//------------------------------// // ♡ Courage ♡ // Story: Obama Goes to Equestria // by a human //------------------------------// – – A couple hours earlier… – – Twilight watched a little too intensely at Obama's back as he walked out the door. When it closed, she sighed and leaned against a table. She didn't need to hold it in anymore. She tried to deny it, but she couldn't. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't keep him out of her head. There was no choice. She had to admit it. She was in love with Obama. She didn't know how to explain it. It just came out of nowhere, as if it was willed into being by a bad writer. But there was no denying it. Whenever she was around him, her heart went aflutter. Not like Fluttershy aflutter, which would probably involve killing something, but aflutter aflutter, where whenever she was near him she started making increasingly impractical wedding plans. The latest one involved a forest and inviting a bunch of lifelong enemies. Twilight wasn't quite sure how that was going to work, but she was sure it was going to add zest. It started, as far as she could remember, as soon as she met him. He was smarter than other humans, more inquisitive, and that piqued her interest. It was no surprise—as the leader of a country in his world, he had experience with things beyond her imagination. And, most importantly, he wasn't one of those freaks obsessed with the TV show they were all in. He hadn't even heard of it. He didn't judge them based on what he thought they were going to be like. He just treated them like normal people. Not as tools or animals, just… people. It was a refreshing break from what the humans were usually like, and he was more open-minded than most ponies would be in his situation, that was for sure. Twilight was sure that, out of all the people she had met, he was the only one she had a chance of starting a life with. She knew it would be hard, but with perseverance, she was sure it could work out. They had a chance. A real chance. At that, her head started swarming with thoughts, some erotic, and it was clear that she needed to talk to someone about it. Get her feelings out there. And there was one pony Twilight knew couldn't possibly judge her for this. – – – – "You sick BUCK!" Rarity said. Twilight paused. "What did you just call me?" "You are really a piece of work, Twilight," Rarity said. "I mean, really. You fall in love with a completely different species? How depraved is that?" She narrowed her eyes. "That's like, Lyra level." "What are you talking about!?" Twilight yelled. "You raped him!" "Just for the attention. I didn't mean it," Rarity said, twirling her hair. "…unlike you." "I'm not planning on raping him!" Twilight said. "With any luck, it'll be consensual…" she muttered to herself. Unfortunately, Rarity's hearing was better than Twilight expected. "Oh!" she yelled. "Look whose mind is in the gutter now! Eh? Eh?" She nudged Twilight's shoulder. Twilight groaned. She was getting desperate. "Okay, fine, but could you throw me a little bone here? Do you have any advice?" "Other than 'don't'?" Twilight glared. "Okay, let's pretend he's a stallion." "If he was a stallion… I would say just tell him your feelings honestly." Twilight eyes glimmered in hope. "Really?" "Of course! That always works!" Rarity said. She smirked. That never worked. Twilight thought about it and started shoving Rarity out of the door. "Well, I'll give that a shot. Thanks, Rarity." "Glad I could help!" Rarity said. "Oh, and by the way, I'm telling the whole town about your sick crush!" "Yeah, whatever!" Twilight yelled, half paying attention. She slammed the door and leaned against a wall. Conversations with Rarity always tired her. She considered Rarity's advice. It didn't seem like a horrible suggestion, just honestly telling Obama everything. After all, that's what all the romance novels did, and it never ended too badly for them. But then again, it was one of Rarity's ideas, and Equestrian culture had gotten a bit… sexual, so she wasn't sure if what would work on ponies would work on humans. It was going to be a hard decision. Twilight went outside and started walking around to loosen her muscles. She was lost in thought, but out of the corner of her eye, she could swear she could see the other townspeople staring at her. Then she felt someone tapping her on the shoulder. She turned around and saw that it was Lyra. Oh buck. "Rarity told me all about it," Lyra said. "It was a little fast, but… okay, actually, it was complete gibberish, but I think I got the gist." She looked at Twilight knowingly. "I just want you to know… I'm here for you." When Rarity said she was going to tell the whole town, Twilight forgot that included Lyra. "You must think I'm a freak, don't you?" Twilight said, then remembered who she was talking to. "Actually, you must not think I'm a freak, and that's even worse." "Don't worry," Lyra said. "It's completely normal." Twilight groaned. She knew it. "Everyone goes through this," Lyra cooed. This was not good. And yet… "What do you think I should do?" Twilight said. "Do you think… just honestly saying my feelings is a good idea?" "Oh dear Celestia no!" Lyra said. "That never works. You've got to send signals." Twilight cocked her head. "Signals?" Lyra stared. "You know, flirting, love letters, planting bugs, 'accidental' molestation… everything you do when you want someone to know you like them. Let them know you're interested, then," Lyra paused, making sure this sank in, "wait for them to confess to you." Twilight thought about that, then noticed something. "But… wait, aren't they doing the same thing to you?" "Yeah, probably." "Doesn't that just create an infinite loop?" "An infinite loop with benefits, luckily," Lyra replied. "What do you want, a relationship?" Twilight wasn't quite sure how to respond to that. "Well, uh, thanks, Lyra," Twilight said. "I think I've decided what to do." Twilight walked off, more confident. Lyra sighed. "Who has that big of a problem coming out of the closet, anyways?" she groaned, and walked off to make out with Bon–Bon or something. – – – – Twilight sat by the door, gathering her nerves. It opened with a creak, and Obama stepped in. "How'd it go?" Twilight asked. "It went well," Obama replied, clearly tired. "She isn't on our side yet, but I have a pretty good idea on how to get her there." He sat down on a chair. It was now or never. If Lyra thought it was a bad idea… Twilight gulped. "Obama, I have something to tell you." Obama paused, and then acted like he remembered something. "Oh, that reminds me…" he said, putting on his best 'I have something controversial to say' face. He skipped the workshop on that, since that was basically his normal face. "I have something to tell you, too." Twilight lost her nerves. "Okay, you go first." Obama cleared his throat. "Twilight… I think I'm in love with Applejack."