//------------------------------// // A friendly Note // Story: Sulfur Courtship // by GermanBrony_12 //------------------------------// I can’t keep focusing on things like this; I need to concentrate for the test today. I approach the university, still distracted by thoughts of my sister’s disappearance. At the very least it gives me something to think about other than that barista, but that does little to ease my worry.  Upon arriving, I hear a loud crash from around the corner. I hurry toward the noise to find the hottest stallion in Equestria buried under piles of forget-me-nots and letters. “Feather Bangs!” I dive into the pile to save him. Using all of my strength, I pull the handsome stallion from the perilous flower-trap and brush the petals from his perfect mane. I freeze: what am I doing? I’ve cursed myself with the wrath of his hoards of admirers! “If you wanted a flower, you could have just asked. Though they might not grow well near someone as bright - heh-heh - as you.” I blush, turning away only to meet the startling glares of my classmates. In a panic I gallop to class, narrowly avoiding catastrophe at every turn. I made it to class but what good does it do me? I’ll still have to face my peers anyway. First the barista, then my sister, and now Featherbangs. With all the chaos around me, how can I possibly focus? I am constantly suffocated by every move I make, every event of my life. It feels inescapable at best from every possible angle. At this point I don’t stand a chance at the test, and that’s in mere minutes! A loud thud expels me from my frenzied thoughts. Smoulder stands before me, glaring at me with every ounce of hatred within her. “Listen up, Poltroon. You’d better keep your hooves off of Feather Bangs. There’s no way some lame pony like you is getting the best guy in the school.” I nod rigorously, slumping back in my seat. Without looking I can feel her eyes still fixed on me. I do my best to avoid eye contact, but in the end I have to tilt my head to check if she is still there. A wave of relief washes over me as I see that she has settled down a couple seats behind me. I suppose only an important test could stop her from returning to warn me again. Although it may benefit me for the moment, I know this test will only hurt me in the future. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… Having finally completed my classes for the day, I walk to the cafe. It’s been months since I last went alone, and the solitude weighs down on me like a massive boulder. Sitting down at my usual spot, I look forward and see the empty seat before me. It pains me to come back here now, and every second serves as a reminder of my sister’s disappearance. As always the waitress approached my table and requested my order. I hesitate a bit: it had always been what I looked forward to each day, but I had promised my sister that I wouldn’t get boba tea without her. My heart aches and again the bitter loneliness from earlier engulfed me. “I’ll have a latte…” A few minutes later, the waitress returned with a tray. They set down the latte and, despite me not ordering it, a few red velvet cupcakes along with it. I looked up, thinking that a mistake had been made, only to see that it was not the waitress, but the barista who served me. “What’s with the cupcakes?” I asked, startled by his sudden appearance, but the barista only smiled at me before returning to his station. Puzzled by this, I inspect the dish thoroughly, but I find nothing odd about the cupcakes or the latte, which is pleasantly decorated with a frothy white duck on top. I ignore my suspicions and delight in the latte and cupcakes. Contrary to the results of my inspection, however, I feel something within the cupcake as I chew. A note, smudged and stained by the cupcake, had been planted in the scrumptious treat.  “Sorry for your loss. If you need someone to sit with tomorrow, I’ll be at table 7💕.” I look to the barista, but find that he has left his station and is nowhere in the cafe. At this point, I feel nothing but loathing when I think of the barista. I can never eat in peace as a result of him staring at me, and now, my sister has vanished and I receive nothing but little hearts on a sheet of paper! I storm out of the cafe, infuriated by that barista creep. Who cares about him anyway? I’ll be laughing if he actually waits for me at that table tomorrow. At least now I have something to look forward to. In my brief moment of joy, I trot back home where I’ll finally be able to rest for a bit. I walk inside and head to the living room where my grandparents are waiting on the couch. I slow to a stop as I look to see them. They look at me, both wearing a distraught expression. “They’ve searched everywhere, used magic to check; they didn’t even find a trace of her. Poltroon Twirl, they say your sister is dead.”