I woke up early in the morning, judging by some light coming through the window. The first thing I noticed was Moonshine. She was sleeping on top of me, snoring softly.

Well... what a good way to wake up, right? If I didn't know better, I would suggest that I was sexually molested in my sleep. Actually, that happened once — I was staying at my friend's house for the night. We were having a party, although it ended in everyone besides me getting drunk. So, having no desire to witness it, I decided to go to bed. I would've gone home but I was staying in another city for a day, and that is how I ended at one of friend's in the first place.
So, I went to sleep. Sometime during the night, I woke up from a strange feeling. That feeling was friend's sister trying to get into my pants.
Anyway, I knew she was drunk, so I stopped her and made her find another place for the night. Gladly, she didn't remember it afterward, and I've never told my friend about that incident. Everyone was drunk, after all. And, uh, no one needs to know.

Enough with the sleep molestation, I'm not being molested right now, after all. If I was, I would freak out and teleport myself elsewhere, even on top of the mountain. Teleportation is a useful thing, after all.

So... Everyone's still asleep, what will I do? I suppose I'll just lie here. Also, Moonshine's kinda warm. Well, I would've never said it before, but it's actually quite comfortable sleeping with a pony. Yeah, what is happening to my life...

Well, let's conclude — the night spent here was good and bad at the same time. While I had fun, for the most part, this "feelings" stuff spoiled some of it as I didn't expect any of this to happen. Who am I lying to, I thought that it might've happened but never really considered the possibility. So, I ended up kissing Moonshine and then sleeping with her (Damn me to hell eternally, that sounded so wrong) and one thing that bothers me the most — her words just before both of us fell asleep. She is going to tell me something very important once we're alone, and I have no doubts of what it will be.

About the girls: Coral and Chocolate Chips. While the latter was just having fun, the former overdid it. I suppose it was fun for her, but I am certain it wasn't as fun for me. Of course, I could just not kiss Moonshine, but... Truth or dare.
I wasn't asked what I'd pick from these two (I would always choose truth, obviously), thus I didn't have much choice.
And maybe some part of me wanted to know how would kissing a pony be. Well... I can say it is mostly the same. Putting away the shame and awkwardness, the feeling itself is more or less the same as a "human" kiss. Though... there's something a bit different. Can't really say what, but there is a small difference. And I think I'm repeating myself here.

Well, and I got into a very crappy situation. I would like to get help from Luna as she is certainly more experienced in everything more than me, but that alicorn is busy and I didn't even have any dreams tonight to even attempt to call her.

...

Moonshine hugged me in her sleep, burying her muzzle into my chest.

...

What can I say...

...

I have no words to describe my current situation. Yep. On the other side, it feels somewhat nice. But it is also wrong... How many times do I need to tell myself how much older I am than Moonshine?

Hm, maybe I should act like my younger self would?

Actually, I don't know how I'd act if I was eight. I was far shyer than Moonshine back then. And I doubt I'd catch her attention anyway. And if I would, I think everything would be much more awkward that it is. I can think pretty straight right now, but back then... I think I'd try to hide from her. Not a very good thing to do, but no one was perfect during their childhood. Nor was I.

I was extremely shy, more like a shadow than a normal child. Always playing with myself far away from others, no friends, no one noticed me... Well, my childhood wasn't too bad from my younger self's point of view since I found it interesting to play alone, imagining grand battles, bustling cities, busy ports and whatnot. I am more social now, hiding no more from the world. Still, sometimes solitude is better than when you're surrounded by friends.

I think my thinking went the wrong way. I still don't know how will I respond to Moonshine's words. Should I try to tell her that I don't feel this way? Should I lie and say that the feeling is mutual? Should I tell the truth about myself?

...

I don't know. I told her that one shouldn't hide the truth from friends... But I lied to her. I am hiding the truth now. While I understand that revealing my real self may have unpredictable consequences, I don't like keeping the lies. I am creating distrust, and when the time comes, I will be asked of my lies. That... won't be pretty. But I can try to reason, tell Moonshine I was afraid to reveal myself because that might get a lot of attention to me.

Ugh, this is so fucking complicated! I know that life rarely gives easy choices, but this is way too hard for me.

...

*sigh*

***

I'm still lying on the bed, staring at the wooden ceiling. I think at least an hour has passed since I woke up, and yet everyone else is still asleep.

Moonshine is stirring in her sleep, trying to get even more comfortable with me.

This is rather peaceful. Makes me want it to last forever. I wouldn't have to think about my relationship with Moonshine, about my past, present, and future, about music, history, religion, and whatever else I found myself into. I would just lie and rest, needing nothing else in the universe.

Oh, it seems the two other girls are waking up. I saw Moonshine's ears move, and then she yawned and slowly opened her eyes. Meeting with mine, she blushed slightly and sat up. She got down from the place and stretched. Other girls slowly woke up as well.

"Aaawh..." Coral yawned. "T'was a gud prty, Moonshine." she sleepily addressed Moonshine and then yawned. After rubbing her eyes, she said: "I gotta go now... The music school starts at midday, I don't wanna be late."

"Bye, Cor." Moonshine nodded. "I'm happy to know you liked the party!"

"What else would happen if you're the host?" Coral replied with a smile, and then went outside.

"Uh, I'll soon go, too." Chocolate Chips spoke. "I want to meet my sis today and spend some time with her. The party was great, of course! I hope we'd spend some time together again soon."

"I hope, too." Moonshine smiled. "It was great seeing you, Choc!"

***

After everyone left, it was only the two of us. Moonshine was collecting what little trash we made yesterday and put it into a paper bag. I could see her wanting to tell me something, but she was silent. Also, I was helping her with cleaning the house. Inevitably, Moonshine will speak, and I will hear what she has to say. And I can't say I'm ready for this.

She looks at me now and then, seemingly preparing herself. It seems she isn't ready either.

Moonshine makes me remember myself and my first crush. Although, I was thirteen, not eight. I acted just a shyly and unconfidently... And, once I confessed my feelings, I found myself in a friendzone. That was harsh... I moved on, of course, but it still hurt for some time. And it made me fall into depression for at least a year... Yes, I'm very sensitive when love is involved. And I don't want Moonshine to experience the same pain I went through. So, I should do something that won't hurt her as severely as me.

But what? What should I do? I have no idea...

There isn't much for us two to clean up. After this is done, Moonshine will certainly speak. I see that she is more or less ready... I don't know why I think so, I just feel it.

...

Everything is done. Moonshine is looking at me in a weird way. Here it goes...

"Um, Flame?" she said to me. "Can we, um, talk? I... I want to say something to you."

"Of course," I replied as calmly as possible. Moonshine gestured for me to sit on the bed.

"So, um..." she spoke after we took seats. "I... I want to tell you something, Flame."

She is very nervous... So am I, but I try not to show it much. She wasn't looking me in the eyes, too, and it says a lot about what she feels right now.

"I... I want to say..." she stuttered, then shifted nervously in place, seemingly trying to get comfortable. "Flame, I... I love you."

I expected that, and yet it didn't stop me from going into a stupor, just stupidly staring at Moonshine.

"You're the nicest pony I've ever met," she said. "I really, um, mean that... You never shouted at me when I, um, did something stupid. Uh, you were never angry at me, you always tried to help... And I, um, I suppose I became better because of you... I mean, you pointed out what is wrong and told me how to, um, fix it. I... I started getting higher marks at school... You know I wasn't that good, as I, um, stayed the second time in the first grade... You never made fun of me because of that but always helped. And, um, you were the first one to help me with the bullies... And I, um, very grateful for all you've done for me. And that is... that is why I love you."

What do I fucking say? Wha-at do I sa-ay? She's just said some nice things! What do I tell her? She's looking at me, expecting something... Maybe I can try...

"I... I honestly don't know what to say." I started. "I... I like you in some way." and that is true. "I... I can't say I love you yet... And, um... I would never hurt you. I am not someone who likes hurting ponies. I, um, I helped you because I saw you needed help. And I would never make fun of you. I wouldn't call you stupid either. Well, everyone makes mistakes... I just wanted to help you, that is all..."

That sounded awkward as hell.

"And that is why I think you are one of the kindest, nicest ponies ever." Moonshine moved closer to me. "And, actually, I wanted to tell you that for a very long time... I didn't know how to do it neither did I know how you'll react. And you... you've just proved everything I think you are. And... I confessed because of yesterday... When you... um, when you kissed me on the lips." she said, last words barely hearable as she whispered them to me. "Why did you, um, kiss me? You could've just said "no", but you still did it. It means a lot to me..." she blushed even harder.

I know I maybe could've said that... And I really could. Maybe something pushed me there, to do what I did? I don't know... I really could've just not done it.

"And you don't love me yet... I think you will." Moonshine said. "I... I hope you will," she added. "But, um, even if you don't love me yet, can I ask for something?" I... Crap, I don't know what should I say. "Can you... kiss me... again?" she asked softly.

Oh... I... I am absolutely at loss of everything here. Part of me tells me not to do it, but another advises I should do it. Well, if I am now a child again... Maybe I should do what my child self would do? Another me wouldn't be against it, I think. If I was almost literally reborn, what stops me from experiencing everything anew? Human society doesn't have a hold on me. Everyone thinks I am a child.

If to live a new life I need to throw away everything I had before... I should do it. Enough of me being held back by what I was taught is right. It is time to choose for myself. It is time to accept my new self, my pony self, and to let go of the past.

I nodded to Moonshine and moved closer to her.

Nothing holds me from doing what I want. No one tells me what to do. The society I lived in for the most of my life has no power over me here. Whatever it may think of my actions doesn't have anything to do with me anymore.

I live another life, and now I am free.

Closing my eyes, I kissed Moonshine softly on her lips. It wasn't that awkward kiss I was made to do. Now, I do it myself, and I am not looking back.

It is like ascension to something new, something I've not experienced yet, something no one prepared me for.

And I welcome it.

Author's Notes:

I think some of you may tell me how illogical for Flame to just say "fuck it, I'm a child", but I think it has sense. If I were in his situation, I would most likely do the same. Since, you know, no one knows (not counting Luna in this particular situation) or cares of what you were. It is indeed that Flame is considered just a foal, not a fully-grown man that was turned into a colt. After all, when he was a child, he wasn't really free to do what he wants — he has a Christian mother and military father. I know from experience that neither first nor second thing makes a child born to such families free. There would always be rules that make little or no sense at all because parents want to make their child be what they couldn't become themselves.

Flame understands that there is no one trying to control him or make him into whatever they may think is right, so, it is why he made such a decision. His new childhood belongs only to himself, and he intends to take the most from it.

I don't know whether or not this explanation was needed, but some people might have been confused after reading this chapter. So, this is a little help from me to them.

Also, it is not the end of the story. The childhood hasn't ended yet, and there is a lot for Flame to experience and discover in the new world.