The Game: Aether and Mind

Sugar Drop

"Dinner's done in an hour, sweety!"

I grunted loudly while climbing the stairs upwards to my room while barely holding my backpack with my magic up, and dragging along a heavy sack in my hoof. "Ok!-" I shouted, before yelping loudly as I almost tripped and fell down the stairs. "-Mom."

With a final heave, I threw the sack onto the floor in front of my door, and my backpack just plopped onto the ground the moment my magic gave out. I grumbled under my breath in between inhalations as I tried to feel for my magic only to sense barely the smallest bit. "That was so much easier a week ago."

I sighed, and with much annoyance jumped onto my hindlegs, thinking it would be easy, only to almost fall backward and down the stairs, had I not quickly grabbed onto a nearby shelf. I had no idea how earth ponies- or Star- no idea why Star of all ponies could walk on his hindlegs so casually, less so running around like a minotaur.

"Seriously, how do you do it, Star?" I muttered annoyed, though I mentally hit myself as I felt myself becoming more snappy and hypersensitive with each passing day. I grabbed my backpack, slinging it over my back, and pulled on the sack with both my forehooves along as I walked towards my door, using my magic to turn the doorknob, and entered my room. "Star..." I said quietly as a bitter hum, and a deep growl from my belly rumbled in demand, however in thinking so- I lost focus, tripped over the sack, and toppled down onto the floor, spilling the bag's contents across the floor.

I shook my head to rattle off the dizziness, before a frown formed on my face. "Oh horseapples." I muttered begrudgingly, before listening carefully in anticipation of my father yelling something about swearing. A lecture was not something I wanted well… ever, but most certainly not right now. Looking over the partially emptied sack I saw the spilled cards, dozens of them; love poems, boxes of chocolate, stuffed animals, and my personally least favorite: Prench perfumes.

'Ughh, why would anypony want to smell like that?' I thought begrudgingly, before pushing all those 'gifts' from my 'secret admirers' to the side. Well, as secret as a hearth's warming eve tree that is.

I shook my head in annoyance and blew away a few strands of hair that hung closely in front of my eyes, before once again picking up the sack after tightly closing it, and pushing it into my closet, though at this point it was more of a walk-in-garbage-can. I couldn't wait until dad would clear it out at the end of the week, but if things were to ramp up any further then he'd probably need to start doing it bi-weekly.

Pushing away those bothersome thoughts, I turned toward my bed. I trotted away from the closet and hopped upon my bed with a little smile.

The school day was finally over, today felt like an eternity, and I was just glad I could relax from everything there. Who even wants to read all those horrid and stomach-churning stories about Equestrian and pre-Equestrian wars? It's so much horror, doom, and gloom, ponies dying and killing! Sure, history is important, but I just can't at all understand why so much hatred was directed at other races just because they're different. It's madness, like the ponies back then were actively allergic to other creatures, hay, some of them are today, but, like at least it isn't such a widespread allergy anymore. Although Star and Gerb would claim otherwise.

Stomach turning.

"Urgh, and I just managed to forget too." I groaned in annoyance, before picking up a pillow and slamming my face into it and releasing a muffled screeching into the soft fabric. I felt like a boiler with ever-rising pressure. I was only surprised that the amount of steam I'm letting go didn't set my pillow aflame. My stomach rumbled so horribly, even with my head covered I could hear the rumble in my ears. So much hunger, it didn't matter what I ate, it all went down like water, I even went to Hay Burger and won their eating challenge and I came out even hungrier than before - what's wrong with me! The world didn't make any sense, I am eating more than mom and dad combined, but it was like everything became cardboard.

"Urgh, enough with the belly talk!"

I grit my teeth, feeling the sharp tips pressing against my tongue and a burning sensation stinging my eyes as tears began to form. Every day I'm getting hungrier, I'm surprised I haven't tried eating my pillow out of desperation. It's not just hunger, no, not fat reserves or whatever they are called in biology class, but, urgh, how do I explain it, it feels like I'm eating myself, even my hair was getting thinner, how much longer till I had holes?

'That would be absurd.' I snorted bitterly, before looking at my hoof from under the pillow worryingly. 'But it wouldn't even surprise me anymore.' I really did feel like I was eating myself ever since Star just up and vanished almost four days ago.

It's been four days, but it feels like I haven't eaten in years. Before I was growing faster than any other pony, Saddle Arabian tourists even asked me in their native tongue for the path, thinking I was an actual horse, some fillies even asked if I was related to the Fleur De Lis.

But now it felt like I was rotting away.

Every day I'm getting slower and weaker, a month ago I could pull a wagon for dad with ease, but now I can't even prepare it, and my magic is slowing down just as badly. I felt like my perception followed this trend, things were almost like the time before I met Star. I didn't realize how weak and tired I was back then, or how used I got to never being hungry, but after then I felt greater than ever, the world was brighter and more colorful, as if I could conquer any challenge. I was stronger than any stallion my age, faster, and could run and cast day and night, sure, not as potent as some prodigies, but it was consistent.

Now, I shuddered and tightened my limbs around my torso in an attempt to silence the rumbling, I felt like I was barely hanging onto a threat. At home I'm so hungry, less so when I'm with mom and dad but it felt like there was one daisy sandwich a day for me, and once eaten there was nothing more to get.

And at school, it's like drinking broth.

Every colt in school has a crush on me, there is no denying that. I saw a list of the top ten cutest, most talented, most popular... blah, Everything! And I'm always on top. Sure, it was nice being liked, but it gets annoying hearing "Oh Sugar Drop, you're so beautiful. Oh Sugar Drop, you're so pretty. Oh Sugar Drop, you're so breathtaking." every five bucking minutes! I mimicked with overly joyous enthusiasm, before grunting with anger.

I know what they really want, and the fillies always try to inch closer to me to get more popular... or because they want to meet Star.

My anger was punctuated once more as my gut cried out in protest.
-Ugh! Shut up belly!

Star... He never ever looked at me like all of them, never hurled those empty compliments at me. I mean, I wouldn't mind hearing it once or twice just to see someone rational say it. Star really doesn't care how I look, (or was just extremely good at hiding it, which, to be honest, was even more impressive), and I feel really content being around him - N-n-n-n-not just because of the food - but, how can I put it into words, I feel just so normal around him. Like, I could say or do anything and not get a single 'Urgh, you're weird', 'Yeah, that's a bit too much' or 'can we talk about something else?'. No, any topic is on the table.

I look back fondly at those lazy afternoons just hanging around in the living room doing nothing but laying on the couch, doing absolutely nothing, or reading while just talking about random topics like 'why licorice was a thing' or 'how vases are made', even otherwise socially sensitive topics were no problems, in particular, estrus. I hate the season, and while I cannot deny that some mares have much bigger internal struggles with it, I was bold enough to claim that mine were the biggest externally to the point I wasn't even allowed to sit in a room alone without an adult mare- like I was a pile of black powder while sparks rained.

But it wasn't a problem with Star, he wasn't affected at all by the season and it was nice to just talk about these things. He was probably the only colt who really could relate to your body going haywire or having a mind of its own. Not that puberty wasn't a problem for colts, but, well, it's just hard to compare. And, well, it's just easier not being the only weirdo in the room, and when he hugs me the problems just disappear for a while, even the burning 'down there' subsides, if not outright quenches, and I feel like laughing again. I really dreaded the next one, even when it would be another six months of peace.

I sighed and rolled around on my bed until my face met the ceiling.

"Nothing is ever wrong when you're around. Its like you always know what to do, and even when you don't, you still fix the problems." I released a steady stream of air from my mouth, and the air almost whistled even though my lips weren't even in any position to do so. A sudden thought popped into my head and it arrived like a slap. "I really should've taken some pumpkin pie home when you asked me." I grumbled, before crossing my hooves. Star's cooking was filling, actually filling, just like his hugs were, or his pats on the back or head, or when his hoof graced my ears or-

"Urgh!" I exclaimed, pulling my pillow from under my head, and pushed it into my face as I felt my face heat up again. All of this was so horribly frustrating and I had no idea in what order to - okay, by the rumbling of my stomach I knew the order - but the best idea I had long-term would be trying every meal in Canterlot, the short-term would be going to miss Touch's house and ask if she still had any of his cooking's leftovers but that would be cruel.

I didn't need to be a detective to understand Gentle Touch's sadness or the silence of the royal guard at the castle gate when I asked when Star would be back.

I just hope he was safe wherever he was - what a sentence - it's Star, he always knows how to deal with any situation. At least, that was what I liked to tell myself.

"Oh, just where are you?" I mumbled as I slowly put the pillow under my head again. I'm getting tired again, even thinking hard was getting exhausting and sleep was only giving me some energy. Oh well, it was still over an hour until dinner, a little nap wouldn't hurt.

And I woke right back up the second I closed my eyes only to find myself standing in the middle of my room. "Huh!" I exclaimed loudly while frantically looking around, wondering if I started to sleepwalk or worse - nope, the pillow was still there - I haven't developed sleep-eating instincts yet. Though what else fell into my eyes immediately was that through my window I saw neither day nor night, but a sort of colored heaven, a vast river with lesser streams of pure colors weaving throughout, though weirdly they all possessed a sort of silvery gleam.

I raised an eyebrow and turned around only to see the frozen, hazy form of Star standing stiffly with an empty look on his face. Now I was starting to get a bit creeped out.

"Is this what dreaming is like?" I wondered and said my thoughts out loud while holding a hoof to my cheek, though the touch was awfully realistic. It was weird, but dreaming was something reserved only for ponies for some reason, neither griffon nor minotaur, nor any other species, to be honest, dreamed. "Lucid dreaming in this case. It was called something like that, wasn't it?"

I took a step closer to the phantom mannequin and as I neared I could see him ever clearer, making me wonder if my eye-sight truly was as bad as the teachers claimed it was. And when I stood just a few centimeters away, I bit my lip while feeling a rushing sensation passing through my chest. It may have just been a figment of my mind, but it felt so real and life-like I could just quench my hunger right here and now if I were to just...

"It’s just a dream, couldn't hurt, could it?" I mumbled, though my voice quickly turned to an average volume. I trembled and I could feel how my face shifted and a shaky smile formed on my face as I walked even closer. My face was just a tiny distance away. I felt a rush pushing further forward like a brisk wind rushing through my chest, tingling my heart. I licked my narrowly open lips, so tight that it felt like I starved a knife, and dared to quickly peck a kiss on his lips.

I pulled away in an instant, squealing loudly in embarrassment while hopping around. I felt alive, alive like I had never been before. It was like my chest was about to burst open in a torrent of butterflies. Suddenly I fell onto my flank and pushed my snout into my hooves feeling just how heated it became and let out a giggle. "I did it, it’s just a dream, but I did it!"

I giggled loudly, before crossing my hooves and hugging myself tightly. Was this how it felt to love someone or was it sheer adrenalin to have done it? But this wasn't real, yet it felt so real, so true that I even felt my hunger saturate by a chunk.

"Oh, it worked, I didn't think it was like a call to enter others' dreams." I could hear Star say, saying words I never heard before, words only the real star would say.

I suddenly felt so cold, as if a blanket was ripped from me on the coldest of winter nights and I was so paralyzed I wasn't even shaking. I turned my head around creakily, pushing back to its natural position if not at the very least spare me the sight.

"What's wrong Sugar, did something happen? Are you-." Star stopped his sentence, even his breath halted while he glided his tongue over his lips. "Wow, I knew you loved strawberries, but I didn't think you'd use so much for air refreshment, I can practically taste it."

"Hahahahahahaha, why yes, just ol' me using a bit too much perfume and candles and such and nothing more, absolutely nothing more, absolutely, yes." I laughed loudly with a mouth wide open before speaking as quickly as I could with the broadest smile, so great in fact I felt my skin tug for relief.

Star stared at me with a sunken look on his face and his eyes diverted from my face twice, before taking a deep breath. "Alrighty then, if you're feeling unwell just give a word, it’s not like my schedule is filled all that much these days anyways." He shrugged and rolled his eyes so casually. He was so terribly casual about it all it felt like I was going insane.

I would've nodded in agreement if I knew more about the contact or wasn't practically melting out of my own skin.

"Anyways, I have a bit of time, but not much, so I'll be quick. I'm currently lost in a forest, don't look too close into it, it won't be on any map and I don't want anyone looking for me."

"Huh, why wait-what, but what if something-" I interrupted him, but he returned the favor and cupped my snout with his two hooves, and if I was previously just metaphorically melting, I did so now literally.

"Because unlike anyone else, I am the only one who knows how to get out of it, I-can-do-it-don't worry." He hastily spoke as he felt my jaw open once more. "I am fine, I will be fine and I'll claw my way back in no time." Star said reassuringly with a soft smile, and his hoof slowly pulled away from my head almost like he was caressing it, and then concern filled his face. "Goodness, you've gotten so thin in two days." Oh, why are you worried about me in this scenario?!

"Two? It's been almost four." I said in confusion, and this confusion spread as he now felt the same. "And, well, I think I’ve gotten a bit too used to your... you know..." I started slowly, but my voice got ever quieter until it was just a whisper, and I couldn't keep eye contact and instead just traced the carpet's outlines with the tip of my hoof.

"Oh, well my cooking really is nutritious, the castle chef's always ask for my recipes, well, when they allow me to cook that is." Star said so brightly and despite being exactly what I wanted to say, I couldn't feel like I was just slapped in the face. "I've been trying to make candy for a while, and I think I've come up with a good recipe. It’s in my shelf left from my desk at Gentle Touch's house. Sixth row, twelfth from the left. You can have the whole thing, I don't really like candy, but I love cooking." And now you're overly generous as well, I am not the one lost in a forest!

"that's-." I said loudly, before quickly swallowing what felt like a whole cup of saliva. "Nice. But, I don't think it would be a good idea to just go and take something out of your room while you're gone and Gentle Touch is, well, you know."

"Why, my mom has full respect of my property..." Star halted before his smile fell and concern grew grim. "She must be worried sick." And only then did he seem actually worried, truly worried like someone took his very air away. "I don't really want her to know where I am, she'll only worry more, but it would be cruel not to at least give some reassurance somehow."

"If you want, I could relay a message." I offered and took a step closer and threw my hoof over his shoulder. I mentally bucked myself for going for physical contact again in one minute, but it felt so-o go-o-od!

"Really? That's great!" Star exclaimed, smiling while looking into my eyes and hugging me tighter than usual, but I was shivering for all the different reasons. Those blue eyes. "Okay, tell her I'm in the Shaded Woods, but immediately tell her not to look it up. I'm fine, I will return at the latest in about a month, if not I'll send another message. Look under my bed, the code is 9743, it’s a bit late, but I really wanted you to have it. Got it? I think I’ve got enough energy to repeat this another time."

I listened closely, for while my eyes weren't that great, I had a really good memory. "Got it, anything else, maybe for Princess Celestia."

Looking at Star, his face didn't move, but I felt something shift, turn almost bitter behind his facial features. "Oh, I actually don't think I can spare that much more energy sadly. Until next time, hopefully, in the flesh."

"Okay. Goodbye." I said almost mechanically, trying to suppress the sadness that weighed down my chest.

"And thanks for being such a good friend." Star said while his form slowly turned into a quickly dissipating mist, and with his presence gone I felt how the dream was quickly melting away.

"Yeah... a friend."

"Dinner is ready!" I heard the booming sound of my mother ring through the house, and I jumped from my bed in response and practically charged through my door and down the stairs. "Woah, Sugar, where are you running to?!"

"I got a message from Star, I'll be back soon." I quickly blurted out, before leaving the house and rushing through the streets of Canterlots second layer. I suppressed my inner emotions, the tumult that felt like it was about to burst out of every one of my facial orifices.

Looking back, it probably wasn't the wisest idea to run through the streets during the peak of work hours, most certainly not at the beginning of the week where deliveries arrived. The whole path was filled with carts, and it took a lot of my caution being thrown in the wind to run between carts given how dangerous a rolling wagon can be in a mountain city. I shook my head and pushed on, pushing through the crowds and silently thanking my own height for allowing me to see over the ponies, it also allowed them to jump out of the way. It had its perk to -and I quote Star- “Grow like a fungus”.

It took me not long to reach Gentle Touch's home, and while out of breath and having burned through the energy gained already, I didn't waste the time to catch my breath before quickly knocking on the door.

I waited impatiently, hopping from hoof to hoof as I felt how the boost of energy was pushed from my stomach into my body, and while I felt my strength grow back to its peak, so did my hunger slowly claw itself back into focus. Finally, after a millennium, lasting but ten seconds, the door opened, but I couldn't recognize the pony opening it.

"Oh, hello, you must be Sugar Drop. Gentle Touch told me about you, please come inside." I heard the unknown stallion say with a low voice, it wasn't threatening, but he sounded worried I'd pop like a soap bubble if he spoke any louder. He was slenderly built, honestly, I mistook him for a mare for a moment with his gleaming white coat and the fluffy red mane that was kept in a ponytail. His long legs, petite frame, and thin neck almost seemed a bit misplaced with his great, large, and unusually fluffy wings. Well, his mane was less like a ponytail that mares bundled their mane in and more like a broom. His tiny pair of goggles was a bit too large for his petite snout and his cutie mark was barely visible in the sun. Of course, it could also just be my eyes, but I think it was a diamond.

I nodded slowly, before walking past him slowly and he followed silently, not to be sneaky but the carpet just swallowed his steps.

"Thanks, mister..."

"I'm Twinning Schist, a-" He stopped for a moment, his tongue hanging onto the roof of his mouth momentarily leaving him agape. "Well, I do hope I'm at the very least a good friend of Gentle Touch." He chuckled, holding his hoof in front of his mouth, but that smile fell quiet quickly when his ear twitched as if he heard something.

"Twinning Schist?" I asked slowly, wondering if I spoke his name correctly.

"Yup, it's a bit of an unusual name, but it fits well with my occupation. I'm a gemologist and work in the mineral department of Canterlot, but right now I'm taking some vacation days. Sorry for the quick introduction, but I wanted to at least say something given that I heard so much about S-his friends, but I'm a stranger."

"It’s quite alright." I waved my hoof, reassuringly to calm down the anxious stallion. He didn't seem bad, but most certainly had even less social finesse than Gerb.

"Twinning, who's there?" Gentle Touch called out from the living room. Her voice, to describe it lightly, was gloomy, slow, without any energy, and filled to the brim with sadness.

"It’s Sugar Drop, dear. Can she stay?" Twinning replied loudly, well, loud compared to his previous volume, though I couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

"Yes."

I looked at Twinning, before nodding slowly and walking into the living room, and I nearly gasped seeing Star's mother.

She lay on the couch widely splayed out with ice bags on three of her hooves, and several boxes of tissues, most empty, splayed around her like a fence. She looked absolutely terrible, deep dark bags had formed under her eyes as if she hadn't slept in days, and red lines scratched across the whites of her eyes as she lifted her head weakly to greet me.

"I'm sorry but, I don't think you can m-meet up this week." Gentle Touch said as sweetly as she could muster, with her weak smile shivering, before faltering back into a frown.

I stared aghast at the display of an otherwise so joyous and lively mare. I gulped, feeling as if the very air was choking me and even my hunger seemed to have silenced, though not due to satiation but because it was too scared to grumble right now. I felt strangely ill now, however, like the hunger subsided for a short moment, or perhaps was just drowned out by an even more uncomfortable sensation, one that, unlike the passive hunger, actively was giving off a sensation akin to chocking.

Twinning Schist walked over to Gentle Touch, bringing another tray with a bowl of warm water and a soaked towel, before slowly cleaning her eyes.

I blinked hard and felt my hunger regress slightly just looking at the pair, before gripping my bravery and hoping not to worsen things even further.

"I met Star."

Twinning Schist yelped loudly with a quiet, but high scream, before falling to the side of the couch and water spilling over his coat. The reason? Gentle Touch jumped from her position like an insane boar, rushing towards me. She picked me up like a just-born foal and lifted me despite being more than a head taller.

"Where, what happened, how is he? Is he okay?" Gentle Touch asked so quickly I could barely concentrate on answering, and she took note of it. Miss Touch slowly lowered me to the ground, though the expression of anticipation dominating her tired face didn't let go.

I stared a moment longer, before finally catching my breath. "I know it sounds insane, but it was like when I caught nightmare fever. He entered my dreams, not just spiritually, but physically, I could actually touch him, and I haven't dreamed apart from then and today."

"Are you sure those events aren't connected by emotional distress?" Schist spoke slowly, wiping away the warm water with a spare towel. "I'm no doctor, but, well, isn't that kind of magic reserved to ponies with a correlating cutie mark?"

"But Star has one exactly like that." Gentle Touch said quickly in realization. "A dream catcher, that was what he called it. I’ve never heard of it, not even a dictionary mentions one, but he said that it collect nightmares so that they don't reach ponies." She spoke, her voice becoming more lively as she spoke. "And to never keep one too close to your body, not sure about that, but yes, he has one! What did he say."

I took a step back, then another as Gentle Touch inched a bit too close to my face. "He said that he's-" Gentle Touch inched closer, though she could see from my concerned look to not reduce her distance any further. It hurt me to be so cold right now, but it was physically painful being near her. "First of all do not look up where he is, you won't find it, but don't even try. Only he alone can get back, and he said he would, and I quote, 'claw his way back.' Okay, and he's in the Shaded Woods."

"The what?!" Schist shouted loudly, like, her ears were ringing from his high-pitched tone and wondered if there was cracked glass.

"What, why is this bad?" Gentle Touch turned away from me and practically charged at the poor stallion, barely halting at the last moment. He took a quivering breath and blushed.

I winced as the moment chose to disregard Star's warning and talked. "The Shaded Woods is a maze spanning countless biomes. Princess Platinum’s priceless crown possessing the Auror gemstone was stolen and the thieves ran into the forest in an attempt to escape."

"But Star said he could find his way out, so there's nothing to worry about!" I intercepted, but it seemed not to push the stallion away, and Gentle Touch pushed him to speak more with her eyes burning into his.

"Sir Silver Blade and a company of Equestria’s finest knights was sent out to reclaim the treasure and bring the thieves to justice."

"And, they made it out, didn't they?" Gentle Touch inquired with desperation claiming her eyes.

Schist looked away with a sad expression. "They haven't been heard of in hundreds of years, nor has anypony ever come out of it in over one thousand years of recorded history. Not even her highness and her fabled sister were able to escape it without the maker of it, though who created that horrid place no one knows, nor do I think they're still alive."

"No..." Gentle whispered, taking a few steps back, before falling on her flank and holding her hooves in front of her eyes, though no tears left her - perhaps, there just weren't any left.

"Well, I have full faith in Star." I said with a puff of my chest and stomped on the ground. "He said it with such confidence that I can't help but believe in him, and it wouldn't be the first time Star conquered the unconquerable. He promised he'd be back in a month and I am expecting to see him full heartedly."

Gentle Touch slowly pried her hooves away from her face.

"I have heard of some of the feats of Star Touch, and I don't think any other pony I know -well, we haven't met in person yet but you know what I am talking about- could have as good a chance at getting out." Twinning Schist agreed with a big nod, before rubbing the shoulder of Gentle Touch.

"Yeah..." Gentle Touch smiled weakly and sniffed. "' He beat mana burn and killed a nightmare, even She was impressed by it. Broke every expectation and then some." A tiny ray of pride and one even brighter of hope shone through the depressed expression of Gentle Touch. "My colt will soon be back."

I tilted my head and smiled softly looking at the scene, before taking an even deeper breath to wash down the weightiness of the room. "He told me to get something from his shelves and for you to look under his bed. 9743." And the moment I said this sentence out loud, Gentle Touch's eyes cracked wide open and she ran towards the stairs with Twinning barely hanging onto her hoof as she dragged him along. Although it may have been her hoof barely hanging onto his shoulder.

I followed up the stairs quickly, but I couldn't match that mare's speed in my state, or in my prime, hard to tell ‘cause she walked up those stairs so quickly it was like someone repeatedly stepped on a type-writer.

Looking around the corner, I expected Star's room to be fancy given his prince-yness but it was surprisingly simple and efficiency based. A lot of room with neatly organized shelves, a lot of shelves, an absolutely gorgeous desk that looked custom made, a wardrobe with not much to comment on, and what appeared to be a really, and I mean, really expensive feather bed.

"Fleese pful mhe ut." Gentle Touch's muffled scream sounded almost like a shy psalm, only her hindlegs stuck barely out. Twinning averted his eyes and hid his fully redded face, before grabbing onto her hooves and pulling her out.

"I got it." She exclaimed happily while shaking her now puffy hair into place and victoriously lifting a very large metal case that looked like you could fit a deflated bouncy castle into it. "I didn't know Star bought this, it looked really expensive and reinforced." Gentle Touch sounded with astoundment while turning the case around slowly until her face met with the combination field. The lock looked like it would survive longer than the entire block in a race of time.

A series of frantic clicks sounded, while I walked towards the shelf left of the desk and pulled out a tin box, and quietly gasped at the absolutely gorgeous imagery painted onto the metal. There were dozens of swans, all in pairs, swimming on a lengthy river toward the sunset. Even though my eyes weren't the sharpest, I could feel just how each line displayed so many emotions, and upon closer inspection, the metal wasn't flat, it was carved to highlight the swans, the water, and the sun.

I slightly opened the case and immediately closed it. My eyes teared up as I just, for that short-lived moment, felt so much love, care, and gentleness wash over me that I almost cried and dawed at once. But, someone else took this role for me, as I heard the quiet sobbing.

I turned around and saw cards littered on the ground. They all displayed various events of Star’s life with Gentle Touch like when she picked him up from the hospital, another was a rather descriptive image of her hugging him and another was them sitting on a bed staring at the stars. There were dozens of cards, but Gentle Touch was focused on something else. A great portrait drawn with expensive colors on silk encased in a dark oak painting frame and a crystal panel. The image was so crisp and detailed that I wondered for a moment if it was a great photo, but knowing Star, this was self-made.

The painting displayed the pair on a dreamy hill under a starry knight, standing in front of a strange tree bearing soft, paper-like blooms. Star was so small back then, I almost forgot how he used to be so much smaller, guessing by the size difference that was him, from three years ago. They looked so happy, but my joy quickly clenched silent upon seeing a silver plaque, it wasn't star metal, but I could feel Star's magic radiating from the glowing and shimmering plate.

To my beloved Mommy
-I will never forget all you’ve done for me.

Gentle Touch's face fought between sadness and happiness while shielding the painting from her tears with her fur. Twinning sat down next to her and hugged the grieving mother tightly.

I wanted to say something, but there was nothing I could add. "If Star calls me again, I will give a notice." I spoke quietly, but I knew at least the stallion heard me, so I quickly and quietly made my exit..

"Sugar Drop, I left your portion on the counter." Mom called out. "I told you father to wait, but you know how hungry he gets after work."

"It’s fine I'll heat it up in a moment!" I called out while walking up the stairs and was thankful that mom didn't ask about Star right now.

Opening the door quickly, closing it even quicker, and jumping with a great leap over the carpet in fear of accidentally tripping again and squashing the box.

I placed the metal on my bed sheet and rubbed my hooves gleefully, before finally opening the tin fully. The sheer intense aura of the sweets nearly knocked me backward and the emotions, this pure love just exuded from the black cubes. Counting them, there must've been over a hundred of them inside, they were layered atop one another and only separated by a thick sheet of waxed parchment. I carefully levitated one of them to my nose and melted upon sniffing it. Saliva gathered in my mouth and I could barely swallow fast enough as to not drool onto my bed. I gulped one final time before taking a bite from the candy.

My eyes exploded with fireworks and I fell onto my back, rolling from side to side while squealing gleefully as I felt my stomach actually fill up, and the taste was divine. It was a sweet, fluffy, milky mixture somewhere in between a marshmallow and whipped cream encased in a layer of fresh milk chocolate. But the taste was the least notable thing to me. I could feel Star as I swallowed the candy. Not literally, there wasn't a wad of fur stuck inside, but the emotions I felt when around him.

I tasted his love, even if not directed at somepony, it was still prevalent and intense.

I took the rest of the candy piece with another bite and clutched my cheeks as I savored the taste ever so deeply, engraving it in my mind as the memory of it first touching my tongue set my heart ablaze. A pleasant sigh escaped my lips as I felt satiated for the moment, that one piece was enough to fill half my stomach.

"I need to find out what your love really tastes like." I whispered quietly, before quickly closing the box as I felt my hoof slowly reach for another piece. "I need you to be mine." I felt the sudden rush of energy slowly reach my head and felt almost giggly. "You'll be mine."

A moment passed.

And as another passed I realized what I just said and held a hoof to my face in horror that rushed over my spine and ribs. "What am I saying?! That's just wrong to say, absolutely!" I paused and gasped. "I sound like the colts at school. No!"

"Is everything okay sweetie?" Mom called out and it took great restraint for me not to immediately reply in a non-calm way.

"Yes, everything is alright." I called out, before dragging my hooves across my face and mentally cursing the paper-thin walls of the house, I can't get any privacy.

'I don't care how exhilarating this feels, how much my stomach and heart want/need your love Star, I won't-' I thought to myself mentally as if I was talking to the colt in question personally, and yet I stopped myself and looked over the lovely imagery displayed on the tin. I knew the kind of sweets these were, I had seen them every day after school as I dropped them into the trash can: Hearts And Hooves Day sweets. But these, although not the first ones directly bought or made for me, were the first ones I actually cared about. Gifted by someone I actually cared about. By a...

...Friend...

I slowly dragged my hooves over the embossed image and circled one of the pairs at the front. "What won’t I do?" I whispered while pondering deeply as my stomach remained silent and my heart beat vibrantly. I sighed deeply and pulled out a piece of paper and wrote a very direct note saying 'Do Not Throw Them Away, Dad!' and stuck it on top of the box, before laying them on my night desk.

"I don't even know what I will do."