My name is Buddy

Schaaaaaaaawwww…

Scchkkk-kkkkkaaaaa-kaaaawwwwssshh…

Schaaaawkaaaaaaaa-kaaaa…

…What the hell is that sound?

Scchaaakaaaaww…

It sounds like…A dying camel.

Shhhkkkaaa-aaa-aaaa-aaaaaaaa-www….

Is that...Snoring?

Schkkkkkaaaaaawwwwwwwwww…

Fed up with wondering, I open my drowsy eyes to the familiar sight of Vinyl, and to praise my guess, it was snoring. How in Celestia did I sleep through that? I’m tempted to shove a shock in her mouth.

“Sccchhhkaaaaaw…”

Yep, I’m out of here. I jump out of bed, still not fully awake as I trot my way to the door. The floor creaks under my step until I get to the door, opening it. I look back once behind me, smiling at Vinyl.

Without her snoring, she’s kind of c-

“Schhhhaaaaakaaaaawwwwww…”

Have a good day Vinyl! Quickly with gentle steps, I make my way back downstairs, still groggy. I don’t even know what time it is…Had I overslept again? Did I under sleep? Am I still dreaming? Did I die?

Seeing the apartment’s door wide open and plenty of light shining through it, I can tell I haven’t under slept, and definitely didn’t die. I continue on outside, having to hold a hoof up to my face before my eyes adjust to the sudden light. Damn Celestia…Working overtime or something?

I can barely think right now, other than ‘more sleep’, but there’s a bizarre visage in the back of my mind that’s telling me, ‘Go to work!’ So, for lack of a better reason, I follow it and make my way to Rarity’s shop.

Luckily for me and my severe paranoia of other ponies when I’m half awake, there aren’t many walking around today. Few here and there, but Ponyville isn’t cluttered like yesterday. I’m at least a 5 foot reach from any pony nearest to me at all times, and- Why…Am I suddenly so paranoid? I really, really need my sleep sometimes.

Before I know it, I’m standing outside of Rarity’s shop, and a recurring doom of the sun burning out my eyeballs.

I smack my hoof on Rarity’s door a couple times, and wait patiently even though Celestia continues to murder my retinas.

The door swings open, and Rarity immediately starts walking away. “Come in, dear.”

Well…Business, I suppose? “How‘s our little project going?” I make my way inside, looking around for anything new. The shop looks the same as yesterday: bright, colorful, and dazzling.

“Just a tiny hitch, is all.” She continues her walk nonchalantly to the work room.

I follow behind her, easily matching her pace. “Did Spike give you a good book suggestion?” I glance around the room still, not really looking at anything in particular.

She nods her head quickly, now circling the table that looks much different. There’s a very large sheet of cloth hung bellow a sewing machine and many, many, many strands of black string hanging off the edge. It looks like a massacre. “He offered a book. Goodness, I couldn‘t remember the name for the life of me.” She continues circling, then tips her head in the direction behind me. “It‘s over there, if you‘re interested.”

I turn around, looking for said book. Doesn’t take long, considering it is the size of a freaking house. “This thing?” I chirp to her with wide-eyed stare. It must take a Herculean effort to even open the front page.

Of course my hyperbole beliefs are put to shame when I open it with ease. The thing still looks like a monolith though.

“That‘s it!” I can tell from the tone of her voice she didn’t look to check if it is. Considering how much I know of Rarity so far, she would be the least likely pony to own a monolith book. I flip through the first couple pages, making sure not to tear anything.

Curteith’s Compendium of Copious Contingencies with Corneous and Pleximus: Making the Old Anew

Are you kidding me? That title will take up a whole side of the blanket alone! Completely ridiculous…But, if this is the stuff Twilight reads, I guess it’ll have to do. I figured I could get a bit of knowledge of what the book would be about from the cover, but there’s no way I can figure all that out.

“This book is crazy.” I snap back to Rarity, shaking a smile onto m face. “I mean, it‘s huge and it has a completely unnecessary name.” I close it, walking back into the room.

She shrugs her shoulders at my complaining, starting her sewing machine. “If it‘s what Spikey says Twilight would like, then that‘s good enough for me.”

I roll my eyes, sighing before I make my around to her side. I’ve been rolling my eyes a lot lately. I’m going to blame it on Vinyl. “So…You said you ran into a problem?” I attempt to get this conversation back on track, my drowsiness passing slowly.

Rarity brings her head up now that we’re talking business. “Yes…I‘m going to need more polio stringed wool. Black, if possible.” She says more demanding than usual, then goes back to sewing.

Really? There’s like…a hundred pounds of it here. “How much do you need?” I ask, looking at her with a cocked eyebrow.

She continues sewing like she didn’t hear a word.

“Ho-”

“4.4 pounds.” She replies like a psychic.

That was odd…“And where exactly am I supposed to get this magical string?” I place one of my hoofs on the table, leaning into it.

She tips her head, similar to how she directed me to the giant of a book. “There‘s a fabric shop across from here.”

I think I can see it from here, given that her shop gives a full 360 view of her surroundings. “Am I supposed to buy this with my good looks?” I give a smirk Like I would for a picture.

She looks up at me with an amused glare, blinking very gently. She has real pretty, black eye lashes that resemble a butterfly’s wing. I‘m not really a fan of it…Too much ‘Pride and Prada‘. “There‘s a small pouch at the front desk. Just take that with you.” She says dully, not much emotion coming from her. She seems like she’s really concentrating…Though I could be wrong. Maybe she’s really annoyed with me for some reason.

“I‘ll be back in a few.” I inform her, making my way back out. On my way, I munch down on the small pouch of coins and bust out the door, quickly finding my way to the store. Sounds easy enough…

And it is easy enough. It’s right there in big letters.

Fabric and Furnishes

That was the quickest adventure I’ve had all week! Hmm…I should go on an adventure sometime. Rainbow Dash would probably hop on that chance. Don’t know what It’d be though.

Leaving my thought provoking escapades aside, I slip my way into the store and smile as I’m greeted immediately.

“Good morning, shur! How may I helpsh you?” A very young looking Earth pony asks behind a counter. Hung behind her is…Well, I’m no expert, but it looks like every type of cloth I can possibly think of. I thought Rarity had it all, but damn.

“Yeah,” I begin, laying the money on the counter. “I‘m going to need four pounds, 4 ounces of black….Uhm…Folio stringed wool.”

With a flick of her red tail and nod of her tan head, she takes the money pouch and goes into what I guess is the back room. I didn’t even realize there was a door right there. I’m starting I don’t realize a lot of things right away…I should really start paying attention to my surroundings.

“Polio, rish?” Her voice echoes from the room.

“Yeah!” I yell back, glancing around the room. Black, indigo, green, charcoal, grey, mixed red and yellow, mixed orange and blue, mixed green and white, mixed red and blue, red dye, blue dye, orange dye, black dye, red carpets, blue carpets, green carpets, yellow carpets- It just goes on and on and on. I don’t think there’s a singlee thing missing from the store. But I’m curious…Why would I need black dye? Just soak it in black tar; that’ll dye it real fast!

“Okay, mishur! Four pounsh and four ounshesh of black Polio.” She plops down a pretty decent bag, some black strings popping out the top. “Ish Shere anyshing elsh I can helpsh you wish?”

I can’t help but smile at the nice mare. I don’t know if I have a soft spot for lisps or something, but she seems like a really nice pony. First impressions, I guess. “No thank you.” I bite down on the bag, throwing over my back and begin to walk to the door.

“Have a nishe day!”

“Yoouuf tfoo!” I yell back, causing myself to have a lisp of my own. Now back to Rarity’s.

Making my pace quick, but careful not to cause the bag of string to fall from my back, I get to Rarity’s in a flash. I knock like always, and I notice I always do three, the third slightly harder. I pay attention to the weirdest shit.

The door swings open, Rarity there with a large smile. “Oh, thank you! You are the sweetest thing…” Her smile only gets wider as I slump my way inside, gently putting the bag on the nearest table. It wasn’t heavy, just awkward to carry…

“No problem, Rarity. Anything else?” I move away from the bag, letting her inspect the string herself.

She bats her eyes at me. “Oh, Rainbow Dash stopped by and asked for you.” She looks kind of suspicious…Like I did something wrong. Lowering her head, narrowing her eyes, and a wise smirk.

“Me? What for?” I try to look inconspicuous, but considering Rarity can read me like a book, it won’t matter.

“I don‘t know, dearie. Said to come help her with something out by Sweet Apple Acres.” She continues with her accusing stare at me, but shifts her cocked eyebrow to the other.

What? Does she think I’m like, hitting on Dash, or something? “If there‘s nothing for me here, I‘ll get going then.” I try to say nonchalantly, but comes out like I’m trying to escape from a vice grip.

She immediately breaks into her usual smile, and nods her head fast. “Best be going then! I‘ll see you tomorrow, Mr. B.” She moves back to the bag of string, plucking a few and trotting back to the sewing machine.

That was weird. Staring at me and crap. These mares around here are weeeirrrd. “Alright, see you later Rarity. Good luck!” I shout back to her, opening the door and immediately making haste for Sweet Apple Acres.

I wonder when I get paid? Probably at the end of the week. I can’t really complain about when though. 50 is plenty. Even though Rarity can be really weird with her sudden glares at me, I can’t say anything about it. I do some of the weirdest crap too, like count how many knocks I make, look at eyelashes, relate books to a monolith, and I’m a cutie mark crusader to top it all off. I’m just one big weirdo.

In the distance, near the large hills by Applejack’s farm, I can see a very certain cyan Pegasus flying through the air. Any pony can spot her out in a crowd. Now that I think about it…Is her mane and tail natural? I mean, I’d figure since her name is Rainbow, but I have never seen a pony with a natural mane and tail like that. It’s real awesome though, as Rainbow would say. It definitely makes my monotone brown mane and tail look like crap. And…Crap is kind of brown, so- never mind.

I’m fairly close now, that I can see there’s another Pegasus laying down at the top of the hill while the ‘Greatest flier in all of Equestria’ is soaring through the air.

“Yay…” A soft cheer comes from the top of the hill.

Once I finally get to the top, I realize the gentle-cheering pony is Fluttershy. “Heya, what you two doing?” I make a calm walk near Fluttershy, glancing above at Rainbow Dash.

“Oh, uhm…” Fluttershy mumbles, looking at everything but me. “Rai-…Err…Uhm, Rainbow Dash just…Wanted, to, kind of…Practice.” She slithers from her mouth, every word sounding like a whisper.

I walk a little closer, sitting next to the yellow Pegasus. Now I can hear the gentle-speaking mare. “Oh yeah? What for?” I look at her, then back to Rainbow. She’s just…Flying around. I would think practicing flying would be doing stuff like stunts of some kind.

Fluttershy’s face reddens a lot, and she looks at the ground. “Oh. Well Rainbow Dash is going, to…Go and try for the Wonderbolts…” I can tell she is trying to talk louder, but all her meek little voice operates on is a whisper.

I raise both my eyebrows, shifting my jaw around. “Yeah, that seems like her.” I comment, getting slightly distracted by looking at nearby clouds. “She practicing anything specific?”

Fluttershy continues to look at anything but me, almost constantly blinking. Distancing my glances from the clouds, I notice her eye lashes are pretty long, like Rarity’s. While Fluttershy’s are probably natural, I’m betting Rarity’s aren’t. ust seems like they’re kin of personality. Wait…Am I seriously comparing eye lashes? What kind of weirdo am I?

“So, uhh…Fluttershy?” I ask, moving my gaze back to the clouds.

“…Yes?” She asks with an undertone of liveliness.

“Why are you here?” Why am I so blunt today?

She seems to get smaller, putting her head in her hooves. “To cheer on…Rainbow Dash.” Her voice gets even quieter now that she’s covered her face.

I take in a deep breath, my minor attention on Rainbow’s flying. “You‘re doing a pretty good job.” I look over at her with a sarcastic smirk.

She picks her head up, laying her eyes upon her hooves. “She can‘t hear me if I try…” She almost whimpers from her mouth.

I can’t help but laugh a little, letting it settle into a chuckle. “Come on…Everypony can cheer. You just have to...Well, I guess you just have to yell, really.” I attempt to explain, using the most teachery voice I can. Then again, I hated teachers in school, so…Bad choice.

“Oh…Okay.” Fluttershy continues to look down, uninterested.

My smirk turns to a worried frown. “You alright?” I move my head a little closer, attempting to get her attention with sight over sound.

She looks up at me, her big blue eyes shimmering under the miffed light. “I‘m okay.” She answers, clearly bluffing.

This is the first time I’ve looked at her eyes real good. Better yet…This is the first time I’ve looked at any mare’s eyes real good. They’re so…Deep. “Really? I‘m here to help, you know.” My voice sounds a little scratchy, but keeps my usual smooth tone.

A very shy smile spreads across Fluttershy’s face, and a deep red fills her cheeks. “Oh…Th-…Thanks, Buddy.”

I huff a breath, then take a deep sigh. “So-” I turn my gaze back up to the sky and get myself comfortable on the grass. “-Practice, huh?”

“Oh, yes. Rainbow Dash has gotten really, really good!” Her voice jumps up a whole octave. But, considering how low her default setting is, she’s still quiet.

“Any sweet tricks?” I take a glance at Rainbow, and when I see she’s still flying around, I look back to the skies. These clouds look factory made.

“Oh, yes! But…I don‘t remember all of them…” Her voice gets lower, and lower, and lower, until it gets to the point where the clouds seem to be making more noise than her.

I change my gaze from the boring clouds to Fluttershy. “Biggest fan that doesn‘t know her moves?” I stare at her with a gentle smile.

She digs her head into her hooves. “I‘m sorry…”

I immediately shake my head, even though she can’t see. “Fluttershy, I‘m only messing with you.”

Her head picks back up, remnants of a smile on her face. “Oh…” She utters, and from the faintest part of the universe, I hear a giggle.

I laugh, much louder than her subtle giggle, and stare at her benevolence. “So uhh…” I stop myself, not really knowing what I’m saying. Should probably start a conversation. Not like Rainbow Dash needs a cheerleader. “What do you do all day?”

She perks up, a real smile coming across her face. “Oh, I uhm…Well I feed the animals of the Everfree forest, and I give them baths, and I make them homes, and I make sure my farm is going well. Those pumpkins are tough…” She almost starts mumbling to herself.

She seems really happy when it comes to animals. Then again…We’re all animals. Whatever. “You sound like a busy little mare.” I continue to stare at her, glancing around from her wings, her eyes, and her cutie mark. And it’s pretty interesting. A couple flowers…I’d guess that means nature? That’s really broad.

“Busy as a bee!” She chimes, taking her vocal cords up a few notches. She has quite a content smile on her face.

All I gotta do to make some mare happy is talk about their pride. Damn Twilight, are you ever wrong? “Need any help, busy bee?” I raise an eyebrow at my offer, shifting my hooves around.

She looks clueless for a moment, then her eyes jolt to twice their size. “Oh! Oh, Iuhm…I…Don‘t…Wouldn‘t know if I- I mean…” She stops herself, the red on hr cheeks returning to their full glory. “…Yes.” She mutters finally, defeated from her lack of a direct answer.

I broaden my smile, giving her a subtle nod. “After t-”

“PARTY CANON!!!”

…What?

“Oh no…”

KAPOW!

My ears aren’t prepared for the onslaught of the sudden explosion, nor were they ready for the ringing coursing through my head. I can’t even think up a correct response, so I just clutch my head like a foal and wait until it’s over.

“Are…Did…Can‘t…” A voice murmurs through my head, being pushed aside by the continuation of ringing.

“Can…Hear…” Another voice finds itself in my lair of bells being rung.

“YO!”

I shoot my eyes wide open, taking a couple moments to find my bearings. And I see the definite color and shape of Rainbow Dash.

“Dude…You good?” I hear faintly. Her mouth isn’t synched with her lips.

“Am I deaf?!” I yell, and even my voice seems distant.

Rainbow Dash rolls her eyes, then grabs my hooves, yanking them away from my ears. “No, dumbass.” She says clearly as day.

I look at my hooves, then to Rainbow. “Oh…” I can feel my cheeks reddening in embarrassment.

Fluttershy comes to my aid, looking down at me as Dash leaves, laughing loudly. “Are you okay…?” She asks meekly, her eyelids as low as her voice.

I nod my head quickly, getting to my feet. “What the hell was that?” I can still feel ringing in the background of my mind. Or maybe it’s just trauma.

“PARTY CANON!”

On immediate reaction, I duck and cover my ears. No fucking way I’m going through that twice!

“Hahaha!” A very cocky voice laughs.

“Oh…” Fluttershy mumbles, bringing her head into my view as I rise from my feeble  position. “Don‘t worry…It‘s over.” She says with a calm, soothing voice.

“What was…” I stop myself, instead just finding for myself. Doesn’t take long, as I find clear as day the culprit. “Pinkie Pie…” I mutter, sighing.

“Nice one, Pinkie.” Rainbow compliments, smacking hoofs with Pinkie. They both join each other in a loud, rambunctious laugh.

Fluttershy still watches me with a worried face, frowning and lowering her eyes. “I‘m sorry…”

I turn to her, shaking my head. “What? Why are you sorry?” Kind of rhetorical, since she probably blames herself for everything.

“Uhm…I didn‘t warn you soon enough…” She mutters, her voice dropping below her default octave.

Yep. Like I thought. “Don‘t worry about it. I just…” I look over at both Rainbow and Pinkie who are literally rolling on the ground laughing. “Want to go tend to the animals?” I ask, my mood pulling a 180. I perk my eyes up and smile widely at the young Pegasus.

An enthusiastic smiles forms over Fluttershy’s face, and she nods slowly. “Oh-…Okay.”

I bow my head to her, blinking a couple times from the bells that are still ringing. “Lead the way, Miss Fluttershy.”

She looks around for a moment like she lost her way. “Oh…I…Okay, then…” She mumbles, taking a few seconds to take the first step. It takes her several more seconds until she starts walking away, down the hill. “Uhm..Bye Rainbow Dash…And Pinkie…” She barely mutters. I doubt they heard over their obnoxious laughter.

“So…Party canon?” Might as well ask now that I’m a safe distance.

Fluttershy attempts to hide a small grin on her face, batting her attention to our walk ahead. “Well, uhm…It‘s a canon Pinkie fires for…Instance parties…” Her mumbles are getting louder, I’ll give her that. Now that my ears aren’t exploding, I can hear her a little better too.

“Yeah, I have a party in my head, if that‘s what you mean.” I rub a hoof against my ear, hoping in vein that it would help in some way.

Fluttershy unleashes a gentle giggle. “Oh…I got used to it.” She says quickly. She may not be talking louder, but she’s being more clear and straight forward. That’s a start, I guess.

We near the crossroads where the two signs point to Ponyville and AJ’s farm. “I would too if- Hey, where are you going?” I ask suddenly once she walks off the trail, walking where I haven’t even thought of.

She stops, looking behind her. “Oh, I‘m sorry. I…Don‘t actually live in Ponyville.” She gives a sorrowful frown, bowing her head in shame.

Goodness…I wonder how depressed she would get if something really bad happened. No…That’s a horrible thought. I hope that never happens. “No need to apologize, I just didn‘t expect it is all.” I quickly chirp my smile across my face, following behind her.

Her bright mood returns as we make our way up a small hill, and that’s when I see what has to be her house. It looks like a true nature-lovers home. It’s surrounded by trees, near the forest, by a stream, a personal farm behind it, and most of all, there’s animals crowding all around the place. Birds, deer, squirrels, bunnies, and even bears. I’m a little worried now…

“So, uhh…Those are all tamed, right?” I ask, raising an eyebrow as I slow my walk.

She creates a gentle giggle again, shaking her head. “Oh no, I don‘t have to tame them. They‘re the most gentle little critters…” She coos, looking back over her home. A very settling smile comes over her face. She looks really…I don’t know the word for it. Calm. At peace. Or…The simplest and best, at home.

“It looks really nice, Fluttershy.” I compliment as we make our way onto the bridge, and I notice fish swimming through the stream below.

“Oh, thank you so very much. Oh, goodness, you have to see my garden!” That’s a better word for it: garden. A farm is…Applejack’s level.

“Can‘t wait.” I continue following by her side, glancing around her house. It looks like it has a bit of nature growing on it. Vines, flowers, and even a trees branches seem to be going into a window. That’s hardcore.

We go around the corner of her house, and to her garden. It’s a very quaint little thing. There’s plenty of vegetables being grown, and I can see three large pumpkins.

“It‘s very pretty, Fluttershy.” I compliment. I…Could probably make a better one than that. “I really like those pumpkins.” Now I just sound weird…

“Oh, they‘re just the cutest little things…” She mumbles, a large smile over her face. I feel like if I wasn’t here, she would be hugging the pumpkins and singing them nursery rhymes. “But my prize is right here.” She leans her head over the small fence guarding the precious garden. Her head hangs inches from a very odd looking plant.

“What is it?” I ask with instant curiosity. It doesn’t look anything like I’ve ever seen. It’s big, bushy green petals seem to float around the top and from the middle flourishes a bright blue, red, and white set of petals. There’s not a lot of red petals, and the only ones are bundled together in the middle of the budding opening. The blue petals surround the red, and are the largest, but fewest. The blue is surrounded by many tiny little white petals.

“I don‘t know…I found it one day in the Everfree forest, and it‘s just…The most beautiful thing!” Her voice rises a couple extra octaves excitedly, then she covers her mouth gently. “Sorry…I didn‘t mean to yell.”

I chuckle lightly, shaking my head at how innocent this mare can be. “It looks amazing, Fluttershy.” Then, I tip my head up. I look over at her with a very sage-like grin. “You should name it!”

Her eyes grow big, her mouth slightly slipping open. “I…” She starts, not finding anything else to add. She starts biting her bottom lip, looking from me, then back to the plant.

“Anything you want…” I coax her, moving my head over the fence to look at the small, bigger than life plant.

“Tsundere…” She umbles, barely loud enough for me to hear.

“Huh?” I ask, not sure if I heard right.

“Oh, uhm…” She stutters, looking back up from the plant. “I was thinking…Tsundere.” Her voice goes back to her default which is actually becoming more understandable for me.

“What does it mean?” I take my head from over the fence, curving my eyebrows into a curious gaze.

A very calm, gentle, lovely smile comes across Fluttershy’s mouth. “It means, ‘Rough and tough on the outside, sweet and innocent on the inside.’” She explains, holding her loveable smile the whole time.

I try to recreate her one-of-a-kind smile, but I can’t. I’m no Fluttershy. “That‘s a gorgeous name for a gorgeous flower.”

She bows her head, then starts to walk back around to the front of her house. “You have to meet Angel…” She says with her usual gentle voice. I would say it’s monotone, but…Fluttershy’s voice seems to not have the ability to go monotone. So it’s simply: Fluttershy’s voice.

I pick my gaze from the ground, picking up my pace to her side. “Angel?” I ask curiously.

She looks over at me, but stays quiet as we round to the front of the house.

“Can‘t wait.” I follow her up the few steps she has to her front door - which is probably her only door.

Even when opening a door, Fluttershy feels the need to be gentle and cautious. It takes her a couple seconds to open her door, and walk inside.

I figured there would be vines, flowers, pumpkins- hell, I expected there to be a tree growing inside her house. But no, t looks very natural and Fluttershyish. A rocking chair over by a bright pink rug, a couch to my left, the ceiling decorated with twisted twigs and flowers, the floor all clean-cut wood, and only 3 windows.

“Oh Angel…I have somepony for you to meet…” She calls with her usual voice. I find it ironic she’s calling for Angel, with an angelic voice.

Jumping from the couch out of nowhere hops over a tiny white bunny. It looks so…Tiny. And fluffy.

“Oh…Angel, have you missed me?” She leans her head low, smiling warmly at the little guy.

She shakes his head quickly, standing firm.

Wow! What a dick! “He‘s pretty cute.” I walk around to behind Angel, scratching the back of my head.

“Oh, he‘s just cranky because he didn‘t get his super special treat.” She explains, still holding her bright smile.

Angel just huffs, then hops away back onto the couch.

Yeah…Seems like a real Angel to me. “So this is what you do all day?” I ask, glancing away from Angel and to Fluttershy.

She lowers her head more, almost touching the floor. “I…uhm…Yes.”

That was ore direct then usual. “Oh, uhh…You mentioned that you needed help?” I forgot all about that. I felt like I’ve been on a tour.

Fluttershy picks her head up quickly. It seems she too forgot. “Oh, uhm…I…Guess I don‘t really.” She mumbles, rubbing a hoof against her cheek gently.

I huff, a generous grin coming over me. “Heh…Don‘t worry about it. I enjoyed hanging out.” I once again try to mimic her one-of-a-kind smile, but I fail.

Fluttershy’s mood brightens real fast, a genuine, heart-filled smile dawning on her. “Oh, yes. We should do it again, sometime.” Her face brightens even more at her offer.

I nod very fast, immediately accepting. “Oh yes, definitely. I will gladly come back down here!”

She continues her beaming smile, reminding me of the crusaders and their youthful happiness. It’s kind of sweet. “Oh, yes…But…It‘s starting to get late.” She mumbles, her face getting slightly red. Since her coat is a faded yellow, it’s extremely easy to spot her blush, and it’s only made more prominent by her pink mane and tail.

“Yeah, sure is…” I drop to her level of quietness, glancing around the room. It looks to be around 8. Princess Luna is soon going to devour the sky with her gorgeous blanket of night.

“Uhm…” She stutters, her hoof swinging against the floor. “If…If…You, would….Like…” She stops, her face far too heated to finish.

I feel a subtle laugh in me, but I keep it down. “Stay the night?” I finish for her, leaning my head forward.

“Uhm…Y-…Yeah.” She mumbles gently, clearly attempting to give direct answers.

My laugh comes out a light chuckle, then I nod my head to the shy Pegasus. “I appreciate it a lot, Fluttershy. I‘ll happily stay the night.” Same with Vinyl…I feel like if I don’t stay the night at their house, then I feel like it’s unequal.

Then, her one-of-a-kind smile pops up, and she happily trots over to the couch, a little more bounce to her step. “Oh, Angel…You can sleep with me tonight.” She picks the little Bunny up, and he doesn’t look to happy.

I guess I took his bed. “Thanks again, Fluttershy!” I sit down on the couch, finding that it is made of thing wood. It sinks as I sit, and there are tons of soft, lovely blankets covering it. It’s really, really cozy and I can definitely get some hours on this. Then again…I do kind of miss my bed.

“Have a wonderful night, Buddy.” Fluttershy chimes before retiring to her room, directly across from the couch.

I must have been wrong about the time because in just a few minutes it shot to pitch dark. I guess I made a good choice about staying the night. And this couch, oooh…So snuggly, and it sinks with me. It’s like a natural cushion. I’m really digging- Damn you Vinyl!

--

The days go by like wind. Rarity pays me, and it turns out that I am far luckier than I thought. It’s 50 bits an hour, which turns out to be around 550 a week. I didn’t even know what to do with the bucket full of bits at first, so I decided to just hold onto it. Might need it later, for a surprise. Hopefully not the party canon kind, though. Gosh…Time flies. It felt like just hours ago that I was staying the night at Twilight’s- a book making a little pillow. The warm fire keeping me company the whole time through Luna’s night. Applejack’s couch had nothing on Fluttershy’s, hers was  just way more professional. Plus…I didn’t have to go apple bucking for Fluttershy. But, I did the next day though. Good sign that it’s making me way more fit. I feel empowered with my legs now, and I don’t like to let things go to my head, but whenever I see Big Macintosh, I’m a limp noodle. Had a conversation with him, too. Pretty much every response was, ‘Eeyup.’ Rarity gave me a free spa ticket. It was amazing. It costs 250 bits just for the hot bath, and Rarity got me a full ride! I got massaged, the bath, steam room, and then massaged again. I feel at least ten years younger after that. One day, I have to buy everypony a full ride to it. Then there’s Rainbow Dash. I got her good. She and Pinkie thought they got me with the party canon, but I made them scream like little fillies. While they were having a sleep over, I started toying with the lights, making noises, and I even got Fluttershy to get a bear to scare the jeebies out of them. Sweet, sweet revenge…But most importantly; It’s Twilight’s birthday. The day of birth, the day of joy, and the day of the blanket.

“Haaaaaaappy birthdaaaay to you! Haaappy birthday to you! Haaaaappy birthday dear Twilight, Happy birthday to you!!” We all chant together, though Pinkie’s chanting more prominent than others.

“Blow out the candle!” The tenacious pink mare yells out excitedly.

And like on command, Twilight does. She blows out too any candles for me to count, and once the last flame is smoke, everypony else shouts out in joy.

“Wooooooh!” Even Fluttershy attempts a slightly higher cheer than normal.

“Yeah Twi‘!” Rainbow yells out, using the nickname I’ve grown to enjoy.

“Feels good, don‘ it?” Applejack pats Twilight on the back as the young mare smiles too wide for her jaw to capture.

“Oh, I‘m so happy for you Twilight…” Fluttershy chimes in, her voice gentle, but heard.

“Woooooohhhhhhhh! Go Twilight! Chug, chug, chug!” Pinkie Pie yells, screams, and chants at Twilight. She doesn’t even have a drink near her to chug, silly Pinkie Pie.

“Oh, darling, happy birthday!” Rarity repeats, finding time in all the chatter to be heard from the group.

I can’t hear, but Spike says something quietly to Twilight, making her laugh with a scrunched facial expression. It’s the kind that somepony makes when they laugh so hard, they lose muscle control.

Twilight steps up from her chair, looking around at all of us, stopping at me. “Thank you…This is…My…” She stops, putting a hoof over her face. “It‘s so special to me. Thanks.” She blabs out from in between sniffles, rubbing a hoof over her mouth.

“PRESENTS!” Yells Pinkie Pie, jumping from her seat.

Applejack promptly puts a hoof on Pinkie, slumping her back into her seat. “Let tuh lass deci‘ on what tuh do.”

A fair enough nod from the rest, including me, and Pinkie Pie crosses her arms defiantly.

“Actually…” Twilight begins, a sheepish smirk coming over her, immediately grabbing everypony’s attention- especially Pinkie’s. “I would like to open some presents.”

“YEEEEEES!!!” Pinkie jumps up triumphantly, sticking her tongue out at Applejack.

“Alrigh‘ alrigh‘, settle ya crazed yuppie.” Applejack can’t say something like that to Pinkie without perking up a real Texan grin.

“I think that‘d be absolutely lovely.” Rarity stands up and follows Twilight into the main room of the library, nudging me.

I haven’t said a word yet.

“Presents, presents, presents, presents, presents!” Pinkie keeps repeating as she rushes into the room, and I follow behind quietly.

“Oh, darn. I…Don‘t know which one to open first…” Twilight mumbles, coming across seven difficult presents.

“How about this one?” Spike proposes a small little box with Pinkie’s name on it.

There’s so much talking going on, I just try and focus on Twilight’s voice.

“Oh…I guess that would be best- start small, right?” She looks around the room, and her friends encourage her.

“Chug, chug, chug!” Pinkie continues to chant throughout the room.

Twilight must have read some kind of birthday manual because she rips off the wrapping paper like it was…well, paper.

“What the…?” She looks down in confusion, then pulls it up with her hoof in confusion.

“Poke it!” Pinkie Pie yells, pointing a hoof at the small, tiny box.

With hesitation and caution, Twilight barely pokes the box. When she does…It unfolds, an impossibly larger one flying out of it and landing in front of Twilight- It almost crushed Spike.

“Wow…! That rumor about life flashing before your eyes is true!” He yells out for all of us to hear, rubbing his hands over his scaly body. “I lived!”

Then he’s promptly flattened under the side of a box as it unfolds, revealing an extremely comfy chair. It looks at least 100x better than Twilight’s old wooden chair.

“Ow…” Spike groans underneath the simple cardboard, pushing it off him.

“Heh…Sorry Spike.” Twilight apologizes as he escapes the grasp of the deadly cardboard. She then points her gaze to Pinkie, a big appreciative smile forming over her mouth. “Thanks Pinkie Pie…I‘ll love reading in it!”

Pinkie Pie just beams, her grin going really, really wide. Strikingly enough, she doesn’t say anything.

“Ah, uh…” Applejack stutters, batting her eyes away from the group. “Kind‘er got ya tis‘.” She pulls from behind her a clone of her Stetson, and places it on Twilight’s head; a snug fit.

“D‘aww…Thanks, Applejack.” Twilight rubs her hat against Applejacks, causing a roar of laughter and a minor blush on AJ’s part.

“Hey! Open this one!” Spike demands, handing Twilight a small box.

Twilight raises an eyebrow. “Is this one going to turn into a couch?” Her remark causes a commotion of laughter, and Twilight waits until it dies down to open the little box. It doesn’t even have wrapping paper, as little as it is.

“Oh…?” Twilight mumbles something, squinting her eyes. “Awww….” She dips her down, rubbing her forehead against Spike’s.

“Heh…It‘s nothing.” He has a gentle blush blow over his face.

“Such a cute little pin.” She levitates the pin from the box, placing it in her hair. It removes her constant hair flipping, keeping even her highlight from her face.

“Not like, I…Saved up my allowance, or anything…” Spike says, hands behind his back and making circles with his feet.

Twilight rolls her eyes, then jumps as she’s given yet another present. “C‘mon, you‘re gonna love this one.” Rainbow Dash puts a decent sized box in front of her.  The whole time, Rainbow Dash sits down, smirking with a big, cocky grin.

Twilight looks slightly overwhelmed, but handles it fine as she starts opening the box up.

She raises both her eyebrows, stepping back once the wrapping paper is off enough to give a good view of the gift.

A freaking catapult. Rainbow Dash is crazy…

“Pretty sweet, right?!” The cyan Pegasus jumps up, looking over the contraption. “Now you can fly, too!”

Twilight smacks a hoof on her face, laughing whole-heartedly. “Thank you, Rainbow Dash…Now I can fly with you for a whole twenty seconds.” She mutters, causing yet again an uproar of laughter.

I feel a nudge beside me. I forgot I was even here…This is all playing out like a dream. A dream that I’m not a part of.

“Hey, ours is coming up soon…” Rarity smirks at me, then goes back to watching Twilight, like everypony else. I go back to the dream.

Twilight is given another present, and she immediately starts tearing it open. “Shampoo?” She holds it up in her magical grip, staring at it questionably.

“Not just any shampoo!” Fluttershy…Kind of shouts. “I made it myself…It‘s really, really nice.” She drops her voice back down to default, a red glow coming over her.

Twilight levitates the shampoo back to the ground, nodding her head Fluttershy’s way. “Thank you, Fluttershy. I‘ll use it everyday!” Twilight beams her smile, then drops her gaze to the floor when Rarity nudges her- Our present at her feet.

“Oh, thanks Rarity.” I feel like now…Now I’m awake. Now I am really here, not asleep.

Rarity looks more excited than Twilight. That’s the gold of giving, I’d say. I’m glad she got finished with it in the knick of time…

“Whaaaa…?” Twilight questions, levitating the thick cloth out of the box, and she has to bring it really high until it folds out completely, revealing every word. Her eyes shoot out wide. “Curteith’s Compendium of Copious Contingencies with Corneous and Pleximus: Making the Old Anew!!!” It didn’t even take her ten seconds to get the name right.

“Uh….Ah wha?” Applejack asks, staring at the blanket like it’s from space.

Twilight shakes her head like she hadn’t seen it, then looks back at the blanket. “Is the whole thing…?” She turns the fluffy cloth around, finding the rest on the other side. The whole blanket nearly takes up the whole room and goes all the way to the ceiling, so she must have pretty intense vision to read that title alone. “Wow…” She mumbles something to herself, her lips quivering and her eyes watery.

Rarity is already crying. Tears of joy, but she’s crying.

I’m not…I’m trying to really, really hard to feel for Twilight right now. I just…I feel so distant.

“Thanks….Rarity…” She barely squeaks out, bowing to Rarity for her craftsmareship.

“Buddy helped out more than you‘d think.” Rarity blurts out, not even dropping a syllable as she weeps tears of happiness.

“Well…Catapults are still more fun.” Rainbow Dash says proudly, pointing at the toy.

Twilight darts her way over to me, smashing against my body for a hug.

Our bodies connect together, her hooves wrapped around me, her head on my shoulder, and mine on hers. I…Am here. I can see everything clearly now. Rarity’s smile of so many kinds of happy, Pinkie’s uncontrollable party-happy spirit, Applejack’s commendable restraint on her tears, Rainbow Dash’s pride on her gift, Fluttershy striking toughness and only sheds a tear, and Spike’s admiration grin at me. Twilight though…Just weeps over my shoulder.

“Thank you.” I say with just enough volume that only she can hear.

She pulls her head back, looking at me as she wipes her tears, only to have them rightfully replaced by fresh ones. “For what?”

I shake my head, subtly licking my lips inside my mouth.

She mocks me, shaking her head and gets back on all fours. “This night was…Just…Awesome.”

Rainbow Dash grins widely, bringing her head up with her ego as Twilight uses her vocabulary.

“Soreh it took so long tuh get all of it together n‘ all. ‘Bow wanted tuh throw herself from ya‘ll‘s new catatult through ya window.” Applejack explains, walking over to Twilight and still boasts strength in restraint as she keep from crying.

“And…It took a while because I had to make some final adjustments on the blanket.” Rarity chimes in like a bell.

Fluttershy gets up, her voice still as low, but heard throughout the party. “I‘m glad you had a fun birthday, Twilight.”

Pinkie finally explodes of her pent-up happiness, going in the air and starting to bounce around like a maniac. Or like Pinkie Pie, rather. “I‘m super loki makarokie mega super lovebird mocko lotae messy wessy hessy like a vitamin cressy super mega ultra special happy!” She erupts, her breath seeming to go on forever.

Twilight looks around the room, stopping at me. “Well…This was a long night…”

Applejack immediately nods her head, more understanding than I thought. “Aight ya‘ll, now‘s we gotta clean up, den we hitch it.” She immediately starts cleaning up the wrapping paper, but Twilight stops her, which stops the rest of them as well.

“No…I, uhm…Want it like this for the night. You know, to keep the moment going for as long as it can.” She requests, tilting her head to the side.

A huff from Applejack later, Twilight smiles. “Ah s‘pose ah‘ll come around‘ tomorrow n‘ help clean.” She scratches the back of her head, tipping her hat over her eyes as she makes her way for the door.

It seems the whole pack of friends follows AJ during a get-together, as the rest of them head for the door too.

I don’t.

“Oh yeah!” Twilight yells out, stopping them before they all leave abruptly. “Buddy has this amazing idea in a couple of days! How about we all go see Vermithrax‘s meteor?!”

Pinkie jumps up, but the rest of the mares just bow their heads.

“Ah uhh…Well, ah have a lotta apple buckin‘ to do.” Applejack says skittishly.

Rarity graciously circles her hoof on the wooden floor. “I don‘t think I can make it…I‘m behind on a few projects.”

Fluttershy lowers her head, really, really, really low. If it were any lower, she’d be 6ft under. “That‘s the day for the critters bathing…”

Rainbow Dash rubs the back of her mane, not looking at Twilight. “I really, really need my practice…You know, Wonderbolts.”

Pinkie Pie continues jumping up and down in excitement. “That’s th day I get to babysit! Oh goodie, goodie, goodie!!”

Twilight bows her head in disappointment, but I know…I know inside, she is positively beaming.

We get to have a date.

“Sorreh, Twi‘. Ah‘m…Hey, happy birthday.” Applejack tips her hat, to which Twilight does the same with her own.

“Happy birthday, Twilight!” The other four mares chime in, as well as the little dragon Spike.

Twilight turns around to me. Her face looks like it’s constantly changing from hopeful, happy, disappointed, and concerned. “What‘s wrong…?” She asks, stopping a foot from me.

Once she stops, Spike makes his way over to the study room, disappearing inside.

I bat my eyes to the floor. It’s my turn to be embarrassed. “I don‘t know. I‘m sorry I was zoning out…” I fumble my words a little, but get it out there.

She continues her paused walk, now her face close to mine. “Are you sure?”

I keep quiet, still looking at the ground. I can literally feel Twilight get more and more concerned, so I bring my head up. “Want to go on a date with me?” I do my best to smile with a subtle hint of my smartass humor. I’m not even going to attempt Fluttershy’s one-of-a-kind smile.

Twilight brightens up fast, her lips breaking into a large smile. “Oh, where to?” She asks innocently.

I shrug, still playing along. “I was thinking…We could sit up on a hill. Have a quiet picnic. Enjoy the night. Watch a giant meteor fly over head.”

Her eyebrows fall into grace, causing her to form the closest representation of Fluttershy’s smile. “Oh…In that case…I think I can tag along.”

Abruptly, I turn my head around, pulling from a bag on my back something wrapped in a soft yellow cloth. I lay it on the ground, pushing it to Twilight’s feet.

She looks from the book, then to me. Her face is all kinds of confused. “What…is- Another present?” She continues to look from me, to the book.

I shrug, trying not to look at the lavender colored face. Or her purple moraine eyes. “I don‘t deserve the blanket‘s credit, so…I found this.” I dip my head in the gift’s direction.

She continues her baffled actions, going from me, to the present, then back and forth until she just nods. Instead of using her levitation magic, she lowers her head down, moving the cloth out of the way until it unfolds into a small blue book. She stays quiet, looking over the cover, then opening to the first page. After glancing her purple eyes over the first page, she jolts her head up to me, her expression wide.

“Are you serious?” She looks at me, the most unbelievable glare.

I nod gently, and I have to pry at my will to bring a smirk over my face.

She clings to me, embracing in the second hug in one night.

I wrap my hooves around her, rubbing my head against her shoulders. Her first hug this night.

“How did you get it…?” She moves back, sitting down. She’s probably too stunned to really think right now.

“I worked with him, silly.” I explain simply, shaking my head at her recurring dorkiness.

She smiles up at me, rubbing a hoof through her mane. “Starspiral‘s journal…I don‘t know if anypony can top that.” She sniffled a little, rubbing a hoof over her nose. I guess she’s too lazy, or too preoccupied to levitate a tissue over.

“I wanted to put it on the blanket, but…I assumed you would like the real thing more.” I explain my reasoning, my monotone voice breaking into a subtle hoarse, almost losing my balance of octaves.

She continues her loveable glances at me, her big purple eyes giving me something to focus on. “You assumed correctly. But…Are you sure you‘re okay? I thought you of all the ponies would have been crying a lot.” She leans forward worriedly.

I shake my head, denying her help with regret. “No, no. Really, Twi‘, I‘m alright. I just need my sleep. Apple buckin‘, ya know?” I give a genuine smirk. A small one, but it comes out of the reactive muscles, not from my feigning hope that Twilight will accept it.

Twilight tilts her head up. I can tell she isn’t falling for my shit, but…”Okay, Buddy. I‘ll trust you.”

Oh…That hurts. I really need to lighten up, but…I’m terrible in these situations. “Thank you, Twilight. It means a lot.”

Twilight leans her head forward, now dangerously close to me. “I remember you said you appreciate respect. Well, Buddy, I have so much for you. The way you talk, the way you explain yourself, Gosh…Darnit! You‘re just…Somepony I really want to get to know.” She goes quiet, but her eyes keep screaming at me to fall inside. I just might, if I stare long enough.

I look into her for a long time, concentrating thoroughly on her purple eyes. When I finally come to a conclusion, I close my eyes. “I search your ocean for an answer-” I open my eyes, looking straight into her. “-but all I hit are waves.”

Her eyes start to water, and she bows her head slowly. “…Oh…”

I bring my head closer to hers, inhaling a deep breath. “Until I find your moraine.”

She tilts her head up, her eyes more watery than before. “You‘re a poet.” She fumbles her words from her mouth, rubbing her hoof over her nose again.

“I try.” Is all I say in reply before our foreheads meet. We gently lean on one another, sighing, just looking into each other’s eyes.

I’m sure after tonight…I’m gonna feel it.

“You have to go to bed, sir.” She whispers to me, her eyes still searching into mine.

“What color eyes do I have?” I try and keep my eyes focused on a single spot in hers, but I can’t help but inspect every inch of her color.

“Don‘t change the subject, mister…” She mutters, a minor chuckle escaping her as it rocks our heads gently like a crib.

“Yours are purple.” I inform her, completely unnerved.

She sighs, her eyelids relaxing into me. “Golden. Your eyes…Are golden.”

I smile, nudging my forehead left and right against hers. “Stop distracting me, I have a bed to get to.” I perk up a sarcastic smirk across my lips.

She rolls her eyes, and like a true dork, she sticks her tongue out. “Hahaha…Oh! You don‘t want to…Spend the night, again?” She looks really hopeful, with that big kid-like grin and her wide, luscious eyes.

“No…This is your night. Ours will be soon enough.” I settle my eyes on hers as she relaxes.

And then…We find a crescendo. A point of which we both realize there’s no return. There is no succumbing to one another- simply allowing the energy flow of one’s self into the other.

“Uhm…Buddy?”

Twilight’s voice breaks my concentration, but not my dedication to the infinite search in her eyes. “Hmm…?”

“We‘re floating.”

What?

“Ow!”

“Ugghf!”

“Oww….I‘m sorry Buddy! I didn‘t even realize we were…I didn‘t mean to!” She shouts, immediately coming to my aid.

I give a subtle smirk, shaking my head at her as I get up. “No worries. If you hadn‘t, I uhm…I may have never wanted that to end.”

She blushes, the red looking so prescient on her cheeks. “Oh, shush. You need your sleep.” She bats a hoof at me shyly, rolling her eyes. She’s still blushing though.

“Says the mare that just levitated us by accident.” I lash back, grinning mischievously.

She rolls her eyes, snorting. “I‘ll see you tomorrow…Okay?” She sounds really worried, like I might not come back to her.

“Yes Twilight…I‘ll see you tomorrow. And the day after, and after that, and after that, and after that, and definitely…On that day, I‘ll see you.” I reply with the most reassuring tone I could pull off.

Her head bats away, her eyes going in the opposite direction. “Oh…That sounds like a fun time.”

I shake my head. “You‘re doing the same thing as me.”

“Hmm?” She asks, raising her eyebrows, not having a clue.

I shift my jaw from left to right, hoping the words just pop from my mouth eventually. “We‘re distracting each other.”

For the first time I’ve seen, Twilight smirks like a criminal. Like a fugitive. Like she did something perverse. “I have the distinct feeling that is going to happen a whole lot now.”

I nod my head quickly, raising my eyebrows like her in emphasis. “Oh yeah…I know.”

She keeps her smirk going for a while, but eventually she exhales the rest of her breath into a sigh. “At least the night ended really…Really nicely.” She giggles a little to herself, slowly starting to get up.

I match her speed, getting up no later than her. “Want to show me to the door?” I glance in the direction of the door, then back to her.

“I want to show you to my-” She immediately smacks her hoof over her mouth, her eyes wide. “Uuhhf…Uhm…” She murmurs, a laugh escaping behind her protective hoof.

I raise an eyebrow as high as it can go. “What was that…?” I put a hoof up to my ear, leaning over to her.

“I…Show…” She mumbles, not nearly enough for me to hear.

I take my hoof down and just look at her with an all knowing grin.

It takes her a minute of tension build up, but finally…“Iwanttoshowyoutomybed.” Then her hoof slaps right back over her mouth, her eyes exceeding their widening limit.

I raise both my eyebrows. “Wow…That‘s a drop in your vocabulary…You read that in a ‘How to talk to talk to colts’ manual?” I lean my head forward, teasing the poor mare.

She shakes her head fast, her eyes still wide. She’s probably in shock that she even thought of it still. “I…Kind of just…Went on instinct…” She mumbles gently, her hoof sliding back down to the floor.

I shake my head, my senses slapping me in the face. “I know what you mean…I think it‘s that we‘re both really…Tired.” I look at her, my head dipping to an angle.

She bats her eyes away, still looking at me though. “Yeah…Tired.”

I begin my way to the door, but I start with the notion that I definitely won’t make it without Twilight stopping me.

“Buddy?” She gets up, her voice reminiscent of her worry from earlier.

I turn around, my genuine care for her showing through. “Mhm…?”

I think she sees it too, because a real special smiles rolls over her lips. “If something was wrong, you‘d tell me…Right?”

I nod my head very slowly. “I‘d tell you with every stitch of my soul.”

Her eyes paralyze at me, her smile sterilizing my body. “Thanks, Buddy…Sweet dreams.”

I bow my head to the lavender Unicorn. “Happy birthday, Twilight.”

And then…I take my leave, closing the door behind me.

I gave her the journal. So many secrets…So many folios can be described in three words from that journal. So much can be told about me, Starspiral, and…I gave it to her. She deserves it. And…We shared that moment. That moment of precious commodity, the jewel of a second between us, the sacred minute of success between our heart strings tying together to make a crescendo beat.

There’s no going back. No second chances. Not making a second-hoof idea my first because of doubts. Now…It’s all in the stream of natural happenings.

And now I have a date with Twilight. Alone. Under Luna’s night. Against a burning star.

This week is going to go by really fast.

--

This is it. This is the night I’ve been waiting for. The night Twilight, Ponyville, and Vermithrax have all been waiting for. Even now, as I sit next to her on top of a hill, I have to distance my gaze from her.

“Rarity‘s so nice…” She speaks the first words of the night, looking over her white dress. Rarity insisted we go together in style.

From her comment, I too look over my black and white get-up, a rose tipping out from the white undershirt. I feel like a lawyer. “Yeah…”

Twilight shifts over to me, moving a little closer. We’re only inches apart now, her hooves laying on the ground, fittling with the grass. “Do you know when it starts?” She continues to look at me, her jaw making slight movements. The kind I make when I’m nervous.

“In an hour or so.” I pry my attention from the sky, and look at the lavender colored Unicorn. “Anxious?”

She lowers her head, drawing circles in the dirt. “Kinda.”

“Anything you want to talk about?” I continue to look upon her, attempting to not get lost in her eyes. I need to retain some of my focus.

She stays quiet. I can tell she definitely has some things on her mind, but Twilight isn’t the type to be up front with her mind. That’s Applejack’s department.

“Twilight?” I bring my head to dusk, putting my eyes to hers as our faces become inches apart.

“Are you sure?” She asks, not giving any context.

I know you Twilight, but I’m not psychic. I twist my head to the side, my confusion clear as day on my face.

She closes her eyes, keeping them tight. “…That you want me?” She pulls from her mouth with Herculean effort.

I’ve thought about that a lot. Clearly, I have choices, but from what I’ve seen through my short years of life is that love is found through chance. You don’t know how it’s found, or what’s it’s like, until you have it. You just know.

And I know.

“My rationale conscience is telling me I‘m too young to make a decision…” I continue to stare at her, right into those wavy eyes.

She stays quiet, tension shown over her face. She couldn’t hide her suspense if she had a twenty foot high brick wall.

“But I depend on my conscience too much.” I continue after my long pause, leaning my head just an inch closer, our heads meeting once more.

A very omniscient smile is born from Twilight’s lips. “Is that another way of saying, ‘I want to show you to my bed’?” Her omniscience turns to mischief, a subtle giggle popping from her.

I shake my head, her horn brushing through my mane. “Is there anything else…Before the meteor comes out and shows up your eyes?” I tease the mare before me.

For a moment, her purple irises glow a slightly brighter purple. “Oh…I was going to say yours were pretty, but…Now I‘m not so sure.”

It’s a shame we can’t move any closer. Er…We can, but…”You tell me mine, I‘ll tell you yours.” I offer an ultimatum, a striking smirk careening off my lips.

She rolls her eyes, but half-roll in, she locks right back onto me with confidence. “They‘re gold…It reminds me of the first time I saw bits. Some were being tossed into a fountain, and I asked my brother why they were throwing money away. He told me they weren‘t, they were wishing for more.” She pauses, her over-confidence vanishing and now she loses her will to move, just letting her body lean onto mine.

I keep her steady, our cheeks gracing each other as she falls into my lap, our eyes staying locked the whole time. “Bits, huh?” I briskly move my hoof over her mane, making sure not to disconnect the pin.

She nods her head slowly, moving ever-so slightly more into my lap. “It makes me think of what you see in mine.” She gives me the most hushed smile, a smidge of red forming over both her cheeks.

I gaze into her eyes, attempting to reenact the moment when we both hit the high note on her birthday; when we floated. “They‘re an ocean. They don‘t share the colors, but they have the emotion. I look into them, always searching for something I‘m never going to comprehend. I‘m a ship that set sail, and my journey is ever going to end. But…While your iris is the pacific, your black is the current.“ I suck down any available air and gulp it into my lungs.

Her eyes constantly shift, looking from both of mine. Her eyes don’t get the least bit watery, but her lips do begin to quiver. “Can you write that down?” Her voice drops to a slightly sheepish octave, a continues smile dawning over her.

“Why?” I shrug my shoulders gently, placing one of my hoofs underneath her head, holding it cautiously.

“I don‘t want to forget it.” Her lips clasp into a restrained whimper, and nearly a cry.

My lips spread wide, and I nuzzle her forehead onto mine. “I won‘t forget it.”

She lowers her head, but continues to look up at me, her irises having to swim their limit to the top. “You‘re the best.”

Considering she has five other particular friends and a very loyal assistant that are well worthy of that title, I take it to heart. “Is there anything else?” I continue to gently massage her head with my own, both my hooves going through her mane.

She looks around the sky that my head doesn’t block, and she finds herself landing right back into my bit-flavored eyes. “How about…” She begins, loathing her jaw back and forth as she ponders. “Tell me why you choose me?”

I roll my eyes, retracting my forehead from hers for just a moment. “Oh…For your pride, I‘m guessing?” I assume, raising an eyebrow.

She nods her head quickly, moving her head up to mine once more and we lock again.

“I would say…” I begin, leaning her back into my lap snuggly, my hooves continuing to brush her mane. “It‘s that you are you. Mature, intelligent, genuine, a dork, and freaking gorgeous.” I can’t help but utter a minute chuckle, nuzzling myself further against her.

“Oh…Is that all?” She asks rather politely, then she takes a turn for sporadic and twists her head to the side, raising her suspicion upon me. “And how am I a dork?”

I just smile at her, continuing my gentle strokes through her mane. “You just are. That‘s that.” I tell her with a firm tone, briskly rubbing my nose against hers.

“Uh huh…” She mumbles something to herself, but sighs once she comes back to staring into my eyes.

We no longer look at each other. We just…Stare into our eyes, locating the words inside. “Something else on your mind?”

She closes her eyes, letting my hooves sooth her. “Why were you so reclusive at my birthday party?” She seems to have taken lessons from AJ to ask so directly.

I continue to sooth her, regardless of the tough question. “I don‘t do well with parties.” I explain, then gently put a hoof over her mouth to keep her from talking too hastily. This is the first time I’ve touched her lips…“I‘ve never had a birthday party before.”

Her eyes drop to reality. She gently, cautiously brings my hoof to the ground with hers. “I‘m so sorry…I should‘ve as-”

“I loved how happy you were.” I interrupt, pushing her apologies to the side.

She opens and closes her mouth several times, stopping herself before she speaks.

“It‘s okay Twilight.” I reassure her, a big dumb grin popping from my lips.

“I trust you.” She says again, planting her forehead onto mine.

It wrenches my heart to hear that. “Trust me enough to ask the question that‘s really on your mind?” I seem to have taken lessons from AJ as well.

Her face shifts slightly, getting a little uncomfortable. “If you trust me enough to answer.”

I nod my head slowly, letting the quiet nature of Luna’s sky forebode the curiosity from her.

“What happened with you and your dad?” She asks, a very strong sense of sincerity in her voice.

I knew she got that far in the journal. I knew she wanted to know since she got it. Was only a matter of time…And now it’s only a matter of seconds for her to hear it. “He thought I was worth nothing.”

She continues to look at me, and for the first time I think ever in my life, somepony is listening to me.

“Told me I was dirt.” I try my best to look at Twilight, hoping that her ocean will aid me. “Told me I was…-” I pause. I was going to clench my eyes closed, but I can’t. I still gaze far into her purple eyes, and start to set sail. “-I wasn‘t his son.”

She shakes her head, disgust in her snort. “He was a-”

“He wasn‘t my father.” I stop her. I forgot I wasn’t stroking her mane anymore…

“You deserved better than that.” She coos, bringing one of her hoofs up to graciously rub my shoulder.

I smile at Twilight; her sea can sail me through the roughest storms. “Haven‘t told anypony about that before…” I say skittishly, returning my hooves back to brushing her mane.

“Then why do you tell me now?” She tilts her head at an angle, her smile brightening the night. Vermathrax is going to have to bring his A-game if he wants to top it.

“Because I trust you.” I move her highlight out of her face, but most importantly, out of her eye.

Twilight’s lips create one of the best representations of Fluttershy’s one-of-a-kind smile yet. “But…One more thing…” She mumbles, blinking a couple times to bring herself out of her trance.

I lean my head closer, our foreheads locking for the ten thousandth time tonight. “Mhm…?”

She plays with her lips as she puts her words together. “What about Starspiral?” She finally blurts out.

I keep my cool, relaxed look over my face, shifting my head to the side. Our noses bump into each other, leaving us there. “What about him?”

She gulps down her long awaited breath, then to further postpone her reply, she sighs. “I know you weren‘t ‘working’ for him.” She barely slithers from her mouth, her eyes looking like they have more than a few icebergs ahead.

I sigh, and after a moment of silence, I nod my head against hers. “He was more of a father than…The other guy.” My breath heaves itself onto her, only aiding in my attempt to get across my unease.

She keeps her usual concerned face upon her, already knowing what I tell her. My words are just the further credible evidence of her theory. “It sounds like he cared about you.”

I swallow her words into my lungs, sighing it back out. “Can we talk about something else?” I request abruptly, not letting up on my gentle stroking of her mane.

Instead of looking annoyed, or really concerned, Twilight nods her head, completely understanding. “Okay, Buddy.” Her hoof leaves my shoulder and gracefully falls onto her stomach.

I stare at her for a long, long time. Just…Sailing. Swimming. Flying above the ocean in her eyes until I fall to grace. “What about you?” I ask gently, kneading her mane in between my hooves.

She blinks a couple times, seeming as though her senses were lost in my gold. “What?” She asks, a childish smirk flashing from her lips.

“What about you and Celestia?” I ask again, making sure she can see the care in my golden irises.

Some color flows to her face, and she nods her head gently onto mine. “Oh…Uhm…What about her?” She shifts her gaze from my left, to my right eye, and repeats until finally settling on my right.

I shrug as subtly as I can. “Don‘t you miss her?” I keep my sails strong as I venture further.

A very genuine laugh comes from the deepest part of her, and she rubs her nose against mine like a dog would to it’s lover. “Of course, and it makes me really…Sad to be without her all the time, but…” She pauses, flashing a blink and focusing her eyes fully inside mine. “I would die without you.”

I laugh a little to myself, watching intently as more and more color flows over her. “Princess Celestia as my mom…That would be worrying.” I flush out with a bit of spite, bursting a smirk from my lips.

She rolls her eyes at my remark, taking in a deep breath under my gaze. “She‘s not that bad…”

As I’m sailing through her ocean, the waves brushing underneath my ship of curiosity and bravery, I notice something in the sky…Something large, burning, and heading right for me. It rips me from my adventure into her purple eyes, and I can see now that I’m in reality. Vermithrax’s meteor is careening towards us through Twilight’s reflection.

I jolt my head up in attention, gazing upon the sight with innocence.

Twilight as it seems noticed it as well and gets up from my lap, settling herself right next to me. Her cheek grazes against mine as we stare upon the meteor. The hundred year meteor.

I can tell that the meteor is extremely far away, yet it’s still a massive hunk of burning material and energy. A trail lurks behind it, stretching over Equestria as it cuts through our atmosphere. It almost takes up the entire sky and pushes Luna out of the way. It completely engulfs us in it’s infinite light, creating new and old emotions we didn’t even know were there.

I turn to Twilight, and as I do, she turns to me. We face each other, the meteor continuing to light up only our hill. Inside her eyes…I am at peace. I can sail forever throughout time, come across treasures, find words, and create worlds. All inside her landless sea.

But her lips…That is an adventure I have yet to take.

I lean my head forward, as does she, and our mouths clash in a heap of fire and intensity, throwing Vermithrax’s last breath to the sun. Her lips taste of vigor, vitality, and sustenance. I can’t find myself in her sea as I’m too lost in her liveliness, bellowing myself around and around in a whole new dimension. This feeling…This flavor; it cannot end. I refuse to let anything come between me, Twilight, and this moment. This moment of explosive passion, gentle acquisition, and full-blown tension.

I have her.

She has me.

We are together, on a hill, alone, in the night, while a meteor passes by over head.

All I can think is: This is the greatest journey I’ve ever taken.

Our lips unclasp from each other, and instantly our eyes are met. We stay quiet, letting the heavy beats of our hearts drown out any other noise, and the heaving of our breathing together form a furnace that warms our bodies.

“Will you…” Twilight squeaks out, her lips discovering that any form of language is foreign. “Be mine?”

I swallow all the tension and need to push my lips over hers again and decide to instead nod my head. “I‘m yours, my Sea.”

She looks at my with her eyes lowered, a very sultry dampness boiling over her. “And I am yours, my Golden Bit.”

And there we are. Sharing with each other our moment. The moment that she wanted, the moment I wanted. But this stretches farther than just a moment- this opens the door to so much more, so many more adventures and discoveries. This is not a moment for the ages, this is the ages’ discovery of our moment.

Above all else that happened tonight, from the truth coming out, cuddling, swimming; I ventured into something more than the sea. I took a journey into the fruitful flavor of cherry.