Author's Note

This is more of a deeper, emotional chapter but I hope you all enjoy it.

Romance?

I awoke from a restful sleep and looked outside. It was around noonish, "Let's go have some fun." I snapped my fingers and teleported to the "School of Friendship." That name leaves a sour taste in my mouth. I walked through the front doors, twirling my cane. Everybody stared at me weirdly. I was looking around when I heard something from a open door down the hall.

"Why is it that when something happens, it's always you six?" I snuck over and peered in. The student six were standing in front of Starlight, who sat behind her desk.

"W-Well, you see..." Smolder started.

"I see?" Starlight said while crossing her arms.

"Uhhh..." They were all shifting nervously.

'Might as well help them out a little.'

I snapped my fingers and teleported in, "Aw, just let them go. They were only having a little fun." I floated over to her, "There just some kids trying to relax after everything they know turned upside down. Both metaphorically and literally. I'll owe you a favor if you do~."

She sat in thought for a moment, "Alright."

The kids cheered and started shuffling out. As they did I floated over and leaned to Smolder, "What did you kids do anyway?"

They stopped in the middle of the hallway and stared at me, "You mean to tell us that you managed to convince Starlight to let us go, but didn't know why we were in trouble."

"Yeah, pretty much." I smirked at them, "But you still didn't tell me what happened." They all took a sudden interest in the floor.

"We had a large argument and started a book fight in the library." They all look downtrodden. I snapped my fingers and ice cream cone appeared in each of their hands.

Ocellus spoke up, "You know, you're a lot like discord."

"Oh God, please don't compare me to him. He's not nearly as insane as I am." They rose a brow.

"Not as insane?"

"I used to be trapped in a decaying dimension for a trillion years without a physical form. Moving from one mind scape to the next. It's..." I felt my blood turn to ice and my heart rate increased, "It's not something I want to ever go back to."

They all looked at each other, except Ocellus. She looked at me with worry in her eyes. I shook my head, "I'm going to the roof and look at the view." With that I teleported to the roof and stared out at the town of Ponyville in the distance.

I'm not sure how long I was up there but I heard some buzzing and someone landing behind me. A quick glance back revealed it was Ocellus. I turned back around to see the sun setting.

She sat down next to me and looked out at Ponyville with me. We sat in silence for a few moments before she spoke up, "Not felling any better huh?"

I rose a brow, "You can literally sense the emotions of others. Why do you even bother asking?"

"Yeah, but it's always nice to ask." A moment of silence past, "Do you want to talk about it?"

'Should I? I mean... They both are and aren't my memories. Should I get her involved though? I'll tell her the basics but not go in depth.'

"The dimension I was trapped in was known as the Nightmare realm." I heard a soft gasp, "I was trapped in there for a trillion years without a physical form. I was a being of pure energy without a vessel to move in. Now matter what I did I couldn't escape it." I felt her stroke my back, "As much as I hate to emit it... I couldn't even use pain to escape." I felt her hand stiffen before she continued.

"I know, I shouldn't have even thought about it. My mind slowly became more and more damaged. I slipped into madness and... And I eventually broke. Think Discord but with death and insanity as a normal occurrence. Making deals with others to take their bodies and live outside the Nightmare realm."

She scooted closer and did something I never would have expected... She hugged me. I looked down at her and saw tears in her eyes. I wasn't sure why but I had a weird urge to hug back. Before I knew what I was doing my arms were already wrapped around her and I was crying into her shoulder. By the time I got ahold of myself the moon was high in the sky.

"Sorry, I don't know why I did that."

"It's ok to let your emotions out every now and then. There's nothing wrong with it. Plus, don't you feel better?"

I thought for a moment, "Yeah, I do feel a little better." I lightly chuckled and looked at the moon, "I can't believe how late it's gotten."

She chuckled as well, "Yeah, I suppose it has gotten late. Do you need a place to stay the night?"

I rose a brow and took a glance at her to see a light blush on her cheeks. 'No, it couldn't be! Could it? But after this talk I don't want to spend it alone.'

"I actually don't want to be alone tonight. Is it ok if I spend the night with you?" In the corner of my eye I saw her do a small jig before composing herself.

"Sure, I don't mind. Take my hand, it'll be easier to teleport is if we're in contact."

'I know that is not how it works but I'll humor her.' I held her hand and saw a blush cross her face. Her horn lit up with a light pink glow. A flash of light blinded me for a second before we appeared in her room. There was a queen size bed in the corner and a nightstand next to it. Off to the side was a brown couch with a few pillows on it.

I sat down on the couch, took off my shoes and teleported my hat and cane back home. I laid down and turned my back. Before I could fully fall asleep I heard her speak up.

"You don't have to sleep on the couch. You can sleep on the bed with me if you like." I heard her stutter for a few moments, "Not in that way, I-I meant-"

"I know what you meant." I turned around to see she changed clothes. I walked over to the bed and realized that my current clothes would be uncomfortable to sleep in and next to. With a quick snap of my fingers I changed into the closest thing I had to PJ's.

I crawled into bed next to her and closed my eyes. I felt her shift and a pair of arms wrap around me. I felt... Warm, but not physically, my chest felt lighter and much warmer. I smiled to myself and wrapped my arms around her. She flinched but pulled herself in closer.

I could get used to this. I probably shouldn't though, she couldn't love me. No one could. I held Ocellus tighter as I drifted off to sleep.