//------------------------------//
// Chapter 14 
// Story: Twilight's Human Boyfriend 
// by Songbrony 
//------------------------------//

	I opened my eyes slowly as I woke up. Twilight was still cuddled next to me and I smiled as she looked at me. "Morning." I said.

"Morning." she replied with a smile. She gave me a kiss and laid her head back where it was. "I wish we could just stay here like this." she said.

"Who says we can't?" I asked. 

"I just have a feeling that something's going to happen. After what happened at the Gazebo...I'm just afraid someone's going to overreact and force a change." she said.

They did... I thought. I didn't say it though. I couldn't let her know what Celestia and Luna had told me. "I doubt they will. Equestria has been very fair and kind to us. I don't see them just throwing humans under the bus for the action of one individual." I said.

"I hope so." she said, turning to me. "I can't lose you too."

"Hey, you're not going to lose me." I said reassuringly. It wasn't a lie. At least, not yet. I still didn't know what I was going to do, and this wasn't making my decision any easier.

"But what if something happens that's out of our control?" she asked, lifting her head off of me. "I know the Grand Council is looking into the attack and whether to classify it as just a random event or a planned and thought out incident. If they do decide it was planned, then it could lead to major repercussions for your people." 

Yeah. You're right. It is having repercussions. "Don't worry. I'm sure they'll see that this is just an isolated incident with nothing to worry about from the rest of us." I said. 

"I hope so." she said.

"Hey, if it would make you feel better, go to Canterlot and talk with the Princess. Maybe she can help your worries." I suggested.

"Maybe. But she has no control over the Grand Council. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna only handle the sun and moon and handle the political aspects, while the Grand Council handles the inner workings of Equestria that help make the laws. I mean Celestia can put forward a bill, but the Grand Council has to approve it." she explained. 

"True, but she still is respected in the Council, right? They'll probably take what she says into account." I said. And they didn't take it into account, according to what she said to me yesterday. 

"I guess so. Maybe I can be granted an audience with them and can help convince them that not all humans are like that." she said. 

"Go on ahead. I'll stay back here and work on a few things in the library. We open up again today right?" I asked.

"Yeah. Are you sure you'll be okay? I don't want you making your wound worse." she said.

"I'll be fine. I'll have Spike to help me as well, so I shouldn't be too overwhelmed." I said.

"Okay. I'll go ahead and talk to her." she said, getting out of bed. "If you need me for anything, have Spike send a letter okay?" 

"Sure thing." I said with a smile. "I'll see you when you get back." I said. I followed her downstairs and saw Pinkie and Applejack walking in.

"Howdy ya'll." Applejcak said. "Where ya' headin' Twilight?" 

"I'm on my way to talk with the Princess. I need to see if there's anything I can do to help the investigation and make sure things don't take a turn for the worst." she said.

"You want us to come?" Pinkie asked in her usual energy.

"No thanks. I appreciate it, but I need to go talk to the Council. Hopefully the Princess will be able to get me an audience with them and I can talk to them." she said.

"Whoa. it really goin' that far up?" Applejack asked.

"There hasn't been an incident like this in a long time. I just want to make sure they don't do anything rash." 

"Well hopefully you talk some sense into 'em." Applejack said. 

"Good luck! Tell us how it goes!" Pinkie exclaimed as Twilight walked out of the library.

"So how you feelin'? That hole in your chest still givin' ya' issues?" Applejack asked.

"Oh no it's perfectly healed. Shot through the heart, and that jerk at the Gazebo is to blame. He kinda gives love a bad name." I said.

Pinkie laughed. "Good play on words!" she exclaimed. It didn't take much to make Pinkie laugh. 

Applejack rolled her eyes. "We just wanted to check in on you both." she said. "How's she doin'?" 

"Okay I guess. She's better now that we're here and not in the hospital, but I'm sure she's still grieving." I said.

"It'll take some time, but I'm sure she'll be able to move forward." Applejack said.

I nodded. I thought back to what the Princesses told me last night. I still had a decision to make, and I'm sure Twilight is going to try her hardest to keep humans here. Or at least me.

"Cupcake for your thoughts?" Pinkie asked as she held a cupcake out to me.

"Just something I've been thinking about." I said. 

"Well what is it? If ya' don't mind me asking?" Applejack asked as Pinkie devoured the cupcake in one bite.

I looked to both of them. I guess I could tell them. As long as they don't tell Twilight, maybe they can help me make a decision. I thought.	"I'll tell you as long as you don't tell Twilight." I said. "Can you promise me that?" I asked. I knew Applejack could keep it a secret, but I wasn't so sure about Pinkie.

"Cross my heart and hope to fly! Stick a cupcake in my eye!" Pinkie said, shoving a cupcake right in her face.

I still don't understand where she keeps everything. I thought to myself. I told them what the Princesses told me last night and that I had no clue what to do.

"Well what do you want to do?" Pinkie asked.

"I want to stay, of course, but I can't do it in good conscience knowing that a doctor could have saved someone's life here or a scientist could have researched some new technology that helps out here. I'm just an average guy who really doesn't do much." I said.

"Aw, come on! Your sooooo much better than average." Pinkie said.

"I agree but they do have a point. The doctor could definitely help in some surgeries with them fingers or whatever ya'll call them. I mean, the human doctors and pony doctors were able to save you. I don't think you would've made it without them both. And a scientist could help improve travel and other aspects that could be helpful." Applejack explained. 

"But what about Twilight? She'd be devastated if he left! Especially if it was his decision to leave and not someone else's!" Pinkie exclaimed.

"But it wouldn't really be my choice. I could either get the immunity or not. And then the Council would kick me out, along with every other human in Equestria." I said.

"But you denied your chance to stay! If you leave, Twilight could go into a deep depression, leave all of her friends and then find someone else, who's just an abusive jerk and not anything like you!" she said  over dramatically.

"I don't think that's what he was wanting to hear, Pinkie." Applejack said as my face fell. 

"What? It's true." 

"Oh what am I going to do?" I said.

"Think over your options. Think about what would be best, not just for you, but for Twilight. And, to be honest, I like you Brendan, I do. I think you're much better than Phil was. But Twilight needs to be able to grieve without you here. I'm not saying that you're a bad person for trying to be there for her, but I don't want you to get hurt because she couldn't move past Phil." she explained.

"But if she's with Brendan, shouldn't that help?" Pinkie asked.

"Not necessarily." I said. "I really don't know what to do guys." I said. "I want to stay because I love Twilight but I don't want to take the immunity for a selfish reason."

"It doesn't have to be selfish." Pinkie said. "The Princess said that you could help repair the image of humans if you stayed with Twilight. You could show that not everyone is a meanie mean pants." 

"I guess...but what if things don't work out? Like what if she never does get past Phil and it hurts our relationship? That would send the whole plan into a downhill spiral. It could even damage human's image more." I said.

"Or you could leave and Twilight would never be the same. Losing both you and Phil in a weeks time might be too much for her." Pinkie said.

I sighed. There was no way I could make either decision. "Well, there is one thing that might work." Applejack said.

"What? Cause I'm all out of ideas." I said.

"Well the guy they caught is going to trial back at your home. So, maybe you could be a witness. I mean you were there and you have the wound to show them. You could show that he was just a violent individual, that he wasn't targeting anyone specific. And the doctor and scientists could still be here when they send ya'll away, but you could come back after the trial and everything goes back to normal." she said.

"Yeah, but there's a problem with that...back home talking ponies aren't the norm. And most people view them as evil and demonic. Especially with the magic. It goes to a jury, and the jury sees a few talking ponies up there saying how they were attacked, and I can guarantee you that it won't go well." I said.

"Well that's why you'd have to go and prove that it's not the case." Applejack said. "You can use Twilight as an example. You two have a relationship, so did Phil."

"Yeah but ponies are just animals where I'm from. They aren't sentient and they don't talk. While it may not be illegal in some areas, it's heavily looked down on and could be attributed to demonic powers trying to get me away from God or whatever shit they want to pull." I said. "I don't believe that's the case, not at all, but it's how others will see it." I said. 

"Then prove them wrong." Pinkie said. 

"And if I don't?" I asked. 

"Then you're not going to be here for awhile. But I know that if that were to happen, both Twilight and the Princess would do their best to get you back here." Applejack said.

I sighed. "Thanks for talking. I didn't think about being a witness against him. I'll talk with Celestia and see what can be done. I still don't know what to do, but I'll figure it out." 'I hope.'

"Okay. Well we'll let you go then. Library opens in a few minutes, so you might want to get everything ready." she said,

"See ya' later Brendan!" Pinkie said. 

They walked out and I sighed. I was just more confused now. I walked to Spike's room so I could wake him up before we opened. I knocked on the door before I walked in. "Spike?" I called. "We open soon, it's time to wake up." I said. I walked over to the bed and saw a note on it.

"Rarity needed some help. I'll be at the Carousal Boutique for the day." I read aloud. "You've gotta be kidding me..." I said. "Well, might as well start getting ready." I said. I can't believe he just ditched me. I thought. Oh well, I get the place to myself. Hopefully it's not too busy.

And it really wasn't. It was a slow day and the only ponies who came in were returning books. Most were late, but since we were closed unexpectantly due the Gazebo attack, I wasn't going to collect any late fees. It wasn't fair for them. The day went by slow, and I continued to think about just what I was going to do. The more I thought about it, the more I wanted to do the witness thing. It would keep the doctors and scientist here but I'd be able to get humans back to Equestria quicker.

I heard the door open and saw Spike walk through the door. "There you are!" I said. "You know I don't mind if you go to Rarity's to help out, but could you have at least told me before you left so I could prepare for the day?"

"Sorry. You were sleeping and you get cranky when you're woken up." he said.

"Well it was slow, so no harm done." I said. "How was Rarity's?"

"It was fine. We just reorganized some of her dresses and other materials." he said.

"Still no luck?" I teased him.

"No. But I'm getting there!" he said proudly. 

I rolled my eyes. "Well go ahead and put these books back. I can't climb the ladder without my chest exploding." I said.

"Alright. I guess I can do that." he said. We spent the next hour tidying up a bit. 

After we finished, I sat down and wrote a letter to Celestia. I needed to talk to her before I made a decision. 'Hopefully Twilight isn't with her.' I thought to myself. "Spike, can you send this to the Princess?" I asked.

"Uh, sure I guess. But why do you need to write to the Princess?" he asked.

"Twilight's with her but she's in a meeting that she can't be interrupted from. This way it will still get to her." I said.

"Oh, I gotcha." he said. He inhaled and with a puff of fire the scroll was sent. "What was it about?"

"Just that we finished up and I wanted to hear how her meeting went." I said. I really did want to know how the meeting went with the Council, if she even got it approved. I knew that I'd have to explain some things to her, but I hoped to speak to the Princess before Twilight came home.

There was a knock at the door and I walked over to answer it. When I opened the door I saw Princess Celestia standing there. "Hello Brendan. I received your letter." she said.

"Yeah. I didn't think you'd come all the way out here right away." I said. "Come in." 

As we walked in I had Spike make some tea for her. I knew that she and Twilight usually had a cup of tea with their visits. I hated tea, but I didn't want to be rude, especially when I needed to ask her something really important. "So...you said in your letter you came to a decision?" 

"I think so. But I wanted to clarify some things...If I were to leave, and the Council decides to let humans back in Equestria, how long would it take for them to open the borders for us again?" I asked.

"If everything went well, I would say a few months as they enhanced security to prevent more attacks from happening." she replied.

"And if things don't go well...is there any chance of them letting us back in?"

"Not in the near future, no. I've tried to explain the repercussions this could have with your government. They won't listen though. Not yet at least." 

I sighed. "Okay. Well...I've decided that I want to be a witness against the guy you caught." I said.

"Really? Why's that?" she asked.

"Because if I leave then you can have the scientist or doctor that you all need. And I can go to trial and do my best to bring people back here." I explained.

"What about-"

"I've already thought about it, and it will give her time to process Phil. And it'll only be for a few months. I'll be back as soon as I can." I said.

"Hmm." she murmured. "And if things don't go as planned?"

"I'd rather think that it'll go well. No matter what."  I said.

She gave a small smile. "Okay. I'll let the Council know and they'll have you prepped for the trial." 

"Alright." I said with a sigh. I was nervous. This was more than just me trying to give Twilight the time and space she needed, but it was also going to allow me to actually do something that could help both of our species.

"Twilight did get a meeting with the Council. I'm sure she's going to come back here with some questions and concerns. I'll let you tell her your decision." she said as she turned and headed for the door.

"Princess Celestia?" I called before she left.

"Yes?" 

"What did you want me to pick?" I asked.

"The ruler in me wanted you to choose to leave and let a doctor or scientist have the immunity. But as Twilight's teacher...I wanted you to stay. You seemed to have found a way to do both." she said with a smile. "Good luck." she said.

I nodded my head as she walked out the door. I walked to the kitchen where Spike had just finished the tea. "She left. She had some important duties to deal with that came up suddenly." I told him. 

"So I made this for nothing?" he asked, slightly annoyed.'

"No. Twilight will be back soon, and I'll have a cup with her." I said.

"Whatever suits you. I'm going back to my room for a nap. I'm beat." he said yawning.

I waited for a few minutes, leaving the tea on the heater so it would stay warm. I heard the door open and hoofbeats heading towards the kitchen. 

"Hey Twilight." I said as she walked in. I could see she had been crying. She knew what the Council had decided. And I was about to break her heart again. "I have something to tell you."