I bobbed down the Ponyville road, right up to my coltfriend. And gave him a big kiss. He gave me a small smile, but kept on engaging in his conversation with his friends.
I had grown used to this, I didn't care. The big purple colt talked about his usual things: other people, myself, his sports, inferiors, and mares. Mares were always the topic of choice, among his grotesque friends. It made me slightly uncomfortable, but I got over if soon enough. I didn't want to make him stop talking about a silly topic. I could always change. So I did.
This was his graduation day, the day he graduated from his Unicorn Academy training. I assumed I should let him talk about anything he wanted to, especially if this was going to be the last time he saw some of his friends.
I was so proud, I even got to travel with his family for the ceremony. His extended family even came, and I saw my best friend once more. She was his cousin, and they were rather close friends. But she was closer to me.
After the ceremony, we were alone.
"Hey cutie?" He started our conversation. That in itself was a little odd. He never started conversations. He wasn't much of a talker in general.
"Yes?" I looked to the freeing skies just beyond the tree we were under. I looked back into his purple eyes.
"What do you plan on doing? For the rest of your life?"
"Well," I started, "I was thinking about opening up a bakery in Ponyville," I shyly said. "You've known it's been my life-long dream..."
"What?!"
I kept going on, oblivious to what he was saying. "With you obviously there with me, doing what you love doing, your magic thing."
"Cutie..."
"Yes?" I smiled at my pet name.
He let out a big dramatic sigh. "Are you okay with a long-distance relationship?"
"What do you mean?" I was rather sad and concerned, as I probably should have been.
He looked back at the trunk of the tree, clearly trying to avoid my eyes. "I probably won't be able to find a job in Ponyville. I won't find a job there that I can use my schooling with, at least. If we kept this us, we'd only be able to see each other on the weekends."
"And what are you proposing?" I think I let more concern show on my face than I wanted to.
He sighed. "Well, I've already got a job there. That's why I'm bringing it up. I think we should try the long-distance relationship thing. Besides," he faked a smile, "we can send cute love letters."
I half smiled to show that I was at least somewhat strong. I hoped to the bottom of my heart it would work out. I took a few steps back towards the group.
"Hey," he said, trying to get my attention one last time. "We're going to make this work, aren't we? We always do." He gave me a big hug, that practically smushed me.
I gave him a small kiss on the cheek, and tried to smile. At least he did.
On the train ride back to Ponyville, I talked with my best friend about it.
"Belle... What am I going to do?" I leaned on Belle Chapeau's shoulder. "He's practically leaving me." I looked outside the train car.
"Excuse me, but I do believe you guys said you'd make this work! Pull yourself together. Seriously. You're going to do this. I promise."
"But what if I find someone? Someone that isn't him?"
"Then you tell him girl! This isn't rocket science." Belle Chapeau could always shrug little things off. Didn't she ever have time to be a little dramatic?
"What if he finds someone... Someone better?" The thought scared me. I may have been a drama queen, but I definitely knew I wasn't the best pony out there. Besides, he seemed to be so much more mature than myself. Maybe he'd find someone just as mature... Someone who could keep him happier than myself. The thought almost brought me to tears.
"Then you break up with him. Cup Batter, this isn't hard!"
I rolled my eyes and looked at her. "Belle, you obviously have NOT been in a relationship before. It's almost like looking at me and telling me I'm not your friend anymore because I mess up!"
"Well, I do believe that if he cheats on you, that gives you a legitimate reason for breaking up. I'm no whiz or anything."
"Can't I even give him a chance? What if he doesn't even tell me?"
"Make up your mind, sweet pea! If the colt cheats on you, you let him go! There's no use letting him drag you through the mud by your nostrils! No, you are strong, independent mare, and you will make this relationship work if you want it to, gosh darn it!"
"But- what if he doesn't want the relationship to work?"
"I'll tell you what to do, Cup. You stand right up, and you say, fine. You accept it. Nothing good came off of dwelling on things you cannot fix. You stand up, and you find yourself a new man. Or you let him come to you. Either way works. But regardless, if he leaves you you're going to give him a reason to come back, and when he asks to come back, oh no. No no no. You will not."
"Thanks," I said half-heartedly. I love Belle's chit chats, but sometimes, they were too much to take in all at once...
•••••
When I got back to Ponyville, I knew the one place I would be going to. Ponyville's one and only pancake house, owned by my best friend's aunt and uncle. Me and my two closest friends Fanny Pack and Carrot Cake all met in the pancake house, not for pancakes, but just to meet up. We always did.
I rushed back to our table, like I always did. I collapsed onto the table. A tear fell out of my eye, as their card game scattered everywhere.
"Jeeze Cup Batter, what's up with you?" Fanny Pack bent down to collect all of the cards that fell off the table. Carrot Cake looked equally as confused and concerned.
"Is it... Him?" Carrot Cake looked deep into my eyes.
I bit my lip and nodded.
I could see in Carrot's eyes the pure sadness... He didn't know what I felt, but he sure knew how to grieve with me...
"What did he do?" He backed away, slightly tearing his attention away.
"He told me he wants to live in Canterlot, where he's already gotten a job. And he wants to have a long distance relationship, where we'd only see each other on the weekends."
"It's not going to last..." Fanny Pack whispered under his breath.
"That's what I'm afraid of!" I wailed loudly.
"Cup, calm down. Get your head on your shoulders and let's think this through logically." Carrot glared at Fanny.
"Did he officially break up with you?" Fanny questioned.
I rolled my eyes. "No."
"Did he mention any other mare?"
"No," I replied, even more annoyed. "Not any more than he usually does."
"You shouldn't have TOO MUCH to worry about..." Fanny said sarcastically.
"Fanny, please stop being a stereotypical colt and having absolutely no empathy for this poor mare. Honestly. She's dying on the inside." Carrot Cake sighed. "He's not very trustworthy... I wouldn't be so worried so much about yourself as him. Can you still have contact with him?"
I nodded.
"If I was you, I'd tell him that you guys should still keep contact, but you should break up for now, and who knows, love always finds away." He sighed and looked at the ground.
"I agree with Carrot. Truthfully..." Now Fanny Pack sighed, "I didn't see it lasting for much longer." He looked at Carrot Cake to further prove his point.
"But..." I tear fell to the ground off my face. "I want to keep it going to see go long it can last. He says he's going to send me a letter first." I stood up to leave. I needed some fresh air.
"Hey Cup... We just want what's best for our best friend." Carrot looked at Fanny. "Both of us."