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// All I Can Do 
// Story: Wanderings of a Non-Brony 
// by BronyWriter 
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I don't know how long I've been here, just sitting there in Celestia's forelegs and crying like a little kid in a way that I hadn't... well, probably since then. I do know that my mind keeps telling me that it's a dream, that I will wake up with the fair still on its way and the hope that I could go home still there. 

But it isn't there. 

Nothing is there at all 

I am stuck in Equestria among ponies for the rest of my life. Heck, I'm even showing weakness in front of Celestia, something that I had never wanted to do. I know that she wouldn't think any less of me for it, but... well... no... did it matter? I'm not sure yet. I'm not sure if I'm embarrassed. Maybe a little. Right? No. I'm not going home. I can't... 

So what's next? 

Back to Ponyville, I guess. 

To do what? 

I can't go home. 

I have to live with ponies now. 

You could go to Saddle Arabia. Mesud liked you. 

Same idea. More familiar faces here. 

Why didn't it work? 

You're crying in front of Celestia.

... Who cares? Do I? I dunno. Maybe. 

I remember that the other ponies are in the room too, and I chance a glance at them. Fluttershy is crying too, and Rarity, who is tearing up herself, has her forelegs wrapped around her. The rest just look... deflated almost. They're all just staring at me with looks of pity and sorrow. They're really sad for me, aren't they? 

I feel something on my shoulder, familiar claws that could only have been Oswald's I feel his warmth as he nuzzles my neck. I take a deep breath and wipe my eyes before giving him a watery smile. I stroke one of his talons, and he coos at me. 

"I'm so sorry, TD," Celestia whispers again. "I will help you though this. Please know that." 

I want to scream at her that she's done enough to me, but in the back of my mind I know that she's been doing her best to help me. She did try with the Crystal Heart. It's a national treasure, and she was willing to try it out to help me. I owe her that much. 

I take another shaky breath and move out of her grasp. I run a hand through my hair and look over at the Mane Six and Spike again. I guess I'll be seeing a lot more of them. Ponyville, the Mane Six, being under Celestia's eye, trying to find a way to keep going, it guess that's my life now. It's time to go back to Ponyville.