Happy Fun Times in Equestria

"You know, Peter...I'm a psychologist. So...if you ever want to talk about you past with me...then I could give you a free session. What with you helping me so much and all..."

I look to Fluttershy in surprise. "What're you talking about?" I ask as I take a sip of the lemonade she gave me.

"Well...you said that you had a Bachelor's in Medicine, but that you had to drop out of college. How old are you, by the way? Just...I don't really know...if that's okay..."

I smile as I lean back. "That's fine. Well, I told Rainbow Dash that I was twenty two, but that's...sort of a lie. I wasn't exactly willing to tell the truth, what with my being tied to chair and whatnot. I'm actually twenty seven." Fluttershy nods as she takes a bite out of her daisy sandwich. My stomach yearns for meat as I watch her consume more and more food that I find inedible. "And, well...thanks for the offer, Fluttershy, but...I'd rather not talk about my past. I've already had a therapist for all of it, and she helped me quite a lot."

"So, you're a wack job, huh?"

I turn in surprise as Rainbow Dash walks into the cottage. She takes a seat next to Fluttershy, and I raise an eyebrow. "Weren't you busy with that kid?"

"She had to go home," Rainbow responds with a shrug. She's trying to act nonchalant, but I can see the small bit of pride glinting in her eyes. "So, you had a therapist? What's in your dark and mysterious past, huh?"

I sigh as I place down the glass. I force myself to close my eyes and count to five, lest I slap the shit out of her. Once I've calmed myself, I unclench my jaw, and look back up at her. "Rainbow Dash, I don't like talking about it, alright? Let's just...let's just finish our lunch, alright?" I pick up my grilled cheese, and take another bite: it settles my hunger, but not my yearning for meat.

"So...if you don't want to talk about your past...we can talk about your, uh...your now. If...if that's okay, I don't want to get too involved if you don't want me to..." Fluttershy blushes as I give her a soft, reassuring smile. "Uhm...well, I mean...are you...alright? What with...being around ponies and everything. I mean...I'd think you'd have a mental breakdown from seeing talking, flying, magical ponies and whatnot..."

I shrug as I recline. "Yeah, well...I don't mind it. I don't mind being around you guys because you're just as human as, well...humans. Yeah, a bit weird-looking, but...intelligent and alive, all the same. It's just easy for me, because I'm quicker to accept that you're just as smart as me, and therefore, you're equals. I mean, I was sort of freaked out in the beginning, but when you showed me so much hospitality...it was comforting, to say the least."

Fluttershy smiles, and Rainbow Dash looks down at the table for a moment, seemingly deep in thought. "Well, that's very nice, Peter. I'm happy that we've made you feel so much at home..."

"Yeah...at home..." Rainbow mutters, frowning to herself in irritation.

"Rainbow, I told you, I'm over it, alright? We're friends now!" I sigh as I give her a small smile. "Besides, you're actually really sweet."

Rainbow blushes. "Sw-sweet!? I am not sweet! I'm too cool to be sweet!"

Fluttershy giggles lightly, and I just stare at Rainbow Dash in confusion. "Really, Rainbow? You were crying over the fact that you insulted me! You're super sweet, and don't let anyone ever tell you differently."

Rainbow Dash's blush intensifies, and Fluttershy starts to blush as well. "Uhm...this is...this is getting awfully personal...maybe, uh...maybe I should...give you two...some time?"

I sigh as I return to my sandwich. "Sorry, Fluttershy, I, uh...I guess I sorta forgot myself there for a second. We'll continue this conversation in private, Rainbow Dash."

"P-private?" Rainbow stammers, her blush intensifying even more we she looks to me in confusion.

"Oh, not like that," I whine with a curled lip. "Geeze, you have a dirty mind..."

Fluttershy lets out a small squeak, and she's starting to blush a bit more. I frown at her, and gobble up the last bits of my sandwich before standing, and nodding to Fluttershy. "Thank you for the lunch, but I'd better get back to the library. Twilight wants to document my biology."

"Hey, why don't you skip out on hangin' with that egghead, and hang with somepony awesome? Like me!"

I frown at her as I crack my back. "Yeah, no. I'm quite the egghead myself, thank you very much." I give Fluttershy a quick hug, and get a move on.

"Fine, I'll come with you."

I nearly jump out if my skin as I hear the voice from directly behind me. I've been walking for several minutes, and I didn't even hear her approaching me.

"Why?" I ask as she chuckles, and I catch my breath.

"'Cus I like you, remember?" She responds. I feel my cheeks flushing, and I scratch my cheek in embarrassment. She chuckles as she walks past me, letting her tail trail across my legs in a manner that reminds me of that of a cat. "You know, I'm gonna get'cha one way or another."

"You don't even care that I just got here, do you?" I remark as we walk. "I mean, I've barely been here for a day, and you're already hitting on me. I'm practically a perfect stranger!"

Rainbow Dash frowns at me. "But I do care, Peter. I just don't get emotional." She looks around to make sure that nobody's listening in on her. "Okay, I do, but not often...I'm not an emotional pony."

I sigh as we keep walking. "Rainbow Dash, I don't get why you're so god damn skittish about being yourself in public. Just, seriously, if you care about someone, just show it. If you care about me, just show it - I'm more likely to reciprocate in that case, y'know?"

Rainbow Dash narrows her eyes at me as I walk, and she hovers. "What d'you mean, reciprocate?"

"I mean cuddling, hugging, maybe even kissing." I shoot a smirk at her. "Maybe if you come a bit out of your shell, I'll end up right in there with you."

Rainbow Dash blushes, and crosses her hooves in irritation. "In that case, we've both got a long wait..."

I sigh as we continue to walk, and I just shrug it off. Eventually, we reach the library, and -

"Hello again."

I stare at Princess Celestia in shock as she opens the door. "Uh...hi?" I ask, unsure of what she wants.

"I know that I let your memories of that woman remain unscathed," she announces. "But I must read them - after careful consideration, I realized that there is more to it than your own pain."

I clench my jaw as I realize what this means. Seeing as how she's incredibly powerful - as I discerned from her ability to read my memories - I should probably just go with it...

"Fine," I sigh, walking further into the library. "Go ahead."

Rainbow Dash

I gulp in nervous anticipation as Peter and Celestia sit across from each other. Twilight waves me over, and I sit down next to her as she begins to speak.

"You're going to want to keep quiet for this," she informs me. "Celestia is going to have to concentrate a lot to understand why Peter did what he did."

"What'd he do?" I ask, confused.

"I don't know yet," Twilight responds. "But I'm assuming Celestia will tell me when she does..."

I nod, and sit still in impatient anxiety. I would only wait like this for two ponies: Princess Celestia, and Princess Luna.

Not even my own father receives that privelege.

I gulp as Peter and Celestia's eyes close. Peter's eyes start to flicker underneath his lids, and a bit of a smile seems to come across his face as memories float past his eyes. I watch as his Adam's Apple bobs with apparent silent vocalizations, and he shows his teeth once or twice in wistful smiles.

But it changes.

After a small while, he becomes stoic. He no longer says phantom words, and he clenches his fists every once in a while. Did he get in a figh with her? Or did he just have to do something for her that hurt?

I watch as he goes through several emotions. I can't pinpoint what they are, but they seem to be all throughout the spectrum. After a while, his shoulders slump in what seems to be some sort of dejected acceptance. He cringes once in a while, and I can see that his knuckles are starting to turn white. I watch his jaw clench, and his eyelids squint. He seems to be in incredible pain, and I force myself to remain composed. It kills me to see him like that, and the worst part is that I don't even know why...

And then, he releases his fists. He slumps in the chair, and he seems to be incredibly weak: he doesn't even so much as smile. All he does is stare at his lap with his closed eyes.

It's then that his last change begins. He takes a few deep breaths, and seems to completely calm himself. After several minutes, he smiles again.

And then he grins.

Celestia releases the magic, and both she and Peter open their eyes. Peter looks right at me, and then to Celestia. She nods, and before I know it, he descends on me, holding me in a tight hug that surprises me just as much as it surprises Twilight.

"Peter...what're you...?"

"I want to put it all behind me," he whispers. "I just want it to be over..."

"Want what to be over?"

"Everything," he croaks. I feel a few hot tears streak onto my coat, and I pat him on the back in an attempt to comfort him. I...have no idea what's going on.

Celestia approaches, and begins to speak. "Peter...I am proud to call you a citizen of Equestria. The sacrifices you made for her...I have nothing but the utmost respect for you."

Peter nods, and I feel him hold me a bit tighter. "What's going on?" I ask, frowning at Twilight. "Princess...what'd he sacrifice?" I turn my attention to Celestia, seeking some sort if answer.

"He gave up everything," she responds, silently. "In what he did...he gave up his life."

"What'd you do?" I ask, confused as he calms and pulls away from me.

"I...I don't want to talk about it," he responds, wiping a few tears away. "It, uh...it hurt to remember it, to say the least..."

"Okay," I respond, some sort of strange understanding coming to me. "Whenever you're ready."

Peter smiles at me, and gives me another quick hug. As he pulls away, he gives me a quick peck on the cheek. "Thanks, Rainbow. You're the best."

I smile, and I realize that I'm blushing as he stands, and walks towards the stairs. "Well, it's pretty late," he announces with a stretch and a yawn. "I think it's time I get to sleep..."

I look out the window, and, true enough, the moon is putting a small bit of blue light into the library. I stretch as I prepare my wings for flight.

"Goodbye, all of you. I hope you all have wonderful nights of sleep." With that, the Princess teleports away, and I nod to Twilight.

"Well, I'd better get goin'. G'dnight, Twi." I look to the stairs. "Peter...good night. I'll, uh...I'll see you tomorrow, alright?"

Peter's face appears over the balcony of the second floor, and he gives me a grin. "I'll count on it."

I nod, and give myself a little involuntary giggle as I take off through the front door, grinning in the night light.

Looks like I've got him, huh?

I can't help but feel that it's a bit more than just that, though. It's also just being close to him like this...just being close to anypony like this.

In all honesty, I'd forgotten what it felt like.