With the hilarity of the day over, I decide it’s time to get down to business. I got one of the scribes to take dictation and make some copies, which would be sent to Ponyville telling the recipients what I know about Twilight and what I’m doing not saying anything in person. I figure not many letters need to be made, just six. One for each of the other Element Bearers and one for the mayor who can decide if she wants to make the information public or not, her choice.

I’m hungry... I turn to one of the various unarmored attendants that seem to amble around the castle now that there isn’t anyone in charge telling them what needs doing every five minutes. Some of them are looking a bit twitchy... maybe I should give them something to do. “Hey you. Yeah, pink coat and the purple hair. How about getting me a cheeseburger?”

“A... cheeseburger? Sir?”

“Yeah, hamburger with cheese?” The pony still looks confused. “Think like a sandwich with a fluffy bun, tomato, pickles, ground beef, onions, lettuce.”

“Beef...”

“Friggin’ herbivores. Cow! Cow meat. Y’know, moos and gives milk? Yeah, one of them. Like a steak, but you put the meat through a grinder, mold it into a patty and cook it. Too complicated for you?”

“N- no... I’ll uh. I’ll notify one of the chefs at once... sir.”

Well it took them about half an hour but I have about twenty cheeseburgers on a platter. I take a bite and while it’s not quite like I remember it’s pretty good. A bit dry for my taste like it was cooked too long but not burnt. Still, pretty darn good.

That said some of the ponies are staring at me. I know that meat is kind of a taboo in unicorn culture and this place is unicorn central but hell, I’m not gonna deprive myself of enjoyment just because they’re squeamish. I mean, it’s cow! They aren’t even in the same species family. These guys are way too touchy. I call over the pink mare from earlier and hold out a burger.

“Take a bite.” She’s hesitating. “It’s already dead and cooked it’s not going to come back for revenge or anything, just take a dang bite!”

The mare shivers, her knees shaking as she leans forward and takes a small bite, everyone else present watching intently. She winces as she slowly chews, acting as if the thing might blow up in her mouth. With more effort than strictly necessary, she swallows and a weird look comes over her.

With a rather pitiful whimper of dread, she takes another bite. After what seems like an eternity, she finishes the one I handed to her.

“Wanna ‘nother one?” The mare nods animatedly but says “No.” at the same time before running from the throne room. “Suit yourself.” I return to the small platter of cheeseburgers and start on my third. “Anyone else wanna try one?”

The others give their own variation of decline, either worried, unsure or somesuch. Eh, more for me, no complaints here. That said, this is a lot of burgers. I mean, did they put an entire cow into these? Either way I may not be able to eat all of these myself.

Eating my way through the pile as the day goes on, I’m finished with the sandwiches by about late afternoon. Feeling a bit tired, I decide to turn in, heading for one of the guest rooms. I mean, I’m not gonna just take someone elses room even if they aren’t here. That said, the bed is still large enough for me to sleep in, almost a human-sized twin bed. And it’s comfy...

But something irks me. I try to gather my thoughts and I recall what I did to Scootaloo. She must be awful depressed or something.

But I can’t think of anything to do about it! I can’t just walk up to her, it’ll just make things worse... I close my eyes, deciding to sleep but having a hard time of it. I go with my usual trick of zoning out.

Everything is dark. I’m safe on the bed, but I’m falling. Just... falling. Into nothing. Weightlessness. Peace. Clarity. Darkness...

falling and falling and falling...

I’m snapped out when I get ‘caught’. Opening my eyes I see Luna clearly visible among the void of nothing. “Did you need something?”

“Oh... I’m sorry, it’s just... Well, when most ponies have a ‘falling’ dream, it’s a nightmare of some variety. I just wanted to see how you were doing and... thought you needed comforting.”

I shake my head. “Not me. Scootaloo.”

“Little Scootaloo is very enamored with you. Most of her dreams involve you in some way, aside from her nightmares that is. You seem to lack presence in those.”

“She’s been having nightmares?”

“While you were away, your friends decided to go camping. A few ghastly tales around a campfire resulted in her having rather traumatic dreams. I helped her through them, and she is sleeping well now.”

I nod, relieved. Then I get an idea. “Hey Luna, could you like... take me into her dreams? So I could talk with her?”

“Whatever for?”

“Well... some truths were told and some things were said... let’s leave it at me wanting to make up with her, but not feeling able to see her in person.”

Luna thinks for a while. “Well, I could bring you into her current dream and you’d be visible and able to be heard and touched... but in her dream you are susceptible to her wishes. If she wants you gone, I cannot do anything to keep you anchored. Also, if she already has imagined something that represents you in her current dream world, that’s what you will manifest as and be acting through.”

I weigh my options. I could fix this but also put myself at not-quite risk... or let this go and do nothing. “Take me to her.”

Luna nods and the next thing I know I’m in a stone room. And a pony. An adult pony, but a pony either way. So whatever Scootaloo is dreaming about, it involves pony-me in some sort of dungeon... yikes.

Looking around I see a window and a cloud through said window. Okay, I’m in a tall tower with no door or staircase, that’s pretty simplistic. That said, I might be able to come up with something. Peering out the window, being careful not to lean too far and fall, I see that this tower is very high up, the grass below nothing but a huge motionless pool of green. Straight ahead I see blue sky and puffy white clouds. And a silver and orange speck.

Said speck is getting bigger and now it’s more of a blob, and I notice that it’s getting closer rather quickly. After a bit of time I notice that the figure is Scootaloo. Not only wearing very... heroic-looking platemail, but also about ten years older so she’s about Pinkie’s age here.

What is this dream about? What am I here for?

Scootaloo seems to be picking up speed as she heads for the tower. Oh great... she’s the ‘brave knight’ character, and I’m the ‘Evil wizard in his tower.’

Sighing, I back up from the window as Scoots rockets into the chamber at a very unbelievable speed before stopping instantaneously and landing on the ground with absolutely no problems in any area of the actions, ignoring most laws of physics.

She gives a triumphant look around and sets her gaze on me, the look becoming one of what I can describe as ‘imminent victory’. Slowly she trots closer to me, the stonewall room suddenly becoming a lot more spacious, yet not showing any indications of terraforming, as if she’s turning the area into a battlefield.

Slowly she approaches me, the growing look of conquest not even hidden as she walks, looking for all to see like a brave warrior about to complete a momentous task. There’s not much space between us now, and Scootaloo bunches up and springs forward, toppling me to the ground, her mouth against mine and... oh man, this feels good.

Apparently I’m the ‘Damsel in Distress’ here, though no actual feminine changes made to myself. And frankly, if Scootaloo was actually this good to just sit under and kiss like this... I have no idea why I’d said no to being with her before. This is nice...

I roll us over so I’m on top of her, our hooves wrapped around each others’ neck and our lips meet again and I have to say, the feeling is like electricity running down my back, but in a good way. After a few minutes of simply enjoying the sensation, I back off a bit and lay down next to her.

“I’m glad you don’t hate me.”

“I love you t- huh?”

“I’m sorry about how I hurt you, I really am.”

She looks confused, but the room around us starts getting blurry. “Wait... am I- Oh... of course I’m dreaming. I’m no hero, and Anthony would never say-”

“Scootaloo, this is a dream, but it’s the real me. I wanted to apologize to you, and Luna let me into your dreams. I want you to know that I’m glad you still like me.”

The area sort of tilts and dissolves, Scootaloo’s platemail disappearing as she ages down into a filly again, and I’m becoming a foal as well. The scenery changes to Ponyville in Winter with snow all around us. She’s taken us back to the moment when she confessed.

I’m gonna do it right this time.

I pull Scootaloo into a hug, wrapping my small hooves around her and she returns the hug. “I know what I said earlier and I need to say it better. Scootaloo, you are an incredible filly and one of my best friends. I’d never give you up for anything. Anything. But I can’t be in love with you.”

“I know you don’t like ponies like that an’ all but... I was hoping maybe-”

“Me not being attracted to ponies isn’t the issue here. The problem is purely physical. Sure right now I’m a foal... but this is temporary. I’m much bigger than this, and that’s a problem for us.”

“How?”

“I barely fit inside your clubhouse, Scoots. I care about you too much. It’s proven I don’t know my own strength or other abilities like I used to, and I might squish you if I’m not careful! Also... you think you want me, but you don’t. I’m sure there’s some other nice colt your age who likes you.”

“Like who? Why? I want you Anthony! You’re so kind, and brave, and strong and-”

“And so are you. Find someone better. With your talents, I have no doubt in my mind you have someone out there admiring you.” I hug her tightly. “Find him, whoever he is. It may take a while to find him if he’s shy or unsure or anything. Find someone who’s able to give you as much love as you deserve, because... I can’t. You’re not too young, it’s that you’re too little, and I do love you, as a dear friend that could never be replaced in a million lifetimes.”

“So... I just need to find a way to get bigger?”

I sigh, shaking my head. “No, don’t try and mess with time. Don’t force yourself to change just for me. I’m certain there’s some colt out there who loves you the way you are. Don’t change to be with me, stay as you are... it’ll be much easier, and you’ll be much happier.”

“That doesn’t make me feel happy.”

“It won’t, not until you find the right person. But when you do, you’ll know. And never forget that while I may not love you in the same way, continuing to love me is fine, you can, just don’t hope that I’ll return it to the same extent. If you do that, you’ll just be setting yourself up for disappointment.”

Scootaloo hangs her head, looking as if she’s about to cry. I tighten my hug around her. “But here. Now. In your dreams, you can have anything.”

I roll over onto my back with a bit of difficulty, pulling Scootaloo on top of me and our lips touch again, Scoots pushing herself into it as if trying to force back tears. I rub her back and she loosens her grip and we just sit in the snowy path, her lips feel odd because of her muzzle, but still soft, warm and very pleasant. Next Chapter: Chapter 199 Estimated time remaining: 3 Hours, 27 Minutes