//------------------------------//
// Day 12: Broken Hearts and Apples 
// Story: The Problem With Magic 
// by deathtap 
//------------------------------//

“Wake up!” A loud voice shouted in my face.
 
“Wha- huh?” I asked raising my head from my pillow in surprise, “Waz goin’ on?”
 
“Dawn, Forest! Dawn is what’s going on! It’s now thirty minutes past dawn, and you’re not where you should be!” An angry Pony poked me in the chest.
 
“Lavenderhoof?” I asked as my eyes adjusted to the light. It was indeed past dawn, “Oh! I’m sorry, I completely overslept.”
 
“I can see that,” Lavenderhoof watched me as I got off the sofa.
 
Just then a loud noise came from the front of the house as Applejack walked in pushing past Lavenderhoof, “I told ya, I was comin’ to wake him.”
 
“I waited for you for nearly ten minutes! What were you doing in the bathroom for so long anyway? Putting on your makeup? We don’t have time!” Lavenderhoof argued, “The race is in less than two weeks, and he can barely do a doggy-paddle!”
 
“Mornin’ Applejack,” I said walking over to her flashing my best smile.
 
She looked at me, and giggled, “Mornin’.”
 
Was it just me, or did she look absolutely beautiful? My mind stopped working when I saw that smile. We both stood there looking at each other for a long moment grinning stupidly. I was content; it felt good just to stand near her.
 
“Come on!” Lavenderhoof shoved me out the door, “You can act all lovey-dovey later…”
 
As I was being pushed away from the clubhouse, I turned my head back and saw Applejack standing on the little porch staring after me. She waved shyly. Gah! My heart! It was too cute! All I could do was smile in return. It was impossible for me to take my eyes off of her. Last night’s events kept popping up in my head, but more specifically that near-kiss we shared. My face again felt like it was burning as I felt the blood flood my cheeks. Applejack must have thought of the same thing because I could tell her cheeks were rosier too.
 
“Okay, okay! I’ll walk!” I shouted after being dragged a few more meters. I didn’t want Applejack to see me blush. But I just stood there and turned slowly to sneak another peak at her.
 
Lavenderhoof nudged me, “Come on!”
 
That snapped me out of my reverie. As we trotted down the trail between the apple trees towards the main road, I snuck one more peek. She was still standing there watching me. At the road, I followed Lavenderhoof to the right and we headed towards the hill that overlooked the lake. The trip to the lake took no time as she was all about business and made me run. She seemed to forget that running for me wasn’t an issue, but I humored her.
 
When we arrived at the lake, Scootaloo was there lying on her belly under a beach umbrella stuck into the sand. She had bright pink sunglasses that were twice the size of her head. She sat up when she saw me, “Had a good night?” She grinned.
 
It didn’t take a genius to know what she was implying, “Nothing like that happened, okay?”
 
“Really? Aw, that’s too bad,” Scootaloo roared in laughter, slapping her knee.
 
“Why is that so funny?” I asked.
 
“Because I had a bet with Sweetie Belle that you’d be too shy,” Scootaloo grinned.
 
“Don’t you mares have anything better to do?”
 
“It’s not my fault you’re such a wimp,” Scootaloo roared in laughter again.
 
“Can I learn to swim now, please?” I asked turning to Lavenderhoof.
 
I could tell she was holding herself back from bursting out in laughter as well. “Okay, get into the water. We’ll start with some basics.”
 
“Thanks, Lavenderhoof…”
 
“Just call me Lavender, or even Lav. La-ven-der-hoof takes too long,” She said, stressing out each syllable in her name.
 
“Okay, Lavender,” I smiled, “Thanks for doing this.”
 
“It isn’t for you, okay? So don’t get the wrong idea. It’s for the race. No nonsense and no lovey-dovey-ness understand? I’m not going to be another marefriend. I’m not here to play games.”
 
“Yes, ma’am,” I saluted, “Wait, what? Marefriend?”
 
She ignored my question, “Good. Now, get your flank into the water!”
 
The water was still freezing; I shuddered the moment my hooves got wet. Lavender walked by me and deeper so that her entire body was submerged except her neck, and head, “Come here!” She shouted when I didn’t move.
 
Standing in the same depth, I saw her stick her hooves out.
 
“We’ll start with some kicks,” She stated.
 
I grabbed her hooves with mine and kicked. Easily enough, I suppose.
 
“Kick harder!” She coached. So I did. “Harder!” She yelled. “Stop kicking like a little colt and kick like a Stallion!”
 
She asked for it.
 
Lowering my head, I kicked as fast and as hard as I could. Somewhere I heard Scootaloo yelp as a wave of water hit her.
 
“Forest!” Lavender shouted above the din of my splashing, “Stop! Forest!”
 
By the time I did, I realized that I had pushed Lavender backwards quite a distance. She was treading water near the middle of the lake with me instantly starting to sink. “H-how’d we get out here?” I shouted trying hard to tread water.
 
Lavender was just laughing, “You might not be able to swim yet, but if you can do that in the race we’ll win for sure!”
 
Scootaloo hovered above me, and threw a floatation ring, “That was impressive, Forest!”
 
“Yay! I did good!” I rolled my eyes at my own joke as I put myself through the lifesaver.
 
The two girls laughed at me, “Well, your kicks are fine. We just need to teach you how to keep your head above the water now.”
 
They made me paddle my way back to the shore. In a way, I wished that I could have used the floatation device during the race but obviously that wasn’t allowed.
 
For the next several hours both Lavender and Scootaloo tried to teach me how to keep my head above the water, but no matter what I did my head would always start to sink. It was strange considering that I was able to tread above water without a problem. The moment I started moving forwards though…
 
“Okay! Enough! I need a break,” Lavender muttered in disgust.
 
“Hi everypony!” A sing-song voice sang out from behind me.
 
“Hi, Sweetie Belle,” Scootaloo sighed, “How’s singing practice?”
 
“Oh, it’s nice. Kinda boring, though. How’s the swimming?” Sweetie Belle asked looking at Lavenderhoof towelling her mane in anger, “That bad, huh?”
 
I shrugged, “Can’t seem to keep my head up out of the water.”
 
“Well, maybe some lunch will help. I’ve brought goûters! Rarity made them,” She picked up a small picnic hamper from off her back and placed it on the ground. Inside were delicious cakes, pastries and a flask of red liquid that smelt like berries.
 
I picked out a simple croissant filled with chocolate. The warm chocolate didn’t overpower the dough, and the dough complemented the chocolate. It was the perfect temperature for a voracious Pony like me.
 
“Wow,” I stated, visibly stunned. Equestrian food was friggin’ awesome! Even though it was all vegetarian, it was amazing. There was no possible way I could ever get sick of this kind of food.
 
Lavenderhoof took one of the croissants and finished the entire thing off in one bite. She munched away angrily to herself, no doubt frustrated by my lack of progress. I wanted to say something to sooth her, to let her know that I was really trying but seeing her chew like that made me decide that it was probably better to let her cool off on her own.
 
“Hiya,” A familiar voice said behind. I turned around, and my face must have lit up because Applejack blushed when she saw me, “Came to check on you. You doin’ well?”
 
Standing up, I walked over to her, “Not good I’m afraid, as you can plainly tell.”
 
Applejack’s eyes followed the direction of my hoof pointing at a visibly irate Lavenderhoof. She paused long enough to glare at me before resuming her munching.
 
“Aren’t ya gonna kiss her, Forest?” Applebloom asked. I hadn’t noticed her for some reason.
 
“W-w-w-w-w-what?” That question literally came out of nowhere.
 
“Applebloom!” Applejack exclaimed.
 
“Aw, come on! You know you want to…”
 
My mind was a blank.
 
“Aw. He’s blushing!” Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle taunted, giggling and rolling over themselves.
 
“Sorry-Applejack-gotta-practice-more-in-the-water-kay-bye…” I blurted as fast as I could before sprinting into the water as fast as I could go. My cheeks were burning.
 
All that served to do was humiliate me more as now Applebloom joined the laughing hysteria. I sunk my entire body save for my head under the water.
 
Hey! I was… I was floating! What? What was going on? I really was floating on the water! I did a double check to make sure my legs were not standing on anything and if I really was floating. Sure enough, the bottom of the lake was a good foot belong me. Not wanting to jinx it, I started to slowly kick. Still floating! No problems thus far. Maybe if I kick a little harder…
 
“Go!” I heard a shout from the beach.
 
Pinkie! I grinned, and I did exactly that. If my head could stay above the water’s surface, then there was no problem.
 
“Go! Go, go, go!” Pinkie shouted going nuts. Where did she get those pom-poms?
 
In no time I was across the lake, and standing on the opposite beach! Oh yeah! I reared up, and flashed a wide smile, “Oh yeah!” I shouted as loud as I could, totally caught up in the moment.
 
Then, not to forget the feeling, I charged the water and… no problem! I could swim! Well, I could float and use my legs like an outboard motor, but it was like swimming and that’s what mattered. As I returned, Lavenderhoof bounced around in jubilation, the three younger Ponies patted me on the back, and Applejack gave me a beaming smile. That was the best.
 
“Forest! Forest! Omigosh! Did you see? Did you see? Of course you saw, but I mean did you see what I saw? You were like whoosh! And the water was like splash! And… and… oh, hello Applejack,” Pinkie grinned at her friend, “Did you see?”
 
“Yeah, Pinkie, I was right here.”
 
“Thank you, Applejack.”
 
Applejack blushed at the sound of my voice, “W-what for?”
 
“I don’t know. I just know that you helped me somehow.”
 
Pinkie stood in between us and waved her hoof, “Are you two okay? Did you guys do ‘that’?”
 
“Uh… ‘that’?” I asked.
 
“You know, ‘that’. The thing that Rarity told me…”
 
Applejack had put her hoof over Pinkie’s mouth, “No!” Her face was a lot redder than usual, “No, Pinkie.”
 
Applebloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle all roared in laughter.
 
“Forest, ten more times across the lake and back!” Lavenderhoof demanded.
 
“Ten times?” I moaned.
 
She gave me a look.
 
“Ten times!” I exclaimed, and was off.
 
It was sunset before I was done. The distance across the lake was enormous, and the girls never left the beach as I completed my final lap and walked out of the water collapsing in a heap out of sheer exhaustion.
 
“That distance you just swam is the distance you’ll have to swim for the Race. After that, you have to run four times that. So, you need to raise your stamina,” Lavenderhoof shook her head, “You may be fast, but if you can’t keep up with the other racers, you’re going to be the fastest Pony to quit.”
 
“So… much… tiredness…” I said in between gasps.
 
“We’re done here,” Lavenderhoof started to walk away, “Tomorrow at dawn. Don’t be late!”
 
I let out a grunt, but said, “I won’t.”
 
She didn’t look back as she crossed the crest of the hill disappearing from my sight. I hated to admit it, but she was one tough coach. A part of me couldn’t help but suspect that Lavender was none too pleased with me being the Earth Pony representative for the Race; she must have been training for it for so long and hard before I came along and snagged that title from right under her muzzle. Actually, I felt kind of bad for her.
 
The sun was beginning to set and I watched it set over the Everfree Forest. To my back was the lake and beyond that stood Canterlot Castle. Equestria was beautiful and peaceful - a paradise. I wanted to continuously feel that raw happiness but there was that constant reminder that I wasn’t who I said I was. I was a filthy liar betraying the trust of my new friends who had opened their hearts completely to me. I didn’t deserve their kindness, their friendships, or this utopia.
 
Applejack sat next to me, as did Pinkie Pie. The three of us watched the sun fade over the horizon together in silence for a long while.
 
“What’s on yer mind?” Applejack asked quietly breaking the moment of Zen.
 
“I was just thinking about how lucky I am to be here.” I turned to her and smiled warmly. She reciprocated with her own.
 
“Forest, is it true that you plan on leaving?” Pinkie suddenly asked.
 
My eyes widened open in surprise, “What?”
 
“Spike said that… that you’d leave with him.” Pinkie started poking the grass with her hoof.
 
“Oh, that. If he insists on leaving then yes, I will.”
 
Pinkie remained silent for a long time, she kept prodding the ground with her hoof. “Can… can I come?”
 
The question caught me completely off guard.
 
“He’s not going anywhere, Pinkie,” Applejack stated on my behalf, “Spike won’t leave.”
 
“But… if he does, can I come with you?”
 
How could I say no to her? “Sure, Pinkie, if that’s what you want.”
 
“No. I like Ponyville. I don’t want to leave.”
 
“Then don’t. You shouldn’t do anything you don’t want to,” I placed a hoof around her shoulders, pulling her close to me; she smelt strangely like cotton candy, “And if I do go, it won’t be for long.”
 
Pinkie turned her head and smiled at me, “Promise.”
 
“Promise,” I replied.
 
“Pinkie Promise!” Both the girls said at the same time.
 
I let out a long sigh, and closed my eyes and shook my head as I released Pinkie.
 
“You girls are incorrigible,” I took two steps forward before turning around facing the two of them, “Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.” I punched my eye again. Got to stop doing that!
 
They gave me the widest, cutest grins before turning to each other and fell into a giggling fit.
 
“So, where are we going for dinner?” Pinkie Pie asked after the giggling had subsided.
 
“We?” Applejack stressed the word questioningly.
 
“Yeah, the six of us! The more the merrier.”
 
Applejack smiled shyly, “Pinkie, are you sure…”
 
“Why are you acting like that? Of course I’m sure. Duh!” Pinkie grinned, “I love my friends, and I love eating with my friends! So, let’s go eat!”
 
“Aw, thanks Pinkie, but I gotta go listen to Sweetie Belle’s new song,” Applebloom replied.
 
“And I’ve got to help with moving some clouds for tonight’s rain,” Scootaloo added.
 
“There isn’t rain scheduled for tonight,” Pinkie sat down and looked to the upper-right, “Is there?”
 
“Why do I get the distinct feeling they’re finding excuses to ditch us?” I whispered to Applejack.
 
She just giggled in response. For all I knew she might have instigated them. And you know something, I kinda liked the thought.
 
The six of us walked back towards Ponyville, the three younger mares constantly making fun of me trying to learn how to swim. When we reached the town center, we ran into Aiden.
 
“Forest, I need to talk with you for a few,” He said, “It won’t take long.”
 
“Sure, do you girls mind?” I asked Pinkie and Applejack.
 
“Not at all, you go talk to your guardian. We’ll head over to the café, ‘kay?” Applejack replied.
 
“Okay, I’ll meet you two there.”
 
I watched as they walked away, trying to keep my eyes off Applejack’s fla-
 
“Hey, over here,” Aiden gestured with his head towards where I had just come from, “I’m going to go over the different powers of that trinket you’re wearing.”
 
“Can’t it wait?”
 
The look on Aiden’s face was enough of a reply. So I followed. We walked to a large open grassy knoll.
 
“Alright, Twilight has told me about how that thing works,” Aiden gestured to my new piece of jewelry on my wrist. Surprisingly I had managed to completely ignore it all day, “Remember when I said it dissipates magic over time? I was wrong. It retains it completely. Whenever you feel it heat up that means that it is absorbing magic. The hotter it gets, the more magic is stored, but the heat you feel is only something you feel. It actually does no harm to you, that is it’s not burning you.”
 
Aiden started casting a spell that surrounded the two of us. The colorful bubble floating towards the bracelet slowly before it suddenly was ‘sucked’ into it. The suddenness made me flinch, and the burning sensation. It was not too bad, but it was unpleasant. Like a quick pinch.
 
“Ouch.” I declared without emotion.
 
Aiden ignored my comment, “Now your bracelet is charged. Now you can ‘cast’ magic.”
 
“Wait. What?”
 
“You can cast magic, Forest.”
 
“You mean like you?”
 
“No, you moron, you don’t have a horn.” Aiden planted his hoof over his face.
 
“Moron?” I frowned at that, “You said I could cast! How am I supposed to know what you’re talking about?”
 
“Okay, my fault, I shouldn’t have said casting. You can… ask for magic to occur. You can’t directly use spells, but others around you can make you cast spells for them.”
 
That didn’t sound very nice. “So, everypony else can make me… do things?”
 
“That’s… one way of putting it, I guess. That’s what I wanted to tell you last night before you ran off! I don’t know all the spells, but there are a few… embarrassing ones that I wanted you to be aware of,” Aiden scratched his head.
 
“Oh, I am so not liking where this is going.”
 
“The first spell was that signal spell from last night. Luckily for us, the spell to ignite it is only known to me and Twilight, but I feel that you ought to know it,” Aiden leaned in closer, “It’s ‘Forest Fire, Show Me Where You Are’, three times.”
 
“Three times?”
 
“If anypony says that… well, I can show you if you like.”
 
“No, that’s…”
 
“Forest Fire, show-me-where-you-are, show-me-where-you-are, show-me-where-you-are!” Aiden said, barely whispering.
 
At once the bracelet reacted and heat surged through my body like it did last night and my hoof automatically pointed up at the sky and shot out a beam of light. It didn’t last long for long, perhaps a few seconds, but it hurt. After the last of the light faded, I rolled around the ground in pain.
 
“Ooh! Do you have any idea how much that hurts?” It was not that bad, compared with some of the other traumatic magical experiences I’ve had, but it was not pleasurable either, my rolling around was more from trauma from the suddenness of the spell.
 
“That spell is the ‘quickest to drain’ the magic,” Aiden stated, “I’m teaching you that one because if your bracelet gains too much magic it will be agony. You can teach that spell to somepony you trust. If the pain gets too much you can have them empty it. The issue is, you can’t do it yourself.”
 
“That’s useful. Thanks for that.” I picked myself off the ground.
 
“There are others. Other spells, I mean.”
 
The way he said it made me get this really uncomfortable feeling, “Do I want to know?”
 
“That’s up to you. Knowing is… important.” Aiden shrugged, “But if you have more important things to do…”
 
“Fine,” I sighed, “Tell me.”
 
“Now, keep in mind that this bracelet was intended to tame wild animals…”
 
“What?” No one had told me that!
 
“Oh, was it not mentioned?”
 
“No!”
 
“Well, now you know…”
 
God fucking damn it!
 
“… there are several spells that are used to ‘discipline’… you.” Aiden put on the widest grin ever.
 
“You’re enjoying this a little too much.”
 
“The first of these is the ‘beg’ spell.”
 
“Beg?” I did not like the sound of that.
 
“Yes, it basically makes you completely beg for whatever the original caster demands.”
 
My silence was enough of a response.
 
“So, let’s say I want you to beg for some food, or a bed…” Aiden put on a sadistic grin, “A kiss.”
 
“No! No, no, no! You did not just say that!” I looked around, “You can’t tell anypony about that spell!”
 
“Well, only Twilight and I know it. Shall I tell you how it works?”
 
I contemplated it. Did I really want to know? Yeah. I did. So, I nodded.
 
He leaned forwards to whisper, “It’s quite simple. You just say: Forest Fire Needs Something,” Aiden then leaned back, “It’s a flaw, I know, since the spell only requires it said once.”
 
“Once! Are you kidding me?” I shouted, “Wait, why didn’t it work that time?”
 
“That’s because there’s no magic in that thing,” Aiden pointed at the band on my wrist.
 
“Oh yeah, forgot about that part. But couldn’t you think of something… better? Do you know how many times I could get asked that?”
 
“Well, they first have cast magic at you. Then they have to say your full name before the spell,” Aiden smirked, “So, you’re safe as long as they don’t say your full name before saying the rest of it, and ‘needs’ needs to be plural, otherwise the spell won’t work.”
 
I groaned, “Still, can’t we change it? Or better yet, get rid of it?”
 
“Well, if you can get that thing off yourself, then yes.”
 
Impossible, the thing gripped my leg so tightly, it was a wonder how blood was getting into my hoof.
 
“Anyway, I think only Princess Celestia can take that off of you, and I’m not sure she’s willing to risk casting any more magic on you, not after last time…”
 
“Ah. Well, that’s understandable.” I looked at the bracelet again, annoyed that all this was coming now and not before. Perhaps it was my fault for not listening. “You said there were others…”
 
Aiden began to murmur to himself, “The signal spell, the beg spell, the want spell…”
 
“The ‘want’ spell?”
 
“It’s like the beg spell, except instead of you begging for something, you have this overwhelming desire to want something, or want to do something.” Aiden then returned to trying to remember his mental list.
 
“And?” I prompted.
 
“And what?”
 
“What’s the trigger spell?” Aiden was really enjoying this way too much.
 
He was stifling a laugh, “It’s your name followed by the words ‘please-please-please’, then the instruction.”
 
There was nothing I could even say to that. That was ridiculous! “Three ‘pleases’? That’s it?”
 
Aiden cast another spell and I felt the bracelet absorb it.
 
“You wouldn’t dare!”
 
“Forest Fire, please, please, please jump around like a rabbit.”
 
Nothing happened. I didn’t feel like doing anything, least of all bounce around like a bunny. My eyes gazed upon Aiden with a confused look in them.
 
“There is a certain way you need to say it. Forest Fire, please-please-please jump around like a rabbit.”
 
Instantly I felt this overwhelming sensation that I needed to hop about like a bunny. Whatever it was compelled me to obey. The urge was so strong that it seemed the most natural course of action at this point. So, I lift my hooves up, leaned back on my hind-legs and hopped around. Throughout the entire humiliating task I was acutely aware of what was going on, and no matter how hard I willed myself to stop my body just wouldn’t listen to me. It was if my body and mind were completely disconnected.
 
Then it just ended. The burning sensation in my wrist vanished.
 
“Do not do that again!” I exclaimed.
 
Aiden deliberately ignored me, “So, you see, it’s how you say it as well.”
 
“You just said the ‘pleases’ faster the second time,” I muttered.
 
“That’s the difference. So, just make sure that you don’t tell anypone about it, and you’ll be fine,” Aiden started to walk back towards Ponyville.
 
“Wait! You said there were more!”
 
“There are, but I think that three spells for now is enough. I’ll tell you the others next time, when I can remember them better.”
 
And I watched him go. To be honest, I couldn’t tell if Aiden really would tell me the others the next time and honestly, I didn’t really want to know. Considering the latest demonstration my already complicated life was going to get a helluvalot more complex. The bracelet was there to protect me from maigc, not manipulate me! I made a mental note to talk to Twilight about that.
 
As I entered the café I spotted Pinkie and Applejack at a table with Twilight! What were the chances of that? They were chatting and laughing together. Twilight, who was sitting facing the door, saw me and waved. I responded with a nod and a smile and started making my way over to them. As I approached, I took a deep breath and pulled the last empty chair back and sat down, “Sorry that took so long.”
 
“Ooh, ooh! What did Aiden teach ya! We’ve been trying to get Twi to tell us, but she won’t! She says it’s a secret! It’s not fair!” Pinkie pouted.
 
“Aiden was just showing me the signal spell, which you saw a few minutes ago, right?”
 
“That all he teach you, forest?” Twilight taunted grinning behind a glass of blue-green liquid, which hid half of that sadistic smile from me.
 
“He taught me some other things that we will not discuss here.” I replied knowing fully what she meant.
 
Twilight snorted back a laugh.
 
“That bad?” Applejack asked.
 
“Worse,” I muttered, “Much worse.”
 
“Are you ready to order?” The waiter said to us.
 
He had a light brown coat, much lighter than mine, and a dark brown mane that somewhat resembled my own. His Cutie Mark had three horseshoes together, and he wore what looked like a suit with a bowtie.
 
“Oh hello, Caramel, I didn’t know you worked here,” Twilight said.
 
“I’m filling in for Toffee, she got sick,” Caramel sighed, “I keep telling her that she needs to take breaks but she won’t listen to me.”
 
“Aw, that’s too bad. I hope your sister gets better soon,” Twilight looked over to the rest of us, “Are you guys ready to order?”
 
“I’ll have a green salad,” Applejack said shyly.
 
“A salad!” Pinkie shouted, “Are you on a diet?”
 
Applejack flashed a look over to me and my smiling face. She was being shy. Too cute.
 
“Don’t hold back on my part,” I encouraged.
 
“Let get a pizza!” Pinkie shouted, “And share it! But what should we have for toppings?”
 
“You alright with pizza, Forest?” Applejack asked.
 
“I’ll eat anything.” I really would, I was starving!
 
“Great! Pizza then! An extra-extra-large one!” Pinkie ordered. Then they ordered the toppings, which consisted of a variety of different things, but obviously no meat. I think I heard pineapple and jalapeños get tossed in there, but whatever.
 
As Caramel, our waiter for the evening, went off to get our order, I couldn’t but help notice a carafe of that blue-green liquid that Twilight was sipping on. She looked over to me, “Do you want some? It’s blue-grape wine mixed with spices, fruits and other… things.”
 
“Sure, a sip wouldn’t hurt. I see you’re all drinking it,” Pinkie Pie took a sip from her glass and smiled at me.
 
We chatted for a while before the pizza arrived. Caramel carried it on a tray on his back and carefully placed it on the table. We all dug in. If I thought I was a big eater, then Pinkie was a monster! In no time at all she had demolished a quarter of the pizza while I was still on my second slice and already getting full. The taste of the slices was incredible! The sauce was tangy and a little spicy, a hint of something hot to titillate the pallet, the luscious cheese was thick and mouthwatering, and the toppings added that extra bit of finesse that made every bite a new experience.
 
In short, the best pizza I have ever tasted.
 
After eating we sat and talked for a bit longer. It was nice to hear the three girls talk about their friendship, their experiences, their troubles, their hopes and dreams. They really were there for each other, and counted on one another. But again, that horrid feeling bubbled up in my gut. I didn’t belong here. Pinkie was a great storyteller – if you could keep up with her.
 
“What’s wrong, Forest? You’ve been looking glum for the past ten minutes,” Applejack said during a break in Pinkie’s verbal barrage, “You not feeling well?”
 
“No, just wished that I could… remember more.” And tell you all the truth. I really wanted to.
 
“Hi, Forest,” Someone cooed from behind me.
 
“Oh, hello Applebloom, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, I thought you were all busy…” Applejack narrowed her eyes at them.
 
They all just giggled.
 
“Hey, I learnt a new magic trick? Wanna see?” Sweetie Belle giggled some more.
 
“Sure!” I loved magic tricks.
 
Sweetie Belle reached over and took my napkin before folding it into the shape of a origami crane, all with her magic. I was impressed, so I clapped my hooves.
 
“Sweetie Belle, anypony can do that…” Twilight said, “Let me show you a real trick!”
 
Twilight’s horn glowed, and in her not-so-sober state, she readied herself and in one powerful pull, she had whipped the tablecloth out from under our food and drinks. Now that was impressive, so I clapped again and continued to do so until I felt a familiar burning sensation on my wrist. Magic was being absorbed.
 
“Ouch. I hate it when this thing absorbs magic. It really hurts,” I groaned waiting for the pain to go away.
 
Twilight made a face, “I think I’ve drunk too much. Excuse me… I think…”
 
She was off before she could finish her sentence.
 
Pinkie rolled her eyes, “She’s suck a light-weight. I’ll be right back.” With that Pinkie ran after her friend.
 
Funny, the bracelet was still burning me. I lifted it and looked. The glow around it wasn’t purple! It fact it wasn’t even coming from Twilight…
 
“Sweetie Belle?” I screamed perplexed.
 
“Forest Fire…” Scootaloo shouted.
 
It took me a nanosecond to realize what these three had in mind. Cute grins or not, they were evil! I whipped my head towards Applejack, “Run! Run as fast as you can!”
 
“Wha-“
 
“Just… go!”
 
“… please-please-please…” Scootaloo said the words trigger perfectly.
 
There was a ‘click’ in my head. The same kind of sound you’d hear when you click on a mouse, a tiny confirmation of a command about to be executed.
 
“Nooooooooooooooo…”
 
“… go kiss…” Scootaloo began. I felt the dread in my bones. I knew it! I knew it! That was why I feared this knowledge getting out!
 
“Kissing? Kissing is for babies!” Applebloom grinned, “Let’s make him do something… more.”
 
“No! Please!” I shouted, imploring them.
 
“Aw, come on guys. Anything more would be mean. Don't you think that anything apart from kissing will be going too far?” Sweetie Belle said, siding with me.
 
The two girls looked at one another. I could have sworn they grew horns as the evilness took them.
 
“Nah!” They both chimed together.
 
Aw fuck.

"Forest, I want you to..." Scootaloo began.
 
“Go and kiss Pinkie.” Sweetie Belle shouted before Scootaloo could finish her sentence.
 
There was a loud bang in the back of my brain, the sound you’d hear if a rusty, old, metal was slammed shut in an empty room. Slowly, I felt my body start to move on its own, my mind started to narrow itself. It was as if I took a backseat in my own body's cognitive function. I could see what I was doing and I knew what I was going to do, but I could not stop. All I wanted to do right now was fight Pinkie. And kiss her.
 
“Sweetie Belle!” Applebloom moaned, “Now look what you did! We agreed that he’s supposed to kiss Applejack!”
 
“Sorry, but I just don’t think it’s right making him…” Their voices faded away.
 
I found myself running towards the last known direction that Pinkie had gone. My brain only had her in mind. I wanted her. I wanted her lips. Nothing else mattered, just those lips. Those soft, plump, shapely, luscious lips! I wanted them. I needed them.
 
As I rounded the bend towards the rear of the café, I spotted her and Twilight heading back towards the library.
 
Before I could take a step forwards I felt someone wrap themselves around my hooves, “Make him stop! Get the signal spell!” It was Scootaloo.
 
“I’m tryin’, he ain’t respondin’!” Applebloom yelled.
 
“Show me where you are! Show me where you are! Show me where you are!” Scootaloo shouted.
 
Even though at the back of my brain I understood what she intended, for some reason my body ignored her words. They weren’t right, they sounded off, wrong, incorrect. And Pinkie’s lips were so close! Pulling myself forwards, I used all my strength to get to her.
 
“Run, Pinkie!” Sweetie Belle shouted.
 
“Why?” Pinkie asked, curious.
 
“Forest’s gone berserk! We can’t stop him!” Applebloom cried out still tangled up in my legs. She was strong.
 
“Where? What? Huh?” Twilight said, sitting up slightly dizzily, “Forest?”
 
“Must. Kiss. Pinkie!” I roared and pulled myself forwards.
 
“You know, if that was said with any other circumstances it might be cute, but not when…” Scootaloo grunted as I managed to take another step forwards despite her using her wings to try and pin me to the ground, “… you’re under that spell!”
 
You’re the ones who triggered it! I wanted to scream at them, but my body didn’t respond. All it wanted to do was reach Pinkie, and it was going to reach her… I was going to reach her… no… matter… what!
 
“Run, Pinkie!” Applebloom shouted again.
 
Pinkie got the gist that something was off, and bolted. My body reacted to her quickly receding figure in much the same way a predator would see its prey escaping its grasp. But the three younger Mares held me down.
 
“Sweetie Belle! Say the words!” Scootaloo shouted.
 
“Forest! Show me where you are, show me where you are, show me where you are!” Sweetie Belle shouted.
 
Nothing. She said it wrong! You forgot my last name!
 
Standing  up, I shook the three of them off and bolted after Pinkie again.
 
Pinkie hadn’t gone far, but when she saw me chasing her she tried to run faster. Nothing in Equestria runs faster than Forest Fire. And I zoomed towards her, much like a cheetah on its kill, tackling her into the large lawn just outside of Ponyville.
 
“Forest! Stop! You’re hurting me!” Pinkie shouted, laughing at the same time.
 
And there she was, under me, pinned down with my hooves on her shoulders. We stared into each other’s eyes. Time stood still. My heart beat in my chest. Her lips. Her lips were so close. Right there! I wanted them. I wanted to place my lips on hers. I wanted to…
 
No! I yelled at myself. This is wrong! You can’t do that!
 
I must! I want to. I need to. I want to. I need to…
 
My body started to lean forwards. Pinkie’s eyes widened open.
 
“Are… are you okay, Forest? You’re scaring me.”
 
No! I can’t hurt her! If I do this, she will hate me forever! She doesn’t understand the meaning behind this. She doesn’t comprehend the weight of what is going on. She’s too innocent! I can’t do it! I won’t! I won’t!
 
My body didn’t listen. It leaned forwards.
 
“Forest? Stop… please…”
 
Tears in formed in her eyes. I was really hurting her! No! Stop! Stop it!
 
“Pink… kie… hel… help… me…” I willed myself to say.
 
At once she sensed that there was something going on within me. She might have been the brightest star, but she knew when something was wrong. As I leaned forwards something hit me hard on my left side sending my flying a few yards away.
 
“What do you think yer doin’?” Applejack shouted, and she looked pissed off.
 
Thank you, thank you, thank you… I shouted in my head.
 
“Applejack! Somethin’s wrong with Forest!” Applebloom shouted, catching up to her sister, “He’s still under the spell!”
 
“Under what?” Applejack asked confused.
 
Scootaloo crashed into me and pinned me to the ground, “Sweetie Belle, say it again!”
 
“Forest, show me where you are! Show me! Show me!” Sweetie Belle shouted, tears streaming down her cheeks.
 
No! You’re saying is wrong!
 
Wait. I talked to Pinkie just now. Come on, I can tell them. Mouth, move! Open and speak!
 
“A… den…” I managed to force myself.
 
“Aiden! Get Aiden, Sweetie Belle!” Scootaloo ordered.
 
That took everything I had. It was as if I was holding my breath for as long as I possibly could before my body’s reflexes took over and inhaled on my behalf. That was essentially what happened as I pushed Scootaloo aside, and once again headed straight for a shocked and crying Pinkie.
 
Applejack intercepted me again.
 
“What’s goin’ on?” She shouted in my ear, pinning me down. Holy shit, she was strong!
 
“He’s got these spells… we saw Aiden showing him them…” Applebloom confessed, “We were stargazin’ when we saw them in the field. We heard everythin’! We didn’t mean for it to get this bad! Honest!” Applebloom looked at her sister.
 
“That’s no excuse to be foolin’ with magic, especially when another Pony’s involved!” Applejack scolded her younger sibling.
 
Scootaloo dive-bombed my head, holding me down in serious headlock. Although it hurt, I was grateful that they were pinning me down like that. I knew what they were doing, and I tried hard not to fight them – but I couldn’t help myself. I wanted to kiss Pinkie, and it felt as though if I didn’t everything would end.
 
I dug a hoof into the ground and pulled myself forwards towards Pinkie.
 
“Oh Celestia! He’s as strong as Big Mac!” Applejack muttered.
 
One hoof in front of the other, I crawled on the dirt towards Pinkie, pulling myself closer and closer towards her. Why didn’t she run? As I inched my way towards her, she sat there staring at me, her face unreadable. What was she thinking? What was she…
 
She ran over to me, cupped my chin in her hooves and pulled my face towards her.
 
My mind reeled within itself as Pinkie placed her lips on mine. Something inside me felt like a pop, and the next thing I knew I was laying in Pinkies arms (hooves) her lips firmly planted against mine. Applejack was still sitting on my back, Scootaloo still had me in a headlock and Applebloom was hugging my hindlegs.
 
“If you wanted a kiss so bad, then say so! You don’t have to act like a hungry Timberwolf,” Pinkie stated blushing ferociously.
 
I just guffawed. There was nothing I could do or say, and only yesterday Applejack and I…
 
Ooh, I felt an aura of death emanating from behind me. Slowly, I turned my head to see Applejack’s face. She was trying to mask her anger, but it wasn’t working so well. She was pissed off. Really, really pissed off – I just hoped it wasn’t at me…
 
“Forest! How could you?”
 
“Applejack, I’m sorry! I didn’t…”
 
Applebloom jumped to my rescue, “It’s our fault, sis! We didn’t mean it!”
 
“What’s the big deal, Applejack? It’s only a kiss,” Pinkie Pie grinned, “Right, Forest?”
 
“Well… I…” I didn’t quite know how to reply to that.
 
“What is it?” Pinkie asked.
 
“Don’t tell me that was your first kiss,” Scootaloo said picking herself up.
 
“What? No!”
 
All of them stared at me.
 
“That was your first kiss?”
 
“No! It wasn’t… I mean… I… maybe… I don’t know, okay! I can’t remember if I’ve kissed anypony before, alright?” I wanted to crawl into a hole and die.
 
Aiden and Sweetie Belle arrived at that point, followed by a sober Twilight.
 
“What’d we miss? We tried to ignite the signal spell, but nothing happened…”
 
“Forest kissed Pinkie.” Applejack said stoically.
 
“It wasn’t on purpose!” I tried to explain.
 
“You didn’t look like you were fightin’ the urge to smooch her, y’know. I ain’t blind!”
 
Oh man. She was so pissed.
 
“Applejack, it was only a kiss. It wasn’t like he asked me to marry him,” Pinkie said rolling her eyes.
 
“M-m-marry him!” Applejack glared at me, “So now you want to marry Pinkie?”
 
“Wha-?”
 
She smacked me. I think it was supposed to be a slap, but it’s hard to slap with a hoof, so she clobbered me instead. I saw stars.
 
“Applejack! Wait!” Applebloom called after her sister.
 
“Girls!” Twilight growled, “How many times have we told you not to fool around with magic?”
 
“Sorry, Twilight, we were only foolin’.” Applebloom kicked the ground at her feet.
 
“And this is why I hate teenagers,” Twilight shouted to the sky, before turning around and heading back towards the library, “First there’s Spike and his ‘Rarity problems’, then there’s a bunch of fillies who think that abusing magic is a joke…”
 
Her voice faded away.
 
“Sorry, Forest. I tried.” Aiden placed a hoof on my shoulder.
 
“Why is everyone so angry? I only did what Forest wanted…” Pinkie said, again with tears, “It’s not like wanted to…”
 
Oh no! “Pinkie, Pinkie, Pinkie. Please. Don’t. Don’t cry. It was a great kiss. The best I’ve ever felt. Thank you for… thank you for that.” I couldn’t hurt her, but I didn’t want her to think that there was something between us either.
 
My life sucks.
 
“It’s okay, Forest. I know you like Applejack. Well, what are you waiting for! Go after her!” Pinkie shoved me, “Go!”
 
“Pinkie… I…”
 
“Go, silly! Before she hates you!”
 
Turning, I chased after Applejack. Only once did I turn around, and I saw Applebloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle all hugging Pinkie at the same time, Pinkie’s face buried in Applebloom’s mane. Aiden stood behind them all with a sour expression.
 
“I’m sorry, Pinkie. I’m so, so sorry.” I didn’t mean to force myself onto her like that. I didn’t want to force her to do something she didn’t want to do! I was an asshole. How could I let some stupid magic spell control me like that?
 
But now I had to find Applejack and apologize to her. But where could she be?
 
I searched everywhere. All over Ponyville, the farm, her house where a really angry Big Mac gave me an earful about breaking his sister’s heart – that was scary, the barn and even Fluttershy’s house. I didn’t dare go into the Everfree Forest, and I knew that Applejack would not have ventured in there either.
 
That only left one other place.
 
“Hi Applejack,” I said, cautiously walking up to her sitting at the shores of the lake.
 
“I don’t wanna see you, Forest. Just go away.”
 
“Can… can I… can I explain…”
 
“I know! I know! I know it all, okay? That you had no control over your actions, that you were under a spell an’ all, but that doesn’t mean that I’m not hurt, Forest. I… I…” She looked at me with those huge green eyes damp from her tears.
 
I’m an asshole times ten! I screamed at myself.
 
“Applejack…”
 
She placed a hoof over my lips, “No. No more talkin’. No more waitin’. I’m still angry at you Forest. I’m furious. I know it wasn’t yer fault… but I can’t get it out of my head. She kissed you.”
 
“I know, but I just want…” I never finished the sentence.
 
And for the second time that night… I kissed a girl. Applejack was ferocious. She didn’t just kiss me, she kissed me. And, oh man could she kiss. Her warm lips embraced mine and I could feel her tongue… you know what, I’m not going into it. Let’s just say it was a magical moment.
 
As our lips parted, I couldn’t help but stare into her eyes. She smiled.
 
“Well, Forest, I might not be yer first kiss, but did I leave an impact?” Applejack smiled shyly at me.
 
“Applejack, Pinkie may be my first kiss physically… but, you’re my real first kiss. She kissed me to undo a spell. I…” My face burned, “I wanted to kiss you… last night…”
 
“Why didn’tcha?” Applejack held my cheek.
 
“I… don’t know. I’m really stupid. I so stupid…”
 
Applejack giggled at my lame joke, “Do you mind if we stayed here for a while longer?”
 
“Not at all,” I said as we both gazed across the lake under the moonlight, “Not at all…”