Heritage of Love

Chapters

To Hate a Mare
Playing Doctor
A Lunch Date
Quiet Reflection

To Hate a Mare

The t-shirt was horribly tight.

Nova detested wearing it. But it was more than just simple hate, wearing it always brought forth a wave of nausea-inducing panic. The sense of restriction he felt while it hugged his flesh made his skin crawl. Yet still he wore it everyday without fail.

Thankfully, Nova had a trick for dealing with that little problem. Raising a forehoof, he placed it on himself just below his neck and inhaled, deep and slow, through his nostrils. Then he just as slowly exhaled through his mouth while pulling his hoof away 'til he could do neither anymore. As always the breathing technique worked its magic and he felt a refreshing sense of calm.

With that dealt with the colt picked his favorite jacket up from the bed and put it on. It was perfectly tailored for him and colored to wonderfully compliment his own natural colors. The only flaw with his jacket was that one of the front pockets, the one over his heart, was decorated with the cutie mark of the one princess he loathed. But Nova could be a reasonable colt and thus it took more than one flaw, no matter how horrendous, to ruin the best jacket he owned. Besides, he had been planning for awhile to eventually cut off the offending pocket with a pair of scissors... he just hadn't gotten around to actually doing it yet, that's all!

Now done getting dressed, Nova turned from the bed to the only other visible object in the small, undecorated room. A mirror. As he adjusted his collar he gazed disinterestedly at the same familiar colt, thirteen years of age, reflected back. Complete with the same burnt sienna coat, blank flank, and triple-toned mane and tail combo consisting of forest green, sky blue, and dark pink streaks.

He wore the colors surprisingly well.

A gentle hum filled the room as his horn lit up with a dark blue aura. Out from a pair of saddlebags, hidden beneath the bed, came his mane-brush. While he began to untangle the jungle atop his head, Nova grinned and gave his fangs a lick. Enjoying the way they glinted in the light. His fangs, red slitted-eyes, and tufted ears were a genetic gift from from his father, whom he had unfortunately never known. But he was immensely proud of his threstal, AKA bat pony, heritage all the same. Especially the fact that it made him so damn sexy!

His best trait however was no doubt his longer than average horn. He knew exactly what all the giggling and blushing fillies said about a colt with a long horn. The thought increased the cockiness of his grin tenfold as he returned his mane-brush to its proper place.

With his morning routine complete, Nova left his room. Firmly shutting the door behind him.

Only to find himself in a familiarly depressing hallway. The hallway was long and filled with numbered doors which made it almost possible to shut out the truth and imagine he merely lived in some sort of hotel. But even with the walls adorned with various distracting Nightmare Night decorations, such as fake cobwebs; tombstones; and 'spooky' glow-in-the-dark ghosts, Nova could never truly forget the cold truth. Just the thought sent an oppressive pang of complicated and indecipherable emotions through his heart as he trotted slowly down the hall.

Living in an orphanage sucked. But he wasn't going to let that bother him. Not with his favorite holiday less than a week away. Nightmare Night was the one night of the year when he truly felt free to just be himself, despite the ironic dichotomy of the fact that he would be wearing a costume with the express purpose of cosplaying as somepony else. He couldn't repress an excited skip as he thought of the costume he'd been painstakingly crafting for the last couple moons. It was so close to completion.

Honestly, in that very moment, it felt as if nothing could ruin his mood. Unfortunately that was also the moment he turned a corner in the hallway and immediately his features soured. Hanging proudly on the wall, as if mocking him, was a picture of the princess he loathed.

Princess Mi Amore Cadenza!

The sight of which made Nova's hackles rise in a bitter fury as his face twisted into a frown and his demeanor slouched. His pace quickened and he looked away in disgust from the image of the pink alicorn bitch.

Of course her picture was hanging on the wall, several walls in fact, of the orphanage! She was after all the biggest benefactor of the place. Princess Cadenza, or just Cadance as she preferred to be called, offered more than mere financial support for various orphanages all over the land of Equestria. She also often gave personal visits, hoofed out various gifts usually in the form of toys, and personally wrote and responded to letters from every orphan in every establishment she copiously supported.

So naturally everypony in the orphanage, save Nova himself, adored her. She seemed too good to be true... and she was. Nova darkly mused over how everypony would react if they only knew the truth. The princess' most closely guarded secret... and most closely guarded shame.

But for his own well-being Nova had to bite his tongue on the matter. At least for the moment.

Realizing the depressing path his thoughts were leading him down, the young colt gave a firm head shake and looked around almost desperately for something, anything, that could get him back to enjoying his day. As if in answer to his very prayers he heard the sound of hooves clopping upon the floor as somepony approached.

And then from around a corner an earth filly came into view. But not just any filly. She was a real hottie with blond pigtails, heart-meltingly adorable freckles, and a strong yet supple body which just seemed to call out for him. Forcing a confident smile and straight posture as their eyes locked, Nova began his approach. She paused, uncertain and slightly nervous, as she noticed the steady advance of the sharp-fanged colt. When finally close enough to really gaze into her rich sky blue eyes, it took all his willpower to avoid getting lost in them and faltering in his step. Before she could really react to him, he gave his fangs a slow lick to elicit a shudder from her, never breaking eye contact.

"Excuse me miss, I hope I'm not being a bother but I have a question that I simply must know the answer to. I happen to be into costumes and makeup myself and your radiant beauty caught my eye. What brand of makeup did you use to achieve such a glorious effect?" Nova's voice was gentle yet firm. It took all his resolve to avoid letting out a cocky grin as he received the desired reaction from her.

The filly's face looked as if a wildfire had taken hold of it and her whole body seemed to be shaking ever so slightly. "Oh, um, a-actually I'm, um, you know, not wearing any makeup. I'm s-sorry. I mean, that I can't help you!"

Nova effortlessly feigned surprise and slowly begin to lean towards her as he responded. "Apologies my dear, I didn't realize such beauty was even attainable without assistance." By that point he had leaned in so close their faces were nuzzled together and his voice was a low whisper directly into her ear. "How on Equus are you so damn sexy?"

As expected the adorable filly was far too flustered to formulate a coherent response other than a high-pitched squeak.

With a mischievous smile, Nova slowly pushed the filly against a nearby wall. She didn't resist. During each passing moment Nova was, perhaps due to his threstal heritage, acutely aware of the filly's rapid heartbeats. He was also fully aware of her quivering body as she vibrated sensually against his form. Affectionately he nuzzled her neck and deeply inhaled, relishing in her deep, cinnamon-like scent. For a few moments he just indulged in her scent with half-lidded eyes as he felt a deep heat spreading over their bodies. Then suddenly, with a well-practiced motion, Nova firmly bit down on the filly's neck.

A squeak was heard as the filly reacted to the sudden bite. But the sound quickly devolved into a light moan as the pressure of the bite increased. The fangs never quite penetrating her flesh. Done playing games, Nova wrapped himself tightly around the filly as he kissed her on the lips as deeply and passionately as he could. His tongue exploring her mouth with a reckless, deep-seated hunger.

The filly stiffened for only the briefest of moments before melting in his embrace and wrapping her own limbs around him.

Ignoring the inexperienced filly as her hooves roved all over his body and rubbed seemingly random spots with no rhyme or reason, Nova focused his hooves on just massaging two spots. One on her back; the other on her flank.

It was a nearly perfect moment. The only thing that unsuccessfully threatened to ruin the moment was a sudden sharp pain that erupted in his back. A few tears were brought to his eyes from the pain but with eyes clenched tight he managed to power through it 'til it was only a dull throb in the background of his mind. 'Til finally the moment had to come to an end as his lungs forcefully demanded he refill them with fresh air. And thus he broke the kiss. Leading to a moment of breathless panting shared between the two ponies.

Catching his breath first, Nova nuzzled the filly while softly kissing the side of her face. Before he finally leaned in close and whispered seductively, between pants, into her cute little ear. "You. Me. Tonight. Dinner and a show. My treat. What do you say?"

"O-okay." The filly's breathy affirmation was so soft it was nearly inaudible.

Getting the answer he'd sought, Nova leisurely pulled his body away from hers. Somehow just keeping himself from reacting as she let out the absolute cutest whiny of disappointment he'd ever heard at their separation. Instead he merely locked eyes with her once more and purposing licked his fangs again, much to the filly's enjoyment as she shuddered with a dreamy look in her eyes. But when she made to move forward and embrace him anew, he stopped her with a hoof pressed lightly to her chest.

"When it's time for dinner meet me at the front gate instead. And don't worry about breaking curfew. I know how to safely sneak a filly into my room." Nova gave a wink to the madly blushing filly before walking off with a casual stride and a little extra flank wriggle just for her benefit.

He didn't stop 'til he'd made it out of sight around a corner. And then the goofiest of grins broke out on his face.

With a spring to his step and an excited whiny of his own, Nova literally pranced down the hall feeling invigorated. The newly formed memories on replay in his mind. Followed quickly by plans for the perfect date. Of course his thoughts soon turned to fantasies as he just barely stopped himself from actually drooling at the mental imagery of taking her to his room and going to town on her with his tongue. Already his tongue tingled with phantom flavours as he pondered her potential taste.

So caught up in these thoughts, Nova pranced right past his destination and had to screech to a stop several moments later. Backing up he found himself in front of a door which looked identical to all the others in the hall, save for the number on it. Without hesitation he flung the door open with great aplomb. The sound of the door being slammed open caused the rooms only occupant, a pegasus, to give a startled leap. Spinning around on his bed to face the intruder, the pegasus's wings instinctively flared open in a failed attempt to look intimidating. Nova, meanwhile, just laughed at the reaction as the other pony glared in annoyance. Unfortunately for the pegasus, his attempt to look angry and intimidating just ended up looking adorable.

"Nova! Have you never heard of knocking?" The pegasus, Glide, huffed in an unintentionally cute manner, his cheeks puffing out.

Still guffawing like a madmare, Nova shut the door behind himself as he entered the room and carefully navigated towards the bed. Doing his best to avoid stepping on the messy battlefield of action figures, toys, and game pieces. His best friend's room always felt so very claustrophobic. Even the walls were hardly visible behind a myriad of posters, mostly of the wonderbolts.

Although he did note with a swell of pride that his friend was still using the calendar that Nova had gotten him. Every moon the calendar revealed the many members of the wonderbolts in a different sexy position. This moon it was Nightmare Night themed, complete with very revealing and suggestive costumes. Honestly though, Nova found it to be the least appealing image of the whole calendar. The costumes were so poorly designed. He could've made better outfits in his sleep, with half the budget!

Pushing the thought from his mind, Nova effortlessly leapt onto the bed. Not noticing his friend's mad scramble to hide a slip of paper under a wing.

Barely managing to restrain his litany of laughter, Nova gave a cocky grin as he finally shot back his response. "And have you ever heard of locking? Besides, I thought you'd have learned that lesson by now. Especially after..."

An awkward silence fell over the two colts at the implication of the incident they had agreed never to speak of. The pegasus blushed a bit and looked away. Nova also looked away only to wince his gaze away again as it accidentally fell on the Cadance plushy sitting at the head of the bed. Why his best friend hadn't destroyed that infernal stuffed toy was beyond him. Especially after the time he had walked in on his friend getting far too intimate with said toy.

Shudders pulsed through Nova at the memory. The incident had been deeply disturbing for him on so many levels that he'd had nightmares about it for a week. Why his mind hadn't just completely blocked out the incident for his own sanity was beyond him.

Finally returning his gaze to his blushing friend, Nova couldn't help but to smile. The pegasus was smaller than him, despite them sharing the same age. Glide had a very slender, feminine even, form. Which had unfortunately led to harassment from other colts who either relentlessly made fun of him or actually thought he was a filly and tried to come on to him. Thus the responsibility often fell on Nova to take the initiative and defend his best friend from the unwanted attention.

Nova however didn't really mind. As he was always happily willing to aid his best friend.

Glide tried his best to present himself as male by keeping his black mane and tail cut rather short. Yet it was to no avail. He was just too damn pretty to pull it off thanks to his annoyingly well-curved body and rich hazel eyes. Any colt could easily be forgiven for getting lost in those eyes before realizing that he was also a colt. On top of all that he had the most adorable white underbelly while the rest of his coat was a gentle gray in tone. Long story short, Glide was incredibly attractive in all the wrong ways.

None of that was really pressing in Nova's mind however, as he searched for something break the awkward silence before it could stretch on for too long. And then his grin returned as he spotted the slip of paper his friend had done a poor job hiding under his wing.

"What's this Glide, you hiding a love letter from me? Who's it from?"

With a flash of dark blue magic the paper slipped out of the wing's grasp and was brought up to Nova's face. With a terrified whiny Glide leapt forward and tried to grab it back. "No, wait! Please don't read that!"

Unfortunately for Glide he was kept from his goal with a gentle force of magic. And instead he was forced to watch as his best friend's eyes roved over the content of the paper. He would've sworn that he'd felt the room grow a few degrees colder in that moment.

Nova's smile slipped into a frown and his mood soured as he read what turned out to be a letter.

Dear Wing Glider,

WOW, it sure sounds like you and Nova had quite the adventure in the city. I'm glad you were so willing to help that little kitten get back to her loving home, but maybe next time you shouldn't just blindly follow a kitten, or any creature for that matter, into an active construction zone. You two could've hurt a lot more than just your pride. Things like that don't always work themselves out in such a hilarious fashion. I also do feel sorry for you that the kitten's cute filly owner only gave you a kiss on the cheek before making out with Nova, but from what you wrote it sounds like Nova really took the initiative. Maybe in the future you should be JUST a little more assertive with the fillies you find attractive.

And YES, I would absolutely LOVE for you to send a picture of you two in your Nightmare Night costumes. You two always look so adorable in your matching outfits. I swear that colt is going to take the fashion world by storm one day, if he so chooses.

Writing of Nova, how's he doing? He still never responds to any of my letters and I'm worried. Have you asked him about it? He's healthy and happy, right? If you discover that he has any needs or problems please let me know posthaste so I can offer my assistance. And please... just tell him I would love nothing more than to receive word from him. He means a lot to me. Of course so do you and all my other little ponies at the orphanage. Has he told you anything about how he feels regarding me, anything at all?

Finally, in much lighter news, I'm doing great and thanks for asking. It honestly does mean a lot that you care enough to always ask. In fact I'm actually doing better than just great and have some BIG news, but I don't want to spoil it. You should be hearing all about it real soon, if you haven't already. Please let me know what you think as soon as possible. And don't worry, I'll be sharing all the JUICY details about it in my next letter.

With loving regards
Cadance

An unsettling silence encompassed the room as Nova slowly put the letter down on the bed with a painful level of self-control. Glide wilted under his best friend's gaze. The young pegasus felt his ears press against his head and his wings wrap around himself in a tight, protective hug.

Not sure what else to do, and desperately wishing he could just deal with the previous awkward silence again, Glide turned his gaze towards a pillow. With a shaky hoof he pulled a sealed envelope out from beneath the pillow and held it out for his friend while speaking in a quiet, shaky voice. Still unable to be reacquainted with his friends terrifying gaze. "W-We all got our letters from the princess yesterday. I was given yours 'cause no pony wanted to be yelled out. Sorry for not giving it to you sooner, I-I didn't want to ruin your evening."

Without a word, Nova grabbed the envelope with a hoof and tucked it away somewhere inside his jacket.

Time passed excruciatingly slowly for the next few moments. Just before the air could become too heavy to breathe, Nova slowly raised a hoof and repeated his breathing technique from earlier that morning. Thankfully it continued to work wonders and the tension in the air quickly evaporated. With a soft sigh, Nova sheepishly rubbed the back of his head and apologized. "Sorry dude. I... I shouldn't have reacted like that. It's not your fault that you... you just don't realize how much of a bitch she is!"

"Why do you hate her so much?" The voice was barely a whisper. Normally Glide would've just meekly accepted his best friend's answer. But for reasons unknown, even to him, he found himself unable to simply let it go this time. The need to know filled him with a strange confidence.

Nova stiffened at the completely unexpected response. His eyes grew large with shock and fear before he gave his head a short, violent shake and looked away. The response that eventually escaped Nova's lips was surprisingly shaky. "It's personal."

Slowly two sets of eyes met once more.

Almost immediately Glide felt his newfound resolve melt away as he saw the absolute change which had taken over his best friend's demeanor. Nova had always been a confident, seemingly unshakable, colt who refused to show weakness. But at the moment Nova looked more akin to a scared foal with big, tear-filled eyes begging for his closest friend to just drop the subject. And indeed, Glide did feel the urge to do just that. To apologize, drop the subject, and pretend to have never even been curious. But deep down he knew he couldn't do that. Not anymore.

With tears filling his own eyes Glide found himself unable to stop himself as words spewed unbidden from his mouth. Quiet words that made him instantly hate himself. Made him feel so utterly selfish. "Do you really care about me?"

"What!?" Nova was beyond flabbergasted by the question. "Of course I do! Why would you ever doubt that?"

"We've been friends for over half a decade and you still don't trust me enough to let me know. Can you even name a single time I've betrayed your trust and tried to pry? Please. What did Princess Cadance ever do to you? I just want to know so I can help you. I care about you!" Hot, bitter tears streamed down Glide's face. Guilt and relief battled in his heart over his long pent up, emotional release.

Guilt was also stirring in Nova like a wild tempest. It resisted his every attempt to reign it in and quickly scattered his more logical parts to the four corners of his mind. Thus he responded with what he was left with. A quick emotional response. "You just don't understand! Look at that letter again and the way she wrote about me. Isn't it evident that she's trying to milk you for information about me?"

"She's just worried about you. You never respond to any of her letters and you avoid her like the plague whenever she visits. All she wants is to know what's wrong so she can help you."

"Oh come on! Learn to read between the lines. She's obviously obsessed with me."

Glide rolled his eyes in exasperation and muttered darkly under his breath.

Nova felt his blood go cold. He had no idea what words his friends had uttered, but the tone did not sit well with him at all. Yet when Nova responded it was with a surprisingly sangfroid tone. "What did you say?"

"I said, she's not the one who's obsessed."

"And what exactly is that supposed to mean?" The answer Nova received was in the form of his friend jabbing him with a hoof right on his jacket where Cadance's cutie mark resided. "T-That means nothing! You know full well how much I hate wearing that mark. I just haven't gotten around to removing it yet. You have no idea how much work goes into adjusting an article of clothing. I can't just take a random pair of scissors and go to town on my favorite jacket. Not to mention the time and effort it'll take to find the right fabric to mend the resulting hole."

Undeterred by the counter-argument, Glide raised a brow. "And how many hours a week do you spend ogling various fabrics, threads, and even needles at every shop in the city you can find? I'm betting more than enough to have found the right fabric by now."

Red faced and fuming, Nova desperately tried to come up with a convincing excuse for both his friend and himself. Hardly a moment passed before a smug grin covered his face as he found just such an answer. "Well have you thought that maybe, just maybe, I think the design of this jacket works best with a cutie mark in precisely that spot, and thus I wish replace her mark with mine? Oh wait a second. I don't have a cutie mark yet! How can I fix my jacket if I don't yet have a replacement mark for it. It would just be too much of a faux pas to leave the spot blank. Plus I'd rather make one big alteration rather than two separate smaller ones, to lower the risk of accidentally ruining my favorite jacket. See! A perfectly sane and rationale explanation."

"Oh, of course." Glide agreed with a condescending eye roll. "There's nothing more sane and rational than a colt who has a collection of newspaper clipping from every story that so much as mentioned Cadance. A colt who hides with binoculars to watch her from a distance whenever she visits our orphanage, and expects me to take notes on everything she does and says. A colt who has religiously read and memorized every book written by, or about, the princess of love... including that Hearts and Hooves Day cookbook."

"That's a damn good cookbook and you know it!"

Glide rolled his eyes. "Just face the truth. You're completely obsessed with Princess Cadance and it's really worrisome. I really think you need to stop and just forget about her. Is she really that important?"

That was the moment when Nova finally lost his last bit of composure and snapped. With a furious hiss he pounced forward, pinned his friend to the bed, and tried to wail on Glide's face with his hooves. Thankfully, Glide had the fortunate response of quickly grabbing a nearby pillow and shielding himself with it.

But nothing could shield him from Nova's harsh verbal onslaught. "She's important to me you bastard! Why can't you just respect my Faust damn privacy? Is it too much to ask for a caring friend who actually respects my feelings!?" The unrestrained words and hoof strikes continued to flow as Nova vented all his pent up fury.

Finally, after what could've been an eternity, despite actually only being a few minutes, Nova's livid feeling burned themselves out. He sat there atop his friend, his whole body shaking and his breathing a deep pant. It took several moments before he realized that his friend was also shaking beneath him. A flick of the ears revealed the telltale sound of sobbing. Slowly, with a trembling hoof, he removed the pillow from his friend's face and found Glide sobbing beneath. It was only then that Nova truly realized how badly he could've hurt his best friend if the pillow hadn't been there, and how much it must have still hurt even with the pillow.

As the crushing guilt overwhelmed Nova, his body lost all strength and he collapsed atop his friend. Hot, bitter tears burst forth as he joined in his friend's sobbing. Once more words escaped Nova's mouth from beyond his control.

"I'm sorry Glide. I'm so, so sorry!"

Playing Doctor

"It's okay, I forgive you."

Glide softly cooed various such reassurances as he held his sobbing friend with his wings, careful to avoid applying any pressure to his friend's back. His hooves however were not idle. One hoof was rubbing along his Nova's side while the other gently caressed the somewhat sensitive area around his friend's horn, being extra careful to not actually touch the horn. Unicorn horns were very sensitive. The gentle ministrations did their job as his friend slowly stopped shaking and instinctively nuzzled into Glide's wings, deeply inhaling the calming scent that naturally wafted from a pegasus' down. Glide blushed and tried to ignore just how very pleasant the wing nuzzle felt.

Finally Nova managed to look up, his sobbing now more of a hiccuping sniffle, and met his friend's gaze. "D-Do you really forgive me that easily? I could've really hurt you." Deep, guilt-powered sorrow shone in Nova's eyes.

It broke Glide's heart to see such a look upon his best friend's features. And he quickly gave a reassuring smile, blatantly ignoring the pain as it shot through his sore face. The pillow hadn't been valiant enough to absorb the full force of every blow, but Glide decided his friend never needed to know that. "Of course I forgive you. You're my best friend. I saw how angry you were getting and yet I kept provoking you, that's my fault and I'm truly sorry."

"B-But you were right. We've been close for so long and here I am ignoring all that and stubbornly shutting you out of a very important part of my life. I'm so sorry. You deserve the truth. But I'm just not sure if I can bring myself talk about it right now. It's difficult to-"

Nova found himself cut off from his explanation thanks to a sudden hoof covering his mouth.

Without a word, Glide shuffled around 'til they were belly to belly with him on top. Then the pegasus affectionately nuzzled his best friend's neck and cheeks. "That's fine. I think we're both emotionally tapped after all that. Tell me when you feel ready. No sooner. Okay?"

"Oh, o-okay." Finally regaining full control over his hiccuping breath, Nova wrapped his forelegs around Glide and returned the nuzzles.

For awhile the two just cuddled and nuzzled on the bed, occasionally shifting into different positions whenever the fancy struck them. Time lost all meaning for them. Glide blushed furiously as little squeaks and moans escaped his muzzle. All caused by Nova playfully nipping the pegasus at seemingly random intervals during their nuzzles. Nova just couldn't resist chuckling at all the cute sounds he was able to elicit from his best friend. Truly it was one of those perfect moments in life that neither of them wished to ever end.

Unfortunately, nothing can last forever. And they eventually found their cuddle session interrupted by a loud rumbling sound. As they snapped back to focus, Glide felt his blush double in intensity. Before either could speak the pegasus' stomach let out another loud rumble. Nova took it in stride as he burst out laughing and sat up on his haunches. Quickly pulling his friend up as well.

"Well, sounds like it's time for breakfast. Let's go before everypony else eats it all. Oh! And before I forget..." Nova leaned in and gave his best friend a quick kiss on the cheek before leaping off the bed. Carefully navigating the cluttered floor like a pro. "Thanks for being so understanding."

"Oh, um, yeah. You're welcome. What are friends for?" Glide smiled nervously, trying his best to ignore the rising temperature of his cheeks. Getting up and stretching his wings, he quickly noticed a familiar pressure in his bladder. "You go on ahead, I gotta use the bathroom."

Nova suddenly froze before looking back with a devious grin and half-lidded eyes. "Oh. I didn't realize you enjoyed my kiss that much."

With a head tilt, confusion welled up in Glide as he pondered his best friend's words. He didn't quite get what was being insinuated, even as his friend performed a brow wriggle and blew him a kiss. Then it suddenly hit Glide like a runaway carriage. His facing turning a shade that could make even the freshest of apples jealous. A quick, stammered reply was the best response he could offer." What!? No, I just need to go pee. I swear. I would never do, you know, n-not while thinking about you!" Quickly, Glide tried to scramble off the bed, but ended up landing wrong on a toy and slipping to his belly. Nothing was hurt except his dignity.

Meanwhile, Nova was back to cackling like a madmare and seemed to be having the time of his life. It took him several moments to reign back in his self-control. "Whoa dude, just wow. That was one of the best reactions yet!" Turning back around, Nova give his behind a firm smack and walked towards the door with an extra wriggle to his step. "It's okay to admit it though. No pony, filly or colt, can resist this perfect plot."

Glide watched his best friend leave the room. Never once did the pegasus' eyes leave that tantalizing plot as he took in every curve. His heart was pounding in his chest, his face felt like it was burning, and his breaths were erratic at best. Shooting out at his sides, his wings were stiff. A seemingly unnatural, yet not completely unwelcome, warmth seemed to permeate his whole being. Never in a million years would Glide ever admit it, but despite his best friend's joking tease, the snazzily dressed colt was right. Glide wanted that plot. And who knew how many times he'd dreamt about it, but it must have been a lot!

Effortlessly the young pegasus slipped into just such a fantasy. In a world where he had less self-control he could easily see himself pouncing on his best friend and caressing that wonderful plot with a nice long lick. And then Glide would kiss it, nuzzle it, and pet it all over. Once finished with that he'd gently pry his friend's legs apart before wrapping his mouth around Nova's big, juicy-

Suddenly Glide snapped out of the daydream as he realized exactly what he'd been fantasizing about!

Shooting up onto his hooves, he quickly slapped himself as hard as he could across his face. Focusing on the pain and nothing else, Glide wiped the drool off his face. Slowly and steadily he forced those bad thoughts he had for his best friend into the back of his mind. He locked them up again desperately hoping that for just once they wouldn't escape this time.

Nova was a wonderful colt. Handsome, fun to be around, and very affectionate. Yet despite all that, and despite all the endless teasing, Glide knew full well that his best friend was truly only attracted to fillies. No matter how badly the poor pegasus had fallen for him.

Which was why Glide had to keep those bad thoughts locked away. Otherwise everything would become awkward and no doubt he'd lose his best friend forever! The terrifying thought made Glide shudder from the bottom of his hooves to the tips of his wings. A few deep, calming breathes later and the shuddering subsided. There was no choice but to keep his feelings hidden and suppressed. After all, he'd already managed to keep them secret for years, so certainly no harm could come from continuing to bottle them up.

Right?

Glide gave his head a wild shake to keep his mind from thinking too much on the matter and briskly trotted away and out of his room. Shutting the door behind him with a firm click.

<--->

The day when Glide and Nova first met, nearly six years prior, had been very picturesque.

The sun had been shining, the birds singing, and it seemed the kind of day when it felt as if nothing should ever go wrong. A feeling that seemed to be right for young Glide as the orphanage had two special visitors that day. A young pegasus couple, unable to bear foals of their own, were looking to adopt. And they had set their sights on Glide.

All had seemed to be going perfectly... and then they told him that he was the cutest filly they had ever seen. Now that in and of itself was not a problem. With his feminine build many a pony had made the same mistake, and his prepubescent voice certainly didn't help matters. But it was fine when adults made that particular mistake. After all, he had yet to meet an adult who meant any harm by it. Nor an adult who didn't immediately apologize for the mistake. And this young couple was no exception. Glide politely told them in the words of a child that it was alright and he harbored no ill will towards them for an honest mistake.

So none of that was the problem. The problem laid in the fact that Glide had not been the only child present for the little slip-up. Several other colts and fillies, all eager for adoption themselves, were suddenly trying to contain their case of the giggles. Worst still was that one of those laughing colts was a brutish earth pony by the name of Chip.

At the time Glide paid no attention to who was laughing at him. He only stared at the floor with his ears folded against his head in shame.

In a stroke of fortune that seemed bad at the time, the young couple lost their interest in Glide and instead adopted another pegasus his age who actually was a filly. Downtrodden by the turn of events, Glide slowly trotted back to his room with his head low to the ground. Which led to the young pegasus bumping into another pony. The apology automatically started to pour from his lips before he even looked up. "I'm sorry. I wasn't watching where I was-" But the apology died when he finally noticed that the pony towering in front of him was Chip.

At nearly double the size of the smaller colt, despite no major difference in age, the copper coated earth pony with a striking blue mane showed off his crooked teeth with a sneer. Wings pressed tightly against Glide's body as he instinctively tried to look smaller, slowly backing away from the perceived threat, only to quickly bump into something behind him. A quick, furtive glance revealed two other colts blocking his retreat.

There was no escape!

The two named characters locked eyes for a few tense seconds before Chip spoke up first. His voice intimidating as all Tartarus despite the slight squeak to it. "Well, well, well. If it isn't just the femcolt fag I was looking for."

Too terrified to be insulted or offended, Glide instead cried out with a desperate plea. "W-What do you want with me!?"

"Simple. I've been doing some thinking." Chip said, proving there really was a first time for everything. "And I want to know something. How do we know you really are a colt and not just some dumb filly playing pretend?"

"What? Of course I'm a colt." The sudden assertion about Glide's sex left the young pegasus completely flabbergasted.

"Oh yeah, then prove it!"

"H-How?"

As if waiting for that very question the whole time, Chip gave a smug, victorious grin. Then the buff earth pony leaned in close, his breath strong enough to make even a vampony yearn for garlic. "Why don't you show us what you got between your legs."

"I can't!" Glide's heart had never before pumped so fast, panic gripping it with an icy tentacle. "I'm not supposed to show any pony what's between my legs. That's bad."

"Who told you that? Your parents? Oh wait, you don't have any 'cause they probably wanted a real colt instead of a fag like you."

Legs losing their strength, Glide fell to the floor. Sobs began to whack his body and tears leaked from his eyes with a firm refusal to ever stop. Even picked up and shoved up against a wall wasn't enough to dent the flow of tears.

Chip licked his lips. "Fine then. If you won't let us check between your legs like a good little filly, then I guess I'll just have to see if you kiss like a filly instead. And I bet a gay turd like you will love every moment. I'll bet this is what you wanted the whole time. Just trying to play coy, I guess." With that Chip gave a slow wink before leaning in for the kiss. Earth pony strength easily held the smaller pony in place as the pegasus struggled in vain to somehow escape.

"Please, stop! The only pony being gay here is you!!" The next thing Glide knew was agony rippling through his body emanating from the sudden punch to his gut. He collapsed to the ground, clutching at his belly and attempting to curl up into a ball. An attempt which was thwarted by a the sudden pressure of a hoof pressing into his throat, which made it hard to breath. Slowly Glide looked up into the eyes of the larger pony, tears still streaming out of his own eyes, and felt as if he were staring into death itself.

"Listen bitch, don't ever call me gay. I am not a broken freak like you. Now kiss me or else!" The smaller pony was easily picked up and shoved against the wall again. Escape seemed truly hopeless and their lips were a mere fraction of a second away from touching when-

"Hey, leave her alone!!!" A sudden voice called out. There wasn't any time before a sienna blur tackled into Chip and sent him skidding a rather impressive distance away. Glide also fell to the floor where he curled up and timidly hid his face behind his wings. Although he couldn't help peeking out between his feathers at the unicorn colt now standing protectively over him.

Chip shot up with a furious glint in his eyes. "What the buck is wrong with you!? I'm going to beat your plot into next week."

The protective pony, with his striking triple-toned mane and stylish jacket, didn't seem the least bit fazed by the threat. From his position on the floor Glide was unable to see the younger version of Nova dismissively rolling his eyes. "I'm not surprised to find that you're so desperate for a kiss, but you can't just force one like that. She doesn't have to kiss you if she doesn't want to!"

It should've been quite the dramatic moment as Nova struck a heroic pose. But the moment was instead ruined as Chip, and his two goons who were apparently still there, began laughing uproariously.

"H-Hey, what are you laughing at?"

It took awhile for Chip to catch enough of his breath to answer. "Maybe you should take a closer look at your damsel in distress."

"What do you mean?"

Nova looked at the pony huddled on the floor and for a moment red slitted-eyes met with rich hazel eyes. But only for the briefest of moments before Glide quickly hid his face deeper into his wings in fear. He'd never seen a pony before with fangs and such scary eyes. When he finally chanced a peek between his feathers again he found the other colt still looking at him with a confused head tilt, while slowly examining his body. Having another colt staring at him like that made it impossible for him to avoid blushing, causing Glide to be silently thankful that most of his face was still obscured by his wings.

It took a painfully long time before Nova's eyes suddenly lit in realization and his cheeks lit up with a blush. Their eyes met once again as Nova rushed to apologize. "Oh, you're a colt aren't you? I'm so sorry. I didn't realize. And I swear I didn't mean to insult you, please forgive me."

Their moment was interrupted by raucous laughter. "See. He's just a stupid femcolt fag who needs to learn his-"

"HOW DARE YOU!!!" Nova's horn glowed dark blue, his magic amplifying his voice to a level that made the entire hallway shake, as he spun around to face the bully with great fury and contempt. Even his fashionable jacket seemed to bristle in anger. "How dare you treat him like that? I'll bet you don't even know a damn thing about him, do you? You need to learn to show some bucking respect you insufferable twat!"

"That's it! Let's get him." A throughly pissed off Chip, and his two goons who had still been just standing around, rushed towards Nova.

Nova however merely stood still, completely unfazed. Before they could overtake him, his magic engulfed the two goons and casually tossed them aside. All before a powerful blast of kinetic energy escaped his horn, hitting Chip square in the chest. The earth pony was sent flying into a wall from which he collapsed to the ground, where he wheezed in a desperate attempt to return air to his lungs as tears streamed down his face. Seeing this, the two goons ran off screaming.

"Are you okay?" The voice was compassionate. But Glide refused to look as he shivered behind his wings, completely terrified of the scary looking colt who seemed to possess an impressive amount of magical aptitude for his age. Of course this lead to the poor pegasus nearly leaping out of his feathers when he suddenly felt something poke his back, and he froze in fear letting out a pitiful whimper. Only for the foreign object, a hoof, to prove benign as it began to gently rub his back. And then the voice repeated. "Are you okay?"

Slowly peeking out from behind his wings, he once again locked gazes with the other colt. This time the red slitted-eyes were unexpectedly gentle. Control slipped away from Glide as he got up and quickly embraced the other colt before crying profusely into his shoulder.

"It's okay. You're safe now." Nova reassured with a caring tone as he nuzzled the smaller colt and continued rubbing his back. "Come on, let's go find some adults and get that dick of a jerk in trouble. Okay?"

Without a word Glide let the other pony gently guide his steps down the hall, crying all the way.

<--->

"Do you want to play doctor?"

To say the question caught Glide off guard would be quite the understatement. His head had been swimming in the metaphorical clouds as he thought over recent events before the unexpected question had popped him back to reality. Glide and Nova, who had only recently learned each others names, had just spent the better part of an hour repeating the story of Chip's bullying over and over to various interested adults. Having just been dismissed they had found themselves aimlessly wandering the halls before Nova's question came out of the blue.

"So, do you?" Nova asked again. "Equus to Glide, are you even listening?"

Blushing a bit, Glide realized he had to reply. Not wanting to be rude he managed to stammer out a response. "Oh, uh, play doctor? W-What do you mean?"

"You know, doctor." Nova added a wink and nudge for emphasis. "I know a couple of fillies who love to play. They take their health very seriously and always insist they get a full physical examination."

"Oh! You mean play with some fillies."

Now it was Nova's turn to blush. "O-Of course I meant with fillies! You are into fillies, right? ...Or are you into, you know, other colts?"

For a brief moment Glide faltered in his stride as the question hit him. Nova had so far been nicer to him than anypony else he'd yet to meet and the last thing Glide wanted was to lose a potential new friend. But he just knew what would happen if he told the truth. If he dared breath a word of the truth then everypony would find out, everypony would tease him mercilessly, and he would never have any friends! Faced with such dire consequences, Glide looked away guiltily and lied through his teeth. "O-Of course I'm into fillies. Why wouldn't I be? I totally love them! You can never have too much, um, too many fillies... right?"

"I know, right? So come one, let's go get those fillies!"

"No, wait!!" Glide called out, stopping the other colt before he could run off too far. "I can't. I mean I, that is to say, I don't know how. I mean, I know how to play doctor but I've never actually played before. A-And I'm worried that I'll mess up and they'll laugh at me. I'm sorry. Maybe we could find something else to do?"

Nova tilted his head and rubbed his chin in thought with a forehoof. But the moment was quick to pass as Nova's eyes subsequently lit up with an idea. "No problem! I'll teach you everything I know, and trust me I know a lot about this. We can even practice on each other 'til you get it right. All we need is to find someplace private. Come on, I know just the place!"

Glide's eyes widened at the prospect and he found himself momentarily speechless. Meanwhile, Nova grabbed the smaller pegasus' hoof and pulled him down the hallway at a fast trot.

All the blushing pegasus managed was a quiet, embarassed nicker.

<--->

"Now the key is to massage in circles like this using your pastern. Understand?"

Glide's crimson face nodded in understanding as he desperately tried to ignore the situation he was in. Tried to ignore the fact that he was laying on a bed while Nova fondled and massaged certain sensitive parts of his body. The young pegasus dared not speak for fear of the sounds that might just escape from his mouth.

True to his word the young Nova had sequestered his pegasus companion to a private locale, his sparse bedroom, where he proceeded to give a very hooves-on lesson in the art of playing doctor. Including a thorough wing massage that had left the gasping pegasus completely defenseless to the continued ministrations. Nova meanwhile, continued the lesson. Blissfully unbothered by the throbbing rise he was getting out of the smaller colt.

"Now when I get to this part I like to tell the filly to simply close her eyes and enjoy. Then when she isn't expecting it I'll use my tongue, which is totally awesome by the way. But..." Nova trailed off and for the first time since they'd started blushed slightly himself. "But I'm afraid you'll have to practice that part with an actual filly. In fact I think that's about all I can teach you for now. Okay?"

Another simple nod as Glide squirmed a bit from the pleasurable sensations that softly pulsed through him. Quickly biting his tongue to hold back a verbal complaint as the feelings stopped. Instead Glide just laid there, his heart pounding in his chest. "So we're done now?"

With a friendly smile, Nova held out a hoof and helped pull the smaller pony back up onto his hooves. "Nope. Now it's your turn so I can make sure you've learned everything I taught you." Once the previously occupied spot on the bed was emptied, Nova laid down on it and unzipped his jacket. He didn't remove it entirely though, merely stuffed the material around his sides. Still, the action left his furry chest and sides exposed. "Alright, now show me what you've learned."

For a moment Glide was awestruck at the sight before him. With his jacket around his sides, exposing an impressive muscle tone for his age, Nova looked like an unwrapped present ready for Glide's tender touch. Glide was literally shaking from nervous anticipation.

"Come on. Don't be shy." Nova gently coaxed. "This is just practice dude, so for now I'm all yours. Okay?"

A nervous gulp at the prospect was made much more difficult as Glide discovered just how dry his mouth suddenly was. Unable to think of any way to escape or stall any further, nor did he truly want to, Glide approached the larger colt with unsteady hoofsteps.

With a rapid heartbeat and erratic breathing, Glide soon stood over the other colt. Shaking too much to lift a hoof for fear of losing balance. It seemed as if the pegasus was on the verge of losing his nerve as he looked over the task at hoof, but then his hazel eyes met Nova's eyes. The red slitted-eyes seemed to pierce into his soul. Yet the gaze was as benevolent as it was intense, and seemed to convey a feeling a trust. As their gazes broke, Glide felt his breathing calm as a cool confidence began flowing through him. Heart still racing the pegasus lifted a now only slightly shaky forehoof and pressed it firmly against Nova's dreamy chest.

Painstakingly slowly, Glide's forehoof drew a line along the tantalizing curvature of the chest. As he felt the colt's smooth muscles, Glide felt a growing sense of excitement that masked his previous nervousness. Slowly, yet slightly quicker than before, Glide raised his other forehoof and used it to trace along Nova's side. Glide soon got lost in the moment as he massaged his partner in earnest.

"That's a good start." Nova's praise was like honey to Glide's ears. "Now try escalating things with a belly rub."

Without further hesitation, the forehoof rubbing Nova's side moved to his soft belly. Nova clearly found himself in heaven as the hoof pushed into his belly and drew circles all over it. A fact quickly made evident as he let out a slight moan while his eyes rolled back, tongue hung out, and one of his hind legs began unconsciously twitching.

Watching his partner melt in such a manner at his touch was the cutest thing Glide had ever seen. There was also a certain thrill to be felt at having power over another, coupled beautifully with the intimacy felt at knowing said power wielded pleasure. Spurred on by the slight moans escaping his partners lips, Glide leaned down and nuzzled into the other colt's furry chest. The sensation of another's fur against him was divine and the vibrations of another's heartbeat sent shivers of pleasure down Glide's spine. Deeply he breathed in the other colt's scent. It was musky and sweet. Making Glide feel lightheaded and giddy.

Careful to keep the belly rub going with a hoof, Glide slid the upper half of his body onto the upper half of Nova's body. The feeling of their furry bodies rubbing together made Glide coo softly under his breath and made his wings stiffen. Soon the pegasus was nuzzling into his partner's neck. Breathing in the rich, musky scent while giving Nova several sensual licks and nibbles along his neck and withers.

The moment, a slice of heaven for Glide, was interrupted as Nova giggled from the stimulation of such a ticklish spot. "Wow dude, you're doing an amazing job! I think somepony is ready for a real filly." Gently, Nova nudged the smaller colt off of him.

Glide quickly shot up. His eyes widening in horror and his body shaking from the realization of just how lost in the moment he had truly been. If a face could melt from blushing, his would've. "I'm sorry! I didn't take things too far, did I? I was just practicing, for a real filly, like you wanted. I swear!"

"Calm down dude. It's fine." Nova reassured with a charming laugh. "Now come on, Doctor Glide. I've got an itch that only an actual filly can scratch. So let's make our imaginary doctorates proud and get us a couple of patients!"

"Wait!" Glide just had to know. "Why are you doing all this for me. I mean, most ponies just ignore me... or whisper."

A look of bafflement crossed Nova's features as he tilted his head. "'Cause you're my friend. Duh!"

"Friend!? B-But we just met! How can we already be friends? Why would you even want to be friends with, with a pony like me? I look like a filly. If you be my friend then ponies will probably start nasty rumors about you. How could you ever want that?" Tears started to cloud Glide's vision as he suddenly realized just how hopeless this new potential friendship truly was.

Before the tears could escape, Glide found himself wrapped in a gentle hug as Nova proceeded to nuzzle and reassure the pegasus. "Don't talk like that. Of course I want to be your friend. Why would I care how you look? My mom always used to tell me that all ponies deserve to be loved and cared for. Why would you be the exception? So I'm going to be your friend, I'm going to stick by your side no matter what, and I won't let any bullies mistreat you anymore. I promise you on my honour. And screw what any idiot thinks of us! If they aren't going to play nice then who gives a flying pony feather what they think!?"

"T-Thank you!" The threatened tears finally spilled as Glide wrapped his forehooves around Nova, jacket and all, in a tight hug. It was a little too tight as Nova winced and fidgeted to a surprising degree before pushing the pegasus' hooves lower around him. Despite the overwhelming happiness, Glide couldn't help feeling concerned by the unusual reaction. "Is everything alright?"

"Uh, y-yeah. I just have a sensitive back, that's all."

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know"

"Don't worry about it. I didn't expect you to. Now seriously, let's get to the fillies already. I'm tired of waiting!" Nova gently pulled out of the pegasus' grip and leapt off the bed. As he stalked towards the door he wriggled his flank for extra empathsis and added. "We've got some sweet flank waiting for us. I promise."

Glide heard the words and yet felt himself far more drawn to the flank in front of him as he leapt off the bed to follow the other colt. Watching the way is swayed made Glide's heart race and his cheeks blush. He felt like pouncing and giving the flank a nice long lick, but had far too much self control to ever actually do such. Still, he felt like swooning as he thought of Nova's sexy form, piercing yet loving slitted-eyes, and the way the larger colt had held him close and told him that he deserved to be loved. Like the perfect colt from right out of his dreams.

There was no doubt about it. Glide had already fallen smitten with Nova.

But there was nothing that could be done about it. Nova was clearly into fillies. And there was no doubt in Glide's mind that if ever so much as breathed a word of his infatuation, then he'd lose the only friend he'd ever had. Not to mention that he'd also be branded a liar for telling Nova that he was into fillies. No doubt the lie would make Nova hate him!

So Glide took the only reasonable action he could and pushed the newly formed crush to the back of his mind with a hearty headshake. Hopefully, if he didn't let himself dwell on the crush then it would probably just go away in a couple, or a few, weeks.

Right?

Of course he was right! Glide refused to entertain any other possibilities as he followed his newfound friend out of the room. Slamming the door behind him on both the room and, more importantly, his doubts.

A Lunch Date

Manehatten was a sprawling metropolis. And while that is a generic description, it is also an accurate one. The city was filled with buildings that reached up high and colorful ponies that dreamed even higher. During the day its myriad of streets were filled with carriages and it copious sidewalks were filled with dozen upon dozens of ponies. Each going about their own unique lives.

It was during just such a day, a sunny and cheerful day as well, that two particular ponies were traversing one of those very sidewalks. Both somewhat smaller than the majority of the ponies surrounding them. One was a rather feminine bodied colt, named Glide. And the other was of course Nova, whose horn was currently lit up a pleasing sky blue as he carried several shopping bags just above him. Shopping bags filled with various materials needed to finish their Nightmare Night costumes for the upcoming holiday.

From a distance one could easily be forgiven for mistaking them as a couple. Up close one could still be forgiven for such a mistake. And it was unfortunately a far too common mistake which thankfully hadn't actually happened in awhile.

Poor Glide and Nova just couldn't help it that they apparently looked so gosh darned 'cute together'.

That however was the furthest thing from their minds as they arrived at their current destination. It was a relatively small cafe which they often frequented for its great food and decent prices. It was also a distinct possibility that part of Nova's love for the cafe may have been related to the fact that the owner's daughter often liked to make out with him during her breaks.

But be that as it may, Nova and Glide took their usual spots in the cafe before ordering. A flavourful iced tea for Glide. And a coffee for Nova that consisted of more sugar than caffeine. They also ordered a very large salad bowl to share. Although in reality Glide would usually just end up nibbling at the salad while Nova steadily gobbled it down with an impressive gusto. On any other day Glide would've joked about his best friend secretly being half hippo. But with a glance at a nearby table, where an actual hippo sat eating ten of the same sized salad bowls, the young pegasus seemed to deem his usual joke to not be the most appropriate, or culturally sensitive, thing to say on that particular day.

So instead, as their meal began in earnest, Glide decided to start a different conversation. "Hey Nova, how's everything been going with your new fillyfriend?"

"Great! She's cute and a lot of fun. Was pretty innocent too. But now I think it's safe to say that her new favorite number is sixty-nine, if you know what I mean!" Nova gave a deliberately exaggerated wink to his now eye-rolling friend. "Oh, and I was thinking of inviting her to join us trick-or-treating on Nightmare Night."

"What!? You can't do that. We always do that together!"

A playful smirk broke across Nova's face. "You jealous?"

"No." Glide briefly glanced away with a blushing pout. "It's just that we always go trick-or-treating together, in matching costumes. She doesn't have a costume like that and, um, I don't even know her that well. I mean her name specifically, I don't even know her name!"

"So what? Join the club." Nova waved a hoof dismissively. "I don't know her name either. I just call her freckles, cutie, sexy, or even pigtails sometimes. But I don't know her actual name. And I don't think she's even noticed."

At that Glide was obviously quite flabbergasted. "How is that possible? You've been with her everyday for nearly a week."

There was a pause as Nova took a drink of his caffeinated sugar water. A suspiciously long drink, during which he avoided meeting his best friend's eyes. Before finally confronting the question. "Dude, I'm only one colt! I can't be expected to remember the names of every single filly I've ever been with. You know me. I'm nowhere near as picky as you. Who was even the last filly you dated?"

"You know who." Glide's defeated tone was muffled as he buried his head in his forelegs and wings, while letting his ears droop in regret.

"Oh, the one whose name should never be spoken." The tone Nova spoke with was cold and spiteful. Which made the following pause all the more tense as Glide refused to show his face and Nova quietly munched on their salad. The pause ended just as abrubtly as it had started after Nova loudly swallowed. "Was that bitch really the last filly you dated?"

Finally Glide peeked out of his wings and hazel eyes met with red, slitted ones. "Y-Yeah, she was. I can't believe I was such an idiot with her. It was all my fault." Tears threatened to escape from the pegasus' watery eyes.

"It was not your fault!!!"

Attention was drawn to their table by Nova's sudden outburst, causing Glide to retreat back into the sanctity of his wings. Meanwhile, Nova chuckled nervously and sunk down low, half hiding behind the salad bowl, as he waited for their impromptu audience to lose interest in them. After attention finally shifted off of them, Nova carefully made his way around the table and gently wrapped a reassuring foreleg around his smaller friend. Glide gave a cute, little squeak of surprise from the sudden contact, before peeking back out of his wings and meeting his best friend's gaze once again.

"It was not your fault." Nova repeated with a soothing, yet firm, tone. He affectionately nuzzled his best friend's face to help wipe away the tears. "The one who shall not be named was a bitch. It's as simple as that. And what she tried to do was completely inexcusable. You deserve far better than her."

There was no hesitation in nuzzling his friend in return, yet Glide still seemed quite unconvinced. His quiet voice filled with tremors. "S-Sometimes I just feel so broken. Why couldn't I be a good coltfriend and just give her what she wanted?"

Quickly, Nova wrapped his other foreleg around and pulled the pegasus into a firm hug, causing Glide to blush heavily. A fact which didn't bother Nova in the least as his nuzzling intensified. "You're not broken. I know that I have no problem jumping into bed with a filly who's willing, but there's no shame in preferring to form a more emotional relationship first. And if that bitch had really cared about you then she would never have tried to force you into anything you weren't ready for yet. You did nothing wrong. And she wasn't good enough for you!"

"B-But I couldn't even fulfill her needs and-"

"No buts, dude. Just because you two weren't compatible doesn't mean you did anything wrong. She should've just respected the difference between you two and politely broken up with you. What she did instead was despicable."

"Or maybe... Maybe I just wasn't good enough for her. After all, what makes me so special?"

Nova backed off a bit and gazed right into the pegasus' eyes with the most incredulous look he could muster. "What makes you so special? What doesn't!? You're the prettiest colt I've ever met. I know you don't really like the way you look, but I've met plenty of fillies who were totally into more feminine colts and quite a few of them expressed a strong interest in you. Honestly you'd have a much better time with fillies if you would just take the initiative a little more often... Seriously Glide, no homo or anything, but you also have a great plot!" Just to drive the point home, Nova added a wink to his final statement.

By that point Glide's blush had won the battle for control over his face and he quickly hugged his best friend in a tight grip as he nuzzled into the larger colt's neck. "Thank you Nova. Thank you so much! You always know just what to say." A gentle sigh escaped Glide's muzzle and he spoke in a much softer tone. "You're absolutely perfect."

"Yeah right dude, we both know that isn't true." Nova gave a light chuckle. "But thanks for the sentiment."

The pegasus' heart gave a sudden flinch and he blushed profusely, as if only just realizing that he'd spoken his previous statement out loud. However, Glide still still owned up to it, even if he had to avert his eyes while doing so. "Well, you're perfect to me."

"Oh, um, t-thank you. That's very sweet of you to say." It was finally Nova's turn to feel his own cheeks redden into a blush.

What followed was an awkward moment where neither of the two blushing colts were able to bring themselves to look each other in the eyes. Instead their eyes sort of just darted around with seemingly a volition of their own. 'Til, by pure happenstance, their gazes finally met once more. It was a moment simultaneously uncomfortable and surprisingly intimate.

A moment during which Nova found himself acutely aware of his best friend as they were wrapped up in one another's embrace. From the softness of feathers as one of his hoofs traced slowly along a wing. To the sweet, surprisingly pleasant, smell of the pegasus' scent. And even Glide's rapid heartbeat, which pumped blood in sync to the rhythm of Nova's own heart.

"Oh just kiss already!" A third voice suddenly spoke up.

And thus the intimate moment came to a sudden end as Glide scrambled away from his best friend and ducked behind his wings. Nova however just laughed it off and returned to his spot at the table.

But he wasn't the only one laughing. So too was the owner of the third voice, Sugar Spice. An orangish unicorn filly with a long, silky mane as black as the night sky. Instead of stars her mane had several mane-clips, each of which sported a rather cute, chibi skull design with various facial expressions. Her eyes and magic were a verdant forest green as she used her magic to pull out a small notebook and pencil from the pocket of the adorable apron she was wearing. Still it took her another moment to catch her breath from laughing before she was able to speak up once again. But when she did her voice was akin to honey. "So, you two lovebirds want some dessert or do you already have each other for that?"

Nova wasn't fazed in the least by the remark as he made an exaggerated show of rolling his eyes. "Nah, we'll just take our usuals instead. We're not interested in playing out the events of your yaoi fan fictions."

"Humph, I don't know what you could possibly be referring to!" Sugar's haughty look as she feigned offense quickly morphed into a false pout as she brought her hooves to her eyes to rub away nonexistent tears. "And it's not my fault you two look so cute together. I'm clearly the victim here." The filly's laughter was renewed to full strength once more.

Just before Nova could speak up to more seriously cull the teasing, Glide beat him to it by peeking out of his wings and speaking in a quiet voice that just felt miserable. "Please Sugar, just stop."

Immediately all laughter stopped and an awkward silence followed.

But it was quickly broken by adorable squeak of surprise from Glide, as Sugar lunged forward and wrapped him up in a firm hug. Without hesitation she nuzzled the lithe pegasus and apologized. "I'm sorry. I heard the tail-end of your conversation and was just trying to cheer you up with some teasing and the promise of dessert. But I should've taken your feelings into consideration. Can you find it in your heart to forgive me?"

At the sight of his best friend trying his hardest to hold back laughter, Glide's blush intensified. The pegasus only struggled for but a moment longer before relaxing and releasing a defeated sigh. "O-Of course I forgive you, Sugar. It's not your fault that I'm such a loser."

"You are not!" Sugar beat Nova to the punch and gave Glide a quick kiss on the cheek. "Like Nova said, what Amber did was not-"

Nova's sudden cough drew the attention of his friends. "Don't you mean, 'the one who shall not be named'?"

"No. I mean Amber." Sugar rolled her eyes during her reply before briefly sticking her tongue out at Nova. "As I was saying, what Amber did was terrible. But it was never your fault. Okay?"

Before Glide could reply he was suddenly sandwiched as Nova joined the snuggle express. With two ponies nuzzling him so strongly in a public cafe, Glide lifted his wings to block his blushing cheeks and gave a soft sigh. "I s-suppose you both can't be wrong. Maybe Amber really was just a bitch."

"That's the spirit!" Excited to see her friend somewhat cheered up, Sugar sprung back and gave her biggest, waitress mode, smile. "Now you two sit back and finish your main course. I'll have your desserts out faster than a speeding arrow. Enjoy your snuggles!" And with that Sugar left to take a few more orders for other customers before grabbing their desserts.

In the meantime, Nova returned to his side of the table and resumed shoveling salad into his mouth.

Glide just watched blankly for a few moments before finally speaking up, his voice containing only the slightest tremor. "Do you think I should, you know, get back in the dating game?"

With a head tilt, Nova forced the contents of his mouth down with a loud gulp before finishing off the rest of his drink in a single swig. "Honestly? I think you should do whatever makes you happy. But I don't see how having a fillyfriend could be a bad thing. Especially with me here to shoo away any who want to take advantage of you."

"You'd really do that for me?"

"Well, duh!" Nova rolled his eyes. "Since when have I not done that for you?"

Before Glide had a chance to agree, a rising sound from a nearby table in the cafe rose to the point of interrupting everypony's dining experience. Turns out that a young couple from a few tables down had erupted into a loud argument. And it wasn't pretty.

"So, it's all about your needs then? Well what about my needs? Where were you when I needed you to pick me up after my twelve-hour shift? Just lazing around and sleeping!?"

"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to. I was just tired after working on-"

"Your sorry! Well, I'm sorry, was my widdle stallion all tired from painting for a couple hours? Did he need a nappy to feel all better? How about a big ol' hug from his wife, who only managed to work ALL BUCKING DAY!!"

"B-But I also had a headache all day and-"

"Well my whole body ached! Did you think of that? Do you ever stop and think of me and my feelings? NO!!! 'Cause here we are on our anniversary, which you promised would be the best one yet, and we're eating at some random cheap cafe! You said you made reservations somewhere nice. You said you bought me an amazing gift I never got. And yet here we are. Are you just a liar? Do I even mean anything to you!?"

"Of course you do! I love you!!! And I did make reservations at the best restaurant in the city, but a visiting princess wanted to eat there and they pushed our reservation to a later date at the last minute. And I swear on my life, I bought you the most amazing gift ever from the world famous Carousel Boutique. But then some derby-eyed mailmare came over and tried to apologize for losing the expensive gift. She tried to apologize with muffins of all things. I swear!"

"Oh please. Do you really expect me to buy any of those half-plotted excuses? Why can't you just admit that you're a terrible pony who can't even remember our own wedding anniversary!?"

The mare broke into hysteric tears as her husband tried with a vain desperation to console her.

Meanwhile Nova, and the rest of the cafe, watched the entire scene unfold. Now the cafe was eerily quiet as no pony was quite sure what to do. No pony that is except Nova. The colt's horn and eyes were glowing a light sky-blue, as he narrowed the latter and stared at the couple for nearly ten full seconds. Before he cut his flow of magic and gave a terse nod towards the situation with a look of pure determination.

Glide bit his lip nervously as he watched the gears turn behind his best friend’s eyes. His ears twitched in recognition as a small bag of bits, guided by Nova’s magic, landed on the table with a soft clank. The two friends shared the briefest of glances before Glide let out a soft sigh of defeat and swept up the bag of bits with a wing. Without even a word, the pegasus calmly trotted out of the cafe with a quickened pace.

Satisfied that his best friend knew what to do, Nova took a deep calming breath and approached the arguing couple. At first they didn’t notice his presence, so he loudly cleared his throat.

“What do you want!?” The mare, already at the end of her rope, snapped at the colt.

But Nova wasn’t even fazed in the least as he smiled up at the two larger ponies. “Say cheese!” Before they could react his horn flashed as he released a spell right into their faces.

The young couple yelped simultaneously and rubbed their eyes to get rid of the painful brightness. As their sight returned their gazes at first went to the source of their woe, but the spot no longer held any pony, so naturally they began to look around. And that’s when their gazes met. They froze, their eyes widening as their strongest memories of one another flooded their minds. Every moment they’d ever spent loving and comforting one another.

Suddenly the mare leapt around the table and wrapped herself around her stallion in a tight embrace as tears flowed down her face. She nuzzled him intensely. “I’m so so sorry. I-I didn’t mean to yell. I know you must have tried your best for our anniversary, and it’s not your fault everything went wrong. I love you!”

“I love you too! And I’m the one who’s sorry. I should’ve never let a stupid, little headache stop me from being there for you.” The stallion clung to her just as tightly as he lost control of his tears and nuzzled her back.

Meanwhile, Nova watched with a satisfied grin as the two continued apologizing back and forth before deciding to just make out with each other. But the colt wasn’t done with the two of them quite yet.

It was then, as if on cue, that Glide arrived back at the cafe in a flurry of rapid hoofsteps.

The young pegasus was out of breath from the quick trip he had taken to the flower shop and back. It had been several blocks away and he'd been quite hasty. But the trip had been successful as Glide now held a bouquet of roses securely under a wing. Continuing to catch his breath, Glide did nothing to resist as his best friend took the flowers in his magic and held them aloft before re-approaching the previously arguing couple.

"Excuse me, sir?" Nova spoke in a firm tone, which immediately drew the attention of the couple. The colt gave an innocent smile as he magically held the roses up to them. "I'm here to deliver the flowers you ordered."

"You got me flowers!?" The mare excitedly scooped up the bouquet and deeply breathed in their sweet scent.

"I did?" The stallion gave a confused glance towards the colt, who only nodded in return with a wink. It took a second longer than it perhaps should've before understanding filled the stallion's features. "I mean, I did!"

Nova's smile brightened. "That's not all he did for you ma'am. He also got you a special couple's massage. Just go east down Mane St. for five blocks and you'll see a prominent massage parlor where they'll be expecting you. Just tell them you ordered the Nova Special, you won't regret it."

The mare gave an excited squeal and nuzzled into her lover even more passionately. Meanwhile, the stallion shared a glance at the colt and mouthed his thanks. Nova merely nodded in response. The two exchanged a quick brohoof before parting ways.

With a smug grin adorning his features Nova calmly returned to his spot at the table, where Glide was waiting.

Barely had Nova even sat down before he noticed his best friend staring at him with a less than pleased expression. Feigning ignorance, Nova met his friend's gaze with one of mild confusion. "Is something wrong?"

"I've told you before. I don't like you doing that!" Glide responded immediately with concern. "It doesn't feel right to just mess with other pony's emotions like that. I know you were just trying to help, okay? But do you really think that it's, um, you know... ethical, to do something like that?"

"And I've told you a million times, there's nothing 'unethical' about Empathy Magic." Nova rolled his eyes. "All that spell I used does is make the target recall the strongest emotional moments they've shared with whomever's eyes they look into. And... I enchanted my eyes first to view their emotional connection, just to make sure they didn't actually secretly hate each other. Okay? Does that make you happy?"

"No." The pegasus crossed his forelegs with a huff. "It still doesn't feel right."

"Well, don't blame me then. Blame my old foalsitter for teaching me." A moment passed during which Nova rubbed his chin in thought before a confident smirk emerged. "I know! How about I show you firsthoof just how harmless it is?"

Glide's face became a mixture of confusion and worry. "And how exactly do you plan to do that?"

"Simple. I just the cast the spell on the two of us. Then you'll see that the spell can't make you do anything you didn't already want to. How does that sound?" The confident smirk quickly soured as Nova witnessed his best friend's reaction.

Wings suddenly covered Glide's face as he flinched away shivering. "No no no, don't cast it on me!!"

"Whoa dude, calm down! What's wrong?"

"I-I just don't want it cast on me. Please!" His shaking started to increase as Glide started to hyperventilate. Only to squeak adorably as Nova suddenly wrapped his friend in another deep hug. Immediately Glide relaxed as he nuzzled into his friend's neck and deeply breathed in his scent. Slowly, as the pegasus calmed down, he peeked out from behind his wings.

"Feeling better?" Nova's face was nothing but genuine concern.

Quickly Glide nuzzled back into his friend's neck in a vain attempt to hide his heavy blush. "Y-yeah. I'm fine. Sorry for overreacting. I-I'm just worried that I'll embarrass myself in front of everypony if you cast that spell on me."

"I'm sure it won't be any worse than the snuggling we're already doing. And no pony is even paying any attention to us right now." Nova smiled reassuringly and added to his still clearly worried friend. "But even still, you know I would never cast anything on you without your full consent. Right?"

"Uh-huh." A timid nod was all Glide managed as he continued trying to hide his blush.

A warm smile erupted on Nova's face. "Great! Now, our desserts should be here any second, so if you don't mind..." Gently pushing off of his best friend, Nova returned to his side of the table where he proceeded to pick up their salad and dumped the contents into his mouth.

Barely had the large colt finished swallowing when Sugar arrived back at their table with two fresh, steaming pie slices held aloft in her green magic glow, a pitcher of milk and two cups balanced on her back. Effortlessly, with a smirk firmly planted on her muzzle, she swept their used dishes off the table and placed their pie slices in front of the expected recipients. Then she gave a little curtsy as she lifted the pitcher and filled up their new cups as they floated onto the table. Only then, in a voice as sweet as honey, did she speak. "Would either of you two like some extra sugar with that?"

"No thanks. I currently have a fillyfriend." Nova gently turned down the offer before smirking impishly at Glide. "But I know a certain somepony who could definitely use some extra sugar.

Doing his best to ignore the quick nod of understanding from Sugar, Glide gave a dry gulp and stammered out a reply. "N-N-No thanks. Really, I'm fine right-"

"Too late!!!" Sugar glomped the lithe pegasus and locked her lips to his.

The kiss was long and passionate, just like all of Sugar's kisses. When she finally pulled away she left behind a mostly frozen pegasus. Only his wings and a single eye twitched in response. And a light blush graced his cheeks. It seemed as if Glide was having some trouble taking in what had just happened to him.

Nova, meanwhile, couldn't stop himself from chuckling at the sight.

"Feel better now?" Sugar's voice was laced with genuine concern. "I've been thinking and I think you need to find a new fillyfriend. I promise it won't be as bad as last time."

Glide winced at the thought as he returned to his senses. "H-How can you be sure. It'll probably just be like last time. I don't want to go through all that again." He let out a defeated sigh.

But Sugar wasn't going to let him fall into a slump that easily. She briefly silenced him with a hoof gently pressed against his lips, and looked him straight in the eyes. "'Cause I know you, Glide. I respect you. And I for one would never treat you the way that bitch did. So... wanna go out with me sometime?"

"With you? I-I don't know. This is all so sudden!" Nervously, Glide rubbed the back of his head with a wing and looked towards his best friend with a pleading look. "What do you think, Nova?"

Nova may have misinterpreted his friend's intention as he smiled and threw in his support. "I think that's a great idea. Sugar's awesome! There's a reason I've dated her so many times before. Even if things don't work out she would never treat you harshly, unless you legitimately did something stupid enough to deserve it. So, come on Glide, what have you got to lose? Just give her a chance."

With a defeated sigh, Glide finally gave in after another moment's pause. "Oh. Okay then, I guess it couldn't hurt."

"Great! Meet me here tomorrow for lunch, I'll take us out somewhere nice where my dad doesn't own the place. Otherwise we'll never get any privacy. Oh, and enjoy your desserts." Sugar quickly gave Glide another kiss on his cheek before sauntering off with a deliberately alluring sway to her hips.

Once she was gone, Nova looked towards his best friend with a big ol' grin. "You're a lucky colt, dude. Don't try denying it. I know you must be excited for this, she's hot."

"Oh yeah, of course." Glide weakly agreed refusing to look directly at his friend, thus causing him to miss an eye-roll directed at him. "Can't wait to start dating another filly."

Nova chose to accept the words at face value with a nod, believing the dour tone to merely be a side effect of his friend's nerves. "That's the spirit! Trust me, you're going to have a lot of fun with Sugar. She can be as sweet as her namesake. Just don't piss her off, okay?"

No response, however, was given as Glide quietly began eating his pie. Obviously already lost in his own thoughts.

<--->

An evening chill settled over the city of Manehatten as Nova and Glide finally began to return home from their day out on the town. A day filled with fabric shopping, an exciting lunch, and the infinite pleasure that is mini-golf. But as the two tuckered ponies walked down the block, shopping bags hovering gently above them, there was only one thing still fresh on Nova's mind. It created a playful smirk upon the larger colt's face as he stole glances at his best friend.

Meanwhile, Glide did his best to pretend he didn't notice. But the growing blush on his face as they approached the block where the orphanage was located, betrayed just how aware of it he truly was.

However, all was quiet as neither colt spoke aloud on the matter.

"So... Whatcha thinking about?" Nova finally broke the silence between them. Only to immediately have to break it once again when his best friend refused to respond. "Perhaps about your big date with Sugar Spice tomorrow?"

This finally prompted Glide into a response as he refused to meet his friend's eyes. "It's not a big date or anything. Just a normal date, you know? No reason to make a big deal out of it."

"No reason to make a big deal out of it!? Have you seen her plot? ...Trust me, it feels even nicer than it looks." Nova whispered that last part conspiratorially as he leaned in close to his friend, causing a massive blush to spread over the pegasus' cheeks. Before a response could be uttered though, Nova leapt back and continued speaking in a more normal tone. "Besides you haven't even been on a date in moons. How on Equus is this not a big deal to you!?"

A brief moment of silence followed before Glide suddenly perked up and burst forward. "Oh hey look we're home. I'll race ya there!"

"What!? Why you little... wait for me!" Playfully annoyed, Nova tried to speed up after his friend. But the pegasus proved too quick and nimble, making his escape into the orphanage just as Nova reached the walkway leading up to the rather large estate. Normally Nova would've done far better at keeping pace with his best friend, but was unable to speed up very much while maintaining focus on all the items he was magically carrying.

Making it to the door, Nova entered and quickly began the search for his friend whom he was going to glomp like there was no tomorrow for the stunt he'd just pulled. However, barely had he began his search before noticing that something was off.

Everypony was in a tizzy of excited chatter. Eagerly talking, about a wedding of all things, amongst each other.

Noticing Glide up ahead, Nova casually snuck up behind him and whispered in his ear. "What's going on?"

With a startled yelp, Glide gave a little jump and his wings shot out in fear. He calmed hardly a second later and glared at his best friend, who merely looked around innocently in response, before the pegasus sighed. "I'm not sure. But something exciting must be happening. Maybe somepony will tell us."

"Nov-y!" As if on cue, Nova's fillyfriend bounced over to him and wrapped her forelegs around him in a big hug. Quickly he returned the gesture and gave her a deep kiss. She blushed and giggled in response before cracking a huge smile. "Did you hear the big news!?"

"No, what is it?" Nova asked. "Did they finally declare you officially the cutest filly in Equestria? You've certainly earned it."

"No silly!" She laughed and nuzzled her blushing, adorably freckled face against Nova's neck and gave him a few kisses. "Not yet at least. Here, let me show you."

She pulled back from her coltfriend and excitedly retrieved a newspaper out of her mane before practically shoving it in his face. Nova gently grabbed the paper and took a look at it while Glide sidled up to his side and did the same.

PRINCESS OF LOVE TO BE WED

We all know of our beloved Princess Celestia who raises the sun every morning and sets it every evening. And certainly we've all heard of her little sister, Princess Luna, who likewise takes care of the moon. But unless you're a member of the Canterlot elite, you may not have heard of their niece, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, who rules over love.

This matchmaking alicorn spends her time spreading love and taking care of foals. Despite receiving some scrutiny by various nobles over the ethical implications of her use of Empathy Magic, Princess Cadance as she prefers to be called, is beloved by all who she's helped. And now she's getting married. She's found her literal knight in Captain Shining Armor of the Canterlot division of the royal guard. The two are to be wed early spring precisely one moon after Hearts and Hooves day.

Furthermore the princess of love has chosen to grace our fair city of Manehattan with her radiant presence. She'll be staying at the luxurious Crown Plaza Hotel 'til after Nightmare Night. When questioned about it the princess stated that she just needed some time to relax and unwind after the hectic flurry of activity her wedding announcement has stirred up in Canterlot. Regardless of reason, we should feel honoured to have such a vision of beauty and perfection gracing our fair city. Certainly we're not worthy of...

As the newspaper article continued devolving into shamelessly sucking up to the princess, Nova quit reading. His previous cheerful demeanor long since vanquished from his expression.

Quiet Reflection

Princess Cadance was getting married!

Nova stared at the newspaper for an inordinate amount of time as his mind processed what he'd just read. Uncertain how to feel or respond, a plethora of emotions tangled into a confusing web within his psyche.

After a bit too much time passed, Glide gently nudged his best friend and spoke in a concerned tone. "Um, Nova, is everything alright? You've been staring off into space for awhile."

"Isn't it unbelievable!" Nova's fillyfriend cried excitedly. Oblivious to his discomfort.

"O-Oh! Of course." The colt nervously adjusted his jacket. "It's definitely hard to believe. I'm just, I mean, I just realized I need to put all this stuff away. Holding all these bags is really taxing my magic, you know?" Turning away to hide his increasingly distressed expression, Nova began to walk off towards the corridor of hallways which led to his room.

"Do you need any help?" Glide called out. "You know, with putting everything away."

Nova's steps faltered and it took a brief second to regain his balance. Taking a deep breath, he forced his expression to calm and turned to face his best friend, nearly wincing at the worried look he was receiving. "No thank you. I'm fine. Just got to put this stuff away, it won't take long. In the meantime, feel free to keep my cutie-with-a-bootie company, okay?"

After hesitantly biting his lips, Glide gave a nod. "Okay then. See ya, I guess."

"See ya." Before anything else could be said, Nova flared his horns magic so he could carry the bags faster and walked off with a brisk trot. As he left however his twitching ears prevented him from ignoring the conversation behind him.

"Um, is everything okay?" His fillyfriend asked, finally picking up on the tenseness of the situation. "I know my Nov-y doesn't care much for Princess Cadance. Everypony knows that. But still, a royal wedding is a big exciting deal, right?"

"Of course it is!" Glide agreed a little too quickly. "He's just tired out from shopping all day. That's all."

Reaching a corner he needed to turn, Nova paused and continued eavesdropping for a moment longer. Curious to know how his fillyfriend would respond. He was starting to feel guilty about possibly misleading her into blaming herself for his currently conflicted mood.

Thankfully there was nothing to worry about as she eagerly took the bait with a sigh of relief. "Okay. So what were you two shopping for?"

"Just some fabrics and stuff for our Nightmare Night costumes. Apparently they just need some finishing touches."

She gave an excited, little bounce and her eyes lit up with childlike wonder. "What are you two dressing up as. I'm going to be a seapony!" Even her tail was practically wagging, but that wasn't the only reason Nova continued the pause in his departure as he eyed her tantalizing rump.

"It's a seeeecret." Glide teased in a singsong voice, ignoring the puppy dog eyes he got in response. "But actually something else happened today that I could really use your help with."

"Oh really? What is it?"

Pretending to glance around as if it were a secret, Glide leaned in but didn't bother lowering his voice. "A cute filly asked me out on a date tomorrow. But I haven't really dated in awhile and I was wondering if you could maybe help me?"

A loud, attention grabbing, squee escaped her as she quickly wrapped Glide up in a brief hug. "Congratulations! I'd love to. Come on, I know just what to do to make you the cutest colt ever. Well... second actually, after my Nov-y." Not taking no for an answer, she wrapped a foreleg around one of his and dragged the suddenly protesting colt away.

Meanwhile, from his eavesdropping spot around the corner, Nova chuckled at the sight. Quickly he grabbed his bags again and galloped off down the hallway before the two could realize that he hadn't actually left yet.

By the time Nova reached his room there was still a pleasant smirk on his face.

But the pleasantness faded as he entered his room and locked the door behind him. He didn't even bother with the bag of supplies as he tossed them into a corner. Instead his focus was solely on his bed.

With a well-practiced leap onto the covers, Nova landed on the bed and let his jacket slip off before practically tearing off the shirt beneath. Then he laid back and stretched every muscle he had as he let the softness beneath ease his aching back. A soft sigh escaped his lips as he just laid there. Uncertain of what to do now or how to feel in light of recent events.

An eternal moment passed as Nova laid there, staring off distantly towards the ceiling, before he finally lit his horn with its sky-blue aura. Out from under his bed, he pulled an old, well-used box. Ignoring it's weathered appearance he set the metal object on the bed next to him and gently turned the dial on it just right 'til it unlocked with a click. Once open he reached in with a hoof and pulled out a small heart shaped locket made of solid gold, with a chain of genuine silver. There was a small gemstone on each side. More specifically his birthstone, aquamarine.

For a few precious moments Nova merely stared at the locket as a gauntlet of emotions washed over him at the mere sight of it. But the moment passed and he lit his horn once more to briefly wrap his magic around the locket. Just long enough for the enchantment on the locket to recognize his aura and unlock it for him.

Opening the locket revealed an old, yet well-preserved, photograph. It was a picture of Princess Cadance holding a cute foal in her forelegs as she gazed at the camera with a bright smile.

The sight made Nova once again sigh forlornly.

If only it were possible to go back to simpler times. Back when all he'd thought of Princess Cadance was that she was the bestest foalsitter in the whole world. Unfortunately, Nova could do no such thing. In fact dwelling on the past only caused the fleeting happy memories to fade like mist before the scorching sun. A sun burning with the fury of the memories which came next. The memories that ruined his tranquility all those years ago.

In a burst of anger, Nova pulled back his foreleg over his head with the intent to hurl the locket and hope it smashed into a thousand pieces. But with a shaky limb he found himself unable to bring himself to do so. So instead he merely dropped the trinket and crossed his forelegs over his barrel.

Nova tried, oh so hard, to not think of the painful memories. But the harder he tried to ignore them, the stronger they became. Soon he began fidgeting on the bed as his blood boiled over in rage.

Unable to sit still any longer he burst up and quickly dumped the rest of the contents from the weathered box, before tossing the box away. Uncaring that his toss had left the box with yet another dent.

The bed was now covered in all the letters Princess Cadence had ever sent him over the years. Without hesitation, Nova began scrounging through them opening all the most recent ones that he hadn't even bothered to read yet. Looking for a mention, or any hint, that Cadence had fallen in love and planned to marry. Any evidence he could find that the detestable Princess of Love had the decency to inform him of something so critically important.

But as letter after letter proved negative of such information, Nova's great anger only grew.

Finally when seemingly the last letter yielded not a single result, and his entire room was a mess of scattered papers, did Nova finally stand still. Unnaturally still as his breath came out in labored pants of pure fury.

How could she? How could that bitch go and get engaged without so much as telling him!? Was he just not important enough to her? Surely that just couldn't be so. Which begged the question, what was she thinking!?

And then he remembered. The most recent letter he'd received from her was still within his jacket pocket.

With the desperation of a desert pony for a drop of water, Nova lunged for his jacket. Almost unable to even open the pocket on the damn thing as he shook from more emotions than he dared keep account of. But finally he managed to remove the letter and tear it out of its envelope. Taking several deep breathes to steady himself enough to read, Nova held up the paper and slowly, almost reverently, read the message:

Mi Amore Nova

How are you?

I mean it, Nova. How are you? I really don't know what else I can possibly ask you at this point. You never respond to me anymore, not even to request that I stop writing you, and I'm not even sure if you still bother to read my letters. I honestly just want to know how you're doing. That's all. Are you happy? Healthy? Are you taking good care of yourself and not letting anypony bully you? You don't have to share any personal details if you don't want. Please Nova, all I want to know is if you're doing okay. Is that really too much to ask for?

...I don't want this whole letter to have such a somber tone. So how about I share something more lighthearted? If you're reading then I hope you find this as amusing as I did.

About a week ago Auntie Celestia decided to try her hoof at baking of all things. You'd think after all her years of eating cake she'd have tried to bake before. But nope. Can you believe that. It completely BLEW my mind! Anyways, all Celestia was trying to bake was a simple banana cake. She even had a recipe and everything. But... well it's hard to find the best way to put it into words, but let's just say that even from the other side of the castle I felt the building rumble and heard a distant BOOM.

Naturally all the guards came galloping. They thought the castle must be under attack. But NOPE!! By the time I got there Celestia was nearly unrecognizable, covered horn to hoof in cake batter with a banana peel on her head. The chefs fainted at the sight, but me and guards just couldn't stop laughing. It was HILARIOUS! I didn't think to snap a picture but thankfully one of the guards managed to teleport in a camera just in time. Anyways, after that Celestia calmly claimed that the ingredients had been defective before she grabbed the camera and teleported away!

I hope that story brightened your day 'cause there's something else I should mention. It's kind of a big deal but I'm worried it might upset you so... maybe it's better if we talk face to face. I'll be in Manehatten soon for a little over a week and I hope you'll come see me. By then you should know what it's about. Take good care of yourself and I hope to see you soon. Please come by, even if it's just for a few minutes. Ignoring me isn't going to accomplish anything.

With all my heart
Cadence

P.S. I snuck the camera out of Auntie's room and I've put a copy of the picture in the envelope. Enjoy!

Nova felt yet more mixed feelings.

He wanted to hate Cadance for not telling him about the wedding. But he could understand why she might be hesitant to mention it, and at least she acknowledged that there was indeed something to talk about. Still, did she really think he'd be stupid enough to get close to her? Especially after so many years of trying to escape? Nova was offended that she even thought the request reasonable.

Scanning the letter again, Nova took a look around and found the envelope. Turns out there was a picture of a cake covered princess that he'd failed to notice previously. But looking at the amusing predicament brought him no joy.

The only smile that came to him was when he thought of how badly any newspaper agency would love to have that particular picture and the accompanying letter explaining it. But just as quickly as the thought came to him he shook his head and dissuaded himself from the idea.

Sharing the picture would probably upset Celestia far more than it would bother Cadance. It wasn't the Princess of the Sun's wrath he feared however. It was more the notion that she would find out about his existence.

The last thing Nova ever wanted was for the other Princesses to find out about him.

Still, the picture could prove useful, if for nothing else than to cheer up Glide at some future point. So with a depressed sigh, Nova tossed the picture off the bed and fell onto his back again. It didn't matter where the picture ended up. At the moment his room was a mess of papers and even a few pillows and blankets he'd tossed in his previous frenzy.

As Nova laid on the bed, the only sounds his heavy breathing and pounding heart, he slowly felt himself calm. But with his previous anger burned out for the time being, he felt alone and vulnerable. Soon his heart was beating fast once more in fear. He just didn't know what to do. What could he do? Honestly Nova wanted nothing more than to just pack up his stuff and run away. Far away. To a place so far that Princess Cadance would never find him again. Maybe he could even convince Glide to join him.

That'd be nice.

But it would never work, he'd never be able to escape. She'd find him. She always found him no matter how far he ran or where he tried to hide. And what could he do about needing money. He had a sizable bank account, Cadance had made sure of that. But could he withdraw enough bits from it without appearing suspicious.

As the overwhelming claustrophobia of his situation fully settled in, Nova lost the last bit of his self-control. So he proceeded to curl into a ball where the tears started ceaselessly flowing. And where time lost all meaning.

<--->

After an indeterminable amount of time a sudden, piercing knock rang out through the room. Nova nearly jumped out of his skin as his crying, which by then was just a series of whimpering sniffles, was interrupted by the noise.

For a moment longer the colt just laid there. His heart racing. Trying his best to calm himself and regain his sense of time, before finally summoning his courage and calling out with only the slightest of cracks still audible in his voice.

"W-Who is it?"

"It's me." Glide's voice came in clear like a gentle, cooling breeze on a warm day. "I just wanted to check on you."

As the sweet relief flooded his veins, Nova almost instinctively unlocked and opened the door for his best friend. Only to suddenly realize that he was still naked and exposed upon the bed. Sure clothes were optional and most didn't care in the least about their nakedness. But Nova was no ordinary pony. Quickly he began scrambling to put on his uncomfortably tight shirt. A task made only exponentially more difficult by trying to rush it.

"Is everything okay." There was genuine concern in Glide's voice. "Do you want to talk about it? ...Nova? If you want me to leave that's okay, please just let me know. Okay? I just wanna make sure you're alright."

Blushing from the guilt of not responding to his friend combined with being touched by his friend's great concern for him, Nova managed to get his shirt on before calling out his response. "Sorry, I'll be right there. I swear!"

With his shirt in place Nova rushed over to the door, half falling off the bed in the process. Upon reaching the door his magic lit up, bringing over his much more comfortable jacket which he quickly slipped on over his shirt. Now properly dressed Nova reached out for the door, only to hesitate once more. His room was a terrible mess. He didn't want Glide to see his room like this.

So instead Nova took a deep, steadying breath before quickly opening the door a crack and slipping out. Just as quickly closing the door behind him before one could blink. Much less get a proper look into the messy room.

But Glide couldn't have cared less about the room's interior as he gasped at his friend's disheveled appearance. "Nova, are you okay!? Have you been crying?"

"N-No!" Nova tried to reassure. But he was unable to keep a sniffle out of his quiet voice as he looked away. "Maybe."

Next thing he knew was the warmth of his best friend wrapping him up in a caring hug with both forelegs and wings. Words escaping him in the moment, Nova nuzzled his friend as deeply as he could and breathed in his friends sweet, calming scent as he returned the hug. But that wasn't all he smelled as his nostrils also took in a deep whiff of another scent he was quite familiar with.

Makeup.

Curious, as Glide liked to avoid makeup at all costs, Nova finally looked up at his friend. Only to immediately break out into laughter at the sight of messily applied makeup which had been hastily, and unsuccessfully, cleaned off.

Glide responded with a mock glare. The effectiveness of which was greatly diminished by his blushing cheeks which he puffed out adorably in an angry huff. "Hey, it's not my fault your fillyfriend doesn't know what she's doing! What do you even see in her anyways?"

Rather than respond, Nova snuggly embraced his best friend once more and nuzzled deeply into the soft, pleasantly-scented coat of the pegasus. All while giggling under his breath. Tears escaped his eyes, but they were now of gratitude rather than sorrow. And so the two colts stayed quietly wrapped in each other's embraces for what felt like the longest of moments. Both taking comfort in each other's steady heartbeats, which grew in sync with one another, and the gentle giggles they shared as Glide joined in his best friend's merriment.

'Til finally Nova broke the silence with a few simple words. "Thank you Glide, I really needed that." Before he moved his nuzzling upwards, stopping with their faces pressed so close together they were now nose to nose. Literally sharing each breath with one another. It was a good thing neither had bad breath.

Glide's profuse blush only grew at the position they found themselves in. Yet he did nothing to break the intimacy of the moment. "D-Don't mention it... It was mostly your fillyfriend's hoofiwork anyways. But why are you so upset?"

"Isn't it obvious." Nova whispered desperately as he began to lament. "Princess Cadance is getting married!"

"Yeah, but you hate her. Right?" Glide pulled back a bit to get a better look at his best friend, their forelegs still wrapped snuggly around each other, confusion filling the pegasus' features. "Aren't you happy that she'll be too busy with wedding planning, and too happy with her special somepony, to focus as much on you?"

With a deep sigh, Nova looked his best friend right in the eyes with a gaze of absolute desperation. "You don't understand, Glide. Once she's married she'll want to adopt me."

To say Glide was shocked by his best friend's unexpected declaration would be quite the understatement. For a few precious moments he forgot all about breathing and blinking. Only for both to come crashing back to him as he took a moment to catch his breath and clear his vision. Seeing that his best friend was indeed serious, Glide took an extra calming breath before replying with the most thoughtful statement he could muster. "...What?"

"I said, once she's married she'll want to adopt me."

"Oh! That's what I thought you said." Glide gave his head a quick shake as coherent thought returned to him once more. "Why? Why in the world do you think Princess Cadance would want to adopt you?"

"Because she's obsessed with me!" Nova proclaimed as if it were the most logical thing in the world. "The only way she can get to me is through adoption. But she can't have any sort of child out of wedlock, not even through adoption, 'cause the nobles would frown greatly upon that."

His gaze hardening, Glide stared at his best friend in disbelief. "Are you honestly telling me that Princess Cadance, the Princess of Love herself, would enter into a loveless marriage just to get to you!? D-Do you honestly believe that. You realize that makes you sound like you've gone mad, right?"

"What? No, I never said that!" Nova looked as if he'd been slapped. "Cadance is too kind and loving to ever do such a thing. If she was willing to enter a loveless marriage just to get to me then she'd have done so years ago."

"Who's side are you even on?" An exasperated sigh escaped Glide's muzzle. "First you say you hate Princess Cadance and she's out to get you. Then you defend her saying she's kind and loving. I don't get it!"

"Just 'cause I hate her doesn't mean I'm blind to any of her qualities. Good or bad." Nova whispered as he looked away.

Before Glide could think of a response to that, his ears twitched at the sound of approaching hoofsteps and voices. Face reddening, he quickly pulled away from his best friend and took a half-step away. It was just in time as, from around a corner, two fillies entered the hallway and trotted down it. Too engaged in their own giggly conversation to pay any heed to the blushing pegasus trying to hide his makeup-smeared face behind his wings nor the other colt who actively took the time to appreciate their perky plots.

Soon, Just as quickly as they'd shown up, the fillies turned another corner and disappeared. The sounds of their hoofsteps and voices slowly fading away. Which was when Glide finally felt comfortable enough to tuck his wings back against his sides. His blush mostly faded.

M-Maybe we should talk about this in your room?" Glide asked after the moment had passed.

"No. My room's a mess right now, 'cause I was upset earlier. I don't want anypony seeing it like that." Nova looked away with a sigh. "Besides, what else is there to talk about? I know you don't fully believe everything I've told you but it's all true. I swear! Cadance even asked me, in her latest letter, to come visit her. She claims it's just so we can talk. But I know it's really a trap! I can't believe she thinks I'd be so stupid that I'd fall for such an obvious trick."

"I don't think it's a trick. If Princess Cadance really is planning on adopting you, then why would she trap you when she's so close to her goal?"

"I-I don't know. I didn't think of that."

"Exactly." Gently, Glide placed a hoof on his best friend's muzzle and moved the muzzle 'til their eyes met once more. "You know I love you, right? Er, platonically of course! So I say this out of love and with only the best of intentions, but I think you should take Princess Cadance up on her offer and visit her."

With eyes as large as saucers, Nova rapidly shook his head. "No, I can't! You just don't understand."

"You're right. I don't understand, 'cause you've never told me your reasons for disliking her. But that's okay. I respect your privacy." Giving a reassuring nuzzle to his best friend, Glide continued. "None of that, however, changes the fact that I'm worried about you. Stressing yourself out like this and bottling up your feelings just isn't healthy. Don't you think it would be better to just see the Princess and let her know how you feel? Even if it doesn't accomplish anything positive, isn't it still better than just letting it all eat away at you from the inside?"

For the longest moment, silence was the only response as various emotions flashed through Nova's distracted gaze. Before finally he let out a defeated sigh, refocused on his best friend, and spoke with a shaky tone. "Alright, I'll do it. I'll talk to her."

"R-Really!?"

Steadily Nova's voice grew in confidence as he continued. "Yeah. I mean you're right. I can't just let it keep bothering me like this. And maybe I should tell her in no uncertain terms EXACTLY how I feel. She can ignore my silence all she likes, but she can't just ignore me in a face to face confrontation!"

"Oh, um, yeah. I guess. But please keep in mind that she is a princess and a little decorum can go a long way." Glide tactfully tried to warn the other colt, although his words fell on deaf ears.

"Then it's decided. Tomorrow I strike! Thanks Glide." Relief at having a plan of action rushed over Nova as he wrapped himself around his best friend in a deep embrace. While nuzzling joyously he placed a tender kiss on his friend's cheek, causing the pegasus to break out into a serious case of the blushies. "You're the best friend ever! I love you too. No homo."

"Er, yeah. No homo, of course!" The nervous pegasus stammered as his burning cheeks were continuously nuzzled.

Then just as abruptly as it began, Nova pulled away from his best friend with a huge smile on his face. "I'd better get to cleaning my room. See ya!" Not waiting for a response, and with a spring in his step, the comforted colt returned to his room. Concerned not in the slightest about whether or not his best friend noticed the internal mess in the process. Once back in his sanctuary, Nova didn't even bother locking the door or undressing again. Instead he leapt onto the bed and laid upon his back once more.

Heart and thoughts racing, this time from excitement, Nova thought about the next day's confrontation. Thinking of all the ways he could tell the bitch exactly how he felt. So many possibilities he just had no idea what to do. Years of pent of feelings, emotions, and experiences rushed through him in the hope of sudden inspiration striking him.

Either way he knew the next day would be just perfect. The kind of day of which he'd dreamed since he was smaller.

<--->

Nova awoke to the feeling of somepony gently nuzzling him. The pony's scent far too sweet to possibly belong to Glide. So, driven by curiosity, he opened his eyes. And found himself face to face with his beautiful fillyfriend. Before he could question her on what she was doing in his room, she lidded her eyes upon notice of his wakefulness and firmly pushed her lips against his. Seeing no reason to complain, Nova wrapped himself around her tightly and returned her kiss with all the passion he could muster.

She easily melted into his embrace as she moaned into the kiss. Her forehooves wrapped snuggly around his neck while his own explored her voluptuous form. Their tongues dancing playfully together. When the kiss finally ended and broke they were both left breathing heavily. With their bodies pressed so closely, Nova could feel the great heat now emanating from between her hindlegs.

"So, what are doing in my room? And what did I do to deserve the greatest alarm clock in the whole world?" Nova asked with a smirk as he gave one of her cheeks a nice squeeze. It wasn't one of the ones on her face.

She gave a blushing giggle in response before speaking with a slightly worried tone. "You never came for dinner."

Looking around Nova realized how much darker his room was compared to what he last remembered. He also noticed a plate stacked with food sitting not too far away upon the bed. The sight made his stomach loudly growl.

Their bellies still pressed together, his fillyfriend both heard and felt the response causing her to giggle once more. "Aww, is my Nov-y hungry? Does his tummy need some food." As she spoke she sat up while gently rubbing his belly. Then she lidded her eyes before leaning down giving his belly several long slow licks. Moving the front of his shirt up slightly, so it was out of the way, she continued her ministrations before suddenly the licks turned into a series of sharp nips.

At first Nova blushed at her amorous behaviour. But it quickly turned into pleasured gasps when the love bites began. Nova could only endure it for so long before deciding it was time to get up and actually eat something.

Unfortunately this proved a mistake as he barely made much progress towards rising, when suddenly unbearable pain shot through his back. Falling back onto the bed with a yelp, Nova trembled as the pain pulsed with his heartbeat.

A sharp gasp briefly filled the room. "What's wrong? Are you okay? Did I bite too hard."

"My back." Nova managed to hiss out between clenched teeth as he continued shuddering in pain, suddenly realizing that sleeping with his clothes on was a terrible mistake. Although deep down, he was still glad he had. The last thing he wanted was for any pony to ever see him without his clothes. More specifically, his back.

Meanwhile, his fillyfriend was nearly on the verge of tears as she curled beside him and nuzzled him as lovingly as she could. "Do you want me to get a nurse?"

"NO!!!" The command rung loudly through the air as Nova's painful shudders slowed to a stop. His breath was shaky and unsteady. "I-I'll be fine."

"Fine? Look at you!" She pointed at him to empathize her point. "A nurse can help you get a doctor appointment and-"

"I said NO!!!" Nova metaphorically put his hoof down as his back finally stopped seizing up on him. "I don't need a doctor. I already know what the problem is and there's nothing a doctor can do to help." Nova shuddered a bit at the thought of a doctor finding out. Who knew what the reaction might end up being? "...Please, just trust me. I'll be fine in a few moments. Okay?"

It was an uncomfortably long moment before his fillyfriend sighed defeatedly. "Fine. BUT, if you know what the problem is then you should be able to fix it. So if this ever happens again I'm going to get a nurse no matter what you think. Understand!?" She crossed her forelegs and glared in a way that let him know there was to be no arguing on the matter.

Having no choice, Nova let out his own sigh before reluctantly nodding and returning the glare.

The glaring contest only lasted for a few seconds further before she broke her glare to pout. "You know I'm only doing this 'cause I care about you right?"

"Of course. And I'm sorry about yelling at you like that. You were just worried about me after all." Ignoring the slight throb of guilt, Nova lit his horn and pulled his fillyfriend in close for relentless cuddling. "What would I do without you. You're just too good for me sometimes."

"Yep. You're damn right and don't you forget it!" She replied with a mischievous wink as she nuzzled into him. Her remark quickly causing the two of them to start laughing together.

The laughter only ending after getting interrupted by Nova's belly loudly protesting its continued lack of subsistence.

"Oh alright, I'll feed you already!" She sharply barked while sending a mock glare right at his belly. Happily she bounced to the end of the bed to retrieve his food as her voice took on a singsongy tone. "You're going to love this Nov-y, today was special. We had breakfast, for dinner! Amazing, right? And I got you your favorite."

Without further ado she brought a plate over which indeed contained his favorite choice of breakfast delight. A waffle barely even visible beneath a massive pile of nearly every fruit imaginable. Except mangoes; that disgusting fruit could rot in Tartarus where it belonged!! The entire plate topped with copious amounts of whipped cream and syrup. The sight of which made the half-threstal's mouth water. Barely was the plate even within touching distance before he began practically inhaling the food.

As he ate, his fillyfriend snuggled into him and gently nuzzled into his whither. She waited patiently for him to finish and relax, while oh so softly rubbing his tummy, before finally bringing up something which must have been on her mind for awhile. "So Nov-y, earlier did you actually call me your cutie-with-a-bootie?"

"Maybe..." Nova replied with a cheeky smile as he gave one of her rear cheeks a squeeze. "Not my fault you have the sexiest plot in all the land. All I do is appreciate that beauty."

"Oh, is that so?" She got up, taking a few steps away, before lowering the front half of her body, spreading her hindlegs, and lifting her tail. Then she looked back with half-lidded eyes. "Why don't you show me just how much you appreciate it?"

Without hesitation Nova slowly began to rise; ignoring the sharp throbbing from his back. As soon as he was able to he gave one of her cheeks a nice slow lick along its length. His ears enjoying the wonderful melody of her gaspy giggling. Then he began delicately tracing shapes on her flanks with the tips of his fangs. Finally, Nova grabbed both her cheeks, squeezed, and pulled them apart. All before leaning in to make out with a sensitive part of her body.

"N-Nov-y, what are you doing? That's the wrong ho- ooooh yeah... don't stop!" Her wide, surprised eyes quickly relaxed and she moaned loudly at the feeling of a tongue probing her where none had gone before. "I didn't know that part of me could feel soooo good! Y-You're amazing Nov-y."

Nova would've responded, but long ago his mother had taught him that it was rude to talk with his mouth full.