It started with a Sneeze

Four months later,

“Are you sure you want to do this?” Rainbow asks while I pack a picnic basket,

“Of course, I want to do this. It's the next step of our relationship that I have been putting off for long enough,”

“I know that. I'm just saying are you sure you're ready for this? I mean what if she doesn't feel the same way?”

I close the basket before looking at her over my shoulder, “You're still going on about that? Starlight and I have gone on multiple dates for at least three months and you're still doubting whether or not there might be something going on between us?”

“I'm just saying that maybe you should be prepared just in case-”

“Ray,” I interrupt her, “I appreciate your concern but it's unwarranted. I will confess to her and be her special somepony.” I use my magic to put the basket on my back,

“But what if she doesn't want to be yours?”

I pause at this as a part of me doesn’t want to acknowledge that possibility, “Then I don't know. I will figure it out,” I say before looking at her questionably, “But why are you so concerned about how this will end?”

She was taken aback by my statement before collecting herself, “Braden, I know we haven't known each other long,” She lifted a hoof to her chest, “But I consider you a dear friend. And I'm just worried that this is a bad idea. And I don't want to see you hurt,”

I sigh at this before turning to face her, “Pain is a part of life Ray. I'm doing this with or without your help,”

“Fine then,” She barks flaring her wings much to my surprise, “be that way, go ahead with your terrible idea,” She walks outside my house ready to take off but she looks at me over her shoulder sympathy in her eyes, “Just know I'll be there if you need me,”

“Thanks for a load of confidence Ray,” I say to her as she huffs before she takes off to the skies,

I shake my head at her antics before leaving the house myself. You know, I can remember when I started calling her Ray. It started as a joke when we were having a chat on a cloudy day. Even though she doesn’t need to keep an eye on me, we still hang out. She was talking to me from a cloud, and I sarcastically told her that she was the little ray of sunshine on my cloudy day. I thought it was funny, even more so when she fell off from her cloud perch. I got a punch in the arm for my trouble but she didn't seem to mind afterwards, so it's stuck.

Now I think about it. It has been quite some time since I first arrived in Equestria. All those months ago, I was just a random pervert stallion who found his way inside the princess's castle. Although the misunderstanding has been mostly cleared up, there are still some ponies that give me an odd stare now and then. Also, I found a place to stay and was even able to find a job in one of the local shops here. The pay is decent but the most important thing is that I am no longer living off the princess’s generosity anymore,

In addition, Trixie found out what caused the gems to explode. It turns out that so long as two different magically charged gems don’t touch each other, we will be fine. Furthermore, we figured out what the Ruby does. It functions like a magical battery which is perfect for our needs. After making a deal with the Diamond Dogs with our Negotiator Rarity. We were able to make a decent profit from selling magic-powered toys with the brand name the Great And Powerful Magic Artifacts or GAPMA for short. During all of this time, much has happened to Twilight and her friends.

Rainbow Dash was embarrassed by her parents due to their enthusiasm for cheering but was able to work things out. Starlight had to help Celestia and Luna understand each other's problems and appreciate their hard work and dedication to their respective roles. I got word that for some reason Discord almost died cuz he was trying to be not himself. I also got to see Spike being confronted by the new leader of the changelings Thorax and the Dragonlord Ember. Now that was something.

Anyway now is time for my sunset date with Starlight. We have been dating whenever she has some free time. But we have never become an official couple, but that is all going to change tonight. I got to the swimming hole near Ponyville and got to work, setting up the picnic. We will have a perfect view of the sunset and the Moon will be the finishing touch for ending the date,

Starlight arrived on time right as I finished. We greeted each other and enjoyed the meal I prepared for us. Halfway through the meal, as we were catching up, movement from the corner of my eye caught my attention. A quick crack of my neck reveals it to be Ray who is watching from a distance. I must have forgotten to tell her not to keep an eye out for us today. Regardless it's almost time for me to ask the question. I hope it's not too much of a shock for her. The sun is halfway set making the lake glow an orange hue as I speak up,

“Hay Starlight,”

She puts down her sandwich, “Yes Braden?”

“We have been dating for a while now and I have a question I would like to ask you,”

“What is it?”

Reach over and take her hoof in mind not breaking eye contact, “Starlight will you become my marefriend?”

“Oh Braden,” She smiles at me, “I appreciate the offer, but I can't,” She pulls her hoof back, stabbing a knight in my heart,

Ice crawls over my body as she looks away, “Why not?” I ask dumbly trying to understand what I did wrong,

She struggles for words to spare my feelings, “Braden, You're a nice stallion and any mare would love to be with you,” She rubs her forelegs together in shame, “But every time we hang out, I find my thoughts elsewhere. I have been meaning to end this for a while, but I didn’t know how to tell you that I don’t feel the same way,”

My world is falling apart before my eyes and I can’t stop it. It can’t end this way! “But-”

“Starlight!” A voice calls out to our left,

Much to our surprise and my frustration, Sunburst had to join the party. I haven't seen the stallion these past months and had thought he'd given up. Looks like I was mistaken.

“Sunburst what are you doing here?” Starlight says dumbfounded at the stallion’s arrival,

“Starlight there is something that I need to tell you,”

“Well, it can wait,” I say moving towards him, “Me and Starlight are having a date and we don’t need a three-wheel,”

“Braden stop leave him alone,” Starlight says moving in front of me and stopping my advance,

I glare at her, “Why? He is unwelcome and interpreting our date,”

“Because-” She starts before looking away going speechless,

Sunburst looks ready for a fight as I can see that Ray is struggling to decide on who she should be helping, while Starlight racks her brain trying to find a way to end this peacefully. I can’t believe this. I trying to have a date with Starlight and she is standing up for the intruder. It's time for this stallion to know his place and leave us alone forever!

But before I could speak or confront the stallion something happened to my vision. For a moment instead of seeing Starlight, I saw a young human female in her early twenties with long black hair and blue eyes. And where Sunburst was, I saw a young human male with an average build, brown hair with black eyes roughly the same age as the female staring at me. I shake my head clearing my thoughts as the humans I was seeing disappear and the ponies return making my heart drop as a stone.

I took a step back from them confusing the ponies as to what could make me back down. As they look around to find out what is wrong I look down at my reflection in the water below seeing a human male in his early thirties with an athletic build, black hair with green eyes. I closed my eyes at the sight of a man… no a Theft that I hadn’t thought of in a very long time, “It was happening again,” I whispered to myself before looking at the ponies before me.

Sunburst had to move next to Starlight reassuring her that everything would be alright as she was having a hard time finding words, but she didn’t need to say anything. In fact, I will help her,

“Because you want Sunburst to be your Special somepony,” I say for her much to Sunburst's surprise,

She sighs in defeat, “I am sorry Braden. It's not you. It's me,” The sun has set dulling the mood as the moon rises into the night sky,

“It is okay Starlight,”

“Really?” Both ponies said equally confused as I could see Ray tilting her head to the side before taking to the skies to get closer out of view,

“I can see that the third wheel in this relationship was me all this time,” I move to Sunburst putting a hoof on his shoulder, “Take care of her Sunburst,”

He looks bewildered at my actions, “This was not how I thought this was going to end,”

“What did you think we would have to fight each other and the winner gets Starlight?” I sarcastically said to which he looked away guilty as I glared at him, “So that’s why I haven't seen you in a while. It's because you were getting ready for a fight?”

“I didn’t want to lose the next time,” He says as Starlight lightly smacks him on the shoulder,

“Sorry to disappoint you,”

“You are taking this better than I thought,” Starlight said uncertain if my words were genuine, “Are you sure you are okay with this?”

“I'll be fine. Get on with it you two,”

“Thank you for understanding Braden,” She hugs me before moving to Sunburst as they awkwardly try to figure out what the next step is, “So,” She starts her face flush red,

“So,” He replied not fairing any better,

“How about you two walk home tonight and start a new tomorrow?” I suggested to them, “It's getting late,”

“That’s a good idea,” Starlight said, “Goodnight Braden. Sorry for the short date,”

“It's fine. Have a good night you two,” I shoo them away with a hoof half-heartedly,

They bid me good night before leaving me there. A cold empty feeling wells up inside me as I stare longingly at Starlight. Love is such a complicated feeling. Ever since the first date, I have tried everything I could to make Starlight love me. However, it would appear that we simply weren’t meant to be. This night could have ended completely differently. But this is for the best, even if it means I end up alone… again,