//------------------------------//
// Health, Hopes, and Hearth's Warming 
// Story: Sight 
// by Hot Dog Jones 
//------------------------------//

Breathe in, breathe out. Breathe in, breathe out.

Come on, you’re good at breathing. It’s like, the only thing you know how to do right.

You can do it? Finally. Now just open the case. “No!” Open. It. “Fine..”

I clicked open the locks with my magic, hearing them pop against the case. I felt the guitar inside, the smoothness of the wood colliding with my soft hooves. The spiraling metal strings ever so softly scratching against my fur, making that classic whirr of excitement. I plucked the waiting steel, hearing to see if they were harmonizing in tune today.

E.. A.. D.. G.. B.. E.. They were all set. 

Now only if I was ready.

I placed the open case out in front of me and placed a few coins in, serving as an indicator for the posh Canterlot ponies walking by. They probably all think I’m homeless. They’ll probably all judge me, and nobody will give me anything. This is pointless.

No. Don’t think like that.

I picked up the guitar and started to play, the chords ringing out from the body of the guitar singing sweetly through the city streets. They echoed and rose up above, the sound bouncing from building to building in bounding leaps, until I finally couldn’t hear them anymore. I sang, my tired voice giving a smile to the frowns around me. And that’s when I heard the happiest sound of all- The drop of change into a guitar case.

Someone had given me money. The true sign that maybe I was doing something right. I had done it, somewhat. I had gotten something. Maybe, just maybe, music wasn’t a bad living option. Maybe Celestia was right. I can live like this.

What did the princess mean, anyway? Her words echoed in my mind. You care so much about Twilight’s insight. How did she know that? Why did she care? Was she afraid I was going to corrupt her student, change her into something she shouldn’t be?

But then, my mind turned to the next thing she said.. I suppose I shall just let things happen as they come, right? That one was really the thing that stuck with me. Did Celestia know? Does she know how Twilight feels about me? 

..Does she know how I feel about Twilight?

I am brought out of my stupor by the tinkle of more bits. I give my thanks to the pony walking by, hoping they are still close enough to hear it. I hear nothing back but hoofsteps on the cobblestone road. 

I finish the song, playing the final chord and letting my last drawn out note reach the air. I even hear a bit of applause upon finishing, something I had never expected. I smile and reach into the case in front of me, counting- One, two, four.. seven bits. Seven bits from about ten minutes. That really wasn’t that bad! I was already off to a good start.

Now all that was left to do was keep it up. I felt my watch. It was getting around five or six o’clock, ponies were just now emptying their jobs to start on the walk home. If I played for a little bit longer, I’d be sure to make plenty.

I play for a considerable half hour, biding my time, trying my best to enjoy it, even in my anxiety. I strike the chord to my last song, deciding I would finish up for the day on a sweet, sustained C sharp. Leaning towards my case, I reach inside to count my life’s first earnings.

Thirty-two bits! Ponies were being more than generous. I suppose playing while everyone walked home was a good strategy. I doubt I could’ve made that much during the day.

But it was getting late, and I had to make my own way home as well. I put the bits in my saddlebags, delicately placed my guitar inside its case, and started on my jaunt home.

That’s when I was stopped.

“Well, well. If it isn’t Cane Boy.” That snarky voice crept into my ears and my eyebrows fastened themselves downward as my mouth turned to a snarl, merely on instinct.

“Look, Tough Stuff, it’s late. I’ve just been working for the little money I have,” I growled, not wanting him to spoil my happy mood, “I want to go home, I’m sure you should do the same.”

He laughed his cold, inconsiderate laugh. “Mmm, yeah, I saw you workin’. Street performing’s a little low, though. Your librarian girlfriend probably wouldn’t like that, now would she?

I sighed, letting out the cliché line, “She isn’t my girlfriend, we’re just good friends. And the way you treated us the other day really, really doesn’t fly with me.” The intensity of my voice was rising higher than I anticipated. At this point it sounded more like a threat than a statement.

“Is that so? Even after you abandoned her because of a little switchblade?” he poked, laughing even more at my expense.

Now I was back to being angry. That was over the line. “I didn’t abandon her! Besides, you’re the one who pulled it on us in the first place!”

“Hmm,” he speculated, his voice turning to sarcasm, “As I recall, you ran right out of the music hall, pushing her out of the way for the door, even. Some knight in shining armor you are, Daylight.”

My jaw dropped as the weight of what I did hit me. That night, in the music hall.. I just left her. I didn’t try to protect her, I didn’t man up and stand up to Tough Stuff, either. I just ran away, keeping her in danger. “I-I..” I babbled, searching for something to say, “No, it wasn’t-“

“Wasn’t what, huh? I’ll tell you what it was, Day. It was fucking stupid.” I couldn’t tell if I should agree with him or deny it. That night was all but a blur to me now. “Turns out I was right. You can’t protect her, you can’t even be a good friend to her. You just don’t fucking deserve her.”

“S-Shut up,” I defended, tears starting to rise in my eyes.

He just laughed. Celestia, I hated that laugh. “Oh, now you decide to stand up to me? Man, when are you just gonna grow some balls?”

“I’m going home.” I tried not to shout at him. It would just make me seem weaker.

“Running isn’t your best defense,” he said sharply, giving me a cold stare. “Aren’t you ever going to learn?” He let out a huff of air, then turned and walked away, not saying another word.

My mouth still remained in a snarl, subconsciously growling at the colt I had always hated. “Dickhead,” I muttered under my breath, hearing him trot in my opposite direction. I started making my way home as well, my angry steps almost turning to stomps as I clambered over my hatred.

I hated him so much. I wanted him to just leave me alone. Couldn’t we just leave the past behind us, keep everything inside, and live civilized lives? Did he have to try to make my life a living hell? It had been so long, I had figured he would have gotten over it by now..

Of course, that’s a different story.

I reached home after a very angry half hour long walk. I did nothing but go in my room, collapse on my bed, and sleep.


***


Cold air swept through my window in a burst, jolting my body awake. I gave a quick yelp, jumping up and tossing back the covers, wondering if it was just my imagination and I had a few hours left, or if it was Turntable yelling at me to wake up and my clock had went off late again.

I reached for my watch on the bedside table, laying there with my glasses and my cane. A quick feel of the tiny Braille dots told me neither of my thoughts were true- It was simply a half hour earlier than I should be up, and a gust of wind had roused my peaceful sleep.

Stumbling out of bed, I went to my window, closing it with a sharp clunk. Turning back to my warm, comfortable blankets, a piece of dirty clothing caught my back leg, making me trip and fall on the rough carpet. 

It was going to be a long day.

I got up and shook off the sweatshirt that caught my hoof. Instead of returning into my bed, I figured I should just get up, as another half hour of sleep would just slow me down anyway. I picked up the jacket and threw it on, pulling through my front legs and zipping it up. A slight chill passed through me from the garment being absolutely freezing, most likely because of the wind all night, but it would only take a few minutes to warm up.

I took my cane up with my magic and started feeling my way outside of the bedroom, much more carefully this time. Not forgetting my glasses and watch, I put them on as I went out the door. Magic was a fantastic tool for me to have, being blind and all.

A yawn escaped my lips. It was just a little too early to be enjoyable. And by the lack of sun rays coming through my window, I could tell it was still dark outside. How absurd, I thought, To have ponies wake up when their natural instinct still tells them to sleep. It couldn’t be helped. I stepped down the stairs and went to the kitchen counter not far from the stairs, grabbing a notepad to keep my sister (and newly moved in mother) in-the-know.

Left early today. Might be back late. Sorry.

Seemed good enough, even if it was a tad on the more depressing side- I was secretly hoping my scrawl wasn’t too bad to read. I knew how to write, but it liked to shift down the page sometimes. Moving ahead, I grabbed my messenger bag from the corner of the living room as I trotted my way outside, slipping it on and stepping out the door, soon closing it behind me.

The brisk morning breeze chilled my skin. My fur ruffled from the wind, and my hair was blown in my face relentlessly. Pretending not to be annoyed, I began my walk into the city, hearing various woodland creatures chirping and squawking around me. The sound slowly diminished when I reached the inside of the huge town of Canterlot, where it was replaced by the sudden shuffling of ponies heading to classes and morning tea. Not as calming, but still, not bad ambience to ponder over.

Last night, I met the princess, and not to mention, hung out with a pretty amazing filly. It was a lot to happen in one night. I had reason to be tired. Yet, school was school. But with the weather getting colder, I needed to bundle up more and more. Two jackets wasn’t even enough for the thirty degree chill on that November morning.

I wasn’t exactly anticipating Thanksgiving. The thought of family put all our minds on what we had lost, so we never really did anything for it anyway, save for Turntable maybe putting in a turkey, or ordering pizza, as it often turned to. But with mom here? Things couldn’t be weirder. I hoped she wouldn’t try to cook a whole meal for us. It still wouldn’t make up for things, no matter how hard she tried.

I knew I couldn’t just keep my mother out of my heart like this forever, but it would take some time to forgive her. That’s what I realized, that night I broke down crying in front of Twilight. That was the only the second time I had ever cried in front of anyone, and the first time I noticed I had to somehow move on.

I’m glad Twi was there, out of everyone it could have been. I didn’t even really know her that well, back then, but it also felt like I knew everything about her. Like we were letting on hints as to who we were through every little action, glance, and touch we shared. Like we were just best friends hanging out on an evening. But it meant so much more to me than that. 

What I couldn’t shake is that it felt like Twilight liked me. Like, really, really liked me. And it felt like I felt the same way. I just couldn’t place where she was in my mind. I couldn’t figure out how she wanted to treat me, and how I wanted to treat her, as if the goddesses had already given us special places in each other’s minds we just had to scout out and find. But it also seemed as if we had to do it together.

The other thing was, the school’s annual winter prom was coming up, and coming up fast. Posters were up all over the school, and everypony in administration or student council or anything kept reminding us to pick up our tickets. 

I had never even gone to a fancy thing like that before. It was tempting, but I would feel too bored and purposeless. I had never been asked on a date before, so that meant no girls to worry about or dance with, and that left friends- I didn’t have any friends to go with or meet either, so the whole thing would have just been pointless. Besides, I didn’t have a suit or a tux or anything. I would go not even looking good. What a waste of time.

But now that I had met Twilight, this beautiful student under direction of the princess, I really wanted to ask her. The only question was, what would she say? If she said no, where would our friendship go from there? Nowhere but down, I’d assume. And if she said yes? Not that she would say yes. Who would ever say yes?

But if she did say yes, somehow; would she even want to be seen next to me? I wasn’t really the most popular guy in school. I was bullied, pushed around, teased.. And I would probably look pretty shitty too. Would she really want that, to be hoof in hoof with a total loser?

Maybe I shouldn’t go.. Maybe I shouldn’t ask her.. Not that I was planning on it, anyway. It was just killing me to know what she would say.

All my thinking had led me into the halls of Canterlot Magic School once again, the corridors mostly empty of sound and ponies as it was still so early in the morning. My hoofsteps rang through the echoing cobblestone rooms, until I came to a stop in an empty classroom. In an hour, it would be bustling full of fillies and colts chatting together, waiting for class to start, but for now, it was just me and my book.

I flipped open the cover and started to read, feeling every crevice and bump on the Braille page, not bothering to listen for anyone approaching. It was too early, anyway.


***


My life seemed to be going by in fragments, that’s what you have to understand. Every time a new day came, it seemed to pass by in merely seconds. I don’t know what it was, whether I was stressed for exams, or the cold was getting to my head, or if I was just spending so much time with Twilight that all this time slipped from my grasp in a matter of minutes, every day an hour, every minute a millisecond. 

I don’t like remembering this part of the story. But what comes after it is more than enough to make up for it.

It was a month later. The chill of December started to sink in. Only a week before school let out, and the day before the big school prom. If I was going to ask Twilight, it had to be today. I couldn’t miss out on this. It might be my only opportunity.

I stayed late that day, finding my way to the library when she normally has her shift. I ended up sitting there for maybe an hour and a half, avoiding her by sitting in the corner with my face in a book. Mentally, I was trying to find the courage to go talk to her. Not even just to ask her, but to say anything. My anxiety just built throughout the day, and the whole time I was in the library, my heart was thumping a million times a minute. 

It might sound a little creepy, but just being around her, hearing her voice as she pointed out books to ponies or when she hummed to herself as she shelved books, was completely magical. She seemed to enthrall me more than anyone had before. It made me wonder at this point, was I really in love with Twilight? Is this what love felt like? Where just the sound of their voice, the feeling of their presence, was enough to make me satisfied with my shitty life?

My question, however, was never answered. Twilight moved back to the front desk for the final time that day, her shift coming to an end. I had missed my chance! I silently cursed to myself behind my book as she finished putting away her library ID and other tools, only then moving towards the hallway back to her castle tower. I couldn’t let her get away. This was the perfect time to ask, and I wasn’t about to pass it up. I knew the bell was going to ring soon, and we would no longer be alone. My chance with her would be shot. I had to hurry.

I followed her hoofsteps out of the library, trying to silent the light tapping of my cane as to not alert her to my presence. I thought I would be quite obvious, but she hadn’t noticed me yet, as she would’ve turned around to come talk to me. Either that, or she was just seeing how far I would go with this.. But I thought that a little mean for Twilight, despite how playful she can be.

It made me think; most who see Twilight Sparkle at a glance would think she’s a bookworm, someone who’s uptight and doesn’t want anything to do with troublemakers, but she was really a bit of a troublemaker herself. At least, around me she was.

When she was with me, she turned from “reposed librarian” to fun, playful Twilight. She told bad jokes, she played the occasional prank, she teased me every now and then in the most loving way possible. She was, well, one of my best friends. Now that the seasons started passing and we got to know each other better, I could consider her one of my best friends, if not my only true friend. I’m sure she could say the same about me. At least, that’s what I thought, as she showed it through her every action, and when she wasn’t with me, she was in class, working at the library, or in her chambers. We shared the same introverted lifestyle, and I think it was nice of us to find another whose gears turned the same directions.

Yet here I was, heart beating, shuffling my hooves nervously and trying to calm my scattered brain. Twilight was just down the hall, and the lack of other noise in the echoing corridor told me she was alone. Yes. It would be the perfect time to pop the question. I just had to seize it, right here, right now.

I approached her, opening my mouth to call her attention towards me, but no sound was able to come out. This was partly because of my nervousness, and partly because of what happened next.

“Heyyyy, Twilight!” called a voice from her side of the hall. I had heard that voice before… Loud, a tad obnoxious… It was one of Tough Stuff’s cronies! Rubber, I think was his name. He worked in the auto shop, and everyone thought he was really charismatic, but he worried me, and I thought he would worry Twilight a bit too. Turns out, I was wrong.

“Oh, hi, Rubber. What do you need?” the librarian said in her calm, relaxing tone.

He paused, letting out a sigh. “So, the dance is tomorrow. Do you have a date yet?” Wait, what?! He wasn’t going to ask what I thought he was, was he?

“No,” she said back, as I held my breath. “I was hoping someone was going to ask me, but he hasn’t shown any interest yet. Why?” 

“Well, I was wondering..” The hold on my breath tightened. My hooves had a death grip on the earth, hoping to the goddesses he wasn’t going to say what he was about to. “Do you want to go with me?”

She paused, and I paused too, holding my tongue from the swearing that wished to burst from it. She let out a sigh, but then turned to smiling back at him. “I would love to.” No! No way! She didn’t like him.. did she?

Rubber wasn’t even as enthusiastic as he should have been. “Okay, awesome,” he said to her, grinning, “I’ll see you there.” He didn’t want her. He was just looking for a date so he wouldn’t seem like a loser to his friends! My blood boiled in anger. I felt my cane bend under my magic’s grip as I longed to snap it in half.

That was it. Simultaneously, in one swift motion, the bell rang, and hundreds of students rushed out of their classrooms, happy to be away from their teachers and lectures for the evening. I, however, was not this happy. Their constant chatter not only blocked out Twilight’s response, but also my no longer held back profanities as I cursed I hadn’t been quicker. 

“GOD DAMN IT!” I yelled underneath the curtain of students, punching a nearby locker in anger. A few ponies stopped their talking and turned to look at me, but none bothered to inquire as to what sparked my outburst. I let out my pent up breath and let go of the now dented locker, turning my non-seeing gaze to the ground. How could I have let this happen?

My hooves mechanically turned the other way, walking each step as if it were not conscious, but I was being powered by a machine. A very, very angry machine. I pushed ponies out of the way, I cut through the grass, making sure to stomp extra hard on the gardener’s hard work, if ponies asked me what was wrong, I would tell them to screw off. I went for miles like this, until before I knew it, I was on the outskirts of town, not a single pony, unicorn, or Twilight Sparkle in sight.

What am I doing?

Who am I? 

I took my last step into the forest, and my knees buckled and collapsed. I lay on the mossy dirt floor in despair, a lump rising in my throat, my face getting hot. Warm tears started streaming down my face, wetting the ground beneath me as I cried. “Twilight..” I sighed, my anger subsiding into sadness.

You’re so stupid. You should have known. She never liked you. Who would ever like you? You idiot, Daylight. You stupid, fucking, idiot. 

I would be lying if I said it didn’t feel good to cry. It’s something I had been doing a lot lately, but it was a sort of somber release I couldn’t describe. I kind of felt like my eyes finally had a purpose. Like crying was the only thing they could do right. Which I guess was kind of true. What else were they good for? Making me a freak?

That’s all I was, really. Just a freak. Someone who could never be loved, just because of his difference from everyone else. That’s all I ever could be.

I lay there, dreading the upcoming week. I knew I had to get up and dust myself off eventually, but now was not that time. I let my tears flow as easily as the scheduled rain slowly setting in upon the forest, drops of the heavenly water mixing into the dirt, making me feel even more miserable.


***


“Daylight,” my sister pleaded, knocking on my door for the hundredth time. “Daylight, please. What’s going on with you? What’s wrong?”

It was Turntable’s loving nature, coming back to cradle me just as it did in my early years. But for once, I didn’t want it to. My thoughts were enough to keep me company. I didn’t need someone to help me. That’s the last thing I wanted.

“Go away, Turn,” I responded sternly, poking my head out from under my pillow. “What part of ‘I want to be left alone’ don’t you understand?” I had enough of her cacophonous knocking, and crying with my face buried underneath my sheets sure sounded nice to me at the time.

For a while, I heard nothing, as if she were actually contemplating cutting me some slack and calling it a day. But alas, her loyalty gave out. “You know I’m not leaving until you tell me what’s up. You’re my brother. I care about you.”

“Sure you do,” I muttered under my breath sarcastically. I left her words unanswered, simply digging my muzzle deeper into the fluff of the cavernous pillow. She took my silence as compliance, and I heard the door creak open and a set of hoofsteps lead up to my bed. She sat on it, the springs squeaking under her weight.

I gave in. The pillow left my face, and I felt her stare upon my swollen red eyelids and tear stained cheeks. She was the first to speak. “Is this about that girl?”

I paused for a minute and decided, “It’s not just her, Turn. It’s everything.”

She raised an eyebrow, and I noticed her lack of words, letting out a deep sigh. “Why did I have to be born different?”

The pegasus took a deep breath, moving her gaze to the ground. I wondered how she would answer my mainly rhetorical question, if she would at all. “You were just born blind, Day. It happens. What else can I say?”

“But, the blindness. It’s not the only thing holding me down. If that were the case, this wouldn’t have happened.”

She blinked. “What wouldn’t have happened?”

I just sighed in response, before letting out angrily, “The dance! The fucking dance. She’s going with this guy who’s going to tear her apart. I’ve been spending days, weeks, trying to let her know how I feel, but then this guy who’s so much better than me swoops in and finishes things in a second.” I let out a sob. “It’s.. humiliating.” The words stung my throat, and the awful feeling just lingered. It had hurt to let that out. It really did.

“I’m just going to die alone, aren’t I, Turn?”

The question hung in the air. My sister truly wanted to help, but she just didn’t know what to say. That’s how it felt for us both. 

After a long silence, she let out a large breath and stroked my mane with her hoof. “No, Daylight. You’re not. Don’t think that way.” The way she spoke those few sentences was stern, yet comforting. Yet still, it did little to quench the burning of my despair.

I cried into the pillow. “She’s going to marry him, and they’re going to have a little cottage full of foals, and I’m just going to watch her be happy while I die without anyone by my side,” I whined, the fabric and feathers absorbing my tears and the sound of my voice. “Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.” I pounded the bed with each word, feeling even more hopeless with each thump.

“Daylight!” my sister shot at me, tired of my groaning. “It’s gonna be okay. You can live without her. Besides, what if she’s just going with this guy to seem nice?”

My head perked up from the soft abyss. “Girls do that?”

Turntable rolled her eyes. “Yes, they do. I mean, she probably still likes this guy a little, but he may not be her biggest concern or anything. Maybe she just accepted to go with someone.”

I sighed again and laid my head on the bed. “Maybe.”

“Maybe,” Turn repeated.

We sat there in silence for a minute, her hoof returning to pet my soft hair. In that moment, I realized Turntable was more of a mother to me than my mother ever was, and I was truly thankful she was always here for me. “Here,” she said, handing me something cold. “I got this from the fridge for you. I know you probably don’t wanna leave the room, and I know it’s your favorite, so..” The cylinder dropped into my hoof.

“Parasprite!” I exclaimed, letting a smile creep onto my face through my tear-stained eyes. “Thanks, sis.”

She smiled back. “No problem, little bro.” 

Before she could object, I jumped up and gave her a hug. “You’re the best. I love you.”

“I love you too.”


***


The day of the dance, I felt absolutely drained. I had built up so much energy trying to ask Twilight to the event, I had forgotten to try having fun myself. Of course, why would I bother? Twi was my only friend. Without her, how could I have fun?

I ended up spending most of class constantly feeling my watch and tapping my hooves on my desk, listening to Ms. Inkwell drone on about history of magic. “..And so, I expect a five parchment theme from you on how levitation has affected Canterlot through the years.” She lowered her already dipping glasses. “And I don’t expect the dance to be a problem for you.”

A groan escaped my dry throat as my head hit the dull wood of the desk. Great. Another thing to worry about over the weekend. If I wasn’t already miserable enough..

“That goes double for you, Mr. Daylight. And please, don’t nap in my class.”

All eyes turned to me when Ms. Inkwell called me out. I sighed, letting out a hushed “Yes, mamm.” Inside, my heart sank as my anxiety spiked. I hated being picked on. It just gave the other kids another chance to laugh at me. As if he was just waiting for the opportunity, Tough Stuff pointed a malicious snicker at me from the back of the class. I tried to drain out the laughing, but it just rang in my ears, not wanting to ever leave.

The class stopped their laughter just in time for the bell to ring. Just one more class, my harried mind rattled on, Just one more class, then I’m home. Thank Celestia.

I moved to pick up my bag, but it wasn’t where I had placed it. I searched around for it with my hoof, pawing at the ground hopelessly, but it had disappeared. My brow furrowed hard as I heard that same laughter that had shot towards me just a minute earlier.

“Having some trouble, Blindy?” Tough Stuff chuckled, making me even angrier. He must have moved my bag. 

My exasperated sigh rang out through the thick air. “Really, Tough? That’s pretty much the oldest one in the book,” I groaned. “You’ve had your fun. Just give it back so I can go to class.”

He turned to sarcasm. “Well now, looks like someone doesn’t want to play today. Why the long face, little Daylykins? Your dad die again?”

“Fuck off.” I gritted my teeth at him. I was getting sick of this.

“Fine, fine, fair enough. But due to your bad behavior, I’m not helping you. Have fun looking,” he poked crassly, trotting out the door. I heard it slam behind him, and swore loudly. It was even worse when teachers were completely oblivious to my abuse.

I scanned the room with my magic, trying to find any trace of my hidden bag. After going over it once, I went back and searched over it again. Come on! Any more of this and I’m going to be-

The bell rang, cutting off my thoughts, and confirming my fears. I was late. Again. I had to leave now before I got another detention.

Sighing, I abandoned the search for my bag and stepped out the heavy door. I was stopped by a concerned Ms. Inkwell, who was on her way in. “Daylight?” she squawked, “What are you doing here still? You should be in class.”

“Oh, um; Some other ponies-“ I stopped myself, thinking of the consequences of telling her the truth. I cleared my throat and continued. “I just, um, lost my bag. Yeah. Sorry about that, Ms. Inkwell.”

I was sure she was rolling her eyes. I wasn’t exactly her best student, or one that she liked the most. “Very well. Now off to class.”

I thanked her casually and ran to get my guitar from the instrument closet. I would have to go bag-less. I doubted Twilight would be hosting detention on the day of her date to the dance, and I didn’t want to spend a half hour with some teacher I hardly knew. Hey, maybe you’d find another girl to fall in love with, I thought jokingly, but my chuckle quickly turned to a frown when I remembered Twilight and the dance. I hit myself in the shin with my cane as punishment, and then I stepped down the hall to the closet.

Hastily going inside and putting my guitar on my back, I felt my watch. It was gonna be close- I was about thirteen minutes late already. I rushed down the hall, hoping time would be on my side. My magic weakly enclosed the door knob, and I stepped inside the bright classroom.

“Oh, Daylight! There you are. Not being truant again, I hope?” Melody teased, looking at the clock. Please, please, Celestia, don’t let me be late don’t let me be late don’t let me be- “You’re clear! No detention today. Take your seat.”

I let out a sigh of relief and did as she told. I was free for the night! Now I didn’t have to be late to the dance. I could wallow in misery in a corner even longer!


***


“It’s so tight..” I gasped, my tie clenching around my throat as Turntable shifted the knot this way and that.

She just smirked and kept adjusting. “If you keep squirming like that, you’re ever gonna look good for that chick you like.”

“She’s going with someone else. You know that,” I groaned, rubbing my temples with a spare hoof.

“You never know. She could ditch the guy and dance with you. You’re not that bad looking, and you know her really well, so-“ Turntable adjusted the tie once more and added, “Stop moving around.” 

I succumbed to my playful sister’s wisdom and let her prep my special clothing. She had given me dad’s old suit after a thorough dusting; the poor thing had been stashed away in the attic for several years. It felt weird to be wearing it, but at least it was something. Even with my mom now adding her income to the family funds, it would have been too expensive to buy a new one, and I probably wouldn’t accept it in the first place. I could tolerate mom, but I sure hadn’t forgiven her.

Turn stopped my train of thought. “Nervous?” she questioned, finishing the tie and moving to adjust the shirt and jacket.

“Maybe a little,” I responded with a sigh, “More hoping this isn’t a waste of time.”

She just tsked and said, “Day, you really need to get over this. It’ll be fun, I promise. Besides, maybe you’ll meet somepony new to dance with.”

I grimaced in disagreement. “She matters too much to me. How could I just move on like that?”

“Oh, little bro..” She paused, looking me in the eyes, her voice right in front of me. “Ponies come and go. Life’ll be better for you when you learn that. Maybe you’ll finally be able to forgive mom.”

A stiffness hung in the air, and I waited for it to pass. Turntable obliged. “But that’s not important right now. We’re gonna get you to your dance, okay?”

I nodded, but kept thinking over her words. I didn’t like being treated like a child. It was one of my biggest pet peeves, and my sister knew that fully well. I wondered why she had concern of me forgiving mom, or why she even had herself. If I couldn’t, she sure as hell wouldn’t be able to. She did have to take care of me, after all. 

Of course, I would never tell her these thoughts. I wasn’t that confident yet. I wasn’t even confident enough to go to this dance. I was worried I would have a panic attack or just be too inept to interact.

Ah, the risks we take for love.


***


I stepped in the dance early. I could hear basically nopony there, only a few that clung to the walls, pretending to go through their bags or purses so they didn’t look as awkward. I didn’t blame them. A stale air swept throughout the ballroom, and it truly made me think that this dance was going to be lame. Fortunately for me, that wasn’t the case.

After another twenty minutes passed, there were plenty more ponies flooding in through the doors. They all went to their respective cliques and groups, and all the ponies previously clinging to the wall had all left, with the exception of me. I checked my watch, scratched my head, trotted in place, all just for the purpose of sucking up time until I saw someone I knew.

I knew I would end up waiting for Twilight, even though she was with that excuse of a prom date, Rubber. I didn’t know what he would do around me or how he would treat me, but there was one thing I was sure of: If he was a friend of Tough Stuff’s, he would absolutely despise me.

I checked my watch for the thirty-seventh time since I had stepped in the door. I don’t know why I was counting, but I was completely exasperated with the way the dance was going. At this rate, I wouldn’t even see Twilight. I sighed and slugged over to the snack table, thinking maybe a drink and a couple hundred tiny slices of cheese would ease my shattered heart.

I felt along the table top, pawing for a glass and finding the big bowl of colorful punch. I hoped for my sake somepony had taken the courtesy to spike it with something. Reaching for the ladle, I poured myself a cup of the fruity liquid, bringing it to my nose with a sniff. Huh, doesn’t smell like whisky. Damn.

I took a sip. I had to give the lunch ladies some credit, they made some damn good punch. I backed up into the crowd, raising my hoof to take another sip, before I felt my back collide with something solid. I didn’t spill any of the drink, thank Celestia, but I hastily turned around to apologize to whomever I had bumped into.

“Ah, sorry about that. Lost track of my footing,” I offered nervously, hoping the pony I had come across wasn’t one of the hoofball team’s linebackers.

I was greeted by a calm, light, chipper voice. “Oh, no, that’s quite alright, really. It’s the most exciting thing that’s happened to me all night, actually,” she joked, adding a quick laugh to the end of her sentence. She sounded more like a symphony than a pony.

I was a bit taken aback. “You’ve been bored too? I thought I was the only one,” I quipped back, making her laugh again.

“Of course. It’s been an awful night! Clinging to the walls, and the snack table.. Nothing else really to do.” She sounded more satisfied than she did sad. I wondered if this had happened to her before. It probably would have happened to me too if I attended any previous dances.

I smiled reassuringly. “Don’t worry, I’ve been doing the same thing.” I held my drink with my magic and held out my hoof for a shake. “I’m Daylight. What’s your name?”

She happily took the shake. “My name is Twinkleshine. I’m sure I’ve seen you in a few of my classes. It’s hard to believe we haven’t met before,” Twinkle pointed out after letting go of my hoof.

“I know! Though, I don’t tend to talk to most ponies. I’m a bit shy,” I said back, hoping I hadn’t put a low atmosphere between us. “And, you know, the whole sight thing. I’m a little shy of that, too.” I added that part as a joke, but she took it as an opportunity to find out more about me.

“Yes, I have noticed that.. Sorry if that seems a little judgmental. I think it’s awful how you get picked on for it. It’s not right,” she commented, her tone lowering in disappointment.

I turned my gaze to the floor. “It’s good someone notices at least,” I sighed, shaking my head. I quickly tried to lighten the mood. “But hey, I try not to let it get me down. We all have our demons. Mine just happen to be big and stupid,” I joked.

“I admire that,” she said, smiling, “You’re so brave. You really don’t get enough credit.”

“Heh, maybe. Still doesn’t get me a date to the winter dance, now does it?” I stuck out my tongue and she giggled at my snarky gesture, warming my heart.

“I was sure you and Twilight Sparkle were going to go together. You two can hardly be separated, it seems. But I’d assume that’s not the case?”

I paused. I didn’t want to go back to thinking about it after meeting this nice new filly, but the subject wasn’t dodgeable. I was dateless. “No, it’s not the case. She.. was asked by someone else.”

Twinkle quickly picked up on my sadness. “Oh.. I’m sorry, Daylight. I shouldn’t have brought it up.”

“No, it’s okay,” I reassured her, “I don’t mind. Besides, you’re here to talk to me. We don’t need Twilight to have fun, right?”

Her smile returned, though slight. “Yeah, you’re right! That’s the spirit.” She looked up to the main stage, where a band of ponies was playing music for the crowd to dance to. It was jazz, smooth and somber, streaming through the dancegoers as they clung to their sweethearts in a beautiful, slow dance. “In fact.. We should dance! Do you want to?”

My mouth hung open. Was she really asking me to dance? Did a girl actually like me? I didn’t feel the same aura I did with her as I did with Twilight. Twi just felt.. Different. But with Twinkle, I felt like she was a newly met friend, someone I can be comfortable around, but.. Just not as much. Should I really be accepting her offer?

Still, she was my friend now. I couldn’t let her down. And I really did want to dance with her. She was a beautiful person, and though I couldn’t tell that on the outside, I could tell she was even more amazing on the inside.

I offered my outstretched hoof. “Lead the way, darling.”

She squeaked in delight and grabbed my hoof, navigating our pair of two to the dance floor. Once she reached the perfect spot, she stopped, and placed her right hoof on my shoulder as I did the same with her. 

We started into a four step rhythm, simply roaming around the floor, between other couples moving this way and that. Our faces were merely inches away, and I hoped she was looking into my eyes, even though my blindness and thick glasses were a constant barrier stopping me from looking into hers. I really didn’t even know what she looked like, but to me, that seemed to matter less and less. I enjoyed ponies for who they were, not what they looked like. Looking back, that was probably the best lesson I had learned from my lack of sight.

“This is so nice. This is exactly what I wanted the dance to be like,” Twinkleshine said, “Dancing with a friend. This is perfect.”

I smiled. “Yeah, this is really nice. Thanks for doing this, Shine.”

She giggled. “The pleasure’s all mine, Daylight. After all, wouldn’t want to leave you danceless without Twilight, would I?”

“I still haven’t seen her, but I don’t mind. Being with you is great. Besides, she’d probably be too attached to her date to even talk to me,” I joked.

“I would what now?”

My opened jaw could have hit the floor. I turned to the source of the purple unicorn’s voice slowly, hardly expecting to have Twilight there even though I had clearly heard her speak.

“I.. I- ah,” was all I managed to get out. 

The unicorn just smirked. “You’re cute when you don’t know what to say,” she teased, “You really think I’d be caught hanging around with that loser?”

I paused, then whimpered, “I-I thought he asked you to-“

“Oh, he did,” the student interrupted, “He ended up ditching me. I knew it wasn’t going to be a real date anyway. He probably just asked me to have someone say yes.”

A nervous, reassured smile crept across my face. She knew! I should’ve known she was smart enough. She knew the whole time. “So, y-you, I..”

“Why yes, Daylight, I would love to dance, thank you for asking.” The blood rushed to my cheeks. My face was probably redder than a tomato.

Twinkleshine turned to me, letting me know, “I won’t mind. You two go ahead.” She turned to leave, but smiled back, saying, “I’ll see you around school, Daylight. Don’t be a stranger.”

Once her hoofsteps had dissipated, I just looked at the spot where Twilight’s sweet voice had originated, the pony standing there, expecting for me to dance when I had been suppressing my feelings for months now. I.. I don’t know if I can do this.

“Shall we?” Her pertinent request rung through the air as my heart sped up. D-did she really want to..?

My question was answered when I felt a hoof lightly caress my left shoulder. I gasped at her touch, even though it was tender, and made me feel like she actually cared. I tried to follow suit, but stumbled, making her laugh.

Once I had my right hoof on her shoulder, we began to dance just as Twinkleshine and I had done before. Stepping right, then back, then left, then forward, circling around the floor in rotations. It felt as though we were sweethearts meeting again after years of being apart, like a happy reunion between a soldier and his love.

It made me think; Twilight is so new to my life, but she changed everything so quickly. Since that day I met her in that opportune detention, since the first day she met the real me, not just the boy in her Math and Figures class- my life had been so up and down. I had finally gained enough courage to stand up for myself. Enough courage to play music for other ponies. Enough courage to actually show others who I am. 

But the unicorn dancing across from me was more important than all that. She mattered to me. She really, really mattered to me. I could never show her how I feel until now, when I was dancing with her, and she was more beautiful than I could ever imagine. 

My heart danced along with me as we swayed, looking right at each other, our faces closer as they had ever been before. It was magical, meaningful, more things than I could think of. It gave us an opportunity to be us, and it was the best I had felt in years.

The jazz group’s song ended and the groups of ponies dancing stopped and stomped their hooves in applause, Twilight and I included. While everyone was occupied with what was happening on stage, the unicorn turned to me and whispered, “Come with me, I have something for you.” I just gasped open mouthed in response, but before I knew it, she had me by the hoof and was dragging me with her.

Little did I know, we were headed to her tower, the one place she had only ever told me about. She led me along corridors and winding staircases, not letting her dress or her shoes trip her up a single time along the way. This filly was determined, and I could only wonder for what. My heart raced as I thought of all the possibilities of what she could want me for. My mind thought of scenarios both obscene and joyful, but I could just hope it was something we both wanted as much as the other did.

Finally, the door to her chambers opened, revealing her dark, empty room. It was just as big as I had imagined. My voice echoed for what seemed like miles when it hit the large glass window, and all the bookshelves I kept bumping into spoke for themselves. Twilight may have been an egghead, but she was my egghead.

“Hey, where’s Spike?” I asked, noticing the absence of the baby dragon.

Twilight gave a mischievous grin, turning back to me and replying, “Oh, he’ll be busy for a while. Celestia has him on duty cleaning the Great Hall after the dance. He’ll be lucky to be back by three.”

I was taken aback. “AM?”

“PM,” she replied astutely.

There was something fishy about this, so I smiled back and inquired, “Twilight, is this your doing?”

“I may have had some influence,” she answered, “Not a bad thing we have some alone time though, is it?”

I flinched backwards and blushed. She couldn’t be getting at what I thought she was, could she? “A-alone time?”

Her hoofsteps pranced up the stairs to the balcony. “I’ve got a surprise for you, Day,” she cooed. I heard the shuffle of a bag, and then her steps receded back down. She was mumbling to herself, looking for something else among the untidiness of the tower. “Let’s see.. Found it!” the unicorn exclaimed, just before I heard a sharp pop. I had a sinking feeling I knew what it was.

“Twilight, is that-“ 

She cut me off, bringing the bottle to my nose. “Smell.”

The intoxicating aroma of the wine wafted through my muzzle, making my knees sink and my mouth break into a stupored grin. “Twiiii,” I groaned, “We can’t. We’re not old enough. Where did you even get that, anyway?”

She stuck out her tongue at me, not that I could see. “The castle kitchens have more than you imagine. It’s well aged, too. The good stuff.”

“Still not old enough,” I retorted. 

“Oh, come on! Learn to have some fun,” she teased, “Besides, I got it just for you. This is a special occasion.” I heard a glass being poured with the twinkle of Twilight’s magic. She set it on the table in front of her, then poured a second glass for me.

I sighed. It looked like she was insisting. I guess a little couldn’t hurt, right? I grabbed the glass from the table with my own magic, then brought it in front of my face, swirling it a bit.

“Let’s make a toast,” the purple pony proposed, “To best friends.”

I smiled a genuine smile. I was no longer just Twilight’s friend, but one she adored over all others. “I’ve.. never been anyone’s best friend before,” I reminisced, lowering my glass a bit. 

She smiled back. “Well, now you have, Day.” She sounded so sincere. So loving. Like my best friend. “Cheers!”

The princess’ student clinked her glass to mine and took a sip. I did likewise, bringing the musky liquid to my lips and through my mouth, my taste buds sensing every different tang and spice of the alcohol. I swallowed, coughing a bit from the strong sense. “Man, that’s…” I paused. “Strong.”

“Like I said, it’s aged well,” she teased. I took another sip, getting used to the sharpness of the drink.

“Just how much of this do you intend to have, Twi?”

“Enough,” she dodged.

“Enough for what?”

“Enough for me to enjoy it,” she slurred, taking another large sip. Before I realized it, she had already started pouring her second glass. I finished my first and joined her.

Bringing the glass in front of my nose once more, I addressed her for another time. “I still don’t think this is a good idea.”

She grinned before sipping another glug down. “Then why are you doing it?” She stuck her tongue out, as if on cue.

“Twilight Sparkle, you beautiful, beautiful temptress,” I teased, chuckling to myself and bringing the glass to my lips.

“Oh, so you think I’m beautiful?” she teased back. Goddess, that girl was witty.

I blushed and retreated backwards a step. “Well, um.. I-I wouldn’t really know.” I paused, and Twilight waited for an explanation, which I hastily gave with a sigh. “I’ve never felt your face.”

“Did you want to?”

It sounded more sultry than she intended, I’m sure, but the alluring statement caught my interest. Not only did I think Twilight was beautiful even without knowledge of her face, but I knew she was. And maybe it was the wine thinking it, but I thought she was incredibly sexy, especially at that single moment, when time stood still and I pondered her question.

“I would love to.”

She set down her glass on the table beside her and sat back on her haunches. I did the same, reaching out to her so she could guide me to a few inches in front of her slim figure. I sat back as well, matching her stance, merely a foot from her. I could feel her breath on the tip of my muzzle, and it did little to calm my steadily rising heartbeat.

The student broke our mutual silence. “Any time that you’re ready.” Coming from anyone else, it would have sounded sarcastic, even joking. But from Twilight, it sounded sincere, calming, loving. Like a mother reassuring her child. That’s really what gave me the strength to move on.

I reached out a trembling hoof, the figure of her slender body guiding me to my destination. I felt her stout front leg first, trimming upwards to her chest, then gliding ever so slightly against her fur up her neck and onto her face. My mellow hoof adored the feel of her pillowy, soft skin against my own, and I let out a sigh of.. something. Pleasure? Content? Worry? I can’t quite recall, and I don’t think I ever will.

She was so thin. A wise person would tell her to eat more, but I adored it, just as I adored every section of her. Her glistening eyes, her light cheeks, ending in a short, refined muzzle. I reached up through her hair, feeling the fur of her ears graze against me as I tossed her full, thick mane. It was as soft as silk.

“You’re so..” I let out, not sure of how to finish what my mind had prematurely started.

“So..?” she questioned. She waited, smiling, as tranquil and expectant as she could be.

I took in a deep breath, then let it out, my hoof remaining in her hair, sorting loose strands and setting her bangs behind her ear. “Electrifying.”

“Electrifying?”

“Stunning. Exquisite. Enticing.”

She laughed her electrifying laugh. “Just come out and say it, Daylight.”

Our faces were nearly touching. My hoof had come to rest on her cheek. It almost felt like she was drawing me closer with every word, attracting me in every way possible. The fur from her muzzle skimmed mine. Her sharp breaths intertwined with my panting. The wine sparkled in our stomachs and rose to our brains, making us think things and do things we had only dreamed of.

“You’re so beautiful.”

“Kiss me, you idiot.”

Our lips collided, bringing us into a passionate embrace I would never forget. I drew her body closer to mine, caressing her with my hooves. She returned the gesture, making the kiss even more wistful and amorous. Her lips were softer than what I imagined clouds would feel like, and tasted sharply of the berried wine. My sense of the taste rocketed as our tongues danced playfully, embracing the satisfying wetness and hotness and softness of each other’s mouths.

A generous amount of time passed as we squeezed together our bodies in a heat of burning affection. It was my first kiss, and I still believe it was my favorite. Everything was so perfect and in the moment, and I of course couldn’t forget how it was with the perfect girl. Sooner than we both desired, our lips parted and the kiss broke, leaving us staring at one another, dazed.

“Wow,” I gasped, trying to steady my lustful breaths. 

Twilight’s breathing was just as abundant. “Yeah,” she panted, “Wow.”

Our sudden confession of love had disoriented us both. We sat there, staring, wondering if it was just the wine, or the natural high of laughter, or just our strong desire for each other and everything about one another.

“I guess.. you knew?” I uttered to the almost silent filly.

“I could only suspect. I thought you had found out long before I did,” she answered, smiling at me.

My ears perked up. “Y-you’ve f-felt the same?”

She laughed once again. Goddess, I adore that laugh. “Yes, Day,” she half-whispered, “How could I not? You’re fantastic.”

I was at a complete loss for words. I had been bullied my whole life, told I was nothing, been betrayed and discouraged. And with a single sentence, this girl had made me feel as though I were the most important colt in the world. “Um.. I.. Did you want to.. kiss again?”

Her laugh, a hoof on my cheek, a guide to her mouth. “Sure, Day.”

Our mouths pressed together a second time, just as invigorating as the first. Her hooves ran up and down my back as we embraced, sending pleasant shivers down my spine, and blood rushing between my legs. I was sure Twilight noticed my physical excitement, but she adopted it seemingly easily, pressing into my body with hers, sending jolts of pleasure through me one by one.

“My, you’re a little aroused, aren’t you?” my beloved temptress cooed in my ear between kisses. I could never imagine Twilight being so up front about sex, or anything, for that matter. I was surprised she had even brought wine to our celebration. I had usually seen her being pristine and reserved, but the alcohol had loosened her inner spirit much more than she had intended.

Fortunately for her, it had also loosened mine. “Oh, you have no idea,” I moaned back, making the unicorn gasp in pleasure. Her devilish grin spoke for itself as she began to undress me. She pulled off the jacket easily, then moved onto the tie, which she had more trouble with. Once she had figured out the knot with her magic, she started unbuttoning my shirt with her teeth, one by one, teasing me until it was finally off my sweaty body. She felt along me, reaching lower with her hooves, moving from my back, to my stomach, to my legs, to my thighs, then finally..

“Ah!” I panted, my tongue hanging out from sheer ecstasy. It was the first time my member had been touched by hooves besides my own, and it was the best I had ever felt in my life. “Oh, T-Twi..”

Her hooves were replaced by her mouth, kissing lower and lower until she reached my waiting stallionhood. From there, it was all a euphoric, blissful daze. She had lowered herself onto me, first with her mouth, then once her dress was off, with her marehood, engaging us in the most pleasant of all feelings, and having us experience it together.

It was slow at first. I spent a lot of time making sure Twilight wasn’t in pain, but when she assured me she wasn’t, our love making built and built, a steady climb, increasing slowly in speed and passion, getting faster and faster with heavier breaths and louder moans and more groping and playing and thrusting until finally-

We reached release, her screaming my name and moaning so loud I was sure the whole castle could hear her. I gave my final pulsation into her, gulping and sighing heavily with my last outward moan as I ejaculated into her. She collapsed on top of me, out of breath and gasping for more air. We lay on the tower’s cold floor, motionless except for our small rise and fall from breathing, my member still resting inside her.

“Daylight..” she panted, “I love you.”

Now it was my turn to laugh, giving her a quick peck on the cheek and saying back, “I love you too, Twilight.” Before I knew it, she was asleep. It was the second time she had fallen asleep on top of me, and I didn’t mind it a bit. She seemed so content and peaceful, like she was the happiest mare in all of Equestria, letting out little sighs and happy sleepy mumbles. I couldn’t help but smile.

I searched the room with my magic, eventually finding the sheet to her majestic bed. Dragging it over, I placed it on top of us, and Twilight let out a pleased expression of warmth. I didn’t want to move from this position, ever. If I were here for the rest of my days, I would be satisfied. Resting under this beautiful mare, halfway inside of her, listening to her breaths with every second passing by.

Soon it wasn’t long before my eyelids began to droop, and I fell to sleep’s charms on my own.


***


“Twilight? Twilight, wake up!”

The purple dragon’s voice was the first thing I heard in the morning, stirring underneath the filly and the beams of light seeping through the large window.

I hadn’t met Spike before, but I knew of his employment as Twilight’s assistant. I didn’t want to meet him like this. It was one of the most awkward first impressions I could muster, but I supposed it would have to do.

I opened my eyes and rubbed the flakes from the corners, feeling the mare on top of me start to stir. “Daylight..?” she questioned, “Did I.. fall asleep?”

“Yeah, you were out like a light,” Spike commented, seemingly wondering why this intruder was laying underneath his mother figure.

“S-Spike?!” Twilight exclaimed, jolting from my body. She was met with a bit of difficulty, slipping on the blanket I had draped over us and forgetting I was still ever so slightly resting inside her. Once she had composed herself from her stumble, she asked the dragon, “What time is it? Did you just get here?”

He shook his head. “I came in after midnight last night and totally collapsed in my basket. I guess it was two dark to notice you two, um..” He paused, searching for what term he was meaning. “Sleeping.”

Twilight furrowed her brow. “Spike! Why didn’t you wake us up?”

“I just didn’t see you until this morning. It’s already ten thirty, you might want to-“

The unicorn gasped, jumping upwards slightly. “Ten thirty?! Ah! I have to get to class, I’m going to be late!” She was about to throw the blanket off until she realized what was underneath it. Retreating backwards, she then addressed me. “Day, you don’t mind if I go, do you?”

“Day?” Spike asked, crossing his stubby arms. 

“The, uh.. friend I’ve been telling you about.” Twilight grinned nervously, reaching downwards to adjust us before getting out of our sleeping position. She rolled off of me, still covering our now dirty lower halves with the sheet. Noticing this, Twilight gave a nervous laugh. “Do you think you could run a bath for him, Spike?”

He rolled his eyes. “Mmkay..” Reluctantly he slipped off to the bathroom, and once we could hear the hot water running, Twilight turned to me.

“I-I’m sorry about that.”

I laughed, smiling towards her. “It’s okay, don’t worry about it.”

She smiled back. “Last night was amazing.. What I remember of it, at least,” she said timidly, trying to forget the wine and stifle her hangover.

“You.. do remember the sex, right?” I said, only half joking.

Twilight laughed at my quip and responded, “How could I forget? You were spectacular. And it was my first time, so it did hurt a little..”

“Don’t worry. It was my first time too,” I comforted, hoping I was as decent as she claimed me to be and trying to hide my blush.

She smirked. “Really?” I felt her face get closer. “Then I can’t wait for round two.” She gave me a quick kiss on the mouth, our lips dancing and tongues intertwining for only a few seconds before they broke apart again and the sweet taste of Twilight left my senses. The unicorn got up from the makeshift bed on the castle floor, and I shortly followed her as she went among the simple task of preparing herself for the morning.

Everything had happened so suddenly. Just yesterday, me and Twilight were best friends, casually making small talk and going from class to class together. But now, in just the time of a single day, we were more than that. We were kissing, and making love, just as casually as if we were friends again. But as long as that friends label lingered, I had to address what needed to be addressed.

“So, um, Twi..” I let out, thinking hard about my next few words, “Are you and I.. um.. dating, now?”

She turned to face me and took a few steps in my direction, pausing, before letting a smile spread across her face. “Yeah, I think we are,” she said playfully, “At least, that’s usually what sex and kissing entails.” She stuck out her tongue, again, forgetting I couldn’t see. I shrugged it off and smiled back.

“Good,” I cooed, getting closer to her with another step. “I love you, Twilight.” Our lips met for the second time that morning, this kiss even more passionate than the first. She grabbed me in by my back, pulling me closer to her. I happily obliged, running my hooves through her hair. My heartbeat raced and my breathing became sharper, the blood once again running to my loins as soft moans escaped Twilight’s mouth between kisses. For a second, I thought we were going to have sex again, which I certainly wouldn’t have minded- And we probably would have too, if..

“Um, bath’s ready,” Spike said blatantly, stepping into the room and deliberately interrupting our loving embrace. I guess we had forgotten to listen for when the running water stopped, and Spike was all for breaking up our fun. Again, not the best impression I could set on the baby dragon, kissing the one who hatched him right in plain sight. Unfortunately for me, something else was in plain sight; I reached to cover my raging erection from view, and muttered my thanks to Twilight’s assistant.

I looked over to Twilight, I’m sure just as flustered as I was. “A-are you staying?”

“No, I have to go,” she sighed, grabbing her bag with her magic, “Just get cleaned off, and, well, I think Spike deserves an explanation.” I nodded, giving her a final hug and kiss on the cheek before she departed to class. “I’ll see you later tonight, usual time, usual place?” 

I thought her request over. I had nothing to do, and seeing her was always amazing. “Sure, I’ll see you then,” I agreed, moving over to the door to see her off. She opened it and stepped outside, halfway in the doorway. “I love you, Twilight,” I added, smiling and continuing to hold the door open for her.

“I love you too, Day.” She closed the door, and before I knew it, she was gone.

Spike sighed. “Look, I may still be a baby, but I’m really not that young. I know what you two were doing last night, and it’s fine. I’m okay with it.”

I turned to his voice, averting my gaze towards the source. “Okay. I feel like I was giving you a bit too hasty of a first impression, sorry about that..” I rubbed my neck nervously, hoping to make a good lasting thought on the dragon about what kind of stallion I really was. “I’m Daylight. I’m.. dating Twilight. Thanks for being okay with it, it means a lot to me.”

He nodded, still unaware of the fact of my blindness. “It’s alright, you seem like a nice guy.” The dragon stepped closer, pointing a sharp claw into my chest. “But don’t hurt her. I don’t know what I’ll do if you do, but it’ll be bad, trust me.”

I couldn’t help but snicker at his attempt to intimidate me. It was just so damn cute. “Hehe.. Okay, okay. Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of her, I promise,” I assured him, crossing my heart and laying a hoof over my right eye. “Do you think you could lead me to the bath?”

He paused, processing the request in his head. “The bathroom’s just in there,” Twilight’s assistant said blatantly. I sighed. I hated explaining it.

“I’m blind, Spike. Didn’t Twi tell you that?” I clarified, slightly annoyed.

Spike was completely taken aback. “Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry! She didn’t tell me you were blind, I just assumed you-“

I held up a hoof to stop him and let out a deep exhale. “Spike- It’s alright, really. I just need some help getting around, I seem to have misplaced my cane..” I hadn’t had it all morning, in fact. Since my awakening via concerned dragon, my cane had been out of my grasp, and I wasn’t even sure I remembered where I put it yesterday. Damn wine..

I had spent my whole morning following the lead and hoofsteps of others, which I quite despised. It made me feel so dependent, so reliant- as if I couldn’t do things on my own just because of my condition. For my whole life, I’ve just been trying to separate from that. Even doing things other ponies consider blind ponies not to be able to do, just to show I could do them easily. Well, maybe not easily, but I could still do them.

Spike brought me out of my pondering. “I’ll go ahead and lead you to the bathroom, once you’re in I can find your cane for you.” He took a breath, and looked towards his feet briefly. “Sorry again.”

I chuckled and reassured him. “It’s alright. Whenever you’re ready,” I offered, sticking out my front leg.

He grabbed it, stepping forward a little slowly. I think he was worried I would fall behind, which was a little cute, but then again, it made me feel like I was too much of a bother to the poor dragon.

We reached the bathroom on the other side of the tower and Spike pointed me to the water. I thanked him and took a step in, feeling the warmth of the bath envelop my hoof bit by bit.

“Ahhhhh..” I let my whole body into the bath, the heat calming my senses and loosening my joints. I relaxed for a minute, letting the chaotic, passionate events from the past night wash over my cluttered mind. That is, until I heard..

“DAYLIGHT! I SWEAR TO THE MARBLE GODDESSES I WILL FIND YOU!”

I peered to the bathroom window, listening intently for another sound, while Spike rushed back in the room. “What the hell was that?!” he requested, taking a spot beside me looking out the window.

“I think..” I sighed, “It’s my sister.”

The worried mare rushed back and forth around the city streets, yelling for her lost brother. The profanities she was spewing, I didn’t even want to be considered her kin. “IF YOU’VE BEEN SLEEPING AROUND WITH FILLIES AGAIN, YOU ARE NEVER LEAVING THE HOUSE AGAIN, GODDAMMIT!”

Ulp. That was my cue to go. “Sorry to bathe and run,” I apologized to Spike, pawing at the walls for a towel, “Did you find my cane?”

“Uh, yeah,” he offered, still a little confused. “Here you go.” He handed me the retractable wooden cane, and I took it in my hoof. It felt amazing to have my eyes back. Now that I had my access to the world, it was time to get out of there as fast as possible.

“Thanks, Spike!” I called quickly, dashing to the front door. He gave me a very concerned, dazed “You’re welcome?” in response, but I could hardly hear it- I was already clambering down the tower stairs. I knew it was dangerous for me to be running, but this was important. If I stayed any longer, my sister would surely kill me. Even more so if she found me in the princess’ prized student’s chamber. Yet she still hadn’t been able to accept the fact I like girls. Unfortunately for her, I wasn’t eleven years old anymore.

And that was another thing.. I wasn’t a virgin anymore. It had hit me at the most inopportune of times. But I had done something I never thought I was going to do. With the way I had been treated, I was sure no girl would ever like me.

But I had done it. A girl liked me.

I felt a wide smile spread across my face as I dashed through the castle. A girl liked me. A beautiful, amazing, smart, funny girl. And I liked her too. I was the happiest boy in the world. 

“DAYYYYLIGHTTT!” I was woken up from my happy existence by my very unhappy sister. I followed the noise, trying to lose my suspiciously happy grin. 

“Turn?” I responded to the blatant calling. I heard the stomps in the dirt twist towards my direction, and I braced for the incoming impact.

My sister rushed up and squeezed on my neck, her hooves and head over my shoulders. I guess that could be considered a hug. It was more like a tackle than a hug, and more like a suffocation than a loving embrace. Yet, a hug nonetheless. She cried, “I’ve been so damn worried about you! Mom has too! I’ve been looking for you all fucking morning! Where in the hell have you been?!”

I held my breath, partly because I was thinking of how to phrase my response, but mostly because of the filly squishing my trachea. I pried myself out of her grasp and let out the pent up air in a large fit of coughing. “A.. huff.. A friend’s,” I wheezed, kneeling down on my front legs and gasping for air.

She didn’t seem satisfied. “A friend’s?! You were gone the whole night, and your best excuse is that you went to a friend’s house?!”

I gulped as my breath regained its equilibrium. “..Well, not house. Castle.”

She just rolled her eyes and gave me a blank look. “Castle? You aren’t exactly best buddies with the princess, Day.”

“Not the princess,” I explained, “Her student.” I paused, waiting for Turntable to say something, but nothing came up, so I let out a sigh, feeling my heartbeat return to normal. “You were right. I’m in love.”

“What?!” Turn exclaimed, her mouth hanging open. “You’re telling me the filly you’ve been running around with is..?”

“Celestia’s student, Twilight Sparkle, yes,” I assured, expecting a barrage of swear words to come hitting me any second.

She broke down laughing hysterically, rubbing her temples with a spare hoof. “Hahahaha, ohhhh my gosh, Daylight. You’re going to get us all killed. We’re all going to go to Tartarus, or the moon, or something. Can’t you fool around with literally any other filly in your school? Does it have to be her?”

I furrowed my brow at her, grimacing. “It’s not like that. We’re.. dating. I really, really care about her. It’s not..”

“Huh. Should’a known you didn’t have the drive for something like that,” she commented, not blinking an eye. “How long has this been happening?”

“It was just last night. We’ve been friends for a while, but, last night..”

She took my silence as her answer. My sister had calmed down a very considerable amount since earlier. If only that was the case last time.. I’m surprised I could even have sex after that blow to my underside.

Needless to say, my sister was very caring, just sometimes a bit too caring. She didn’t really know how to show her love to me, and it ended up badly sometimes when I accidentally made things difficult for her, but we still had to look out for each other. After mom and dad were gone, we were all we really had left, after all. We weren’t that bad a pair.

A smirk crossed her lips. “Was it good?”

“Turntable!” I shoved her, knowing she was joking, but feeling a little annoyed.

“That didn’t answer my question,” she chuckled.

I sighed. “It wasn’t bad. Our first times, remember?”

Turn nodded, “Mm.” Another short pause. “Wanna cigarette?”

I flinched, staring at her. “What?! I thought you gave that crap up years ago. Your voice needs preserving, after all.. Even though you haven’t sung in.. Celestia, it feels like ages.”

“Not since dad died.”

I felt a lump come to my throat. Had it really been that long? Can one really lose that much hope in one day? That was a really scary thought. “But.. the smoking. How long?”

She shrugged. “Eh, about a few months. Nothing serious.”

“Turn,” I said sternly to my older sister, “That is super serious. You need to stop before your voice dies. It’s not only gonna kill the beauty that comes from those vocal chords, but it’ll kill you as well.”

There was a long silence. Turntable seemed to be picking apart what I was saying and thinking about it, wondering if she really should stop, even though she wasn’t going to be using her singing voice. Still, I truly hoped she would. After all, she was all I had left.

“Okay, okay. This’ll be my last pack, I promise,” she assured me, bringing me a smile. I hoped she would stick with that promise forever. “However.. You still didn’t answer my question. You want one before I’m off the habit?”

I mulled it over. It had been a stressful morning, and I supposed one couldn’t hurt. I was cautious about it, because I had never smoked before, but I guess it’s one of those things pretty much everyone tries once in their life. “Fine,” I replied, taking a serious tone, “But only the one. I have to keep my voice good too, you know.”

She handed me the tobacco filled sleeve, and I stuck it in my mouth. The paper didn’t taste bad, at least. Turntable then lit the front of the cigarette, burning the tobacco and sending it through the filter and into my mouth. I sucked it into my lungs, tasting the nicotine on my tongue as the smoke passed through me for what seemed like hours. I kept it inside for a moment before closing my eyes and blowing out a wispy gray cloud.

“Huh,” I pondered, “It’s weird. I never thought I would ever be doing something like this.”

Turn lit her own cigarette, took a drag, then let out the smoke just as I had done. “Sometimes that’s just how the world works, Daylight.”

I looked over at her, my head cocked to the side in question. “What do you mean?”

She sighed. “Well, life can be really frightening. We get thrown into a situation we don’t understand, or we feel is scary for us, or we really just don’t want to do. Then, we’re doing it, and we’re not really sure what to think, but we keep going, just because that’s what our instinct tells us to do. We’re alone, we’re afraid, and we’re confused, but that doesn’t stop us. That can’t stop us. We keep trudging on, just because it’s instinct.”

She stopped to inhale more smoke, then continued again. “That’s what happened to me when dad died, so I guess you could say I learned that the hard way. And I’d imagine that little thing with your friend last night could count for you, too,” she added with a wink. “Point is, instinct can hurt you. Like with these cigarettes. They burn your throat, they give you cancer, you can end up in the hospital wondering where the hell your life went wrong, and you won’t really find an answer. It’s all chocked up to fucking instinct.”

Her cigarette burned dry, and she stomped it out. That’s really what made me notice I hadn’t been smoking mine. I took my second smoky drag, let out the smoke, and coughed a bit. I guess I wasn’t a lucky beginner after all. Turn still continued her analogy. “So Day, I guess what I’m saying is, don’t just run into things, well, blindly. Don’t think I’m talking about your vision. I mean you. You as a person. You’re a little haphazard. Sometimes you work without thinking things through.”

I tried not to take offense to her statement, but let her keep going, trying to search what point she was conveying. “I guess it’s kinda like that with me too. Hell, I bought these goddamn cigarettes. That was enough of a mistake. But do you really think this thing with the princess’ student is a good thing? Like, really, really think it is? Because I’m willing to trust you if you do, but I can’t keep coming after you like this.”

I thought over her question, sucking on the bits left of my cigarette. It was about gone, so I let it out and stomped it just as Turn had done. Turning to her, I gave her my answer. “Yes,” I said, my eyes glinting in the early morning’s light, “I really do. Twilight is the most spectacular pony I have ever met in my entire life. Like I said, you’re right, I was wrong. I’m in love with her. I shouldn’t have denied it for so long.”

Another pause. I let out a deep breath, getting the taste of the smoke out of my mouth. “I just hope I don’t get hurt.”

“Oh, Daylight. Everyone gets hurt,” she clarified sincerely, smiling. “All that matters is how you take it. Instinct, or are you gonna think it through?” A silence filled the air, which she took as her answer. “Don’t worry about it. Let’s head home.”

I took out my cane and followed her hoofsteps as she led me back to the small shack we called home, neither of us saying another word the whole way.


***


The white, powdery frost fell light and soft on my fur. I looked up at the bright abyss and smiled. The first snow. Did Twilight plan this?

I kept feeling the folded up note in my magic’s grasp. It was the day. Hearth’s Warming. She said she wanted me to meet her here alone. Alone! Imagine. With me and Twilight now being an item, I felt more excited than ever. What would we do? Is it a date?

Wow.. My first real date. I never thought that would happen. Never. Why would anypony want to date me, anyways? But Twi was here, and she wanted me more than ever. Just thinking of her and I on this Hearth’s Warming day gave me happy feelings in the pit of my heart, and I was sure it did the same for her.

“You came,” she said happily, stepping beneath the tree she had requested we meet at, shielding us from the snow. “I was worried you wouldn’t show up.”

I grinned. “Why wouldn’t I show up to see my favorite filly in the whole world? Besides, everything according to schedule, right?” I teased, making her giggle in delight.

“Shut uuup,” she groaned, giving me a playful punch to the side, “You’re such a dork, Day.”

“So what are we doing today, Twily?”

“Well,” she said pointedly, “I figure we go open presents, then go play in the snow, then come back inside and cuddle by a warm fire until we fall asleep?”

The filly knew exactly what I wanted. “You read my mind,” I said, smiling, as I grabbed her by the hoof and led her back towards the massive castle in which we would spend the rest of the day.

“Oh, and.. Merry Hearth’s Warming, Daylight.”

“Merry Hearth’s Warming, Twi.”