//------------------------------// // The Solitary Duo // Story: Patience of Love // by Sky Blue CMC //------------------------------// "What have I done to deserve this?" Screwball asked nopony in particular but herself. "Sure, at youth I was a bit of a bully, but only to those who deserved it... Mothball's not here, and neither is Thorax. I need a Changeling Prince to talk to, and there's noone there. I need my love... and I need him." Screwball shook her head no, causing a chocolate milk rainstorm to fall upon her head. As much as she loved chocolate milk, she was just too depressed to drink any of it. She craved something else to drink: tears of joy from her Prince Charming. Her beautiful green skinned Bugaboo. She knew he missed her too, but she had no idea where she was. Then she saw Applejack. Or rather, an image of Applejack used as a disguise. She knew it was a Changeling, but couldn't tell which one... meaning she knew exactly who it was. She disguised herself as Countess Colouratura, an old fillyfriend of Applejack's. She began singing one of the Countess's songs, "The Magic Inside" which she wrote under her new name/old name, Ra Ra. "I thought I was weak, but I am strong! They sold me the world, but they were wrong! And now that I'm back, I still belong, cause I know, that I am just a pony! I make mistakes from time to time! But now I know the real me, and put my heart out on the line! And let the magic in my heart stay true-oo-oo, woah, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh! And let the magic in my heart stay true-oo-oo, woah, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh! Just like the magic inside of you-oo, just like the magic inside of you." Screwball, disguised as Ra Ra, smiled at her disguised lover. He smiled back. He must have known who she really was beneath her strong disguise. "I missed you, Screwy." Thorax told his lover. "Wanna play another card game, just for old time's sake?" "Yes..." Screwball replied. "But not War. You always let me win, and it gets on my nerves. How about we play a game we don't have to compete against each other for? A one player game, like Patience? I could watch you play with... I mean by yourself, then you could watch me. How's that sound?" "Sounds like what we've both been waiting for." Thorax replied, causing Screwball to giggle at his pun. "And you know I only play with myself when I'm alone, right?" "It was just a slip of the tongue..." Screwball replied. "And yes, I did mean it in that way." "Don't be a pussy, say what you mean." Thorax replied... "Maybe we should stop fooling around and just play the game." "That's the end of the line." Screwball responded. "Go jump off a bridge." "Bridge?" Thorax asked. "I thought we were playing Patience?" "You're trying mine..." Screwball had to think a bit before saying anything else. "Downtown." She finally added. It took Thorax a while to get Screwball's joke, but once he did, he burst out laughing and couldn't stop. The laughter made his disguise fade, and shortly after, Screwball laughed her disguise off too. "Would you like to try my ice cream downtown?" Screwball licked Thorax affectionately. "MMMM... Green and delicious. Mint chocolate chip flavour. My favourite!" She licked him again, then he licked her back. "Pink and delicious." Thorax replied. "Cotton candy flavour. My favourite." The two of them continued licking each other on their way back home. Ponies were watching, but the two lovers didn't care. All they cared about was how tasty they were... they didn't even hear who thought they were a cute couple, and who thought they were disgusting and they should hide away at home. When they actually got home, they got serious... with Patience. Screwball sat and watched as Thorax paired the King of Clubs with the Queen of Hearts, then placed the Jack of Spades onto that one. Those cards in that order were symbolic, even though Thorax didn't realize that when he placed them there. Counting down, the remaining cards were: Ten of Diamonds, Nine of Clubs, Eight of Hearts, Seven of Spades, Six of Diamonds, Five of Clubs, Four of Hearts, Three of Spades, Two of Diamonds, and finally... Ace of Clubs. Being as fast as he was, he was able to finish in one minute and nine seconds. "Sixty nine secs..." Screwball recited Thorax's time aloud. "That's faster than I knew. If it were a competition, I'd be honoured to lose to you. Now it's your turn to watch me play, Thorax." "OK, Screwy." Thorax snickered at what their real names were and how sexual the sounded. "Just don't let your hoof get tired from overplay." Screwball rolled her dreamy swirling eyes, then focused them on the cards. She placed the King of Spades to start with... thinking it best for them to both start with the same colour Kings. Then, without realizing the symbolism of the cards, a Queen of Diamonds, a Jack of Clubs, a Ten of Hearts, Nine of Spades, Eight of Diamonds, Seven of Clubs, Six of Hearts, Five of Spades, Four of Diamonds, Three of Clubs, Two of Hearts, and Ace of Spades. Her total time was one minute and thirty six seconds... numerically Thorax's time backwards, ninety six. "Ninety six secs..." Thorax recited Screwball's time aloud. "Impressive... but now it is you who let me win." "You already won my heart..." Screwball said. "what's one more game? You'll always be my Wish of the Princess." "Well even though you lost..." Thorax replied. "...on purpose, mind you... you'll always be my Champion of Destruction." The two lovers celebrated the anniversary of their relationship with another game... downtown. Their love was all that really mattered in the end.