//------------------------------// // Comfort // Story: Equestrian Anthology // by Shingo //------------------------------// A train sped through the dessert. In one of the cabooses sat two creatures, one male and one female. The female was nervously tapping the floor. “Something wrong?” “Hmmm? Oh, no. Nothing’s wrong Braeburn.” “I’d like it if you didn’t lie to me.” “Nothing’s wrong, honest.” “That being the case, why are you frantically tapping the floor?” The tapping stopped, leaving the two to listen to the train. “Come on, talk to me.” … “Please?” “Alright. I’ll admit it. I am nervous. I’m meeting your family for the very first time, what if they don’t like me?” “You’ve met my family who live with me in Appleloosa and they like you.” “That’s because I’ve worked alongside them. I made a good impression on them after we settled that stampeding dispute.” “What’s really bothering you?” … “This is about something bigger than meeting my family isn’t it?” “What if they don’t approve of our relationship? What if they cast you out of the family? I couldn’t live with myself if they did.” “Let me share with you a small piece of wisdom that Faust passed along to me when I was a child.” The female leaned in closely. “Buck ‘em.” The female stumbled. “That’s it?” “Yep.” “How is that going to help us?” “Simple. If my family sees our relationship as something unholy, then they can go straight to Tartarus. And if they do disapprove, then they’re being hypocrites.” “How so?” “One of the first things that an Apple is taught is to listen to their heart. That has lead us to where we are, and it usually lead us to happiness. If Granny Smith and her family didn’t listen to their hearts, Ponyville wouldn’t exist. If I didn’t listen to my heart, then I wouldn’t have helped found Appleloosa. And if I didn’t listen to my heart, you and I wouldn’t be together right now.” … “You alright?” “Yeah, I am now. Thanks Braeburn.” The female embraced the male in a hug. “No need to thank me Strongheart. Your happiness is all the thanks I need.”