Main Characters: Two of them
Cameos: Several
Original Start Date: October 12, 2012
Note: Links are to G Docs since those allow for better bookmarking.
Across Equestria, ponies are settling in for the night. While there are some with late night duties, the vast majority are getting their well-deserved rest. Even the princesses are getting some sleep, though Princess Celestia will have a heck of a time getting the cheese from her mane after a late night pizza binge.
In The Power Block, James lets out a big yawn and trots to his room. Rei is curled up asleep in her bed after playing computer games all night. Del groans and rolls over holding her stomach, having drank her volume in juice before bed. James yawns again and sets his mobile and glasses on his nightstand.
The stallion looks out the window. ‘Good night, Luna. Love you.’ He sits up slightly and looks towards the opposite wall. ‘Love you too, Fluttershy.’ He leans back towards the wall behind his head. ‘You too, Pinkie Pie.’ He settles down and looks towards his last wall. ‘Sleep well, Twilight. I love you so very much.’
The tired stallion gives one last yawn and closes his eyes. As he fades into sleep, a low, deep laugh creeps across the land.
How did you meet him?
Fluttershy blushes and hides behind her mane.
‘Well, we sorta ran into each other his first day in town. Well... almost ran into each other. It was very awkward and a little scary. We didn’t really talk for the first time until a few days later when I came to his store. I was a little shocked to see a different owner, but he was as shy and nervous as I was. It was really cute.’
…
‘Geez. What was it?’ Marvel Crystal wonders. ‘Was it working with that game company?’
‘I think he was there,’ DC remembers, ‘but we really didn’t meet him until he moved to Ponyville. We came over and visited him while he was moving in. I remember that weird door of his.’
Marvel laughs. ‘Right. That was cool.’
‘You’re not getting one for your office.’
‘Why not!’
…
Pinkie taps her chin thoughtfully.
‘Let’s see. I heard there was a new pony in town, and I had to meet him and make him my friend! When I got to his shop, the game on display started moving with me. TOTALLY! BLEW! MY! MIND!’ She laughs. ‘Anyway, James showed me how to play and set up a dancing game. TOTALLY! BLEW! ME! AGAIN! After that, we played games and stuff together. It was great!’
…
The Cutie Mark Crusaders grimace and shrink in their seats.
‘We just wanted our cutie marks. We didn’t mean to almost break anything,’ they whimper.
…
Applejack scowls.
‘Ah hate t’ let the bad overpower the good, but Ah first met ‘im after he threatened mah sister.’ She snorts loudly. ‘Ah came t’ give ‘im a piece o’ mah mind, but Ah ended up havin’ t’ lecture AB ‘bout breakin’ other pony’s thin’s.’
…
Rarity laughs.
‘Well, it was the incident where Sweetie almost smashed his shop. … The first time. The very first time. I was inquiring as to how I could keep her in a constant state of terror. Sadly, he seems to be the only one with the power.
…
Twilight blushes.
‘My friends had convinced me to do a friendship report on his game store. We spent the whole day together.’ Her blush deepens. ‘It was one of the best days of my life.’
…
‘It was a dark and stormy night,’ Rei begins. She pauses. ‘I don’t care if it is cliche! That is what happened! I was out flying around my home in Haydo when I crossed through this odd portal and ended up crashing into the side of his home. He helped care for me that night. He was very friendly and made me feel very safe. I felt like I was at home...’
…
Inkie turns bright red.
‘I would prefer not talking about how we met!’
…
Daring sighs.
‘Dash should have more birthdays... Anyway! He just showed up at one of my lectures after we had a bit of a random encounter. It was quite an eye-opening adventure. … You want details? Paperback starts at five bits’ -- she winks -- ‘but I’ll sign it for free.’
…
Celestia smiles and laughs.
‘I almost forgot about that.’ She lets out a long sigh. ‘It was a thousand years ago. Just after Luna’s banishment. I was feeling miserable about what I had done and furious with her behaviour, then he showed up... Then I thought that he knew an awful lot about my sister to be screaming at me like that. She nearly got a roommate that evening. So many regrets...’
…
Del blinks and starts licking one of her wings.
What was your first impression?
‘Honestly?’ Twilight asks. ‘I thought he was a total nutter.’ She looks down and blushes bright red. ‘Really cute, but a total nutter.’
…
‘Um, once we started talking...’ Fluttershy hides behind her mane and smiles. ‘I thought he was very nice.’
…
‘Honest first impression was that he was an asshole,’ Applejack grumbles then looks away. She blushes a little and her nose scrunches up. She looks straight forward. ‘AH DIDN’ THINK HE WAS GOOD LOOKIN’ AT ALL!’ She covers her face and looks away. ‘And that time didn’ count... Don’ remind me...’
…
‘Aside from the scruffy mane cut, the drab coat, the tacky store displays and the odor of geek, I found him quite pleasant.’ Rarity nods. She sighs. ‘I am so glad Twilight got him to take better care of himself.’
…
‘I thought...’ Pinkie frowns and looks down. Her mane loses its poof and falls over her face. ‘I thought he was as sad and lonely as me and that I could cheer him up.’ She smiles and her mane springs to life. ‘Thank Celestia I was able to help him do that!’
…
‘Impressions?’ Rainbow Dash scoffs. ‘He sells games. That is all I needed to know. Oh! And when the next Call of Duty game was coming out.’
…
Rei kicks at her seat a bit.
‘I know it sounds weird, but I thought he was King Sparkle... which sorta makes sense, he is my real dad.’
…
‘I thought he was a total nutter and had no business near my daughter,’ Night Light answers.
Twilight Velvet snorts. ‘Well, I found him charming.’
…
‘I thought he was a terrorist,’ Shining Armor replies, shrugging.
…
‘Trixie paid no attention to him at our first meeting. I just thought he was some random pony that stepped on Maxie’s tail or something stupid like that.’
…
‘I had no idea who he was or how he had gotten past security,’ Celestia sighs.
…
‘I was quite intrigued by this strange pony I had seen,’ Luna states.
…
‘Impressions?’ Stormy shrugs. ‘He sells games. That is all I needed to know. Oh! And when the next Call of Duty game was coming out.’
…
‘He was scary at first,’ Scootaloo states.
‘But we grew t’ like ‘im,’ Apple Bloom adds.
They both nudge a distracted Sweetie Belle.
‘I really like his mane?’
…
Darling licks her lips.
‘I still remember that taste. So delicious.’
…
Lyra closes her eyes and focuses.
‘First memory of him was... “What are hands?”. So, I guess that is a good first impression.’
…
‘James?’ DC asks. ‘Hmm...’
‘He liked my art. That’s all I needed to like him,’ Marvel replies.
‘I thought he was a little weird, but a nice guy,’ DC adds.
…
‘Geez... That was back at the festival after I just came to Ponyville,’ Lucas muses. ‘I thought he needed some sleep. He kept telling my friends Midnight Cloud and Shining Spark to stop fighting. After I met Twilight and Selene, that started to make sense...’
…
‘I could have sworn he was watching me back...’ Inkie remembers.
…
‘Well, I was more concerned about the crazed filly and her royal bodyguards than about the stallion they were with,’ Chrysalis states. ‘I was eased by how calm and friendly he was. Don’t tell him that just a whiff of his love could feed armies.’
…
Del stares and blinks. She opens her mouth wide then stops. She turns back and scratches her chitin with a fang.
…
‘Actually, I didn’t notice Chief the first time we met,’ Derpy replies. ‘Too many packages to deliver. When I came back later to pick up a new game, he hid behind the counter because he thought I had more deliveries. It was funny.’
…
Cheerilee thinks hard.
‘The first time we really met was prep for when I was sick with poison joke. I was so grateful for his help. He really did a great job. I was so happy that my students loved him so much.’
…
Octavia laughs.
‘To be honest, the first impression on me was imagining where to make the first incision on him.’
What is your relationship?
Rei smiles.
‘He is my daddy. He might not be my real daddy, but he is better than a real daddy.’
…
Stormy shrugs.
‘I don’t know. I guess he is a mentor or something.’ He glances down a bit. ‘He is more of a father than either of the stallions who say they are my father... Don’t tell my dad that. He is great too, but I just don’t know him well enough.’
…
Celestia scowls.
‘You’re going to make me say it, aren’t you?’ The princess looks away and snorts. ‘He is my best friend, okay? There. I said it. I will never say it again!’
…
The Cutie Mark Crusaders lean in and whisper. They all nod.
‘He is sorta like a big brother to all of us,’ Scootaloo answers.
…
‘Chief’s the Chief, ya know?’ Derpy smiles. ‘He is just there and awesome. A great friend.’
…
Fluttershy kicks at her seat.
‘When you say relationship... … Oh. We are really good friends. Really good, really close friends...’ She smiles. ‘He put me as Rei’s legal guardian if anything happens to him.’
…
‘I dread the day he becomes our son-in-law,’ Night Light states.
Twilight Velvet sighs. ‘Well, I don’t.’
…
Cheerilee smiles.
‘James is a good friend, and I can trust him with my students.’
…
‘He’s jus’ a good friend!’ Applejack shouts. ‘Ain’t nothin’ more than that!’
…
Rainbow Dash shrugs.
‘I don’t know. We don’t hang out much. Guess we’re friends.’
…
Luna gets a crafty grin.
‘As in Rei’s world, one day he will be my king.’
…
‘I dread the day he becomes my brother-in-law,’ Shining states.
…
‘Relationship!?’
Octavia starts adjusting her bow tie to the point where it comes undone.
‘While I do find him to be a pain at times, he is enjoyable to be around. I would say he is a good friend, much like Vinyl is a good friend and not somepony I have romantic feelings towards.’
‘I love you too, Tavi!’ is shouted from an unseen source.
…
‘Mr Wanderer is a great friend and an amazing contact,’ Trixie states. ‘He would be much more valued if he would share a story or two of his off-world adventures.’
…
Twilight smiles and blushes.
‘I think our relationship is pretty obvious.’
…
‘He’s my coltfriend,’ Pinkie proudly states.
…
Del curls in a ball and closes her eyes.
…
Chrysalis thinks.
‘To say he was a friend would be saying more than is true. To say he is less than a friend would be false as well.’
The changeling queen continues to ponder the question.
…
‘Best. Neighbor. Ever.’ Marvel states.
‘He could stand to turn the games and movies down after midnight,’ DC groans.
Marvel looks at his wife then forward. ‘Best. Neighbor. Ever.’
…
Daring smiles
‘He’s my savior. If he were more, that would be wonderful. I can live with just owing him my everything.’
…
‘Of all of the humans I have studied, he has provided the best data,’ Lyra states.
…
Inkie blushes so much she looks like her sister.
‘I hope he will be my father-in-law someday.’
…
Lucas lets out a long sigh.
‘He is my boss, my mentor and my friend. I wish I could be more poetic, but that really isn’t my thing.’
…
‘A relationship?’
Rarity thinks then grins.
‘Well, I never really considered one, but I might give it a go. See what the fuss is about.’ She pauses. ‘OH! Well, in that case, he is a good stallion to have on hoof. Not to mention, he allowed me to find Stormy. I owe him for giving me the brother I never had. … Now if only I could have a darling little sister... … I said “darling”.’
What do you like best about him?
‘He lets me get rated M games.’ Scootaloo grins.
‘He is really fun when he teaches our class,’ Sweetie Belle adds.
Apple Bloom blushes and stares at her seat. Her friends nudge her.
‘Ah really like his mane.’
…
Chrysalis drools.
‘All of that juicy love, just dripping from him...’
…
Del drools.
‘All of that delicious sugar he gives me.’
…
‘That assumes there is something about him I like,’ Octavia replies.
A cello bow hits her across the back of the head.
‘I never knew how much that hurt...’ she grumbles. ‘Fine. I like his caring. Not enough ponies have even a fraction of his caring.’
…
‘Ah like that he challenges me,’ Applejack replies. ‘Not many stallions with the stones t’ take me on ‘round these parts.’
…
‘That beard...’ Rarity sighs. ‘I think about it some nights when I am alone or just have stopped caring that Sweetie is next door.’
…
‘I think he is a thoughtful, intelligent pony,’ Twilight Velvet answers.
‘Define “like”,’ Night Light asks.
…
‘He wanted ME of all ponies to be his daughter,’ Rei replies. She starts tearing up a little. ‘He actually wanted to be my daddy...’
…
‘That flank.’ Celestia looks nervous. ‘WHAT!’
…
‘That flank.’ Luna looks nervous. ‘WHAT!’
…
‘That flank.’ Daring smirks playfully.
…
‘He was the first pony to treat me like an adult,’ Stormy replies. ‘I know he is like that with everypony, but it really means a lot to me.’
…
Twilight sighs contentedly.
‘He is willing to just lay there and do nothing or chat or cuddle or whatever. Those are the best days.’
…
Fluttershy thinks.
‘One thing? His cooking. No! How nice he is with animals. No! How he is willing to just listen when you have a problem. No!’ She looks around nervously and hides behind her mane. ‘His flank...’
…
Pinkie sighs contentedly.
‘He is willing to just lay there and do nothing or chat or cuddle or whatever. Those are the best days.’
…
Lucas shrugs.
‘I just like how cool he is. He is the coolest pony I know.’
…
‘It is so good having somepony to talk science with!’ Inkie motions with her hooves for emphasis.
…
‘The only correct answer,’ Shining begins, ‘is how much he loves my little sister.’
Anything you would change?
‘Fix his mane,’ Applejack laughs, ‘but then he wouldn’ be ‘im, ya know?’
…
Twilight sighs.
‘I wish he was more open with us. We’re his friends, you know?’ She takes a deep breath. ‘Also, I wish he’d stop trying to grow a beard the second my back is turned!’
…
‘Maybe he could be more sharing with his stories...’ Trixie hints.
…
Chrysalis sighs.
‘Actually, that love is hard to access or even process. It is covered by a lot of sadness. I would wish he could be happier, then he would enjoy his love even more. … That is a long time to be alone...’
…
‘His choice in fillyfriends,’ Night Light grumbles.
‘So you don’t approve of who he dates?’ Twilight Velvet asks.
‘I approve of the pony, just not who she is with.’
Twilight Velvet groans. ‘You can be a real jerk sometimes.’
…
Octavia thinks really hard.
‘Can I pick more than one thing?
…
Lucas groans.
‘His sense of humor. The first time was funny, but pretending to fire me all of those other times... … Oh, shut up!’
…
‘Not him per say...’ Rarity muses. ‘I just wish Twilight would allow him to grow out that glorious beard again. Trixie too, in Stormy’s case.’
…
Celestia smirks.
‘He could be more willing to try new things.’
…
Luna scowls.
‘He could be less willing to dote on a certain princess...’
…
Pinkie sighs.
‘He could open up and come to parties more. It would be great to see him come out of his shell more.’
…
‘I want my allowance so I’m just going to say he is perfect in every way,’ Rei says with a nervous smile.
…
Inkie rolls her eyes.
‘It would be better if he didn’t snoop on Rei so much. He has to let her go sometime.’
…
‘Del wants a later bedtime!’
…
Shining shudders.
‘I think it is obvious what I would want to change.’
…
Daring taps her hoof on her chin and sighs.
‘I wish he wasn’t so blunt. It made him look like he was playing hard to get. That and I wish he would leave his shades open after he showers.’ She starts drooling. ‘You see him dripping wet after a shower once...’
…
Fluttershy takes a deep breath...
What is the best thing you have done together?
‘The time we met Daring Do.’ Rainbow Dash smiles broadly. After a pause, she scowls. ‘Yes, I know I can see her almost anytime I want! But it was Daring Do and time travel! I got into one of her books, too!’ She squeezes her cheeks. ‘So awesome!’
…
Marvel and DC look at each other and nod.
‘COMIC CON!’
…
Celestia smiles and sighs contently.
‘That time he took me in his time machine to experience the joys life had to offer.’ She sighs again. ‘That was the time I realized...’ She smiles wider.
…
Daring smiles and looks down.
‘Well, I am here, aren’t I?’
…
‘Has to be the time he saved me from the Daleks,’ Derpy replies.
…
‘Del’s birthday party!’ The changeling licks her lips. ‘So many sweets all for Del.’
…
‘The sleepover!’ all three Cutie Mark Crusaders cheer.
The fillies pause and look forward for a moment.
‘You want us each to answer?’ Scootaloo asks. ‘I guess when he helped with my wings.’
Apple Bloom blushes. ‘Our date...’
‘When he had Rei teach me all of those Neighponese words.’ Sweetie grins.
Scootaloo and Apple Bloom edge away from their friend.
…
Fluttershy blushes and giggles.
‘We were “married”...’
…
Applejack blushes and looks down.
‘Our date...’
…
Rarity sighs.
‘The sleepover. First good night’s sleep I got in ages.’ She pauses. ‘Oh. It has to involve him. Then our trip to Neighpon. Absolute dream.’
…
Cheerilee laughs.
‘Being there on parent’s night when all of the parents asked where their kids got all of the strange ideas he taught them.’
…
‘Every single night we have gone stargazing,’ Luna replies. ‘That includes every single astronomy club meeting. It is wonderful knowing that ponies love my nights.’
…
Rei smiles and sighs.
‘The exact best moment was when the paperwork arrived that said he officially adopted me.’
…
Lucas grins.
‘My whole freakin’ job.’
…
‘Well, Trixie would say an off-world adventure if she ever had one...’
…
Stormy smiles slightly and looks down.
‘I got to say goodbye to my mom...’
…
Raspberry smiles slightly and looks down.
‘I got to say goodbye to my son...’
…
Pinkie blushes.
‘Our first kiss...’
…
‘Well, he actually stayed awake during my performance when we were in Los Arion,’ Octavia laughs. ‘Seriously, when he got the doctor to fix up my hooves... Saved me a lot of anguish.’
…
‘Do I have to pick one?’ Twilight asks. ‘I think it changes everyday...’
…
Lyra looks around nervously and leans in.
‘Okay. So there is this place called “Seattle”...’
Worst?
Celestia scowls.
‘There was the uprising in the Griffin Kingdom... I wanted to aid my ally, but he showed up. We fought for weeks. Literally weeks without end. Retrospectively, I know it was for the best.’ She looks away and frowns. ‘We came to blows. I nearly sent him to join my sister several times as well. It hurt me more than his hooves across my horn when he would cite my argument with Nightmare Moon every time I would raise my magic level. The history books only have it down as deliberations with my top advisor. If anypony were smart enough to check five hundred year old medical records... Even princesses can break their ribs, you know?’ She laughs. ‘Of course you know.’
…
Marvel and DC look at each other and scowl.
‘Comiket.’
…
Rei growls. Electricity sparks between her flared wings. Her coat starts turning slightly black.
‘That time he stepped on the CD for my favorite eroge!’
…
Trixie snorts.
‘That damn video game illusion. Although it was not his fault, I would hate to be stuck in that illusion again.’
…
Octavia raises and eyebrow.
‘Worst together or worst where he was on hoof?’ She shrugs. ‘For the first, it has to be when we were locked in the room together. I was so terrified about what was going to happen. For the second, it was when Skybound shot me. I thought I was never going to play again. Thankfully, he was there to help prove me wrong.’
…
Rarity snorts.
‘He got me doing that damn class. At least I am getting paid this time!’
…
Cheerilee facehoofs.
‘I should never have taken a break before a history exam.’
…
Daring frowns and looks down.
‘There were several times during our first meeting... but the worst, ironically, has to be the night he saved me. He had to wrestle the gun from my wings. When it went off... I thought I had killed him. When I saw the smoking hole beside his head and the terrified look on his face, we just laid there crying for hours.’ She starts crying. ‘I almost killed him! He was coming to save me and I almost killed him! I am the worst pony ever!’ She covers her face. ‘Go away! I need a moment!’
…
Lyra looks away sheepishly.
‘When he found out my secret. My marriage almost died that night.’
…
Stormy rubs his horn.
‘That damned ointment.’ He pauses. ‘Yes, I know there are other potentially upsetting events, but you put that on your second most sensitive organ and see how much you like it!’
…
The Cutie Mark Crusaders frown and look down.
‘That other time we tried for our cutie marks... and broke his game.’ Scootaloo whispers.
‘Ah ain’t never seen ‘im so mad,’ Apple Bloom whimpers.
Sweetie Belle starts crying. ‘He yelled at us a lot. It was scary.’
…
Del shudders.
‘When Del walked in on him and Sparkly Twilight. They were both angry. I saw things I cannot unsee.’ She looks up. ‘Do ponies really mate like that? It is so gross!’
…
Derpy contorts her face to think.
‘Not really him, but he could have done something to stop Rei giving Dinky those comics.’
…
Luna frowns. Her coat turns slightly black.
‘Though it is not right blaming him for it, leaving my daughter in the hooves of those two psychopaths for a week... They are lucky my sister and I are so kind or I would have had their heads for harming Rei.’
…
Fluttershy hides behind her mane.
‘I know it is not as bad as what everypony else can say, but when he was mad at me for using Rei to stay in our fake marriage. I... I really did want to disappear. I didn’t mean to hurt them so much.’ She starts sobbing. ‘I love them both so much!’
…
Lucas looks away.
‘The Dalek incident. … I’m not talking about it.’
…
Rainbow Dash frowns.
‘I don’t like talking about it, but the Daleks...’
…
Applejack shakes her head.
‘The Daleks and Ah ain’t talkin’.’
…
Pinkie’s mane goes flat.
‘He was so sad after the Dalek incident... I don’t like talking about it...’
…
Twilight closes her eyes and fights back tears.
‘I never want to think about the Daleks ever again.’
If you could do anything together, what would it be?
Pinkie thinks and thinks and thinks. She looks up and smiles.
‘I just want to smile with him.’
…
‘Does Trixie have to spell it out for you!’ Trixie shouts. ‘I want to visit another planet!’
…
Celestia grins evilly.
‘Well, if it is anything, then the answer would be him.’
She laughs playfully.
…
Marvel and DC look at each other and grin.
‘ECCC!’
…
‘I want to travel in his weird ship,’ Scootaloo replies.
‘I want to know what is behind that closed off room in his shop,’ Sweetie answers.
Apple Bloom kicks at her seat. ‘Ah want another date...’
…
Chrysalis grins evilly
‘I want an invitation to the wedding.’
…
Twilight blushes and kicks at her seat.
…
‘I would want to show him my home,’ Rei says with a smile.
…
Cheerilee scowls.
‘I wish he would take me on one of the field trips he takes my class on.’
…
‘High five!’ Lyra shouts.
…
‘He knows freaking Miyamoto!’ Lucas yells. ‘What do I have to do to get him to hook a brother up!’
…
Daring smirks.
‘Daring Wanderer sounds pretty badass, don’t you think?’
…
‘We totally have to time travel again,’ Rainbow Dash replies.
…
Octavia groans.
‘I would kill for him to not ruin one of my performances.’
…
‘Cake!’ Del replies with a wide grin, her fangs glinting.
…
Fluttershy blushes and kicks at her seat.
…
‘Dear Celestia, just have him act normal for once,’ Night Light groans.
‘Actually, I agree with this one,’ Twilight Velvet adds.
…
Shining shakes his head.
‘I try not doing things with him.’
…
‘He knows freaking Miyamoto!’ Derpy yells. ‘What do I have to do to get him to hook a sister up!’
…
‘Be my best pony...’
Stormy smiles to himself. His head snaps up, and he looks around.
‘What!’
…
Luna clears her throat.
‘We believe we mentioned King James earlier.’
…
‘Well, you see, I have this notebook...’ Rarity begins.
…
Inkie shrugs.
‘Well, he coauthored a paper with Twilight. I think that would be cool if we found a topic we both liked.’
…
Applejack blushes and kicks at her seat.
The sex question.
Rei growls.
‘Why does everypony keep bugging me about that! You want to know the truth! Inkie and I are waiting until we are married! Happy now!’ She crosses her forelegs and looks away. ‘We haven’t even done anything more than kissing...’
…
Twilight blushes and kicks at her seat.
‘It is just a once and a while thing. It is not like it is really something that we really plan for... The unscheduled spontaneity of it all...’ She covers her face. ‘Don’t tell him I got excited just thinking about it!’ She peeks between her hooves. ‘And don’t tell Shining I am having sex. He’ll freak.’
…
Shining looks down and blushes so much his whole coat turns pink.
‘They didn’t see me in the outdoor bath that time in Neighpon... I know about them...’
…
Pinkie giggles and blushes.
‘Sure that is fun, but most of the time I just like the cuddling. Sometimes, I sneak in just for a quick cuddle.’ She sighs. ‘I wish Twilight would join us sometime...’ She sighs then blushes and squeaks, ‘I didn’t mean for the cuddling!’
…
Fluttershy turns pinker than her mane and tries hiding.
‘Oh. Um... We only did that when we were pretending to be married... Just those few times... both times we were pretending... Just then...’ She giggles to herself and whispers, ‘Half a meter...’
…
Applejack blushes, clams up and turns away.
‘Nope.’ She nervously glances forward a couple times. ‘He put an end t’ it. That is all. Ah don’ make up excuses t’ get him in private situations or nothin’.’ She covers her face with her hat. ‘Shuddup ‘bout the Apple Bloom incident. That’s why he stopped us... Tried t’ stop us...’
…
‘That is one area where we have not tread,’ Celestia snorts angrily.
…
Luna blushes deep red. ‘It was just the one time.’
…
‘SHE WHAT!’ Celestia yells.
…
‘Cloudchaser was in Cloudsdale on business. I was lonely,’ Luna explains. ‘Sure, I could have gone and seen her, but I just wanted to spend the evening with him instead.’
…
‘She said she canceled her nightly duties to attend an important meeting!’ Celestia shouts. ‘Oh... A date. Duh.’
…
‘I got a little tipsy during dinner and took him to a hotel... He tried escaping a number of times but eventually, he gave in.’ Luna giggles and looks down.
…
‘My little sister...’ Celestia moans. ‘SHE even beat me to him! Me damn it!’
…
‘It was quite wonderful. I can’t believe it took me so long to...’ She looks up angrily. ‘You try being trapped on the moon for a thousand years with just this!’ She holds up a hoof. ‘It gets really lonely up there!’
…
Celestia gapes.
Last question. What are your personal feelings towards him?
‘He’s great,’ DC replies.
‘Yeah, couldn’t ask for a better neighbor,’ Marvel adds.
…
Cheerilee smiles.
‘I like him a lot.’
…
‘Without him, I would never have met Rei,’ Inkie sighs. ‘I only have him to thank.’
…
‘I couldn’t ask for a better stallion friend,’ Rarity says with a nod. She pauses. ‘No, I mean a stallion who is a friend. I never really had one of those before him.’
…
Derpy grins.
‘Chief is the best. He is almost as cool as The Doctor.’
…
‘I have a lot of respect for him,’ Chrysalis replies. ‘He is probably the pony I respect the most.’
…
‘As much fun as Trixie has with him, I am glad to have met him. I can’t think of a better friend.’
…
‘Oh geez,’ Lucas groans. ‘He is more family than my real family.’
…
Night Light takes a deep breath. ‘I can’t think of any better pony to be my son-in-law.’
‘We really do adore him,’ Twilight Velvet adds.
…
‘He is easily the most BAMF stallion I know,’ Rainbow Dash replies.
…
‘Del loves Wanderer. He is like a father to Del.’
…
Octavia smiles.
‘I am honored to have had that chance encounter with him.’
…
Lyra sits up proudly.
‘I have admired him since the day I was born... give or take a couple weeks.’
…
‘We might have our differences,’ Shining sighs, ‘but I cannot wait for him to be my brother-in-law.’
…
Daring kicks at her seat.
‘I... love him. I never felt that way about anypony before...’
…
‘I really do like him like a brother,’ Scootaloo sighs.
‘Me too!’ Sweetie agrees. ‘He is as cool as Stormy.’
Apple Bloom bites her lip. ‘Ah like ‘im more than mah brother...’
…
Stormy smiles a bit.
‘I love him like a father.’
…
Celestia groans and looks away.
‘You’re going to make me say that too, right?’ She shakes her head and smiles. ‘As I hinted at earlier, I love you, James.’
…
Luna kicks her seat a bit before looking up and smiling.
‘I love you, James.’
…
Applejack tries hiding behind her hat.
‘Ah... Ah... AH LOVE YA!’
She gallops away as fast as she can.
…
Fluttershy sits up as proud as she can and smiles.
‘Thank you so much for understanding me. I love you, James.’
…
Pinkie smiles her widest smile. She wipes away a tear.
‘I love you, James. You are the most important pony to me.’
…
Rei starts crying.
‘I love my daddy more than anything in the world, even Inkie.’
…
Twilight blushes bright red. She kicks her seat.
‘I love you. I love you more than Celestia. More than Shining.’ She looks up with tears in her eyes and smiles. ‘I love you more than my friends. More than Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie and even Spike. I love you, James. I can’t think of anypony I would want to spend the rest of my life with. I love you.’
A television and a couch float in a dark void. The television displays the end of Twilight’s confessions. Two figures sit on the couch. James wipes the tears from his eyes after hearing what Twilight said to him. A lion paw offers a tissue.
‘Thank you,’ The Emotional Physicist mumbles. ‘Thank you, Discord. That was wonderful.’
‘Happy birthday, James.’
‘Happy birthday, Discord.’
The Wandering Physicist embraces Discord. The lord of chaos hugs the smaller pony back before snapping his fingers, breaking his spell.
James rolls over in his bed. He sighs and wipes some happy tears away while reaching for his mobile. He sighs when he looks at the time.
‘Happy birthday, me.’