My Little Pony: Friendship is Fate

by Kujo Blaze

I'll take Sweetie home

I haven’t thanked Sweetie for dinner yet, so I’ll go and talk to her.

“Yeah, it’s getting late, so I should walk her home too.” Sweetie is in the living room getting ready to go home, having finished the cleaning.

“Huh? Weren’t you taking a bath, Storm?”

“No, I’ll take it later. I’ll take you home first.”

“Eh… take me home?”

“Yeah. It’s getting dangerous outside lately, so I’m going to walk you home. Your house is far away. So let me at least do this much since you’re coming so far.”

“……” Sweetie falls into an awkward silence. …Did I say something bad? “…I’m sorry. I appreciate your concern, but you should stay here. I’m used to going home, so I should be fine by myself.”

“Well, that may be true, but it’s getting dangerous these days. So, I’ll walk you home for a bit.”

“…But, um… if Trixie sees you, you’ll be in trouble too.”

“Hm.” That’s right. Sweetie’s sister, Trixie, doesn’t approve of Sweetie coming to my place. She can’t object too strongly because she says she’s going to Pinkie Pie’s house, but it could be a problem if I take her home. It’s a problem, but so what. I don’t care about what Trixie says. It’s a much bigger problem if Sweetie has to walk home alone at dangerous times like these.

“I don’t care what trouble I get into. It’s dangerous these days, so I’m walking you home.”

“Um, I’d feel bad letting you do that…”

“It’s fine. You’re always helping me out, so let me at least walk you home. Or do you want to go home on your own?”

“Eh? No, it’s not that, but…”

“Then it’ll be fine. I’m confident in my skills. I should able to fight off most assailants, so you should make use of me at times like this. I’ll protect you, whatever happens.” I nudge Sweetie towards the hallway with a glance.

“Storm…? Is it really okay? You might get into a fight with Trixie again.”

“I don’t care. It’s only right for us to fight, and it’s best when we talk honestly like that. She doesn’t like to hide things, so it’s best if she just comes out with any complaints she has.” Sweetie looks surprised for some reason. “What? Did I say something strange?”

“No, you didn’t. I’m just glad you’re such good friends with Trixie.”

“Hm? No, I don’t think that’s right. I’m probably the only one who feels better from it, and it might be the opposite for Trixie.”

“Perhaps. But you know, Trixie always talks to you no matter many times you two fight. She probably finds it hard to deal with you, but she likes you more than other ponies, so she’s always concerned about you. She’s not honest, so she likes ponies she doesn’t like.”

“…Uh. I can’t really reply to that.”

“Yes. I envy you, so I thought I’d trouble you a bit.” Sweetie smiles.

“Uh…” Seeing that smile, I hold my breath without realizing it. Would you call that a big smile. I think it’s the first time I’ve seen her smile like that. “A-Anyway, I’m taking you home. I don’t care if Trixie sees me. I walked her sister home, so she shouldn’t be complaining.”

“You’re right. It might be better to do it that way rather than to hide it. Then could you, Storm?”

“Of course. I’ll act like your senior for once.” I smack my chest. Sweetie smiles warmly at my gesture of “trust me”. We go down the hill and reach the intersection. There’s no one around, and the familiar residential district feels desolate.

“……” It’s not even ten o’clock yet, but the town is asleep. …The silence is strange. Even though there have been nasty incidents, should night really steal this much life?

“Storm…? Uh, my house is this way.”

“Huh? Oh sorry, I was just thinking. Your house is the very top one on that side, right?”

“No, the top one is Rarity’s house. My house is up there too, but not at the top.”

“Oh, was that it? …Wait, by Rarity, you mean…?”

“Yes, Rarity Jewel of the second year. Do you not like her, Storm?” She must have read my reaction, as her comment is accurate. Ugh… was I making that kind of face?

“No, I don’t dislike her. I’ve never talked to her, so I don’t know much about her. But she’s famous, right? She stands out wherever she goes, so I know her just like everypony else.”

“……”

“What about you, Sweetie? You have the same Canterlot-style mansion, so do you ponies have a neighborly relationship?”

“No. We’re certainly neighbors, but her house is up on top of the hill. But how did you know her house was Canterlot-style, Storm?” Sweetie asks quietly.

“Oh, it’s just something I heard. Something about Rarity’s place being a haunted house and all that. A haunted house has to be a Canterlot-style house, right?”

“That’s true. It seems Rarity and the house itself like to be alone. When I was a filly, I was told that a scary sorcerer lived up on the hill.”

“A scary sorcerer, huh? I heard rumors like that too. Though, saying that, all Canterlot-style houses seem to have sorcerers living in them. So, did you believe the story, Sweetie?”

“I did, because I was small. That’s why I always thought I shouldn’t go up to the top of the hill.” Sweetie answers my joking question seriously. We go up the hill. It’s a residential district rather opposite to mine, but the habits are the same. There are fewer and fewer buildings and more trees as you ascend the hill. It’s only natural, as most of the town’s facilities are at the bottom of the hill. In all that, one of the few buildings near the top of the hill is Sweetie’s house.

“Oh…” Sweetie stops suddenly.

“Hm? Did you forget something?”

“Oh… no, it’s not that, but… Storm, is there somepony standing near my house?” She looks around uneasily.

“Hm?” I look around too, but there’s no one here except us. “There is no pony… did you see something?”

“Oh… no, if you didn’t see anypony, then it’s fine. I’ve been noticing a strange pony around my house recently, so I just wondered if he’d be here again today.”

“…What? Isn’t that a bit dangerous? What kind of stallion was he?”

“Um… he was a blond, good-looking pony. He looked like a model, so I’m sure you’d be surprised too if you saw him.” Sweetie says so with a blush, as if recalling him.

“……” …Sweetie. I don’t know if that’s something I should be worried about. “Oh, so it’s not like he’s suspicious?”

“…I don’t know. It’s just that no pony has moved here recently, so I thought it was strange.”

“…Hm. Well, it is a bit strange. All right, if you see him around again, tell me or Trixie. We’ll get him and make him tell us what he’s up to.”

“Yes, I’ll be counting on you. But please don’t do anything rough. I don’t want you to get into a fight.” Sweetie says so while smiling straight at me.

“…Uh. I-It’s all right. I’ll ask questions first, so you shouldn’t worry about it.” I look away from Sweetie’s smile as I answer. “……” …Geez. Sweetie’s gestures captivate me often these days. It would have been nothing a while ago, as I feel like I’m acting weird. Maybe it’s because Sweetie has grown, or maybe just because I finally noticed it. …Well, I do think Sweetie has become really beautiful. That on its own is great, but I don’t think it’s cool for a senior to have to be careful where he’s looking.

“Good night then, Storm. I’m glad you walked me home.”

“I-Idiot. Don’t thank me. You’re the one making me dinner, so I should be the one thanking you.” Sweetie just smiles with satisfaction. “…Geez. If this is all it takes, I’ll make a habit of it tomorrow.”

“Please do. It’s fine if you only do it once in a while when you feel like it, but please do walk home with me. Trixie will get mad, but I like being with you. Storm, see you tomorrow! Thank you for today!” Sweetie calls back enthusiastically and disappears into her house.

“…Well.” I should head home too. I left Pinkie Pie at the house, and to be honest, that’s what worries me.

“…Huh?” Did I just hear something? …I can hear it. The sound of a creaking swing. It takes me a while to realize it’s the sound of some bug.

“…I wonder what kind of bug it is? It’s well out of season, certainly.” I imagine a longhorn beetle in the dark, under the cold winter sky. …Then, I notice.

“…Huh? There are three rooms with lights on.” The one that just lit up is Sweetie’s room. …The light on the first floor is Trixie’s room, so what’s the light from the third room?

“…? Only Trixie and Sweetie should be living in that place…” Maybe it’s a guest, or Trixie’s in that room. Anyway, I’ve been here many times, but this is the first time I’ve seen the light on in that room.

“……” Well, it’s a big house. It’s not strange for a light to be on somewhere in such a house. It’s not strange, but…

“…What’s this? I still feel uneasy.” I feel something, like a presence or a bad feeling. In the cold air, the unseasonal sound echoes. If there’s such a thing as a hunch… The bug hidden in the bushes feels very ominous.

Congratulations You earned a Sweetie Route Point: +1
Hint: These will get you into the third major alternative story

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Comments

[the other sans]

]“Eh? No, it’s not that, but…”
She doesn’t like to hid things, so it’s best if she just comes out with any complaints she has.
`“Yes. I envy you, so I thought I’d trouble you a bit.”

1 & 3. Something extra at the beggining
2. Hide.

[Thespurgin]

So you ARE planning to offer various routes based on relationship choices! I knew it.

Hmm... so Trixie is who now? I know Sweetie is really Rarity's sister... I don't think I caught the connection between sweetie and trixie though