Love is often a complicated affair. Some people make it out as simple and heavenly; meanwhile some say it’s nothing but a road to bad memories and heartache. For one man, it’s just a little of everything.
Zach is a human living in the land of technicolor ponies known as Equestria. The particular method which he found himself there wasn’t exactly known to him due to his own intoxication at the time. Since he stumbled out of the Everfree Forrest, none of the ponies were able to assist either; though not for the lack of any attempt.
It hadn’t taken particularly long to figure out that Zach could not be sent home. The reason for this is still unclear to this day, as if the world he once came from suddenly no longer existed. The thought at first carried many unsettling meanings with it for Zach. Even months after finding the news he still thought heavily about what could’ve happened to his original home.
This didn’t necessarily mean that he didn’t focus on trying to make some friends in Equestria. In fact making friends with the other species helped to keep his mind off of such heavy topics. Every now and again though, much like this moment, he found some time alone to think about his home and everything he left behind.
Zach was interrupted from his thoughts by the feeling of someone tapping on his left shoulder. Turning to look behind him, Princess Cadance was found with the look of concern over her face. Zach couldn’t help but bow his head for a moment as the beating of his own heard rang in his ears and head.
“It’s good to see you princess, but I wish it were for a more casual reason.”
Cadance responded with a tone of concern as the human turned all the way around to face her completely. His nervousness was practically on his sleeves.
“I know that whatever you needed to talk with me about, it was important. Is something wrong by chance?”
“I wouldn’t say something is overall wrong with the world as much as it’s a personal problem.”
Zach deeply inhaled, closed his eyes, and sighed. Cadance stood in patient silence as he briefly paused before continuing.
“You’re the princess of love, and I have a love problem if you would.”
Cadance lifted an eyebrow once she heard him. She stepped just a little closer to the human before replying with an inquisitive tone.
“Well I could help you, but you need to be specific. What’s going on?”
The human took a moment to gather himself before getting to his exposition of his apparent love trouble.
“You see, I kind of like Twilight. Under normal circumstances this might not be that much of a problem; but as you know, she is currently going out with that one guard. This is obviously a problem because she isn’t exactly about polygamy and neither am I. So I have come here to ask you for help.”
Zach looked up to the ceiling before taking an exaggerated breath and resuming while he looked into Cadace’s eyes. Her face was one which conveyed sympathy.
“I love twilight, I can feel it deep down. However, I know that she can never truly return those feelings. So I need your help princess. How can I move on?”
A minute of silence fell over the room as Cadance looked at Zach with a look of slight surprise. Zach’s shoulders slumped as his stance changed from the usual backward lean he would take to one that was hunched over as he looked upon the princess with a certain degree of desperation and exhaustion. Eventually, Cadance would speak.
“Zach, I cannot make you stop loving Twilight with some magic spell. That isn’t to say I could never try, but I know that it’s you who will be best suited to help yourself move on. You’ve already taken the first step, and that is more than some could say. I can help you a bit along the way. However, you will need to find most of the way yourself.”
Zach gave a slight sigh and turned around to lean on the windowsill as he looked upon the Crystal Empire again. Cadence stepped over to his side and looked out the window as well.
“In the end, I suspect you won’t truly stop loving her. Although I know that you can find that kind of love in another. Everyone will have their own way to do it; often it might be by accident. Just remember that despite how Twilight may not love you in the same way, you two can still be friends.”
Zach remained silent as he considered Cadance’s words. He had mixed feelings about what she said, but he knew that only the truth was spoken. The human looked back to the love princess with only sincerity.
“Do you think maybe I could talk to you again about this kind of thing?”
Cadance gave a small smile to the human.
“You should know that you’re always welcome to, Zach.”
Zach couldn’t stop a smile from coming to his face. It took a lot out of him to do; but like Cadance said, he took the first step. He slowly inhaled and exhaled as an air of stress that previously hung over him dissipated. The two stayed there for a while before they were interrupted by the sound of a certain teenage alicorn speaking a bit loudly.
“Mom, Zach, dad, auntie Twilight, and the others are waiting for you guys.”
The two looked over to one side of the corridor they stood in to find Flurry Heart standing with a look of slight impatience mixed with a smile. Cadance spoke before Zach could open his mouth.
“Coming honey, tell daddy we’ll be out there soon.”
“Ok, but don’t take too long.”
With that, Flurry turned around and left the two in the corridor. Cadance looked to the human with a smile.
“You heard her, we better get going.”
Cadance then followed after her daughter at a slightly brisk pace. Zach stayed still for a few seconds longer before proceeding onward himself.
Author's Note
This is my first story, constructive criticism is welcome.
