Part I:
>You gulp nervously and take a step closer towards the town square.
>Today's the day.
>The other townsponies glance your way for a brief moment before returning to their business.
>The day you move into Ponyville.
>A fruit vendor calls out to you, eager for her first sale of the morning.
>The day you officially join equestrian society.
>You stop to buy some apples and place them in your weathered saddlebags.
>The day you can finally feel...NORMAL.
>You reach the town hall where a tan mare with white hair happily greets you.
>"Hello there! Welcome to Ponyville!"
>She trots up to you and extends a hoof.
>"I'm Mayor Mare, the mayor of this happy little town!
"Hi, I'm Anonymous." You reply while shaking her hoof. "But you can call me Anon."
>Normally you'd bumble through conversations like this, but today is special.
>"It's a pleasure to meet you Mr. Mous!" She exclaims.
>Damnit, you told her to call you Anon!
>"I take it you're ready?" She asks after eyeing your saddlebags.
>You nod with a smile.
>"Splendid!" She clops her hooves together.
>The kind mare guides you through the maze of happy cottages and shops until you're standing in front of the old town windmill.
>"Here she is!" The mayor exclaims.
>You look the place over and physically cringe.
>The door is faded and full of cracks.
>The windmill's blades crack and groan as they struggle to rotate.
>Hell, the entire building looks like a remnant of the last pony war!
"Well, it's uh, very....rustic?" You scratch your chin.
>Words fail to adequately describe the state of this absolute trainwreck of a structure.
>"Oh, wait until you see the interior!" The mayor happily hops in place.
>Mayor Mare grabs the key hanging around her neck and unlocks the door.
>*GROOOOAAAAANNNN*
>Holy bits, it sounds like this place is ready to crumble!
>You duck for cover in a nearby bush, earning a playful chuckle from the old mare.
>"Oh my, did something spook you?" She asks.
>You frantically shake your head.
>Don't get cold hooves now, you bleedin' idiot!

Part II:
>You cautiously follow Mayor Mare into the old windmill, its old floorboards creaking with every hoofstep.
>The mayor stops and directs your attention towards a large room at the end of the entryway.
>"This is the living room, perfect for those cozy little get-togethers with friends!"
>You look around the rundown room in disbelief.
>The floorboards are warped and splintered.
>The curtains are torn and tattered. 
>The sofa is covered in dust and exposed springs.
>The windows are muddy and dark.
>Cozy for who exactly? Zombies? Ghosts?
>The cheerful mare then trots past a winding set of stairs to the adjacent room.
>"And this is the kitchen!" She declares.
>Worn appliances huddle atop a grungy countertop while an old refrigerator hums against the opposite wall.
>The stove is rusted with its door hanging open, revealing a small nest of mice among the debris.
>You'll definitely be ordering takeout for the foreseeable future.
>The more you see of this old place, the more you regret buying it.
>You force a smile to avoid hurting the old mare's feelings.
>After all, it's not like she was the one who ran this dump into the ground.
>The mayor squees with delight at your reaction and continues the tour.
>"And up here you'll find all the comforts of home."
>Your ears perk up at the sounds of soft grunts floating down from the second floor.
>Sounds like the poor mare and stairs don't get along very well.
>You quickly trot upstairs after her and find yourself in a small windowless hallway lined with three doors.
>Beyond the third door lies another, smaller set of stairs leading up to a dark room that's hard to make out.
>"Phew! That counts as my workout for the day!" The mayor says in a huff.
>You can't help but giggle at her joke.
>"Y-You're too kind, Mr. Mous..." 
>The mare blushes and nervously plays with her gray mane.
>"A-Anyhoo...this is the master bedroom!" 
>She quickly points to the faded blue door next to you.
>The door almost flies off of its broken hinges as the two of you walk into the room.
>She flips a switch on the nearby wall, flooding the room with a dim yellow light.
>Your jaw drops.

Part III:
>You see a large red bed sitting in the middle of the room.
>The windows are clean and adorned with navy blue curtains.
>Beautifully crafted wooden furniture lines the east and west walls.
>The carpeting is vibrant and soft to the touch.
>There isn't a thing out of place anywhere in the area.
>Aside from a thick layer of dust, this room is immaculate!
>You turn to the mayor and stare at her in shock.
"How-?" You gasp.
>"How what, Mr. Anon?" She asks in confusion.
"How is this room so perfect when the downstairs looks like a-?!"
>You stop short at the sight of tears forming in the old mayor's eyes.
"Erm, w-when the downstairs areas look so dirty?" You quickly divert your train of thought.
>The mayor sighs and turns towards the window.
>"It's a long story." She confesses. "I wouldn't want to bore you with the silly details."
>Okay, now she's DEFINITELY provoking your curiosity.
"Tell me." You firmly respond.
>The mare removes her glasses to look at the outside scenery.
>"Once upon a time, a happy young couple moved into this windmill."
>You stand by her side and pretend to look out the window.
>"They were the sweetest lovers anypony had ever met, 'a match made in heaven' one might say."
>Her voice suddenly drops to a whisper of sorts, compelling you to move closer.
>"But one day something terrible happened."
>Sheesh, what's with that cryptic undertone?
"Well? What happened, Ms. Mare?"
>She takes a deep breath and steels herself.
>"One day, the stallion left without a word."
>You swear she's fighting back sniffles as she speaks.
>"The poor mare was *hic* heartbroken." She continues. 
>"As the days turned into weeks, weeks into months, she realized her husband was *sniffle* never coming back..."
>You hand the sniffling mayor a tissue.
>"Thank you, dear." She squeaks while blowing her nose.

Part IV:
>"The town knew right away that something was wrong." She continued. "M-Myself included of course."
>The afternoon sun washes over her face through the window.
>"At first the mare frantically searched every street in Ponyville, desperate to find any trace of her beloved."
>She wipes her eyes and places a hoof on the window pane.
>"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."
>You feel a chill running down your spine, mainly because nopony ever mentioned that Equestria was h-haunted!
>"The mare eventually gave up her search and sold this old place back to the town."
>Why does it feel like she's still hiding something?
>"As for the mare, she was never quite the same."
>The mare slowly turns to face you and forces a smile.
>"Oh my gracious, you must be bored to death hearing such a...silly stor-"
>You wrap your hooves around the startled mare and hug her close.
>Mayor Mare's eyes widen in surprise, but soon she's returning the favor with a snuggle of her own.
>"Mmmm...." She coos.
>You feel a wet spot on your neck where her head now rests.
>It's not like you to dish up compassion to ponies you just met, but deep down you know she needs this.
>Judging by her reactions, Ms. Mare knows she needs this as well.
>After what feels like hours, the mare reluctantly breaks off the embrace and stares at you in amazement.
>"Anon, I-"
>She struggles to form the right words, unintentionally dragging the two of you into an awkward silence.
"It's okay, Mayor." You reassure her. "I think I understand now."
>The mayor's face turns beet red as she begins to realize the gravity of the situation.
>"Was it that obvious?"
>You nod.
>"Then I've said too much." She sighs.
>Your ears perk up at the sound of a clock chiming four times in a row.
>"Good heavens, is that the time?!"
>Mayor Mare looks at the clock and begins to panic.
>"I still have to review the new trade proposal!"
>You raise a hoof to try and calm her down, but the mare is already galloping downstairs.
>The mayor reaches your front door and practically rips the poor thing from its hinges.
>"EEEK! I've also forgotten about Princess Celestia's royal visit this weekend!"
>The mare is two hooves out the door before you manage to catch up to her.
"Thank you for the home tour, Ms. Mare."
>She stops in her tracks, suddenly aware of the reason she came to visit in the first place.
>"Y-You're very welcome." She replies. "If there's anything you need, please don't hesitate to ask."
"Of course." You calmly reply. "Oh, and Mayor?"
>"Yes, Anon?"
"If you ever want to talk, I'm here."
>The frazzled mare thanks you with a warm smile and shuts the door behind her.
>Silence falls upon the windmill, but you no longer feel alone in this world.

Part V:
>The next few weeks are a blur of unpacking, getting to know your new neighbors, and cleanup.
>Lots and lots of cleanup.
>With a little help from the townsponies, you were able to get the old mill up and running again.
>Turns out that things like flour and gravel are fast-selling commodities in this world.
>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).
>Life is good, if not a tad lonely at times.
>There's no shortage of beautiful mares living here to woo, but your mind (and heart) continue drifting towards one particular mare.
>The sun sets on the horizon just as you finish up the last of the house cleaning. 
>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.
>It's almost as if Celestia herself is subtly telling you what needs to be done.
>You enter Town Hall with a renewed vigor, eager to see a certain mayor about some personal business.
>*KNOCK* *KNOCK* *KNOCK*
>Your shaky green hoof taps on the door leading to Mayor Mare's office.
>Wait a minute, why are your hooves shaking?!
>Frazzled nerves were supposed to be a thing of the past!
>The seeds of doubt quickly begin to take root in your mind.
>What if you're not the mayor's type?
>What if you do something stupid?
>What if she only sees you as an acquaintance?
>What if she's already seeing somepony?
>What if she's not as nice as she seems?
>WHAT IF SHE SAYS 'NO'?
>WhAt iF-
>"Anon?"
>A soft voice snaps you out of the rabbit hole, causing you to stumble backwards in surprise.
>Mayor Mare stands in the doorway of her office with a concerned expression on her face.
>"May I...help you?" She asks.
>Ah bits, you're already off to a great start.
>You resist the urge to facehoof and clear your throat.

Part VI:
"Uh, hi there, Mayor Mare." You smile a bit too intensely. "N-Nice day today huh?"
>If you had pockets, they would be spilling over with spaghetti right about now.
>What the buck is happening?!
>"Why yes, it was a beautiful day." The mare stares at you awkwardly. "Did you need something?"
>The fear of rejection has you freezing in place.
>Come on, it's not that hard to ask a mare out.
>USE YOUR WORDS!
>The mayor locks up her office and tries to avoid staring at your dumbstruck face.
>"It's getting rather late, perhaps we can discuss what's on your mind tomorrow?"
>Mayor Mare steps out into the town square and beckons you with an impatient hoof.
>Your ears droop.
>Your heart pounds in your chest.
>Sweat begins dripping down the sides of your head.
>This golden opportunity is slipping through your hooves!
>You quickly gallop over to the mayor's side as she begins to lock up town hall for the night.
>Accursed words, why do they fail you in this crucial hour of need?!
>"Well, it's been...interesting...chatting with you Anon, but I need to head home-"
>It's now or never, make your choice.
"WAAAAAAIIIIT!"
>Your thunderous neigh almost knocks the frightened lady onto her rump.
>A wise pony always did say that confronting your fears head on is the best way to overcome them.
"M-Mayor Mare, please forgive me for shouting."
>You take a deep breath and slowly approach her.
"But I need to ask you something."
>The poor mare is still shaking like a leaf, but ultimately agrees to hear you out.
>You look her right in the eye.
"Miss Mare, would you like to have dinner with....m-me?"
>The mayor's jaw drops at the implications of your question.
>"What did you...s-say?" She asks in a trembling voice.

Part VII:
"I said: would you like to go out to dinner with me?" You ask again.
>The mayor stumbles to her hooves and stares at you as though you've grown a second head. 
>You stand there eagerly waiting for the mare's answer.
>Your burst of confidence begins to dwindle with each passing moment of silence.
>Why doesn't she say something?!
>Mayor Mare suddenly takes a few steps forward until her face is mere inches away from your own.
>"You sure know how to flatter this old mare, Anon." She giggles. "But I'm afraid I have to decline."
"Huh? W-Why not?"
>You don't even try to hide the hurt in your voice.
>The mare forces a smile, but it ultimately fails to soften the blow.
>"It's nothing personal, Anon." She sighs. "It's just that, well, I-I'm simply not ready to date again."
>Your heart sinks into the pit of your stomach.
"Oh."
>She places a hoof on your face.
>"I'm sure a handsome stallion like you could easily find a younger, prettier mare to ask out."
>She picks up her saddlebags and heads for the bridge behind you.
>"Goodnight Anon."
>Mayor Mare waves to you before disappearing over the bridge leading to her home.
>Tears stream down your face.
>She said no.
>Your legs twitch.
>SHE SAID NO.
>Your spine tingles.
>SHE SAID NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
>Soon you're galloping back to the old windmill with the intent of NEVER leaving it again.

Part VIII:
>What went wrong?
>You toss and turn in bed as the morning sun warms your face.
>WHAT THE BUCK WENT WRONG?
>You want to lay in this bed for the rest of time, but the sun continues its relentless assault upon your body. 
>With a grunt of effort, you drag yourself out of bed and head for the bathroom.
>Did you come on too strong? Were you too blunt? DID YOU FORGET TO WEAR COLOGNE?
>*DING DONG*
>Oh bits, not now!
>You race downstairs to see who dares to interrupt your rejection crisis.
>"H..llo? Mr...M...us?" A muffled voice calls out in between knocks.
>You sigh and unlock the door to find a pink earth pony mare wearing a pilot hat.
>"Oh, there you are!" She grins ear to ear. "Good morning Mr. Mous!"
"Good morning, Cherry Berry." You do your best to sound pleasant. "And please, call me 'Anon'."
>The cheerful mare's smile disappears after looking you over.
>"Gosh, you don't look so good! Is everything okay?" She asks tenderly.
>You turn to the conveniently-placed mirror in the entryway and gasp.
>The vibrant green coat and black mane/tail combo you used to know are now pale and faded.
>You turn to Cherry Berry and whinny in a nervous manner.
"What's happening to me?!" You cry out.
>"You might be coming down with something." Cherry Berry quickly steps back. "Wait, are you contagious?!"
"How would I know?!" You snap back.
>Of all the days to get sick, it has to be on a delivery day?!
"Don't worry about me right now."
>You dash past her and load up the wagon with today's deliveries.
"We have a schedule to keep."
>Cherry Berry scurries over and hitches herself to the wagon.
"This load's destination is Hope Hollow."
>You scribble out a receipt and stick it to the cargo.
>Cherry Berry performs a cute little salute and begins trotting towards her hot air balloon.
"Goodbye Mr. Mous!" She waves to you. "I hope you feel better soooooon~!"
>You wave back and watch her disappear among the crowds of ponies.
>"Dangit Cherry, I told you to call me 'Anon'." You mutter with a soft chuckle.

Part IX:
>With the day's first delivery squared away, you pack a few things and head for the hospital.
>The townsponies stop to gawk at you and murmur amongst themselves as you trot through the streets.
>Geez, is your condition THAT noticeable?!
>You blush with annoyance and try to avoid eye contact until reaching the hospital entrance.
>Hopefully the medical staff can offer more compassion than your fellow villagers.
>You take one step into the lobby and all tartarus breaks loose.
>The sick and injured ponies begin to panic and stampede all over the place.
>Nurses pour in from every hallway and whisk you away to the emergency room.
>Doctors quickly form a defensive line and try to calm the crowd down before somepony gets hurt.
>You're ushered into a dimly-lit doctor's office, where a white mare waits patiently.
>"Please have a seat, sir." She softly commands. "We need to get started right away.
>She motions towards a nearby examination table.
>Without a word, you quickly shuffle onto the cold slab of steel and wait.
>"I am Nurse Redheart, the head nurse of this hospital wing."
"Hello..." You nervously reply.
>There's just something about doctors and nurses that give you the chills.
>Could be their ice cold stethoscopes.
>Could be the sharp needles they stab into your bare flesh.
>It could even be the way they're so unnaturally stoic in the face of medical emergencies.
>"Can you please describe the events leading up to your, erm, unique medical condition?"
>The nurse pulls out a notepad and prepares to record your testimony.
"Well, it all started when-" You begin.
>*POOF*
>You're immediately sent flying off the table by some kind of magic explosion.
>The nurse screams and runs for cover with her assistants.
>When the dust settles, you see a purple alicorn mare standing tall in the center of the room.
>She takes one look at you and squees with delight.
>"Yes! I KNEW I'd find you here!" She exclaimed.
>You cock your head in a mix of surprise and confusion.
"Princess T-Twilight?" You stammer. "What are you doing here?"

Part X:
>"Isn't it obvious?" She points at your faded coat.
>Oh right your fading sickness, or whatever this is.
"I appreciate your concern, but why would the royal family worry over a plain commoner like me?"
>Princess Twilight sighs and steps closer towards you.
>"What do you mean?" She narrows her eyes. "Should a princess NOT show concern for her subjects?"
>Your ears droop as the gravity of your foolish words begin to set in.
"I'm sorry Princess, that was a stupid question to ask." 
>You stare at the ground to avoid her piercing gaze.
>The last thing you need is to be banished to Tartarus or turned into stone.
>"It's okay, Anonymous." The purple horse smiles. "Let's focus on healing you."
>She poofs a book out of thin air and carefully reads through a bookmarked section.
"But Princess, what kind of sickness is this exactly?" 
>You tug at your faded coat, hopeful that the princess can find a cure in her book.
>Twilight shakes her head and steps closer towards you.
>"Anonymous, you're not suffering from any kind of medical illness."
>Nurse Redheart pokes her head out from behind the makeshift barricade.
"What do you mean, your highness?"
>Yes, what DOES Princess Twilight mean by not calling this a typical sickness?
>You and Nurse Redheart gather around Princess Twilight and anxiously wait for her response.
>"The origins of your affliction are not biological, but instead MAGICAL."
>Wait, you're sick with some kind of MAGIC? How is that even possible?!
"I-I don't understand Princess..." Your voice trails off.
>"My friends and I once traveled to a town full of ponies that were faded just like you." 
>Twilight turns the book around to show you an illustration depicting ponies with faded color schemes in a small town.
>"We searched high and low to try and find out what was causing this strange epidemic."
>You lean in closer with the eagerness of a young colt listening to his parents' wild stories.
"Did you find out?"
>The princess nods and poofs the book out of existence.
>"Hope." The princess responds. "Or rather, the lack of it."
>Your eyes widen in surprise.
"Hopelessness, your majesty?"
>"That is correct, dear Anonymous."

Part XI:
>"The official term is 'Hopeless Magic'." She continues.
>Your thoughts immediately drift back to the events that unfolded last night.
>Asking Mayor Mare out to dinner was indeed supposed to instill hope in your heart.
>Unfortunately, that hope was quickly killed and buried when she said no.
>It's all coming together, and you don't like the implications.
>"Do you understand now, my dear subject?" The princess asks in a soft voice.
>You nod.
>"Good." 
>Princess Twilight places a hoof on your shoulder.
>"Hopeless magic is a terrible thing, Anonymous."
>Tears begin running down the purple mare's cheeks.
>"NOPONY should ever have to experience it."
>Damn, this IS serious if it's making a princess cry!
>"Oh dear, would you look at the time?"
>Nurse Redheart giggles nervously and glances at her bare wrist.
>"I have to get back to my rounds! Please excuse me, your highness!"
>The frazzled nurse bows to the princess makes a quick exit along with her assistants.
>"Farewell Princess Twilight! Anonymous!"
>Her voice trails off as the door closes, leaving you and the princess in a deafening silence.
"Give it to me straight Princess, what's the cure for this hopeless magic stuff?" You ask bluntly.
>"Anonymous-"
"Please, call me Anon." You interrupt. "Everypony else does."
>"Very well, Anon."
>Twilight clears her throat and steps back.
>"Anon, there is no magical cure for this particular affliction."
>You utter a whinny of distress and begin to panic.
>There's no hope for you now, it's all over but the funeral!
>"Wait Anon, please calm down!" The princess cries.
>You ignore her and begin to gallop around the room as though you've lost your mind.
>What's the point of living now?!
>You can practically FEEL the small slivered remains of hope being drained from your soul.

Part XII:
>Furniture and medical equipment fly in every direction as you continue your distressed rampage.
>Your life is over.
>"Anon..."
>No self-respecting mare will ever want you now.
>"ANON!"
>You didn't even get to see Saddle Arabia-
>"NEEEEEEEEEIIIIIIIGHNOOOON!"
>Your body freezes in place after a hoof stomp sends powerful purple shockwaves through the room.
>The princess' powerful alicorn magic sends you flying through the air until you're once again standing before her.
>"Anon PLEASE, calm down..."
>You try to focus somewhere else, but the magic forces you to look directly at her.
>The mare's eyes are ablaze with a mix of concern and irritation.
>Oh bits.
>"I want to help you, Anon." She sits on her hindquarters. "But I need to know one thing first."
>Her magic dissipates, dropping you on your own butt.
>"Why did you lose hope?"
>Now it's YOUR turn to cry.
>She leans in expectantly, seemingly eager to hear what ails you.
>You take a deep breath and gather your thoughts.
>If a literal princess wants to know what's wrong, then you're going to tell her exactly what's wrong.
"I asked a mare out yesterday, and she rejected me."
>Twilight blinks in disbelief, much to your dismay.
>"That's it?" The princess chuckles. "And here I thought it was something serious!"
>Princess Twilight gasps as your colors fade again, leaving you almost completely monochrome.
>You should've known she wouldn't understand.
>The royal family must be DROWNING in suitors on any given day.
>For peasants such as yourself however, finding a good mate just isn't that easy.

Part XIII:
>"Finding a marefriend is really that important to you?"
"Yes."
>You look her square in the eye and snort.
"It's every stallion's goal to find a nice mare and settle down, y'know?"
>Princess Twilight is taken aback by your heartfelt response.
"To love and cherish her every single day, to give her as many foals as she wants..."
>Your train of thought crashes as HEARTS begin to form in the flustered princess' eyes.
>Twilight bites her lip and turns around, presenting her bare purple rump in all its regal glory.
>"P-Perhaps I can help you with that, just for today?"
>It doesn't take long for you to become painfully erect after seeing such a shameless display of marebits.
>Your primal instincts kick into overdrive, tempting you to rut this (admittedly beautiful) mare.
>What sane stallion WOULDN'T mate with a princess if given the chance?
>Your heart however, says the exact opposite.
>You shake your head and step away from Princess Twilight.
"I appreciate the offer, Princess." You reply. "But I want a future wife, not a one night stand."
>"Oh, I...see..."
>Twilight turns to face you and immediately loses herself in thought.
>Oh no, what other harebrained schemes is she concocting in that royal head of hers?
>You gulp nervously and turn towards the exit.
>"A-Anon, wait!"
>The panicked princess practically throws herself at you before reaching the door.
>"I-I can still help...some...how..."
>The alicorn's tear-filled eyes betray her words.
>You sigh with disappointment and face the desperate mare.
>"A princess is supposed to help her subjects..."
>Princess Twilight utters a defeated whinny and buries her face in her hooves.
>Damn, she's taking this harder than you.

Part XIV:
>On the one hoof, you want to just leave and wallow in misery alone.
>On the other hoof, you can't stand to see a mare in distress.
>After a little mental back and forth, you come to a decision.
>You walk over and place a hoof on her trembling shoulder.
>"Huh?!" Twilight snaps out of her distress. "A-Anon, I-"
>You gently shush her with a hoof to the mouth and smile.
"Wanna grab a hayburger? I think some food will clear our heads."
>Twilight sits there in stunned silence, unsure of how to answer you.
>*GRUMBLE*
>Twilight blushes at the sound of her rumbling belly.
>"That sounds like a great idea." She smiles bashfully.
>You help the hungry princess to her hooves and together, the two of you head for the Ponyville Café.
>The sun is shining brightly as you take your seats in the outdoor section.
>Twilight squees with delight while looking over the menu.
>"Hayburgers, salads, milkshakes, fries, onion rings...this place is heaven!" She happily exclaims.
>You can't help but utter a chuckle at the princess' adorkable display of enthusiasm.
>The waiter approaches and begins his usual greeting, but cuts himself short when spotting Princess Twilight.
>"O-Oh my, Princess Twilight?!" 
>The stallion almost trips over his own hooves trying to bow in front of your lunch companion.
>"To what do we owe the pleasure of your royal presence at our humble restaurant?!"
>"It's nothing official, just an empty stomach and some good company." Twilight grins.
>"Ohoho! Treating your date to some local Ponyville delicacies are we, your highness?" The waiter teases while glancing over at you. 
>Now it's YOUR turn to blush uncontrollably.

Part XV:
>The waiter takes one look at you and immediately drops the comedy act.
>"Are you feeling alright, sir? You look rather...faded."
"It's a long story." You confess. "But some good food should help me recover."
>The waiter nods and pulls out a notepad.
>"Very well." The stallion turns to face Twilight. "What would you like, your highness?"
>"I'll have three triple hayburgers, two sides of horseshoe rings, and a chocolate milkshake!"
>Your eyes widen at the ridiculous size of her order.
>Dayum, this mare must be STARVING!
>"All excellent choices, your highness!" 
>The waiter scribbles her order down on the notepad.
>"And for you, sir?"
>You skim over the menu, but it's hard to focus after everything that's happened.
>Something in the back of your mind continues to assert itself over all else.
>Is it a warning? A future vision perhaps? Or are you just losing your damn mind?
"Uh, I'll have a regular hayburger and some iced tea."
>To be brutally honest, you aren't all that hungry.
>Feeling like a hollow shell tends to have that kind of effect.
>"Very good! Your food will be ready momentarily."
>The waiter puts away his notepad and heads towards the kitchen. 
>"So, Anon..." Twilight focuses her attention on you. "How is life in Ponyville treating you?"
>You simply grunt and point at your faded coat with frustration.
>"Oh, right. Well then, h-how's your mill business?" 
>Twilight nervously plays with her mane and tries to change the subject.
"You know about my mill business?" You tilt your head.
>The princess smiles awkwardly and nods.
>"Of course! I do place orders from time to time." She explains. "Your flour is very high quality, perfect for cooking and baking!"
>Why are you not surprised?

Part XVI:
>"Alright, Anon..." Twilight clears her throat. "How can I help you?" 
>You raise an eyebrow.
>"R-Regain hope I mean!" She stammers.
>"The direct approach certainly didn't work." 
>Twilight blushes with a wing over her face.
>You sigh and take a sip of your tea.
"Princess..."
>"Please, call me Twilight." The mare smiles. "Everypony else does."
>You can't help but chuckle as the princess uses your own quip against you.
"As you wish, Twilight." 
>You smile and playfully bow in your seat, earning a cute chuckle from her in return.
"As I was saying, it's not like I think you're ugly or anything."
>"But-?" The Princess leans forward.
"But we'd have to take things slow." You say firmly.
>The quirky mare sits in silence, waiting for you to continue.
"We'd have to get to know each other, go on some dates, meet each others' friends..."
>You tap your hooves on the table to try and shake off the awkwardness of your one-sided conversation.
"...and hey, if we're compatible, then we could get married, have some foals and-"
>You stop short at the sight of Twilight panting like a dog in the summer.
>Oh dear Celestia, you got her all worked up again.
>The purple princess fidgets uncomfortably in her seat.
"Twilight, are you in estrus or something?"
>You quickly stuff your hooves into your mouth.
>What the hell were you thinking, saying something like that in front of the princess?!

Part XVII:
>The princess' face turns beet red as she struggles to explain herself.
>"Well, I..uh, you see, the thing is-"
>Truth be told, seeing her get all flustered like this is really cute.
>"My sincerest apologies for the wait, your highness!"
>The waiter shows up out of nowhere and quickly serves the food to your table.
>"Bon appetit!"
>The stallion blows a chef's kiss and quickly gallops back inside the restaurant.
>"It all looks so delicious!"
>Twilight happily clops her hooves together and dives face first into the small mountain of food on her plate.
>*MUNCH*
>You can't help but feel that she's dodging your question.
>"Mmmmmmm~!"
>Twilight's cheeks puff out with every bite she takes.
>You slowly take a bite from your own hayburger and continue to watch the food carnage unfold.
>Seeing a princess pig out like this is as cute as it is unsettling.
>'Does Twilight always eat like this?' You wonder.
>"Ishn't dish fewd da tashtiesht you'be ebah had?!" She squeals through a mouthful of horseshoe rings.
>You slowly nod after taking another bite.
>The food is top notch, as expected from a humble town like Ponyville.
>You take a drink of ice tea and almost spit it out.
>Twilight already cleaned her plate?!
>She sighs with satisfaction and reclines back to rub her now swollen belly.
>"Ponyville's rustic cuisine never fails to brighten my day!"
>She sits upright and gives you the dorkiest smile you've ever seen.

Part XVIII:
>You notice some sauce and bits of bun stuck to her cheeks.
"Twilight, you have a little something on your-"
>The mare touches her own cheek and gasps.
>"Oh how sloppy of me!"
Twilight scrambles to grab a napkin and begins grinding it all over her face.
>"Is it gone?" She asks nervously.
>You try to contain your laughter and nod, much to Twilight's confusion.
>"Heeeey, what's so funny?" She frowns.
>It's amazing how oblivious Twilight is to her own quirky charms.
>Behind that regal exterior beats the heart of a humble mare.
>A mare that may very well be worth getting to know.
"Oh nothing..." You lie.
>The flustered princess snorts with annoyance and sips her milkshake.
>"You really are hopeless." She sighs.
>Ouch.
>You immediately fall silent and stare at the remains of your ice tea.
>Twilight realizes what she just said and tries to shift the conversation.
>"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?"
>You pause to ponder the purple pony's proposal.
"Finding a special somepony would be a great start."
>"That's it!" She exclaims.
>Twilight's face lights up as she begins doing a little happy dance on top of the table.
>You physically recoil at the mare's unusually sporadic behavior.
"What's it?" You squint at her.
>"The Hearts and Hooves Day festival!" She trots up to you and grins. "It's this weekend!"
>You almost fall out of your seat.
"Hearts and Hooves Day?" Your ears droop. "The heck is that?"
>"It's the answer to your problem, my dear Anon!"

Part XVIX:
>She eagerly grabs you with her magic and the restaurant disappears in a poof of purple magic.
>You find yourself standing in a massive library, complete with gilded staircases and fancy chandeliers.
"Where...ARE we?"
>You look around the library and stare in awe at the thousands of books covering every single wall.
>"Welcome to my humble library!" She proudly announces.
>Huh? There's nothing humble about this gaudy place!
"So, why are we here exactly?"
>Twilight begins flying too and fro, seemingly hunting for something specific.
>"Why, we're here to prepare you for the Hearts and Hooves Festival of course!" She shouts from above.
>How will scrolls and books help you with such a thing?
>She soon grabs a book from one of the highest shelves and descends with it cradled in her hooves.
>*WHOMP*
"AIIIIEEEEEE!"
>Her rough landing sends you flying into a pile of books on the floor.
>"Oops, sorry about that." She bashfully flutters her wings. "I'm still getting used to the whole 'pegasus' thing."
>You clutch at your head and stumble out of the book pile.
"So am I." You shoot back.
>It's still hard to believe that just a few moons ago, Twilight was a humble unicorn working on 'friendship' research.
>Now she's the Princess of Friendship itself.
>Imagine DATING such a cute princess...
>"Uh, Anon? Are you alright?"
>You snap out of your thoughts and spin around to face Twilight.
"Yeah, I-I'm fine." You insist.
>"Really?" She raises an eyebrow. "Because it looked like you were swooning just now."
>NANI?!
>You? Swooning?
>Her eyes must be in backwards or something!
>A strong stallion like you would never do such an embarrassing thing.
>Wait, why does your face feel hot?