“Good afternoon, TD,” I said to the human in front of me in the throne room. The same human who was dying slowly, blissfully unaware of the poison that was taking his life, making any breath he took, his final breath. He was the reason I cried myself to sleep last night for the first time since I banished Luna to the moon.
I kept my expression neutral, keeping my inner turmoil from revealing itself. I had cried all I needed to cry last night. When I woke up the next morning my tears had departed along with my sorrow leaving nothing more than a soulless look on my face, and a new resolve, to cure TD Harrison Powell.
“Hello, Celestia,” he said in his cheerful demeanor. “Where are we going this time?”
I managed to fake a smile, “Actually I was hoping we would talk over a cup of tea. I have a lot on my plate and I don’t have the time to go on another day. I hope you understand.”
“It’s ok. I understand.”
I stood up from my throne. “Follow me” I said, before walking through the open throne room door, TD not far behind. We walked in silence, and I tried my best to keep my eyes off of him, but every now and then, I’d steal a glance in his direction. He walked without a care in the world with that charming smile still on his face. It was contagious as always and I found my lips curling into the same smile. This was the last time he would show me that beautiful smile.
We reached the terrace on the second floor of the castle. There was a round table with two comfy seats all accompanied by the spectacular view of my statue garden. I had already ordered the royal chef to prepare tea for the both of us, and I ordered him to slip the antidote in TD’s cup.
We sat and waited. I kept my gaze off TD at all times and instead stared at the garden instead. I just wanted for this torment to end so I could get on with my life and never think of this again. I’d also have to bury my new feelings for TD. My heart was already shattered. The only thing that consoled me was the silence, and yet TD broke that too.
“Is something the matter, Celestia?”
I sighed. “I’m fine. TD.”
He was not convinced. “You’re normally never this quiet.”
“I said I’m fine.”
TD raised his eyebrow in concern. What was taking that tea so long? He remained silent for a moment before speaking, “Celestia, I know why you’re silent.”
I doubted it, but he continued anyways. “You’re upset about the time I hit you in the face.”
“I’m not upset, TD.”
“Yes you are. You’re avoiding eye contact and you barely said a word to me since I got here. What’s the deal?”
Just then the butler trotted in and placed the steaming beverages on our table. My cup was the one with decorated a decorated sun on it while TD’s was plain white. Knowing his simple nature, I knew TD would pick that cup to drink out of. It was the one that contained the antidote. I levitated my tea cup and took a sip. TD didn’t drink his tea. Instead had crossed his arms and looked at me as if waiting for something. I looked at him, eyes only half open, “Drink your tea, TD.”
“Not until you tell me what I want to know.”
My eyebrows slightly narrowed yet the rest of my facial expression remained neutral. Knowing his stubborn nature, he meant what he said. I sighed and slammed my cup on the table. Not hard enough to let any tea spill out, but hard enough to make an audible THUMP. He wanted an explanation? I’d give him one.
“No, TD.” I said in a dead tone. “This isn’t about the Gala or the first time we met. Yes, I didn’t really appreciate it when you assaulted me in front of the Elements, or the time you embarrassed me in the Gala. I’m upset that you will do it again in the future.” My voice began to tremble as my volume began to rise. “Who’s to say that the feelings you have for me right now aren’t temporary and that one day, you’d wake up and realize how irrational you’re being.” A tear began to roll down my eyes and my emotionless mask began to crack. “And you would be so angry at yourself and me for sharing these feelings that you would hit me again.”
By now my calm demeanor had completely shattered. But I still had one last thing to add. “But this time TD... This time, it would actually hurt. It would hurt so much and there is nothing I could do about it... Because of what you have given me." I paused for a moment, inhaled and exhaled. "You’ve given me more love than any of my subjects in a thousand years.” I put my hooves on my face and cried into them harder and harder. “I don’t want you to hate me" I looked at him "Please don’t hate me TD”
By the time I was done, TD was staring at me, his eyes were wide open and his eyebrows were raised higher than I thought was anatomically possible for him. He frowned in deep thought before he got up from his seat and walked up to me, pulling me into a tight hug. It was hesitant to say the least, but after a few moments, I wrapped my hooves around his shoulders to return the gesture. It was comforting. We stayed like that for a while after which, TD pulled himself away and looked directly into my eyes. He had a sad smile on his face.
“Celestia?” He said in a soft tone.
“Yes TD?” I answered curious to hear what he wanted to say.
“We need to break up.” Silenced reigned over us before I broke it.
“What?”
“We need to break up.”
“Why?”
He sighed, “Tell me. How long do ponies live?”
I didn’t know where he was going with this, “one hundred and thirty on average. Why?”
“Celestia, humans up to live seventy five years on average.”
Considering the fact, human technology was far superior compared to that of Equestria that was somewhat shocking.
“So where I’m going with this, compared to ponies, I don’t have long to live, and if you’re worrying about our relationship now, then how would you feel if I died one day? I don’t want you to feel any pain after I pass away. That’s why I think we should break up. So you don’t have to deal with that pain and with time, you’ll move on faster this way.”
He wiped a tear away from my face with his hand, while I stared at him dumbfounded. “But TD, don’t you have feelings for me?”
He laughed a bit and smiled that beautiful smile though I could tell he was holding back tears. “Of course I have feelings for you, Celestia. This is one of the hardest things I’ve ever done ever since I came to Equestria.” He was on the verge of crying.
I stared at TD for a while. Many things ran into my mind at that moment. TD was more selfless than I ever was and I couldn’t help but smile. Was it because of what he was doing for me? Or was it his contagious smile, I could not tell. “Alright TD,” I said.
“So that’s it then?” asked TD almost tearing up.
“No.” I levitated his tea cup in his direction. “We can still have one last tea as a couple”. TD took the cup and neared it to his mouth to sip, but before he could, I stopped him with my hoof. “Wait.” I stated.
“What?” asked TD startled. I leaned close to him and kissed him. It was the least I could do for him. When I pulled back he had that same goofy smile as the time I kissed him on the cheek.
I sat back on my seat and took another sip of my still warm tea.
“Now you can drink.”