- >You adjust your tie again the mirror, the train’s motion not exactly aiding your endeavor.
- >No armor to protect you this time, just a fresh spiffy suit designed by P0nyville’s finest designer.
- >Surprisingly enough when you asked her about the suit she didn’t bat an eye.
- >It certainly struck you as odd giving her efforts to swoon you into her abode.
- >She took some more accurate measurements without a hint of seduction.
- >You remember checking your belly to see if you’d gained some flab, but that wasn’t it.
- >Rarity gave a sincere smile when you finally slipped into her clothing.
- >She said you were quite the catch, a man for any mare.
- >You couldn’t help but blush at the comment.
- >For once she wasn’t giving the googly eyes and it honestly felt like she was a friend.
- >Odd really, but welcoming nonetheless.
- >You finished freshening up and leave the train lavatory, the rest of the mane 6 gitty about the night ahead of them.
- >You’re not sure what it is with girls and balls.
- >Of course Twilight would correct you and call it a Gala, but they’re close enough in your opinion.
- >Each of them got dressed up for the occasion, once again thanks to Rarity, even Dash spruced up.
- >This isn’t their first gala as they tell it, the first one ending frightfully.
- >Something about an animal stampede or some such thing.
- >You try not to get bogged down with the details.
- >What you did know was that this time, they were going to have fun.
- >And that meant staying together.
- >A noble goal, one that you’ll let them accomplish.
- >The train docks in Canterlot’s train station, the group piling out each chatting frantically with one another.
- >The streets of the city were bustling with activity, an oddity considering the time of day, or night.
- >You squeezed amongst them like a sore thumb, the absence of your suit of armor amongst them placing an uncomfortable feeling of vulnerability upon you.
- >In truth there was nothing to fear.
- >There were no Covenant patrols passing by.
- >The war was nothing but a faint and distant memory in retrospect.
- >Here you could relax and be amongst friends.
- >Crimson Team is off on another mission right now and what’re you doing?
- >You’re prepared to go to a party with a special mare and your friends.
- >Between the former and that latter?
- >Yeah, you’ll pick the latter.
- >Twilight hands off the tickets to the stallion at the gate allowing you to step inside the castle grounds.
- >Trumpets sound off as you approach the entrance hall.
- >The room expands outwards with the p0ny elite gossiping amongst one another.
- >You tug at your neck nervously.
- >”Jus’ relax. It ain’t the end of the world.”
- >Even Applejack’s comfortable amongst the elite.
- >You’re not sure why you’re acting like this though.
- >You never took this kind of stuff seriously before.
- >Oh look the Princess. Somep0ny around here you actually know.
- >The mane 6 chat her up before moving off further away giving you a chance to talk.
- “Good evening Celestia.”
- >”Ahh, Anon. Pleasant to see you out and about. No armor I see, must be quite the change.
- “Fitting the suit around it was a bit more of a burden than I could take.”
- >She nods, “The look suits you.”
- “Thank you. You don’t look so bad yourself.”
- >”You do realize you’re talking to the princess?”
- “A princess that I happen to know.”
- >She nods in agreement, “A correct assumption.”
- >She greets another pair of p0nies into the party before turning back to you.
- >”Shouldn’t you be off with your friends?”
- “I should, but it’s just- Hell, I don’t know. They seem kinda, off I guess.”
- >”How so?”
- “Well, like Rarity. She’s always trying to grab my attention and suddenly turns a new leaf? Or Twilight, I haven’t felt her watching me for a good while now.”
- >Celestia seems to understand where you’re coming from.
- >”Do you know why my star pupil is off in P0nyville in the first place?”
- >Odd question. One that you don’t know the answer to.
- “I can’t say that I do.”
- >”Come with me,” she says, Luna descending the stairs to take her place.
- >She leads you to her royal chambers and asks if you’d like anything to drink.
- >Water sounds good right now and it’s too early to get drunk off what you know is going to be spiked punch.
- >You take a sip and thank her, the princess graciously moving off to her drawers near her bed.
- “So, why is she in P0nyville?”
- >”Twilight, as dear as she is, had a small problem when she lived here in Canterlot. She allowed all of her time to be consumed with her studies.”
- “I don’t see how that’s a bad thing. In fact, that’s what I should’ve done.”
- >”The issue with it was how she became a recluse, distancing herself from everyp0ny to focus on her studies.”
- “Didn’t she have Spike?”
- >”Yes, but as an assistant. He was little more than that back then, so I sent her to P0nyville.”
- >Alright now you’re starting to remember the story. Nightmare Moon and such.
- “I’ve heard this part, but I still don’t understand why it’s important.”
- >She levitates a bushel of scrolls, “Good things come to those who wait.”
- >”After Nightmare Moon’s defeat all was right again and it was time for Twilight to come home. However, she didn’t.”
- “Come again?”
- >”The friends she made in P0nyville had made her learn a valuable lesson about friendship. I couldn’t have been prouder.”
- “So she stayed. And…?”
- >”I wished for her to continue her studies and send me a report on her findings. Namely, her reports on the magic of friendship.”
- >You want to just yell out how gay that sounds but you stay your tongue.
- “Once again, how does this relate to me?”
- >She unravels a scroll and prepares to read before meeting your eyes, “Would you like to hear what she said?”
- “Do I have a choice?”
- >”Yes.”
- >You were expecting a no to be honest.
- “Go ahead.”
- >”Dear Princess Celestia, Over the past few months I’ve learned a valuable lesson about friendship. You can’t force anyp0ny to open themselves up to you, no matter what your reasons may be. I’ve learned this the hard way with a new arrival in P0nyville. From now on, I’ll be standing at his side, not taking notes behind his back. Your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle.”
- “She wrote that?”
- >Celestia nods, “Twilight’s always been a curious one, persistent as well, but she isn’t going to push away a friend because of it.”
- “So that’s why she hasn’t been pestering me.”
- >”A good friend will wait for you to open up, not the other way around.”
- >You smile and laugh quietly as you think back to all her shenanigans.
- >”What is so humorous?”
- “Nothing, I’m just thinking I might miss her crazy schemes.”
- >”Pinkie can fill that in.”
- >Oh she can.
- >She hands you the letter so you can read it for yourself before drawing up another.
- “There’s more?”
- >”Yes, Twilight isn’t the only one who writes these you know.”
- “Who’s that one from.”
- >”Patience…” she hums and holds up the letter.
- >”Dear Princess Celestia, I learned that a good friend should think of others before themselves. I’ve been selfish, unladylike in trying to woo a certain somep0ny, and I didn’t think to understand why he refused my affections. Thanks to a friend of mine, I know that even though I want something, it doesn’t mean I should take it from away from somep0ny. Rarity…”
- “And just when I thought I wouldn’t have to slit Twilight’s throat.”
- >Celestia looks at you with concern.
- “Kidding.”
- >She loosens up, “Rarity… She knows how you feel about a certain somep0ny who shall remain nameless.”
- >You look down as you think of her.
- >”I believe this is why she stopped attempting to, what’s the term she used? Woo?”
- >You nod, finally understanding why they’ve been acting so different.
- >”These are not the only reports she sent you know. There are a dozen others much like these.”
- >Dozens. You never thought of yourself as the best of friends.
- “Maybe I should’ve been a teacher with all these lessons huh?”
- >You stand up and walk over to the window and watch the fireworks go off, the Wonderbolts flying off in celebration.
- >”This makes me curious Anon. The others have all learned something about friendship by meeting you. What have you learned?”
- >The dazzling show captures your eyes, but not your mind.
- “I learned to forget the past. I learned it’s best to go along for the ride.”
- >She immediately senses the fragility of your answers, “What have you learned about friendship?”
- “Friendship?”
- >You spot Applejack down below by the balcony watching the fireworks, alone.
- >What did she teach you?
- “I learned that to be a friend you have to let others into your life. A friend will be there for you even through your mistakes. She’ll give you a hoof when you’ve fallen and a bed when you’re weak. She helped me because she saw that beneath the armor, beneath the flesh… I was just another p0ny. I only asked for forgiveness, but she gave me much more.”
- >”Are you talking about friendship or are you talking about her?”
- “Applejack’s been a true friend, far better than I. Even through all the bumps and even the rocky start, she was there. She was always there. Celestia…”
- >You turn to look at her, “Yes?”
- “Can we finish this later? There’s something I need to do.”
- >She stands up and walks to the window. She understands almost immediately.
- >”Please do, Mr. Anon.”
- “Thank you Princess.”
- >”And Anon?” she stops you at the door with a smile, “Its Celestia.”
- “Yes ma’am.”
- >You hurry down through the now crowded party, the p0nies slightly tipsy.
- >How did you know it was spiked? Because you always know.
- >You glide over to the balcony, Applejack still standing there by herself.
- >Say what comes to mind.
- >Striding over to her you lean against the rails.
- “Applejack.”
- >She turns to you, her braided air falling to her side.
- >The sight of her takes your breath away.
- >”Anon.”
- >Your mind blanks out leaving you standing there like a fool.
- >Shit, come on brain work! Don’t fail me.
- >”Ya alright?”
- >Screw it, go for broke.
- >You lean down and press your lips against hers.
- >No going back now.
- >Finally your mind restores functionality and realizes what you just did.
- >You pull back. You blew it, all of it. You fucked up.
- “Aww shoot!”
- >You grip the railing as she stands there stunned by your advance.
- >Always with this shit. Decision after decision!
- “I’m sorry Applejack. I- fucking… For the past few months since I arrived I just- I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have pressed this onto you. I screwed up again.”
- >You’re a god damn human saboteur.
- >She places a hoof on your arm and turns you to look at her, the green of her eyes mesmerizing.
- >”If you do feel that way. Say it.”
- >You swallow hard.
- “I love you Applejack.”
- >She smiles and gives you a peck on the lips, “I love ya too Anon.”
- >You’re so happy you could turn to stone.
- >You smile and bear hug the mare, crying tears of joy into her mane.
- >”Whoa Anon. Put me down!”
- “Sorry.”
- >She pats herself off, “Don’t want Rarity killing ya for ruining her dress.”
- “Applejack, you have no idea how happy this makes me, how happy you make me. Ever since-“
- >She silences you with another kiss, your body like silly putty in her hooves.
- >Breaking the kiss she leans up against you and watches the show.
- >”Can’t believe it took ya this long to figure it out.”
- “This long? How far back-“
- >”Shhh, don’t ruin the moment.”
- >You rock back and forth with her, the last piece coming together.
- “I wouldn’t for the world.”
- >Today was the first day of your new life.
- >And you were happy.
- >You enter the room, the attendant turning to you.
- “Any change?”
- >”Every time you come in here asking the same question and every time I give you the same answer.”
- “So no change?”
- >”None that I can see. It’s a lost cause you know.”
- >He’s many things, weak isn’t one of them.
- >It’s been months though… maybe…
- >No. You’re not leaving him behind, not when you caused this.
- >You inform the attendant you’re going in, walking into the chamber.
- >No wonder he’s not getting better. How can anyone be trapped inside a room like this and be expected to recover?
- >It’s too white and plushy, small too.
- >You’ve seen prisons more accommodating.
- >He’s sitting in the corner of the room, slumped down, the jacket binding his arms together.
- “Hey. It’s been a while huh?”
- >He doesn’t respond to you.
- >All he does is rock side to side, a dopey grin on his face.
- >It’s strange to see him like this.
- “I don’t know if you can hear me in there, but you get better. Alright? That’s an order.”
- >His head rolls back to look at the ceiling, pathetic sight.
- >You kneel next to him. You had to piss him off.
- “I’m sorry alright. Happy now? I shouldn’t have brought them up. It was… Damn…”
- >You push up on your knees and give him one last look.
- >”How’s he doing?” Commander Palmer asks over the comm.
- “No change…”
- >”It’s not your fault. He lost control and now he’s facing the consequences.”
- >You lay your head against the door to the cell.
- >”Suit up Lance, Crimson doesn’t stop because of him.”
- >You sigh and make your way to the armory.
- “Yes ma’am.”

