//------------------------------// // Well, that's certainly one way to think about it... // Story: Oh, don't you worry about me // by S Olin S //------------------------------// The next day, Del was hanging out with Cotton Candy Pinkie's Daughter at Sugarcube corner. The two here just chatting over some hot chocolate, having a good time. Candy as the only pony that, in Del's mind, came close to Star. But not quite there. But that wasn't on Del's mind at the time. What was on his mind then? Well, simple stuff. Like stories about his dad or old recounts of some of the adventured their parents had gone on. "So then... She was made an honorary yak!" Candy laughed. "I've never been able to get my head around why things like this don't still happen." Del finished a drink of his cocoa. "I know. Over 20 years and nothin' like this has ever happened again. Why was the world so much more interesin' back then?" Del pondered. It was true, nothing like the adventured their parents went on had seemed to have happened since. Even to them. Whatever changed in those two decades must have just stopped the world from being as interesting as it once was. "I know, right? It's just as if one-day things just went... quiet for no reason. Then again, I'm not sure how I'd feel if things were the same as back then." "Oh yeah. Think about livin' in a world that's put in danger twice annually. Ah couldn't imagine livin' here peacefully." "Our only hope would be Star." She laughed. Everypony knew full well about the training sessions and had seen her pass out at least once. "Hm, yeah. If she would give it the time.." Ah yes. Back to our regularly scheduled Del. "Of course she would, silly! If Star can spend so much time at the farm, she could probably make room to defend Equestria." Candy may have been making jokes, but Del had switched gears. Resent: on. "Well, ah can think of one thing she would rather fit in." "And what's that, hmm? Gawking at the national guard?" Candy had taken note of Del's mood, but her first instinct was to try and lighten it right up. "Ah suppose the guards too," Del said, more quietly. "Well, who else would Star want to gawk at? T?" The comical remark about Rarity's son, Turquoise Blitz, didn't quite have the intended effect. Considering that Del mumbled under his breath in response. "Okay, Del." Candy pushed her hot chocolate aside. It was time to switch gears from trying to be the funny mare, to being the first pony in history to ever try and help Del. "I can tell that you're not exactly in the best mood. So, I ask you for the first time in Equestrain history: Del, what's wrong?" By this point, Del had laid his head on the table in disgruntlement. He looked away from candy and grumbled again. "Del, if you want your problems solved, then you need to let other ponies help you solve them. So c'mon, tell me. What's up?" Del looked back and Candy, with less disgruntlement in his expression, and more... sadness. "Star's what's up..." Del said, nearly inaudibly. But despite that, Candy still heard fully what he had said. "Star? What about Star's causing trouble?" Del sat up and began to become more open. "Well, the real problem here is Prism, I think." Candy was making progress! As far as she and her friends knew, this was the first recorded incident of Del being the one to receive help. "What about Prism and/or Star is bothering you, Del?" "I-It's just that... Well... Star has a crush on Prism..." "Star has a crush on Prism? That's interesting... but what about it would make you..." Candy drifted off as she put the pieces together in her head. "The problem is that you have a crush on Star too, isn't it?" Del nodded his head. "And now that she likes Prism... I think that now he doesn't like spendin' time on the farm as much, and... that maybe she doesn't like spending time with me as much either..." Del confessed. "Well, what makes toy think that? Has she been coming by less or seeming to enjoy being there less recently?" Del rattled his mind thinking of that past few times she had been. "...It didn't seem like it... It looked like nothin' had changed. She liked it all the same now that ah think about it..." "And was she more quick to leave?" "...No... Last time she was over she left because she had to be home by a certain time..." "And why would Prism make her like the farm less? I don't think his involvement would dictate if she enjoyed herself or not." "That does make sense..." "And I have to ask, how do you even know she has this crush?" "It just seems to me that she's been talkin' about him more lately. And more positively at that." "Alright because I wasn't sure if she had told you." "Oh no she hasn't said anythin' about it." "Then it's probably not yet important enough to her yet for it to actually effect her spending time with you. After all, if she was serious about it and it had a effect, I'd think she'd tell one of the only ponies she could call a friend before the anniversary first." "Ah suppose that makes sense... But then what about if she is serious about it? Then will she still want to be around me as much?" "I think that, no matter what comes of her and Prism, you're just too special of a pony to just throw to the wayside. If you had a crush on somepony would you just stop enjoying whenever she came over?" "No.. Ah wouldn't..." Del sighed. "But then what about my crush on her? None of that makes me feel any better about the fact that she might just have a crush on somepony else..." "Well I can ensure you that'll probably fade with time,they usually do." "Ya really think it will?" "Yeah, I'm sure. I've got some previous experience with the subject..." "Well thanks then, Candy. That helps a whole lot. Ah'll keep that in mind when she comes over again. And hopefully my crush will fade." "I'm happy to help! And I'm sure it will. Just remember that, no matter what, I'm sure she'll never stop enjoying going to the farm. After all, where else is she going to practice?" Del laughed. "That is true. She's got nowhere else where she can quite do the things she does there."