A Little Cream for a Lotta Coco

Photo Finish was stuck in place. What was the proper thing to do? Grab as much chocolate as she could and shovel it into these mares’ maws? Take it one piece at a time, savoring each flavor like a wine tester? Place them over one mare’s body while the other two eat off of it, like the Neighponese sometimes do? Her heart was racing, with the possibilities swarming into her mind, the burning desire to make these mares round and subject to her whims, and the desire to become closer to them as friends making her head swim.

Her head swam so much that she decided to walk in order to clear it. Perhaps walking among them will give me an opportunity.

Perhaps. But remember, be cordial.

And assertive.

Maybe.

Definitely.

Maybe.

She looked around for anypony to talk to, and found a sight that made her stop in place, gawking. Fanny hadn’t jumped into the fray like she had imagined. Instead, the largest mare in the room had laid her body down, by Duffle’s urging, on a chaise. The poor piece of furniture groaned as its legs bent inwards and its bottom splintered. For an instant, she wondered if it hadn’t been specially made for Fanny, since it didn’t break immediately.

And then her attention shifted to Duffle, who had climbed onto Fanny’s rump like it was a ladder, and hoisted himself onto her side. Fanny laughed as Duffle did it, and the stallion, encouraged, bounced on her flank as if it was out of control. His entire body was laid out on her flank alone; what it must’ve felt like, having all four legs sink into that pillowy, fleshy flank.

He continued his climb along her side, stopping to give her belly a kiss, eventually reaching her thick neck. His legs drooped along it, and Finish wondered if he had an erection buried in the shoulder fat. It wouldn’t have surprised her.

Then, reaching out of Finish’s view, Duffle pulled out a jar of chocolate balls. Fanny eyed them with obvious lust, and a bead of drool slid down her cheek. Duffle smiled at the sight.

“Hungry?”

Fanny shook her head and chuckled. “What do you think? I’ve been away from your chocolate for so long.”

“I know,” he said, with a change in his voice. Finish almost wanted to say that it was wistfulness, but she couldn’t imagine why. “I always yearn for this time every year.”

Every year? Why have I never heard of this until now?

You’ve never been in here, that’s why.

That’s true.

“But,” he continued, his eyes gleaming with desire, “I always save the best for you.”

Fanny grinned, lifting a foreleg and wiping her cheek. “And I always bring my biggest appetite for these moments.”

“Then open wide, my bountiful beauty!”

Fanny’s muzzle coyly popped open, her eyes closed in anticipation.

Finish watched and waited, hoping that Duffle would begin feeding her the treats one by one in a feast that would last hours. Instead, he tipped the jar downward, letting the malt balls fall into her mouth. The jar became three-quarters full, and the half-full, and then it only had a quarter of its contents left. She watched as Fanny’s cheeks bulged with the treats, filling up like she was gaining weight then and there.

The jar’s contents were all inside Fanny’s cheek, and the large mare barely looked like she was struggling. Her muzzle closed, and she chewed the hundred-or-so balls like it was all just a small wad of bubblegum. A chorus of crunches resounded in Finish’s ears, and she couldn’t even imagine what it was like for Duffle to watch.

The stallion had reached down for another jar, this time full of kisses. But he didn’t shove them into her mouth like Finish would’ve done. Instead, he watched as she continued to chew the mouthful, assumedly savoring every bite.

After a minute, she swallowed, and a noticeable bulge travelled down her throat. Duffle cooed as the bulge travelled along his groin, and he reflexively bucked on her neck.

Finish’s tail swished. This stallion has good tastes. I wonder what he does to mares when he’s got them in bed!

“You were right,” Fanny said. “These are your best chocolates.”

“Only the best for my balena bellezza.” He hoisted up her foreleg and kissed her hoof.

She giggled, and Finish noted that her usual loudness was gone; Fanny spoke quietly, as if to a lover. Is there something there that I am seeing?

Duffle poured the entire jar of kisses into her mouth, and watched patiently as she chewed. Then they moved on to a jar of s’mores, then a tray of chocolate cupcakes, then a plate of cake, and so on and so forth. There was a multitude of treats that Finish didn’t even recognize, but watching Fanny eat them was nonetheless enjoyable.

After the tenth large serving of treats, Finish looked around to see if anypony was staring at her. Nopony was. I should stop standing around and mingle with them. I’m sure Fanny wouldn’t take kindly to me standing around and not partaking in anything, even if I’m not an MMM.

With that decided, she walked over to the feeding duo. Duffle had to hop off for a moment, leaving Fanny alone. The mare was rubbing her belly, which still looked empty, as far as Finish was concerned. It slapped against her thighs whenever she dropped it. “Excuse me, Miss Pancake?”

Fanny’s eyes darted to her, and her expression became serious. “Oh, hello Photo Finish. What brings you over here?”

Finish cleared her throat, then regretted doing that as it was too professional for a place like this, and then brushed it off completely as it would’ve been odd for her to act unprofessional, and then felt odd emotions welling up inside her. “I came over here to—“

She froze. What did she come over here for? She couldn’t say that she was admiring her body or eating habits, and it wasn’t likely that she needed anything from Duffle Bag. What was there to say? She couldn’t walk away now.

“I came over here too… to talk about the photo shoot.”

“Ah,” Fanny replied curtly. “Listen, darlin’, I appreciate the enthusiasm, but now’s not the time or the place for that. I’ve been waiting for this trip for a long time, and plan on enjoying myself.”

“Yes—“

“I think you should go enjoy yourself as well,” Fanny said with a smile. “Or, since I know you’re busy with other models and photo shoots, you can leave.”

Finish flinched. There was no snappy malice behind those words; Fanny had merely made a suggestion. This blasted mare! Why can’t she understand why I’m here?

“I shall go enjoy myself,” Finish said flatly, and then chided herself mentally for it.

“I’m sure you will.” Fanny turned away, her face out of Finish’s sight. “Got everything prepared, dearest?”

“Almost,” Duffle called to her. “I’ve got dozens more treats to give to you.”

Finish blushed, and turned away to hide it. She wanted to continue watching the feast, but knew her presence was unwelcome. Without another word, she walked away to find somepony else to talk to.

Perhaps I can speak to Dark Chocolate and French Vanilla. I’ve only just met them, so I think they’d be willing to speak to me.

Navigating the chocolate factory was a bit more difficult as she would’ve guessed. There were dozens of shelves and fountains to work around, and while everything was organized for easy access, each entrance required going through a wooden gate, like one would use in entering the front yard of a cottage. She imagined it was this was simply because Duffle would want ponies to feel like they were entering somewhere special with each aisle.

“I imagine that ponies would rub against one another as they move through here,” Finish said aloud, sure that everypony was too distracted to pay attention to her. “I cannot wait to see Coco squished together against somepony else as they eat, and eat, and eeeeat…”

Her eyes glazed over at the thought of Dark and French side by side in an aisle, their sides squishing against one another and against the aisles. They wouldn’t get any chocolate on their coats, as they’d work each shelf up and down, hoovering up everything on their side. She imagined Coco trying to join in, and her shoving herself, inch by inch, between them. But they wouldn’t mind, as the trio would certainly ménage a trois—

You don’t know that.

Then Dark and French would take turns reaching over to the shelves and feeding Coco chocolates, giving her a long kiss as they transferred treats from muzzle to muzzle. Coco would moan, and the lovers would moan, and they grow fatter on the spot until they broke the shelves around them, and the aisle would burst with flab as they grew too big for the sides to handle!

“Where are they?” Finish wheezed. “I must see them!”

She whipped around a corner of an aisle filled with nougaty chocolate, and came face-to-rear with Black Forest. She froze. The tail in front of her flicked along her muzzle, giving her greater glimpses of her rear and large belly. There was a slurping sound coming from the front, and Finish heard the running of a fountain.

Her heart began beating. This is it. I am witnessing Black Forest Cake drinking herself round. A short moan escaped Black Forest. Maybe if I just stand here and watch, I won’t bother her, and I can watch as she drinks it dry. I have no doubt that she can do it. Black Forest’s legs spread out wider. Yes, my dear, drink up for me.

Hoofsteps were approaching. No, I can’t! I must blend in!

Finish slowly backed away from Black Forest. From further back, she saw Black Forest’s body wiggle from side to side slightly, as if she were dancing in place. My prize. How can I claim you?

Her rump collided with one of the oak columns holding the building up, creating a noticeable thud. Black Forest stopped drinking and slowly turned around. Chocolate coated her lips and chin, but none dripped onto the floor.

How does she do that? “Hello, Miss Cake."

Black Forest smiled. “Hello, Photo Finish. What brings you here?”

“I-well I was just, um, checking around for, er, Coco.”

As if on cue, a cream-colored face peeked out from an aisle further down. “Yes, Photo Finish?”

“Ach, yes, just the mare I was looking for!” Finish stepped around Black Forest and teamed up with her employee. “How are you enjoying yourself?”

Coco beamed. “Oh, very much! These two mares have been showing me around the factory.” From behind her emerged Dark and French. “They’re really very nice.”

Finish acknowledged the couple with a stare, and watched their reaction. Dark smiled at her, but French stayed back, not joining by Dark’s side. Her eyes were cast downwards. What is her problem? I want to be her friend, so why does she act like this?

She decided, for the sake of progress, to ask. “Is your friend shy?”

Dark blinked, and French visibly started. Dark turned to her. “Is something wrong, baby?”

French shook her head, and tentatively raised her head. “No, I-I am just in awe of being around somepony as popular as Photo Finish…”

Finish smiled. “That is kind of you—“

“…in a chocolate factory,” French muttered in conclusion.

It was Finish’s turn to start. “What does that have to do with anything?”

Before French could stammer anything more out, Dark spoke up. “Hold up, Photo Finish. Don’t be too hard on her, now. She’s just a little bit shy meeting new ponies, is all.” Dark placed a hoof on French’s shoulder. “Do you wanna talk?”

French turned towards Dark and away from the rest of them. “No, I just would like to go somewhere else.” She walked away, almost trotted. Finish thought for a moment about what had just happened, but her attention shifted to French’s plot jiggling so… naturally. Now that is a massive magnificent mare.

“I hope she’s okay,” Coco said.

“Me too,” Black Forest said.

Dark watched French walked away, and then turned to the rest of group with a sigh. “I don’t know what’s gotten into her all of a sudden.” And then she smiled. “Hey, Black Forest, are you trying to drain another chocolate fountain?”

Black Forest rolled her eyes. “I am merely trying to enjoy myself, and then you all came around.”

“Oh, honey, we’re just here to see the spectacle!”

Black Forest grinned at her. “Perhaps I can get around to draining this.”

Finish wanted to see it, so she prodded. “Can you hold this much chocolate?” She had to ask drily; she was aware of how much control she had already lost, and had to conserve her feelings as much as she could.

Black Forest turned to her with a raised brow. Goddess, let her take control of me!

Dark merely laughed. “You should’ve been there when she drained the chocolate fountain at Las Pegasus!”

Finish’s eyes bugged, but it didn’t show behind the goggles. The Las Pegasus chocolate fountain was the largest chocolate fountain in the world. “You drained that? I find that hard to believe!”

Black Forest huffed. “It was in preparation for the playwright R. Panic’s latest play, The Mare in the Cave. I played the boulder the actors came in and out of, as well as the Sun and the Moon.” She grinned at Finish. “And they didn’t use any props or magic. It was completely natural."

“Oh, really?” It’s getting fun to goad her. It was, admittedly, less fun to not moan at the thought of what she had said.

“Still don’t believe me?” Black Forest turned away to the fountain. “Achtung!”

With that, she thrust her muzzle in and began quaffing the chocolate down. Finish could’ve sworn the bulges going down her throat were larger than Fanny’s had been. In seconds, her belly began to swell. Slowly, her belt became tighter around her, but there was no signs of stopping.

“Y’all may want to back up.”

“Why?” Coco asked nervously.

“Because she’s about to pop!”

I believe it, but I must ensure it. “Yeah, right!”

Black Forest shot her a look, and Finish remained quiet thereafter. She is so dominant when she’s in her zone. My prize, no. I am her target. She spread her legs further apart to accommodate her growing gut. Rounder and rounder it became, the belt digging into her tighter and tighter, squeezing her fat flesh, stretching thinner and thinner, holding on for dear life. The sweater and pants themselves were straining, the material showing her black coat through the transparent fabric. And she hadn’t even broken a sweat!

How much can she really hold? Can she get as big as the sun?

The climax came too soon for Finish. With a moan from Black Forest, the belt burst off of her violently, flying right over Finish’s head. Her belly bounced around free of its confines, and the smallest of torn threads could be seen on the fabric at the lowest point of her belly. Black Forest let her belly bounce around, proudly standing like a statue while the largest part of her jiggled freely and happily.

“There,” Black Forest said, turning to Finish. “Convinced?”

“Ja.”

“Danke,” she replied with a smile, bowing as much as she could. “And now if you ladies would excuse me, I have a meal to finish.” With that, she returned to her drink.

Finish wanted so badly to watch, to see her sweater and pants burst off of her, to see her larger than the sun itself. But she heard somepony speaking.

“I’m going to go check up on French," Dark said, leaving them be.

“I’ll go with you,” Coco said, following.

“Right behind you,” Finish blurted, and then mentally slapped herself. You idiot, why did you say that? She felt Black Forest’s eyes on her, presumably expecting her to leave. Without another word, she slowly followed Coco, leaving Black Forest Cake to unwrap herself of her wrapper-themed clothes.

They walked through the numerous aisles with Dark as their lead; she knew how to navigate through the store like it was her home, and Finish wondered if it had been her home at some point. At times, Dark would call French’s name, with no answer in reply. Finish was about to recommend they check in the bathroom, but she decided against it; seeing Dark and Coco’s rump jiggling about in front of her was too pleasant a sight for her to give up, especially with how her day had been thus far. The shaking was nearly hypnotic, and she could feel herself relaxing with the two mares in front of her giving her such a show.

After a length, they finally found French Vanilla by herself. The mare was idly nibbling on a candy bar, and Finish wondered how she could look so immaculate after having been surrounded by chocolate, free from prying eyes to gorge herself.

“Honey?” Dark approached French and gently placed a hoof on her shoulder. “What’s going on?”

French was about to speak, but upon seeing Finish her muzzle closed. Finish felt slightly offended, but wouldn’t show it. French’s eyes cast downwards, and she said something low enough to be inaudible to her.

Dark looked back at the two of them. “Could you give us a moment, please?”

“Of course!” Coco turned and walked past Finish. “We should leave them alone… if that’s okay with you.”

Finish sighed; this was another thing that she wouldn’t be able to partake in, and it was beginning to wear down on her. “Yeah, sure, let us go.” At least she would have Coco.

I have Coco to myself.

Yes.

She is under my control.

No, not really.

But I can easily press her under my control.

Do you want to?

There are many things that I would like to do that I’m not doing.

Focus, Photo Finish. You want to see her eat, right?

Yes.

You can’t just force her to.

You don’t know that. Perhaps she’d like that, some mares like that.

But you can’t just jump in! You have to talk to her.

I’ve talked enough!

“Coco.”

She turned. “Yes?”

Finish pointed to a loaf of chocolate bread, one of dozens on the shelf to their right. “Try that.”

Coco looked at the bread, not with the ravenous eyes of somepony hungry, but as a businesspony would look at wares. That mustn’t do.

“They look scrumptious, ja?”

“Huh? Oh, yes, Photo Finish.” Coco reached out and took a slice into her hoof. “Very soft to the touch. Dark chocolate, a few chocolate chips, would be nice for a photo shoot in a bakery or a more childish shoot, but not for showing off elegance.”

Finish balked. “Wha-no, taste it.”

Coco did as she was told. She chewed it quickly, not savoring it, but rather trying to swallow it as fast as she could. Her swallowing wasn’t ravenous, either; she ate it like anypony would eat anything. “It’s really nice.”

“Delicious? Savory? Moist?”

Coco gave her an odd look. “Moist? No, I don’t think so. It’s soft, almost like a cake.”

“You must have more?” Best not to be too forceful.

Coco shrugged. “Shouldn’t we be looking at chocolate we can use for the photo shoots?

Why in Tartarus are you thinking about that? We are surrounded by chocolate. Gorge yourself! "Perhaps you are right. Where should we look?”

Coco smiled. “If you wanted to give Fleur a really nice Bitalian cake to go with her meal during the shoot, we could try looking at gianduia.”

“What?”

“G-gianduia,” Coco continued, pawing at the ground. “It’s a chocolate mix that you can spread on a cake. It’s got chocolate and hazelnuts mixed together.”

Finish stared at her for a moment; Coco continued pawing at the ground. “How do you know about this?”

“Oh,” Coco began more cheerfully. “I had a friend who was from Piedmount, and he would make gianduia for all of us fillies and colts. I’ve always remembered it for when I would go to Bitaly…” Coco pawed at the ground once more.

“Show me,” Finish said, feeling her blood boil.

“We’d have to ask where it is, if this factory has it.”

“Then what are we waiting for?” Finish went off in the general direction of Fanny and Duffle, but as she took her first step, she felt her tail twitch. Oh, stars above, why? “Please ask Duffle, I must use the restroom.”

“Okay, Photo Finish.” Coco was back in her professional spirit as she went off on her own.

Finish, meanwhile, cantered out of the aisle and towards the restrooms, which were marked with a large sign above them. Along the way, she caught a glimpse of Dark and French. The former was offering the latter a chocolate bar held by her lips; French eyed it with an embarrassed smile. Dark reached a foreleg and pulled French’s tummy towards hers until they smushed together, and the two mares’ muzzles were inches away from one another. French finally closed her eyed and bit the other half of the bar, her muzzle kissing Dark’s, causing the other mare to smile warmly.

Finish felt her tail twitch again, knocking over a stack of truffles, but she didn’t turn and pick them up. Instead, she galloped straight towards the bathroom and, upon entering, locked herself in one of the stalls.

What has me so impassioned all of a sudden? She asked in her mind as well as aloud. “What is going on? What did Coco say that set me aflame? Was it her description of the jin duel, or whatever it was? Was it when she recounted her foalhood? What, What?”

You can’t control yourself, can you?

I know. I am even becoming aroused by things that elude my mind.

You were aroused?

Yes… and there was more.

You must figure out what.

Yes, I must.

“Photo Finish?” a voice called from the end of the bathroom. “Dark is going to take us to the gianduia.”

“Wunderbar!” Finish, now slightly calmer, flushed and washed her hooves, not wanting anypony to suspect. When she emerged, she saw Coco, Dark, French and Black Forest. The latter mare’s belly was squished against her legs, and the bottom of it was inches away from touching the floor. Her rump had also grown, and it was bare of their pants; Finish assumed that she had burst out of them. Her sweater was torn down the middle in the bottom and along her back, while the sleeves were torn from being pulled so taut.

Goddesses, please don’t make me rush to the bathroom every time one of these mares does something sexy.

“I unwrapped myself,” Black Forest said with a coy smile.

Goddesses protect me!

“Sorry for the delay, everypony,” Dark said, leaning herself against French. “My girlfriend here just needed to shake off some… bad vibes, as best as I can put it.”

Finish regarded French from behind her goggles. The other mare wasn’t as distraught as she had been, and she offered a smile, but Finish’s trained eye could tell that something was still bothering her. She decided to try and break the ice, and get some sort of friendship going. “It is good that you have such a good friend to help you out. She is very respectable.”

French’s eyes widened, and soon afterwards a blushed followed. “Yes, you are exactly right. Dark Chocolate is the finest friend anypony could ask for.”

“Aw, shucks,” Dark said, her own blush reminding Finish of a maraschino cherry in a chocolate treat. “There’s no need for that.”

“It’s always nice to have support,” Coco added.

“Yes, it is,” Black Forest added, leaning on Dark playfully, much to the mock-irritation of Dark and the amusement of French.

“Quand allons-nous ménage a trois?” French asked with a playful smirk.

“Frenchie!” Dark chided, her eyes bugging. Black Forest merely grinned, her expression and posture like that of a lazy hippo. “Black Forest, French here was wondering—"

“Heute abend,” she said dreamily.

Both mares went silent as they blushed, and French leaned on Dark as well. Finish had no idea what French had asked, but the sight of Dark being sandwiched in by two other mares that were as large as her made her nostrils begin to sting with excitement.

“Ja,” Finish added, the sight reminding her of the magazine she held so dearly. “Supporting each other, no matter how heavy… the situation gets.”

Everypony nodded in agreement, and Finish felt like she was finally making progress.

“Well, what are we waiting for?” Dark pointed in the general direction of the eastern end of the store, away from Fanny and Duffle at the southern entrance. “Let’s get some gianduia!”

They all set off to the eastern end of the store, leaving Fanny and Duffle to themselves. Finish followed along behind Coco, while Dark and French led. It afforded her a view of three shapely rumps, two massive, one merely fat, all of them bouncing in anticipation. Yes, dance for me, my pretty little prizes. Soon, you shall be mine. One way or another, you will be mine.

She was aware that Black Forest was taking up the rear, and as she turned to look at the mare, she saw a comical waddle. Black Forest’s belly offered no room for her to move her legs, so she had to straddle side to side to move forwards. She thought it was adorable and… moreso than that.

She also noticed Black Forest’s eyes darting away as she turned around. Was she watching me? She could see a grin struggling to stay concealed behind Black Forest’s calm demeanor. What is she hiding?

Not able to stand it any longer, she waited for Black Forest to pass her. “Is there something the matter?”

“No,” Black Forest replied plainly. “Nothing at all, I’d wager. Und du?”

“Nein, mir geht es gut.”

“Sehr gut.”

Finish didn’t know what Black Forest meant by all of this, but she dared not press. Black Forest waddled past her, moving more slowly than before.

“I remember having gianduia as a foal,” Coco said, striking a conversation with French. “My neighbor would make it for all the foals.”

“Ooh, mez ami, je aime!” French replied with enthusiasm. “I had a gianduia cake when I was in Turein a while back. I and Dark shared it in one of our friends’ villas, and afterwards Dark took what was left of the chocolate and—“ She cut herself off, glancing back at Photo Finish.

What did I do this time? Finish asked herself in frustration.

“Why don’t you finish the story?” Dark asked, her face beet red.

“Some other time. Anyway, you will love Duffle’s, I am sure; he gets his made in Turein and shipped here.”

Coco’s eyes gleamed, and her mouth began to water. “Oh my, that sounds—“ and then she cut herself off. “Oh, but I mustn’t indulge too much. This is mainly for research for a photo shoot.”

What? Damnit, Coco, why are you stopping this?

“Have you ever heard of Fleur de Lys?”

“No, can’t say I have.”

“I’ve seen her before,” Black Forest said. “She had stayed at a ski lodge I was at in Andcorral. She is an elegant, proper, thin mare.”

“Oh,” French said with obvious disdain. “I see.”

Finish shook her head, out of sight of everypony, of course. Why are they doing this? They are in a chocolate factory, they should be enjoying themselves. Instead, Coco wants to do research for me, French doesn’t want to divulge her dirty fantasies around me, and Black Forest is acting oddly around me—

She stopped. Wait, that all has to do with me. Do they not want to enjoy themselves around me? A few looks back at her seemed to confirm this. The more I see it, it becomes obvious. I should tell them to enjoy themselves.

You’ve already told French to do that.

And she isn’t listening.

I should tell her more forcefully. And Coco, for that matter.

At the risk of losing their respect? And Black Forest’s conversation? And Dark’s trust?

But I really want to see some gluttony and foodplay in action!

Is it worth the risk?

…

…

…No, it’s not. It hurts, but there will be another day.

And in the meantime, you must think about why this is happening.

“Coco!”

Coco started. “Uh, y-yes, Photo Finish?”

“I just remembered, I have work to do.”

“You do?”

“At this time?” Black Forest asked.

“Unfortunately.” Finish reached into her robe and gave Coco some bits. “Please bring over a sample of jam-duffle to my house when you are done.”

“Gianduia,” French corrected. Finish noticed visible relief, and though it pained her to see it, she would take it for now.

“Okay, Photo Finish,” Coco said, taking the bits with a more alacritous attitude. “I can do that.”

Finish bowed; best to salvage this as best as I can. “Thank you for the time out, but I must be going.”

“Have a good time, Photo Finish!” Dark said cheerfully.

“Goodbye,” French said.

“We shall see you later,” Black Forest said eerily.

“I’ll see you at work,” Coco said, tossing the bits around.

“Enjoy yourselves,” Photo said at last. And with that, she began making her way to the entrance.

It hurts, but if I am stopping them, then I must be out.

Do you think my bathroom telescope will catch a glimpse of them?

Only one way to find out.

As she reached the front door, she heard Fanny call to her. “Are you leaving so soon?”

“I have work to do,” Finish replied. As she turned to look at the mare, she saw Fanny’s belly rising far above her than it had before. The chaise was resting on the floor, its legs doing the splits, something Finish never thought she’d see. Duffle Bag waved lazily to her as he held up a pitcher of hot cocoa. “Have a good day.”

“Seeya later!” Fanny called out, waving off to her.

And with a disappointed heart, Finish went out the front door. It closed slowly behind her, leaving her every opportunity to change her mind.

No. Somehow, I messed it all up.

They still regard you kindly, do they?

I think so.

Then don't worry about it.

I can't. Somehow, I messed up, and I don't know how.

Leave it. We will try again tomorrow.

Yes.

We will have our prize.

Yes!

She went on with a melancholy heart regardless, leaving her fantasies to potentially play out in reality without her.