Chapter 6

The rest of the day working at the bookstore went by as normal as the uncertainty that plagued your thoughts regarding Moon Dancer had left. Still all was not calm in your mind as you pondered your next steps in making things right. You knew there was little chance in getting romantically involved with her again as jumping into that realm would only lead to the chasm between you to grow even wider and Moon Dancer becoming more reclusive. Your main goal was to help her get back to a sense of normalcy, even if that meant returning her to a point in her life before she met you. Finally as the sun began to set outside, Twinkle Shine checked to see that everypony else besides of course you was gone, before locking the door to the bookstore and flipping the sign to Closed.

“So, how did you like your first day working here?” Twinkle Shine said.

“Well, under the circumstances, I think things went well,” you said referring to Moon Dancer.

“Well, I’m glad that you like working here. I can’t thank you enough for agreeing to help me here. I know it’s not the most glamourous of jobs.”

“No, it’s great. I actually like helping ponies find what they’re looking for.”

“Well I’m glad to hear that. Listen, I’m sorry about you meeting Moon Dancer like that. I didn’t know she’d be visiting the store today, well, I figured she would but I didn’t know when. I’m sorry for putting you into that position.”

“Hey,” you said putting your hands on your friend’s shoulders, “It’s ok. I’m glad that you gave me this job and you told me what happened. Besides that, you could have protected me from seeing Moon here, but then there was the chance I’d meet her some other place.”

“Well, as long as you’re ok, that’s what matters. Anyway, I just a few things to clean up before leaving, so I don’t want to hold you up if you have places to go.”

“Wait, before I go, can you help me with something?”

“Uh… sure.”

“Can you tell me places where Moon Dancer likes to go?”

“You’re still interested in patching things up, huh?”

You nodded realizing how silly it sounded after the events of the day.

“It may not work you know,” she said, “She might be still upset or things might get worse.”

“I know, but I have to do something to try to at least help her be so reclusive.”

“Alright, I’ll try to help you with what I can. I may be her friend but I don’t know everywhere she goes. Still, there are a few places I know she goes to and a few she steers clear of. She can definitely be found in the Canterlot Public Library. That’s where she seems to spend her days at, and she actually works there.”

“Really? I thought she’d be a teacher or some research student for studying arcane magic,” you said remember how good she was in her studies and what she was focused on.

“She was planning on doing that, before…” Twinkle said as her voice trailed off. You know what she meant even though she didn’t specifically say it. How could your one act of not going to a dance with Moon Dancer led her to abandon all her dreams? What she hanging all her hopes and dreams on you?

“Alight, the library. Anywhere else?”

“Well, I see her at the corner market, because even a recluse needs to eat.”

“What about restaurants or shops? She must go to those, right?”

“Honestly I haven’t seen her much at those places. She just goes to work then home most days. Oh I’m sure that she stops at other places when she wants to like here, but none that I know of.”

“You said that there are places where she doesn’t go to? Sounds like she doesn’t go anywhere!”

“Yeah, but there are places she intentionally steers clear of.”

“Like where?”

“Take a guess.”

“Right,” you said as your ears drooped while feeling like a deflated balloon, “Everywhere that I was with her.”

“I’m afraid so. Pony Joe’s, the movie theater, that night club we went to on Third Street, she literally walks to the other side of the street to avoid them like they’re some monster.”

“Or that I am,” you said as the pit of your stomach hurt.

“Hey, don’t talk like that. It was just a mistake that’s all.”

“Yeah,” you said as not even her optimism could break you out of the depression you felt, “just a mistake. Thanks though for telling me where she is.”

“So what are you going to do now that you know where she goes?”

“Well, I’ll try to meet with her, most likely at the library.”

“And then what?”

“I will…” you began until your mind drew a blank, “I don’t know what I’ll do. I mean, I guess I’ll try to talk with her and hopefully she’ll want to talk to me.”

“Well, talking does help,” Twinkle Shine said as she closed down the register for the evening, not sounding very convinced at your plan, “Do you want my help?”

“I’m going to try to do this myself first,” you said, “I don’t want her to feel like she’s being overwhelmed. Maybe it will work this way.”

“If you say so,” the unicorn mare said feeling like you being there would be an invasion enough.

“Don’t get me wrong, I thank you for your help, and if things go bad I’ll be sure to come to you. Anyway, I better get going to find somewhere to eat. Want to join me?”

“Sounds good,” Twinkle Shine said, “I’d like to do some catching up with our friendship. Can I just offer you one advice before we’re lost in our conversation?”

“Sure.”

“Be careful with Moon Dancer. I know you won’t do anything to hurt her, but she is at a delicate time now even if it is years after the whole dance incident.”

“I will,” you said as you helped her with closing the store, hoping that you would live up to your promise.

Author's Note

And we now have a plan... sort of... of how our hero is going go win back his ex-marefriend. Of course you know things won't go that perfectly, right?