I Waited

The party kicked off in an instant.

Ponies of all ages chatted with one another, danced with one another, and even drank with one another. Of course, the drinks were all fruit punch and clean apple cider, but even so, ponies that hardly ever knew each other were talking like they were old pals.

Some ponies were trying to chat me up, hugging me and telling me everything would be okay now. All of them spent the three days looking for me and hoping I would be okay—many of them I never knew before. To think hardly anypony knew me very well almost a week ago.

After several minutes of casual discussion with random and familiar faces, I retreated to the punch bowl and stood off from the crowd, only to relax and take it all in. I had plenty of time to get used to things again—more than enough time—and yet it was still all so...strange. Perhaps it was because I had to sleep and eat and drink again for the first time in-

"Hey," I heard a voice say nearby to me. I turned to see Starlight and Trixie walking up to me, cups of punch in their hooves.

I greeted them back. "How's the party so far?"

"I should be asking you that question," Starlight told me.

"I like it. A lot. A lot, I love it." I sighed. "I think I'm just still in work mode, at least a little."

"Don't be. Relax, half some fun, talk with some ponies."

"Oh, I've been doing that," I reminded her, "but even a stallion like me needs a break from ponies once in a while."

She rolled her eyes. "Right, like six months wasn't enough?"

"Don't forget Clanks now."

Starlight laughed. That was when Trixie decided to join in on the conversation. "Speaking of...Clanks...he seems very...um...pony-like."

"He's been doing that in recent days," I reminded her. "You should've seen him when I first built him. Nothing like he is now. Back then, he was just a simple robot learning simple things...and then quantum mathematics."

Trixie smiled and giggled to herself, then looked around the hall, taking it all in. It seemed like she was a tiny bit sad.

"I guess you were hoping it was a surprise party for you?" I asked almost apologetically.

But the show mare only giggled louder. "Oh, please. Trixie wasn't the one who disappeared for half a year and stirred an entire nation overnight."

"Well, three days, technically."

"Anyway, as much as Trixie loves the spotlight, she's more than happy that it's not pointed at her right now. The food is more than sufficient."

"You mean the peanut butter crackers are more than sufficient," Starlight interjected, "I'm sure I've seen you scarf those things down like they're going out of style."

"Ha! What? What are you talking about? I wasn't...eating peanut butter crackers! Those are gross and filthy and...so good."

Starlight and I laughed together, even as Trixie's face turned red.

"Don't worry about it, Trix," I calmed her. "Peanut butter crackers are great."

Starlight tried to stifle another giggle. Trixie cleared her throat and tried to compose herself.

"Well," she began, "I'm going to mingle with the other ponies, thank you very much."

"Awh, you don't want to stay with us?" Starlight fake-cried.

"It is as they say, dear Starlight: Three's a crowd. But don't worry, Trixie will return soon enough."

"Don't forget to show me those stunts, okay?" I asked.

She smiled. "I never forget a performance."

Trixie then disappeared into the crowd, seemingly to talk with the other ponies.

"...Twenty bits says she's going back to the food stand," I started.

"Deal."

We watched the food stand intently, watching for any familiar shades of blue fur and white mane. And the magic hat, can't forget that.

Starlight and I stared at the table, each of us anticipating who was right and who was-...wait...ha!

And there she was, grabbing another peanut butter cracker and digging in with delight. As she turned away, she noticed us looking right back, my face looking gleeful, but Starlight's looking like she just lost a bet.

Either way, Trixie vanished into the crowd, her face once again red.

"Remind me not to do bets with you anymore."

"Maybe I will...maybe I won't."

"Jerk."

She wasn't mad. I could tell she was holding back a smile.

* * * * *

The party went on for hours, even after the food tray went dry, and as soon as the punch bowls ran dry, whatever filly, colt, and baby dragon that was still here went on home. Spike was sent to Rarity's to watch over Sweetie Belle and the other two crusaders. Rarity then too went home after a while, citing that, "A lady knows when she's had enough to drink."

Even with the hard cider out and going down the throats of the adults, the party—even in the evening—stayed relatively tame. And if anypony wanted to get freaky, they went home.

What was half the town at three o'clock died down to a small group of just twenty by nine o'clock. Those who stayed sipped their glasses and reminisced about either the past, the present, the future, or even the newest types of furniture available at Davenport's shop.

Who knew that alcoholic beverages made ponies want a new couch?

But eventually, they too all left, until it was just the Elements, Starlight, and I. Trixie tried to stay, but was merely too exhausted—not to mention full—to do so, and so she went on home, with the ever-so-loving assistance from Rainbow Dash. Though, I will say that the two had improved on their friendship in recent months, so it was a start.

With a cup of the hard stuff in my own hooves, I stood outside, on the balcony overlooking Ponyville. I had talked with so many ponies today that right now, I really just wanted to be alone.

"Right, like six months wasn't enough?"

I laughed at the memory, even if it was only so recent. She was right, though. To think I spent all that time away in some distant, interdimensional bubble, all alone with nopony else but a talking robot, and yet I liked being alone.

Then again, I wasn't gone for six months.

I took a sip of my cider. I drank a good portion of it tonight, and I was definitely feeling its effects. Perhaps that's why I stopped talking to the other ponies, because I was inebriated. The cold air seemed to keep my mind steady just for a bit, but I knew that the more I drank, the less the air would keep me grounded.

With a sigh, I took a swig and finished the rest of my drink in just a few gulps. I was already drunk, how much worse could it be?

Perking my ears, I could hear hoofsteps approaching, but it didn't take me very much to know who was coming towards me. Starlight walked out to the balcony and stood up right next to me. She too was feeling the heavier effects of the cider, but tried not to show it, and so attempted to ignore it some other way.

"So much for our dinner date, huh?" she asked me, looking out to the town.

My eyes went wide briefly as I stared at her. "Oh shoot, Starlight, I-"

The mare laughed. "It's fine. I forgot too. Actually, I think this helped just as much as a dinner date, maybe even more."

"Do you wanna reschedule?"

"If it's okay with you."

"Of course it is," I told her, taking another sip, "though, I think we should pick a date after the hangover."

"Planning ahead, I see."

"It'll take more than cider to make sure I don't," I chuckled. Starlight giggled along, agreeing with my words.

But then the unicorn's smile started to fade as she seemed to find herself thinking about something, or her face indicated it. I had plenty of time to read facial expressions, but Starlight's were always more complex.

"Is everything okay?" I asked her with concern in my tone.

"Yeah, everything's fine, just...thinking. Well, trying to."

I wasn't sure what to ask her, so I kept looking out at Ponyville, but my eyes found themselves wandering up to Canterlot.

What were the princesses doing right now? Was Celestia signing parchment and scrolls, while her sister was watching over the night and those who honored it?

"The day will come when she will know the truth."

I found myself playing Luna's words in my head like a record on a loop. I spent days hoping and trying to make sure that day was far, far away.

But what would that do? Where would that get us? All I would be doing is both delaying the inevitable and possibly making it hurt more after all that time. I didn't want her to hurt, but I didn't want to lie.

"Sooner or later, she will understand."

She would. I know that. But how long would it take for her to understand?

I sighed. Maybe it was the cider influencing me, but I knew there was no way I would be able to keep it hidden forever. It would only hurt us both.

I had to tell her.

"Starlight, I-"

I couldn't get the words out before her lips were pressing against mine, one of her hooves gently caressing my right cheek. Her kiss was sloppy, but firm at the same time. I found myself slightly taken aback, unsure of how to process it.

And then, in a sudden burst, I remembered what I missed.

I fell in love with her.

Those were the words I told myself not too long ago, and emotion I felt so, so long ago—but I still feel now.

Letting my feelings take hold, I leaned into her kiss, pressing my lips back against hers, taking in the sensation of them: how soft they were, how they tasted. They smelled of roses and cider, but I couldn't help but love it. She moaned, and I smiled.

Then, in a flash of light, we were in her bedroom, on her bed—and I was on top of her.

"Please," she whispered, brushing her a hoof against my chest and the other against my cheek as she looked up at me with those pearly blue eyes of hers.

How could I ever have said no to a beautiful face like that?