//------------------------------// // Denial to Acceptance // Story: To Love A Non-Brony // by The Forgotten Host //------------------------------// I trotted through the hallways towards my bed chambers with my eyes closed and a smile plastered on my face like the Element of Laughter, Pinkie Pie, remembering all the fun I had on my date with TD and giggling as I recalled the better moments. I had reverted back to my alicorn form after stepping inside the castle. I skipped into my room, closed the door shut, hopped onto my bed and giggled some more like a filly who was excited to open her presents for Hearths Warming Eve the next day. The guards were stationed outside on duty, and the servants were in their quarters asleep. Nopony on the planet could possibly tarnish my moment of sheer bliss except-- “TIA!!!” I was tackled into a hug by Luna. If not for my immortality, she would have definitely squeezed the life out of my body. “We were so worried about our sister! Art thou alright? Did the human bring thee any harm? Why--?” I interrupted Luna with a raised hoof. “Everything is alright, Luna. The date went normally without any problems.” Luna looked dumbfounded for a moment. I couldn’t blame her, honestly. Nopony could have seen that coming, so I gave her a minute to process this newly acquired information. “Art thou positively sure nothing out of the ordinary happened?” she asked. “No, Luna. I’m sure.” “We are still having a hard time believing this entire ordeal passed without anything happening. It is TD we are talking about.” “Perhaps the both of us were over-exaggerating. Our imaginations were getting the best of us.” “Perhaps. Art thou absolutely sure the whole date went normally without thee being subjected to any physical or psychological torment?” “Yes. Believe me, Luna, I’m surprised as you are.” Luna thought about it for a moment. “Alright.” A relieved smile spread across her face. “As long as the issue has been resolved, We don’t have to worry about any more courting courtesy of TD.” I cringed at that last sentence. “Well…” Luna raised an eyebrow curiously. She wasn’t catching on. “Well what, dear sister?” “I may or may not have enjoyed the date myself.” “Come again?” She laughed before continuing, “Our ears aren’t what they used to be. We almost heard thou didst enjoying thyself.” “Well, TD can be a very calm and gentle stallion once you get to know him; implying he actually is a stallion, and--” I was the one to be interrupted this time when Luna slammed both her hooves on both sides of my face, puckering my lips as a result. “Tia, look at me.” She even dropped the Royal “We.” This was serious. “Um… Very well?” I was having a hard time forming words with my face in this position. “Art thou with me?” “Yes? I don’t see where this is--” “Shhhhhhh…” “Luna, what are you--?“ “Shhshhshhshhhshhh.” Luna activated her horn and placed it on mine. In an instant I saw the entire date fast forward through my vision: the chat we had in Doughnut Joe’s, me putting my hoof on TD’s hand in the opera, our stroll through the park, watching the moon set, everything played out in my head. It was embarrassing, considering the fact Luna was obviously using her mind reading spell on me. The only being that can break an alicorn’s mind safeguards that prevent any mental assault from befalling on them is another alicorn. When the spell wore off, and my vision cleared, Luna looked at me emotionlessly. “Luna? Is everything alright?” I inquired. She kept staring at me, emotionless. I waved my hoof in front of her face in an attempt to snap her back into consciousness. She stayed silent for another moment. Finally, she spoke. “Sister?” she asked in a concerned tone. “Yes, Luna?” I replied. “Hast thou fallen for TD Harrison Powell?” “What makes you say--?” “HAST THOU FALLEN FOR TD HARRISON POWELL?!” she repeated in her Royal Canterlot Voice. Thank Faust my room was sound proof. The last thing I wanted was for somepony to hear that. I couldn’t say a word. I looked down at the floor. I felt like a filly being scolded by her mother. What made it more shameful was that my own little sister was scolding me. “HE IS PLAYING YOU, CELESTIA!” “Well you see...” “ANSWER ME!” “YES!” I paused for a moment. “I’ve fallen, fallen hard. I have no idea how it happened, but it did. The time I spent with him was the best I spent in years! I just kept telling myself I was having a nice time with TD, trying my best to convince myself TD’s presence was not the reason this date went so perfectly. I hate TD for making me feel this way. I hate him for making me fall for him so quickly!” I breathed heavily after. Luna all the while kept silent and looked at me sympathetically. She sighed and put a hoof on my shoulder. “Tia?” she spoke. I looked at her before speaking. “Yes Luna?” “We are not the one to stop thee from liking or dare We say loving, whoever thou chooses, but We want you to ask thyself if it is really safe for you to do so. It goes without saying he is one of the only beings in Equestria who can defy the both of us.” “That’s just it, Luna. He isn’t like one of those nobles constantly trying to court me for my power or wealth. When I was with him, I could feel he liked me not for what I was, but who I was. He doesn’t want status or titles. He’s above that. He looked at me like I was an ordinary pony and not an alicorn princess.” Luna stared at me for a moment. “Alright, Tia. We understand.” “Really?” “Really.” I smiled and hugged Luna before my eyes went wide open as I realized something. I didn’t even ask TD for a second date! And he had to go back to Ponyville sooner or later. I had to make arrangements for that too! “I almost forgot to ask TD on another date!” I stopped hugging my sister before getting off my bed, “I’ll be be back in fifteen minutes. So--” Luna interrupted me with a hoof to the face. “No, Tia, thou needs to rest. The sun cannot be raised with a tired mind, and it is already late. Let Us deliver your invitation to TD.” I stared at Luna. I was about to say no to her, but she did not look like she was going to take no for an answer. “Alright. Tell him we’ll meet at Doughnut Joe’s at five.” “Understood.” Luna activated her horn. “Sweet dreams sister.” And just like that she teleported out of sight. Something told me that I should not have let her done that. Regardless, I laid down on my bed and closed my eyes, excited for tomorrow. BONUS TD was brushing his teeth in his hotel room’s bathroom, getting ready to go to bed himself. Suddenly, he felt himself being engulfed in an all too familiar aura and slammed against a wall. Before he could question what could happen, Luna appeared in front of him. “Listen up thou ungrateful whelp. My sister has taken a liking to thee. We don’t know what dark pacts thou hast made to achieve this, but mark Our words. If we get intelligence that thou art plotting against our sister, We will bend thy spine into a pretzel and yes...” She levitated TD closer to her. “We will keep a closer eye on thee. Clear?” TD scoffed and rolled his eyes. “I figured that was a given, yeah?” “Good” Luna said before dropping on the ground. Suddenly her expression turned joyful and she smiled. “Meet her at five o’clock at Doughnut Joe’s” Her horn fired up before her expression changed to grim again. “Or else.” And just like that, she teleported out of sight.