>”Before you leave, can you tell me something?”
 
>You stop before the broken door, and turn to Twilight.
>She gives you a warm smile.
“Sure, Twilight. What is it?”
>”Can you tell me how you feel about Barb?”
>You sigh.
“She’s my best friend, Twilight.”
 
>Twilight raises an eyebrow at you.
>”Can you tell me how you REALLY feel about her?”
“….”
>You shake your head.
“I feel like she may be a dragon.”
>”Anon, stop messing around!”
“Fine. I guess… I guess I like her or whatever.”
>”Is there anything else?”
>You shuffle nervously.
“N-no… no… yes. Ugh. Of course there is, Twi.”
>You head for the door once more.
>”Anon….”
>You sigh.
 
“Twilight, don’t make me-“
>”It’s none of my business.”
>You stare at the purple mare.
>”I know it’s none of my business. Your feelings are your feelings.”
>You give her a slow nod.
>”But I already know what you’re feeling, Anon.”
>You frown at her.
“Then why do I need to tell you what I’m feeling about Barb?”
>”Because you’re confused. That’s what I’m sensing.”
“….”
>”You have feelings for her, Anon. They may not be as strong as hers, but they are there.”
“….”
>”You… just make the right choice, ok? At the end of the day, just don’t stop caring about her.”
“I don’t think that would ever happen.”
>”Oh?”
>Twilight gives you a sly smile.
“Ugh… I guess I’ve always… cared about Barb.”
>”Mhmm…?”
“But… I guess I… really… ugh, dammit, Twilight!”
 
>A big grin forms on her face.
>”Anon, you’re blushing.”~
>You angrily scowl and turn around.
“I AM NOT! I d-don’t blush. EVER. That’s not what I do, yo.”
>Twilight laughs.
>”Whatever you say, Anon.”
>You shake your head.
>”Before you go, I just want you to know that I’m glad you’re still around….”
>Twilight trots up to you and gives your back a pat.
>”… because it makes me happy knowing that Barb has someone who loves her.”
 
>You scoff.
“I-I don’t… l-love….”
>You don’t finish that sentence.
>You groan loudly.
“Bye, Twilight.”
>You leave the Library, a giggling Twilight waving goodbye to you.
 
~
 
>The walk back to your cottage was less than pleasant.
 
>Your mind is racing.
>Your heart, almost beating out of your chest.
>Your head pounding.
“Ugh… fuck.”
 
>The thought of Barb defending you….
>The thought of her appealing to such a mighty presence…
>The thought of her fighting so hard for you to stay here….
 
>Just for you.
>Barb worked that hard for you.
>And she succeeded.
>Yet you knew nothing about her efforts.
>You just thought that you were accepted and making a living by working for Twilight.
>You didn’t realize how serious your existence in Equestria was.
 
>Barb knew.
 
>She knew from the beginning.
>She’s something else.
>You can’t believe that dragoness did so much…
 
>You’re thankful for Barb.
>You’re thankful for everything she’s done.
>You’re thankful she’s around.
 
>Your cottage is in view.
>A dim light is on inside.
>As you get nearer, you make out a figure outside your home.
“Barb…?”
>The figure becomes clearer as you near your cottage.
>A purple dragoness sits outside of your door, fiddling with her claws and looking gloomy.
 
>You try to wave to her.
>She doesn’t respond.
>Maybe she can’t see you?
 
>You run the rest of the way to your cottage.
>Barb doesn’t look up as you approach her.
>The first thing you notice is her appearance.
 
>She had one of those frustrating blue flowers tucked behind an ear fin.
>She was wearing a long, black dress that was frilly in the right places.
>It fit her perfectly, gently outlining Barb’s curves.
>….
>Not that you were looking at her curves or anything.
>Around her wrist was a bracelet made up of a few of the gems that you got her at the museum.
>Wow.
>She looks really stunning.
>Rarity did a fucking good job.
 
 “Hey, Barb!”
>”Hey, Anon….”
>She continues to play with her claws.
“How… how are you feeling?”
>”Fine, you?”
“Uh… good. Real good.”
>She perks up a little bit, her eyes still fixated on the ground.
>”That’s nice, Anon.”
 
>You take a deep breath.
>You know what will cheer her up.
>You kneel down next to her.
>Your nostrils were met with a pleasant fragrance.
>It smelled like some sort of fruit… strawberries maybe?
 
“You… uh… look… r-really… cute tonight, Barb.”
 
>She lifts her head up to you.
>Her eyes meet yours.
>The warm green of her irises illuminated by the moon.
>”R-really?”
>You goofily nod.
“Y-yeah… really. I mean... not that I was… uh….”
>A smile starts to form on her face.
 
>”I asked Rarity to go all out on this dress for me.”
“I can tell. It looks… uh…. Reallywonderfulonyouorsomething….”
>”What was that, Anon?”
“I asked if maybe it wasn’t a bit much?”
>Barb frowns, looking at the ground.
>”Oh…. I didn’t know what we w-were doing tonight, so….”
>Good going, Anon.
>She sighs.
>”N-nevermind.”
 
>You sit down next to her.
>Barb scoots slightly away from you, her gaze still on the ground.
>You begin to fiddle with your fingers.
“Y-yeah… I didn’t p-plan anything.”
>”Hmrph.”
“Yeah.”
>”Mhmm….”
“I probably should have, you know?”
>”N-no, it’s not y-your fault, Anon.”
“It is, I should have j-just-“
>”Anon, it’s alright. I shouldn’t have worn this d-dress and-“
“Nonsense, Barb. You look-“
>”I should have just s-stuck with the flower and-“
“I’m sorry.”
>Barb turns her head to you.
>”For what? You don’t need t-to apologize.”
“I messed up”
>”You didn’t.”
“I did.”
>”What do you think y-you did?”
“A lot.”
>”Like what, Anon?”
“Take you for granted.”
>”… w-what?”
“I-“
>”W-what are you talking about-“
“I think I love you, B-Barb.”
 
>Barb scoots closer to you.
>”W-what did you j-just say?”
>You mumble.
>”Anon…?”
“Nothing.”
>You cough.
>Barb fidgets.
>She scoots closer to you.
>”Anon….”
“Barb….”
 
>You scoot closer to her.
>She shudders slightly.
>”I’m c-cold.”
“Do you… want to wear my jacket, Barb?”
>”N-no… I’m okay.”
“You sure?”
>”Y-yeah….”
>She shudders again.
>You scoot closer to her.
>You can feel her body against yours.
>”I d-don’t like the cold.”
“I know you don’t, Barb.”
>She sneezes, a bit of flame escaping her mouth.
>”Excuse me, I’m s-sorry….”
“Don’t even… it’s ok, Barb.”
 
>You slowly put your arm around her.
>She immediately moves close to you.
 
>”….”
“….”
>”Hrmph.”
“Hm.”
>”….”
“….”
>”….”
“….”
>”….”
 
>Barb sniffles.
>”You… y-you feel nice, Anon.”
“….”
>She sniffles again.
>”….”
“You do, t-too, I guess….”
>”….”
“You… you’ve always f-felt nice…”
 
>Barb turns her head to you.
>”Anon…?”
“….”
>She presses her body closer into yours.
>She takes a deep breath and exhales, a little ring of smoke escaping her lips.
>”….”
“Feel any b-better?”
>She nods, nuzzling her head in your chest.
“Good.”
>”….”
“Hm?”
>”N-nothing.”
“Oh….”
>She shudders a bit more.
>You pull her closer, letting your warmth envelop her.
>She nuzzles your chest again.
>”Mmmm….”
“….”
>You take your other hand and run it gently along her cheek.
>”Mmmm… Anon….”
“….”
>”….”
>She grabs your hand and locks her claws in your fingers.
>You hold her claws tightly.
”Barb…?”
>”Y-yes?”
“Are you doing okay?”
>”I’m great.”
“….”
>”What about you, Anon?”
“… good….”
>”That’s good….”
>She sighs deeply.
>You sigh deeply.
>She wraps her tail around your back.
>You give her hand a squeeze.
>She gives your hand a squeeze.
“….”
>”….”
>Her tail taps your leg gently.
“Haha… Barb….”
>”S-sorry! I d-didn’t….”
“No, no! It’s… it’s okay. I promise.”
>”You… you sure?”
“Absolutely.”
>”Does it f-feel okay?”
“I think s-so.”
>”Oh… great…!”
“Does it f-feel okay to you?”
>”It’s… it’s just l-like I imagined.”
“Huh?”
>”Hmrph.”
“….”
>”….”
 
>Barb nuzzles your chest again, with more force.
>You pull her closer.
“You… you’re g-great.”
>”Y-yeah…?”
“….”
>”D-do you really think so…?”
“I… I….”
>Barb lifts her head up.
>Her cheeks are a mild shade of red.
>”Anon….”
“Y-yes…?”
 
>She blinks a few times.
>You blink a few times.
>You stare at each other.
 
>”I… do… uh… u-uh, nevermind….”
>She slowly lowers her head.
“Barb….”
>You unwillingly let go of her claw and lift her head back up.
“H-hey….”
>”….”
“….”
>”Anon, you… y-you-re….”
“Barb….”
>”Anon….”
 
>She grabs your hand and puts in on her cheek.
>You gently stroke it, causing her eyes to close.
 
>”Mmmmm….”
“Barb, you’re so….”
>“…?”
“You’re j-just so… b-b…”
>”T-tell me….”
“You’re so beautiful….”
>”W-what?”
“….”
>You see her cheeks become a darker shade of red.
>”….”
“….”
 
>She moves her face closer to yours.
>You move your face closer to hers.
>You can feel her warm breath.
>You blink once.
>She blinks twice.
>Her cheeks are red.
>Your cheeks are probably red….
>Even though you don’t blush…. Ever.
>You move your head even closer to hers.
>Barb licks her lips.
>Your heads couldn’t be closer.
“….”
>”….”
>….
>Barb pecks you quickly on the lips.
 
>”….”
“….”
>She pecks your lips again, this time more aggressively.
>You blink, eyes shifting around nervously.
>”….”
“….”
>She lets out a nervous laugh.
>”Anon! I’m s-so sorry. I-I didn’t mean to-“
 
>!
 
>You silence her with your own lips, pressing passionately against hers.
 
>You pull back quickly.
>Barb blushes more furiously than ever before.
>She has a big smile on her face.
>"A-Anon, you-"
 
>!
 
>Once again, you silence the dragoness with another kiss, this one more aggressive than the first.
>Your mouth and throat are immediately warmed up.
>You pull her closer into you, her pleasant scent making you yearn for more.
>Barb lets out a long moan of approval before wrapping her arms around your neck.
>Her tongue flicks at your own, teasing you to go on.
>You suck on her bottom lip before locking your lips on hers once more.
>Her tail wraps around your leg, squeezing you playfully.
 
>You feel your mouth and throat become warmer still.
>A bit of smoke escapes her nostrils.
>She presses herself all over you, continuing to moan in absolute approval.
>She kisses you more fiercely.
>Her strength soon overpowering your own, you fall backwards.
>Without breaking the kiss, you pull Barb closer.
>You slide your hands up and down her back.
>You don’t want her to stop.
>Not yet.
>She’s waited a while for this one.
>….
>… you guess you have as well.
 
>You aren’t sure how long the kiss lasts.
>Five, ten, fifteen minutes?
 
>You eventually pull away from her lips due to an intense heat in your throat.
>You cough as a bit of smoke escapes your mouth.
>Out of breath, you stare at Barb.
>Her stunning green eyes stare back into yours.
>She gets off of you, and helps you sit up.
>You shake your head.
“… hot.”
>Barb giggles.
 
>”Anon…!”~
“Really hot….”
 
>She licks her lips again, giving you an affectionate smile.
>You let out a nervous laugh, uncertain as to what just really happened.
>You sigh deeply.
>Barb gives you a concerned look.
>”Anon… are you… w-was that… n-not….”
“B-Barb, I just….”
>You sigh deeply.
“I just want you to know… that I….”
>You cough, more smoke escaping your mouth.
>Damn, Barb.
>She pats your back.
“Thanks. Anyways… I want you t-to know that you… mean the world to me.”
>She blinks at you, smiling.
“And… I always have c-cared about you.”
>You hold both of her hands.
>She pecks your cheek.
>”And…?”
“….”
>”….”
“….”
>”Hmrph.”
“Hmmm….”
>”Anon…?”
“IguessIreallyloveyouBarbandyoureallymakemehappyeventhoughsometimesyougetonmynerves and....”
>Barb gives you a tight hug.
>You let out a sigh of relief.
>You hug her back, kissing her on her neck.
 
“Barb?”
>”Yes, Anon?”
“I... I guess I’m trying to s-say that-”
>”I love you so much, Anon.”
>She holds you tighter, her heart beating quickly.
“Haha… I… I l-love you too, Barb.”
>You give her a tight squeeze back.
>"Mmmmm...."
>You pull away and give her a wet kiss on the lips.
“I really do love you.”
>She giggles, her cheeks still a deep red.
 
“Want to get ice cream?”
>You cough as Barb gives you a sly smile.
>Barb nuzzles your nose before giving you another kiss.
>”Of course we can.”
>You smile and stand up, helping Barb up as well.
>She holds your hand tight.
>”I want mint ice cream.”
“I know you do, Barbara.”
>You begin to walk, holding your dragoness' hand tightly.
 
"...."
>"...."
>”Anon?”
“Yes?”
>”It’s Barb.”
>You laugh and kiss her on her cheek.
 
“Trust me, I know.”
 
~