My name is Buddy

For the keeper of the only library in Ponyville, Twilight sure gets her books mixed up a lot. Leaving it all to little old Spike to clean up. Today, however, I came by and Spike informed me that if I wanted his information regarding certain mares and their crushes, I’d need to swap jobs again. I declined, however. Twilight is all I need, but…That does give me an excuse to hang around the library. Not that I need one, though. To strengthen my bond with Twilight, I politely declined Spike’s info, and just let him go drool on Rarity for the day.

“How was the spa?” Twilight shouts from the study room, busy at work with…Studying, I guess.

I place a book, Capera’s Clues, into the C section and then look for another book to reorganize. “Awesome, duh! You should come along sometime!”

She stays quiet in her room.

“Twilight?” I question her attention before picking up another book in my mouth.

Ucharriot’s Mentally Lucratively Life In-

I ain’t reading all that. So U.

“Huh?” She yells back, inattentively.

I put the back in the U section, making my way back to the countless number of books on the floor. “Would you like to go to the spa with me?”

I can hear the familiar sounds of paper flipping busily, levitation spells, and the occasional, “Oooh!” Until finally Twilight catches up with reality. “Oh, uhh…Sure!”

I guess I should leave her be, what with all the studying she has to do for Princess Celestia. It is a never ending cycle with her.

Snuggling

Loving

Studying

Studying

And more studying.

Gets kind of ridiculous, to the point where I worry for her safety. But…She’s been doing this all her life. I can’t tamper with that.

I pick up the next book, only noting that it’s title starts with an R. I quickly trot my way over back to the section, and slide it in, then make my way back.

Even though I’m dedicated to Twilight…I still can’t help but be immorally curious about just who has those crushes on me.

Rarity? That would be awkward. My boss having a crush on me. That’s something I’ve never experienced in the employment line. But she’s so generous. I can’t even fathom being kind enough to pay my employee 50 bits an hour. It’s still alien to me, and when I accept my pay, I still feel a sense of foreignness to it all.

Rainbow Dash? Really not my type. Cocky, slightly arrogant, and overly-athletic. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate a body, but I prefer modesty over gloating. Regardless…I admire Dash for her strong loyalty to her friends. She’s even showing a touch of warmth my way, being a little more nice, and not insulting me so much. Still calls me Doctor B though.

Fluttershy is probably one of them. She’s always shy, reclusive, and blushes a whole lot. But, then again…When we all went to a play a while ago, she was blushing when I wasn’t even around. So, maybe, she is just like that all the time. And…That’s not my type, either. The kind that just completely secludes their self from everything. She even lives in a house where no road leads to, so it’s clear she doesn’t like social interactions. But…She’s the gentlest pony I have ever met. Her tiny little voice, squeamish cheers, and love of nature; I’m lucky to call her my friend. Saw her do this death-stare at a moose once, though. Scared the shit out of me.

Pinkie Pie…I don’t think so. I wouldn’t want it, but I doubt she really has a thing for me. She doesn’t showcase it at all. But…Then again, she doesn’t showcase anything other than a big smile and her bountiful amount of happiness. I don’t know, but I can’t deny that she can make some pretty banging- Damn you Vinyl!- parties. Always happy, always there, and always playing pranks. Rainbow told me about the time Pinkie Pie wasn’t happy though. I have a hard time believing it; probably another one of her really conniving pranks.

Applejack, as I’ve discovered on my own, does. So that’s one off my list, but…Why? Who does she like me? Because I work hard, she says, but there has got to be a more concrete reason than that. Besides…Her and Rainbow really get along like peanut butter and jelly. I can’t come between that, and I never will. One of the most dependable ponies I’ve ever met, even if she can be brutally honest.

Then Twilight…Oh, Twilight, how she makes me whole. Her eyes- or ocean, as I have come to call it -take me on adventures everyday. I can’t explain why she is the one. I have felt some serious liking for some ponies before, even to the point where I thought I was obsessing, but that was nothing. I worry about her every moment of every day and every night. Just the other day she wanted to go to Rarity’s for a while. I stayed at the library, waiting at least an hour until I decided to go see what they were doing. When I got there, I found out Twilight left a half an hour ago, and I flipped out. I wasn’t mad, I was just worried. I didn’t convey it to well to her when I found out she was stopped for a really, really long conversation with Pinkie about the history behind confetti.

It’s understandable; I too was almost caught in that situation. It doesn’t however distain from the fact that I was worried sick. But one look into those purple-ocean eyes, and I was sold.

I don’t know why she’s the one for me. She just is, and always will be mine.

“Hey…Buddy?” Twilight’s voice echoes throughout the library.

Oh…I didn’t even realize I was just standing in the middle of the library. “Yes?” I shout to the study room where Twilight is supposedly hiding.

The lavender Unicorn walks out of the darkened room with a worried stench droning over her face.

I immediately stop what I’m doing and look up at her, coming to her side. “What‘s wrong?”

She continues with her worried gaze, and in turn, I equalize it with my own. “I…Uhm…” She fumbles her words, only getting more and more worried.

“Twilight?” I bring a sincere hoof around her shoulders, bringing my face close to hers for extra comfort.

It seems it helped, but not much as she slowly follows me to her new chair. “There‘s…Something…I-…Erraaah…” She continues to mumble to herself, far too low for me to hear.

I coax her up the chair, and she sits down, not bothering to get comfortable in the cotton seat. “It‘s okay, honey. Just relax.” I move back, and sit down in front of her on the floor. I have to tilt my head up a little higher to meet her ocean, but I’ll deal with anything to make sure she’s okay. Even an hour conversation with Pinkie Pie about confetti. “What‘s wrong?”

Her worry dies down some, but it’s omnipresent element still weighs heavily on her mood. “Okay, okay…I…I‘m not sure what to say…”

I dip my head lower, letting the silence of the room speak for me. Like she listened to me, I am listening to her.

She sucks in a deep breath, then lets it ooze from her lungs. “I‘ve been looking into Starspiral‘s work lately. His views are…Fascinating on the capabilities of ponies, but I came across…A…Uhm…Worrying section of his work.-” Oh no…Had she figured it out? “-He talks about the possibilities of many theories and says that centuries have gone by where opportunities have been missed to get just the right one, and with the help of his journal, I…Uhm…-” She has. That’s why the library is like this. she’s been searching for Starspiral’s work…I think I should tell her; then at least it will be me who spilled the truth, not Starspiral. “-I think I‘ve concluded with his data that he-”

“I‘m a freak.” I duck my head in shame, keeping my eyes from hers. I’m not allowed to venture any further, not when I’m guilty.

“What…?” Her voice turns hoarse, and I can hear the chair start to creak.

“I know what you found. I‘m…Sorry I never told you.” My voice gets lower and lower, hoping in vein that it helps my apology get across effectively. It doesn’t at all.

“Please tell me that isn‘t true…” She gets out of the chair, coming right onto me. Her face is about to explode in tears.

If I was worthy of adventuring into her sea, I would hit more than waves. “I am a hybrid, Twilight.” I pick my head up, even if it’s temporary, and gaze at her with true hurt in my eyes.

She chokes up, her tears not falling just yet. “Why wouldn‘t…Why…” She stops, clenching her eyes shut as her legs lose all control, falling onto my body.

I hold onto her, gently laying us down so that she is in my lap. This resembles…The night. When we first vouched our love for each other. Our first venture into each others lips.

“If I told you-” I pause, watching a single tear make its short journey to her lavender fur. “-…You wouldn‘t have accepted me.”

She shakes her head, her lips shaping into a smile, but still with the remnants of a deepened frown. “Yes I would.”

It makes me cringe to hear that. In the back of my heart, I wanted her to say that I was right so I wouldn’t feel as much guilt…And realizing that, I am just all ten levels of asshole. “I‘m sorry…I wronged you, and there‘s not a single thing in the world I can do to make it better. I am sorry, Twilight.” I shake my head, lowering my gaze to the floor in shame.

She gently coaxes my head back up with a hoof, bringing me back to her. “No…I am sorry.” She leans her head upwards, to which I lay my hooves behind her as a pillow. “Hybrid or not, you are still Buddy. I…I just need to accept that.”

I gulp down the spit building up in my mouth, my breath shuddering out my mouth. “I-”

“And the sooner I accept that, the sooner you will accept that part of you.” She finishes, then clenched her eyes shut for a moment, then reopens them to fall into my golden eyes.

I sniffle, still staring down at her. I hate looking down at her…It make me feel too powerful. When I’m an empowered condition, I make stupid decisions, like keeping secrets from ponies I love.

“Buddy…?” She leans her head up gently, blinking a couple times as her tears start to die down.

Her voice springs me from my stupor. “I‘m so, so sorry Twilight…I…You deserve better than me.” I continue to distance myself from her; my skin isn’t even worthy of hers.

She shakes her head quickly, yanking me back down to inches from her face. “No…Don‘t you say that.” Her voice goes to a much sterner tone, and she stares at me with those watery, lovely eyes. “You have treated me better than…Than anypony. Ever.”

I suck down the air I’ve been holding in my mouth, and I’m able to lean my head back again. “No pony has lied to you like I have, either.”

Her hooves settle underneath me, laying across her stomach. “Yet, you‘re still perfect for me.” Amidst all this crying, lying, and truth telling, she smiles.

I bring myself to smile back at her, and pull her body against mine for a hug. “I‘m sorry…” My breath hits against her shoulder.

She laughs behind me, her lips rubbing against my fur. “How many times are you going to apologize?”

“As many times as it takes.” I reply with haste, laying her back down into my lap. She may not have gotten comfortable in the chair, but she is now in my hold.

She shakes her head, her smile widening. “But…I just don’t understand a couple things…” She looks up at me with wonderment in her voice, her tears drying up.

I lean my head forward, not quite sure if I want to answer anything about myself right now.

She moves her lips around, her teeth grazing over them slightly. “If…You…” She takes in a deep breath, taking a moment to find her words. “Starspiral said that a Hybrid would have…Abilities that no pony has ever seen before.”

I close my eyes, sighing gently overhead of my precious, curious Twilight. “It‘s not like that, Twilight.”

“But you…” She starts, her eyes going wide with anticipation and excitement. “You…You have so much potential! He said that you‘d be able to fly, move mountains, crea-”

“I‘m not a fucking specimen!!”

Twilight stops.

I open my eyes.

Horror.

That’s what I see. Absolute horror on Twilight’s face. There’s a darkening specter looming over us now, aiming its divine retribution at my head.

I just yelled at Twilight. For no reason, for nothing that she deserved.

She wants to run away, right now. I can see it in her frightened, wide eyes.

I want to throw up.

“I‘m…I didn‘t mean…” I stutter, gulping down dry air. “I…”

Her breathing begins to shake her body, and she takes her gaze to the dusk. “I‘m sorry. I got overexcited.”

Her apology clips my heart in half. She should never apologize for anything, ever. I deserve to be gutted, right here, right now. The amount of dread crushing onto me is just unfathomable.

“Don‘t cry…Please, honey.”

I’m…Crying? I didn’t even realize it. Good. I deserve to be weakened in front of Twilight.

“If you want…” She pauses, and pulls me down to her as we embrace in a hug. I’m only half with it, though. “We can never talk about it again.”

I can’t live with that. I’ve done enough to her already, she at least deserves to cure her curiosity. “No…No, it‘s something I have to get out eventually.”

I can feel her nod her head against me, as well as her lips move as she talks. “Do you want to talk about it?”

I gulp down my air that I’ve been holding for safe keeping, then sigh it from the deepest part of my lungs. “Yes…I would.”

I feel her nod her head again, and begin to move her body from mine. I keep her in place however, clinging our souls together.

“Please…Let‘s stay like this for a while.” I plead, bringing one of my hoofs up to stroke gently into her mane.

She squeezes tighter, nuzzling her cheeks against my neck.

And now she knows…She knows damn near everything about me now. My quirks, favorite foods, favorite places, backstory, gimmicks, hardships, relationships, and now she knows I’m a freak.

A weirdo.

A cross between Pegasus and Unicorn. With a whole lot of luck.

“Okay…” I pry from my voice box, gently releasing her from our intoxicating hug.

She looks at me, still concerned as she always is. “Are you sure?” Her eyelashes flash over her eyes, keeping me from surfing for only a second.

I nod my head, promptly getting to my hooves. “Yeah…It‘s about time I am.” I release a small, well needed chuckle from my lungs.

Twilight smiles meekly as she too gets up, and walks back over to her chair.

This feels like a therapy session. I’ve been to plenty of those…

“Oh…Uhm…” She turns around just before hopping into her chair. “Would you mind…If I wrote a letter to Princess Celestia about this? I think…It would be interesting to her.” She makes sure her voice is polite, and I know why. She doesn’t want to cause another out lash.

I feel my heart sink into my gut just a little from that. “I don‘t mind. As long as you make me sound handsome.” I smirk at her, sitting my flank comfortably on the floor.

Levitating a quill and paper to herself, she begins to write before I even speak. “Okay…So…Do you want me to ask questions? I…Haven‘t prepared any, if so. And…If you want, I co-”

“I‘ll be okay Twilight.” I stop her before she gets too caught up, like she often does. My lips course into a typical smile.

“Oh…Well, uhm…Okay. I‘m ready, when you are.”

And so I tell her everything.

I really tell her everything. I start with the beginning. How I didn’t even know for the longest time that I was an abomination, and nor did my mother or father. I went on with life like a normal colt. Father-son problems, school bullies, and a whole shit load of homework.

But…When Starspiral found me, he insisted I helped him with a project. He had best intentions in mind, but some of the worst things imaginable have been done with the best intentions.

I pursued his goal along his side, regardless, and he was keen on having me being on the front lines of his work. When he figured out what I was, he took it upon himself to train me.

I didn’t take it lightly.

Considering I just yelled at Twilight, my lover, for even mentioning it, I didn’t need to explain just how furious I was with him.

But he pressed on how important I was to history, to the world, to Equestria, and most of all, to him. So I let it happen…Besides, an untrained magic-user is dangerous. He even made a name for a ‘Hybrid’, since I complained very continuously that Hybrid made me sound freakish. He named my race Hollicorns.

But that was another excuse. I let it go, though, and saw for myself when I performed magic. When I concentrate really, really hard, I am able to accomplish impossible tasks.

One thing I’m not proud of, but had to tell Twilight, was that it wasn’t her that caused us to float on her birthday.

It was me.

When we had met that crescendo and I found a harmony with her, I was so focused on us together that I made the ground not even come between our touch. I don’t like to think of what else I’m capable of, but Starspiral was persistent on telling me exactly what I could do.

Lift mountains

Change the weather

Alter the climate

Levitate houses

Fly through space

Breathe water

Consume rock

Absorb plutonium

Create worlds

Each and every one of them felt like a bullet to me. Ability to create worlds…That’s sickening.

But…He proved my denial wrongly accusing when I created a crater.

From then on, I vowed to do everything in my power- which was a lot- to not use it ever again.

I broke that promise that night with Twilight.

I told her everything. From my short, scary training with Starspiral, my abilities, and my vows, to leaving Starspiral, getting a job, and moving twelve times.

I told her my life. Every. Single. Bit.

Once her letter was sent, I was glad to spend the night at the library. Cuddling and wrapping myself against Twilight in her bed as we drift into a silent, cool night, I can feel a large weight off my chest. I shared my entire life with this mare, and not because she asked, or because I needed to vent it in some way, but because I trust her.

I trust Twilight Sparkle, my own private Sea.

--

“Buuuurp!” A letter shoots from Spike’s mouth unexpectedly, leaving behind a trail of green mist.

“Oh!” Twilight shouts, quickly jumping to the letter and holding it in front of her. “She gets up early.”

I don’t know how Twilight deals with that burping. I’ve seen him do it at least twenty times now, and it smells awful when he does it. That letter is no exception, I’d bet.

Her face falls to a worried glare as her eyes scan lower and lower down the letter. “Oh…”

I walk to her side, and place my chin over her shoulder. “What‘s up?” I ask casually, glancing at the letter for just a second.

She let’s the letter drift to the ground and begins to bite her gums. “She wants you to go to Canterlot.”

I keep a happy mood going, raising an eyebrow. “Oh? What for? Wants to put a magnifying glass over me?” Since I told her, I feel a little more open about it now. Haven’t vented something like that ever in my life, and it feels good to have something as huge as a life secret off my back.

She shakes her head, closing hr eyes. “I don‘t know…But I‘m coming with you.”

That’s worrying. Now she is concerned about me going somewhere? “I don‘t think you have to, I mean it‘s no-”

“ I want to.” She stops me, her eyes already set for her destination.

I swallow the rest of my speech, and sigh. “Okay, Twilight.” I walk away into the study room, yelling behind me. “How are we supposed to get there?”

“She said…There will be a chariot waiting for you.” She raises her voice halfway, trying to make sure it reaches me.

I roll my eyes, a sigh escaping me. “Sounds like a really long ride.”

“Only an hour!” She shouts back to me, trying to be as reassuring as she can.

Yeah…An hour to, and from. I can handle it, though. No problem, just a quick talk, long ride, and then I’m back alone with Twilight. “Alright…When do we go?”

She stays quiet, and I can hear the sound of paper crinkling. “Immediately.”

I look back at her from the study room, picking my head up from a minorly distracting book. “Oh…Alright then.” I exhale the rest of my breath in a huff, then make my way back to Twilight.

“I‘m worried. Princess Celestia is never this…I don‘t know. She‘s just not like this.” She paces around the library, her head bowed.

“Yeah…But she probably hasn‘t had some Hollicorn in her kingdom, either.” I appear from the study room, placing a gentle hoof over Twilight. “Don‘t worry, Twi‘, She‘s probably just curious. Kind of reminds me of somepony…” I smirk at her, a very devious look in my eye.

She rolls hers, sighing. “Okay, honey. I can only hope she isn‘t as tenacious.” She obtains her own devious grin, chuckling along with me.

A golden chariot…That’s a way to travel; especially when it’s being pulled by two Pegasi. Admittedly, I’ve never been in one before, but I’m not looking forward to an hour flight to Canterlot, then back.

But most of all…I hope Princess Celestia doesn’t have the same mindset as Starspiral.

--

Me and Twilight mess around the whole ride there. Talking about funny pranks Rainbow and Pinkie had made, some very particular incidents involving Pinkie and her insta-party canon, and what we think Princess Celestia wants.

I told her that Celestia is just curious and wants to see for herself. She doesn’t see me from the same perspective as Twilight, or any of the others. I’m just somepony her student told about in a letter.

Twilight started to get paranoid, saying radial things like I’m going to have to be put under surveillance or something.

I can only hope Twilight is wrong this one time.

“Come on! You‘re taking forever!”

I roll my eyes, puffing my cheeks up. I just want to look at this fascinating place before I had to leave. There’s tons of gold, silver, and I swear I saw some house made out of diamonds. That’s home improvement!

“I don‘t want to keep Princess Celestia waiting…” She shifts her eyes back and forth as she walks towards the Royal Palace, her face to the floor.

I glance from her, to the guards at the gate, then back to her. “Don‘t sweat it, Twi‘.” That’s something Rainbow always says.

She stays quiet until we get to the guards. With the glow of her horn, a paper appears in front of one of the guards. In mere seconds, they step aside.

My curiosity is provoked, to say the least. “What‘d you show him? His taxes if he doesn‘t move?” I joke as we make our way up a red-rugged staircase.

“Royal seal. Means I can go anywhere I want.” She says with authority, reminding me of Rarity with distinction.

I tilt my head back, raising my eyebrows. “I see…” I look back to the ground, noticing it’s change from red to a milky white marble.

“One thing, honey…”

I jump myself to attention, looking over to her purple eyes.

“Be honest, please. I know it‘s a touchy subject, but…She has to know.” She pulls her gaze from ahead, and let’s me look into her sea for a second. There are plenty of waves coming in.

“Alright, Twily.” She told me that only Shining Armor calls her that, and I love it when she gets angry about her nicknames.

Twilight narrows her eyes, but is immediately brought to attention as we enter the throne room.

And there she is; the Princess. Err…One of them, at least. Her mane…Tail…It’s extremely distracting.

“Ahh…My wonderful student, Twilight Sparkle.” Her voice echoes throughout the room, sending shocks of blessings throughout me.

I, along with Twilight, bow before the Princess. I guess being a student of the Princess doesn’t come with all the privileges.

“Princess Celestia, we came as soon as possible.” Twilight is remarkably more well spoken. I guess she just talks lesser around me, for whatever reason.

“How are you?” Princess Celestia perks a petite smile over herself, making her way off the throne and down the steps, stopping in front of Twilight.

Twilight picks herself up, and seeing her, I do too. “I am excellent! I‘ve been making many new additions to old projects, and I‘ve started a unique one on Curteith’s Compendium!” She yelps excitedly, bringing her head up like a proud dog.

“Oh, that‘s fantastic, my bright student.” She smiles so wide that it squints her eyes closed. I don’t know how I noticed, considering her multicolored mane and tail are so freaking distracting.

“It sure is, Princess!” Twilight continues her very wide smile, head high and eyes closed.

Princess Celestia’s face becomes relaxed. As she takes in a deep, subtle breath, I know what’s going to happen. “This must be the once fabled Buddy?” She opens her eyes to a very welcomed gaze, as well as spreading her polite smile.

Damn I’m good. I knew she was going to come to me next. I stay quiet, thinking the Princess was addressing Twilight.

She nods her head to me quickly, biting her bottom lip.

I look unprofessional as I stutter my hooves around on the floor, all while Princess Celestia continues with her politeness. “It‘s a pleasure to meet you, Princess Celestia.”

She bows her head to me- something I never thought in a million years I would get to see- then stops in front of me. “How are you?”

Wow…The Princess asking me how I am? This day is turning out to be weird. “I‘m just peachy. How are you, Princess?” How is the Princess? Probably pretty freaking happy, considering she’s the Princess. There’s at least more than one of her running around.

Just one Hollicorn in the world, and it’s me.

“I am wonderful, Buddy. Thank you dearly for asking.” She still has that bright, homey smile on her. Really friendly. I hope it isn’t temporary.

I bow before her once again, then look to Twilight to see what she thinks of my manners.

She grins widely, winking my way.

Thank you, Rarity. Now my manners really are polished.

Princess Celestia walks before me, now standing right ahead of my line of sight. “You‘re the Hollicorn, yes?” She still has that smile. That big, friendly smile over her face.

Normally I would be creeped out by it, but…It’s actually kind of nice. “I…Am.” I stutter, not sure of just how to answer it. A simple yes probably would have done fine…

“Then Starspiral was right all along.” Her head goes to dusk, rising high, as well as her gaze. “Fascinating.”

I bow my head to the Princess. All those times I yelled at her for burning out my eyes with the sun are long gone now. I wouldn’t dare rip on her sun-control now.

She returns herself to me, her friendly smile a little more vacant now. “As the Princess, I take responsibility for the safety of anything out of the control of Equestria.” She pauses, undoubtedly so her words sink deeper in my skin. “You are one of those safety precautions.”

Gulping down possibly the biggest chunk of air ever, I nod my head. I dare not speak; I’d rather keep my tongue.

She turns around, walking slowly back up the stairs. “If I were to allow you to follow up with your life as you have been, it could cause problems. An untrained magical being is in some cases more dangerous than a well trained evil one.” She turns around at the top of the steps.

Both Twilight and I keep quiet, not even glancing at each other. I can feel the tension pouring from her just three feet away.

Princess Celestia looks from both me and Twilight until settling on the lavender Unicorn. “In your report, you mentioned that Buddy levitated without trying, did you not?” Though her attempts to keep it going, I can see that her friendly smile has faded.

Twilight picks her head up only to nod it once firmly. “That‘s right.”

Princess Celestia stays silent for a few seconds- hours to me- then turns herself to my frightened eyes. “What should I do?”

What should she do? What the hell is she asking me for; she’s the P- okay…She’s just testing you. Relax, be calm…Damn, I was calm before I got here, but now…I feel the weight of all this pressing on me fast. She can end my life in a second, if she wanted. Just off me, say it was a matter of Equestrian Security, then be done with it.

“I don‘t know, Princess.” I mutter truthfully of my ignorance. I can see in the corner of my eye that Twilight is just buzzing of worry.

It grows quiet as Princess Celestia closes her eyes, standing above both of us.

What the hell was I thinking? This wasn’t going to be simple as, “Oh hi Princess! Yeah, I‘m a one-of-a-kind Pegasus-Unicorn-Earthpony mix with super-powers and can destroy things. Okay, see you later!” Damnit…If I just hadn’t given her that journal…No, no. She’s smart. She would’ve figured out eventually. But…Only she would. No pony else would have.

She shouldn’t have wrote that letter.

I shouldn’t have agreed to it…

Fucking hindsight.

“Because of my concern for all of Equestria,” She begins, immediately shaking me out of my thoughts. “you will be negated of all your magical abilities, as well as any other mythical stances you may hold. I am sorry, Buddy, but I cannot al-”

“I‘ll vouch for him!” Twilight shouts instantaneously.

What…? Don’t do anything stupid, please Twilight.

For the first time, and only time, I can see a real genuine, unexpected stare at Twilight. Her eyes are leaking hurt, and it sends me through a roil of depravity.

“Twilight Sparkle, my trusted student,” She starts to walk down the stairs, looking at Twilight with a kind of gaze I am completely unfamiliar with. “You know what your vouch entails?” She stops in front of her, still holding that foreign gaze.

Twilight nods firmly, clenching her eyes shut. “I do.”

“And you accept the terms?” Princess Celestia’s head goes lower, the kind of action a concerned mother would make.

That’s when I realize it…Celestia is being a mother.

And I’m coming between it.

Twilight clenches her eyes tighter. “I do.”

Princess Celestia holds her stance still for a time, then moves back to the top of the stairs. “Buddy will undergo training with you, Twilight Sparkle, and once he is safe, he will demonstrate it. Until further notice,” She pauses, her eyes closing halfway. “you are dismissed.” She turns around, her head pointing to a painted window.

That wasn’t so bad. Twilight took a blow for me, but…We didn’t die. That’s a win, I’d say. Except for me being in the way of their relationship. That’s…Heart crushing.

Seeing Twilight hunched over as she takes her leave doesn’t keep me positive for long, though.

I keep quiet, following behind her with haste. Seeing a distinct lack of her purple eyes sets me off in sadness, and I’m not sure how to thank her. “Hey, Twilight…” I try that coltfriend voice, a real smooth, lovey-dovey kind.

She doesn’t budge as we pass by the guards, making our way to the golden chariot.

“Twilight…?” I bring my head close to hers, nudging her neck slightly.

She brings her head up to attention, sucking in a deep breath. “Hmm?”

“What does your vouch…mean?” I barely get out, still trying to comfort her by stroking her neck.

“I‘m no longer her student.”

I stop.

I breath.

I choke.

“What?!” I move my head back, and she stops in the middle of Canterlot.

Did she just give up her entire life so that I would live? No, wait. Princess Celestia said she only wanted to negate my magic, so I would have been fine! She did this so we could be together…She sacrificed herself!

“Why?!” My voice goes to a much higher pitch than I wanted.

Surprisingly, her breathing is very calm. “Please, don‘t yell.” Her voice tells me all I need to know. She’s trying her hardest to hold back tears.

I clench my eyes shut. I’m not…Yelling at her. I mean I am, but it wasn’t like before. That had no reason, this…She just gave up nearly her entire life for me. “I‘m sorry. I just…I don‘t get your reasoning.”

She continues her walk to the chariot, and I follow. “I can‘t bare to see you live your whole life while being restricted from being whole because what you‘re born with.”

I lower my head, slowly blinking until my vision blurs. I might cry. “Oh…” I utter from my pathetic, unworthy lips.

“I…I think I‘m going to…” She pauses before she gets into the chariot, looking around. “I‘m going to stay with Shining Armor for a day or two.” There’s a single tear rolling down her cheek.

I watch that tear intently, hoping that it will shout to me what her reasoning is. “O-okay…” I don’t get up into the chariot. I’m going to take my sweet time.

She clings to me, nuzzling her face against mine. “Stay safe, Buddy.”

I tilt my head against her, wrapping a hoof over us. “You too, Twily.”

I hear a crying laugh against me; the best kind.

She gently releases, raising her eyelids off of her sea. I’m able to have one last quick sail into her ocean before I depart, even if it’s in a storm.

I slowly take my steps up into the golden ride, and before the door closes behind me, I turn around. “I love you, my Sea.”

Her lips begin to quiver. “I love you more, my Golden Bit.”

The door closes, and I’m off before I know it.

And here I am…Alone, depredated, powerless to help Twilight, and on an hour flight to Ponyville.

Had Celestia made the right decision? Had I? Had Twilight? She took something from her life so she can keep what she has with me. In the short amount of time together, she’s already prepared enough to be that sure? Or was she acting on instinct.

Everything is up in the air now. I don’t know what I’m doing anymore. I don’t know what I’m going to do. I don’t know what Twilight’s going to do.

She doesn’t deserve to be ripped of her life’s work.

She doesn’t deserve me yelling at her.

She doesn’t deserve to be pried away from her mother.

I don’t deserve to have her life.

I don’t deserve 50 bits an hour.

I don’t deserve her.