The Physics of Gyro Scope

Chapter Five

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I wish that I could say that no romance whatsoever occurred on Hearts and Hooves Day between me and Sweetie Belle. Unfortunately, I can't. Why, you might ask, do I say 'unfortunately'? Why do you think?  Although, now that I think about it maybe it's not so bad. The date went as well as any first date went. Which means that it was so-so. Scratch that. For a romantic person, this would have ended pretty awesome. For a romance hater such as moi, it would've ended terribly. Right now, it's too bloody early. Way too early.

Hearts and Hooves Day. Last year, I spent it running from an angry Pegasi couple who's date I accidentally ruined. This year, I'm actually doing something some would call 'productive' but I would call 'not helping'. I duck and turn to avoid getting my hair combed and styled into something fancy and managed to avoid being put in a tuxedo. I finally relent and let Rarity dress me in an odd tie collar thing that makes me look like a vampire over my black denim, resized to fit me better. The nervousness of my first date slowly dissolves and is replaced by confusion. Confusion that comes from how Sweetie Belle looks. I'm glad they can't read minds, because she looks beautiful. That's all I have to say. Ack, no. No, don't think like that. Nonononononononononononono. What to do? Uphold my lonely reputation or have feelings for a pony?

Okay, nine o'clock. Ugh, this is the most confused I've ever felt. Me and Sweetie are alone. The bright stars blink in and out of visibility. I keep thinking, What to do, what to do? Keep up my reputation or have feelings? Sweetie gives me a concerned look. I may not be saying anything, but my facial expressions must say it all.

"I know that look. What's the matter?"

"I feel..........torn between upholding my reputation of not liking anybody or-" My words are silenced when Sweetie presses her white lips against my own ash colored ones. My moss eyes widen and shock fills my body. That shock is soon replaced by warmth. I make my decision. I choose the latter. We split apart.

"Sorry Gyro. I should've known you wouldn't be interested in somepony like me." She apologizes.

"Don't be sorry," I reply kindly, "I wouldn't have come if I didn't like you."

"But, do you like me as friend, sister, or what else?"

"That's just it. I don't know." I say, frowning. Those last three words bring back memories, none of them happy. Yelling, arguments, missing work, swearing in the extreme.

"You've got that look again."

"Sorry."

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So, we've been together for about a month or so, and I'm on my way to Carasol Boutique, (I moved back to Ponyville) where I am supposed to meet Sweetie. I open the door, but nobody's home. I explore a bit, and then I hear a THUMP in another room. Opening the door, I see something I wish to never see ever again. Sweetie and another stallion doing, it. I seethe with anger, not only because I feel betrayed, but because I was right. Love was useless, not infinite, forever or happy. It was cold, finite, short. I spread my bat wings and fly out of the room. I fly blindly, vision blurred. Managing a smooth-ish landing, I punch a tree angrily. Starting to act like a dragon, I pace around the tree, snarling and lashing my tail I feel like a volcano, ready to erupt, and like a primed catapult, ready to spring anytime. I lean against a tree, the angry feelings being replaced by hopelessness, sadness, and depression. I can't let anybody see me like this. I fly into a tree. Landing on a sturdy branch, I begin to cry. No disturbance. Just my music. Cranked up to full volume. Oh, why did this happen? I put my wings around my head. A vibration jolts me out of place. My instincts take over, unfurling my wings, rolling down to the ground, and flipping back up. I see a certain farm pony, who has just kicked the tree I was in and apples fall neatly into buckets placed around the base of the tree. She looks about two years older than when I left, which I find odd.

"What's wrong, sugarcube?" She asks. I find this odd, since last time I had talked to her, she disliked me. A lot. I begin to lift off, then stop and land on the ground with a soft thump.

"I'm not talking about it. I never am and never will be." I reply, my voice more deflated than usual.

"Romance problems?"

"..."

"Ah'm taking that as a yes."

"..."

"Ah'm sorry hun. Ah don' know what it's like. I just work the farm." AppleJack puts an arm around me and I shrug it off.

"Don't touch me." I move my bat pony self away, my pointed ear and chipped ear pressing down against my head. "Just..........leave me alone. Please."

"Well, do ya want to help me get some of these apples down? Ah know work always keeps my mind off of things." I'm eager to do something besides mope.

"Yes."

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After a day of hard, silent work, I want to go to bed and forget the events of this day. I don't stay anywhere, I just lay down where I had finished my work and go to sleep. I have a dreamless, quiet sleep. In the morning, I am awakened by a certain white mare. It seems as if she's come to apologize. I'm not having that. Spreading my bat wings, I launch myself into the air, heedless of the pleas of Sweetie Belle.

I notice a piece of paper fall from Gyro after he takes off. Bending down to read it, I see it says, I can't believe I didn't figure it out sooner. Love is pointless.

Pointless.

I fly fast, so that nobody can follow me, aside from another Pegasus. I land on another tree, and (unfortunately) it's another tree that's about to be bucked. This time, I get out of the way right in the nick of time. Landing on the ground, I whirl around, ready to fly. Sadly AppleJack stomps her hoof down on my tail. Ow

"Hey, what the hell?" I demand.

"How is it, that twice in one day, you just happen to be in or on the same tree Ah'm about to pick?"

"I don't know!" I hiss,

"I want the whole truth."

Facehoof.

"I just told you the truth."

"Fine." She sighs. Then, looking quite awkward, she looks up at me. "Hey, Rook, Ah'm real sorry about the way Ah treated ya all those years ago, and Ah want to apologize." She takes her Stetson hat off and puts it in front of her chest, which is kind of cute. "Can y'all, forgive me?" My old smile crosses my face.

"Yeah, I can forgive you."