GREEN   670   1
   9651 55.07 KB    958

Alone Together

By InkSlinger
Created: 2025-03-23 05:04:57
Updated: 2025-05-08 08:38:40
Expiry: Never
twilight sparkleromancewipderpymayor mareaieanonstallionhopeless 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?!
  507.  
  508. Part XVII:
  509. >The princess' face turns beet red as she struggles to explain herself.
  510. >"Well, I..uh, you see, the thing is-"
  511. >Truth be told, seeing her get all flustered like this is really cute.
  512. >"My sincerest apologies for the wait, your highness!"
  513. >The waiter shows up out of nowhere and quickly serves the food to your table.
  514. >"Bon appetit!"
  515. >The stallion blows a chef's kiss and quickly gallops back inside the restaurant.
  516. >"It all looks so delicious!"
  517. >Twilight happily clops her hooves together and dives face first into the small mountain of food on her plate.
  518. >*MUNCH*
  519. >You can't help but feel that she's dodging your question.
  520. >"Mmmmmmm~!"
  521. >Twilight's cheeks puff out with every bite she takes.
  522. >You slowly take a bite from your own hayburger and continue to watch the food carnage unfold.
  523. >Seeing a princess pig out like this is as cute as it is unsettling.
  524. >'Does Twilight always eat like this?' You wonder.
  525. >"Ishn't dish fewd da tashtiesht you'be ebah had?!" She squeals through a mouthful of horseshoe rings.
  526. >You slowly nod after taking another bite.
  527. >The food is top notch, as expected from a humble town like Ponyville.
  528. >You take a drink of ice tea and almost spit it out.
  529. >Twilight already cleaned her plate?!
  530. >She sighs with satisfaction and reclines back to rub her now swollen belly.
  531. >"Ponyville's rustic cuisine never fails to brighten my day!"
  532. >She sits upright and gives you the dorkiest smile you've ever seen.
  533.  
  534. Part XVIII:
  535. >You notice some sauce and bits of bun stuck to her cheeks.
  536. "Twilight, you have a little something on your-"
  537. >The mare touches her own cheek and gasps.
  538. >"Oh how sloppy of me!"
  539. >Twilight scrambles to grab a napkin and begins grinding it all over her face.
  540. >"Is it gone?" She asks nervously.
  541. >You try to contain your laughter and nod, much to Twilight's confusion.
  542. >"Heeeey, what's so funny?" She frowns.
  543. >It's amazing how oblivious Twilight is to her own quirky charms.
  544. >Behind that regal exterior beats the heart of a humble mare.
  545. >A mare that may very well be worth getting to know.
  546. "Oh nothing..." You lie.
  547. >The flustered princess snorts with annoyance and sips her milkshake.
  548. >"You really are hopeless." She sighs.
  549. >Ouch.
  550. >You immediately fall silent and stare at the remains of your ice tea.
  551. >Twilight realizes what she just said and tries to shift the conversation.
  552. >"I'm really sorry for that poor choice of words, Anon." She looks you in the eye. "Now how can we help you out of this funk you're in?"
  553. >You pause to ponder the purple pony's proposal.
  554. "Finding a special somepony would be a great start."
  555. >"That's it!" She exclaims.
  556. >Twilight's face lights up as she begins doing a little happy dance on top of the table.
  557. >You physically recoil at the mare's unusually sporadic behavior.
  558. "What's it?" You squint at her.
  559. >"The Hearts and Hooves Day festival!" She trots up to you and grins. "It's this weekend!"
  560. >You almost fall out of your seat.
  561. "Hearts and Hooves Day?" Your ears droop. "The heck is that?"
  562. >"It's the answer to your problem, my dear Anon!"
  563.  
  564. Part XVIX:
  565. >She eagerly grabs you with her magic and the restaurant disappears in a poof of purple magic.
  566. >You find yourself standing in a massive library, complete with gilded staircases and fancy chandeliers.
  567. "Where...ARE we?"
  568. >You look around the library and stare in awe at the thousands of books covering every single wall.
  569. >"Welcome to my humble library!" She proudly announces.
  570. >Huh? There's nothing humble about this gaudy place!
  571. "So, why are we here exactly?"
  572. >Twilight begins flying too and fro, seemingly hunting for something specific.
  573. >"Why, we're here to prepare you for the Hearts and Hooves Festival of course!" She shouts from above.
  574. >How will scrolls and books help you with such a thing?
  575. >She soon grabs a book from one of the highest shelves and descends with it cradled in her hooves.
  576. >*WHOMP*
  577. "AIIIIEEEEEE!"
  578. >Her rough landing sends you flying into a pile of books on the floor.
  579. >"Oops, sorry about that." She bashfully flutters her wings. "I'm still getting used to the whole 'pegasus' thing."
  580. >You clutch at your head and stumble out of the book pile.
  581. "So am I." You shoot back.
  582. >It's still hard to believe that just a few moons ago, Twilight was a humble unicorn working on 'friendship' research.
  583. >Now she's the Princess of Friendship itself.
  584. >Imagine DATING such a cute princess...
  585. >"Uh, Anon? Are you alright?"
  586. >You snap out of your thoughts and spin around to face Twilight.
  587. "Yeah, I-I'm fine." You insist.
  588. >"Really?" She raises an eyebrow. "Because it looked like you were swooning just now."
  589. >NANI?!
  590. >You? Swooning?
  591. >Her eyes must be in backwards or something!
  592. >A strong stallion like you would never do such an embarrassing thing.
  593. >Wait, why does your face feel hot?
  594.  
  595. Part XX:
  596. >"Anyhooo..."
  597. >She opens the book and flips through the pages.
  598. >"This book on pony courtship will no doubt help you find the mare of your dreams....hopefully..."
  599. >Your ears twitch when she practically whispers that last word.
  600. >'Hopefully' indeed.
  601. >Perhaps Twilight isn't being as sincere as she led you to believe...
  602. >...
  603. >Hearts and Hooves Day is finally here.
  604. >Ponies are happily trotting all over town, preparing for the main festival.
  605. >Large pink and red streamers hang from the cottages.
  606. >Heart decorations are EVERYWHERE.
  607. >Delicious Hearts and Hooves Day themed food and drinks line the numerous vendor carts scattered around the town square.
  608. >Pony couples affectionately nuzzle and kiss one another all over town.
  609. >You however, are knocking back pints alone at Applejack's cider wagon.
  610. >Twilight said she'd meet you here at the festival, but never showed up.
  611. >Did she stand you up?
  612. >You take another swig of cider to lessen the sting of loneliness.
  613. >"Beg yer pardon, sugarcube..."
  614. >You turn to see an orange earth pony pointing at a pile of empty mugs on the counter.
  615. >"But ah think ya've had enough fer one day."
  616. >You calmly set your mug down, face the nosey mare, and take a deep breath.
  617. "I'LL TELL YOU WHEN I'VE HAD ENOUGH!"
  618. >Your shouting knocks the applehorse right on her rump.
  619. >An awkward silence hangs in the air as you take another sip of cider, and this time you make sure to look her in the eye while doing so.
  620. >"Oh would'ja lookit that? Ah'm outta cider!" She smiles nervously. "Better head back to the farm an *heh* get sum moar..."
  621. >Applejack quickly scrambles to her hooves and gallops out of sight.
  622. >Damn applefolk, thinking they can tell you what you can and can't have.
  623. >You're not even sure why you choose to remain at the festival.
  624. >It's not like there's a special somepony waiting for you or anything.
  625. >Another mug empty.
  626. >You toss it into the pile and recline in your stool.
  627. >Dear Celestia above, you wish something would end your misery.
  628.  
  629. Part XXI:
  630. >"Excuse me, is this seat taken?"
  631. >Your right ear perks up at the sound of a gentle voice approaching from the east.
  632. >There stands a gray pegasus mare with a yellow mane and tail.
  633. >Two big yellow crossed eyes betray the friendly smile adorning her face.
  634. >You stare at the strange pony in disbelief, but ultimately wave her over to the vacant barstool.
  635. >Misery loves company after all.
  636. >"Oh, thank you mister!"
  637. >The mare clops her hooves together and flies towards you.
  638. >*CLANK*
  639. >She lands on top of a table.
  640. >"Oof!"
  641. >You stifle a chuckle.
  642. >The flustered mare puffs her cheeks out and flaps her wings.
  643. >She then proceeds to land inside one of Applejack's empty cider kegs.
  644. >"H-Huh?!" She cries out in surprise.
  645. >With a grunt of effort she takes flight once more, only to crash into the wagon facefirst.
  646. >*THUNK*
  647. >"Owie!"
  648. >She rubs her head and sighs in defeat upon the ground.
  649. >"I just don't know *sniffle* what went wrong."
  650. >Oh hell no, you are NOT about to let this poor mare cry!
  651. >You leap down from your bar stool and offer her a hoof, earning a gasp from the distressed pony.
  652. "Need some help?" You ask.
  653. >She nods and clings to your hoof for dear life.
  654. >One solid tug and the grateful mare is back on her legs.
  655. >"T-Thank you, mister." She blushes and averts her eye.
  656. "No problem, Miss...?"
  657. >The mare perks up and flutters her wings in the most adorable way imaginable.
  658. >"My name's Derpy!" She happily exclaims. "What's yours?"
  659. "Anon." You smile.
  660.  
  661. Part XXII:
  662. >The two of you make some small talk to pass the time.
  663. >One minute you're telling Derpy about the joy (and misery) of owning a mill business.
  664. >The next minute, she's gushing over the perks of working at the post office.
  665. >She gets to travel a lot and meet all kinds of ponies wherever the deliveries take her.
  666. >This bubbly mare is nothing if not passionate about the life of a mailmare.
  667. >Speaking of travel, sometimes you wonder if moving to another town could alleviate this soul-crushing loneliness...
  668. >"Are you waiting for your special somepony?"
  669. >The smiling mare's innocent question makes your ears droop.
  670. "Yeah, you could say that."
  671. >You turn away from her and focus your sights on a group of ponies passionately dancing in the town square.
  672. "But...she never showed up."
  673. >Derpy gasps and firmly grabs one of your hooves.
  674. >"I'm so sorry, Anon!"
  675. >You're caught off-guard by the panicked pegasus' outburst.
  676. >"N-Nopony should have to *hic* spend Hearts and Hooves Day alone."
  677. >Where the hell did all this mushy stuff come from?
  678. >Just when you think you have this mare all figured out, she throws you a curve ball.
  679. "What about you?" You ask her. "Is there a Mr. Derpy waiting for you out there?"
  680. >You point towards a massive crowd of ponies gathering near the food wagons.
  681. >"I...I don't have a special somepony." She confesses.
  682. >So much for thinking you were the only single (and miserable) pony in all of Ponyville.
  683. >Hold the gramophone, something's not right.
  684. "Wait a minute, if you're single and sad, then why don't you look like this?"
  685. >You tug at your faded coat.
  686. >She looks you over and shrugs.
  687. >"Part of me keeps hoping, DREAMING, of the day I meet that special stallion who will sweep me off my hooves."
  688. >She blushes and clasps her hooves over her cheeks.
  689. >Celestiadamn this mare is too cute for her own good.
  690. "Well, we're never going to be happy sitting here all day."
  691. >You extend a hoof towards Derpy, eager to put a smile on that aderpable face of hers.
  692. "What do you say we be alone, together?"
  693.  
  694. Part XXIII:
  695. >"Gee Anon, no stallion has ever asked me out before."
  696. >Derpy fiddles with her mane and partially stares at the ground.
  697. >It's almost scary how much you two have in common!
  698. "Really?" You raise an eyebrow.
  699. >She nods and wipes the tears from her eyes.
  700. "Welp, that's their loss." You grin.
  701. >You gently hold Derpy's hoof and begin walking her towards the heart of the festival.
  702. "Let's have some fun."
  703. >The flustered mare can't help but smile as you present her with a heart-shaped muffin from Mr. and Mrs. Cake's goodie cart.
  704. >"How did you know I liked muffins?" She asks teasingly.
  705. "I thought everypony did." You shrug.
  706. >She nibbles on the muffin like it's the most important thing in the world.
  707. >Note to self: learn how to bake muffins.
  708. >"Thank you, Anon."
  709. >You chuckle and wipe the crumbs from her snout.
  710. "Don't thank me yet, Derpy." You point towards the mini carnival. "The night is still young."
  711. >Your eyes widen when the sun literally starts setting on the horizon.
  712. >Geez Celestia, it was just a figure of speech.
  713. >Derpy gently nudges your shoulder, snapping you out of your weird funk.
  714. >"Are you okay, Anon?"
  715. >Her beautiful eyes are alight with concern.
  716. >"We don't have to keep going if you're feeling sick."
  717. >You quickly shake your head and trot in place.
  718. "Oh I'm fine, never been better!" You quickly reassure her.
  719. >You gallop over to a nearby carnival game booth and pay the vendor for a round.
  720. >Derpy takes flight and lands beside you after colliding with an inconveniently-placed balloon cart.
  721. >You chuckle and point at the tangle of balloon strings wrapped around her tail.
  722. >She pouts and frantically untwists the balloons, freeing them into the twilight skies hanging overhead.
  723. >"You gonna pay for those, lady?"
  724. >A chubby red unicorn trots up to your date and holds out his hoof.
  725. >"Oops, my bad."
  726. >She pulls out her wallet, but finds it completely empty.
  727. >"Sorry mister balloon stallion, but I don't have any money."
  728.  
  729. Part XXIV:
  730. >"Then it looks like you're going to work for me until they're paid off, googly eyes." The fat unicorn snarls.
  731. >Derpy whimpers and hangs her head in shame.
  732. "There's no need to be rude, dude."
  733. >Without a second thought, you pull out a small bag of bits and present it to the obnoxious unicorn.
  734. "Will this cover it?"
  735. >The red slob begins salivating at the sight of your money.
  736. >"It just might."
  737. >You watch the greedy pony open the bag with his magic and thoroughly inspect every single coin.
  738. >"You're lucky, googly eyes."
  739. >The unicorn tucks the bag of coins under his hat.
  740. >"Don't expect all your debts to be paid so easily in the future."
  741. >The red unicorn laughs giddily and trots off to one of the food carts.
  742. >You take a step forward and prepare to chase down the fat bastard that insulted your date.
  743. >Suddenly you feel a hoof gently pulling on your shoulder.
  744. >"Please Anon, he's not worth it."
  745. >You spin around and look right into Derpy's eyes.
  746. >A strange sense of calm washes over you, and the hot-blooded desire for vengeance slowly fizzles out altogether.
  747. "That guy was a real prick." You snort.
  748. >Derpy nods with another of her trademark sheepish smiles.
  749. "Do ponies always pick on you like that?"
  750. >More tears drip from her beautiful eyes.
  751. >Oh bits, it looks like you just re-opened an old wound.
  752. >It's fairly obvious that Derpy got the short end of the 'gene pool' stick.
  753. >But for ponies to go out of their way and harass Derpy for something that isn't even her fault?
  754. >That's just downright DESPICABLE, especially considering she isn't an axe murderer or anything like that.
  755. >Derpy's functional enough to hold down a job AND she's got a humble personality to boot.
  756. "Forget I asked."
  757. >You quickly pick up a skee-ball from the machine and hand it to Derpy.
  758. "Ladies first." You smile.
  759. >She blushes ever so slightly and aims her skee-ball towards the goals.
  760. >Derpy takes a deep breath, flicks her wrist, and tosses it up the wooden ramp.
  761. >"Nyagh!"
  762. >You watch in shock as the ball flies upward in a straight line and lands in the small center goal.
  763.  
  764. Part XXV:
  765. >The machine lights up and plays a cute little victory tune.
  766. >Derpy cries out in surprise backs away from the skee-ball display.
  767. >"Uh oh, did I break it?" She asks nervously.
  768. >You chuckle and shake your head.
  769. >"We have a winner!"
  770. >The vendor grabs a stuffed bear from the prize rack and hands it to Derpy.
  771. >"Oh wow..." She cuddles the toy close. "It's so fuzzy!"
  772. >You walk over to the mare and gently pat her on the back.
  773. "Congrats Derpy, you earned it."
  774. >She smiles and pulls you in for a big hug with her free hoof.
  775. "W-Woah! Hey! What's this for?!" You cry out.
  776. >Derpy wraps her free wing around you, making escape all but impossible.
  777. >"Thank you."
  778. >Ah to be hugged by a mare, how you've longed for such an earthly delight.
  779. >You eagerly hug her back, earning a coo of appreciation from the adorable pegasus.
  780. >Wait, did she just thank you?
  781. "What are you thanking me for?"
  782. >You pull back and stare at her in confusion.
  783. >"This is the first time I've ever won at, well, ANYTHING!" She admits.
  784. >Wow, Derpy is trying really hard to take the title of "Ponyville's Biggest Loser" away from you.
  785. >"I have a feeling that this wouldn't have happened without you."
  786. >She smiles warmly and holds the teddy bear close to her chest.
  787. >Your face feels hotter than the sun as you struggle to come up with some kind of response.
  788. >The gray mare giggles at your buffoonery and leans in until her face is inches away from your own.
  789. >"You know Anon, you're kinda cute when you blush."
  790. >There's no way in Tartarus your face ISN'T red right now.
  791.  
  792. Part XXVI:
  793. >The evening moves along at a brisk pace, but you're having too much fun to notice.
  794. >Derpy appears to be having the time of her life.
  795. >Carnival games, dancing, eating dinner, posing for silly caricatures, it doesn't matter the activity.
  796. >That beautiful derped smile of hers never disappears, not even for a moment.
  797. >Truth be told, you're having a great time as well.
  798. >That in itself is a bit strange, because Hearts and Hooves is the LAST thing you expected to bring ANY kind of happiness.
  799. >You look around the festival and see a lot of ponies resting at the nearby tables.
  800. >It must be getting late.
  801. >Damn, just when you were beginning to have some real fun.
  802. >You turn to Derpy, who's busy stuffing her face with a rice cereal treat shaped like a pink heart.
  803. >She notices you staring and quickly gulps down her food.
  804. >"Oh hey Anon!" She waves to you like a goofball supreme. "Is something on *MUNCH* your mind?"
  805. >Derpy's cheeks once again poof out with food, but her smile never falters.
  806. >You shake your head and try to match her smile.
  807. "Everything's fine, Derpy."
  808. >"That's good to hear." She replies between mouthfuls. "Did you have lots of fun too?"
  809. >You have no idea how right you are, silly mare.
  810. "Oh yeah." You grin ear to ear.
  811. >"Fillies and gentlecolts, may I have your attention please!"
  812. >Your right ear twitches at the sound of a VERY familiar voice booming over the loudspeakers.
  813. >"As Mayor of Ponyville, I hereby decree that the Hearts and Hooves Day festival is now officially concluded!"
  814. >Janitor ponies arrive on the scene with empty carts and begin taking down the colorful decorations.
  815. >"I sincerely hope you all found fun, food, laughs, and most importantly, love~!"
  816. >You immediately look away from Derpy after seeing her flushed cheeks.
  817. >C'mon Derpy, you can't be silly enough to fall in love after one measly day!
  818. >"I can't wait to see you all again at next year's Hearts and Hooves Day festival! Good night!"
  819. >The festivalgoers happily begin packing up and make their way home.
  820. >"Awww, is the festival over already?"
  821. >Derpy's ears droop with disappointment.
  822. "Looks like it."
  823. >You snag another muffin from the confection cart before the Cakes close up shop.
  824. >She squees and bites into the muffin as the two of you leave the festival behind.
  825.  
  826. Part XXVII:
  827. >"This was the best Hearts and Hooves Day ever!"
  828. >Derpy happily skips alongside you with the teddy bear tucked under her wing.
  829. "I'm glad you had fun, Derpy."
  830. >The two of you leave the festival behind and head towards the town square.
  831. >The moon casts a soft glow over the riverbank, almost as if it were some kind of sign...
  832. >Derpy stares into the river and tilts her head in deep thought.
  833. >You join her at the water's edge, curious to know what's on the mare's mind.
  834. "What's up Derpy?"
  835. >"Oh it's nothing really..." She trails off while playing with her hair.
  836. >Yep, something's definitely up.
  837. >You gently nuzzle her with your snout.
  838. "C'mon Derpy, I can tell something's bothering you."
  839. >Despite your best efforts, the mare remains lost in whatever thoughts are bouncing around in that head of hers.
  840. >The two of you sit there for a while, each hoping the other would break the awkward silence.
  841. >Derpy finally snaps out of it and opens her mouth to speak.
  842. >"The moon looks so...beautiful...tonight."
  843. >She sighs and looks at the full moon hovering overhead.
  844. >That wasn't quite the answer you were expecting, but it does give you an opportunity to be super cheesy.
  845. "Not as beautiful as you." You tease.
  846. >You absentmindedly nuzzle Derpy again, a bit longer than last time.
  847. >She's warm to the touch and her coat is so soft.
  848. >And her scent, oh Celestia her bubbly scent!
  849. >This is something you could get used to...
  850. >"Mmmmh~!" She coos.
  851. >Wait a minute, what the BUCK are you doing?!
  852. >You quickly pull away and try to hide your blushing face.
  853. >"Wha-?!"
  854. >Derpy cries out from the sudden loss of affection and frantically leans towards you.
  855. >"Why did you stop, Anon?!"
  856. >The pain in her eyes sends a (metaphorical) knife plunging into your heart.
  857. >"I thought-"
  858.  
  859. Part XXVIII:
  860. >You place a hoof on the worried mare's face and smile.
  861. >Derpy utters a confused whinny, but holds her hoof against your own.
  862. "I really do like you Derpy, but don't you think we're rushing things just a smidge?"
  863. >She shakes her head and pins you to the ground with a surprising amount of force, for a Pegasus at least.
  864. >"No Anon, not at all!"
  865. >You stare at her as though she grew a second head.
  866. >"Couples are supposed to do lovey-dovey things together!" She insists.
  867. >The flustered pegasus snuggles into you and happily sighs, desperately clinging to the affections you bestowed upon her mere moments ago.
  868. >You try to break free, but her big bubble butt holds you in place like some kind of squishy boulder.
  869. >Having a mare lay on top of you like this is seriously making you reconsider the whole "rushing things" schtick.
  870. >You wrap your hooves around Derpy and lock lips with her.
  871. >The amorous goofball moans into your lips and eagerly kisses you back.
  872. >If Derpy doesn't stop soon, you're going to end up rutting her right here and now.
  873. >Considering the circumstances, she might not be entirely opposed to that idea...
  874. >*POOF*
  875. >"There you are, Anon!"
  876. >Twilight emerges from a burst of magic and waves to you.
  877. >"Sorry I'm late, but there was some last minute royal business to-"
  878. >Twilight's smile disappears as her eyes fall on Derpy, who is still firmly snuggling against you.
  879. >"Oh, hi Princess!"
  880. >Derpy waves to the stunned alicorn and lazily rises to her hooves.
  881. >You quickly stand up and bow to the princess alongside your bubbly companion, but Twilight's shock does not wane.
  882. "Twilight?" You exclaim. "What are you doing here?"
  883. >The purple pony haphazardly trots over to you and Derpy.
  884. >"I'm here to be your date for Hearts and Hooves Day of course!" She exclaims.
  885. >The uneasiness in Twilight's voice betrays her courageous words.
  886. "But Twilight, Derpy is my date for Hearts and Hooves Day."
  887. >You hug Derpy close and happily nuzzle her cheek.
  888. "On top of that, the festival is over now."
  889. >You point towards the group of janitor ponies diligently disassembling the festival booths.
  890. >"Oh no, I AM too late!"
  891. >Twilight falls on her rump and utters a sorrowful neigh.
  892.  
  893. Part XVIX:
  894. >You slowly approach the alicorn and sit next to her in the dirt.
  895. "I remember arriving at the Hearts and Hooves festival with a newfound hope."
  896. >You place a hoof on Twilight's shoulder in an attempt to calm her.
  897. "I was pretty hyped to have a literal PRINCESS as my date."
  898. >She looks up at you and tries to stifle her sniffles.
  899. "Minutes slowly turned into hours, and my excitement gradually reverted back into despair."
  900. >You take a deep breath and try to organize your thoughts.
  901. "Being stood up is a heart-wrenching experience, even more so when done by a pony of royal status."
  902. >"Anon, I-"
  903. >You silence her protests with a hoof over her lips.
  904. "I tried to salvage the evening with a few drinks, and then head home to wallow in more misery."
  905. >Twilight is shifting uncomfortably on the ground, no doubt desperate to apologize and explain herself.
  906. "Then this wonderful mare swooped in from nowhere and turned my night upside down."
  907. >You motion towards Derpy, who is now playfully nibbling the nearby blades of grass.
  908. "In a roundabout way, you kept your promise."
  909. >"W-What do you mean, Anon?" Twilight cocks her head to the side.
  910. "You helped me find a special somepony."
  911. >Derpy flutters over to join you, but somehow ends up doing a barrel roll right into you.
  912. >*THUMP*
  913. >"Oops, sorry Anon." She blushes.
  914. "Don't be." You reassure her.
  915. >You nuzzle into the silly pony and chuckle.
  916. "I'm starting to like our cuddle sessions."
  917. >Twilight suddenly interrupts your romantic moment with a nervous chuckle of her own.
  918. >"Yes, well, I-I'm glad to see everything *sniffle* worked...out..."
  919. >Twilight wipes her eyes and begins to float in the air.
  920. >"I believe I have a few more *hic* royal matters to attend to."
  921. >You and Derpy are blinded by a bright flash of light as Twilight disappears into the night.
  922. >Her muffled cries fade with the last traces of sparkly magic.
  923. >You have a feeling this isn't going to end well.
  924.  
  925. Part XX:
  926. >"Bye Princess!"
  927. >Derpy waves at the fading magic dust and smiles.
  928. >This mare is just too precious!
  929. "It's getting late, Derpy."
  930. >You stretch out and yawn, ready to hit the hay before you fall asleep right here and now.
  931. "You're probably tired too right?"
  932. >After a small pause, you turn towards the east bridge that leads home.
  933. >"Wait!"
  934. >You stop dead in your tracks.
  935. "Yes, Derpy?" You ask teasingly.
  936. >"Would you like to, um..." She twiddles her hooves. "C-Come hang out at my house?"
  937. >One the one hoof, she's DEFINITELY rushing things now.
  938. >On the other hoof, it somehow feels WRONG to turn down her invitation.
  939. "I'd love to." You blurt out.
  940. >Derpy's ears flicker as she lets loose another one of those adorable "Squee!" noises you've come to love.
  941. >"Oh thank you Anon!"
  942. >The mare grabs your hoof and flies off towards her house before you can even blink.
  943. >...
  944. >Her cottage lies westbound on the outskirts of town.
  945. >The little house doesn't look like much from the outside, but it does have a beautiful backyard view of the lower valleys.
  946. >At least, you THINK it does.
  947. >It's kinda hard to tell in the dark.
  948. >"I-It's not much..." She fiddles with the keys. "But it's home."
  949. >The front door swings open, revealing a cold dark living room.
  950. >*SLAM*
  951. >Derpy shuts the door behind you and locks it tight.
  952. "Uh Derpy, why did you lock the door so fast?"
  953. >Your gut is beginning to say "we're in trouble dude".
  954. >Derpy ignores your question and dives in front of the darkened fire place.
  955. >Soon the room is illuminated with a warm yellow glow.
  956. >You see a small couch positioned in front of the fireplace, surrounded by all manner of books, toys and other various knick knacks.
  957. >The excited mare beckons you to sit on the couch.
  958. >"This is going to be so much fun!" Derpy says with a playful giggle.

It's a Ponk Life [COMPLETE]

by InkSlinger

Momlight Sparkle [COMPLETE]

by InkSlinger

Magic Trix

by InkSlinger

Dollhouses

by InkSlinger

Just One More

by InkSlinger