No Love Lost

by Eyvind

Let's Play a Game

The darkness of the Everfree Forest was oppressing. Outside, the sun was still setting. Inside, it had set hours ago. Sweetie Belle found herself squinting just to make sure she was staying on the path. If the darkness wasn't bad enough, the forest was also dead silent. No birdsong. Not even the rustling of leaves as a gust of wind passed by. That took 'eerie' to a whole new level.

This probably wasn't my best idea ever, she thought to herself. Maybe I should just go home and--

"Sweetie Belle..."

Sweetie froze in place as she heard her name spoken from behind her. It had been quiet, barely more than whisper in the wind, but it had been there. She was sure of it.

"Who's there?" Her fear prevented her from turning her head as she called out challengingly--well, as challengingly as her higher pitch allowed.

"Just a friend." This time the words were clearer, no longer carried by the breeze but spoken naturally. The voice sounded young as well, like it was another filly talking to her.

Sweetie Belle's fear lessened, and she chanced a glance over her shoulder. What she saw was... nothing. Just the path that she had come from and the darkness beyond.

"W-where are you?" She tried to keep the shakiness out of her voice as she addressed the air.

"I'm right in front of you, silly."

Sweetie Belle's head snapped forward at that. Hovering there, just inches away from her nose, was a tiny blue ball of light. She yelped, stumbling backwards and falling heavily on her rump.

The light giggled merrily as it bounced up and down in the air. "You're pretty funny, Sweetie Belle."

Now that she had gotten some distance between her and the... thing... Sweetie Belle eyed it warily. It didn't appear to have a solid form. The closest thing she could have compared it to was a blue fire, but without the flame. It did flicker like a fire, though the flickering didn't seem random. It appeared to be connected to the voice somehow, the light changing ever so slightly with each syllable spoken.

"How do you know my name?" she asked from her sitting position, trying as best she could to sound threatening. It might have been more convincing if her legs weren't still frozen in fear.

"I know lots of things," the light replied casually as it started making figure eights in the air. "Like you think your friends are too good for you."

"What!?" Sweetie squeaked. "No I don't!"

"Yes you do," the light continued in its casual tone. "And you're right, you know."

"I don't think that at all!" Sweetie Belle stood, her fear of the light forgotten in her new anger towards it.

"Really?" The light slowed to a halt before floating closer to her, causing Sweetie Belle to take a step back. "Do you think Apple Bloom or Scootaloo would have wandered into the forest, just to make other ponies worry about them?"

The light's words hurt Sweetie Belle more than she would have liked to admit. Her expression became doubtful as she thought about what her friends might have done. "Well, uh--"

"How about getting grounded?" the light continued, floating towards her once more, again causing Sweetie Belle to backpedal. "Do you think Apple Bloom or Scootaloo would have run away crying?"

Sweetie Belle didn't say anything; there was no need. She knew the answer to that question, and she knew the light knew too.

"Exactly." The light backed off as it resumed its figure eight motion.

"Well, what's your point?" Sweetie spat angrily. "So I'm a pathetic cry baby, big deal."

"Oh, but that is a big deal. I mean, the sister of the most talented seamstress in all of Equestria, a pathetic cry baby? The scandal." The voice turned mocking, adding even more sting to its words.

Sweetie Belle's face became flushed with both anger and embarrassment. She turned around with a humph and started to walk away. "If you're just going to insult me, I'm done talking to you," she called over her shoulder. "I could have stayed in Ponyville if I wanted that!"

As she turned her eyes to the path ahead, she saw the light floating directly in front of her. This elicited the same response as the first time, leaving Sweetie Belle with a sore rump.

"I'm not here to hurt your feelings, Sweetie Belle." There was a surprising amount of sympathy in its voice. "I told you, I'm a friend."

"Some friend," she said under her breath as she stood and dusted off her flank.

"Watch, I'll prove it." The light sounded determined, causing Sweetie to gulp nervously. She was caught off guard by what it said next. "Want to play a game?"

"A... game?"

The light bounced up and down in what could only have a been a nod.

"I'm not really in the mood for games right now" Sweetie Belle deadpanned.

"I know, but this is a really fun game. And you get something if you win."

Sweetie Belle eyed the light suspiciously. "What kind of game is it?"

"It's really simple. All you have to do is answer 'yes' or 'no'."

"It sounds like a boring game to me."

"That's because you haven't heard the question yet."

"Well, then what's the question?"

"I'll only tell you if you agree to play the game."

That set off a few warning bells in Sweetie's head. Wasn't there an old pony saying about not trusting floating blue lights in the Everfree Forest at night? She sat quietly and thought about the offer, the light waiting patiently for her response.

It took Sweetie Belle about a minute to realize that her curiosity was stronger than her instinct. "Alright, I'll play your game. But what's the prize?"

"That you won't feel sad anymore."

Sweetie Belle cocked an eyebrow. That sounded like a bogus prize if she'd ever heard one. Like when they played hoofball in class and Ms. Cheerilee told them they were all winners as long as they had fun, but everyone knew there was only one real winner.

"Alright, so what's the question?" May as well get this stupid game over with, she thought.

"Your teacher doesn't trust you, your friends pity you, your sister hates you--"

"Not hearing a question."

"--and when you go back, nothing will have changed," the light continued, ignoring her interruption. "They'll all look at you and still see nothing but a failure. I can't change how they feel... but I can change how you do."

Sweetie Belle tilted her head in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"I can take away your feelings. Your doubts, your fears, your insecurities... They can all disappear. You wouldn't have a care in the world."

"Wait." Sweetie Belle held up a hoof to pause the explanation. "You said you can take away my feelings... what about the good ones? Like happiness? Or love? Would those go away too?"

"Well, everything comes with a price," the light replied. "But how many of those happy feelings do you have? I'd say the price is more than fair in this case. So, Sweetie Belle. The question is, 'do you want to feel this way?'"

Sweetie put a hoof to her chin in thought. Was it worth it? It was certainly true that her sorrow outweighed her joy, but to give up both...

A minute passed. Then another. The little blue light waited patiently for Sweetie Belle to make up her mind. Then, when it had seemed as though she had turned to stone...

"No." Sweetie Belle lifted her chin and looked at the light in sadness as her eyes shimmered with approaching tears. "No, I don't want to feel this way anymore."