Barb was watching. She found she watched a lot, but that was okay; the target of her affections never seemed to notice. Whether that was fortunate or not was kind of hard to determine, but it was what it was. It certainly gave her more time to stare, but it also meant that her liking of him was not being recognized.
“Barb, would you be a dear and fetch me a cup of tea? I'm afraid if I take a break from this design I’ll never finish it before my inspiration runs dry,” Elusive explained in his usual sweet way. His arms were stretched out to drape a piece of fabric over a mannequin, and in his sparkling magic was a tape measurer and pin cushion.
Barb nodded and stood from where she had been sitting off to the side.
“Of course, Elusive,” the dragon replied with a nervous smile. She smoothed back her slightly askew green bangs before she made her way into the kitchen. As she began prepping the tea, she glanced idly over her shoulder. She could see the tall unicorn stallion busily walking around the mannequin he was using.
Barb sighed dreamily. He was so handsome and perfect. He had long legs and a slim built figure with angled facial features; he had to be every mare’s wildest dream. Barb was personally captivated with him, so she was sure that many other mares just had to be as well! This thought in itself flowered Barb’s jealousy. She had to ensure that Elusive was hers only to court, and she had to do it fast—what would she possibly do if some other mare snatched him up first?
The thought made her eyebrows furrow, and she found herself scowling grumpily as she poured a cup of tea for the unicorn of her dreams. Snorting a plume of smoke from her nostrils, Barb let the annoying ideas leave her head and instead turned around and walked back into the main room. The sight of Elusive shaking his hips slightly as he worked, humming lightly to himself, made a smile come back to Barb’s face. A dirty thought passed through her mind and she realized a blush was beginning to burn on her cheeks.
“Elusive, h-here’s your tea,” Barb quickly stammered and then abruptly scolded herself for sounding so nervous. She held the tray out for him; the stallion didn’t even spare her a glance as he lifted the teacup from the tray with his magic. Switching it to a hand, he took a delicate sip and continued arranging fabric on the mannequin.
“Thank you, darling! Your help is most appreciated~” Elusive called as he worked, his voice a singsong. “If you’d like to go, you may. This might take a few hours—I have a wonderfully stylish dress planned and I am in the zone, as ‘twere.” The stallion grinned to himself, and Barb melted at his words.
He's so perfect, Barb sighed inwardly, hearts seeming to float around her head as she ogled the unicorn for several more moments.
“Oh, okay! I’ll, uh, see you later, then?” Barb asked, coming back to the present. She turned her body towards the door but glanced over her shoulder. Elusive's head of purple curls bobbed as he nodded, and that was clearly all she was going to get as he lost himself in his fashion.
Barb left the boutique feeling light on her feet—as she did every time she saw Elusive. Her crush had definitely bloomed into something more intense as the years passed. She wasn’t that much younger than Dusk or his friends in a sense that mattered; she was eighteen now, and the boys were still in their early twenties.
Ever since she’d turned that legal age, Barb had found herself dreaming more and more about Elusive. A few ponies knew about her crush—Dusk, Bubble Berry—well, probably more than that after a few years, but still. No one that she’d told herself she was unaware of.
For the next half hour, Barb allowed her mind to study every aspect of her friendship with Elusive. He enjoyed having her around, always had, but there was nothing there to suggest that he had any strong feelings for her in return.
Sure, Elusive had kissed her cheek a few times when she was younger (as thanks, typically) and he often addressed her with terms of endearment. Although he did that with many others as well . . . but she did have the honor of being called a rather childish pet name from him (Barby-Warby. Not the most flattering name ever, but he never called anyone else something so individualized).
However, there was also nothing to indicate that Elusive had no interest in her at all. If she asked him to be her special someone, would he cringe and say he didn’t want to ruin their friendship? Perhaps he’d stop talking to her altogether!
Barb swallowed anxiously at that train of thought. Elusive would never be so petty as to do that, right? That soothed her nerves slightly, but she still found herself worrying incessantly over that for a while.
Surely it would be better to act now on her feelings than wait forever, right? Some other mare could catch his eye first and then she’d be out of the unicorn she loved more than anything else, even the most beautiful and delicious gemstones out there.
And even if Elusive turned her down, at least Barb could say she’d tried. Then she wouldn’t live the rest of her life wondering what could have been and being jealous over any future relationship he could have.
The prospect of asking Elusive out was becoming more and more tempting. Her heart thumped louder in her chest and she couldn’t help the daydreams of being in a relationship with the stallion; falling further in love, getting married, starting a family . . . and intermingled with those, naughty fantasies of what Elusive looked like under his typical waistcoat and slacks. A shiver went through Barb’s body, and she waved away the blush on her cheeks.
Maybe I should consult a friend before I go through with it, get their opinion? Barb asked herself, Dusk even? They were so close, and he’d be sure to give her good advice. Although . . . it unnerved her to ask anyone else. What if Dusk thought she should get over her silly crush?
No, no, I'll just ask Elusive. It can’t be that hard, right? We’re both adults, we’ve been friends forever, there’s nothing wrong with dating an older stallion. What's the worst he could say, ‘no’?
Barb felt a sense of determination mingled with anxiety come over her. She could do this—well, later, anyway. Elusive was obviously still busy with his work; it wouldn’t do well to bother him in the middle of it unnecessarily.
And maybe a day to herself would strengthen her resolve and make it clearer if she should go through with her wish.
Barb stood from where she’d been sitting in the shade of an oak tree for the past hour and stretched her arms over her head. She shook her head, tossing her bangs out of her face, and started back to Golden Oak Library for the rest of the day.
Dusk Shine noticed her anxiousness right away the next morning as they made breakfast together.
“You alright, Barb? You look worried about something,” Dusk observed. He was buttering some toast, one purple eye on the dragon as he did so.
“What? N-no, I’m not worried about anything!” Barb lied. She avoided his eyes and glanced down at the eggs.
Dusk raised an eyebrow skeptically. “Well . . . if you ever want to talk about anything, you know that you can always come to me.” He patted her head affectionately, giving her a small smile.
Barb allowed a weak smile of her own to tug at her lips, and she replied, “Of course. Don't worry, I'm okay.”
Dusk nodded, though she knew he was still suspicious, but he didn’t press the issue and instead dropped two more slices of bread into the toaster.
Barb exhaled heavily; she could do this.
Approximately two hours later, the dragon found herself walking nervously to Carousel Boutique. She'd let herself calm down before psyching up for her mission.
Barb repeated the mantra of “You’ve got this, girl” in her head as she made her way across Ponyville. The boutique appeared over the horizon, looking very pretty in the early afternoon sun.
“Come in, come in~” Elusive sang from inside, his voice muffled through the walls only a second after Barb had knocked politely on the front door. Since the boutique wasn’t open yet that day, she knew it would be gracious to knock before entering.
“Oh, Barb!” the unicorn gasped as she walked in. The dragon smiled warmly at him—he looked so sharp in his silver and blue accents—
“I was wondering if you’d end up back here after yesterday.”
Barb’s admirations stopped and she paled. “Y-you did?”
Oh Celestia, had he noticed her staring? She had helped herself to more than a generous amount of ogling yesterday because he’d been so absorbed in his work; perhaps he’d seen her doing so? What if he knew—
“Yes, I had told you that I'd only be a few hours, but you never came back. I only assumed you’d forgotten or became busy. Not that I’m offended or entitled to your company, mind you, but I do enjoy having you around, darling.” Elusive approached her, fluttering his eyelashes at her. Barb couldn’t help but notice how the light danced off his sparkling blue eyes and only enhanced the feeling welling inside her breast.
“O-oh! Yeah, I'm . . . sorry about that. Dusk needed my help reshelving last night, and you know him,” Barb fibbed, rubbing the back of her head sheepishly.
Elusive put his hands on his thin hips and straightened up, giving a gentle laugh. “Oh, yes, I understand. No matter! You have your own responsibilities, especially now; it’s not fair of me to expect you to adhere to my beck and call. My apologies if I ever seem pushy, Barb.” He turned and walked across the room.
“No problem, Elusive. I do love being here too.” And she meant it, more than he knew. Speaking of . . . time to get this show on the road, girl, she told herself.
“Lovely! Now, before we do anything else, I must show you my latest creation, non?”
Barb nodded and internally prepped herself for her confession as Elusive wheeled out the mannequin. Barely paying attention to his explanation of his craft, but acting like she was by nodding along and smiling, the dragon smothered the rest of her anxiety and opened her mouth to speak.
“Elusive?” Barb asked, already regretting this but knowing she wanted to do it. The stallion turned, head cocked slightly. He casually rolled the mannequin out of sight for now with his magic, casting most of his attention on her.
“I have something to ask you.”
Elusive approached her, and suddenly the half a foot difference in their heights made Barb feel so small. He was so tall, so handsome, so perfect . . .
“Yes?” Elusive asked, eyes wide and waiting, and all the while he was smiling.
Barb took one last breath, avoiding eye contact before blurting, “Ever since I met you, I've had this huge crush on you, okay? I know one time I tried telling you when I was way younger when we were falling from the sky, but it never went away. So I just wanted to say that I really, really, really like you and I was wondering if you wanted to be my boyfriend?” Barb rushed the words out, then clamped her eyes shut and tensed, waiting for the response.
There was nothing but silence for a long while.
Barb's heart fell—he didn’t like her. He was so shocked he wasn’t even responding.
Suddenly, the sound of laughter filled the room and Barb’s eyes shot open in disbelief. Elusive was laughing! In fact, he was practically mocking her with it!
A shot of anger went through the dragon, and Barb frowned, backing away from him.
“Oh, oh, Barb, no, I am so sorry!” Elusive giggled, one hand to his mouth to stifle his laughter. Barb didn’t even know how to respond she was so shocked.
“It’s not you, it’s not you at all!” the stallion continued with clear amusement in his voice. He held his hands up to show he didn’t mean any harm. He calmed down after a couple minutes of laughter, then regained his composure and sent her a look of comfort. Just his gaze made Barb feel a little better, knowing he was being sincere, so she paused even though she was sure she was on the verge of tears.
Elusive tossed his head of violet hair and opened his mouth to talk.
“I’m honored that you feel that way about me, Barb, I really am. It's sweet, and I had a hunch you still had feelings for me,” he began, taking a step toward her and putting a hand on her shoulder gently. “It was very brave of you to come to me and admit this. I know this kind of thing isn’t easy.”
Barb glanced down, feeling downtrodden.
“It is definitely not you, as I said earlier. I was just . . . surprised, honest. I admire you for your courage. It’s just, I thought you knew; everyone else does.”
Barb frowned, lifting her head back up to look at the tall stallion. She furrowed her eyebrows and asked, “Know what?”
Elusive grinned and said with absolutely no shame, “That I’m gay, darling!”
Eyes widening, Barb let her mouth fall open and arms drop to her sides limply. She sputtered, “You’re—you’re gay??”
He nodded cheerily. “Yes, I am. I didn’t know that no one had told you. Or that I didn’t, and I'm sorry about that. I had just assumed you knew; after all, I've spoken openly with just about everyone in this town about some attractive stallion I'd had my eye on at least once.”
“But . . . not me? Not once?” Barb asked, feeling hurt now by something else entirely.
“I suppose I didn’t want to push any lifestyles on you when you were young, Barb. Please know I never meant to mislead you or anything of the sort,” Elusive explained.
“I . . . understand. I guess I just . . . didn’t see it before. Though, now that I think about it . . .”
Barb let her mind wander to different occasions; Elusive not even being interested in Princess Bluebell at the Gala, him being very friendly with certain stallions around town, and honestly, just his typical personality and quirks, that, now that she knew he was gay, did seem very feminine for a stallion.
“Huh,” Barb said plainly. “I guess it does seem pretty obvious now that I know. I’m surprised by how oblivious I was even a few minutes ago.” She scratched the back of her head sheepishly. “I suppose this is party my fault for not reading you better, or even asking anyone else. If I hadn't been so blind to what’s in front of my nose.”
Elusive smiled sweetly at her. “I don’t blame you, darling. Sometimes ponies aren’t gay like I am, and they act like this, or they are and they act completely normal for a stallion. For both sexes this is true for. You’re a sweetheart for not stereotyping me, in all honesty.”
Barb flushed lightly at the compliment. “Well, thanks. I . . . know we can’t be together now, but not for the reasons I thought—which does make it hurt less, but . . . I can’t say all my feelings are gone.”
“And I don’t expect them to,” Elusive responded. “You’ve had them for a long time.” He pet the top of her head lovingly.
Barb nodded and asked, “But we’re still friends, right? Things won’t be awkward between us?”
“Psh, of course not! We're the exact same we were, darling.”
The two of them shared a quick, friendly hug, letting each other know that nothing bad had come of this conversation.
A grin began spreading across her face as Barb came up with an idea. “Since you and I can’t work, can I be your wing-dragon instead?”
Elusive laughed lightly, “Of course you can.”