“On me??!!” Sunny exclaimed.
“Yes, Sunny, I like you, I have for quite a while but was just never sure how to tell you.” Hitch replied.
“Give me one second.” Sunny said as she quickly closed down her smoothie stand. Then she came out of the door and locked it.
“O.K. Hitch I think we should walk and talk for a little bit.” Sunny said.
“O.K. do you want me to walk you home to BrightHouse?” Hitch said nervously.
“Why don’t we talk about this in your office.” Sunny suggested.
Hitch and Sunny walked over towards his office. Hitch didn’t like where this was going. He felt a condemned pony with one last treat before the noose. No Sunny liked him the things with Izzy were explainable right?
Stepping into the Sheriff’s office Sunny and Hitch stood face to face.
“Hitch I should tell you something. I’m shocked that you like me. I’m nothing special to look at. Most ponies prefer the Alicorn, not me. Finally, I had a huge crush on you for years why didn’t you say anything?” Sunny asked.
“I was never sure how to approach you.” Hitch admitted.
“The Sheriff who tried to stop me at the Canterlogic every year and has been with me ever since we played as foals and then as colt and filly playmates. The same stallion who comes to the Crystal Brighthouse or the smoothie stand every day and, you didn’t know how to approach me??!!” Sonny asked incredulously.
“Not on this matter no.” Hitch admitted equally.
“I thought you came up to the Brighthouse to see Pipp. You were coming to see me. “Sonny said.
“Well not just you, I mean I did come to see Pipp as well but also Zipp, Izzy, and now Misty too.
“Listen Hitch let me be honest with you. Izzy and I are dating.” Sonny said.
Hitch felt like his whole world had been ripped away. The floor felt like it was ripped out from beneath him. Hitch just hung his head. Sunny saw what her revelation did to Hitch.
“Hitch I had a crush on you when we use to play as friends at each other’s house. I put up with Sprout because I got to hang out with you. You never showed any interest in me. What was I supposed to do? Then when I realized I liked colts AND fillies. It was confusing after we restored magic in Equestria it was like you went back to normal life.
Sure we all hung out and had some adventures but you never said anything. You never spent any nights at the Brighthouse.” Sunny told him
“Well, I didn’t like having to follow you all over Equestria and what was I supposed to say? Sunny Starscout you are under arrest and are going to prison for bringing unicorns to Maretime Bay. Oh by the way I like you.” Hitch said.
“Was that so hard?” Sunny asked.
“Yes, it was. When I look at you directly.” Hitch admitted turning away from Sunny. Then after that, he spoke up again.
“Sunny, have you closed your smoothie stand for the day?” Hitch asked.
“Yeah, why?” Sunny asked.
‘While don’t you head up to the Brighthouse. There is a unicorn up there with a grayish mulberry coat and a two-toned blue mane and she is waiting for you.” Hitch his voice wavering just a little.
“Hitch…” Sonny began.
“Sunny do me one favor please.” Hitch said,
“Sure what?” Sunny asked.
“If we meet on the street and you are out with Izzy on a date just look the other way. Please.” Hitch said.
“Why?” Sunny asked.
“Just do it.” Hitch said.
“Okay, but I don’t understand.” Sunny said.
“Thank you.” Hitch said.
“Hitch…” Sunny started.
“Izzy is waiting for you; she will be thrilled you’re home early.” Hitch said his voice breaking slightly.
“Hitch…” Sunny started again.
“Sunny just go!” Hitch said strongly.
Sunny backed out of the Sheriff’s Office and then galloped home as fast as her hooves could take her it ate her up inside. She had just hurt the one Stallion she had known since foal hood. She had tears in her eyes as she approached the Crystal BrightHouse. Hitch was hurting and it was her fault!!
Sunny ran up the stairs past a stunned Izzy and Zipp and onto her bed and cried hugging her rainbow pillow and sobbed. A few moments later Sunny felt two forelimbs wrap around her and felt another body next to her.
“Sunny why are you crying?” Izzy asked her mare friend.
“B-Because I hurt H-Hitch badly.” Sunny stammered while crying.
Zipp heard that and ran out of the house and flew over to Mane Melody and burst in the door. Pipp had just finished a customer.
“Zipp, what’s the hurry? Oh, another good review iconic!” Pipp sang.
“Pipp, I need your help we have to get to Hitch right away!!” Zipp exclaimed.
“Why what’s wrong?” Pipp asked.
“Listen can Jazz and Rocky run things here for a while?” Zipp asked.
“Yeah, sure.” Pipp replied. Then she looked over at Jazz. “Jazz, I have an emergency you’re in charge!!” Pipp told her assistant.
“O.K. Pipsqueaks this is…” Pipp began when Zipp knocked the phone out of her hoof.
“Now this is not the time for live stream or even asking the Pipsqueaks for help. We got to go NOW!!” Zipp demanded.
“What is going on in with Hitch, that as you got all fired up?” Pipp asked.
“Fly with me and I’ll tell you.” Zipp replied.
As they flew to the Sheriff’s station Zipp was giving Pipp a rundown on Hitch finally confessing his feeling for Sunny only to be too late. Pipp could only imagine how Hitch was holding up. To say she was concerned was an understatement.
Soon the royal sisters dropped down in front of the Sheriff’s Office. It was dark and deserted. Zipp and Pipp looked around frantically. Hitch was nowhere to be found. Zipp and Pipp looked at each other with fear in their eyes.
Zipp pulled her phone out and tried to call Hitch he didn’t respond both of the sisters knew there was one more place to check. Hitch’s house. Zipp and Pipp took to the air again heading or Hitch’s house.
Soon after flying over Maretime Bay for a little bit longer, they arrived at Hitch’s house, Pipp was struggling to keep up with her more athletic sister. Zipp knocked on the door with no answer. Pipp just hit the handle to find the door unlocked.
Both Sisters walked in and found Hitch sitting in the darkness with his back towards the door. He was cradling Sparky in his one arm his shoulders slumped. Never had the girls seen the proud, happy-go-lucky Sheriff this saddened.
“Hitch?’ Zipp said cautiously.
“Hi, ladies I didn’t hear you come in.” Hitch said.
“Hitch are you ok?” Asked Pipp who pretty much already knew the answer.
“If it wasn’t for Sparky, I don’t know how long it would be before I got out of bed. Sparky is all I got left. “He said dejectedly.
“You got us, Hitch.” Pipp said.
“I know but I don’t even know if I want to stay in Maretime Bay anymore of course my grandmother is here I guess I can come back for a visit.” Hitch said.
“Hitch turn around and face me and let it out.” Pipp said.
Hitch turned around and faced both Pegasi and they could see he had cried a little bit but was holding it in. Pipp walked over to him and placed a hoof on his shoulder.
“Hitch if you can put Sparky down for a sec, I’ll hug you if it makes you feel better. Hitch put Sparky down in his fireproof playpen for a second. While Zipp backed out with a nod of her head and a knowing look to Pipp. While Zipp quietly exited the scene.
“Thank You Pipp.” He choked out.
Pipp just guided his head to her chest and wrapped her forelegs around him.
“Let it go, Hitch you’ll feel better.” Pipp told him.
“A stallion isn’t supposed to cry.” Hitch said.
“I won’t tell anyone I promise,” Pipp said.
Hitch let loose crying and sobbing not holding back. Pipp just silently held him letting him get all of his grief out. Then something hit Pipp and she decided to say it.
“Hitch…”She began raising his head to look at her “... they're only dating it may not work out even if it does, I’m here for you and so are Zipp and Misty as well. Sunny and Izzy might be dating but it doesn’t mean you’re alone Hitch.” Pipp told him.
“I feel alone.’ He sobbed.
“You are not, tell you what why don’t you and Sparky come to Mane Melody and hang out for a while? It is better than sitting here feeling sorry for yourself. Plus, I could use the company.” She half sang.
‘I know why you are doing this. It’s because you’re crushing on me.” Hitch said.
“What? No, I’m not…oh who am I kidding yes ok I am. I like you but I know you don’t have feelings for me.” Pipp said sounding defeated.
“Pipp no one has ever had feelings for me before except Sunny.” Hitch replied.
“Well, I do.”
“We can’t date, what will your Pipsqueaks think? Plus, you're a Royal Princess. I’m not royalty or even nobility. I’m not even a Pegasus. Can you date an Earth Pony?” Hitch asked.
“Can I date an Earth Pony? Uh hello…you see who my mom is dating? A unicorn.” Pipp reminded him of Queen Haven and Alphabittle’s romance.
“Why should you not be being a royal Pegasus even matter?” Pipp asked.
“Aren’t you supposed to produce an heir to the throne? I’m a pure Earth pony as far back as I can figure out. You are a Pegasus what if we hook up and you get pregnant but give birth to an earth pony or two? Zephyr Heights will not let an earth pony rule them.
Finally, what about the half-breed Pegasus? Will Zephyr Heights bow to that?” Hitch finished.
“First if my Pipsqueaks don’t like you then it would be tragic, but my loyal followers will stay with us. Finally, it’s more Zipp’s job to produce an heir with another Pegasus than its mine.” Pipp finished.
“I don’t know Pipp.” Hitch said.
“Well, I do what does your heart tell you?” Pipp asked.
“That I don’t want to be alone. Hitch replied.
“Then follow your heart.” Pipp said as she started to leave.
Hitch quickly grabbed her hoof. “Pipp, what do you say we leave Sparky with Zipp? Then go to a lil hill I know where you can see the whole town at night it’s a lovely sight.” He told her.
“I’d like that a lot it would be iconic!!” Pipp replied.