//------------------------------// // Chapter 23: Internal Struggles // Story: The Adventure of the Apex Legion (Old Version) // by DeffBwade //------------------------------// Okay, so let's recap what happened a few days ago. Shimmy Shake asked to hangout with me, I practiced my swordsmanship, we practiced our acrobatic skills, we took a dip in the lake, then some Ridley looking ass ruins the moment, blah blah blah you know what happened to it, and now I'm having an internal struggle regarding my feelings towards my best friend. Holy shit! Holy shit! Holy shit! What am I going to do?! How do I tell her how I feel?! Truth be told, when it comes to love, I'm basically a fucking idiot. I don't know how to tell a girl I like her. Hell, I never even had a crush before in my life, but I can't help it when it comes to Shimmy Shake. She's beautiful, she's sweet, she's as athletic as me, and as embarrassing as it is to admit this, but I do think she's pretty hot, she does have a pretty slender body. Damn teenage hormones. But...would she ever go out with a guy like me? Even though I am pretty nimble and athletic, I don't really have much muscles. I'm not a retard (I am), but I'm also not a genius. I'm a pretty quiet kid, and sometimes I like to be by myself. And my hobby is literally playing video games. Face it man, I'm kind of a loser. "Don't say that man. Maybe Shimmy does like you back. You never know unless you try." So...you think I should just tell her how I feel? "It's better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all." Damn bro, that was...quite poetic. "Thanks. I've been working on it for quite a while." But...how do I know she'll like me back? "You don't. As Peter Parker once said, that's all it is DeffBwade. A leap of faith." Heh. Nice Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse reference. "However, if you really can't work up the courage, then you should find some help. You know, get some guidance." That's probably a good idea. But from who? I knew exactly who to ask. I walked through Ponyville and eventually found myself at the entrance of Sweet Apple Acres. I walked through the farm and spotted Professor Applejack bucking one of the trees. She spotted me approaching. "Well howdy there Legion. What brings ya here to Sweet Apple Acres?" she asked with a smile. "Hey Professor Applejack. Is um...is Big Macintosh around?" I asked. "He sure is, he's just a few trees that way bucking apples with Sugar Belle," she answered while pointing in a random direction. "Thanks professor," I thanked her. I walked in the direction she pointed. After a minute of walking I spotted Big Macintosh bucking some apple trees and teaching Sugar Belle how to do so as well. "Hey Big Mac. Hey Sugar Belle," I called to them to which they turned their heads to me. "Hello there Legion," Sugar Belle greeted. "Howdy. Come to help out at the farm again?" Big Mac asked. "N-no actually...As much as I like to, I was actually wondering if you could give me some advice on something," I said a bit nervously. "What's on your mind?" he asked. "Big Mac, you had a crush on Sugar Belle before you started dating, right?" I asked to which he nodded, "How'd you do it? How did you admit your feelings to her?" He smirked at this, "Got a little crush, do ya?" I blushed at this, "W-well...um...m-maybe? U-um...please don't tell anyone?" "Oh don't worry Legion. Our lips are sealed," Sugar Belle asked. "Eeyup," Big Mac said, "And to answer your question, I just thought about what meant a lot to Sugar Belle. I ended up making her a new display shelf in her bakery. I didn't need to do any grand gestures or anything extravagant. I just needed to put a little thought." Sugar Belle chuckled, "But you did do a punch of grand gestures. Remember when you sung me that song?" "Eeyup. That was quite a disaster," Big Mac said. I'd ask what they talking about, but I was barely paying any attention at this point. "Think about what means a lot to her," I pondered while stroking my chin before addressing them again, "I'd have to think about it. Thanks Big Mac. Bye Sugar Belle." They waved their goodbyes as I left Sweet Apple Acres, making sure to say goodbye to Professor Applejack as well. "He...wasn't exactly the pony I was referring to, but...okay" Big Mac's advice did sound helpful, but I still feel like I need more help. "Then I suggest you go to a counselor of some sort." You're probably right. "So...you got any advice on how to tell this girl how I feel?" I asked. "It's quite simple man," the Dude said, "Just go with the flow?" "Go with the flow? That's it?" I asked. "Yeah man. Don't worry about what could happen in the future and just focus on the present," he said, "You like this girl, right?" "Well...yeah. That's...why I asked you in the first place?" I said. "So just tell her you like her, and whatever her response is, you'll work from there," he said. "I...guess that helps," I said. STRIKE "Yeah! Got that 7-10 split!" one of his amigos cheered. "Great shot man," the Dude said. "Nice one," I said before walking away, "Thanks for the advice Dude. I'll take it into consideration." "Anytime man," the Dude said. "No, that's not...that's not who I was referring to." What do you mean? He gave me advise, didn't he? "W-well...yeah...but..." Oh! I think I know who you were talking about now. "Really? Do you really know?" Yeah. Someone who's great at giving guidance to others... "Yeah." Someone who can act like a counselor... "Yeeeaaah." Someone like... "Cutie Mark Crusaders. I need your help with something." "WHAT THE FU-" "What is it Legion?" Applebloom asked. "Is it another cutie mark problem?" Sweetie Belle asked. "Does it involve your awesome sword? Did something happen to it?!" Scootaloo asked. "U-um...no. I'll uh...I'll only tell you if you three promise not to tell anypony," I said to which they lifted their hooves and- "Cross my heart and hope to fly. Stick a cupcake in my eye," they all said. I think I prefer my version. Because it involves hoping to die and sticking a needle in my eye. "Dude...you're edgy." I know. "W-well okay. Um...how do I uh...how do I put this? I may or may not have a crush on this girl," I said the last part quietly to which their eyes widened a bit. "W-what was that?" Sweetie asked. "I uh...have a crush on a girl," I said as I started to blush. The girls huddled around each other and started whispering. They then slowly turned around with giant grins on their faces and sparkling eyes. Well...I'm fucked. They then let out an ear-piercing cheer before hopping around me and chanting, "Legion is in loOove! Legion is in loOove! Legion is in loOove!" "HAHAHAHAHA! You're...you're getting teased...by little girls! HAHAHA!" I thank the stars that I had a dark fur color, cause if I didn't, then the girls could see just how red and embarrassed I was. "H-hey! Come on girls! Knock it off! You promised!" I pleaded. "No. We promised not to tell anypony," Applebloom said. "Yeah. We never promised not to cheer about it," Sweetie Belle said. Damnit! "They got you there." "C-can you girls just help me? Gimme something. Anything! Anything that'll help me get the courage to tell this girl how I feel!" I pleaded. "Well, who is it?" Scootaloo asked. "Uuuuuuuuuuhhhhhhhhh...I don't wanna say," I said. They already teased me for having a crush. I'm not having anymore of that. "Aw come on!" Scootaloo complained. "Look, that's not really important right now. I just wanna know how to tell her I like her," I said, "Or like...how to impress her." "I have an idea," Sweetie Belle said. "Really? What is it?" I asked with a smile... ...before it fell as I noticed the devilish grins on the crusaders' faces. Oh no. "You girls thinking what I'm thinking?" Sweetie Belle asked the other crusaders. No. "You mean we should..." Scootaloo said. No! "...give Legion..." Applebloom said. NO! "...A MAKEOVER!" the three cheered aloud. NOOOOO! I turned and tried to fly away, before I felt something tug on my hind hoof and pull back down to the ground. I looked back and saw a rope tied around my hoof, with the other end in Applebloom's mouth. The crusaders then started to giggle as Applebloom dragged me towards their clubhouse. I dug my hooves into the ground to try to stop the impending doom coming to me. "No! I don't want a makeover! Please!" I panicked. "You said you wanted to impress this girl, didn't you? Well, what better way to impress a girl than with a whole new look?" Scootaloo said. "Yeah. And we'll start with that dirty looking coat of yours," Sweetie Belle said. "No! I had this conversation with Professor Rarity! Please! I like my coat as it is!" I panicked as Applebloom continued dragging me. Someone! Please! Help me! "Adios dickwad." NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!