>Thank fucking god for coffee, you’ve made it through night.
>No sleep though, no sir.
>This is the last test, then you need a fucking nap.
>”...Here we go. Test number forty two. Hope for the best.”
>Cherry is strapped into the prototype and looks dead tired, like you.
>The gemstone glows briefly and the wings come alive slowly.
>As she starts to hover, you start the stop watch.
>It doesn’t take her as long to lift off the ground as when you first started.
“So far, so good.”
>”Don’t jinx it! We are far from finished Anon.”
>She looks pretty scared and annoyed.
>Not that you blame her, considering she has to wear it.
>And she has fallen, multiple times, on her face as well.
>Thankfully you both set up some padding around the area to prevent any injuries.
>It also helps that ponies are pretty hardy.
>”Alright, going for a turn.”
>She angles her body, and flies to the side.
>Your heart is starting to beat harder, this may be fucking it at long last.
>”Gonna get some altitude”
>Cherry rises higher and higher, probably around twenty feet or so.
>Slowly, she hovers lower and lower until she is about a few feet off the ground.
>”I’d say that’s a success, but let’s see how long the spell holds for.”
>You’re pretty fucking hyped, to think you both made this much progress in one night.
>Then again, her and Twilight busted their rears the past few days to do most of the work.
>You’ve mostly done heavy lifting and fetching different things.
>Wait a second, it’s been easily over five minutes.
“Holy shit.”
>Cherry perks up at your words and giggles.
>”Yeah, those changes really helped didn’t they?”
>You nod and fold your arms.
“Yeah, they did.”
>Most of what was done is lost on you.
>Doesn’t help you know jack shit about aviation or magic.
>Looking down at the stop watch, you note it’s roughly been eight minutes.
>She slowly lands safely, and you stop the watch.

>Simultaneously you both cheer.
“It fucking works!”
>”Woohoo!”
>Before you can continue to celebrate, she cuts you off.
>”We can do better though, what’s the watch say?”
>Looking down at the stop watch.
“Nine forty seven.”
>”So close, I’m certain we can reach half an hour at this rate.”
>While that would be amazing, you already know you’ve gone pretty damn far.
“Probably, but this is the part where I need a favor.”
>Cherry raises an eyebrow.
>”Do I dare ask what?”
“Remember how I mentioned I wanted help making a friend fly? I’m more than happy to help you out more of course, but at the end of the day, I did this all for her.”
>She smirks.
>”A friend? You mean your marefriend?”
>Not this shit again.
“No! We have barely known each other for over a week.”
>Cherry giggles and waves her hoof.
>”Uh-huh, sure. Anon, I’ve heard of ponies dating sooner than that.”
>You let out a groan, these damn ponies.
“We’ve been friends for over a week. Last thing I want to spring on her is asking her out. She’s been through a lot.”
>You nearly said too much.
>Her ears splay back and she loses her smile.
>”Oh...Sorry. Didn’t know.”
>Letting out a sigh, you rub your forehead.
“It’s...It’s complicated...”
>Cherry straightens up and starts to remove the device.
>”Regardless Anon, this is the ONLY working prototype, and you’re asking for some pony I don’t know to use it. You do realize this is my life’s work, right? I’m thrilled that you’ve helped me this far, but you’re asking a lot out of me.”
>You were afraid she would say that.
>Fuck it, you kneel down and start to plead.
“Please Cherry, this would mean the world to her.”
>She finishes getting the prototype off and gives you a look of pity before sighing.
>”It’s not just that Anon, she could get seriously hurt. I’d rather not be responsible for hurting somepony. Besides, whose to say that the prototype remains stable?”

“You built it and Twilight enchanted it, so unless you doubt either of your own skills, I’d say it will be fine.”
>Cherry continues to look at you, and works her jaw in thought.
>”...Fine. But! I’m going to be right there with you both. I know how this device works and you don’t.”
“I wouldn’t ask you otherwise.”
>She nods and turns her attention back to the prototype.
>As the both of you clean up, you start to think out how to best approach this for Addie.
>Asking her to come out here? Not gonna happen, she rarely leaves home.
>You doubt you could even convince her without ruining the surprise.
>A yawn reminds you that you need some sleep.
>Cherry notices this and lets out her own yawn.
>”Think we both should get some sleep, more work to do later anyways.”
>You nod as you rub your eyes.
“Yeah, I’m gonna head home and get a nap in before I visit Addie.”
>”Alright, oh and Anon?”
>You stop as you’re about to leave.
>”Thank you for helping me out, Addie sounds really lucky to have you.”
>You’re not sure how to respond to that, so you just nod and go.
>As you’re walking home, your thoughts wander again.
>You’re falling for Addie, aren’t you?
>...
>Of course not!
>…
>Fuck, this isn’t right. She needs support to get through her troubles.
>Then again, maybe she already sees you that way?
>You shake your head,
>It feels wrong to even consider it.
>Are you really that desperate to risk everything?
>No, you won’t hurt her.
>Just remember Anon, be there for her, that’s what matters.
>You rub temples as you get inside your house.
“Fuck I’m tired...”
>Looking over to the nearby clock shows you got plenty of time before you need to head out.
“I’ll take a nap, it will be fine.”
>You lay down on your couch, and close your eyes letting sleep take you.
>A sudden knocking awakens you.
“What?!”
>Looking over, it’s only been maybe ten minutes.

>The knocking quickens and you get up to answer it.
>As you open the door, Addie is standing there looking at you with a blush on her face.
“Addie? What are you doing here?”
>She says nothing, making you more concerned.
“Is something wrong? Whatever it is-”
>”Anon.”
>Hearing her talk normal causes you to freeze up.
>”I can’t...I can’t lie to you anymore...”
“What are you saying?”
>Your fear grows further.
>She closes her golden eyes and reopens them shimmering with a smile on her face.
>”I’m in love with you.”
>Your heart beats hard and you’re not sure what to do at first.
>She’s awaiting your response, and you remember what your thoughts from before.
>You would never hurt Addie.
“I-I’m in love with you too.”
>She rears up, placing her hooves on your chest and knocks you onto the ground.
>Your eyes open and you’re on the floor, worse yet, its nearly six in the evening.
“Oh fuck!”

>Though your stomach complains, you don’t feel like eating.
>You feel awful.
>Anon didn’t show up today.
>As a result, you’ve been left to your own doubts and thoughts.
>A few tears fall, thought you cried enough recently, but apparently not.
“...I thought...I could rely on him...”
>Sure he told you he was busy before, but at least he came over.
>Dragging your hooves away from your canvas, you look it over again.
“...It’s ugly...L-like me...”
>You had tried to sketch, but ultimately, you couldn’t.
>Instead you doodled in an attempt to clear your mind.
>This picture has you and Anon all over it.
>It’s probably fifth one you’ve drawn today.
>Several more tears come forth.
“...W-why do I do this to...M-my self..?”
>You rip the picture and toss it with the small pile of crumpled up doodles.
>Laying on the floor, you start to cry again.
>Like the stupid filly you are.
“...W-why does it hurt so much..?”
>You already know why, no point in trying to fight it anymore.

>Try as you might, you can’t resist.
“...I...I’m in love with A-Anon...Are-aren’t I..?”
>With those words, it feels like a weight has been slightly lifted.
>You look over at the crumpled up doodles.
>Each has him and you covering them.
>It was so obvious, yet you tried to ignore it.
“...What if...What if he doesn’t feel the same way..?”
>…
>You’d rather not know, but you can’t just keep hiding this from him.
>You almost told him before, though your fear of rejection held you back.
“...I don’t want...Can’t have him leave me...”
>How much longer can you do this?
>Can’t be sure, it’s not healthy, that’s clear.
>Still, you want to be with him, at his side, together.
“...I-it’s so stu-stupid...”
>You let out a small groan of pain.
>You’ve been alone for so long, and you’ve longed for another to share your burdens with.
>Now it’s finally happened, and you’re so conflicted of it.
>A loud knocking draws you from your thoughts.
“...A-Anon..?”
>What if it isn’t him? What if is it?
>Another round of knocking makes you jolt.
“...I better..J-just answer it...”
>Picking yourself up from the ground to undo the locks, your fear mounts slowly.
>You partially open the door and see Anon.
>He is panting and the second he sees you, he tries to talk.
>”...Addie...Thank fuck, that you answered...I’m so sorry about not showing up...”
>You want to let him in, but you’re afraid.
>Wiping away tears, you need to know what happened.
“...W-where were you..?...I’ve been...Alone all t-today...I know we haven’t been friends long...But I...This...It hurts...”
>Slowly you slouch, you want to tell him, but you’re petrified.
>Anon breaths deeply and tries to compose himself.
>”I can’t tell you everything, not yet. I promise everything will be clear soon, just let me prove myself tomorrow. I would never want to hurt you intentionally. I...I care about you too much.”

>Your eyes slowly look to his own, you’re shaking now.
>Should you trust him? He hasn’t lied to you yet.
>It feels like you’re being torn in two, half of you says no, the other half yes.
>Is this what it is to be in love?
>He kneels down and clasps his hands together.
>”Addie please, trust me.”
>Your hope wins out in the end.
“...Okay...For you Anon..”
>He smiles like he has many times before.
>”Thank you for trusting me, I will be back. Going to get everything together for tomorrow.”
>Just as he stands to go, you quietly mumble it out.
“...I...I love...I love you...”
>Before he steps off the porch he freezes and turns slowly to you.
>”Sorry, I didn’t hear you.”
>You try to summon the strength to speak, but all you manage is a squeak.
>”Um, what?”
>Come on you idiot, say it! Don’t sit there like a stupid filly, say that you love him!
>Shaking your head you try again.
“...I...L...See you tomorrow...Anon...”
>He raises an eyebrow and nods slowly.
>”Yeah, you too.”
>As you watch him walk away, your heart plummets.
>Closing the door, you slam your head against the frame.
“...Stupid..!...Of all the..!..I-I couldn’t jus-just say it! NO!”
>Nearly ripping the door open, you try to call out to him.
“Anon wait!”
>Freezing, you see he is gone.
>You feel so pathetic, and fresh tears emerge
>Closing the door once more, you’ve decided, you’re going to tell him tomorrow.
>Slowly you trot to your bedroom, repeating the thought again.
“...Tomorrow...I will tell him tomorrow...No matter...What...”