straight Princess, what's the cure for this hopeless magic stuff?" You ask bluntly.
  358. >"Anonymous-"
  359. "Please, call me Anon." You interrupt. "Everypony else does."
  360. >"Very well, Anon."
  361. >Twilight clears her throat and steps back.
  362. >"Anon, there is no magical cure for this particular affliction."
  363. >You utter a whinny of distress and begin to panic.
  364. >There's no hope for you now, it's all over but the funeral!
  365. >"Wait Anon, please calm down!" The princess cries.
  366. >You ignore her and begin to gallop around the room as though you've lost your mind.
  367. >What's the point of living now?!
  368. >You can practically FEEL the small slivered remains of hope being drained from your soul.
  369.  
  370. Part XII:
  371. >Furniture and medical equipment fly in every direction as you continue your distressed rampage.
  372. >Your life is over.
  373. >"Anon..."
  374. >No self-respecting mare will ever want you now.
  375. >"ANON!"
  376. >You didn't even get to see Saddle Arabia-
  377. >"NEEEEEEEEEIIIIIIIGHNOOOON!"
  378. >Your body freezes in place after a hoof stomp sends powerful purple shockwaves through the room.
  379. >The princess' powerful alicorn magic sends you flying through the air until you're once again standing before her.
  380. >"Anon PLEASE, calm down..."
  381. >You try to focus somewhere else, but the magic forces you to look directly at her.
  382. >The mare's eyes are ablaze with a mix of concern and irritation.
  383. >Oh bits.
  384. >"I want to help you, Anon." She sits on her hindquarters. "But I need to know one thing first."
  385. >Her magic dissipates, dropping you on your own butt.
  386. >"Why did you lose hope?"
  387. >Now it's YOUR turn to cry.
  388. >She leans in expectantly, seemingly eager to hear what ails you.
  389. >You take a deep breath and gather your thoughts.
  390. >If a literal princess wants to know what's wrong, then you're going to tell her exactly what's wrong.
  391. "I asked a mare out yesterday, and she rejected me."
  392. >Twilight blinks in disbelief, much to your dismay.
  393. >"That's it?" The princess chuckles. "And here I thought it was something serious!"
  394. >Princess Twilight gasps as your colors fade again, leaving you almost completely monochrome.
  395. >You should've known she wouldn't understand.
  396. >The royal family must be DROWNING in suitors on any given day.
  397. >For peasants such as yourself however, finding a good mate just isn't that easy.
  398.  
  399. Part XIII:
  400. >"Finding a marefriend is really that important to you?"
  401. "Yes."
  402. >You look her square in the eye and snort.
  403. "It's every stallion's goal to find a nice mare and settle down, y'know?"
  404. >Princess Twilight is taken aback by your heartfelt response.
  405. "To love and cherish her every single day, to give her as many foals as she wants..."
  406. >Your train of thought crashes as HEARTS begin to form in the flustered princess' eyes.
  407. >Twilight bites her lip and turns around, presenting her bare purple rump in all its regal glory.
  408. >"P-Perhaps I can help you with that, just for today?"
  409. >It doesn't take long for you to become painfully erect after seeing such a shameless display of marebits.
  410. >Your primal instincts kick into overdrive, tempting you to rut this (admittedly beautiful) mare.
  411. >What sane stallion WOULDN'T mate with a princess if given the chance?
  412. >Your heart however, says the exact opposite.
  413. >You shake your head and step away from Princess Twilight.
  414. "I appreciate the offer, Princess." You reply. "But I want a future wife, not a one night stand."
  415. >"Oh, I...see..."
  416. >Twilight turns to face you and immediately loses herself in thought.
  417. >Oh no, what other harebrained schemes is she concocting in that royal head of hers?
  418. >You gulp nervously and turn towards the exit.
  419. >"A-Anon, wait!"
  420. >The panicked princess practically throws herself at you before reaching the door.
  421. >"I-I can still help...some...how..."
  422. >The alicorn's tear-filled eyes betray her words.
  423. >You sigh with disappointment and face the desperate mare.
  424. >"A princess is supposed to help her subjects..."
  425. >Princess Twilight utters a defeated whinny and buries her face in her hooves.
  426. >Damn, she's taking this harder than you.
  427.  
  428. Part XIV:
  429. >On the one hoof, you want to just leave and wallow in misery alone.
  430. >On the other hoof, you can't stand to see a mare in distress.
  431. >After a little mental back and forth, you come to a decision.
  432. >You walk over and place a hoof on her trembling shoulder.
  433. >"Huh?!" Twilight snaps out of her distress. "A-Anon, I-"
  434. >You gently shush her with a hoof to the mouth and smile.
  435. "Wanna grab a hayburger? I think some food will clear our heads."
  436. >Twilight sits there in stunned silence, unsure of how to answer you.
  437. >*GRUMBLE*
  438. >Twilight blushes at the sound of her rumbling belly.
  439. >"That sounds like a great idea." She smiles bashfully.
  440. >You help the hungry princess to her hooves and together, the two of you head for the Ponyville Café.
  441. >The sun is shining brightly as you take your seats in the outdoor section.
  442. >Twilight squees with delight while looking over the menu.
  443. >"Hayburgers, salads, milkshakes, fries, onion rings...this place is heaven!" She happily exclaims.
  444. >You can't help but utter a chuckle at the princess' adorkable display of enthusiasm.
  445. >The waiter approaches and begins his usual greeting, but cuts himself short when spotting Princess Twilight.
  446. >"O-Oh my, Princess Twilight?!"
  447. >The stallion almost trips over his own hooves trying to bow in front of your lunch companion.
  448. >"To what do we owe the pleasure of your royal presence at our humble restaurant?!"
  449. >"It's nothing official, just an empty stomach and some good company." Twilight grins.
  450. >"Ohoho! Treating your date to some local Ponyville delicacies are we, your highness?" The waiter teases while glancing over at you.
  451. >Now it's YOUR turn to blush uncontrollably.
  452.  
  453. Part XV:
  454. >The waiter takes one look at you and immediately drops the comedy act.
  455. >"Are you feeling alright, sir? You look rather...faded."
  456. "It's a long story." You confess. "But some good food should help me recover."
  457. >The waiter nods and pulls out a notepad.
  458. >"Very well." The stallion turns to face Twilight. "What would you like, your highness?"
  459. >"I'll have three triple hayburgers, two sides of horseshoe rings, and a chocolate milkshake!"
  460. >Your eyes widen at the ridiculous size of her order.
  461. >Dayum, this mare must be STARVING!
  462. >"All excellent choices, your highness!"
  463. >The waiter scribbles her order down on the notepad.
  464. >"And for you, sir?"
  465. >You skim over the menu, but it's hard to focus after everything that's happened.
  466. >Something in the back of your mind continues to assert itself over all else.
  467. >Is it a warning? A future vision perhaps? Or are you just losing your damn mind?
  468. "Uh, I'll have a regular hayburger and some iced tea."
  469. >To be brutally honest, you aren't all that hungry.
  470. >Feeling like a hollow shell tends to have that kind of effect.
  471. >"Very good! Your food will be ready momentarily."
  472. >The waiter puts away his notepad and heads towards the kitchen.
  473. >"So, Anon..." Twilight focuses her attention on you. "How is life in Ponyville treating you?"
  474. >You simply grunt and point at your faded coat with frustration.
  475. >"Oh, right. Well then, h-how's your mill business?"
  476. >Twilight nervously plays with her mane and tries to change the subject.
  477. "You know about my mill business?" You tilt your head.
  478. >The princess smiles awkwardly and nods.
  479. >"Of course! I do place orders from time to time." She explains. "Your flour is very high quality, perfect for cooking and baking!"
  480. >Why are you not surprised?
  481.  
  482. Part XVI:
  483. >"Alright, Anon..." Twilight clears her throat. "How can I help you?"
  484. >You raise an eyebrow.
  485. >"R-Regain hope I mean!" She stammers.
  486. >"The direct approach certainly didn't work."
  487. >Twilight blushes with a wing over her face.
  488. >You sigh and take a sip of your tea.
  489. "Princess..."
  490. >"Please, call me Twilight." The mare smiles. "Everypony else does."
  491. >You can't help but chuckle as the princess uses your own quip against you.
  492. "As you wish, Twilight."
  493. >You smile and playfully bow in your seat, earning a cute chuckle from her in return.
  494. "As I was saying, it's not like I think you're ugly or anything."
  495. >"But-?" The Princess leans forward.
  496. "But we'd have to take things slow." You say firmly.
  497. >The quirky mare sits in silence, waiting for you to continue.
  498. "We'd have to get to know each other, go on some dates, meet each others' friends..."
  499. >You tap your hooves on the table to try and shake off the awkwardness of your one-sided conversation.
  500. >"...and hey, if we're compatible, then we could get married, have some foals and-"
  501. >You stop short at the sight of Twilight panting like a dog in the summer.
  502. >Oh dear Celestia, you got her all worked up again.
  503. >The purple princess fidgets uncomfortably in her seat.
  504. "Twilight, are you in estrus or something?"
  505. >You quickly stuff your hooves into your mouth.
  506. >What the hell were you thinking, saying something like that in front of the princess?!

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