//------------------------------//
// Give Me A Chance 
// Story: You Kept Me Alive 
// by Joss10 
//------------------------------//



Nothing Familiar



As the princess left Em alone for a moment to grab a small dessert for them, he was left to ponder his thoughts. He was upon a balcony a few yards off the ground with two chairs and a comfortably small, round table of glass and a metal he was not familiar with.

“What if I don't like her? What if, when I find out who she really is, I don't like her?”

This thought plagued his mind. He feared what would happen if he ever spoke that to her. As he thought of things of such a subject, he also began to ponder another thing:

Will he ever be able to leave to go back home? He desperately missed some of the things he had… gaming was one of his largest hobbies, if not the largest. He missed that so… but this world was devoid of such inventions, at least to his knowledge, as they used magic and the ability to fly.

He played with his food for a while, thinking of these things, before Celestia walked back as he stood up at her presence, two small plates in her magic grasp, covered.

“I brought us something… something we used to love to eat together.” She said and gave it to him while sitting down with him. He uncovered the food and found a slice of vanilla cake on the plate for him. He looked up and she nodded.

“… oh boy… great.” He thought.

“Celestia, do you remember everything about me? I mean, everything?”

She put a hoof to her chin and thought about it for a moment.

“Just about everything. There was nothing we didn't know about each other. No secrets.” She smiled and motioned to his dessert. He sighed audibly and pushed the cake forwards a small distance.

“What's wrong? Do you not like it?”

“Uhh, no, it's not that… Celestia, I need you to know something: I might not be the same man as before. I mean, I am, but...”

“… but?” She pried, a worried expression adorn on her face as he inhaled.

“But not at all what you might think or even know I am.”

“Em, what is this all about?” She said as he sighed again, his shoulders slumping.

“I don't like cake. I never have, and I probably never will.” He said and shoved it forwards a little more again.

“Let me ask you a question: What is my favorite color?” He leaned in.

“Red.”

“My favorite time of day?”

“Very early morning.”

“My favorite thing to do?”

“It was cooking or relaxing outside.” She finished as he nodded and pursed his lips while looking down.

“Why did you need to know that, Em?” She asked as he looked up into her eyes.

“Because my favorite color is black, my favorite time of day is dusk or evening, and my favorite thing to do is listen to music.” He finished as her jaw fell open and she began to think about things.

“Clearly you don't know me as well as you think you do.” He said and stood up, disturbed by this happening.

“Thank you for the lovely lunch. I'm sorry to disappoint you.” He thanked her and walked out, leaving her alone for all but a moment.

“Em, wait up!” She pleaded with him as he looked back and stopped. He turned around and faced her, a clearly disturbed thought running across his mind as it showed on his face.

“You mean… I don't know you at all?” She said as he looked down and shook his head slowly.

“… I guess you don't.” He shrugged and turned around again, before being spun around and kissed by Celestia softly, her wings wrapping around them both as she stopped for a moment.

“I know that was one of your most special things you loved.” She said as he blushed.

“It is kinda nice… reeaaally nice.”

“Yeah… I think it was.” He agreed and was kissed again, as her tongue began to pry into his mouth, as he was reluctant at first, but slowly he let her tongue snake in and their passion had been reunited.

To release the bond again, they would need a true kiss from them both, only then would the bonds be cut and their love would flourish again…

“I love you, Em.” She said to him as he leaned in to kiss her again, before his head was hit with a wave of pain, a burning pain.

He screamed and pushed against her to vent his pain at something, as she held him close and understood what he was going through.

Hit with so many emotions at once, he was unable to keep himself conscious. As he passed out in her arms, she had forgotten what it looked like when he was asleep…

“Beautiful.” She whispered and smiled. Very slowly he was beginning his long journey, as it would be one of fruition, one they would remember for the rest of their lives…

She used her magic, as her horn lit up and they left and were teleported to her room, where she laid him onto the bed softly.

She smiled and walked away, before she felt a tug at her heart. She stopped and turned around, looking at him and biting her lip. She slowly walked over, reluctant at her notion inside her head. She sat next to him on the edge of the bed and leaned down to kiss him.

She caressed his face softly before kissing him again. As she sat up again, she bit her lip another time, before she laid next to him, holding him closely as she closed her eyes and laid her head onto his chest, napping until he awoke with her…
…

-----Meanwhile-----


“Yes, I know, but Celestia doesn't just come to Ponyville on such short notice without a good reason.” Twilight debated.

“True, darling, but maybe she was looking for something? I doubt, judging from her demeanor, she came for any other reason.” Rarity said.

“She said something about finding somepony in the forest. Dunno what that was all about.” Spike chimed in.

“If somepony was lost, they would've sent out a search and rescue team.” Spike finished as he sat down on a chair and thought.

“Who could be so important that she come to search for somepony single-hoofedly?” Twilight thought aloud as something clicked in her mind and a light bulb popped up above her head.

“I got it! We'll hit the books!”

Time-skip: 3 Hours…

“Twilight… we've gone through every book in this library that could have ANYTHING to do with Princess… Celestia.” Spike said, flopped over a pile of books as Rarity nodded.

“The next best thing to ask her about it herself. If she needs any help, we should be the first to ask.” Rarity concluded as Twilight nodded.

“You know what that means!”

“Woohoo! Road trip!”


-----Later-----


The room was quiet, the air richly perfumed as sunlight gently beat down on the granite floor.

…

“… mmrrrnnnnnngggh.” A long moan came from Em as he shuffled slightly.

“Tia, did you spike the punch again?” He moaned as she giggled quietly.

“Ya did? Ayyy, ah love ya. Luna, I see ya over there, don't think you can hide from me, I see EVERYTHIN'.” He moaned some more in a drunken tone as he then opened his eyes.

The room was quiet.

“That was the weirdest freakin' dream I've ever been in. Wait till I tell-” He stopped, getting ready to leave when his nose met hers.

“AHH!” He jumped and almost dove under the covers.

“Em, don't be like that. I know you knew I was there.”

…

“… it's unnerving, Celestia. I've never been this close to anyone before.” He said and sat up and against the pillow as she kissed his neck.

“Do you like it?” She asked him as he was quiet.

“Well-”

“Do you like being close to somepony… to me?” She asked, whispering in his ear as he moaned quietly.

“Admit it. You love it.”

“No, I-”

“Then I shall stop.” She stopped immediately, turning her head away from him as she smirked.

He blushed and almost imploded before saying this:

“I didn't say s-stop… please.” He squeaked out quietly as she turned and began to caress him again with her hooves and mouth, planting little kisses on his chest and shoulder.

“How do you feel, Em?” She asked, smiling as he was unable to answer for the moment.

“This… feels… familiar?” He said as he raised his eyebrow, his eyes closed as he tried to remember, but was then met with the burning sensation that would not stop.

“GrrrrGH!” He growled and held his head as Celestia wrapped her large wings around him. He instinctively pushed her away and sprung off the bed, hitting the ground on his feet but stumbling as he crashed into the dresser and screamed.

“God damnit! AAAHHHHhhhrrr!”

“Just hold on, my love, t'will be over soon.” She jumped and sat next to her lover's side as the pain slowly began to subside, and his contorted face began to calm.

After a few minutes of speechless embrace and panting from Em, he raised his heavy head to look at his love.

“Wh… why… why me?” He silently cried as she shushed him and held him closely.

“Shhh, there there, my love…”

“Why?” He choked as she kissed him on the forehead.

“Because you were mine before you were anyone else's.” She smiled and cried with him, though these were tears of joy.

She helped him back onto his feet as she led him to the bed and set him down again.

“Now, my love, where were we?” She smiled and began again, studying and adoring him with her probing and caring purple eyes as he held her closely.

After a few more minutes of the silent embrace, a knock came onto the door, and shocked Em, as he jumped out of bed and began to act as if he was in here on a business account.

“Likewise, I think-” He stopped as the door opened up and a guard walked in and bowed.

“Princess Luna is requesting you, m'lady.” He said as Celestia nodded and looked towards Emerald.

She frowned as he would not look at her, remaining his gaze on the guard. This deeply troubled the princess, as she knew not what she did to warrant this.

“You should be getting along, Princess, it may be important.” Emerald said as the guard nodded and motioned as Celestia fought back tears, shuddering at the sound of him calling her “princess”. It was so formal and cold, not like the warm Tia she was so used to.

She got out of bed and freshened herself up as Em and the guard left her alone.

“So what was that all about?” The guard asked.

“Uhh, n-nothing. Nothing at all, just a little question/debate I needed to bring up.”

“Oh. Gotcha. So how long you been here, I've not seen you before.” He looked up at him as Em noticed this guard was different, as he was white 
with blue striped hair.

“I've been here less than a week, I think. I forgot...”

“That's okay, we got all the comforts of home.” He said as Em stopped and looked down.

“Yeah… home.” He quietly spoke to himself as the guard looked at him and raised an eyebrow.

“Hey, what's wrong?” He asked, concern in his voice still very present.

“I-Its uhh… I'm not from here. I-I come from a planet called Earth, and… I miss my home.” He explained as the guard listened.

“Oh… wow. That's pretty… heavy. I kinda figured you weren't from here. What's your name, stranger?”

“Emerald… Emerald… uhh...”

“His name is Emerald Sky, Shining Armor. What is it my sister needed?” A cold-spoken Celestia walked past Emerald as he looked at her.

“She needed to speak to you about the upcoming fall and winter schedule. She needed to discuss some things with you. This way.” He said as Celestia followed him, leaving Emerald behind them to follow.

“Hey, uhh, Celestia-”

“Yes, Emerald?” She said, quickly as he sighed loudly.

“Nevermind...” He said as she looked back with a slight frown adorn on her cold face.

“I hope it was worth it, Emerald.” She thought.

As they followed Shining Armor, Celestia began to speak with Luna about the schedule, leaving Emerald and Shining alone to talk about stuff. In all honesty, Emerald was confiding in Shining for the moment, as he found out Shining Armor was married to the Alicorn of Love. So obviously he had some knowledge on the subject.

During their talks, Shining got to know the big picture of what's going on. He gave Em some tips on how to treat a lady, considering he's never been with one before… technically. He just never remembered, and so, his experience faltered with it.

During this, Em looked towards Celestia, only to receive cold stares from her. He wondered what was so wrong that deserved this. He asked Shining about this predicament.

“So what you're telling me is you just acted like you were there purely for impersonal reasons?”

“Y-Yeah, pretty much.” Emerald scratched his head as Shining slapped his hoof against his head.

“Oh man, you really kinda screwed up. That shows her that you're embarrassed to be around her, and that she's not good enough for you.”

“But, tha-that's not what I meant!”

“I know, but that's what she interpreted.”

“Well, she's wrong!” Em stood up as Luna noticed this.

“I wouldn't go so far, Em, I-”

“I LOVE her, for god's sake!” He said in a fit of rage, not knowing what or why he was saying these things, as Luna and Celestia both stopped and looked at him. He blushed a deep red and quickly exited the throne room as Shining sighed and shook his head.

“I know that feeling.” He chuckled and stared at the ground with a grin on his face.

“All too well.” He finished as Celestia dropped the scrolls she was holding and rushed out to catch Emerald before he made it out of the castle. She rushed towards the sound of his footsteps and found him already at the throne room doors.

As the guards opened the doors he was shocked at the sight of so many ponies walking around this city. Canterlot, he knew from memory.

Especially a group that walked by, which triggered another reaction in his head, causing the burning sensation to return.

“No no no!” He panicked as the ponies stared at him, his feet instinctively backing up as he was met by a white barrel of fur.

“Emerald-”

“They can't take you away from me again, they CAN'T!” He screamed as tears rolled down his face and onto the ground as she wrapped her wings and arms around him.

“Stop it! STOP IT STOP IT STOP IIIIIIT!” He screamed as she cried silently with him.

“I HATE YOU… I HATE YOOOOU!” He screamed at the hallucination he was experiencing as Celestia's heart began to sink lower and lower until it began to reek pain.

“Emerald, I love you! Please don't hate me!” She said, not knowing his words were not aimed at her.

He began to convulse and begin pass out yet again, as she used her magic to teleport him away from here and to the garden, away from the sight of so many ponies. Once away, he began to regain consciousness and looked around himself.

“I love you… yet I don't know you.” He said to her and reached up to her cheek, as she nuzzled his hand.

“You will know in time… for now, love me. Please.” She begged as a tear fell to onto his shirt, her eyes begging for the care and affection she so richly deserved. He pulled her closer and kissed her softly, before pressing heads and simply holding each other.

“I love you so much, Emerald, I want you to know that. You are the best thing that ever happened to me...”

…

“… Twice.” She smile as he returned a smile back and kissed her again.

He smiled and held her close again, as he knew he was destined to be with her, whether he wanted to or not.

“I-I'm willing… Tia.” He said as she looked at him, caught off-guard at his sudden comment.

“I want to try. I want to give it a shot… at being something again.” He said as her eyes welled up and she burst into tears of joy, kissing him and holding him tightly as he stood on his own two feet and hugged her, chuckling and crying as well, knowing that this would only get better for the both of them.

“Oh Emerald, I've missed you so much. Stay here with me, don't go back.” She begged as he shook his head.

“No anymore… this is my home now...” He motioned to the garden.

“This,” He pointed to her heart, “is where I belong.” He smiled as she fell onto him and kissed him, chuckling and smiling in joy as she so wanted this for so long.

“Emerald… you've no idea how long I've waited for you to come home… for you to come back to my heart. It was this bed we shared, this bed I cried myself to sleep every night… please don't leave me again!” She clung to him quickly as he hugged her tightly.

“Do not worry… besides, I'm giving it a shot. Wanna get dinner tonight, maybe go on a night around the town?” He asked as she nodded and shed her last tear of joy, as he reached up and wiped it away.

“And stop crying, Tia… you're much too beautiful for that.” He said as she choked up on more tears yet again.

“How can I stop when I love you so much?” She cried again as he embraced her yet again and kissed her on the top of her head.

“Celestia… Tia… I want you to know how much this means to me that you are so inviting… I've gotten my way with everything in life, riches, power, things of want… but you've given me what I wanted most in life: a love. A love to cherish and watch grow… a love I can rest with in my darkest days, a love that will be there for me when I need it… when I need her most. My only request is that we make this the best.” He said as she cried into his chest and silently nodded her head.

A thousand years of tears and sadness, released at one moment. This is what she wanted, in the end.

For her, the impossible happened… but whether she knew this or not, there was something she would come to regret, falling in love with him.

Something that only Emerald will come to face one day…


End of Chapter 3