That Warm Smile
Chapter 2: Dropping the Ball
Previous Chapter Next ChapterDropping the Ball
Chapter II: Dropping the Ball
The February air only serves to taunt you… It is not as cold as December, giving you the slightest taste of spring. You still have to wear a coat though… I’ve never understood why cartoons make February look like some spring paradise. It’s still chilly and dark. The plants have yet to fully come back to life. Even still… The human race still marches on. Already, sports are being organized and brought back to the public eye, despite how cold it can be. I’ve never understood why humans, and ponies for that matter, are so interested in sports. Sirens never really had those sort of physical competitions. We preferred to prove we were better through magic or status. That status was usually the power we held over smaller or weaker creatures.
Today, there’s a baseball game Rainbow Dash wants everyone to attend. In the past couple months, she got into university and she quickly got involved with the athletics teams. I thought she would leave that life behind after everything, but maybe she wants to become a coach herself. Then she can make sure no one else has to take the same supplements she did. Regardless, she’s now the assistant to the coach of the university baseball team. It’s not necessarily her game or such, but Dash really wanted to see us there. I can’t say I’ve ever been to a baseball game, so this will be a new experience.
The only thing I’m scared about is… her… I don’t want her to take control in the middle of this game. I want to be there with my friends and not cause some sort of scene. It’s actually scarier that she has remained dormant… Every now and then, she takes control of my body, but she doesn’t do anything that would seriously damage my life. After all she’s said to me in the past, it’s hard to believe she’s grown a heart… Maybe she has some plan that requires everyone. For now at least.
Slowing my pace, I can’t help but stare at the gray sidewalk with a sigh. I was supposed to tell Sunset about this demon a couple months ago… But… Christmas seemed like an inconvenient time to tell her. She was so happy and I didn’t want to take that away from her. I don’t know why I waited all this time, but I really need to give Sunset the chance to help me with this… The last time I lied to her, it only ended up hurting her in the long run. I don’t want to deal with that again. So, that’s why I’ll tell her after this game… As soon as we get home.
Shaking my head, I try to hurry down the sidewalk. They’re waiting on me at this point. I would have gone with Sunset, but I had to stay at work for an extra hour… It’s alright. I’ll have enough time to talk to Sunset later tonight. What matters right now is the ball game. Dash really wants us there to share the “experience.” What does she even mean by experience? Does a ball game really have that much of a different atmosphere? I guess I’ll have to find out. In general, the only reason I’m coming to this game is because Dash wanted me to. She’s quite persuasive… That and she’s my friend. Let’s face it. Friendship is still new to me, so I’m not exactly used to all the feelings and obligations that come with it. I’m an expert at manipulation and planning, but not so much at friendship. Maybe Applejack could use some help managing everyone. I did like to be in charge…
When it comes to Sunset’s friend group, everyone plays a role. Everyone except me. Unless the role is being a sarcastic bitch. Then I have that covered. Pinkie Pie is the fun canon. Twilight is the genius. Applejack is the honest and hard-working structure for the group. Rainbow Dash is the rebel who often convinces Applejack to partake in a bit of mischief. Fluttershy is the careful one, trying to make sure no one gets hurt and Rarity? She’s the drama queen who has Applejack wrapped around her finger. Sunset is almost like the group leader in that sense. She knows the most about magic in this world and she tries to make sure everyone is heard, being the voice of reason. What does that leave for me? Not really much… I suppose I shouldn’t focus on fitting into the group and should just focus on being myself. There’s only one Adagio Dazzle after all.
Then again, probably not. There’s probably a second version of me on this planet somewhere. But in no way does she have the same life experiences as me, so my point still stands. One thing I’ve noticed above all else is that friendship hasn’t really changed me. Sure, it’s made me more nice, but I am still able to insult someone at the drop of a hat. I still know how to be manipulative and persuade people. When I had my magic taken away from me, I thought everything was gone, but now I realize that’s not true. My innate skills at charisma, manipulation, planning and body language haven’t gone anywhere. If anything, the loss of my magic has forced me to get better at these skills. Even if I am insecure sometimes, I can’t deny that my confidence has brought back most of these traits. Even my superiority complex sometimes acts up… That… needs to be controlled somehow. Friendship helps me learn how to be caring of other people’s feelings and learn that everyone is special in their own way while letting me hone my other skills. I thought being friends with someone meant it was all sunshine and rainbows, but I’m thankfully accepted for how I am. Rainbow Dash and Applejack don’t mind the occasional insult I throw their way and everyone seems to accept my egocentric behavior. Friendship is… really confusing.
The best I can do is be myself while learning to be a nicer person. Taking a deep breath, I reach into my bag, pulling out my phone. I can’t quite say I’ve ever been to this university or their ballpark, but I have to be close. Opening my phone, I look for the map icon. Honestly, I’ve never really used my phone for anything other than calling someone or taking pictures, so this is another new experience today. Rainbow Dash said it’s on the East side of the campus. Considering how I’m just entering the campus now, it shouldn’t be difficult to find where they are, but this university’s layout is weird. Pointing my finger in front of me at a statue, I look at the map, trying to find it on the digital representation. If this statue is on the North side of the campus, then… the stadium should be to my left somewhere. It would be to my right if I was facing the other way, but I’m looking towards the campus. Looking up from the map, I see a few people stare at me with confusion as they walk by. What? They’re acting like it’s weird to not know your way around a campus you’ve never been to before…
Slipping my phone back into my bag, I quickly walk down the sidewalk to my left. If there’s one thing I can say about a college campus, it’s that it feels much more like a small-knit community than I thought. Everyone here seems to be a student or a faculty member, walking around with some purpose. School pride is everywhere with the school’s iconic colors and mascot pasted on most windows or walls. I know Sunset attends college classes, but I didn’t think college was like this. It all feels so confusing and… different. I don’t really envy Sunset for attending college, but I am proud of her for doing so. She works so hard to pass her classes, all so that she can earn a degree. It’s inspiring in some aspects.
Walking past one of the buildings, I instantly see a large brick wall with baseball posters and ticket booths. Surprisingly, the line for the game is pretty long, going down the street. This has to be the stadium. I didn’t think there would be such a large line since it’s just a university ball game, but perhaps I’m just ignorant. I’m not really into sports anyway. Making my way towards the line, I search the people to try and find someone similar. It doesn’t take me long to find the group of friends, Pinkie Pie jumping up and down in excitement. Everyone is talking amongst themselves. Beside my friend group, there’s the Cutie Mark Crusaders, talking with each other as well. I didn’t expect them to be here… Though, I suppose it’s probably another one of their adventures to find their purpose in life. The Apple Family also loves sports from time to time from what I’ve seen, so Apple Bloom probably dragged Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo along.
When the pink-haired party machine spots me, I can’t help but anticipate something drastic to happen. “ADAGIO!!! WE’RE OVER HERE!!!” Pinkie screams at the top of her lungs, making my ears ring slightly. Seems that my fear was valid. Pinkie did do something drastic… Something that caused my ears to hurt. Rubbing my ear with my fingers, I slowly approach the group, shaking my head. Everyone is here except Rainbow Dash. She’s probably needed by the team, so it makes sense.
“How are ya, sugarcube? You look a bit pale,” Applejack tells me when I get close enough, patting my shoulder.
“My ears are still ringing, that’s all,” I say quietly, trying to get my hearing back to normal. Something smells like meat. Looking around at everyone, I see Pinkie Pie munching on a hotdog as happily as she can. Where… did she get that? I thought food was served inside?
“Do you need some ear plugs? It can get pretty loud at a ball game,” Sunset tells me, moving around the group to stand beside me. She doesn’t hesitate at all to hold my hand, kissing my cheek as we wait in line.
“I have some, darling~ Take these,” Rarity tells me, pulling out a couple of ear plugs from her purse. Her nails seem like they’re freshly painted orange. The same color of her girlfriend’s skin.
“Thanks. I’m not quite sure why, but my ears are pretty sensitive,” I respond, taking Rarity’s gift slowly. For now, I refrain from putting them in until we actually sit down.
“That probably makes you a pretty good music teacher, huh? Since you can pick up on a lot of musical notes,” Fluttershy says quietly, seemingly interested in the topic.
“I wonder if you’re just normally sensitive or if there’s some reason why… Maybe it’s due to your Equestrian DNA?” Twilight pitches in, looking at me with one of her scientific stares. Clearly, she wants to find the answer when she’s like this.
“But I don’t have sensitive hearing. Wouldn’t that nullify that explanation?” Sunset asks Twilight, both of their intellects seemingly piqued by this change in topic.
“Not necessarily. I have been analyzing the blood sample she gave me and Adagio has a bit more Equestrian DNA leftover than you do. That and you two are different species, so there could be differences there.” Twilight’s face lights up with excitement upon explaining this to us, her words demeanor telling me she is fascinated by the potential for magic and studies based around them. If I remember correctly, Sunset told me that’s how Twilight became a she-demon at the Friendship Games. Let’s just hope she won’t make the same mistake twice.
“W-wha…? Blood sample? Why did Adagio give you her blood?” Fluttershy asks the scientist slowly, a nervous expression coming to her face.
“Oh, I asked her to. Sunset and Adagio still have some Equestrian DNA in their bodies. We do too when we’re ponied up, but otherwise? No.” Ponied up…? Is that what they call their magical forms? Sounds pretty… stupid. I would have come up with a better name for it, but hey. They can do what they want.
“Wait. Adagio still has siren blood?” a southern voice interrupts the conversation, making me look behind me. Apple Bloom’s eyes are wide open, clearly looking away from her friends and their conversation with a bewildered expression.
“What exactly does that mean? Does she still have magic?” Sweetie Belle asks Twilight instead of me, making Rarity flash her an angry glance.
“Sweetie Belle! We shouldn’t talk about such a… sensitive topic,” Rarity tells her younger sister with a harsh tone.
“No, it’s alright. Really. It doesn’t offend me,” I tell the Fashionista with a raised hand, trying to reassure her that it’s fine with me.
“By all accounts, no. I don’t think it means she has magic. It doesn’t really affect her at all. She’s essentially human. I’m honestly not sure what that part of her DNA does.” Twilight shrugs slightly, trying to explain her point effectively. The fact that Twilight still isn’t sure what that part of my DNA does is a little… unnerving. I have an idea what might be involved with that. It involves a certain umbra in my mind… Her presence has been gripping onto my life for almost a year now and I’m not sure why. Could she be a byproduct of that siren DNA?
“As long as it doesn’t hurt her or cause our lives any trouble, I don’t mind~” Sunset tells the group proudly, resting her head on my shoulder. Our lives… Her saying that reminds me that she and I just keep getting closer. We feel practically inseparable now… I’m completing her sentences and she knows everything about me. The idea that she and I are spending our lives together is… really nice. Not every relationship feels this close. This… personal. We feel so involved in each other’s lives and at this point? I never want to be out of her life. I want her to be with me for… forever… Is it really that hard for me to admit? Is it because sirens don’t typically commit their lives to another due to love? They usually did it for personal gain… What gain do I get other than having someone perfect love me and being able to love them in return?
A solemn smile comes to my face as everyone continues the conversation, my ears sort of filtering out all the information. When it comes to hurting our lives… I’m not sure. That siren DNA might be the reason that demon has been inhabiting my mind. She claims to be the real Adagio, but she can’t be. I am. I’m still the same siren I was, just… without the lust for power. It seems that’s all she is. She hasn’t done anything to damage our lives yet, but I… I don’t know if she will remain dormant like that. What will I do if I can’t control her? If I can’t stop whatever she wants to do? I don’t want to be the reason this perfect relationship of ours is damaged…
“Adagio?” Applejack asks for my attention, making me shake my head and look at the farm girl.
“Hmm? What is it?”
“Rares was asking why ya didn’t bring your scarf today,” Applejack explains, nodding her head towards her girlfriend. Rarity’s expression seems concerned that I wasn’t listening, but she nods slowly.
“I um…” I can’t seem to find the words to answer, stammering slightly. Compose yourself, Adagio. You’re better than this. “I didn’t want to damage it at a ball game, that’s all.”
“Ah~ I see. You’ve learned your lesson, huh, darling?” Rarity asks me with a small wink, making me roll my eyes slightly at her statement.
“I’m going to talk to Adagio privately for a moment, if that’s alright with everyone,” Sunset tells the group before pulling me a little bit away from the line, turning our backs to everyone else. In front of us is an empty street with a nice cool breeze blowing against us. “What are you thinking about?” Sunset asks me just as kindly as ever, holding my hand in a gentle and firm fashion. “Is there anything bothering you? Are you having hallucinations again?” Sunset’s kind and attentive nature reminds me just how easily I fell in love with her, but she is quickly able to deduce what could be bothering me. She knows me really well… Looking into her eyes, I see a concerned yet beautiful stare, only accentuated by her warm smile. I need to tell her… I need to talk to her about those hallucinations. How they’re not just hallucinations anymore… I have physical proof of her taking control of my body and… I would do anything to protect her.
But right now isn’t the best time…
“No, not really. I’m just preoccupied with other thoughts, that’s all. I’ll try my best to be here~” I return a smile to Sunset, pressing my forehead against hers slowly. A happy sigh exits her lips as the breeze hits us. Every moment with her feels magical. I need to talk to her, but it can wait until after this game. She shouldn’t worry about it the whole time we’re trying to be here for Dash.
“Um, hey. Girls? The line’s moving now,” a small voice speaks up, tapping our shoulders. Turning my gaze, I see Fluttershy’s small yet happy expression, pointing towards the people ahead of our group. Everyone waits for Sunset and I to move with them before daring to go ahead. Sunset chuckles slightly before pulling my hand along. It doesn’t take a lot to convince me to follow. Usually, Sunset has an easy time convincing me to do things in general. When it comes to ball games, I have no idea what to expect, but I’m sure we will have some fun either way. I’m not exactly sure who has the tickets… I’m sure I should have one. Why would I be invited if I don’t have a ticket? Getting closer to the main gate, the staff check everyone’s tickets, making sure they’re all real. When they get to us, Fluttershy takes out a stack of the tickets with a small, handing them over to the security personnel for a moment. “There’s ten of us~ We should be sitting next to each other,” Fluttershy tells the man quietly, surprisingly taking charge of the group.
“So, did the tickets come for free since Rainbow Dash is the assistant to the coach or…?” I whisper to Applejack, wondering who exactly I would need to pay back in the future. I’m already in debt to everyone here for helping me buy the motorcycle for Sunset’s birthday. Everyone except the Cutie mark Crusaders. I don’t exactly like the idea of owing someone… I like to repay my debts when I can.
“Nope. Fluttershy paid for our tickets herself~ She actually insisted on it. I don’t exactly let people pay for me or my little sister often, but I couldn’t exactly say no if she really wanted to.” Fluttershy paid…? Each ticket is worth around twenty dollars. Since there’s ten of us here, that means she paid at least 200 dollars without interest… I… I wish I had that kind of money to spare. God, I remember when I could barely afford rent at that hole in the wall apartment. I’m still used to living a lifestyle that means saving as much money as I can. I’ve been trying to break my strict habit since I have a little more money than I used to, but… it’s hard to exactly spend on myself when I am still afraid of losing the things I have at the drop of a hat.
Walking inside the gate, there’s a big circular opening before people can walk left or right to sit in their seats surrounding the ballpark. Pinkie Pie is instantly jumping around with a happy expression, seemingly excited to be here. “Ooh! We have to get some snacks! Baseball hotdogs are better than any other hotdog out there!” Pinkie Pie excitedly states, pointing towards the food centers. It’s a pretty innocent gesture to be excited about food of all things at a sports event, but it fits Pinkie Pie fully. Honestly, I’ve never had a hotdog before. At least, I don’t think so.
“Um, everyone? I don’t mean to um… break the excitement, but I got five seats on the left side of the audience and… five on the right,” Fluttershy slowly tells us, holding five tickets in each hand. “S-so, who um… wants to sit with each other. I’m fine with either, honestly.” Looking at the pieces of paper in Fluttershy’s hands, my mind knows exactly what I want to do… I want to sit next to Sunset, no matter what. This is my first baseball game and it would only feel right if I get to experience most of it with her by my side.
Reaching out and grabbing the tickets from Fluttershy’s left hand, I give one to Sunset, making sure to put the one right next to hers in my pocket. “Of course, I want to sit with Sunny. The only thing I want to know is who else would like to sit near us.” Holding out the pieces of paper, I look around at the group, noticing Applejack reaching for them. Before she can grab them, a yellow blur takes them from my hand, making both of us look in its direction. Instantly, Apple Bloom gives two of the tickets to her friends, keeping one for herself.
“Cutie Mark Crusaders, go!” Apple Bloom yells excitedly, all three girls running towards the left side of the stadium. Dust can almost be seen in their absence, all of them moving pretty fast. Looking towards Sunset, I can’t help but nervously chuckle with her, both of us knowing how much trouble they may be to sit with…
“I guess we’re on babysitting duty,” Sunset tells everyone in a joking manner. Everyone laughs except for Applejack who still looks annoyed that her little sister stole the tickets she was reaching for.
“Good luck, you two!!!” Pinkie Pie exclaims with a giant wave as Sunset leads us away from the group, walking in the direction the crusaders went. The only thing I can think about is how much mischief Apple Bloom might get us into… All I wanted to do was relax with my girlfriend and enjoy this game, but Apple Bloom always has some sort of plan going on in that head of hers. A dense head, but still.
Sunset holds onto my arm, resting her head on my shoulder. A small coo exits her mouth, making me blush within a second. Sunset knows exactly what she’s doing. She knows just how her cute demeanors affect me. I try to act cute for her too sometimes, but I’m not sure if it works. “Don’t worry~ We’ll have time for each other, Alligator~” she whispers in a sweet and caring tone, kissing my cheek as gently as ever.
“How did you know that’s what I was thinking?” I ask her slowly, not stopping our pace for a second despite the blush on my face.
“I could tell by how confidently you said you wanted to sit with me. And how you looked a little disappointed when Apple Bloom grabbed the tickets,” Sunset tells me with a wink, still knowing everything about me. Almost everything… Her soft hand slowly runs down my fingers, warming my hand ever so easily. “We’ll be able to spend some time together~ I promise,” Sunset tells me with her warm smile, her grip never loosening for a second. Despite the cold weather of February, my heart always feels so warm when I’m with her. I feel so fuzzy and dizzy with her… As if I’m walking on clouds, she makes me feel like everything will be alright. Even if the world is collapsing around us. That’s the gift Sunset keeps giving… She’s given it to me every single day ever since that December more than a year ago. When she walked into that nightclub, I never thought she would give me such a powerful reason to live. To be here for her. To experience this love and share it with her.
“Sunset, why do I love you so much?” I whisper, feeling a tear come to my eye as I look into her peaceful gaze. Both of us stop our walk, ignoring every single person that passes us by. A blush comes to Sunset’s cheeks, but her eyes never look away from mine. Her smile gets wider before hugging me tightly, giggling to herself.
“Because I love you too~” Her answer, as generic as it is, is given to me honestly, her warm embrace making me want to cry slightly. Wrapping my arms around her, I nod slowly, closing my eyes. She’s right. If she didn’t treat me with such kindness and an open heart, I wouldn’t have fallen in love with her… Because of her caring nature, I can’t help but love her. Every part of her. Even the times she’s stubborn or won’t listen to reason. “I love you more, Adagio,” Sunset whispers into my ear, making the nerves along my back go haywire.
“That’s impossible~” A stupid smile comes across my face, absolutely smitten with this fiery spirit. As bad as Sunset’s life has been, I’m… really happy we met in this world. I probably wouldn’t have given her advice the time of day if I still had my magic.
“Uh, Adagio? Are ya two lovebirds done yet?” a familiar voice asks from beside us, causing Sunset to take a deep breath before looking towards the farm girl. It seems even Sunset was wanting some time with me.
“Adagio will be available in just a second, Apple Bloom~ We’ll catch up.”
“Alright, I get it. You two are in love and all, but I mean… Ya have all day to kiss in your apartment. Just saying.” With that, Apple Bloom walks away from the two of us, Sunset reconnecting her eyes with mine.
“She is right, you know~ We should probably stop.” Sunset gently touches my cheek before letting go of our embrace, looking towards the seats. “How about you go catch up with Apple Bloom and I’ll find our seats?” Turning back to me, Sunset blows me a kiss with a wink, taking a few steps backward. “I’ll save a kiss for when you get back, Alligator~” Her hand gives me a small wave before turning around and walking towards the seats, my feet moving towards the left. Well, Apple Bloom… What exactly do you want this time?
Shaking my head, I quickly make my way through the crowd, looking for her iconic magenta bow. Surprisingly, it’s not the bow I see first. It’s a sparkly gold cape flowing in the wind, attached to the smaller body of Apple Bloom. Her and the other Cutie Mark Crusaders are standing near a support beam holding up the second floor of the stadium. This place is… much bigger than I had expected. Regardless, there’s a thoughtful look on Apple Bloom’s face. That almost always means some sort of trouble. I guess it’s my job to make sure she doesn’t get hurt or do something too crazy. Then again, I doubt I could stop her since she can drag me around on a whim.
Apple Bloom points out to the audience, saying something to Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. “Come on, girls! If we station ourselves in different parts of the audience, surely one of us will catch one.” Sweetie Belle nods her head with a happy smile, but her expression drops when she sees Scootaloo’s disapproving shake of her head.
“Nope. I think we should consider finding the basket and taking one before they even start this. Then we wouldn’t have to get lucky,” Scootaloo speaks up, clearly not up for Apple Bloom’s plan.
“What exactly are you three planning?” I ask with a raised eyebrow, getting close enough to three of them to speak comfortably. The three girls look towards me, Sweetie Belle giving me a wave.
“Hi, Adagio~ How are you doing?” she asks me with a kind tone, but it doesn’t take long for her smile to disappear. “We’re just trying to find a way to get the giveaway and all. We can’t agree on a plan.” A giveaway?
“What kind of giveaway?” I ask them, feeling a little confused. I wasn’t aware there would be any giveaway.
“Well, they’re selling some jerseys that are modeled after the team. Thankfully, they’re giving some of these away by throwing them out into the crowd,” Apple Bloom tells me with half interest, waving her hand towards the audience seats. “Sweetie Belle was wanting one since the jerseys are purple and all. Now we just need a gameplan to get one.”
“If we’re just relying on pure luck, then we won’t be able to get one. If we really want to get one for Sweetie, we need to find where they’re stashing the loot,” Scootaloo tells Apple Bloom with a sigh, annoyed that she isn’t being heard. “What do you think? Which plan is better?” Scootaloo asks me with a hopeful look, causing the other two crusaders to stare at me for an answer as well. Gee… I sure do love being put in the middle of things like this. Honestly, this whole situation annoys me in general, but I simply look up and take a deep breath. Putting one of my hands on my hip, I point out towards the crowd with a raised eyebrow.
“When is the giveaway happening?” I ask them, trying to mask any annoyance in my voice with a tired tone. Despite the fact that I have helped Apple Bloom countless times, I’m still dragged into pretty childish scenarios. Whatever. It’s fine. I can do this and then get back to Sunset. Apple Bloom is my friend, so it’s the right thing to do. Doesn’t mean it’s any less annoying though…
“In about five minutes,” Apple Bloom tells me with her thick southern accent, keeping her eyes on any of the entrances people could come from with the jerseys.
Damn… We’re in a tight spot. We only have five minutes to decide? Moving around in this crowd will take five minutes in general. “Okay, we’re going to take Apple Bloom’s plan for now. If we don’t get a jersey, we can try something else, alright?” I say in a hurried manner, pointing towards the different spots the crusaders should be at. “I’ll-”
“Adagio will stay up here in case any of the jerseys get thrown high into the audience,” Apple Bloom says with authority, pointing Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle to their respective spots. Before they go, they push their fists together before raising them in the sky.
“Cutie Mark Crusaders, go!” they all yell in unison, leaving me alone by this support beam. I was prepared to take charge, but Apple Bloom sort of pushed herself in, asserting her authority. Alright. Point made, Apple Bloom. You’re a part of the Crusaders and I’m not, so I’ll follow your lead on this one. I’m used to being the leader. The only one I exchange leadership with on a regular basis is Sunset. She and I… often take turns to be in charge of things. Certain purchases. What we will watch. What we will do… But when it comes to everyone else, I’m used to being the lead. Despite how much Aria wanted to be in charge at times…
Focus, Adagio. You can think about them later… Right now, I need to watch out for those jerseys… Looking towards the front of the audience, a couple people walk out with baskets in their hands, fabric lining the inside. The woman with the microphone opens her mouth to speak, but I can hardly hear her words due to the people around me. The Crusaders can probably hear her, but I would have to rely on lip-reading. I don’t care enough to actually understand her speech, if I’m being completely honest… All that matters right now is getting that shirt, giving it to Sweetie Belle, and getting back to Sunset. The air smells vaguely of metal, meat, and sweat, but I try to not let it bother me.
After putting the microphone down, the people with the baskets reach inside, throwing out folded fabric into the audience. So it begins… Instantly, everyone clamors to try and catch one, people leaning forward in their seats to get a better chance at getting this esteemed prize. For now, my goal is to focus on the ones coming towards the top of the audience. Dozens of jerseys are thrown too far to my left or right, gravity not giving me enough time to make it to one of them. We only need one. Not three. Not two. One. As long as one of us gets one, then our mission will be completed. Although, I’m not really liking our chances of that… From the sight of their baskets, it looks like the people throwing these things out are already running out. Come on. Just throw one up here. I’m doing this for my friend, so give me a bone here… That makes me sound like a dog, but I prefer cats over any other kind of pet. Damn it, stop getting distracted, Adagio.
A purple flash goes flying into the sky, falling down towards my left… Not too far for me to try and grab it. Reaching out my arm, I feel the soft fabric land in my hand. Trying to pull it towards me, I feel quite a bit of resistance, making me look to my left. A blue hand is latched onto the shirt, belonging to a woman with shiny silver hair. Her eyes instantly make contact with mine, jogging my memory within a second.
“Let go of my jersey, Adagio Dazzle!” Trixie scolds me with a pouting lip, pulling on the shirt to try and take it from my grip. “The great and powerful Trixie caught it first! You’re just jealous of my superior skill,” she tells me with a prideful look, boasting her ego. I… didn’t expect her to be here. This blue bitch…
“I caught it first, you third-rate magician with fourth-rate tricks.” I can feel the urge to bare my teeth, baring an angry smirk. The last time I saw Trixie, I tried my hardest to be nice to her and avoid a confrontation just to prove I’m better than I once was. Besmirch me once, I will let it go. Besmirch me twice? You deserve a confrontation. Time to put my new confidence to use.
“How dare you! I made my way to the finals of the Battle of the Bands! Something you lost,” Trixie tries to make a point, pulling the shirt harder.
“Only because I made it that way,” I harshly snap at her, pulling the shirt towards me. Regardless, Trixie still holds her ground. She only made it that far because I convinced her to sabotage the Sunset and her friends. She probably thinks it’s her own genius idea, but that’s the art of manipulation.
“Is this all you have to do? Harass me? Where’s your girlfriend? I figured the Rainbooms would have you leashed by now,” Trixie hisses at me, never breaking her eye contact with me… Leashed…? How. Dare. She… I am still independent. Powerful… She shouldn’t underestimate me so easily… Within a moment, my hand goes numb, making my eyes widen. No. No no no. Not now. Letting go of the shirt, I look at my hand with a grimace, trying to force my feeling back into it. I can’t let that happen… I can’t do that. “Ha! The great Trixie proves her power once again! Go and destroy another school or whatever it is you sirens do,” she taunts me with a prideful smirk, making the anger in my heart get louder. The fire only gets brighter… I want to hit her so much right now. You’re alright, Adagio. It’s just your pride that’s damaged. Just your pride… God damn it. My pride is one of the things I had to build back up… Who does she think she is?
Turning towards Trixie, I prepare to yell some very choice words at her, but I’m not given the chance before something grabs my arm. I’m almost immediately pulled away from Trixie, her face disappearing into the crowd. Stopping at the base of some stairs, I look towards Apple Bloom, wanting to scold her for pulling me away, but she probably did me a favor… It would do me more good to save face if I want to keep my pride intact.
“Okay, so we weren’t able to get one,” Apple Bloom tells me and the other two crusaders, my eyes only noticing them now. “I guess my plan wasn't fool proof to begin with. Do we want to give Scootaloo’s plan a try?” Despite the other two crusader’s stares, Scootaloo’s attention seems focused on something else.
“Would it be alright if I changed my plan? I think I have a new target,” Scootaloo tells us quietly, nodding towards something behind us. Looking back, nothing really catches my eye as out of the ordinary. It’s just a bunch of people, getting snacks, merchandise and other products. Or other people are walking towards their seats. What’s this target she has in mind? “The family by the taco counter. The one with the big wagon,” Scootaloo whispers to us, my eyes scanning the environment for whoever she’s talking about. It doesn’t take long for me to spot a red wagon, a child who looks like they’re ten-years-old sitting inside. The presumed father is talking with the register of the taco counter while the mother scrolls her phone. More importantly, I notice the exact reason why Scootaloo is targeting them in particular.
“What the fuck…?” I whisper quietly, Apple Bloom punching my arm. Just because she doesn’t like cursing doesn’t mean I have to restrict my vocabulary. Then again, constant swearing does give off the vibe of stupidity, so I try to curse sparingly. Using more descriptive words not only makes you look smarter… It lets you save face.
“I know, right?! How in the hell do they have so many of them?” Scootaloo asks, completely unphased by my cursing and throwing in one of her own. She’s like the opposite of Apple Bloom in some ways… Inside that kid’s wagon is a vast ocean of purple fabric, seemingly filled to the brim with the jerseys that were given out. There’s no way those three caught that many… Did they make other people help them? Did they steal them? There’s at least twenty in that wagon alone. There couldn’t have been much more than that thrown out, right? “Okay, so do we agree that the new plan is to get one of theirs? That kid doesn’t even look that excited about it to begin with,” Scootaloo states with a grimace, all three crusaders, seemingly in agreement about that fact. She’s right. The kid looks like he could hardly care less about the jerseys, simply looking at the tablet in his hands.
“I may not condone stealing, but I think you may be right,” Apple Bloom tells Scootaloo with a nod, receiving a harsh stare from her friend.
“Unless it’s at a certain school competition. Then you and Adagio have absolutely no problem stealing, huh?” Upon hearing Scootaloo’s words, both Apple Bloom and I look at each other with a weird expression on our faces. At first, I can’t quite tell how to feel, but we quickly start laughing at her friend’s anger.
“Oh my god, that was fun,” I state with my hand holding onto my side, trying to compose myself. This attempt would be in vain though.
“Scoots told me how ya used pens to delay Dash! Gosh, I really wish I could have seen their faces,” Apple Bloom tells me through her giggles, trying to take a deep breath.
“A-and she told me how you just slammed the door on her face!” I exclaim through a laugh, leaning against a support beam to prevent myself from falling over.
“Very. Funny,” Scootaloo lets out in a grumble, grinding her teeth a little as we laugh at her misfortune. Well, more like our antics against her, but still.
“We should probably get back on track. How are we going to steal one of those jerseys?” Sweetie Belle asks us, trying her best to not giggle as well. From what Apple Bloom told me, Sweetie Belle was competing with her sister in the School Days competition, but we never bumped into her. Apple Bloom did see Rarity for a brief time period, though… “What about a distraction? They’re waiting on food, right? If two of us distract the parents, then one of us could swoop in and grab one of the jerseys. The kid wouldn’t even notice. He’s so engrossed in that tablet of his,” Sweetie Belle tells us, forming a plan of attack.
“How exactly would we distract them, though?” Scootaloo asks in a quiet tone, bringing her hand to her chin. The man and the woman seem to be equally preoccupied, but they would be the most likely to notice if we tried to snatch one of their jerseys…
“What if someone lures the mom away and someone else spills a drink on the dad? Then it would leave the wagon open,” I tell the group with a raised eyebrow, staring at the family. Even though I wouldn’t want to steal this necessarily, I want to get back to Sunset more. Besides, the fact that they’re hoarding that many shirts is kind of… ridiculous. Totally not rationalizing this act just because I want to get done with it.
“I could distract the dad~” Sweetie Belle speaks up with a smile, making Scootaloo pat her shoulder in approval.
“I’ll lure the mom away! I have a dollar, so I could convince her she dropped it.” Pulling out a dollar from her pocket, Scootaloo dawns a prideful expression, leaving only Apple Bloom and I without some sort of role. Looking towards Apple Bloom, the two of us lock eyes, the young cowgirl taking a moment to breathe.
“I will steal the jersey. I’m pretty good at that anyway. Adagio, you need to stand far away from them so that I can pass off the jersey to you, just in case I’m being followed,” Apple Bloom tells me with a serious expression on her face. For a moment, my mind wants to protest, but I hold my tongue. This is a Cutie Mark Crusaders operation, not just me and her. Nodding my head, I don’t say anything before making my way towards the family, letting the three of them decide when to enact their plan. It would be better if I’m on the opposite side of the family so that Apple Bloom will have a straight dash towards me instead of running back and forth. It would be more likely for the family to see her if she temporarily has to stop to run in the opposite direction. Passing by the family, I take a quick look at the kid, confirming that he’s still totally engrossed in his tablet. He’s tapping away on some game, meaning he’s probably more distracted than he would be if he was just passively watching a show. This should be a pretty easy feat. All we need to do is a few simple steps and then we will be done. Then I can get as far away from Trixie as possible and get back to Sunset. Maybe we should exchange our seats with Rarity and Applejack.
Unzipping my bag, I look back towards the crusaders, making eye contact with Apple Bloom. Without saying anything, I tap my bag, prompting Apple Bloom to look at it. It doesn’t take her long to realize what I mean before she nods slowly, turning her gaze back to her friends. I’m glad she understands. If she does get followed, she can quickly stuff the shirt into my bag and make her way into the audience, disappearing from sight. Apple Bloom is pretty good at getting away from others. She’s shown that multiple times. Now all she needs to do is show me one more time. Turning around, I pull out my phone to try and act casual, far away from the family, but close enough to spectate everything. The girls talk for a few more seconds before Sweetie Belle makes her way towards a vending machine, Scootaloo placing a dollar bill a bit away from the family. Sweetie Belle moves towards the family with an open drink in her hand, following my suggestion. As long as things don’t go south, then this plan should be fine. Instinctually, I hold my breath, watching the scene.
Sweetie Belle stands close to the family, acting like she’s about to order. I can tell the girl is thinking of how she would make this look accurate, looking towards the ground. Acting can be a difficult job, but I know Sweetie Belle can do it. She has a heart for theatre. Every time I’ve talked to the Crusaders, I’ve easily heard about Sweetie Belle’s skill at acting. You can do this… Sweetie Belle’s eyes look up at the man behind the counter, seemingly ordering something. As soon as he hands a taco over to her, Sweetie Belle expertly drops the drink on the man, making it look like an accident. Instantly, Scootaloo goes into action, talking to the woman as Sweetie Bell deals with the situation with the father. As soon as both adults are fully distracted with their eyes looking away from the wagon, Apple Bloom looks towards me and gives me a smile before dashing towards the kid and the jerseys. The yellow blur zooms past the wagon, the kid looking up in confusion. Thankfully, it doesn’t look like he suspects one of the shirts being missing.
Apple Bloom zooms towards me, slipping the shirt into my bag for safekeeping. “Done! That wasn’t so hard~ They didn’t even chase after me,” Apple Bloom tells me with a prideful look, seemingly fanning her ego for running so fast.
Opening my mouth to respond, the words stop halfway as I look towards the family again. My smile disappears and I can’t help but look at them more intensely. The father is flailing his arms about, his mouth as wide as a manhole cover as he yells at Sweetie Belle. The girl has long since stopped moving, frozen in front of the man. Tears stream from her green eyes, evident from all the way over here…
Walking quickly towards the family, a grimace comes to my face, feeling my mind get a little dizzy. I suggested this plan to the Crusaders… I didn’t think someone would react this violently towards them, but does that really matter? There’s no excuse to lose your cool over some spilled liquid… None. I deal with anger all the time, douchebag. No no no. I’m not going to let this slide. She’s just a kid…
“Do you know how much this shirt fucking costs?! It is worth more than your life!” he screams at Sweetie Belle, fire in his eyes. Too bad the flame in my heart burns even brighter. Seeing Sweetie Belle cry from his verbal abuse and the onlookers judging the whole situation makes my blood boil… How can you call yourself a good father if you set this as an example?
Answer. You can’t.
“I-I’m sorry,” Sweetie Belle barely speaks, trying to defend herself in her petrified state.
“Sorry ain’t gonna cut it!” he yells again, his anger making his face red. Before anything else can happen, I grab Sweetie Belle’s shoulder pulling her behind me so that the man can face me.
“Hey, asshole,” I state with a slight growl, bringing a smirk to my face. Before he can respond, I bring my hand to his face so hard that the sound reverberates around us. Easily, he falls to the ground, clutching his cheek with a shocked expression. He deserved it… He deserves even worse. The fact that there was an echo to my slap is actually a little impressive since we’re in a more open space. Perhaps I hit him too hard… All it takes is one look to see the entitled expression on his face to erase any doubt from my mind. No. I didn’t hit him hard enough. “Next time, pick on someone in your own weight class,” I tell the man in a low tone, staring at him with full intent to cause more pain…
Turning around, I grab Sweetie Belle’s shoulder, bringing her along with me back in the direction of Apple Bloom. Sweetie Belle, finally unparalyzed from her fright, starts crying and grabs onto me, making me feel a little weird. I’ve never had to comfort a kid before… This is… something I’m not used to. Rubbing her shoulder, I try to make her feel safe in any way I can. I’m used to taking power and striking fear in others’ hearts, not… providing comfort. The only people I’ve done that for are Sunset and my other close friends. I’d love to see that man try to come after me. Then he would have to explain why he was screaming at a little girl that she is worthless. I’d gladly face the consequences as long as it means Sweetie Belle is safe.
“It’s alright. You’re safe,” I tell Sweetie Belle quietly, seeing Apple Bloom approach the two of us. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have made you do that.” Pulling the jersey out of my bag, I hand it to Sweetie Belle, slowing her cries down a little.
“What happened?” Apple Bloom asks us quietly, a concerned expression on her face. Sweetie Belle’s sniffles clearly tell us she’s not ready to talk, making me lock eyes with Apple Bloom for a moment. Running up to my other side, Scootaloo giggles before noticing Sweetie Belle’s current situation. I expect her to ask what’s going on as well, but instead, she swoops around in front of us, looking Sweetie Belle in the eyes.
“How about we exchange seats with some of the others so that you can sit next to Rarity? Would that be alright?” the orange girl asks with a kind smile, clearly trying to take care of her friend, no questions asked. After taking a few moments to try and breathe, Sweetie Belle slowly nods, keeping her eyes towards the floor. Scootaloo takes Sweetie Belle’s hand in her own, bringing her out of my embrace. Walking towards the other side of the stadium, Apple Bloom looks back at me, staying beside her friends. No words are said between us, but Apple Bloom’s gaze tells me a thousand words. Mostly consisting of gratitude and goodbye. Slowing down, I watch the Crusaders walk off, consoling one of their members as they walk. I didn’t mean for that to happen… Hopefully, Sweetie Belle can feel better sooner rather than later.
Taking a deep breath, I take a step out into the bleachers, ready to find Sunset. I could really use some time with her and a drink… This wasn’t how I expected this day to start off.
==========================================================
Music plays periodically as the players run back and forth. I don’t know much about the game, but I do know when to clap due to the crowd’s indications. Every time I get to see Rainbow Dash help the coach, I can’t help but smile. I know how big this game is for her. It’s her first big game as the one behind the lines instead of being the athlete. My mind has been replaying our conversation for a while now… The time Rainbow admitted to me how trapped she felt. How broken she felt… To see the same Rainbow Dash with a determined smile on her face, living a better life. It’s inspiring. I’m glad she got to choose another path in life. A lot of people don’t get that chance or they never realize they need that change.
“Ooh~ That one went high,” Fluttershy says with awe in her eyes. One thing I’ve learned from sitting here is that Fluttershy is more involved in sports than I thought she would be. Maybe that’s because she’s been Rainbow Dash’s friend since childhood. The two of them were neighbors in Cloudsdale and both of their families moved here at relatively the same time. Regardless, Fluttershy has been pretty active in this game, excited with each batting. In-between the two of us is one empty seat, the location where Sunset was sitting up to a few minutes ago. Already, my hand misses her touch, but she wanted to go get snacks with Pinkie Pie. To my right, strangers sit with their own friends, making me feel a little awkward. I’m at the end of our group, so everyone else is to my left…
“Tell me. If you’re so involved in sports, why don’t you participate in any?” I ask Fluttershy without taking my eyes off the game. Even though I don’t know half of the stuff that’s going on, I find it more natural to keep my eyes forward than to distract Fluttershy from the game.
“Oh, I was involved in some when I was younger~” Fluttershy tells me with a happy tone to her voice, seemingly thinking of those memories fondly. “Specifically, I liked playing tennis and such, but I kind of fell out of that hobby when I couldn’t find someone interested in playing.” Watching the players run across the field to catch a ball, I can’t help but think of Fluttershy’s words.
“Rainbow Dash didn’t want to play with you?” I ask her slowly, causing Fluttershy to turn her gaze towards me.
“Oh, she usually did! But she got pretty busy with her teams and all. No one else seemed interested in playing a nice and calm match of Tennis, so I kinda stopped.” A melancholy expression comes across Fluttershy’s face before she takes a sip of her drink, returning her gaze towards the field. “Now, I just come to Dashie’s games. It’s fun, but it’s been a while since I’ve done something that active.”
“What did you say?” A surprised voice causes both of us to look to the end of the lane, seeing a familiar purple girl, back from her trip to the restroom. “You used to play tennis?” Twilight asks Fluttershy with wide eyes, clearly shocked to hear that tidbit of information.
“Well, yeah. But I stopped after a while,” Fluttershy tells Twilight with a flustered chuckle. To be honest, she’s probably just as confused as I am to see Twilight’s surprise.
“Because you couldn’t find a partner, right?” Twilight slowly asks, sitting down in her seat and looking at Fluttershy. “I um… Well, tennis is one of my favorite sports too and… I mean, let’s face it. I don’t get out very much. I’m glued to my research. But if you’re looking for a calm and relaxing game, maybe I could play you sometime?” Twilight asks Fluttershy with a pleading look, seemingly desperate for some activity to do outside of her house.
“Hmm? Well, don’t you do things with Timber? Outside, I mean,” Fluttershy ponders aloud, prompting my memory to recall that name. Huh. Twilight has a boyfriend, doesn’t she? Even though I have no face to go with the name, he sounded like a pleasant dude. Too much of a nerd for my tastes, but then again, I’m dating Sunset. She’s a nerd as well, but… She’s a hot nerd. One with a great smile and an awesome ass. Rainbow Dash would be laughing out loud if she could hear my thoughts right now.
“Yeah, well… Timber and I are… kind of on a break right now.” Still? When Sunset and I talked to her, it was a good seven months ago. Did they take another break or is this the same break? Take a deep breath, Adagio. It’s not your place to get involved. Twilight says it’s a good relationship, they’re just taking their time.
“Oh? Well, we can play~” Fluttershy tells Twilight with a big smile, nodding to the nerd’s proposed activity. “When do you want to play a game? You have your own racket, right?” The both of them are clearly having fun talking about this topic, but my eyes never leave the field. A small part of my mind never stops picking at the thought of Twilight’s relationship. Sunset and I have had our… fights, but we never went on a break. The longest period of time we went without speaking was when I distanced myself away from her on Valentine’s Day. The same holiday is quickly approaching, so I should probably spend the whole day with her. Just to apologize for distancing myself from her back then.
That means that our anniversary is in… another month and a half. Sunset and I have almost been together for a year… A year sounds so short, but the two of us have made so many special memories since then. Even when we were friends, we got to make some really nice memories. Is it wrong of me to wish to see a lot more years pass by with her? Fuck, am I smiling again? It’s way too easy for me to smile like an idiot when I think about her.
“Whatcha talking about?” an energetic voice asks, breaking me from my train of thought. At the end of the row, Pinkie Pie and Sunset stand looking down at Twilight and Fluttershy. Sunset is holding two drinks and some cotton candy whereas the party machine herself is holding the equivalent of a vending machine’s stock in her arms. How in the hell…?
“Oh, we were just talking about the aerodynamics of a tennis ball~” Twilight tells our pink friend, making me raise my eyebrow even more. Okay, how much of that conversation did I miss? I know I was thinking to myself, but it wasn’t for that long. Right?
Moving down the row, Sunset sits beside me, handing me a grape soda. Both of us watch the pink ball of wonder sit down next to Twilight, somehow keeping all the snacks in her arms. “Oh? Why are you talking about a tennis ball? We’re at a baseball game, dummy~” Pinkie Pie teases Twilight with a smile. At least, I think it’s a tease… Half the time, I can’t really tell with her. Half her jokes sound as if she’s actually completely oblivious.
“What took you two so long? You missed some great… um… baseball,” I say slowly, knowing completely how lost I am in the plays they are doing. Honestly, I’m just passively watching them at this point, watching the ball be thrown back and forth.
“Shh, don’t pretend you know what is going on,” Sunset whispers to me, bringing a piece of cotton candy to my mouth. Eating the piece out of her hand, I look at her with a raised eyebrow, both of us giggling.
“You assume I don’t know anything about sports, huh?” Sunset laughs at my statement, pushing me slightly. Both of us ignore the others for this peaceful moment, just concentrating on each other.
“You don’t~ If you did, then you would have said something by now. You would have reacted to the great plays instead of following the crowd.” Pulling off another small piece of cotton candy, Sunset hands it to me with a smile. “Want another bite?” Taking the piece slowly, I give Sunset a skeptical look, the wind blowing through her hair. Despite the fact that everyone else in this stadium is clearly obsessed with the game, I find it hard to break my eyes from hers. She’s… so beautiful.
“I don’t get moments like these enough,” I whisper, putting the piece of cotton candy in my mouth. Sunset giggles quietly and brings her hand to my cheek.
“What? Being at a ball game?”
“No. I mean times where I can just admire you.” Sunset’s cheeks brighten up as her lips part slightly, a surprised look in her eyes. She makes me nervous and flustered all the time, but sometimes it’s nice to return that favor.
“A-admire me?” Sunset barely speaks, words being caught in her throat as she looks into my soul. Her beautiful eyes that look like a serene ocean never look away from mine, the wind making her look like an astonishing portrait. I used to think music was the best art in the world, but that feeling has long since disappeared.
“It’s because you’re art to me,” I say quietly, giving her as genuine a smile as I can. Within a moment, the crowd roars as something incredible happens in the game, but it’s hard for me to care. Seeing Sunset like this when time itself seems to slow down… It’s like a magic of its own. All I can seem to do is admire her…
“I admire you too, Adagio,” Sunset tells me with a happy smile, finally looking away from me as the blush on her face only intensifies. Sunset pulls off another piece of cotton candy, holding it close to my mouth without looking at me. Both of our hearts are probably racing, my mind full of thoughts about her. Taking the piece in my mouth, I tenderly lay my lips on her thumb, causing Sunset to look at me with a bright red face. Kissing her thumb, I pull back and give her a smile before returning my gaze to the game.
A loud whistle is blown to signify a break in the game, both teams’ players returning to the dugouts. Some people get up to go get snacks, some of them deciding to talk. Great… The moment I look back at the game, that’s when it stops for a break. Loud music plays on the speakers to give everyone something to listen to while the players rest. I wasn’t aware of how long the game would last. Although, why would they choose to play romantic music? Wouldn’t it be a more upbeat and catchy tune?
“Ooh! They’re doing the kiss cam!” Pinkie yells, making me look towards her with a surprised expression. Kiss cam…? What in the hell is that? Pinkie excitedly points towards a big screen at the other end of the stadium with a bunch of hearts on it, showing two random members of the audience. Surprisingly, the two of them kiss pretty quickly, the camera moving onto another couple. Wouldn’t this almost classify under sexual harrassment? The employees of the ball park are coercing two or more people to participate in an intimate act, risking rejection if they don’t. I will never understand humans and their constant sexualization and romanticism. It’s like they’re treating love as some zoo. Looking towards the dugouts, I see Rainbow Dash look towards the screen before searching the audience, spotting me. Her hand points towards the screen and yells, but I can’t hear her from this distance. “Um, Adagio…?” Sunset says slowly, making me look towards the screen again.
Instantly, my eyes widen as I see my face on the big screen, right beside the man sitting next to me. What the fuck…? Locking eyes with the man, I can’t help but feel a little disgusted, thinking about doing that act with anyone but Sunset. The man looks equally as surprised and uncomfortable as me, kind of shifting in his seat as his eyes turn towards the screen again. Do you have to kiss the person they capture you with? Why does this have to happen to me? This is my first ballgame and I’m forced to be in a situation with some jackass I don’t know. The worst part about it is that… Sunset looks pretty depressed as she stares at the board. I… I wouldn’t kiss another person. Is she sad that they didn’t think we were together…? I know that heterosexuality is more common, but… to see that sad expression written across Sunset’s face just tears my heart apart.
No… I love her. And only her…
Quickly cupping Sunset’s cheeks, I bring her face towards mine, pressing my lips against hers as passionately as I can. Within a second, I can feel an uproar of applause as I hold our embrace, making sure Sunset can feel everything. I may object to the treatment of love as entertainment, but… Sunset doesn’t deserve to feel depressed. To think I would ever bend to social pressure to kiss someone else. She’s mine and I’m hers… My little pony… My sunshine. Whether or not others see it, she’s my love and Sunset should know that will never change. I love you, Sunset… Always. Let everyone else see that, I don’t care. Sunset’s lips press against mine with an equal force, telling me she enjoys this just as much as I do.
Finally pulling away from our kiss, I look towards the board once more, giving the audience a smirk and a wink. No one tells me who I have to kiss… There’s only one person I love and they can learn to accept it~
=========================================================
The gate opens in front of the stadium, multiple players walking out and wishing each other a good day. At this point, everyone else had long since left the stadium, but we all stayed here to wait for Rainbow Dash. Well, everyone but the Cutie Mark Crusaders. They went to their clubhouse to probably concoct some more plans of chaos. The game was actually pretty fun~ I got to spend it with Sunset and talk with my friends. Though, I did see that father a couple more times after our little encounter. His cheek still had my handprint on it and he always looked in the opposite direction whenever he saw me. He wasn’t the only one with a sour taste in his mouth when it came to me, though. Some older people in the audience would always give me a weird stare after the kiss cam. Half the time, it seemed like they were confused. The other half of the time, they just looked angry, but I don’t really have the energy to care.
“I really didn’t expect Pinkie to have a party cannon inside the stadium~” Fluttershy tells us with a small giggle.
“Duh! I have party cannons all around the city! Though, I do forget where some of them are.” A small pout comes to Pinkie Pie’s face, pondering where all of her devices of glitter and confetti are. Otherwise known as evil bitch machines… It takes so long to get glitter out of clothes. Thankfully, I managed to avoid them. Other bystanders? They weren’t so lucky…
“And it was pretty hilarious to see that mascot do some of those tricks on the field~ Though, I could probably do better,” Applejack states with a slight wave of her hand, causing Rarity to hug her arm.
“I’m sure you could, darling~ But there’s only one thing I regret about this whole experience,” she tells the group with a slight frown. “Apparently there was a kiss cam and I didn’t get to see it… If I had known that Adagio and Sunset would be broadcast, I wouldn’t have gone to the restroom,” Rarity whines as if it’s a tragedy she couldn’t see us kiss. That sure is a big disaster. Gee. It’s not like we kiss each other quite frequently. Oh boy, she missed the kiss cam, whatever shall we do?
“I mean, I could show you if you want~ I got the whole thing recorded, thankfully,” a familiar raspy voice tells Rarity, making everyone look towards the voice.
“Rainbow!” everyone else says in unison, surrounding her in a group hug. Seven people in a group hug is a lot. Eight would be even more troublesome. I should know. We’ve done it before. The bigger question on my mind is how did she record it? I didn’t see a phone in her hand. And why would she record it? No matter how much I may want to hear an explanation, I will probably never get these answers.
“You do?! You’re a lifesaver, Rainbow Dash!” Rarity exclaims, holding onto her friend as tight as she possibly can. For a second, I’m almost worried Dash’s eyes will pop out of her skull. “Now show me!” Rarity exclaims in almost a hiss, not wanting to wait an extra second before seeing the footage. Yep. Applejack is right. Rarity is a hopeless romantic.
“I mean, if you’re that desperate to see it, I could kiss her again~” I say with a wink, teasing Sunset and Rarity in different ways.
“I apologize for my girlfriend. She’s still being house-trained.” Turning my gaze to Sunset, glaring at her as she giggles at her joke. Alright, Sunset. Act all high and mighty for now. We’ll see who’s blushing later.
“I doubt you could get a kiss that good again! That was a pinnacle of displays of affection,” Rainbow laughs, giving her phone to Rarity. The fashionista holds onto the phone with a fierce grip, her eyes wide open as she stares at the screen.
“I was more interested in the snacks, honestly~” Pinkie Pie tells us with a wide smile, pulling a bag of peanuts out of her hair. “Thanks for helping me find that missing bag of gummies, Adagio! You’re a natural at being a snack detective!” Oh, yeah. I remember that. Pinkie Pie apparently threw one of her bags of gummies into the audience by accident, probably due to the overload in her arms. Hence why I had to help her find it…
“Speaking of Pinkie’s antics, should I be afraid that she has a party cannon in my house? It won’t leave my mind,” Twilight speaks up with a giggle, clearly joking about the statement Pinkie had said much earlier. All the while, Rarity eagerly watches Rainbow Dash’s phone.
“Don’t be silly!” Pinkie Pie tells the nerd with a smile, hugging her as tight as she can. “Of course I do~” That last statement makes Twilight’s eyes widen, realizing her joke was actually real. Remind me to not let Pinkie Pie close to Sunset and I’s apartment.
“Well, I think this game was a resounding success~ How about we all go out for some ice cream to celebrate, huh? It’ll be on me,” Applejack tells us, seemingly unphased by Pinkie Pie’s comment. Is it that normal to have Pinkie Pie say she has your home trapped? Eh, who am I kidding? It’s Pinkie Pie… Of course she does things that we can’t expect.
“Oh, um. I could pay for it,” Fluttershy speaks up with a smile, brushing the hair out of her face. Fluttershy paid for the tickets, the snacks, and any sort of merchandise the group bought while we were here. She made sure to charge everything to her and her only. How… in the hell… can she afford all this? God damn. How much money does she make from that pet daycare of hers?
“Well, if you’re alright with that… I hate to make you spend even more, sugarcube,” the cowgirl slowly says, looking towards the ground as if she feels guilty. “Ah just don’t wanna take advantage of ya, that’s all.”
“Oh, don’t worry~ I really don’t mind!” Fluttershy tells Applejack, patting her shoulder slowly. The light from the sun is starting to disappear, painting the sky orange and purple. Looking up at the sky, Applejack relents and nods to Fluttershy’s offer.
“Alright, we can-”
“THERE IT IS!!!” the fashionista yells, holding the phone above her head. It’s hard for me to avoid chuckling. Some things will never change, evidently.
========================================================
Walking into a brightly colored building, the smell of many different sweets is almost overwhelming. The night sky outside is barely an issue due to the bright and cheery attitude of the ice cream parlor. Everyone else walks ahead of Sunset and I, the music of the shop setting a fun little atmosphere. Thankfully, Applejack drove everyone over here with the use of her family van. Hopefully, she doesn’t mind driving Sunset and I back home either. We didn’t bring the motorcycle and it is a long walk back to our apartment.
Holding Sunset’s hand a little tighter, the two of us wait behind everyone else as we stand in line to order. Fluttershy was still insistent on paying for this little endeavor on the way over here, despite how much Applejack tried to convince her she already paid enough. As long as I don’t have to take more out of my scarily thin wallet, I’m fine. I don’t necessarily want to take advantage of them, but hey. My job doesn’t pay that much and they’re offering. Sounds fair to me.
“Hey, Alligator?” Sunset asks me slowly, everyone else paying attention to their own conversation. The smell of sugar only serves to make my tongue anticipate the treat that we’re trying to get. Sure, ice cream isn’t a cherry cheesecake, but it’s still nice.
“Hmm?” I hum slowly, feeling the urge to yawn. It’s been a really energetic day. One that can even tire me out. I expected to still have some energy by now, but right now, resting my head on her shoulder and holding her hand feels really… heavenly.
“You’d never be ashamed to be with me, right…?” Sunset asks me in a slow and insecure voice, never letting go of my hand for a second. Ashamed…? Why would I?
“I’m holding your hand right now. I’ve done practically nothing but shower you with affection today. What would make you think I would be ashamed of being with this sexy ass?” I whisper in response, chuckling as I pat her behind after making sure no one is behind us to notice. Sunset flashes me a glare in response to my action, but she slowly chuckles, accepting my joke. If there were more people around, she’d surely not be so open.
“I’m serious, Adagio. I… noticed how some people looked at us after the kiss cam. I don’t give a damn about them myself, but…” A complex series of emotions are painted on Sunset’s face as she looks towards the ground, sighing quietly. “I just never thought how you might think of that. I know that’s not exactly what you signed up for when we got together and all. The harsh looks.”
“Sunset…” Pulling her closer to me, I let a deep breath out of my lungs, making sure to hold her as close as possible. It’s true that some people stared, but who cares about them…? They don’t matter. The only person who matters when it comes to the matters of our relationship is her. Just like how I’m the only person who matters in her viewpoint. “I don’t care about their stares, Sunny. Honest. I often like attracting attention and I don’t care if they look at me favorably or not. If anything, their stares give me more opportunities to prove that you’re mine.” Locking eyes with Sunset, I give her a gentle smile before pressing my lips against her for a small kiss. Despite the intensity of the embrace, it still warms my heart just as much as any other kiss. “And that I’m yours~ So, don’t worry. I cherish every moment I’m with you. No matter who’s watching.” Even though Sunset and I have been in a relationship for almost a year at this point, it still doesn’t get easier to say those lovely things without a blush coming to my face.
Kissing my forehead, Sunset lets out a happy sigh of relief, content with my answer. “I love you too, Adagio~ I’m glad.” By the time I look forward again, I see everyone else has already moved ahead, putting an empty space between us. Sunset walks forward, leading me along by the hand. Maybe it’s just because I’m tired, but it feels almost nostalgic to be led like this. To have Sunset take the lead, pulling me by the hand. It reminds me of the short period of time where she and I were friends. Before we fell in love with each other.
“I’d like a um… sundae. With nuts,” Rarity speaks up, a certain air of uncertainty to her voice. At this point, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Twilight and Pinkie Pie had all ordered their ice cream. They all stand off to the side, slowly enjoying their treat except Pinkie. She had three cones of ice cream, trying to make sure none of them overflowed. This seems to be a monumental task for even her.
“She would actually like some Rocky Road with chocolate syrup,” Applejack tells the woman behind the counter, patting her girlfriend’s shoulder.
“Applejack! I knew exactly what I was ordering!” Rarity tells the cowgirl with a glare, making Applejack slowly raise her eyebrow.
“Uh huh… Just like how ya ordered a three course meal of stuff ya didn’t like just cause you wanted to seem more sophisticated?” Applejack remarks, making the fashionista bring her hand to her chest.
“That was one time, Applejack dear!”
“And then there was the time where I was going to the store and you were upset that I didn’t get ya some candy. Despite the fact that ya never asked.” Applejack brings another finger up, locking her eyes with Rarity. “Do ya really want me to go on, Sugarcube?”
“I-I… Hmph. I meant what I said.” Rarity crosses her arms and pouts at Applejack’s demonstration before looking at the woman behind the counter. “Rocky Road with chocolate syrup,” she says quietly, as if she’s trying to avoid judgemental stares. Even though it’s the middle of the night and no one else is in the store. It doesn’t take long for Rarity to give Applejack a look that says, “Damn you for knowing me so well.”
“I’d just like some vanilla, thanks,” Applejack tells the employee with a slight tip of her hat as a sign of respect, putting her arm around Rarity. Despite Rarity’s previously bitter stare, her pout falters slightly when Applejack holds her close, making her smile ever so slightly. After handing the cones to the two of them, Applejack and Rarity move towards the others, leaving only Sunset and I left to order. Her hand still holds onto mine as we move forward, my eyes looking into the display case at all the options available.
“And what would you two gals like today?” the yellow woman with navy blue and pink hair asks us with a chipper voice. Now that I have a closer look at her, I can’t help but feel like I’ve seen this woman before… Where did I meet her before? Her name tag says Bon Bon, but that name doesn’t really ring a bell with me…
“I’d like some good old chocolate ice cream~ For this lovely woman, she’d like some vanilla with cherry syrup~” Sunset tells Bon Bon with a smile, immediately remembering what ice cream I prefer. “With actual cherries as well~” Sunset locks her eyes with mine giving me a smirk. Instantly, a blush comes to my cheeks without my control. Why does she have to know so much about me…? Now I’m in the exact same position as Rarity was a few moments before. Flustered at the fact that my girlfriend knows exactly what I would want.
“Certainly! Here you two go~” Bon Bon says with a sweet tone, handing us the two ice cream cones. “Enjoy!” The vanilla is covered in the sweet red glaze with three cherries sitting on top of the scoop. Easily, my tongue starts to salivate and I can’t help but feel really lucky to have Sunset in my life.
“That… was for that kiss you gave me earlier,” Sunset whispers in my ear before we have the chance to turn towards the girls, electrifying the nerves along my back. Our relationship is like a war of attrition… The two of us vying for the chance to be the one in control. To force the other to step down. Perhaps it was always like this. Ever since I met Sunset… We’ve always tried to be one step ahead. Now, we try to make the other flustered without blushing ourselves. This war is pointless, but it’s the way we show our love. “Thank you for the treat, Fluttershy, Sunset says as we turn around, looking at the girls. Unsurprisingly, Pinkie Pie is already done with her three cones of ice cream, a mess on her cheeks.
“It really wasn’t a problem~ I’m glad everyone was able to come,” Fluttershy tells us with a smile, Applejack patting her shoulder slowly.
“You just say the word and I can get you as many apples as you’d like~ I think we all owe you at least a little bit after tonight.” A blush comes over the shy woman before nodding slowly.
“Alright, if you say so~”
“If you guys don’t mind, I think we should probably get home in a minute,” Rainbow Dash says with a loud yawn, bringing her hand to her face. “It was pretty tiring to help the coach the whole game and I’d like a full night’s sleep.”
“Alright, Rainbow. Just let the rest of us finish our cones, alright?” Applejack tells her friend with a slight roll of her eyes, causing some of us to giggle. Surprisingly, Sunset grabs one of the cherries from my cone, gingerly bringing it to her lips. Her eyes connect with mine before biting into the treat with a slight smile, making my eyes widen slightly. Even though the action itself has nothing wrong with it, something about her doing that felt a bit… strange to me.
“Yeah, Adagio and I are pretty tired too. We should probably get to bed soon~” Without saying another word, Sunset licks her ice cream pretending to not notice my stare. The way she licks her treat isn’t like the frantic craze of Pinkie Pie’s devouring. Instead… It's a gentle and kind gesture, taking in the taste slowly. Every lick is placed gently enough to barely cause a dent in the treat, yet it makes a huge impact on my mind. This seemingly innocuous act can’t seem to leave my mind, no matter how much I try to ignore it. My nerves are on fire again and I can’t help but wonder exactly why Sunset is so eager to go home…
==========================================================
Waving to Applejack’s van, both of us give the cowgirl one last goodbye before I pull my keys out of my bag. The van slowly pulls out of the parking lot, my hands trying to find the right key as quickly as possible. The whole ride over here, Sunset gave me mischievous looks, acting in ways that were essentially harmless, yet evoking a reaction out of me all the same. To say my nerves are on the fritz is an understatement.
“Aren’t you going to unlock the door and let us in?” Sunset whispers in my ear, hugging me from behind. “It’s pretty… cold out here~” Without waiting a moment, Sunset gently bites my earlobe, sending electricity down my spine and making my thoughts go haywire. This feeling isn’t something I’m used to… This feeling of… attraction and want. My hands fumble with the keys, no matter how hard I try. All this electricity running through my nerves makes it hard to focus… “Aw, does my Alligator need some… help?” Sunset whispers in an alluring tone, grabbing my hand to steady it. Both of us quickly slide the key into the door’s lock, opening the door within a moment. Sunset finally lets go of her embrace, pressing her lips against mine before holding me against the wall. Every nerve in my body is on fire, making my legs feel weak… Pulling away from me, Sunset kicks the door closed without taking her eyes off of me, locking the door. “I can help in multiple ways, you know,” she whispers before brushing her finger along my chin, forcing my lips to connect with hers once more. Even though the temperature inside our apartment isn’t that warm, my body feels really hot… Is it due to my jacket… or her?
Gently sliding my jacket off of me, Sunset drops it to the floor, disregarding the coat rack. Each fiery kiss she places on my lips makes me feel a little warmer. Her body pushes against mine, holding me firmly against the wall. Her fingers slowly move down to my jeans, unbuttoning them with ease. My mind is thinking a thousand thoughts a second as my heart races. It’s so hard to breathe calmly when she’s doing this to me. It’s hard to even think straight when her lips are locked with mine so passionately… All it takes is a small flick of her finger to unhook my bra from underneath my shirt, pushing her lips closer to mine. My heart beats faster every time she kisses me, my body burning in all the right areas. I feel so helpless in her grasp, but… I don’t want it to stop.
Pushing my jeans down with a lustful desire, Sunset runs her fingers along my thigh before moving them between my legs. My back arches on its own as I stop breathing, feeling this burning sensation get even stronger. It’s almost like I can’t move… The satisfaction my mind feels from her movements down there is so… irresistible. She knows me so well… Every sensitive spot on my body is hers to abuse. I-I didn’t expect for this to happen after a ball game. Is it because I was so confident when I kissed her on camera…?
“Do you like how my fingers feel, Alligator?” Sunset asks in a low tone, bringing her lips to my ear once more. She never lets me off the wall for a second, holding me right where she wants me. I’m trapped… But if that’s the case, then why does it feel so good? “Does it feel irresistible? Hmm? Do you want me to keep going?” she whispers into my ear, pushing my jeans all the way down to the floor with her foot. I… I’m not used to being the one at her mercy. It’s… hard for me to think. The lower part of my body feels like it’s on fire and my body is sweating, regardless of temperature. I-it feels so nice… My head quickly nods to her question, hoping she doesn’t stop her pursuit. My hips move on their own to press down on her hand just a little more…
“Good girl~” Sunset whispers, taking advantage of every sensitive spot I have. Thanks to her constant teasing, almost my whole body feels sensitive right about now… a tingling sensation runs up my thighs, halting my breath every few seconds. My breaths come out as moans involuntarily, my body finding it hard to hide the pleasure I can feel… God, why does it feel so good? “You sure love teasing me, don’t you, Adagio?” Sunset asks in a seductive voice, building up the anticipation in my body with her fingers. Every movement she does to explore my body makes my spine arch slightly, sending waves of pleasure throughout my body. It’s so hard to think… I-I love every second of it. “Yet here you are, panting at my hand. Unable to handle it if I… tease you back~” In a moment, the pleasure stops and I can’t help but open my eyes immediately. W-why did she stop?
“P-please don’t… I…” I’m barely able to speak… It’s hard to catch my breath when all my mind seems to focus on is getting that feeling of pleasure back.
“Please what?” Sunset says slowly, running her hand under my shirt and stopping right below my breast… God, she knows exactly how my body wants her…
“Please… don’t stop. It feels really nice,” my mouth moves on its own, saying possibly the most embarrassing thing I’ve ever uttered. I don’t think I can control it even if I wanted to… I already miss her touch and the way my body reacted to every movement… My breath can finally stabilize, but… I liked it when it was unstable.
“Hmm… I don’t think so,” Sunset whispers in the same seductive tone, tracing her fingers along the edge of my underwear. Within a second, her fingers pull down the last piece of clothing on my lower body. Slowly, Sunset gets down onto her knees, pushing her hand against my stomach. “Don’t move. I want to make you feel… really good~” she tells me with a wink, instantly making a blush come to my cheeks. My legs want to close out of embarrassment, but… I’m also curious what she wants to do…
Gently placing her hands on the back of my thighs, Sunset forces me to bend my knees slightly, bringing her ever closer to me… Sunset gently kisses my thigh, sending a wave of electricity through my body. Her fingers trace along my ledge, reaching my vulva once more. Now, there’s no fabric in between her fingers and my body… Feeling her hand explore me again makes me gasp involuntarily, bringing back the same pleasure and high. Why does it have to feel so good…? “F-fuck,” I groan slowly, trying to keep my voice down. It’s not like anyone is watching us… It feels embarrassing, but… so damn good…
“You act like you’re going to cum just from my hand,” Sunset whispers with a giggle, bringing her hand away. “That would be a shame, wouldn’t it? Not lasting till the main course~” Every time she touches me, it builds up the anticipation in my body, making me feel more and more disappointed when she stops. God… My body really wants to let it go… To feel just a little more of that pleasure… “Now stay still,” Sunset tells me with a wink, wrapping her arms around the back of my thighs, pulling me mere inches away from her face. “You’re really beautiful, Alligator~” is the last thing Sunset says before gently pressing her lips against me, making my vulva feel even more sensitive… All this stimulation makes my heart race. I… I love this… I can feel every breath and touch. All this adrenaline racing through my veins makes my anticipation even worse…
A large wave of electricity and pleasure shoots up my spine as she licks my sensitive area. E-every movement of her tongue makes my body react uncontrollably. My legs feel so shaky a-and… fuck… Oh my god… I can’t stop myself from moaning at each touch… It feels so embarrassing, but if she stops right now, I might die. “O-oh god… Please don’t stop,” the words fall out of my mouth before another loud groan escapes, making me clasp my mouth. E-every time… Every single thing is making me feel so dizzy… The anticipation is building so much and the pleasure is almost too much. I would be scared of falling if it wasn’t for Sunset’s arms holding me right in place. I… I… “Oh s-shit…” It feels so good. I can’t even… think… w-why does my body have to shut down like this? I… Oh god, please don’t stop for anything… Please please please…
“Cum~ Cum for me, Alligator,” Sunset tells me, each word staining my mind… Everything… I-it’s too much… Her tongue, her hands. Every surge of pleasure. I… Oh my god… I-I… I can’t h-hold back anymore… F-fuck! I-it feels so… g-good! I-I can hardly breathe… I-I… Oh shit…. Damn it. I… I can’t think. Just… give me a moment. Holy shit…
Taking a deep breath, I try to open my eyes. I can’t do it though… My legs are twitching so much and I’m sure that the only reason I’m still on the wall is because of Sunset. My mind feels so dizzy… God, that felt so good… The anticipation is finally gone and my body feels… so fucking good. My whole body feels so sensitive… Opening my eyes, I can finally look down at Sunset, seeing her move her face away from my vulva with a smile. Gently licking her lips, she locks eyes with me, giving me a smirk.
“That must have felt nice~ You moaned a lot,” Sunset teases me, still holding my twitching body up. “I love you so much, Alligator~” Despite my urge to answer her question, I can’t actually bring up the words, a bright blush coming to my face once more. I am still trying to catch my breath… That… really knocked the air out of me.
“I-I love you too. S-so much,” I whisper, taking a deep breath to try and get my strength back. Pulling myself back up the wall, I can’t help but feel dizzy and exhausted, leaning against it for support. “I-I… you made me feel really good, Sunset. T-thank you,” I barely say, taking a moment to compose myself. “But… I assume we’re not nearly done yet, are we?” Looking at Sunset, she slowly stands up and shakes her head, giving me a smirk. Cupping my cheeks, she slowly presses her lips against mine, making me blush once more.
“Not. Even. Close~”
==========================================================
Closing the door slowly, I turn on the light to the bathroom, looking at the mirror with a smile. Despite it being pretty chilly in our apartment, I didn’t really see the need to put on any clothes since Sunset and I have been cuddling the whole night. Now, it’s the middle of the night and I can’t help but smile at what she and I did after we got home. Remembering it gives me shivers even now. She really hit every single one of my sensitive spots. This whole day, she’s proved time and time again that she knows me in and out. I guess that’s what makes her notice when something is wrong.
Turning the faucet to the sink, I cup my hands and gather some of the water, gently splashing it against my face. Now, there’s only one more thing she needs to know about. Something that I have dreaded telling her for two months now… Just thinking about it makes me sigh heavily. Those hallucinations aren’t just some trick on my mind anymore. That demon is real and… I haven’t told her yet. I have been dreading this talk, but the more I put it off, the angrier she will be. This is a part of my life, whether I like it or not. I have to tell her. The last time I lied about something this big, I caused a big drift between Sunset and I. That’s… something I don’t want to happen again.
Turning off the water, I look in the mirror again, trying my best to think. I was going to tell Sunset after the game, but we got so caught up with ourselves that it was hard to remember what I needed to tell her before we fell asleep. I love her so much… I need to tell her. As soon as she wakes up, I’ll try to talk to her. This can’t go on in secret any longer. She needs to know.
“Needs to know, huh?” my mouth lets out instantly. I… I didn’t say that… I can’t move… All the feeling in my limbs is either gone or numb, no matter how much I try to move my body. Oh no… No no no. No! Not again! This can’t be happening right now… I had such a good day, right before I was going to talk to Sunset… My body moves against my will, looking into the mirror once more. My eyes are no longer full of happiness and energy. Now, they look at me with a dark stare, her mouth forming a small smile… “Poor Adagio, thinking that she is in control of this situation.” Her hand reaches up to the glass, gently scratching it without moving her eyes. I can’t stop her… I can’t move no matter how hard I try… “Did you really think I would let you talk to her? This nightmare is only beginning. You’ll just have to sit back and enjoy the ride.” Her hand finally leaves the mirror, forming the shape of a finger gun to my head. “Did you forget that I’m in control? Oh, Adagio… Any attempt to ruin my plans will result in a very bad outcome for you.” Her mouth forms into a smirk, her evil chuckle imprinting itself onto my mind. She… knows everything about me… Even my own thoughts. “And I’m sure you’d rather have your ‘Sunny’ safe than being honest with her and putting that warm smile at risk.” She laughs quietly, scratching her nails down the wall. “But you can decide. Let’s see what the mouse decides to choose. Safety… Or danger.”