The Ballad of Xyclone

Deep in the Everfree Forest, late-afternoon

We reached another open area that evening. We decided to set up another temporary camp there for the night. Lyra thought it was time for another magic lesson while everypony else set up the camp. But before we did that, Lyra forced me to eat dinner first so that I would have some energy. She tasked me with the same test: levitating a small twig. I did exactly the same thing I did earlier this morning; I focused all my concentration on the stick. Although I was once again unable to move the twig, my horn sparked again. Before Lyra could even say anything, I was trying again. I didn't want to disappoint Lyra; I wanted to impress her. I groaned with effort, but even though I was in excruciating pain, I didn't give up. My horn once again started sparkling; I refused to let it break my concentration. Suddenly, my horn stopped sparking and started shining with a bright blue glow. Something was happening, but I didn't quite know what it was. I opened one of my eyes, and there, at my eye level, was the twig, hovering in midair with the same blue glow my horn had.

"X...Xyclone, you're...you're doing it!!" exclaimed Lyra giddily. "You're doing it! You're using magic!"

Finally, I could no longer put up with the struggle, and I broke my focus on the twig. Both I and it collapsed to the ground. "I...did it," I panted heavily. "I can't...believe...I actually...did it..."

Suddenly, Lyra glomped me into a massive hug. "Oh, Xyclone, I knew you could do it!" she cried, tears welling up in her eyes. "I knew you could! I never lost hope!"

"Yeah," I wheezed. "But...I...wouldn't have...been able...to do it...without...you...!"

"Oh, Xyclone! I love you!"

We both started staring at each other uncomfortably; we retracted our hug immediately and both blushed.

"I...I-I mean..." sputtered Lyra. "I'm...I-I'm gonna go o-over there..." Lyra ran off.

Never before had I felt so awkward. She just said "I love you" to me. She probably didn't mean it, I told myself. It was just a slip of the tongue! She doesn't love me! There's no way! I tried to forget that awkward moment ever occurred and returned to thinking about the other thing that had just happened. I was finally able to use magic! I knew it may have seemed like a small accomplishment, but it was a huge step ahead. I trotted over to the new campfire, where some of the ponies cheered. They had just seen me finally use magic. Rarity was the most overjoyed.

"Well done, darling!" she told me. "I am most impressed! You know, it took me quite some time just to learn the simplest magic, but you've made quite a fair amount of progress in a single day!"

"Really?!" I asked her. "Th-Thank you, Rarity!"

"It sometimes takes even the most skilled of unicorns at least a week to learn something like that!"

I started blushing. I didn't think that moving a tiny twig was such a big deal.

A few hours later, the routine was the same as the previous night: one by one, the ponies went to bed. Except this time, Lyra and Bon-Bon went to bed first, and Twilight and Spike went to bed last. Rarity, Applejack, and I were the only ones who remained awake. It was very uncomfortable for the both of them, what with me knowing about both of their biggest secret and both of them having huge crushes on each other. I still felt unsure about Lyra. I just had to tell someone else. I figured since I let them both tell me their secret, I should tell them my secret. They were 2 of my absolute best friends here, anyway.

"Uh, g-girls, c-can I tell you a secret?" I asked them.

"Oh, but of course, dear!" said Rarity.

"Yeah, what is it, Xy'? Y'all could tell us anythin'!' said Applejack in response.

"Can you please just promise not to tell anypony?"

"Xyclone, darling, you know you can trust us with anything."

I looked around suspiciously. "Well...h-here's the thing; I-I...have a crush on Lyra."

Both Rarity and Applejack started laughing.

"OH, COME ON!! IS IT SERIOUSLY THAT DAMN OBVIOUS?!"

"Uh, yeah! A little bit!" joked Applejack. "When you're around her, you're more jumpy than me when Ah'm 'round Rarity!" Applejack immediately bit her tongue. Rarity looked at her, both of their faces red. "Ah...Ah mean..."

"U-Uh...let's get back on topic, shall we?" said Rarity uncomfortably.

"C-Can you please promise me not to tell Lyra?"

"Of course, Xyclone. Don't y'all worry none, we won't tell a soul."

"Yes, darling, your secret is safe with us, dear."

"Thank you both. I can't get Lyra out of my head...I-I just had to tell someone."

"We understand completely, Xy'," Applejack held Rarity's hoof and looked up at her with an endearing smile on her face.

"Y-Yes, we know exactly how you feel, dear," said Rarity.

I smiled at both of them. "Thank you two for being so sympathetic. You're the best friends a guy could have." I yawned abruptly. "I'm getting sleepy. I'll see you tomorrow," I told them, heading to my tent. Once I entered it, I turned back around to see if anything was happening between Applejack and Rarity. I listened in on their conversation.

"Hey, uh, y'know, y-you could sleep with me in m-mah tent tonight, i-if you'd like..." Applejack told Rarity.

Rarity grinned shyly. "Y-Yes, I-I would like that, darling."

I smiled as I watched the two of them walk each other to their tent.