Sprouting Romance

Chapters

The Secret Admirer
How to Steal a Kiss
Without a Hitch
Missing a Beet
Jealousy Loves Company
Takes the Cake
Hoof, Line, and Sinker
Worth It

The Secret Admirer

It had been 30 days since Sprout promised he would not start a war.

It had been 28 days since Sprout did, in fact, start a war.

Today, Hitch reluctantly slipped a key into the lock of the jail cell, and twisted it until he heard a click. As the tall metal gate creaked open, he let out a long groan before proclaiming, "All right Sprout, you're free from imprisonment."

Sprout grinned and trotted out of the cell, excited to rejoin society at last. Prison food had been terrible--sure, Hitch had brought him a pizza every day, but the pizzas were always coated in barbeque sauce instead of ketchup. Inexcusable!

He was brought to a halt by a hoof landing on his shoulder. "Hold on," Hitch said firmly, "you've still got six months of community service, remember?"

Sprout's smile vanished as he gave a melodramatic eyeroll. "Fine... What do you need me to do, sheriff?"

Hitch paused for a while, his tail slowly swishing as he pondered. He lifted a hoof and tapped his chin a few times. "Hmm... Well, you obviously can't be my deputy anymore, so you'll be my assistant instead. Capeesh?"

"Capeesh," Sprout muttered glumly, lowering his head.

"Good." Hitch gave a single curt nod. "Now make me some coffee."

"Aw, but I don't wanna!" Sprout whined.

His indignant expression immediately became one of fright when Hitch fixed him with a stern glare. "According to legal doctrine, you could've been charged with life in prison. You should be nothing but glad I let you off easy!" He thrust his muzzle closer until it was nearly touching Sprout's. "Do you understand?"

Sprout took a step back, feeling his cheeks heat up as Hitch's golden brown gaze bore into his own. "Y-y-y-yes sheriff!" He scrambled over to the coffee machine to set about fulfilling the sand-colored stallion's request...

The next morning, Hitch strolled into the sheriff's office with Sprout following closely behind him. Hitch gestured at what was formerly the deputy's desk.

"You're welcome to be here, but we need to make you a new sign." Hitch snatched Sprout's old 'DEPOOTY' sign and stuffed it into the bin. He then grabbed a blank piece of card and wrote 'ASSISTANT' on it with a pen, before carefully folding it over and setting it on the desk.

"Thanks," Sprout said tepidly. He trudged to the other side of the desk and flopped into his chair, gazing forlornly over at his trashed 'DEPOOTY' sign.

Hitch trotted over to the sheriff's desk. "Now, go get the mail."

"But I just sat down!" Sprout exclaimed, flattening his ears. "I mean... Sure. Anything for you, buddy."

He slipped out of the chair, the corners of his mouth turning up slightly as he remembered a little envelope he had snuck into the mail slot late last night. Boy, would Hitch be surprised! Sprout fetched the bundle of mail and dropped it in front of Hitch. He then returned to his own desk, whistling in a terribly out-of-tune manner.

Hitch sifted through the mail which, aside from the local newspaper, primarily consisted of catalogues and other junk mail. He would have to remember that sale on used patio furniture... Then, his attention was grabbed by a bright yellow envelope that oddly lacked both a stamp and an address.

"Hm, what could this be...?" Hitch muttered to himself. Sprout covered his face with a hoof to hide his delighted grin. He watched as Hitch tore open the envelope and pulled out a small scrap of lined paper.

This is what it said:

Dashing and bould
Yoo persavere and enspire
I wish I kould tell yoo
That I'm yore sekret admirerer!

PEE. ES. If yoo know who I am, and had a revealation,
Let me kno by giving me a red karnation!

"Wow," Hitch breathed as read over the scribbled hoof-writing. "This pony is one terrible speller."

Sprout idly tapped a pen on the surface of his desk and directed a half-lidded gaze towards Hitch, struggling to keep his tone as casual as possible. "So, what's that letter all about?"

Hitch slowly put the note down, an eyebrow hiking as a smug expression spread across his face. "I knew this would happen one day. It seems as if I have a secret admirer. This letter must be from some gorgeous mare--"

"Or stallion!" Sprout quickly interjected.

Hitch tossed his mane proudly. "Ah, yes. Some gorgeous mare with dazzling eyes, or some handsome stallion with super ripped muscles, who wants to go on a date with me!"

"Yeah... Super ripped muscles..." Sprout glanced down at his own soft, puny frame.

Hitch eagerly hopped out of his seat and struck a confident pose, puffing his chest out while swiping his mane back with a hoof. "There's only one thing to do about it. I need to offer a carnation to everypony in town until one of them reveals themself as my secret admirer!"

"Of course..." Sprout averted his eyes and thanked the heavens that his deep red fur hid his blush.

Hitch offered Sprout a friendly smile--perhaps a little too friendly. "And you're going to help me."

Hitch was making his way around Maretime Bay with Sprout lumbering after him, bogged down by saddlebags that were absolutely bursting with red carnations. Hitch handed out a carnation to every grown-up pony he passed, but none of them provided a telltale reaction.

"This is looking to be impossible," Hitch said with a huff as the two of them stood on a street corner, taking a brief break. "Why couldn't my secret admirer just tell me how they feel to my face?"

Sprout's lungs were heaving, as he had spent the morning following Hitch all over town. (It may come as a surprise, but Sprout wasn't exactly the most fit pony out there.) "Uh... Maybe he... or she... or they... were afraid you wouldn't... like them back?" He managed to choke out his words amongst exhausting panting.

Hitch stamped a hoof on the ground. "That's bogus! I'm willing to give anypony a chance to go out with me."

"Really?" Sprout looked up at him, hope glimmering in his leaf-green eyes.

Hitch did not look at him. "Anypony aside from cookie thieves and power-hungry emperors, that is."

Sprout's face fell. He had been both of those things in the past.

Something seemed to catch Hitch's attention; an orange figure wearing a cerulean helmet, her pink tail and braided mane flowing behind her as she whizzed through the streets on her roller skates. She was pulling along a little smoothie cart, ready to sell smoothies to the residents of Maretime Bay.

He waved a hoof at her. "Hey, Sunny! Over here!"

The mango-hued mare slowed before returning a beaming smile and changing course, skating up to the two stallions. However, her eyes refused to land on Sprout even once.

"Hi Hitch!" After skidding to a halt, Sunny put a hoof out and wiggled it as an invitation. Hitch rolled his eyes in mock irritation before joining her in their special Best Friends Hoofshake:

"Up high, down low,
Hitch it to a post.
Flip it sunny side up,
And on a piece of toast!"

After they finished their chant, Sunny playfully bumped against Hitch, nuzzling his shoulder. He gave a toothy grin and reached over to Sprout's saddlebag to grab one of the red carnations.

"Sunny, I should have known! This is for you."

Sunny's eyes widened in a mixture of surprise and befuddlement as her friend held the flower out to her. "Oh, thanks! What's it for?"

"Uh..." Hitch's eyes darted from side to side upon realizing that she wasn't the love letter's culprit after all. "The truth is, I'm just handing out flowers to everypony in town as a kind deed. I thought you might like one too."

"Sweet, thanks again! I better get going, though. Got these smoothies to sell!" Sunny tilted her head towards her smoothie cart and let out a chuckle.

Sprout's ears perked up. "Can I have a smoothie?"

She did not even glance his way. She was too busy totally ignoring his existence. She exchanged a "Goodbye!" with Hitch, and then she was off.

There was a Sprout Pout™. "I don't think she has forgiven me yet."

Hitch began to pace back and forth, his tail lashing. "That's the least of our worries! This search is getting nowhere. Surely I didn't spend half the town funds on flowers for no reason?"

Sprout shyly scuffed and swirled one of his front hooves on the ground. "Well, maybe you oughta think a little harder and narrow it down... Perhaps the secret admirer is somepony very, very, VERY close to you..."

Hitch paused with a frown as he contemplated this. "Hmm... Sprout, you're a genius!" He whipped around and suddenly held Sprout's face in his hooves, squishing his cheeks.

"Mmph! I-I am?" He felt his heartrate shoot upwards in response to feeling Hitch's hooves grab his face.

"That is right, my clever little assistant. Sure, Sunny turned out to be a false alarm, but there's still a chance the letter is from one of my OTHER close friends..."

Sprout tensed. "Such as?"

Hitch cocked a grin. "Pipp, Zipp, or Izzy of course!"

Pipp, Zipp, and Izzy had one thing in common: None of them turned out to be Hitch's secret admirer. While in Zephyr Heights and Bridlewood, Hitch had taken the opportunity to give out carnations in those locations too. Now countless Earth ponies, pegasi, and unicorns had each received a solitary scarlet flower--including Alphabittle, Queen Haven, and every member of the royal guard... Nevertheless, the adventure ended with fruitless results, and Hitch and his assistant returned to Maretime Bay while the moon was aloft in the sky.

Sprout collapsed in front of the sheriff's office, ever fiber of his being screaming from exhaustion after not only climbing to Zephyr Heights, but traveling to Bridlewood all within a day. Hitch was far better off physically, yet he was consumed with dejection, his head hung low.

"I guess I'll never find out who left that note..."

It hurt Sprout to see Hitch so miserable. Not enough to actually reveal the secret to him, though.

Hitch peered down with regret glistening in his eyes. "I'm sorry for dragging you around all day, Sprout. I should escort you home. You can lean on me if you're too tired to walk."

Sprout looked up at him and rose on unsteady hooves. "Huh? Oh yeah, that would be nice. Thanks..."

A small smile managed to grace Hitch's muzzle before he pressed against Sprout's side, causing him to jump slightly. The two ponies became wordless and slowly walked in the direction of Sprout's home. Most ponies were asleep at this hour, so the night was still and silent save for the rhythmic clip-clopping of hooves against pavement. Sprout discreetly glimpsed sideways at Hitch, admiring how the starlight touched his golden fur and teal mane. What a dazzling and brave stallion he was... Sprout wished he could be brave too, if only to confess exactly how he felt without worrying about humiliating himself...

It wasn't long before they arrived at Sprout's doorstep. Hitch turned to him and reached over to lift something out of his saddlebag--a red carnation, the very last one. After a long day, it had begun to wilt, and a few loose petals drifted downwards.

Hitch's voice was husky, yet tender. "Well, this is the final flower. And there's only one pony I can think of giving it to."

Sprout's eyes grew as big and round as the moon above. "R-r-r-really?"

He gave a soft smile. "Why don't we head inside?"

Sprout's heart surged and sped up as if it had suddenly been bucked. It took several moments before he was able to respond, albeit in a trembling voice. "W-well, if you really want to..."

His breath kept catching in his throat as it tightened, anxiety swarming over him. Could it be true? Was Hitch really returning his feelings? Breaking eye contact with his crush, Sprout then pushed open the door before taking shaky steps inside. Hitch followed after him, holding the stem of the flower between his teeth...

And then breezed right past, halting in front of Sprout's mom in the kitchen.

Sprout watched, mouth agape, as Hitch craned his neck towards Phyllis, presenting the half-dead flower to her.

"Why hello there, Sheriff Hitch! Aw, is that for me?" Phyllis lifted a hoof and coyly took the carnation from Hitch's teeth. Her smile faltered slightly when she took note of the bedraggled state the flower was in.

"Why yes it is, ma'am." Hitch stood up straight and wagged his eyebrows while Sprout lingered in the hallway, an amalgamation of disappointment and rage burning inside him.

"How sweet." Phyllis turned to pop the flower into an empty vase. She peered at a clock hanging on the wall above. "It's a little late, isn't it? What's the occasion?"

Hitch sighed deeply, his ears and tail drooping as he came to terms with the fact that he never identified his secret admirer. "Nothing. Nothing at all." He perked up again barely a moment later, holding his head high while Sprout scowled at him from the shadows. "Well, this mission may have been a bust, but I won't let that stop me from being the most dependable, most beloved sheriff in town!"

He bid Phyllis farewell and then made his way out with reclaimed confidence in his gait. "Bye Sprout!" he tossed over his shoulder as he walked out the door.

Sprout was fuming, but there were tears pricking at his eyes too. He sniffled, willing himself to hold them back.

His mom lightly trotted over and looked into his eyes, her own blue gaze telling of concern. "What's wrong, sugarcube?"

Sprout squinted in an attempt to withdraw his tears, but the dam broke. Wet droplets spilled onto the floor as he began to quiver, despair squeezing his heart and twisting it inside his chest. "I-I just can't believe that nincompoop would choose MY MOM over me!"

Phyllis rapidly blinked with bafflement a couple of times, but before she could reply, Sprout dashed off to his room, sobbing and wailing. There, he curled up on his bed and wept until he had no more tears left to shed. Was he really so undesirable that Hitch wouldn't consider him for even a heartbeat? He had poured his heart and soul into that letter, but it had all been in vain!

Oh well. There's always next time!

Author's Note

I acknowledge any personality exaggerations/alterations compared to the canon characters, as this is just a silly, light-hearted fanfiction. Still, there are more chapters to come and who knows... maybe Sprout will get lucky one of these days!

How to Steal a Kiss

Poor Sprout. After his prior failed attempt to let Hitch know he liked him, the red Earth pony had spent a week moping about. All hope was lost! Hitch would never be his boyfriend! He would give anything to go on one date with that charming stallion, or even just share one kiss... He felt his face burning up just thinking about it.

Sprout was bunkered in his room, empty pizza boxes and smoothie cups littered everywhere, with outdated emo music blasting from his stereo. Perhaps it was time for the pity party to come to an end. Yes, Sprout would try again--Maybe he and Hitch would never get married or adopt 7 foals, but he would find a way to convince Hitch to willingly kiss him! Then he could die happy.

First, he would need to make himself irresistible. So, he switched off the music and trotted to the bathroom, where he took a refreshing hot shower, thoroughly combed his mane and tail, brushed his teeth for three minutes instead of two, and even stole just a smidgen of his mom's perfume. And speaking of whom, he was soon interrupted by a few knocks at the door...

"You can come in," Sprout assured. He was leaning on the sink and observing his reflection in the mirror while he styled his mane, his hoof covered in hair gel.

The door swung open, and Phyllis stepped in. "There you are! I noticed there was no depressing music blaring from your room for once, so I wanted to see how you were doing--oh wow, did you take a shower?"

Sprout beamed at her. "Yes I did, mommy!"

Phyllis matched his smile, her heart swelling with pride. "This is wonderful news! You know what that means, right sugarcube? You get a gold star!"

She handed him one of the many gold star stickers that were stored on a nearby shelf, and he eagerly stuck it on the 'Sprout Hygiene Chart' hanging on the bathroom wall. Whenever he collected 10 gold stars over the course of 30 days, his mom bought him a present at the end of the month!

"Careful not to get that hair gel everywhere, honey," she gently warned him. She raised an eyebrow as she studied his mane, which was currently saturated with the glossy gel and spiked in random directions. "What are you doing, anyway?"

Sprout scowled, his demeanor instantly souring. "I can do what I want, mommy! Now leave me alone so I can finish this!"

Later that day, Hitch was leaning back in his office chair, hind hooves kicked up on the desk while he read the daily newspaper. Apparently Drift Flair, a model who survived in the sky for 3 days after being swept away by a CanterLogic escape pack, was stuck in the air again due to an incident involving unicorn magic and a hot air balloon... Hitch's brow furrowed with intrigue as he leaned closer to the text on the page. However, before he could continue reading the article, the doors to the sheriff's office swung open.

Hitch peered over his newspaper, his eyes stretching wide open as a familiar red pony strutted into the building. He was wearing light make-up; subtle streaks of black eyeliner adorned his eyes, and his cheeks were dusted with pink blush. He almost looked cute, even. But that was countered by his mane, which moreso resembled a blonde, electrocuted porcupine sitting atop his head.

Hitch dropped the paper on his desk. "Sprout, is that you? I thought you were dead."

"You thought I was--!?" Sprout stamped a hoof on the floor before breathing in deeply to compose himself. "Nevermind... Ehm, what do you think?"

Hitch removed his back legs from the desk and sat upright, edging forward and putting his hooves together to maintain a more professional posture. "I think you skipped out on a week of community service. Where were you?"

"I mean, what do you think of my new look?" Sprout's tone was bordering on impatience.

"Hmm..." Hitch shifted out of his chair and trotted over to Sprout, circling him and inspecting him from all angles. "The make-up's good, and your tail looks extra neat... The mane's a bit much though." He then paused and pressed his muzzle against Sprout's neck, causing the red stallion to flinch before simply freezing up. "And WHY do you smell like a perfume factory instead of old pizza crusts?"

"I only used a tiny bit of perfume!" Sprout insisted. His heartbeat skyrocketed while he felt the little rushes of air induced by Hitch's nostrils. "Now STOP sniffing me!"

"Gladly." Hitch drew back, grimacing slightly from the overpowering jasmine scent. "Anyway, I'm about to head out on patrol, and I want you to sort through the paperwork while I'm gone. Got it?"

Sprout couldn't resist giddily tapping his hooves on the floor. Now he would have the chance to set up his ploy! He paused awkwardly when he noticed Hitch staring at him with suspicion filling his narrowed eyes. "Uhh... Yeah, I guess I can do that."

Hitch blinked slowly. "Hmm. All right. It's good to see you enthusiastic about working for once." He turned away and headed out the building. "Adios, Assistant Sprout!"

Sprout waited a few moments, and then allowed a wide grin to spread across his face as a devious giggle shook his shoulders...

One hour later, Hitch returned from patrol to find Sprout lazily sorting through papers at the Assistant's Desk, humming a cheery tune. But moments after he passed through the door, Sprout leapt up with exaggerated fear claiming his features.

"Hitch, wait there! It's an emergency!"

"HUH?!" Hitch halted with a hoof suspended in the air and glanced around quickly, aiming to identify the source of the problem.

Sprout cantered over to him and pointed skyward. "Look!"

Hitch tilted his head back to look up at the ceiling. He squinted at some kind of green plant dangling from above. "Oh, weeds are growing on the ceiling now. The health inspector isn't gonna be too pleased about that."

He was about to take another step, but Sprout firmly planted a hoof on his chest to prevent him from moving any further. "You don't understand. That's not just any weed. It's a mistletoe!"

Hitch's eyebrows stayed in a perfect horizontal line as he waited for an explanation.

Sprout let his hoof drop to the floor. "Th-the unicorns told me about it... It's an ancient Hearth's Warming Eve curse. If two ponies stand under a mistletoe, they must kiss or it will spell doom for all of Equestria!"

Hitch huffed. "Then that would be your fault, because I was the only one standing here before you came up to me. Besides--" He casually stretched his legs and then sidled away. "Unicorn superstitions are hardly anything to worry about. AND it's nowhere near Hearth's Warming Eve."

Sprout watched in dismay as Hitch returned to his desk, his lowered eyelids spelling bored indifference. This wasn't how things were supposed to turn out! Wasn't he attractive enough for Hitch to kiss him? "B-b-but it's true! I heard about a couple of ponies who failed to kiss under a mistletoe, and... they exploded into smithereens five seconds later!"

A long silence dragged out between the two stallions.

Hitch clicked his tongue. "Welp, we didn't explode. The curse isn't real. Now go get the stepladder and take that thing down."

Sprout's muzzle quivered as he held back a sob. "But... but... but...!"

Hitch picked up his newspaper and ignored him.

Sprout stomped over to a corner and sat heavily on his haunches, obscuring himself behind a filing cabinet so he could pout in peace without Hitch looking at him. Soon his annoyance metamorphized into heartbreak. He didn't want to cry, but it wasn't long before Hitch's ears twitched at the sound of sniffing and whimpering. He groaned and plopped the newspaper down on his desk again, proceeding to slowly creep up to where the bundle of red fur was hiding.

"Sprout? Are you okay?" he asked gently as he approached.

Sprout peeked up at him. Tears were streaming down his face. "Leave me alone!"

Hitch frowned as he debated whether to talk to him or obey his wishes, before making his decision and kneeling in front of the other pony. "I'm a bit worried about you."

The tears slowed for a second. "Y-you are?"

Hitch nodded. "First you disappear for a week, then you come in with the worst mane style I've ever seen, and now you're worried about unicorn superstitions!" He softened his tone. "Is something going on?"

He patiently waited as Sprout worked his way through another minute of sobs before mustering a response. Throughout it all, he could not will himself to make eye contact with Hitch. "All I ever wanted was to feel appreciated. Ever since my dad left, something's been missing. Nopony's ever really loved me aside from mommy, so I wanted to experience a different kind of love... but nopony would ever want to be with me."

"Is that why you hid away these past several days? These thoughts were bothering you?"

Sprout nodded, even though that wasn't the exact reason. "A-anyway, I dolled myself up like this because I thought it would make... somepony... like me. But it hasn't worked, and it hurts knowing that I'll never be good enough for yo--I mean, for anypony."

Hitch edged closer as he listened intently. "Then what about the mistletoe thing? What was that about?"

Sprout winced. "I'm just freaking out because of stress, I guess?" He trailed off and gave a sheepish shrug.

Hitch tilted his head to one side. "I see. Well, if you say so." He was quiet for a moment. "You know you don't have to change yourself for somepony to like you, right? Be true to you and let your positive traits shine. The right pony will come into your life someday and accept you for who you are."

He flattened his ears as Sprout sniffed extra loud. "R-really? What are my positive traits then?"

Hitch started to shrink away. "Uhh, that's easy, just lemme think. Erm..."

His amber gaze shifted around as he thought, landing upon just about everything in the room except for Sprout himself.

"You have... a lot of potential?" Hitch offered at last, his teeth showing through a meek smile.

Sprout sighed and smeared his hooves across his face, attempting to wipe away his tears now that he was nearly done shedding them. "Thanks, I guess."

Hitch stood back up on his hooves. "That's the spirit! Now, follow me and we will put your worries at rest, okay?"

"Hm?" Sprout found himself unable to protest as Hitch helped him to his hooves and guided him to the center of the office, right beneath the mistletoe.

Hitch placed a hoof on Sprout's shoulder as he faced him, causing him to let out a barely audible gasp. "I don't really understand, and I still think the 'curse' is a bunch of baloney, but if it makes you feel better..."

Hitch inched his face closer to Sprout's, hesitating slightly to see if he would object. But he didn't; despite the sudden rush of apprehension crushing down on him, he practically turned into stone instead of backing away. Hitch turned his head a little to the side and kissed Sprout's cheek. There was no pressure, no passion, just Hitch lightly touching his lips to the other stallion's face.

It barely lasted a second. Still, as Hitch quickly drew back, Sprout felt arduous warmth flood through him, seeming to emanate from the spot where he had been kissed. No longer a statue, Sprout began to swoon, wobbling slightly on his hooves as he involuntarily smiled.

"Now you don't have to worry about Equestria being doomed," Hitch said, a hint of amused sarcasm lacing his tone. "And you're not gonna explode into smithereens, either." He moved his hoof to Sprout's mane and patted it a few times, brushing down some of the silly gelled spikes.

Sprout may not have exploded into smithereens, but his heart sure did, and he was still reeling on the spot as Hitch left his side and went back to his newspaper. It had been far less of a revolutionary experience for Hitch, and with his gaze focused on the article he was reading, he rambled in a casual tone. "Hopefully that fixed your paranoia. If you're done standing there, you should get that weird plant down like I asked. Oh, and while you're at it, clean the whole office from top to bottom."

Sprout's response came out in a squeak. "Y-yes Hitch!" He felt as if his face was on fire and his hooves were frozen, but still, he gradually remembered how to use his legs and stumbled over to where he had left the stepladder. He felt as if all his despair had melted away and was replaced by a faint, flickering spark of hope. Maybe he had a chance with Hitch after all!

~~~

Meanwhile, Phyllis was getting herself ready to attend a small party with some friends. But as she reached for her perfume bottle, she noticed it was completely empty...

"Sprout..." she grumbled under her breath.

Without a Hitch

Ever since the sort-of kiss, Sprout was on top of the world. He felt as if he were a pegasi walking on clouds! He was as happy as a unicorn who had just abolished a mayonnaise factory! He smiled more, pouted less, and he didn't even mind that everypony in town still hated him for the lighthouse incident. His mind was too preoccupied with replaying that wonderful experience from a few days prior, the moment when Hitch pecked Sprout's cheek for a mere second...

Sprout got up bright and early so he could have a little time to himself before community service--or rather, being Hitch's assistant. Which was virtually the same as being deputy, except he wasn't allowed to make any decisions and he didn't get paid. He went for a little walk, feeling the gentle sun warming his fur, until hunger groaned from within his tummy.

Cantering past ponies who either pretended he was invisible or shot him loathsome glares, he made his way to his favorite pizza parlor. He hadn't had a pizza in ages. It had been almost a WEEK! Poor him! After entering the familiar building, he remembered to stand at the back of the queue instead of cutting in line like he usually did. Oh, he was REALLY being a good pony now! If he kept this up, then the Pizza Goddess herself would descend from the heavens and make him a saint...

When it was his turn, he offered the worker behind the counter a toothy smile (only receiving an apathetic stare in exchange) and ordered his favorite pizza--with mushrooms, olives, tomato slices, and basil leaves as toppings. He dumped a large bag of change on the counter to pay for his order, and then sat on a stool in the corner while he waited for his pizza to be prepared.

Later, when the pizza was done, he decided to take it to the sheriff's office and eat it there. It was still a little while before his "shift" began, but Hitch would probably be there already... and he couldn't object to spending as much time as possible around his beloved!

Sprout pushed his way into the office and set the box of pizza on the deputy's desk--no, the assistant's desk. His heart soared when he glanced to the side and saw Hitch at the sheriff's desk, but before he could say anything, Hitch jumped out of his chair and trotted over to him.

"Sprout! Oh, I'm so happy to see you."

As always, Sprout found himself hopelessly lost in Hitch's eyes, which sucked him in like amber whirlpools. "Y-you a-are?"

Hitch nodded and smiled, flashing his sparkling white teeth. "That's correct, my little Sproutie. There's something I want from you... and it's really important."

Sprout inhaled sharply, and he felt his head spinning like a Beyblade. Sproutie? SPROUTIE?! What an adorable nickname! His legs felt so weak, he was just about ready to melt into a puddle of goo.

He was too breathless to speak, so after a brief session of awkward silence, Hitch piped up again. "I'm a little nervous to confess this, but..."

Sprout's eyes widened as he watched Hitch avert his gaze, his tan-colored cheeks turning pink. Hitch was blushing! And why was he acting so nervous? Could it be that Hitch was about to confess his love for him...?

Hitch straightened up and took a deep breath, attempting to fill himself with confidence while he filled his lungs. "I'm going on a date tonight and I need you to keep an eye on the office while I'm out!"

The world seemed to stand still. Sprout's smile still lingered on his face while he processed what Hitch had just said. When he finally realized, his smile faltered for a moment before he forced it back again, disingenuous and a little too wide.

"Oh, really? That's great! Who are you going on a date with?" He spoke through clenched teeth, muffling his voice a little.

Hitch attempted to pull a smug expression, but his blush was still obvious. "It's Dahlia. She asked me out when I was patrolling yesterday. And to be honest, in the back of my mind, I think I've had my eye on her for a while..."

Sprout backed away, stumbling every few steps. "How wonderful! A-anyway, I should really get to eating my pizza before it gets cold..."

"Great! Anyway I'm gonna go on patrol now, and afterwards I'm gonna get my mane done at the hair salon..." Hitch strode towards the door before halting and shooting Sprout a serious glare. "Don't start a war while I'm gone. And I mean it this time."

"Yeah, yeah, not doing that again..." Sprout mumbled as he slumped onto his chair. He didn't meet Hitch's gaze, instead staring at the floor. Sprout listened to the door shut after Hitch made his way out.

And then he was alone.

More alone than he had ever felt in his entire life.

His father left when he was a colt, his mommy ignored him for most of his life, Sunny had stopped being his friend because he so fervently believed the lies he had been taught by society... and went a smidge too far trying to fight back against a non-existent threat. He just wanted everypony's respect, and he thought he had been protecting his neighbors against death by unicorns and pegasi! But at the end of the day, everything he did was a massive screw-up and nopony needed him, not even Hitch. He was too miserable to eat.

Well, almost. His mouth began to water as the delicious cheesy scent of pizza wafted up from the box, and he slowly lifted the lid to open it...

...only to find that the pizza had no toppings at all! There was only cheese and sauce and crust.

"Those foolish ponies must have left all my toppings off just to spite me!" he growled. His anger quickly gave way to sadness, and he wore a sullen frown. "Everypony in town hates me. Hitch will never love me. I...I should leave."

There was no hope for him in Maretime Bay. He destroyed his own dream of becoming the sheriff, and now nopony wanted him around at all. He could go away forever, and nopony would miss him! His mother would probably forget he was ever born, just like she used to when he was a colt. He begrudgingly ate a slice of the plain pizza as he pondered this. There was no doubt that it was still tasty, but it was difficult for him to enjoy it. He was too busy thinking about his future life as a hermit.

He swallowed the last bite of the slice and clambered out of his chair. "I should go right now... It's not like anypony will even notice."

Taking one last glance around the sheriff's office, and leaving the rest of his pizza sitting on his desk, he walked towards the door. One of his front hooves was still greasy from holding the pizza slice, and left sticky marks on the floor with each step--he hoped Hitch wouldn't be too mad about that. He went outside and quickly brainstormed about where he should go. He knew there was a desert somewhere on the way to Zephyr Heights, so maybe he would live there, hiding away from civilization and eating sand for every meal! It was all he deserved.

And so, trudging past ponies he knew resented his presence, he set off for the desert and left his life in Maretime Bay behind.

The sky was ablaze with a red and yellow sunset by the time Sprout reached the desert. He collapsed on the ground, wheezing from exhaustion. He was surrounded by sand, rocks, sand, dry shrubbery, sand, and sand. This would be his new home. He lay there as he tried to reclaim his energy, but then he winced as his stomach rumbled with a twinge of hunger. It had been several hours since he had eaten the singular slice of pizza.

"I guess I better get used to my new lifestyle..." he muttered to the vast emptiness surrounding him. He used his hooves to shovel sand into his mouth, cringing at the gritty texture. Swallowing it was even worse, and he choked as the hard, tiny grains scratched his throat.

"Ugh, I can't do this! I need to find a different food source." He weakly heaved himself upright, and looked around. He saw a scorpion scuttle by and briefly considered eating it, but soon decided he wanted to remain vegetarian (and he didn't want to risk being stung, anyway). He began trailing off in a random direction, leaving hoofprints in the sand. He hoped he would find food before it got dark. Or water. He was beginning to get thirsty, too...

Eventually he spotted a ditch in the ground, and he quickened his pace, cantering up to it. He peered down and saw that the ditch was several pony-lengths deep, but growing from the bottom was a swarm of cacti! His ears perked up with delight. Cacti were full of water, weren't they? At least, that's what he had learned from cartoons. That would solve his thirst, and maybe he could eat part of the cactus too. He hoped that cacti tasted like cookies.

How would he get down? He leaned over the edge, observing that there wasn't really any space to stand because of just how many cacti were down there. He leaned some more, and more, and then...

Oops! His hoof slipped and he let out a yelp as he fell into the ditch, only to squeal like a banshee being caught in the shower when he landed smack-dab in a patch of cacti. Suddenly he was a living pincushion, sharp needles poking into him from all sides. He writhed in an attempt to break free, but that only cause more cactus spines to prick him.

"Owowowowowowowwwwwwwwww!"

He had no choice but to stay still. Some of the needles had broken off the cacti and were still sticking out of his fur, making him look like a hedgehog. He looked up at the sky above, which was growing darker by the minute. There was no way he could climb out of the ditch! It was too deep, and he couldn't even stand on his own four hooves. This was how he would die!

I hope mommy doesn't take the news of my death too badly. And I hope she doesn't check my internet history.

He had some pretty nasty stuff in there. Such as vegan meatloaf recipes.

He sighed, but quickly cut himself off when he realized that even breathing too deeply increased the pain. He was stinging all over, with no hope of escape... and he would die alone, unloved, and an utterly useless failure.

He closed his eyes as a tear trickled down his cheek. He waited for the pain to fade, for unconsciousness to steal him away. But then one of his ears twitched as he heard shuffling from somewhere up above. He tried to ignore it at first, but then something whacked him on the head.

"OUCH!" He flinched and opened his eyes, ready to rage at whatever had hit him, only to spy the end of a rope dangling in front of his face.

"Sprout! Can you climb up!?"

His heart skipped a beat at the familiar voice. Baring through the pain, he lifted his head and squinted upwards. There was the world's most handsome stallion, cautiously looking over the brim of the ditch and watching Sprout with concern. Hitch had come to his rescue!

It took several moments for Sprout to answer his question. "I don't know if I can. It huuuuuuuurts!"

Hitch cringed as Sprout's voice became a whine. Still, he responded in a somewhat comforting tone. "Erm, just try, OK? You're gonna be all right."

Sprout sniffled. "Fine..."

Whimpering and yelling the whole while, Sprout reached for the rope and began to climb upwards, his coat still burning with pain. Hitch flattened his ears back against his head in an attempt to block out Sprout's whining, until the red stallion finally heaved himself onto higher grounds.

"Are you OK?" Hitch asked, retrieving his rope from where he had it tied around a large rock.

Sprout was panting from pain and exertion, lying on his belly. "Y-yeah, I guess."

Hitch frowned as he gazed down at him. "Why did you come all the way out here? I told you to keep an eye on the sheriff's office, and you failed! And you even left your pizza there to get all gross."

Sprout buried his face in the sand with a huff. "I ran away 'cause nopony loves me and I'll never be good enough for anything. So I decided I'll live in the desert forever, away from everypony else!"

Sprout did not look at Hitch's face, but heard the bemusement in his voice. "Why would you feel the need to do that? You may have done some bad things, but everypony deserves a second chance. You'll get there someday. And..."

Hitch paused, and so Sprout lifted his face off the ground to look up at him before he continued.

"I like having you around. When I couldn't find you, I was really worried."

Sprout stared at him. "How DID you find me?"

"First I followed the pizza grease hoofprints on the street," Hitch gestured to a nearby rock, where his two seagull companions were perched, "and then these critters scouted from the sky until they found your hoofprints in the sand."

"I see..." Sprout gave the little birds a thankful half-smile.

Hitch sat next to him, his gaze scanning over his torso. "You've got a lot of broken cactus spines stuck to you. Does it still hurt?"

Sprout rolled his eyes. "What do you think?"

"Can you sit up?"

"I'll try..." Gritting his teeth, he managed to adjust his front hooves and slowly sit upright.

"Now let me deal with these..." Hitch used both his hooves to grasp a needle in Sprout's side and pull it out.

"OW!" Sprout flinched from the searing agony that shot through him for a few moments afterwards.

"I'm sorry, it's hard to grip these with my hooves! Just stay still..." Hitch carefully selected another needle and tugged it out, and this time it didn't hurt nearly as much. Sprout shut his eyes but didn't cry out, and managed to relax as the other stallion continued to pluck out needles. Once he was completely calm, he felt butterflies fluttering in his tummy from how close Hitch was sitting to him, and the way his hooves brushed against his fur while attempting to grab onto each needle.

Then Sprout mentally shooed the butterflies away, and even imagined smacking a few with a fly swatter! He would have to get over his feelings! He thought back to how flustered Hitch had looked while mentioning Dahlia... He had never seen his shyness overshadow his confidence before, not even after receiving the secret love letter. Sprout knew that Hitch would never look at him that way.

Hitch broke the silence again as he continued to work. "I hope you'll come back to Maretime Bay with me. It's... lonely without you. In fact, that's why I made you my assistant after you couldn't be deputy anymore. It was because I still wanted to be with you whenever I can.

A flicker of warmth warily surged in Sprout's chest. "Really? But... you won't be lonely anymore. You've got Dahlia now."

Hitch sighed and added one last extracted needle to a pile that had formed. "We're not going on another date. Dahlia said that even though she finds me attractive, she found my personality to be... not very exciting. That was a nice way of saying that I'm boring. I wish there was somepony out there who liked me for me."

Hitch lowered his head and stared at the ground, his ears drooping like wilted flower petals. Sprout's heart ached at seeing him so defeated.

"Hitch, if it helps you feel any better, I don't think you're boring. I do agree you look good, but... I like you for who you are on the inside, too."

Hitch briefly glanced at him, sending him a tender smile before focusing on the sand beneath his hooves again.

Sprout nervously bit his lip for a moment, before reaching over and placing a tentative hoof on the sad stallion's back. He felt Hitch relax under his touch, and the butterflies returned. This time, he didn't chase them away. He had never comforted another pony before... It was odd, but nice. Hitch had comforted him multiple times, so it was only fair for him to do the same.

"So... Does this mean you're gonna come home?" Hitch asked, amusement sparkling in his gaze as he turned to Sprout once more.

Sprout clicked his tongue and suppressed a groan, removing his hoof from Hitch's back. "Fine... I guess."

"Good, because you've still got a ton of community service to fulfill! You don't wanna be a fugitive, right?"

Hitch shot him a cocky smile, and Sprout scowled at him in return. But deep inside, he was elated that Hitch was feeling at least a little better. He was about to get to his hooves, when suddenly Hitch leaned over and planted his muzzle against Sprout's shoulder.

"Eep!" A shiver ran up Sprout's spine, and then he felt teeth grazing his shoulder before Hitch reeled back and spat out one last needle onto the ground.

"Sorry, I missed one and thought it would be easier to get it out with my teeth," Hitch chuckled mischievously.

Still shaking, Sprout fumed at him. "W-warn me next time!"

Hitch got to his hooves. "All right, I'll keep that in mind the next time you go gallivanting off to the desert and land in Cactus Town." He caught sight of his seagull friends, who were beginning to doze off as the first stars twinkled in the sky. "Looks like the critters need to get home too. C'mon, let's go."

Sprout stood up as well, and a smile slowly spread across his face. Maybe Hitch would never love him, but his words were echoing in his mind. Hitch needed him around and wanted to spend time with him. That had to count for something, right? Maybe Sprout wasn't such a useless, unwanted pony after all.

And even if he was to everypony else, all that mattered was that Hitch cared about him.

Missing a Beet

When Sprout entered the office the next morning, he directed a timid smile at Hitch, who was preoccupied with sifting through a stack of papers at the sheriff's desk and thus did not look up. Sprout swished his tail nervously. He wanted to shove his cranky attitude aside and work hard to act friendlier towards Hitch, especially since they had definitely grown closer in recent times. Still, he was held back by some degree of stubbornness.

Noting that he would need to catch the other stallion's attention, Sprout trotted up to him and exacted enough effort to speak in a bright and cheery tone. "Good morning, Hitch!"

Hitch glanced at him, and Sprout was surprised to see a slight smile grace his features before he quickly refocused on his task. Looking down at the papers again, he responded, "Hi there, Sprout. How are you feeling today?"

Sprout gave a bit of a frown. He wasn't used to Hitch outwardly asking about his feelings. But more importantly, he noticed that Hitch seemed worn out, hunched over with a hint of sleepless darkness under his eyes. "I'm fine I guess, but is something wrong?"

Pausing in sorting through papers, Hitch leaned back in his chair and yawned, temporarily stretching his forelegs above his head. "Nothing's wrong. I'm just a bit tired because I've been organizing this paperwork since 5:00am."

"But don't I usually do that? Aside from the starting at 5:00am part, of course."

Hitch smiled at him again, tenderly. "I thought you might be exhausted after fleeing the town yesterday, so I wanted to ease your workload for today."

Sprout knew he should be delighted at the prospect of less responsibility, but all he felt was a pang of guilt. "You didn't have to do that for me."

Hitch dismissively waved a hoof. "Oh, it's fine, really." He softly grunted as he stretched again. "Mm, then again, I actually feel pretty stiff after sitting here for so long. You can make it up to me by giving me a massage."

"WHAT?" All his guilt and compassion dissolving away, Sprout swiftly took a step back, glaring at his superior.

Hitch fixed him with a judging stare. "Are you gonna shirk your community service duties?"

"How is that--nevermind..." Sprout grumbled before trudging closer and propping his upper torso on the back of Hitch's chair. Hitch leaned forward over his desk a little, and Sprout let out an indignant huff before he began to gingerly pummel his back.

Hitch let out a lengthy exhale and relaxed. "Ahh, that's the spot..."

Sprout felt his cheeks heat up with a blush. He was embarrassed, but it was kind of nice being able to touch Hitch and feel his muscles relax under his hooves. Sprout had never given anypony a massage before, but quickly getting the hang of it, he began rubbing his hooves in circular motions over Hitch's back and shoulders.

"Ooh, Sprout, you're too good..."

The compliment made Sprout a little too flustered, and being flustered made him feel vulnerable, and feeling vulnerable made him mad! He reeled back and dropped to all fours. "SHUT YOUR MOUTH! You're making things weird!"

Hitch swiveled in the chair to face Sprout, who was scowling at him. "What are you on about this time? And you shouldn't yell at your sheriff!" He shook his head disapprovingly.

"Eugh, I don't care. Forget about the massage!" Sprout stomped over to the assistant's desk like an angry foal and sat down, crossing his forelegs with a huff. Being praised was his weakness, he would admit that. He thought he had been overcoming his anxiousness when it came to his crush, but it was all too overwhelming! He would erase his feelings for Hitch from existence if he could... That would make everything so much simpler!

Hitch squinted at him before shrugging and continuing to organize papers. "Suit yourself." He then added "Weirdo" under his breath, which Sprout picked up on, but decided to ignore.

Thankfully the silence didn't last long before Sprout shot Hitch an apologetic glance. "I'm sorry you were up all morning, though."

"Don't worry about it. In fact, I'm treating myself to a night out later, so at least I'll be getting a break!"

Sprout raised an eyebrow. "A night out?"

Hitch nodded. "That's right, I'm going to visit Zephyr Heights so I can see Pipp's latest concert. She's really excited about it, and the rest of the girls are going too..." his eyes lit up as an idea popped into his head. "Sprout! Why don't you come along?"

Sprout shrank back. "Why would you want me to come along? Sunny still hates me, and I'm sure the others do too..."

Hitch sighed and adopted a more serious tone as he gave Sprout a solemn look. "I don't think they hate you. They're just not ready to forgive you yet. However, I'm sure they're willing to hang out with you around. I'm not gonna force you to join us, but if you ever change your mind, all you need to do is ask."

Sprout gazed into nothingness as he thought. He would love to go out with Hitch, but the whole experience would be ruined with the other ponies around--especially Sunny, who refused to associate with him despite the lighthouse having been repaired.

His lungs deflated with a sigh. "No, just... forget about it."

Later, after Hitch had already left for Zephyr Heights, Sprout was sitting outside on a bench and sipping a tropical smoothie. He looked up at the twinkling stars just starting to peek out from the violet sky. They felt so far away... though, not nearly as distant as he felt from everypony around him. Hitch was the only pony in Equestria who even vaguely liked him, and he was off having the time of his life with his better friends. Turning his eyes away from the stars, Sprout then began to silently watch the ponies of Maretime Bay pass him by while he drank the rest of his smoothie.

His vision blurred a bit as his gaze unfocused, but then he caught a glimpse of somepony familiar in the streets... somepony with a tan coat, a lighter chest, a blaze between his eyes, and a teal mane...

Sprout immediately set his smoothie on the bench and sprang to his hooves before cantering over to the other pony. "Hitch! What are you doing here?"

He skidded to a halt and the pony paused, looking at him. "Oh, hi Sprout!"

Sprout's shoulders drooped as he looked into eyes that were deep blue rather than amber. "Hi Rob..."

Rob tilted his head to one side. "Something wrong, buddy?"

Sprout nervously bit his lip. Did Rob resent him just like everypony else in the town? He had to assume the answer was 'no', or else Rob wouldn't even be giving him the time of day. The thought that at least one pony besides Hitch accepted him was comforting, and he managed a small smile.

"Nope, nothing's wrong at all! But enough about me. How have you been?"

To Sprout's surprise, Rob suddenly looked melancholy, his ears drooping as he slowly shook his head. "Not good, I'm afraid."

Sprout's smile faded as concern reigned over. "What's wrong?"

Rob took a deep breath before letting it out in a sigh. "A year ago, there was this stallion I really liked. We were friends, but I started thinking of him as something more. But I was too shy to tell him how I felt."

I know how that feels, Sprout thought. He remained quiet as he waited for Rob to continue.

"Anyway, several months ago, somepony else confessed to him before I could. They started going out. I guess I was happy for him, and I tried to get over him by going on dates, but I was never able to click with anypony else. And..."

Sprout took a step closer as Rob's voice became weak.

"Today he told me he got engaged with his special somepony, and... I can't stop thinking I missed my chance and I'll never find anypony else. I just feel so lonely."

Sprout felt sympathy and sadness stab at his heart. "That must really suck. I'm sorry to hear all that."

The words came out rather awkwardly. He was no expert at consoling other ponies. In the silence that followed, Sprout glanced over to where he had left his smoothie on the bench. A seagull had tipped it over and was now pecking at the spilled juice. Wonderful, even the birds hate me.

Rob sighed again, and Sprout frantically tried to think up a way he could make the miserable stallion feel better.

"Well, if you're lonely, we could start hanging out I guess. Just to keep you company. And you could talk to me whenever you're feeling low."

Rob's ears perked up. "Really? That would be nice, thanks..."

Just then, a thought crashed over Sprout like a tidal wave, almost causing him to lose his balance. Rob had failed to confess to his crush in time, and now it was far too late! The same thing could happen to Hitch. Anypony could confess to him at any moment, and then Sprout would be devastated and forever alone! It had been pure luck that Dahlia hadn't wanted to pursue a relationship with Hitch. What if somepony else confessed to him? It could happen anytime, anywhere...

What if somepony confesses to him at Zephyr Heights?

Sprout stumbled away from Rob in a panic. He had to tell Hitch how he felt while he still had the chance! "I-I gotta go!"

Sprout weaved his way through the crowd of ponies while a funky pop tune blasted throughout the room, accompanied by Pipp's resonant voice. Spotlights swirled to maintain their target on Pipp as she flitted about, spinning and singing in the air as she performed for her fans. Sprout was glad he had been able to make it to Zephyr Heights before the concert was over, but now all he had to do was locate Hitch. He scanned the ponies gathered around, holding his head low as he was more than a little overwhelmed by all the lights and noise.

Eventually he managed to make out a certain group of ponies... There was Hitch, with a row of three familiar mares to his right. Sprout groaned to himself before approaching him from behind, aiming for his left so he wouldn't have to stand next to Sunny, Zipp, and Izzy. Sprout blushed slightly as he noticed Hitch swishing his hindquarters to the beat of the music. Soon Sprout was nervously standing close to Hitch's side, his mind racing as he struggled to think of what to say.

It turned out he didn't need to be the one to draw attention to himself after all, as Hitch must have glimpsed him through the corner of his eye.

"Sprout, you came! I'm so glad you're here." Hitch practically had to shout to be heard above the volume of Pipp's song.

Sprout cringed as he spotted the ears of Sunny and Zipp perk up, while Izzy was too immersed in prancing on the spot as she danced along to the song. Sunny's jaw visibly stiffened, while Zipp grudgingly looked over at him.

"Oh... Hi there, Sprout," Zipp said in a loud voice that still managed to ooze discomfort.

Sprout didn't respond, instead biting his tongue as he inched closer to Hitch. He wanted to confess as soon as possible, but not only would he need to be audible above the noise, he would also need to ensure none of the mares would hear him!

"Hitch, there's something I need to tell you," Sprout whispered hoarsely, already feeling his mouth turn dry as anxiety claimed him in its vice-like grip. "I kinda... sorta..."

One of Hitch's ears swiveled towards him. "Did you say something?"

Sprout gulped and then willed the volume of his voice to climb higher. "I... I know this is a bad time but I just had to tell you that... I... l-l-l-like you."

Hitch's gaze was busy following Pipp as she danced through the air. "What was that? I can't hear you."

Sprout's legs wobbled with fear. He glanced at Sunny, Izzy, and Zipp, and was relieved to find they weren't paying attention to him. He leaned closer to Hitch.

"I like you."

Hitch blinked. "Could you repeat that?"

Sprout's short temper suddenly snapped. He had lost his patience, and in the moment, all he wanted to do was get this over with no matter the consequences. And so, sucking in a deep breath, he then squeezed his eyes shut and yelled at the top of his lungs:

"I LOVE YOU!!!"

There was silence.

Complete silence.

As in Pipp's song had ended the second he had opened his mouth, and his declaration had echoed throughout the room before anypony had a chance to drown it out with their applause. Sprout ducked his head, his face burning and his heart pounding like a hammer against his ribcage. He could practically feel everypony's stares burning into him, Hitch's most of all.

Then a voice hollered out from somewhere in the crowd: "Yeah, I love Pipp too!"

More voices began to follow.

"We all love you, Pipp!"

"He's right!"

"I love you so much!"

Sprout gradually looked up and saw Pipp beaming as her fans tossed praise at her and began to cheer, filling the room with noise once more. Of course everypony had assumed those words were meant for the beloved pop star. He felt a twinge of frustration and disappointment that his boldness had been wasted, but at the same time, maybe this misunderstanding had just saved his flank from a lifetime of shame. He would confess to Hitch at the next available opportunity... if he didn't chicken out, which was about 99% likely.

"I didn't know you loved Pipp that much, Sprout," he heard Hitch remark in a puzzled tone.

"Shut. Up." Sprout retorted through clenched teeth.

Author's Note

If you're wondering how the earth ponies are able to get to Zephyr Heights in a short amount of time, I really couldn't think of a way either, but perhaps some kind of transportation was established between the locations..?

Anyway, the next chapter will be pretty different compared to the ones I've done so far, so look forward to it!

Jealousy Loves Company

It had been two weeks since Pipp's concert.

Hitch was not in the best mood. He wasn't in the second best mood either, nor the third best or forth best. Something was irking him, and though he had some approximation of what was bothering him, he had no clue as to why. His little critter companions weren't pestering him any more than usual. And ponies were littering just as much as they always had. But something else was... different.

He had grown accustomed to Sprout always sticking by his side like gum to a hoof. Well, perhaps that wasn't the greatest allegory, but nonetheless, Sprout used to always trail after him and hang out at the sheriff's office whether or not it was required of him. For the past couple of weeks however, Hitch sensed an increasing absence. As soon as Sprout was finished with whatever tasks he had been assigned that day, he was off spending time with that one random pony he had recently rekindled a friendship with. Not that there was anything wrong with that!

So why does it make me feel so hopeless?

Hitch thought this to himself and sighed, finding difficulty in giving his usual friendly smile to the ponies he passed during his afternoon patrol. It was good that Sprout had a friend, and he should be glad that the lazy little nincompoop was spending less time pestering him! There was no logical reason for the strange, clammy emotion that wormed its way through both his heart and his brain. It reminded him of the way he had felt when the local donut store once held an 80% off sale, but by the time he got there, he watched helplessly as the last chocolate-dipped marshmallow donut was purchased by somepony else.

A feeling of something he wanted ending up in the hooves of somepony luckier than him. A feeling of... jealousy? That didn't make sense! No, he was certain that the reason he felt so ill at ease was because Sprout was slacking off instead of dedicating himself to as many hours of community service as possible. Actually, he was only 20% certain that was the reason he was unhappy, but it was better than that "jealousy" explanation. He would have to fix this!

Speak of the devil. As Hitch turned the corner with two seagulls and a crab hobbling after him, he was met with a sight that had become very common as of late. There was Sprout and his companion, sitting across from each other at a little round table outside a café. They each had their own fruit smoothie, and they both were laughing as they chatted about things Hitch most likely couldn't care less about. They looked happy.

The unwanted, unpleasant emotion bubbled up inside him again. He clenched his jaw and marched up to where the two ponies were seated.

The pony that was wearing a hat noticed him first. "Hey there, sheriff!"

Sprout's ears perked up and a bright smile crossed his face as he turned to greet Hitch. "Oh, hi Hitch!"

Hitch's unenthusiastic gaze flitted between the two of them. "Hello, Sprout and Bob."

"Actually, my name's Rob."

"I see," Hitch mumbled in response. He focused on Sprout, who seemed to shrink back from the intensity of his glare. "So... What are you doing?"

His tone was more hostile than he had intended. Sprout cringed, apparently put off by the delivery of the question. "I'm... spending time with my friend?"

Try as he might, Hitch couldn't erase his rigid, unamused expression. "Hm. I think you're trying to escape your duties."

Sprout's ears flattened lower and lower as the conversation went on. "What? But I already sorted the paperwork and cleaned the office from top to bottom today!"

"I've realized I must've been going too soft on you, and not giving you enough responsibilities. How are you going to redeem yourself if I let you run off doing whatever you want?"

A stutter found its way into Sprout's speech. "B-but that's not fair!"

"Fair? Don't forget, you should be in JAIL right now!" Hitch snapped.

Sprout flinched at that and didn't respond. His brows furrowed and he scowled in anger, but tears were creeping at the corners of his eyes.

Rob awkwardly sipped his smoothie while he watched the two stallions argue right in front of him.

Hitch recognized that he was losing his temper, and inhaled a deep breath that puffed out his chest. Calm. Stay calm, he told himself, holding the breath for a few seconds before letting it out again. Why was he so on edge? He attempted to address Sprout in a much gentler tone.

"All right, I'm sorry for what I said. But I think you should accompany me on patrol and keep an eye out for any litter that needs to be cleared. This will be your duty from now on."

"Fine..." Lacking the will to protest any further, Sprout set his smoothie down on the table and got out of his chair. He shot a sad look over to Rob. "Guess I'll see you later then... Sorry."

Rob gave him a smile of understanding and assured, "It's OK! I'm sure I'll catch ya later!"

Hitch let his disapproving glare rest on Sprout for a few seconds, before turning away and continuing his patrol to ensure that everything in Maretime Bay was running smoothly. Now, in addition to being followed by two seagulls and a crab, he was also being followed by one miserable red pony. Hitch would glance over his shoulder every so often, and whenever he did, he was struck by the sight of Sprout looking utterly defeated as he trudged after him. It all felt so very, very wrong. Hadn't Sprout usually been eager to be with him in recent times? Was Rob really a better friend than him?

Hitch paused once he spotted a candy wrapper on the road. It was being dragged along slightly by a soft breeze. He gestured towards it with his foreleg.

"Sprout, pick up that litter."

Sprout sluggishly walked up to the candy wrapper with his head hung low as if he were carrying the weight of the entire world on his back, and picked it up with his hoof. "What do you want me to do now, boss?"

Hitch frowned. "You... don't have to call me boss. We're friends, remember? Anyway," he pointed at the nearest trash can, "I need you to throw it away."

"Yessir..." Sprout plodded over to the trash can and attempted to drop the candy wrapper inside. But an unexpected gust of wind caught it and swiftly whisked it through the air, before it eventually landed on the ground again. Sprout stood still and stared at it with a bored expression.

Hitch nodded at his seagull companion which donned a tin can on its head. "Could you go take care of that please?"

The little bird let out an excited squeak before flapping over to properly dispose of the wrapper. Meanwhile, Hitch trotted up to Sprout and placed a hoof on his back. He seemed to flinch for a moment, but otherwise didn't respond.

"Sprout, I think we really need to talk. Something's wrong. I thought we were getting closer--"

"I thought we were getting closer too!" Sprout retorted. He sounded as if he was on the verge of a sob. "But now you're being a jerk and won't even let me see the only pony who cares about me. You must think I don't deserve friends!"

"Hey, that's not it at all," Hitch insisted. His heart clenched at the words the only pony who cares about me. He cared about Sprout! But he didn't want to be seen arguing in public. He glanced around self-consciously. "Listen, I don't think the side of the road is the best place to have this discussion. How about we go back to my house?"

Sprout seemed to soften a little at that, though it still took him a moment to reach an answer. "I guess..."

Hitch gave a strained smile. "All right, let's go."

The two of them walked to his house in silence, with Sprout following several pony-lengths behind Hitch instead of alongside him. All the while, Hitch mulled over how he felt, what he would say. He hadn't really felt the urge to give Sprout more duties. Hitch just wanted to spend more time with him for some reason. But seeing how dejected Sprout was around him just made him feel worse than ever...

Eventually they both arrived at their destination. Hitch pushed open his front door and allowed Sprout to trudge inside before letting it shut with a soft click. Sprout lifted his head and glanced around with dawning interest. Everything was neat and tidy just the way Hitch liked it; that fact combined with the white walls and pinewood flooring made it look like the type of house you'd see in a typical TV commercial.

"Huh... I just realized it's been a long time since I visited your house," Sprout mused.

"I guess as we grew older, we just kind of... stopped hanging out as much," Hitch admitted. "Anyway, feel free to sit down. Want a drink or anything?"

Sprout shook his head before slowly walking over to the dark blue sofa in front of the television, and sitting down. Hitch trotted over and sat on the other side next to him. He studied Sprout for a minute while he mentally constructed what he was going to say. Sprout was downcast and would not even look at him.

Hitch softly cleared his throat. "Now, let's start from the beginning. Ever since we came back from Pipp's most recent performance, you've been kind of distant. Did I do something wrong?"

Sprout closed his eyes and sighed. "No, it's just... well, I can't tell you. Besides, what does it matter? You're being a real jerk to me!"

It was Hitch's turn to stare at the floor. "I know, I know. I think, um, I'm acting irrationally because..." His voice grew more pinched as he struggled to admit the truth to Sprout--and to himself. "It's silly, but seeing you spend so much time with Rob all of a sudden and less time around me, makes me feel... abandoned. I-I-I guess I'm afraid you won't need me anymore."

That actually prompted Sprout to look at him. "What? I'll always need you! I MEAN--" the red stallion became oddly flustered, stammering for a moment before regaining composure. "Uh, I'll always n-need you around to guide me and keep me in check. We've been friends since forever."

Hitch gave him a sidelong glance. "Then why are you happier to be with Rob than with me?"

Sprout sat a little straighter, some of his weariness seemingly cast aside. "Hitch, that's not it at all! You still make me... happiest... you really do! The reason I've been meeting up with Rob is because, on the same day as the concert, he told me about something sad that recently happened to him. I want to keep him company! And to become better friends with him. Not many ponies even want me around, you know..."

Hitch's ears were pricked as he listened. He wasn't being replaced! He felt some semblance of relief. "I see, but that doesn't quite explain why you're being so glum around me. Usually you act all jittery and stuff."

"Jittery?" Sprout exclaimed with what seemed to be self-conscious indignance. "I most definitely do NOT act jittery around you!"

Hitch covered his own mouth with one of his hooves while he stifled a chuckle. "No? Then maybe the right word is... Giddy? Skittish? Flustered?" He raised an eyebrow and gave a teasing smirk. "Lovestruck?"

"What? How dare you!"

Hitch broke into laughter, but he stopped when he realized that Sprout wasn't joining in and only continuing to pout.

"Sorry," Hitch said, "I was just joking."

"Yeah, I know," Sprout muttered. His ears drooped and he exhaled heavily. "The reason I'm not 'jittery' is because my dreams will never come true, Hitch. There's something I really want to tell you, but I can't. I've been trying to get you to take a hint, but you just don't get it!" He closed his eyes as if he were holding back tears. "I give up."

Hitch frowned, unable to comprehend any sense of meaning behind Sprout's words. "You've been trying to tell me something? Oh! Is it that you want my #1 Sheriff mug? I've seen you use it at the office sometimes..."

Sprout cut him off with an irritated grunt. "Ugh, that's not it at all!"

"All right, then I've got nothing. But Sprout..." He lifted a foreleg and placed his hoof on the side of Sprout's face, turning it to face his. "You can tell me anything, I promise. Especially if it's important."

Green eyes gazed into amber ones for a few moments, and Hitch thought he felt his own heart skip a beat as Sprout's expression softened, seemingly comforted by his words. Then Sprout suddenly drew back with a discontented huff.

"Well, I've got something important to tell you," Sprout stated with a sarcastic drawl.

Hitch tilted his head with interest. "What is it?"

"I need to pee."

Hitch groaned. "You know where the bathroom is. Just go."

While Sprout got off the sofa and made his way to the bathroom, Hitch thought about how he could repair their bond. They had been inseparable when they were young, always exploring Maretime Bay and playing together, but change was natural and they'd had less time to bond as they reached adulthood. Still, Hitch acknowledged with some guilt that he had stopped paying enough attention to Sprout at some point, even when they were looking over the town together as deputy and sheriff.

Hitch put his train of thought on hold when he heard Sprout's hoofsteps from the hallway. He peered over the back of the sofa.

"Welcome back. Did you remember to wash your hooves?"

Sprout immediately froze in his tracks before backing away and returning to the bathroom.

"Dummy," Hitch muttered, rolling his eyes.

When Sprout came back a second time, he stopped by the sofa and glanced at the front door, apparently uncertain whether he was allowed to stay or if he should take his leave. Hitch gave him an inviting smile as an idea crept into his mind.

"Hey Sprout, why don't you stay for a while? We can have fun together just like we did when we were colts. And you can even stay the night, like a sleepover!"

Sprout's eyes widened with shock and he took a step back. "Really?"

"Of course, it's the least I can do. So what do you say?"

Sprout swished his tail, evidently nervous. "Well, I don't know about a sleepover, but... I could hang here for a bit if you WANT me to."

"If I didn't want you to, I wouldn't have asked. We can play a video game right now, if you're interested."

Sprout's face brightened with an earnest smile. "Ooh, a game? What kind?"

Hitch looked over to his television cabinet, which also housed a couple of gaming consoles and video games. "Well, I recently got Fighting is Magic."

Sprout's face fell, but only slightly. "I suck at fighting games."

"That doesn't matter! Games are all about having fun, right?"

Sprout huffed. "You're only saying that because you'll beat me every time anyway!"

"Sure, and I'll have a lot of fun doing it," Hitch replied with a grin. He broke into laughter and to his surprise, Sprout joined in too, and Hitch welcomed the way their shared humor lightened the mood. It was good to hear him laugh...

Hitch went to turn on the television and get everything set up; afterwards, the two stallions settled on the sofa, each with their own game controller. They played for nearly two hours, all of their worries melting away as they lost themselves in the game together. Of course, Hitch really did beat Sprout every time, but it was always followed by jokes and laughter. Hitch cherished being able to share an ordinary, carefree moment with his old friend. It brought him back to how things were in their foalhood.

When they'd had enough, Hitch set his controller on the arm of the sofa and use his forelegs to rub his eyes, which were a little sore from staring at the TV screen. "Oof, I didn't realize how long we were playing for. I'm gonna go make some coffee. Wanna join me?"

Sprout nodded. "Yeah, but make sure you add enough milk to mine. It's gotta be like, 90% milk."

They spent the rest of the day together. They played the Ponymon Trading Card Game they had been obsessed with when they were colts, read comics side by side, and listened to each other's favorite music (Sprout was mostly into punk rock, while Hitch was more of a pop pony). Sprout even stayed for dinner, for which Hitch ordered a pizza to share amongst the two of them. Before they realized it, it was late at night and the moon was high in the sky.

Hitch had just finished showing off his collection of Mighty Horsin' Power Ranchers figures, and was currently packing them back away into their box while Sprout watched from the edge of his bed.

"So Sprout," Hitch began, looking over to his friend, "are you feeling any better?"

Sprout gave a gentle smile that warmed Hitch's heart. "Yeah, thanks. I really did miss hanging out with you like this."

"We both did," Hitch agreed. He shoved the last action figure into the box, before putting it up on a shelf in his bedroom.

Sprout glimpsed the dark night sky from out the window. "I should really get home now. I'm feeling kind of tired..." He finished his sentence with a yawn.

Hitch looked at him and tilted his head. "Have you forgotten my offer to let you stay for the night?"

Sprout's eyes widened as he stiffened and made a weird choking sound. "Wh-wha? No, but I'm not gonna do that! You don't even have a spare bedroom!"

"There's always the sofa," Hitch reasoned, "and it's too dark to walk home, anyway. I promise it's not a bother."

"I'm not worried about being a bother," Sprout snapped. He then let his shoulders droop with resignation. "But fine, I'll sleep on the sofa."

Hitch quickly shook his head. "No no, you're my guest. I'll sleep on the sofa and you can stay in here, all right?"

"Is that really okay?" Sprout asked quizzically.

"Yep!"

It was not really okay.

Sprout had snuggled into Hitch's bed while Hitch fetched some extra blankets and a pillow from his closet, and the pair exchanged brief "goodnights" before he made his way to the living room. That had been about an hour ago. Currently he was still wide awake, turning and adjusting himself on the sofa, surrounded by hushed darkness. Even with the pillow and blankets, it was just so lumpy and uncomfortable!

Hitch groaned and sat upright. He was never going to get any sleep. He missed his soft and comfy bed! Oh, how he resented Sprout for stealing it from him. Well, he had been the one to offer his own bed in the first place, but shame on Sprout for accepting his offer!

But there's nothing stopping me from sleeping in it too, Hitch thought. It would be a little cramped, but it can't be worse than trying to fall asleep on this forsaken sofa. Besides, I'm the sheriff and the town won't be able to rely on me if I'm sleep-deprived.

Making up his mind, Hitch tossed the blanket aside and crept to his room, taking the pillow with him by carrying it on his back.

After fumbling his way through the darkness, he warily stepped through his doorway and called in a soft voice, "Sprout, you awake?"

There was no answer. Hitch silently padded into the room and stood in front of his bed. Squinting his eyes and relying on the minimal amount of moonlight peeking through his curtains, he could see Sprout lying on his side in the center of the mattress, evidently fast asleep with a blanket messily pulled over him. There really wasn't much space for Hitch on either side, but he would find a way to squeeze in somehow.

He didn't want to wake the sleeping pony, so he placed his pillow next to Sprout's as gently as he could, and lifted the blanket. He proceeded to get into bed, taking care not to make any abrupt movements. As he lay down on his side, some of the mattress springs squeaked under his weight, but they thankfully didn't rouse Sprout from his slumber.

Hitch was at the very edge of the bed, his tail draping over the brim. He felt as if he could tumble out of bed at any second! With extreme caution, he shifted over until he was pressing up against Sprout's back, practically spooning him. It wasn't his ideal choice of circumstance, but it would have to do. He pulled the blanket over himself, and reluctantly wrapped a foreleg around Sprout's torso from under the covers as he had nowhere else to put it. It wasn't so bad, actually... Sprout was soft and warm like a giant plush toy, and the rise and fall of his chest with his rhythmic breaths was nothing short of soothing.

Once Hitch closed his eyes in preparation to get a good night's rest, he was quickly disturbed by soft muttering coming from the fellow pony in his bed. Hitch lifted his head from his pillow.

"Sprout? Did you say something?"

There was silence, but several moments later, Sprout finally "answered" with some more incomprehensible mutters.

Hm, I guess he talks in his sleep. I wonder what he's dreaming about.

Hitch rested his head on the pillow once more and prayed that the noise wouldn't get too annoying. He shut his eyes, but his ears twitched whenever Sprout unconsciously babbled words that were impossible to understand. He clenched his jaw in frustration, and was just about ready to retreat back to the sofa, until...

"I... love you..."

Hitch felt himself freeze up. The words had actually been quite clear for once. He kept his ears perked to see if Sprout would say anything else, but that was the end of it, and the only sound that followed was his peaceful breathing. Hitch again wondered what he could be dreaming about. His mom? Pipp?

Maybe he's dreaming about me.

Hitch gasped to himself and nearly fell out of bed at the thought. How dare such a nonsensical idea enter his mind! Sprout was his friend! And if they ever were to develop feelings for one another, all of Maretime Bay would turn their backs on Hitch for being in love with a criminal. He smacked his own forehead a few times with his hoof. Silly, silly brain! He's probably just dreaming about...what was his name again...? Bob.

But that thought just caused jealousy to well up inside him again, and he hated it. Feeling more confused and less understanding of his emotions than ever, he squeezed his eyes shut and focused on clearing his mind so sleep could find him. He was probably just dreaming about his favorite pizza restaurant anyway.

And, eventually, Hitch drifted off to sleep.

Author's Note

Surprise Hitch P.O.V!

I'd like to thank a couple of readers for their suggestions!
SpeciallAngell suggested a scene where Hitch gets jealous seeing Sprout with another stallion, and Novastarr suggested a sleepover scene where they get to hang out like when they were kids. So I incorporated both ideas in this chapter. Thank you two!

Takes the Cake

Author's Note

CONTENT WARNING: PHYSICAL VIOLENCE/ASSAULT, DESCRIPTION OF INJURY

I am sorry for the long hiatus after the previous chapter. I had seen a number of people explain that the Sprout x Hitch ship is apparently toxic, and I felt too miserable to continue writing as I don't want to offend anyone. While my passion for Spritch has definitely dwindled out of guilt, I will try to finish this story for the sake of the people who do like it.

Also, I realize most of the chapters have been redundant, but I promise this is the last chapter with a failed confession haha.

Takes the Cake

Sprout opened his eyes as the blissful refuge of sleep released its hold on him, and he found himself in unfamiliar surroundings. He was staring at a sleek white wall and a neatly organized shelf, there were no empty pizza boxes or discarded smoothie cups in sight, and the bed he was on was way more comfortable than his own--lacking the loose springs that usually poked his side every night. This wasn't his room! But he calmed down as he gradually recalled the fact that he had fallen asleep at Hitch's house the prior night. The only thing that needed explaining now was the feeling of... a foreleg around his torso!?

He jolted as he realized somepony was right behind him, all snuggled against his back. He glanced down at the hoof resting on his midsection... It was brown, and undoubtedly belonged to Hitch. Immediately, Sprout's heartbeat and breathing quickened as he lay still with wide eyes. He was certain Hitch had left to sleep on the sofa! What's he doing here!?

Sprout's fight-or-flight instinct told him to jump out of bed and run away screaming, but he didn't want to risk waking Hitch up. Trying his best to swallow his panic and ignore the blush burning his cheeks, he awkwardly broke free of Hitch's unconscious embrace and stepped out of bed. He let his gaze rest on Hitch for a moment. He thankfully hadn't stirred, but the blanket had mostly slipped off of him. Sprout walked around to the other side of the bed and tenderly drew the blanket back over Hitch. A small, soft smile subconsciously crossed Sprout's face as he observed the love of his life sleeping peacefully.

I better get out of here... He might wake up soon, and I DON'T feel like talking to him right now!

After watching Hitch sleep for a few seconds longer, he turned away and trotted out the room...

Sprout managed to sneak back home before Phyllis woke up, and later that morning, they had breakfast together--deliciously fluffy pancakes topped with maple syrup and, in Sprout's case, tons of whipped cream. He loved his mom's pancakes as they always put him in a good mood, at least for a little while. But his pleasant mood was cut short when his mom started interrogating him as soon as they had finished eating.

"By the way, where were you last night? I was so worried!"

Sprout's nervous gaze darted about before finally meeting his mom's. For whatever reason, he didn't want to admit to his mom he was getting closer to Hitch. "Uh... I was at Hitch's house. Fulfilling my duties as his assistant, that is."

Phyllis narrowed her eyes skeptically. "All night?"

He responded with a fervent nod. "Yep! I had to um... vacuum his ceiling and uh... dust his underwear. It was a lot of work."

Before Phyllis could say anything else on the matter, there was a knock at the door. "I'll get it!" Sprout exclaimed, scrambling out of the dining chair in his eagerness to escape his mother's prying questions. He trotted up to the front door and swung it open, only to turn into stone when he was confronted by Hitch.

"Sprout! You dare leave without saying goodbye? And after we slept together, no less!"

"AH! W-what are you doing here? And you really need to learn how to word things better!" Sprout glanced over his shoulder at Phyllis, who was peeking out of the kitchen with a suspicious expression.

Hitch tilted his head in confusion. "What do you mean? In any case, I'm here because I have an important favor to ask of you. I'm in a bit of a rush right now, but could you bake a cake?"

"A cake? But I suck at baking," Sprout responded with a perplexed frown.

"You suck at being leader, but that didn't stop you from trying to be sheriff and then an emperor," Hitch pointed out in a lighthearted tone. "Anyway, I will be back to pick up the cake at around noon. Got it?"

He knew it was said in jest, but Sprout still winced in response to Hitch's jab. "Uh, okay then."

Hitch was swiftly on his way, and Sprout shut the door. He had no idea why Hitch wanted him to make a cake, but maybe it was some kind of test. And he hated tests. Whatever the reason, I'm not doing it! And nothing could change my mind.

Phyllis came trotting up behind him. "Now that you've finished talking with Hitch, sugarcube, could you help out with the chores? I need you to wash the dishes and do the laundry and scrub the shower and--"

"I can't!" Sprout loudly interjected. "Hitch asked me to make a cake. Very important."

"A cake?" Phyllis was just as baffled as her son was. "Is it as important as vacuuming his ceiling?"

Sprout groaned and trotted back to the kitchen. "Just let me do this! We shouldn't disappoint the sheriff, right?"

While Sprout set about making all the preparations for baking the cake, including seeking out a recipe in one of his mom's cookbooks and gathering all the necessary ingredients, his desire to confess to Hitch filled his mind again. He had been trying his best to stomp out his feelings, believing them to be a lost cause, but the time he had spent with Hitch the previous day made him more lovesick than ever. Hold on... What if he used the cake to tell Hitch how he felt?

It was the perfect plan. All he had to do was write his feelings on the cake with icing, and all his dreams would come true from there!

Some time later, the entire kitchen was a mess of flour, broken egg shells, and spilled sugar. But the cake was done and baked to completion! Well, perhaps it was baked beyond completion, because it was a little burnt, to say the least. No matter. Sprout hid away its crispy appearance by covering it in vanilla frosting, and then he filled a piping bag with red icing. Sticking his tongue out as he concentrated, he carefully wrote "I LUV HICTH" on the top of the cake. His heart pitter-pattered just by writing those words!

He let out a startled yelp when he heard knocking at the door again. It was almost noon! He rushed to the door to answer it, and sure enough, Hitch was waiting on the other side. He was pulling a cart filled with white boxes of assorted sizes. Sprout stared, momentarily distracted by his own curiosity.

"Did you bake a cake like I asked?" Hitch questioned.

"Oh! Uh... Y-yeah, I did! I'll go get it." Sprout tried his hardest to not stumble over his words, but it was difficult knowing he was mere minutes away from presenting his confession to Hitch.

While Hitch waited on the doorstep, Sprout went to fetch his cake from the kitchen. He felt jittery with excitement, but he was oh-so nervous too. He told himself if Hitch was too dumb to understand this confession, he would never make any attempt ever again! He was exhausted from trying only to get his heart broken each time. He carefully held onto the plate with the cake using a foreleg and made his way back to Hitch.

While Sprout approached, Hitch shot him a friendly smile, and Sprout's gaze quickly fell to the floor as his nerves felt like they were going on the fritz.

"H-h-here's the cake..." he said in a meek voice.

Hitch peered at the cake and then squinted as he struggled to read the iced-on words. "Does that say 'I love Hitch'?"

Sprout turned his head to the side and slowly nodded, too shy to face him.

There were a few consecutive moments of silence. Hitch's ears flattened before twitching as if he was trying to process how to react. Then he exclaimed, "That's a great idea! Everypony in town loves me, so I'm sure somepony at the bake sale will be dying to get their hooves on this!"

Now Sprout was staring at Hitch. "Huh?"

"Oh right! Let me explain. The school's holding a bake sale right now, but they couldn't make enough treats and the students are really struggling to meet their goal. So I asked some citizens to pitch in and offer up cakes for the sale! Isn't that great?"

"Oh. I didn't know..." Sprout's head and ears and tail all drooped with despair. He should have known things wouldn't go his way! He was too much of a failure and Hitch was too dumb and the universe hated him far too much.

Hitch glanced at the cake again before his gaze seemed to latch onto Sprout. "You didn't?"

"Nope."

There was another moment of silence, and then Hitch swished his tail. "Hm. Anyway, I better bring all these cakes and pastries to the bake sale now. See if there's a box you can put your cake into, and then I want you to come with me so you can help me sell them," Hitch said.

"Come to the bake sale? But everypony hates me! Nopony's gonna buy anything from me," Sprout retaliated.

Hitch stepped forward and gently nudged Sprout's cheek with his muzzle, causing his distress to be temporarily extinguished in favor of a welcome, fuzzy sensation that warmed his heart. "It'll be okay, Sprout. I'll be there with you, so there's nothing to worry about."

The school bake sale was taking place at the park. Hitch loaded a stall with all the baked goods he had collected from the kind citizens of Maretime Bay, including Sprout's "I LUV HICTH" cake... which was now unfortunately unreadable due to how the icing had melted and oozed down the cake. Naturally, many of the attending ponies were delighted to see their beloved sheriff running a stall, and his supply of sweets was soon selling like hotcakes. Sprout was helping out just like Hitch had asked him to, though it was mostly by stocking up the stall with more supply from the cart whenever they began to run out.

"This is going great, isn't it?" Hitch said with a joyful smile.

"Yeah, yeah..." Sprout muttered moodily. He stared at the cake he had put all his time and care into. It looked just as miserable and useless as he felt. Nopony had bought it yet, and there were a couple of flies buzzing around it at this point. Looks like nopony's "dying to get their hooves on this" after all. The only thing that's dying around here is my soul.

A light-furred mare with a red and white mane came trotting up to Hitch's stall. "Hi there, sheriff! It's so kind of you to help the foals out with their fundraiser. I always knew you were the most noble pony ever born!"

"Oh hi Sugar Moonlight! Well, I do what I can!" Hitch replied with a proud grin. He gestured to the assortment of baked goods laid out on the table of the stall. "So, care to purchase any of these treats today?"

Sugar Moonlight quickly browsed over the goods before fixating her gaze on Hitch instead. "Hm... The sweetest treat I see is you, sheriff. Can't I just buy you instead?" Her mouth curled into a flirty smile as she lowered her eyelids.

Hitch snorted. "Sorry, but I'm afraid I'm priceless!"

The two of them shared a laugh. While Sugar Moonlight selected some cookies and coconut jam drops to buy instead, Sprout rolled his eyes from where he loitered behind Hitch. The sheer nerve of that mare hitting on his precious Hitch! Sugar Moonlight? More like Sugar Loonlight! As he watched her walk away with a paper bag full of her purchases, he discreetly stuck his tongue out at her in disgust.

"Sprout!"

The red stallion snapped out of his sulking as Hitch addressed him. "I'm gonna take a walk around to see how everypony else is doing. Can you hold the fort while I'm gone?"

Sprout's eyes widened in horror. "But... but! You said you'd stay here with me!"

"I'll only be gone for a few minutes," Hitch assured in a tone so tender, Sprout couldn't help but to give in.

"All right... but I'm not gonna like it."

After Hitch set off to check on all the foals selling their own creations, Sprout stood rigidly at the stall and hoped with every fiber of his being that nopony would pay any attention to him. He wasn't in the mood for social interaction--not helped by the fact that Hitch was the bluntest tool in any shed in the whole wide world. Why had he ever even tried in the first place? It hurt too much. He would have to destroy his feelings for Hitch by any means possible... His emotional struggles made him want to stress-eat. He glanced at all the delicious treats laid out on the table. Surely Hitch wouldn't notice if he took a few for himself... After glancing around to make sure nopony was paying attention, he stuffed a few cookies into his mouth while he waited for his partner to return.

Unfortunately, Sprout's wish to be left alone did not come true. A short while later, he spotted a sturdy unicorn, significantly taller than him, making their way directly towards the stall he was watching. Their eyebrows were lowered and they appeared to be scowling for whatever reason. Maybe this guy REALLY hates my cake.

Sprout attempted to force a smile as the pony approached, but it came off as more of a cringe. "Hello... What brings you here today?"

The veridian, bronze-maned unicorn huffed. "I couldn't help noticing you from across the park. Not many ponies in this town look like a giant misshapen tomato."

"Um... OK?" Sprout's expression grew into even more of a cringe as his anxiety spiked. What did this pony have against him? Aside from looking like a giant misshapen tomato, of course.

"You're Sprout, aren't you?" the stranger asked, practically spitting out the name as if it were a swear word.

Sprout, for some reason, got the impression that this pony didn't like him at all. He fidgeted nervously, scuffing his hooves on the ground. "Uh, no...? Never heard of this 'Sprout' pony."

The unicorn walked around to the other side of the table and grabbed Sprout's flank, causing him to flinch and let out a yelp. "Hey!"

"Yep, that's a turnip all right," the unicorn noted, glaring at Sprout's cutie mark before proceeding to harshly smack their hoof against Sprout's ribs, causing him to stumble to his knees. "You liar!"

"Th-that hurt!" Sprout exclaimed in a high-pitched whine, ashamed to realize that he was beginning to tear up from the pain in his side. His mind was whirling with shock at the fact he had just been hit. He knew now that he was in danger, but he didn't know exactly how much--and that was what scared him.

"Why are you here, huh?" the larger pony demanded. "You trying to poison unicorns and pegasi or something? Or scope out Earth pony foals to kidnap and turn into your mindless followers?"

Sprout shook his head and brought himself to stand upright again. "What? None of that, no! And I promise I have nothing against the other pony breeds now that I know they aren't a danger. This is just part of my community service, honest!"

"Yeah, the only danger there's ever been is you. You should still be locked up in jail for what you tried to do! I don't get why the sheriff gave you such a light sentence, and is allowing you to sell poisoned food to unsuspecting pegasi and unicorns in your determination to get rid of them all!"

The unicorn took a menacing step closer. There was just no reasoning with this pony. Sprout turned tail and began to flee, but he couldn't get very far before he felt himself being lifted in the air against his will, his hooves no longer able to touch the ground.

"Wh-what's happening?" Sprout asked in a panic, noticing a shimmery aura surrounding his body as he lost control of his legs.

He glanced back at the unicorn who was now storming up to him, their horn aglow with the same type of aura that was enveloping him. That insufferable pony was holding him up using their magic! He barely had time to process the thought before he was suddenly slammed against the ground, causing the breath to be knocked out of his lungs. Dazed, he blinked a few times before fearfully staring up at his attacker. Resentment burned in the unicorn's eyes, and they clenched their teeth as they magically lifted him up again.

He squinted his eyes shut and braced himself, but it did nothing to lessen the extra wave of pain as he was smashed to the ground again. Being controlled by another pony just felt wrong, but he thought deep inside that maybe he deserved this after how he had tried to start a war against the unicorns. But no matter how much he hated himself, he was desperate to get away. He frantically looked to the surrounding ponies, hoping for some kind of intervention.

"Help, help! Please save me!" Sprout cried out. The young foals working at their stalls watched on with wide eyes and open mouths, but they were too scared to help--not that he expected them to in the first place. He wanted help from the adult ponies. But they simply stared at him, or backed away from the whole ordeal, or completely ignored what was happening. One mare even pulled out her phone and evidently took a few photos as he was lifted up a third time. Yet nopony, nopony at all, helped him.

Nopony wanted to help him.

His heart seemed to crack into a thousand little pieces at this realization, and the misery was soon followed by a fresh surge of fear as he felt himself being levitated higher. He stared at the enraged unicorn with pleading eyes that were now pouring tears of pain and terror, but he was offered no pity. He collided with the ground again with a loud thud, his face being forced into the dirt and his brain seemingly rattling in his skull.

"STOP!!!"

Sprout didn't have the willpower to look up, but his ears twitched at the sound of Hitch's shout. Suddenly he felt himself regain control of the muscles in his legs and torso, but it hardly mattered as he lacked the energy to move anyway. He lay still, his face still buried in the dirt as he listened to Hitch scold and berate the pony who had attacked him.

"How could you use your magic against another pony? That's awful!"

"You know what's awful? Letting that maniac run loose after he tried to kill unicorns and pegasi. What if he tries it again?"

"Are you serious?! He never ended up hurting anypony, and he knows better now..."

The shouting match continued on, but Sprout stopped paying attention as his senses felt murky. It didn't last long however, and the unicorn presumably had the sense to quit arguing. Sprout heard approaching hoofsteps as Hitch rushed to his side. He then felt Hitch place a gentle hoof on his shoulder before gently jostling him, unintentionally heightening his pain.

"Sprout? Are you okay?"

Hitch's voice was tense with concern. Sprout weakly lifted his head, wincing slightly from the pain of moving. He felt sore all over. He looked to Hitch, whose eyes were wide and panicked.

"Oh my hoofness, I'm so sorry!" Hitch cried, throwing himself to the ground and wrapping a foreleg around Sprout. Sprout gritted his teeth from a sharp sting of pain in his side as Hitch pressed against him, but couldn't bring himself to protest. Hitch continued, "I didn't know this would happen! I shouldn't have left you alone..."

"It's not your fault," Sprout mumbled. His head was absolutely throbbing and his ears were ringing. He felt warm liquid trickling down his muzzle, and he licked his lips only to be met with the unpleasantly metallic taste of blood. He hated pain, and he hated blood. But at least Hitch was next to him...

"We should get you to the hospital," Hitch stated with sudden urgency. "Can you walk?"

The thought of walking, or even getting up, seemed to drain what little strength Sprout had left. His vision blurred as he was swamped by an influx of lethargy and vertigo... His eyes drifted shut, and his head drooped, and the last thing he heard before succumbing to darkness was Hitch crying out his name in distress.

"Sprout. Can you hear me?"

"Ugh... huh...?" Sprout found himself regaining consciousness in unaccustomed surroundings for the second time that day. But this time he wasn't in Hitch's room. He was in a hospital, which he knew not only by the distinct hospital scent penetrating his nose, but also by the fact that everything was white. His bed was white, the walls were white, the ceiling was white. And the nurse pony hovering by him was clothed in white.

"Good, you're awake," the nurse noted with a satisfied nod. "How are you feeling?"

"I feel like the fires of Hell are consuming me from the inside out," Sprout muttered in response as he stared up at the bright ceiling.

The nurse paid no heed to his dramatic answer. She informed him, "You got a concussion, a nosebleed, and a couple of fractured ribs. We will monitor you for two weeks, but you'll be fine."

That didn't sound very fine, but it could have been worse. As he scanned the minimalistic room, his attention was captured by a flash of color. There on the white bedside table was a pale blue vase, and inside it was a red flower--a carnation, to be exact.

"Oh nice, somepony left me a flower."

He was being sarcastic, but the nurse then said, "Yes, the pony who called us to you left it for you. Sheriff Hitch. Right now, I think he's busy tracking down the pony who did this to you."

"Really? Huh..." Sprout murmured. He wasn't sure why Hitch had given him a flower, but he supposed it was meant to be some compensation for getting beaten up.

Then his heart stopped for a second.

A red carnation.

He remembered the secret message he had left for Hitch a while back, the one where he asked Hitch to give him a carnation should he realize who the letter was from. And Hitch had tried to single out the deliverer of the message by giving a red carnation to almost everypony in Equestria--except for Sprout, naturally. Sprout had been crushed, as that was his first attempt of trying to admit his feelings for Hitch...

But here was a red carnation now, right by his side, left for him by Hitch himself. It could be a coincidence, yes. Perhaps Hitch had chosen any random flower and had completely forgotten about the letter. But on the other hoof...

Could it be that Hitch finally realized how he felt?

Hoof, Line, and Sinker

Hitch did not visit during Sprout's time in the hospital.

Phyllis visited him on a daily basis, and Rob even stopped by once. Even so, he felt terribly lonely, his spirit wilting with each passing day just like the red carnation in the vase on his bedside table. He knew nopony else cared to see him, but why wasn't Hitch visiting? Despite the negative emotions stirring inside him every day, there was a spark of hope shining within him too... There was a chance Hitch was aware of his feelings! Why else had he left the exact kind of flower Sprout had mentioned in his confession note? Thinking about that got him through the long, boring weeks within the hospital walls.

The day he was dispatched, Phyllis took him home and not long afterwards, made him some delicious, comforting hot chocolate with fluffy marshmallows while he snuggled on the sofa and watched his favorite cartoons. It felt nice... It was great to be home. And it was a relief to see so many colors again after being stifled in the white, void-like hospital room. But something was still missing--He longed to see Hitch's face again.

After a while, his mother stepped into the room to check in on him. "Are you feeling all right? You'll let me know if you need anything, right honey?"

"Yeah, thanks mommy," Sprout responded as he threw her a reassuring smile. He was indeed feeling well compared to how he had first felt after the attack. His concussion was completely gone, and though his fractured ribs weren't fully mended yet, the doctors had assured him they would continue healing on their own.

There was an unexpected knock at the door, and Sprout shifted in preparation to get up, but Phyllis assured "I'll get it, dear!" and quickly left down the hall. Sprout continued to sip his hot chocolate while he waited, half expecting the pony at the door to be the mailpony, and half hoping it would be Hitch.

A minute later, he almost spilled his drink as he suddenly heard Hitch's voice from the doorway of the living room. "I didn't know you liked Ponbie movies, Sprout."

Sprout let out a startled yelp and stared over at Hitch, who was smiling with Phyllis by his side.

"Hitch is here to see you, sugarcube!" Phyllis announced as the pony in question walked into the living room, his amber eyes lingering on the television while Ponbie: The Pony and the Pauper played.

"Hello Hitch..." Sprout muttered as he felt himself sinking back into the sofa. "But in case you're wondering, I don't like Ponbie!"

"Hmm, really? Why are you watching it, then?" Hitch asked in a jovial tone as he made his way over and sat next to Sprout. Sprout felt his heart speed up a notch in response to Hitch sitting so close to him, but stared down into his mug rather than bringing himself to look at him.

Sprout answered his question by saying, "I'm not watching it! I... I just forgot to change the channel!"

Hitch decided not to remark on the fact that the DVD player was on, making it clear the movie was playing from a disc. "All right then, buddy. How are you feeling?"

Sprout let out a heavy sigh, causing the surface of his hot chocolate to ripple. "I'm doing better I guess, but why didn't you visit me in the hospital?"

Hitch's head tilted slightly. "I figured I didn't need to. Phyllis kept me up to date on how you were doing."

"Jerk... I still missed you," Sprout mumbled. Didn't he care? The two of them had seen each other almost every day for over a decade, but were apart for two whole weeks when Sprout was hospitalized. It was terrible and isolating and just felt wrong, but it seemed as if Hitch didn't feel the same.

Hitch's ear flicked, but he didn't comment. "The pony who hurt you is in jail now. I'm putting a new law in place that declares ponies can't use their magic on others without their permission. Unless it's absolutely necessary, that is, for reasons such as self-defense."

"I see," Sprout responded in a lifeless tone staring fixatedly at the television screen. He would rather not talk about what had happened. Why should that pony get into trouble for hurting him when he probably deserved to be hurt? The unicorn had been right--Hitch hadn't punished him nearly enough... I'm the one who should be in jail right now, he thought to himself

"Hey, look at me."

Sprout instinctively turned to Hitch in response to his tender tone. "Yes?"

Hitch placed a hoof on Sprout's cheek, causing him to flinch, but he couldn't bring himself to completely pull back. Hitch said, "I'm sorry about what happened. In fact, I came here to ask if I could take you somewhere to cheer you up. The aquarium, maybe."

"The aquarium? I've only been there once, and that was when I was a colt."

"I know, they've added a lot of exhibits since then! You feel up for it? Or would you rather rest--"

"No, I'd like to go! I've had enough of sitting around doing nothing... I did that plenty in the hospital, heh."

The two of them laughed a little, and Hitch waited for Sprout to finish his drink before they both left and made their way to Maretime Bay's aquarium. Every second of every minute, Sprout wondered when (or if) Hitch would reveal that he knew about his feelings. The longer the subject went unspoken, the more doubt crept into Sprout's mind. Maybe the red carnation had meant nothing after all...

They had a pleasant and lighthearted time at the aquarium, and Sprout barely recognized the place due to how many renovations it had been through since Phyllis had taken him when he was a colt. Nonetheless, it was great to be out and about after being cooped up for some time. It was soon evident that the sea creatures inside the tanks would try to follow alongside Hitch whenever he walked past, and hordes of them would gather in front of him whenever he stopped for a look.

"Heh, look at that! Even fish are obsessed with you," Sprout teased.

Hitch felt a little self conscious that fish kept gathering in front of him, causing other visitors at the aquarium to stare. He groaned.

"Shoo, shoo!" Hitch hissed to the mob of fish, though he knew very well they couldn't hear him through the glass. "Guess what? I've tried fish fingers before! That's right! I've probably eaten your MOM!"

Sprout burst out laughing, and the fish were unfazed, so Hitch simply rolled his eyes and continued on through the exhibits. Sprout soon trotted after him, still struggling to hold back giggles.

"Oh gosh, that was savage!" Sprout remarked, while Hitch maintained a somewhat unamused expression. "I never knew you had a dark side--AAAH!"

Sprout screamed in terror once he spotted a huge shark lurking behind a big glass wall by his side, and he ducked underneath Hitch, cowering under his belly. "H-hitch! Don't let it eat meee!"

Hitch let out a short chuckle. "That's what you get for laughing at my expense! And I guarantee that shark doesn't want to eat you. I bet you taste like garbage."

"Hey! You're so meeean!" Sprout retorted, still pressing himself against the floor.

Hitch gingerly stepped over Sprout and continued through the passageway, leaving Sprout to stare wide-eyed at the shark for a few moments longer before getting up and quickly cantering after him.

"By the way," Hitch stated, the corner of his mouth twisting as he struggled to hold back a devious grin, "the curvature of the glass causes the inhabitants to look smaller than they really are. So that shark was even bigger than you think!"

"What?!" Sprout's eyes widened even more and he temporarily froze in his tracks. "I did NOT need to know that!"

"Hey, calm down, we can look at something much less scary. Like these jellyfish," Hitch pointed out, halting in front of a small tank. "They don't have brains."

Sprout grit his teeth as there was a pause. He knew what was coming.

"Kinda reminds me of somepony!" Hitch remarked in an innocent tone that was clearly faked, refraining himself from making eye contact with Sprout as he stared intently at the tiny blobs floating within the tank.

"How dare you!" Sprout snapped, turning around and getting ready to storm off. He hated being called stupid! It was even worse when it came from somepony who was supposed to care about him.

"Hey, I was only joking!" Hitch quickly interjected, placing a comforting hoof on Sprout's back. "I'm sorry."

In Sprout's opinion, that didn't automatically make it OK. "Well, you know what?" he asked with a huff. "Jellyfish have something in common with you too, 'cause they don't have hearts!"

"Aw, but I do have a heart!" Hitch protested, though his ears were drooping with shame.

"Sure you do, jerk face!" Sprout closed his eyes and lifted his snout in indignance.

Hitch gently nudged Sprout's face with his muzzle. "C'mon, I meant it when I said sorry. I'll get you something from the gift shop to make up for it, okay?"

"Hmm..." Sprout opened his eyes and hummed as he thought. He was having the first good day he had experienced in weeks, and he didn't want to sour it for himself by staying mad. Besides, maybe the joke had been a little funny. Sprout shrugged. "All right then, I guess."

Sprout selected a plush jellyfish from the gift shop (making it clear that he chose it because it reminded him of Hitch) and after the two stallions had finished exploring the aquarium, they made their way out the exit. Sprout felt surprisingly good, experiencing a joyful buzz within his chest. But still, Hitch hadn't dropped any clue that he was aware of Sprout's crush.

"Hey Sprout, wanna check out the beach before heading home?" Hitch asked.

Sprout cringed with uncertainty. "Ehh, I think I've seen enough water for today."

"But the beach is so close, and it's almost sunset. It'll be pretty." Hitch looked up towards the sky, which was already being painted with streaks of pink and orange.

The thought of watching the sunset with Hitch inclined Sprout to give in, and they made their way over to the beach before sitting next to each other on a little wooden bench in the sand, facing the sky as the sun seemingly dipped into the ocean. It was indeed beautiful, but as it marked the end of yet another futile day, all Sprout could think about was why? Why hadn't Hitch SAID anything yet? Well, he had said things for sure, but not the things Sprout had been waiting to hear.

Sprout glanced over at his companion, who was busy admiring the sunset with a subtle smile gracing his face. The sunset seemed to cast him in a golden glow... He looked gorgeous. Sprout looked away again, warmth lingering on his cheeks. Perhaps Hitch was expecting him to bring the subject up? Or maybe his fears were true and the flower had been simply that--a flower.

But it didn't matter.

Sprout was done.

Done being hurt, done being a failure, done being a coward. He vowed he would confess to Hitch no matter how difficult it would be, and no matter how much it would destroy him if he rejected him. But there was something else he had to get out of the way first...

"Hitch?" Sprout began, clutching the jellyfish plushie close to his chest.

Hitch didn't turn his head away from the horizon, but gave Sprout a sidelong glance. "Hmm?"

Sprout's ears pinned back, and tears threatened to well up as he prepared to ask his question. "Do you think... I deserved what that unicorn did to me?"

"What? No!" Now Sprout had Hitch's full attention, who turned to face him and grabbed him by the shoulders. "Never ever even think that ever again! We both know you've made mistakes, but you didn't deserve to be violated like that."

Sprout heard Hitch's words, but wasn't sure he could take them to heart. "You could be wrong. Ponies think you were too easy on me, and that I should still be in jail."

"I know," Hitch murmured sadly. Sprout looked up at him in surprise, confused by the level of despair in his tone. He continued, "Sometimes when I'm out, ponies say awful things to me because they don't believe I punished you enough. Sure, I'm still popular, but the truth is, not as many ponies like me as before."

"I... I had no idea!" Sprout exclaimed, before turning speechless with shock. Ponies had been mistreating Hitch as well? And yet he had never dropped a single hint despite how hard it must have been to lose ponies who had formerly looked up to him. Guilt clutched at Sprout's heart for never realizing--though he didn't known how he could've. "Why... didn't you tell me?"

"I didn't want to make you feel bad," Hitch admitted in a soft and somber voice that cracked a little by the end. "You're already dealing with the fact that ponies don't like you. I shouldn't burden you with my problems as well."

"No, that's... I... We're supposed to tell each other everything! You've helped me a ton, so it's only fair that you should be able to rely on me too, remember?"

"Everything?"

Suddenly Sprout was aware of how intently Hitch was staring at him. "Huh?"

Hitch shifted a little closer, his eyes darting slightly as if they were searching Sprout's soul. "We're supposed to tell each other everything?"

Sprout leaned back, caught off guard by Hitch's prying. "Err, yes? W-which brings me to my next question..."

Hitch eased up a little, giving a slow blink as he waited for Sprout to continue.

"You see, um..." Sprout looked pointedly away. He lifted his forelegs and tapped his front hooves together anxiously. "I was wondering w-why you brought me that red carnation on that first day I was in the hospital?"

"Oh, it was just something to cheer you up when you regained consciousness," Hitch responded after barely a second in a calm, even tone that bordered on indifference.

"If you say so..." Sprout muttered under his breath. Hitch said nothing more, so Sprout assumed he hadn't heard. The two of them both redirected their gazes towards the sunset once more, silence taking over while the world became slightly darker around them as the sun continued its journey.

They would need to head home soon, before it got too dark.

Sprout knew what he had to do. He couldn't miss his chance.

"Hitch." Sprout broke the silence, his voice brimming with unexpected strength. "I need to tell you something, right now."

"Yes?" Hitch turned his head in Sprout's general direction, though his gaze was still shifted towards the sunset.

Sprout gulped, and any composure he had immediately dissolved. He was scared. He wasn't sure if this was the right thing to do. But if he had to wait for the day he felt brave and sure, then he would never end up confessing. Whatever he felt, whatever doubts he had, he had to seize the moment and let the truth out once and for all. What if the unicorn attack had killed him, and he would have died without ever admitting his feelings to the pony he loved most? It was never too soon to admit his feelings, but there could come a day where it would be too late.

And so, filling his lungs with a long, deep breath, Sprout then said in a shaky voice, "I... admire you a lot. I always have, really. I think it turned to jealousy and anger at some point. But I like spending time with you a-and I'm glad you're in my life. Everything about you is amazing."

Hitch's gaze drifted towards him, but still, he said nothing. As their eyes met, Sprout quickly lowered his head and turned his gaze towards the sand instead. He couldn't chicken out now.

"What I mean to say, Hitch, is that... I... lahhh... lalala... laaaiiiiii..."

No. He didn't just like Hitch. This was his big moment, and he wasn't going to hold back now that he had finally found the willpower to initiate.

"Hitch, I love you."

It came out as a pathetic whimper. But he had said it! And now all he could do was wait. He didn't look up, he just couldn't. He was already overwhelmed--no, he was far beyond that. His head was swirling, adrenaline was pumping through him as if he had just gone sky-diving and opened the parachute at the last possible moment, and his face felt like it was on fire.

After an eternity condensed into a single minute, Hitch cleared his throat. "I get it. But..."

But. What an awful, evil word. Sprout's ears flattened against his head. He didn't want to hear any more.

He had no choice. Hitch continued, "You understand why I can't return your feelings, right?"

Sprout clenched his teeth hard, his jaw straining as he fought back tears that were already burning at the edges of his eyelids. Can't? What did that even mean?

His voice gratingly quiet and collected, Hitch slowly went on. "I'm the sheriff of this town. Everypony relies on me to make responsible decisions, and stay on the right side of the law. You're a... well, I think you know very well what you are. You're a convict, a trouble-maker, liked by nopony in the town."

Ah, so that's how it is then, Sprout thought bitterly. His heart was a plane rocketing towards the ground, about to crash. All hope was lost.

"I'm happy we've grown closer, but I can't risk dating you. What would ponies think when they see their trusted sheriff getting all lovey-dovey with a criminal? They-"

"STOP!"

Hitch flinched back, his ears ringing from the volume at which Sprout had shouted.

Sprout was glaring at him through hot tears that blurred his vision. "Do you have a kink for making me feel as horrible as possible or something? Just say you're ashamed to be with me 'cause you care more about your reputation than me, and BE DONE WITH IT!"

With that, he hurled himself off the bench and began to gallop off.

Hitch blinked a few times before shaking his head to clear away his shock. "Sprout, wait! Just because I can't be with you, doesn't mean we can't be friends!"

"Yeah? Well guess what! You're a garbage friend!" Sprout yelled. He stopped and turned back to toss his jellyfish plushie at Hitch, landing smack-dab in the middle of his face. "You can have this! You'll get along greatly, 'cause you're both heartless after all! I never liked you anyway. You're dumb and ugly and mean!"

"You don't mean that!" Hitch called after him.

Sprout backed away, continuously slinging insults at him. "Yes I do. You're TRASH! You pretended to be Sunny's friend when you treated her like a burden, you pretend to be my friend when you always call me stupid and never think about my feelings, you pretend to be your critters' friend even though you're constantly wishing they would leave you alone, and you pretend to be EVERYPONY'S friend when you're only nice to them to keep up your good reputation. You're just the WORST!"

He finally turned tail and fled, leaving Hitch in stunned silence as every one of Sprout's words began to sink in.

Sprout felt nothing but chaos--a cyclone of anger, despair, and betrayal. Tears streamed down his cheeks, dampening his fur as he rushed and stumbled towards home. All his patience, all his love, and all his efforts had resulted in absolutely nothing. Finally speaking of his feelings had been nothing more than a mistake. Hitch failing to notice his gestures of love had been painful, yes, but none of it had ever come close to Hitch actively rejecting him.

And now, he wasn't sure how he could ever speak to Hitch again.

Worth It

Hitch lifted a hoof and gave a few knocks to the wooden door in front of him. Perhaps today, things would finally be different.

He licked his lips, which were dry with apprehension, as he waited. It took longer than usual, but finally, the door creaked open and Phyllis peered out at him through her magenta spectacles.

"Good morning sheriff!" She greeted him in a chipper tone, but he sensed it was forced.

He mustered a weak smile. "Good day, Phyllis! Uh, is Sprout--?"

She shook her head, and he immediately cut himself off. "No, he said he still doesn't want to see you," she told him.

"Right, right, of course..." He began to back away, only minimally disappointed since this was what he had grown accustomed to. "Always worth a shot, yeah? I'll see you later, then."

Phyllis slowly shut the door without uttering another word, and Hitch let out a defeated sigh as he turned away. That marked the 30th consecutive day he had tried to talk to Sprout, only to be turned down. A whole month! And the situation didn't seem to be improving any time soon. Ever since that fateful day Sprout had confessed to him, and Hitch had rejected those feelings, the temperamental little red pony had hid himself away in his home and Hitch hadn't caught a glimpse of him since.

Hitch supposed it was his own fault. He couldn't pinpoint the exact moment in time he realized Sprout liked him in that way, but too many clues simply piled up. The poor guy lacked confidence though. Hitch had brought a red carnation to his hospital bed in hopes that it would give him the courage to admit his feelings. But why did I do that, exactly? Hitch asked himself. After becoming aware of Sprout's crush, Hitch willingly gave him the little boost he needed in order to confess, and for what? So he could turn him down anyway?

He recalled all the things Sprout had said about him being a terrible friend, and his ears drooped as he trudged down the streets of Maretime Bay. He needed to find solace, and he knew just the pony who could provide that for him: Sunny Starscout, his oldest and closest friend. He had briefly told her a week ago that he and Sprout had been in a fight, but he hadn't admitted that any romantic feelings were involved. And so, he followed the path to her lighthouse, which had long since been repaired.

Upon arrival, Hitch knocked on the door, and he was soon greeted by a familiar orange pony. "Hiya Hitch! Up high, down low..." When Hitch didn't join in on their special best friend hoofshake, and instead stared dejectedly at the ground, Sunny tilted her head and watched him with concern. "Wait, what's wrong?"

She stepped aside to let him in, and he walked inside while carrying a somber frown. "Sprout still won't see me," he confessed.

"Oh..." Sunny murmured as she shut the door. She silently observed him for a few more moments before saying, "Is there anything I can do for you? Should I make you a cup of tea or something?"

"No, it's fine," Hitch answered. He flopped onto the sofa and let out a miserable groan. "I messed up badly. I'm a horrendous friend."

"That's not true at all!" Sunny protested as she trotted up to him. "You're an amazing friend. Sprout's just a bitter grump. We all know that."

Hitch wanted to snap at her, but he knew it wouldn't do any good. Nopony else seemed to understand Sprout in the ways he did. And yet, no matter how much he thought he understood Sprout, Hitch had still trampled on his feelings. Again all the backlash Sprout had hurled at him repeated in his mind. Lifting his head, he fixed Sunny Starscout with a serious stare.

"Are you sure I'm an 'amazing' friend? What about before Izzy came to town, and I constantly chided you for wreaking havoc and believing in what I thought were nothing more than stories? And then, how I tried to bring you back and arrest you when you were on a quest to restore magic to Equestria?"

"Hmm..." Sunny's gaze wandered the room as she thought. "That stung a little, but everypony in town thought the same as you did back then, so I can't really fault you for that. Besides, I have to owe it to you, at least you still talked to me and got me out of trouble whenever you could."

"Gotcha..." Hitch muttered, his gaze dropping to the floor. He soon looked up at her again to ask, "How did you do it, Sunny? How did you stick to your guns even when everypony in the world was against you?"

"Because it was worth it," she replied easily. "I didn't care what everypony thought of me, as long as I was doing what felt right to me. And I'm glad I did, because look where we are now. Equestria's better than ever!" She paused to let out a gleeful chuckle before concluding, "You shouldn't let the judgment of other ponies dictate your life. I've found happiness because I always focused on what was important to me and those I treasured."

Hitch's drooping ears slowly rose as he absorbed Sunny's words. Whenever any romantic feelings for Sprout began to surface, he had always stifled them, because he knew very few ponies would approve. But would being with Sprout be worth it? Could their affection for each other matter more than the opinions of whoever would object to them?

No!! He was a beloved sheriff, and Sprout was a resented criminal! He would be failing his job and letting the whole town down. He had already explained this to Sprout, and he couldn't take it back now.

And yet...

He thought about how happy he had been when Sprout stayed over at his house and they had hung out together without a worry in the world, he thought about how warm Sprout felt when he had snuggled in bed with him the following night, he thought about how hopeless he had been when he believed Sprout cared more about Rob than about him, he thought about the way Sprout always looked at him with his yearning, yet hesitant, vibrant green eyes...

How could he NOT be worth it?

"Sunny, I know you don't like Sprout very much, but I do," Hitch suddenly said, standing up with speed and intent, "and I'm going to fix things. Thanks for the advice--it really helped."

Sunny blinked a couple of times as she watched her friend stride to the door with newfound purpose. "It's not up to you to fix him, though. If he wants to be a grump, then--"

"No Sunny, I really screwed up. I cared more about the feelings of strangers than I did for my friend!" Hitch insisted over his shoulder. "I made a mistake, but sitting around moping isn't going to change things. I'm going to do what feels right."

Hitch cantered his way back to the Cloverleaf household. He knew there was a chance he might seem like a nuisance, but he had to make an effort to reach out and apologize to the pony he had hurt.

This time when he knocked on the door, and Phyllis answered it, he said in a confident voice, "Hello again. I don't mean to intrude, but I'm going to speak to your son now."

Phyllis' eyes widened with bemusement, and she stammered a little before replying, "He... He was quite adamant that he didn't want to see you--"

"It doesn't matter!" Hitch cut her off, his tone now leaking desperation. "It's important. I don't care if he yells at me or kicks my flank, I just really need to talk to him. So please let me in!"

Phyllis was silent for a few moments, her eyes flickering with indecision before maintaining contact with Hitch's wide, pleading gaze. Finally she opened the door wider and stepped aside to allow Hitch through.

"Good luck," she said in an airy voice that was mixed with a sigh. Hitch was past her in an instant, rushing to the door of Sprout's room. There, he paused, one foreleg raised as if in preparation to knock. He wasn't sure what to do--He realized he had no plan. But he couldn't leave his friend hanging any longer, and so deciding to make the leap, he turned the doorknob and barged into Sprout's room...

And almost tripped over an empty smoothie cup. Stumbling for a second before quickly regaining his balance and looking up, he spotted Sprout sprawled on his bed with a drawing book and various art supplies in front of him, holding a crayon above the paper while he stared back at Hitch in shock. Hitch's breathing quickened but he said nothing, unsure how to begin.

Then Sprout's stunned expression changed to one of anger. "What are you doing here? Didn't my mom tell you that I want to be left alone?!"

Hitch responded in a calm tone. "Yes, but I just wanted to apologize--"

"I don't CARE about your apology!" Sprout retorted, smacking his art supplies away and causing the pencils to go flying everywhere before clattering to the floor. He turned his head away, apparently deciding he didn't even want to look at Hitch. "I never ever ever want to see or hear from you ever again, so just forget about me!"

His voice was exploding with rage, but Hitch could sense that there was sorrow there too. Sprout then grabbed his pillow and buried his face in it, though Hitch wasn't sure whether or not he was crying into it. He walked closer, carefully stepping over the scattered pencils until he had reached the side of Sprout's bed.

"Hey, I'm really sorry... Try to calm down," Hitch told him in a gentle voice. He reached out and placed a hoof on Sprout's back, but that only prompted a furious scream that was thankfully muffled by the pillow for the most part, and so Hitch quickly withdrew. He glanced around the room and noticed a bunch of completed drawings taped to the walls, admittedly drawn in quite a child-like fashion. He grit his teeth as his gaze passed over a few drawings of himself with red X marks scribbled over them, but most of them were just drawings of food and random household objects.

"I didn't know you liked drawing," Hitch remarked.

At first, Hitch doubted that Sprout was even going to respond, but after half a minute he mumbled, "Mommy told me to try drawing so I could deal with my feelings better."

"I see," Hitch mused. Another minute of silence passed, and so Hitch cautiously took the risk of climbing up onto the bed and sitting next to Sprout, who was still lying down and refusing to look up at him. Thankfully, the red pony didn't react aggressively this time. Hitch waited there for a while and observed Sprout, periodically hearing a sniffle or seeing his shoulders shake. He must be crying, after all.

Then Hitch spoke up again, albeit in a quiet voice. "I AM really sorry, Sprout. For everything." Sprout's ears pricked up and so he continued with more vigor. "I'm sorry for not paying enough attention to you for most of our lives, for leaving you in the dust, for being an awful friend, and for taking too long to realize that you liked me. Most of all, I'm sorry for how I behaved last month. I did give you the red carnation because I knew you had a crush on me, and yet I shattered your hopes when you tried to confess."

Sprout shifted a little and finally lifted his head, his face glistening with tears as he cautiously looked over at Hitch.

Hitch continued, "I acted coldly and like a total jerk, rubbing your wrongdoings in your face. I made excuses for not dating you and they were terrible excuses. I shouldn't have let the opinions of other ponies dictate how I feel about you. So please... Will you let me make it right?"

Sprout shakily sat upright, sniffling a few more times before saying in a somewhat choked voice, "I said some pretty bad things too. I don't actually think you're an awful friend. I was just... disappointed and..."

"Sssh, it's OK now," Hitch assured, lifting a hoof to gently wipe away some of Sprout's tears. "Forget about all that. Forget about your community service and whatever. I don't want you to be my assistant anymore."

Sprout's eyes widened slightly, perplexed. "Y-you don't?"

"Nope." Hitch slowly shook his head before placing a hoof under Sprout's chin and staring directly into his shimmery, emerald-green eyes. "Sprout, will you be my boyfriend?"

Sprout gasped, and his ears shot straight up as he suddenly flinched. "W-what? But I thought you said--"

"Nevermind what I said! I had lost sight of what was important to me. And the most important thing to me isn't my job, my reputation, or whatever other ponies have to say about me. What I care about most is you."

"B-but... You... I..." Sprout was quivering again, his eyes growing even wider as he stared back at Hitch, evidently at a loss. Hitch wordlessly prayed that Sprout was overcome with happiness and not some negative emotion, but it was hard to tell.

Hitch locked his hooves around Sprout and pulled him into a tight hug. He felt so warm... Hitch lifted his head while Sprout's face was pressed against his shoulder and spoke softly into Sprout's ear, "So I ask again... Will you please be my boyfriend?"

"I... Y-y-yes but w-why? How could I ever be good enough for--"

"Ssh... You're good enough, I promise. More than that, you're the best pony for me. You can learn from me, and I can learn from you. We both have a lot to work on but we'll get through this together, OK?"

With that, Hitch angled his head to kiss Sprout's cheek--it was salty and sticky with tears, but Hitch swore his lips could feel Sprout's cheek heat up with an intense blush, and that certainly made it worthwhile.

Afterwards, the two of them parted, and Hitch smiled at Sprout while resting his hooves on his shoulders. Sprout seemed frozen with shock at first, but then he smiled too. A big, adorable, genuine smile.

And Hitch knew he was happy.

They both were.

Hitch knew he had done the right thing--maybe not in the eyes of everypony who looked up to him, but that didn't matter. In that moment, the only ponies who existed were himself and Sprout. He was free at last, free to accept love from his precious companion, free to give love without allowing others' expectations to hold him back, free to simply be himself and open up to a whole new world of joy.

Sprout's eyes were tearing up again, this time with happiness. "H-hitch, thank you so much! I promise I'll try to be a good boyfriend. I... I've missed you so much." He practically threw himself against Hitch, causing the latter to let out an "oof!" and they were locked in an embrace once again. Sprout's tail was swishing blissfully as he squeezed Hitch, nuzzling his shoulder with his soft, velvety muzzle.

Hitch had no objection to hugging Sprout again, and lovingly stroked his back in return. He wasn't sure what the future would hold, but he knew he wanted Sprout to be a part of it. He was moody, impulsive, and a bit of a coward, but he was also passionate, sincere, funny, and undoubtedly adorable. And Hitch wished he had realized it sooner.

All in all, he was worth it.

Author's Note

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

Yes, this is the final chapter of Sprouting Romance, but THERE WILL BE A SEQUEL. I was going to continue the next events in this story, but I have decided I will be starting a brand new story for multiple reasons.

The COMEDY tag will no longer apply--as you can tell, it didn't apply in this chapter and barely applied in the previous two chapters. Earlier chapters of this story have been littered with silly and lighthearted moments but I am going to take things a little more seriously from now on, with some of the themes I'm putting into place.
I REALLY didn't bring my A-game to this story. It started as something I messed around with just for the fun of it, and I could have enhanced the writing a lot more than I did. But Hitch and Sprout deserve better and I want to do their relationship justice in future endeavors!

Look forward to "How to tend a Sprout" coming January 2022!