11 - The Best Possible Thing

Seconds later, things changed...for the worse. I couldn't move an inch. I felt like a solid rock...

...and his guess was correct. The Power Hoof had turned the plucky pegasus to rock. The rest of the pony party peered over the hill, and Rarity stifled a tear. Hearing the priceless line that followed, the crowd clapped their hooves together.

Many a "Bravo!" could be heard as Rarity sobbed, "He may be a rock now, but he'll always be...my diamond..." Her melodramatic tears continued until a few came to console her, although the talk of show business was still rife in the crowd.

Don't be scared, spoke Starlow, his voice now clearer than ever. You win.

"Really? Do you call being trapped inside a rock for the rest of your life winning?" My thoughts were beginning to sound like Twilight Sparkle out there, going crazy. "How do I get out?"

Eeeh...that's a toughie. Try and break out with force.

I took a deep breath in, preparing a sigh. "But I ca —" Light flooded into my eyes. I heard murmurs of "Nice hat, Game!", "Well done!", and above it all the squealing laughter of Rarity.

Before answering the crowd, I took a few seconds to regain a little sanity. I was standing on top of a pretty flat-looking Gilda, whose heart had stopped. My whole body was brown, not with the dirt but with...what? I lifted the cap off my head. It was a round, metal hat with a fancy scarlet ponytail stemming from the top. Not my cup of tea, but...wait. I have a Copy Ability? How? This Copy Ability, as wielded by the pink Star Warrior Kirby, allowed the user to turn to stone at will.

I threw away the cap, and it landed neatly on the head of a Cockatrice. Not a threat any more, now, are you? But before I could focus on anything else, I was thrown to the floor by Rarity, who had caught me in a tight hug. "Oh, Game Changer! I'm so glad you're alright..."  She sounded dreamlike. I gave a near-silent sigh. Yeah, she's nice, but...isn't she just a tiny bit overkill? Anyhow, I returned the hug kindly, noticing that my coat was once again teal.

"S-sorry I worried you," I spoke, stuttering. "I-I'll try not to do it again..." I felt unconfident even though the crowd seemed to have left us in peace now. When posed with a situation like that, I did and still do find it tough to say the right things. I soon realised that she was concerned for me, even if she was a little attached, so I returned the hug a little less reluctantly. I felt something moist touch my neck slightly, and soon it dawned on me.

I had just been kissed.

My head spun into frantic foresight. What do I say? What's gonna happen if I say it? Damn...I just can't think! You sure do choose your moments, Rare... I decided to let the kiss slip. I couldn't think about returning it. I wasn't even sure yet. Her name slipped from my mouth, without me even thinking about it. "Rarity?" Slightly shocked at myself, I decided to follow on with what I'd started and look at her.

"Yes?..."

"I'm so sorry... I just can't think... I need to be alone..." I tried my best to hide my frustration, but it was still pretty evident.

"You just can't think? Oh, sweetie..." A scarily determined grin spread its way across her face, like peanut butter on lightly-toasted toast. I wasn't sure whether or not to enjoy it... "Let me clear your head for you..." Her eyes closed. Mine did too, but not in preparation for what was on its way. I had to think. I just couldn't decide... Do I jump at the chance? Surely I can't say no...? But...what about Dash? Won't she be mad? And can I ever trust a girl? I mean, past experience points against it...but these are ponies...and what if I leave this world, these ponies, this whole new paradise society, behind?

Eh, screw it. I'd just made what could've turned out one of the most stupidly spontaneous decisions in my life. But it was about to feel good.

I let my eyelids fall for real, and embraced the feeling of Rarity's lips upon mine. What have you done? cried a part of me, but the other just smiled. Perhaps the other part of me was my inner human, sceptical of society, wanting to be alone, just focused on success. Maybe I did have time for an optional sidequest. Just possibly, I'd chosen well. And Starlow's words confirmed that.

Go for it, Game Changer. The power of love will see you through a few battles, when you'll need it the most. Trust my words, and trust your comics.

What, really? I'm gonna go Scott Pilgrim in the future?

Maybe. Let's hope so. Enjoy your time.

I let the next minute or so pass, enjoying the feel of Rarity's pristine feathers against mine, her soft hooves on my cheeks, and her mane falling down my back like warm water. I pulled away, to her dismay, for a brief second. "I heard you," I spoke under my slow breath. "It was beautiful." We kissed again for mere seconds, ending in a tight, warm embrace. "Thank you, Rarity."

"No, thank you," she said. "You may be a hero to everyone else, but you're more than that, to me...you're my Game Changer." Taking a quick moment to scan the skies and the trees, I left the clearing.

My mind, and the surroundings, were free of any doubt.