//------------------------------// // Chapter 5 // Story: New World, Old Fight // by SGTBRONY //------------------------------// Chapter 5 Feelings…and the problems they present I awoke a good 3 hours later, I felt like I hadn’t slept a wink. My little “episode” had taken a lot out of me. Twilight was snuggled into my back, snoring like two lumberjacks going at a redwood with a hand saw, I couldn’t help but smile as I eased my way out of her embrace. She was the very picture of serenity, I took great care as I dressed not to wake her. Her eyes fluttered open as I was tying my boots. I smiled broadly at her, trying to set the mood “Hey sleepyhead” She returned the smile, but after a moment it faltered. “Mike are you ok?, last night was frightening to say the least” “It was just a bad dream Twi, I’m ok I swear. Did you know you snore horribly?” I said with a cocked eyebrow in a terrible attempt to change the subject. She grimaced, “Not until just then…thanks for that” I chuckled, “In all seriousness Twi, I really appreciate you being here for me last night, I needed that. I‘m gonna head downstairs and grab some chow before I head to the farm, would you like anything?” “No thank you, I’ll have Spike make something a little later, and Mike?” “Hmm?” “I’ll always be here for you, no matter what.” she said, blushing. “That means a lot Twi, more than I can articulate” We held each others gaze and her blush deepened. Man the room got hot… quickly. After a moment I broke the silence “I, um, I should probably get going, don’t wanna be late ya know, AJ would have my ass.” “Y-yes, I’ll see you tonight?” “As always” I hustled downstairs, one thought dominating my being. “What the hell was that?” Work was rough, I was…distracted to say the least. 12 hours with Macintosh hauling barrels of apples from the field to the barn helped a little, but Twilight and our interaction this morning consumed my mind and set it on fire. I felt warm thinking about her and it was disconcerting to say the least, it was a little after noon and I was no closer to figuring anything out . I couldn’t understand how I could be attracted, to the point of distraction, to a purple unicorn. Part of me reasoned that she was sentient, more like a person than an animal, another part screamed “BESTIALITY” in big flashing neon letters. And another part still whispered, “If she was a human female, you would have made a move by now.” Pretty soon it was 8 and I was knocking off, dreading the walk back to the library, dreading the inevitable conversation with Twilight even more. As I reached the front door I heard Twilights voice clearly and another I couldn’t quite place. Feeling sneaky, I dropped my bag and sidled over to the window. “Twilight dear, it won’t do to continue to keep this kind of thing to yourself.” “Ah, Rarity.” “I know, it’s just such a foreign concept. I don’t quite know what to do with it.” “Hmmm, I wonder what Twilight’s fretting over.” “You simply must tell him how you feel or at the very least “Make a move“ as they say in order to assess his feelings for you, I think it‘s quite romantic personally. Mike is a wonderful stallion, er, man.” I was floored. Apparently, Twilight was wrestling with the same thing I was, and hard enough to go to one of her friends over it. “I wouldn’t say I’ve fallen for him, but I can barely think about anything else, and the biological reaction to his presence is unnerving to say the least” “Hmm, does it feel like your heart beats faster when you see him?” “Well yes but-” “And do you find yourself at a loss for words when he speaks to you?” “I do and-” “Twilight, darling. You are absolutely enamored with him aren’t you?” “Yes, yes I am. Rarity what am I going to do? What if he doesn’t feel the same way? It would be so embarrassing! I’d never be able to look him in the eye again!” “It would seem the time has come to throw caution to the wind dear.” I figured that little break was as good a time as any, I knocked on the door. “Twilight? It’s Mike, may I come in?” After a few seconds fraught with banging, crashing and what resembled a whinny, the door flew open to reveal an extremely nervous looking Twilight Sparkle. “Of course you can come in, why wouldn’t you be able to come in?! This is practically your house too!” This rant was accompanied by the most awkward, forced laugh I’d ever heard uttered by anyone, human or pony. “Um, I heard voices and figured it would be better to knock than just barging in? How are you Rarity?” “I’m well darling, and yourself?” “I’m faring well ma’am, long day today. I think I‘m gonna go to bed Twi, I‘d hate to interrupt girl time” I said with a wink and a smile. I thought Twilight was going to swallow her tongue “O-ok, sleep well, Mike” I held her gaze and for a moment I lost myself in her deep purple eyes. I mentally shook myself, clearing my throat “Goodnight ladies” Double timing it up the stairs I collapsed onto my bed, my head was spinning with what had just occurred. My internal monologue going a million miles a minute. “Second time today mate, time to face up. You got it bad for that little purple hottie” “I’m a human, she’s a pony. Full stop, end of story.” “Love is what it is, no matter the species bro, you’re stuck here. Might as well get used to the idea and all that implies” “What about Jess?” “Jess would understand, it’s time you moved on.” “But she’s a horse!” “Refer to previous statement” It was starting to seem like my little eavesdropping adventure was set to change everything. after hours of wracking my brain, going back to all the times we’d laughed, cried, and shared our hopes and dreams. I settled on the final, unyielding truth. I was in love with Twilight Sparkle… I felt liberated, my heart beating a mile a minute. I felt less like a SEAL operator, and more like a 16-year-old kid with his first crush. I honestly wanted to jump out of bed, find Twilight, and confess everything on the spot. But common sense kicked in once I checked the time…0344. It could wait till morning, I hopped off the bed and padded across the floor to the balcony. At her urging I’d broken down a cigarette for Twilight about a week after my arrival, she’d managed to replicate a single one, then an entire pack, I was the happiest smoker in existence when I put it together that I’d never run out. I lit one up and stared out across Ponyville. “Tomorrow, I’ll tell her everything tomorrow…”