My Little Pony: To Love a Queen ch 3

Story by eragon13666 on SoFurry

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#3 of Love A Queen


You know, thinking back on my life, I never truly went steady in a relationship with anyone because I just didn't feel right with them. Could it be I just don't find my own kind appealing anymore? I've told Lyra about this many times when we were dating. I have dated a few girls I knew, and that one guy; but they were all just using me to get back at someone or to just squeeze money out of me.

Let's say I was somebody who felt that they were born the wrong gender: a man wanting to be a woman. What if there is a part of me like that? What if a part of my brain didn't find my kind appealing? Sure, I know there are furries who I bet are now jumping for joy that they can date a talking pony, gryphon, or dragon. I'm not sure how they could date a dragon, unless they could somehow... no, I don't want to go there.

I admit, this must be a pretty strange thing to be talking about while waiting in line for food, but I think this is the result of a phone call I had earlier.

<< Earlier... >>

Instead of the typical wake-up call issued by my alarm clock, it was my phone. This confused me greatly: there hasn't been any cell reception in Equestria, and NOW I'm getting a phone call? They might have finally adapted our cell tower technology to work across worlds. That would explain it.

I yawned as I sat up in bed, rubbing my bare chest and smacking my lips a few times. The vibration buzz and the standard ringtone jingle coming from my phone was still echoing throughout the room. I was a little bit hesitant at first, but when I looked to see who was calling, I nearly dropped the phone in shock.

Mom.

I just stared at the screen, unable to understand why she was calling me. Now that I had reception, I could see she had tried to call a few times while I was staying here. Undoubtedly, the price for phone calls across worlds would be quite high, but I was more surprised at the fact that she was calling me after nearly a year.

I was still mad at her, that much was very clear to her, and she understood that she was not to try and come in contact with me. Didn't stop her from trying... constantly. Honestly, I admit that I was still expecting her to continue calling, even after Lyra and I broke up. The phone stopped ringing and I still sat there and watched it, before it started to ring again. I fought with myself. Should I answered it? Eventually, I did. Tapping the green 'answer' button and placing it up to my ear, I was greeted with her voice before I could even say "Hello."

"Oh, so now you answer your damn phone?" Wonderful, I can already see what direction this is going in.

"I'm in Equestria," I answered her, moving my legs, to the side of the bed, starting to stand up.

"What?" she asked. "Don't lie to-"

"It's that new world, mom," I cut her off, I was so not in the mood. "They must've just put up the new cell towers. What do you want?"

"Can't a mother call her son?" she asked.

"Can said mother also admit she was wrong with how she acted and what she said?" There was a pause on her end, after a bit and I said "Guess not. Looks like we have nothing more to say to each other."

"What am I to say, hmm?" she asked as I listen. "That my own son likes to screw animals?! You know, there is this doctor here who-"

"Oh, don't even start!" I yelled. "Are you so out of it that you think there's a doctor that can fix me?! You know what? Fuck you. Call me again and I will call the police and file harassment!" I screamed, hanging up the phone. The urge to chuck my phone into the wall was high, but I restrained myself.. just barely.

<< Now... >>

After collecting a simple bowl of oatmeal, I made my way to a table. Taking a quick look at my surroundings, there weren't a lot of ponies or humans having breakfast today.

Taking a spoonful, I gulped the food down, not really tasting it. I was in one of those moods, but really, I had every right to be. Nothing had changed between my mother and I in the year and really, I didn't think it would go back to normal. And for some strange, unknown reason, that didn't bug me at all. Yes, my mother did raise me and my half brother on her own, but still, this was my life. I was going to live it the way I wanted to! It wasn't like I was going around killing anyone. I only dated an alien. Okay maybe alien is a little harsh worded, but they are from another world, another universe even, so in that sense of being, could they be considered aliens?

I just placed my spoon along the bowl, groaning softly as I rubbed my eyes, trying to get the sleep out of my system. I should've gotten a cup of coffee. "Hello there, Brandon!" I blinked in my hand, seeing how it was coving my eyes, before looking over to my side. Fancy Pants stood there with two cups floating beside him in his magical grasp. "It is a good thing I found you, I was thinking these teas would get cold before I found you, young man!"

"Fancy Pants?" I questioned as I rubbed my eyes a bit, and he moved, sitting on the chair on the other side of the table. "What are you doing here?" the unicorn pony released a soft chuckle as he placed the cup of tea before me; I cupped it in my hands, feeling the warmth spread along my hands, and up my arms. "I would think you have a home."

"Oh I do, I do," he answered nodding as he took a soft sip of his hot drink. "My wife is having a model shoot here in the grand ball room, and I came to simply pass the time, and have a word with you."

"Me?" I questioned as he and I placed our tea down on the table. "What for, if I might ask?"

He once more took a sip of his tea, and paused to think on what he truly wanted to say. "I wanted to thank you for speaking with Rarity yesterday," he answered as he placed the tea down and me up to take a large gulp. "She sent me a letter nearly at dusk, saying that she was very wrong about you, and learned a lot by having a nice lunch with you and your former marefriend, Lyra Heartstrings," he looked to me in the eyes for a moment before smiling. "It is nice to see that just because one is not human, you can have a healthy relationship with them."

"Humans once thought that just because of the color of our skin that we were different," I pointed out, rubbing my thumb along the top of my cup. "I don't care who you are, Fancy - everyone is the same on the inside. If one is evolved enough to have a chat with another being, what's to say they can't have a relationship greater than just friends?"

"A great point indeed," he nodded his head before laughing softly. "How old are you, son?"

"Twenty three," I answered. "Almost twenty four."

"You've got a great deal of wisdom in that head of yours," I just laughed at this and shook my head side to side.

"No, no," I gave a small quick laugh more before saying "I simply have a more open mind, I guess. I see things differently and I try to think outside the box as much as possible. I'm not wise, I just think differently."

He just gave me a look that told me he was studying me. He then smiled as he leaned backward for a moment before saying. "I have a feeling you and I shall be getting along just swimmingly, Brandon," he chuckled again before saying "Would you like to meet my wife? It's not everyday you get to meet with a supermodel now is it?"

"No," I agreed. "No, it is not, and I would love to. Perhaps afterwards I could ask you something?"

"Of course," he nodded his head before standing. "Shall we?"

The walk from point A to B, was rather short, and not much was said between the two of us, a joke or two, but nothing really. The ball room, to say it was large was an understatement. It was huge. Fancy Pants told me that this ball room was almost the same size as the one that would be holding the Grand Galloping Gala. I tried to think of this room filled with ponies and humans, but found I could not. In the middle, was a normal photo shoot: lights, cameras, some props here and there. Somehow, you could see the white coated mare's her body easily, even though her coat and the wall were the same color. She reminded me of what I heard Luna looked like. In fact, she was very different than other mares I've seen. She looked almost like a princess in body shape, but not size.

Her cutie mark reminded me of the Saints logo, one was large, and two were smaller. A long horn was on head, as her two shade pink mane and tail flowed freely as the fan blew at them. She made a series of poses, her eyes ether closed, winking, or looking dead at the cameras. There would have to be something wrong with me if I didn't think this mare was hot as hell. But really, why was I getting this vibe that she was more like a trophy wife to Fancy Pants? "Alright, everypony!" the boss called out as the model stopped. "That's it for today. Fleur Dis Lis, will we be seeing you next week for the Playcolt pictures?" Playcolt.. wait.. oh my god! I think Fancy Pants was seeing me blush before whispering.

"She likes to show herself off," he answered. "As long as she is not bedding another stallion, who am I to stop her from using her looks to better her life?"

"Uh..." was all I could say as he only laughed.

His wife soon came over and the two gave the other a set of kisses and nuzzles. Again, this bloody world and its bloody cuteness! "And, who is this young man, dear?" she asked looking up at me. Pretty much, the pony named Big Mac was nearly five feet tall when on all fours, and he was rather big. Normal earth ponies, from what I was told would be around the four foot eight, unicorns slightly smaller, and pegasi being the smallest when fully grown. Fleur stood a little over Fancy Pants, probably four foot ten, and that's not counting her horn.

"This is Brandon Casey," he confirmed as his wife looked from me to him. "He is the one Rarity spoke of in her letter."

"Oh, you are the one she gave such a hard time for the clothing you wore?" she asked me as I simply nodded my head. "My husband told me that you two patched it up, correct?"

"Yesterday, during lunch, yes," I nodded once more. "We spoke with each other and she learned a bit about me. She apologized and even offered to make me a suit for the Grand Galloping Gala."

"Well, isn't that nice of her," she gave a soft, gentle smile, before her eyes narrowed before walking around me. The clothing I wore was simple. Some black tennis shoes, a grey pair of pants, and a black t-shirt with the Assassin's Creed logo. "Has anypony ever told you that you should go try out for modelling?"

"Uhh.. a few, yeah," I admitted with a soft blush. "My grandmother being one, but.. she is my grandmother. I did, just to get her off my back. The one doing the photo shoot asked if I wanted to do more but I said no."

"Why is that?" she questioned looking to me.

"It was for... a Playboy magazine," they both looked to me, Fancy Pants seem to hold back his laughter as I only sighed and rubbed my eyes. "Go on, laugh it up, Mister No Pants. I mean really, your name is Fancy Pants, so where are your pants?" I didn't notice until now, but he wore a monocole and when I said that, it popped out, as his face turned to that of shock, before his wife soon started to laugh at him.

After a while, we made our way to Fancy Pants' shop, which doubled as a home. He told me he didn't make the clothing, he just sold it and gave the large cut to the designer of said clothing. It seemed that he made jewelry. How he came to be a well spoken for pony of Canterlot, I didn't really ask, nor did I want to know. His wife spoke to me as we went back to their house. She told me that his word would be followed by many. If he disliked anyone, everyone followed his call. It seems that if you know him, your life will be easier. "So, you say that you have a date tonight? And would like my help on finding something to wear?" he spoke as I sat on a chair, and he on the other. His wife was busy was doing something else.

"I really wouldn't call it a date." I admitted as I rubbed my neck a bit. "See, something happened yesterday. I helped Nova out, and she wanted to treat me to dinner. I offered and still plan on paying for the dinner and dancing, even though I can't dance for the life of me!"

"Sounds to me like a date."

"You're just going to keep calling it a date, aren't you?" he just gave me a smile as I sighed. "Either way, can you help me?" he hummed softly, tapping his chin before smiling.

"Of course I can," he spoke up placing a hoof over his chest. "Let us go downstairs, and I shall find you something to wear."

"How much?"

"Oh please, don't worry about it." he smiled before leaning closer a bit. "We are friends, and friends help each other out, do they not?" What was it with ponies to just give stuff away?

All I could do was blink ever so slowly. He considered me his friend, and we barely knew each other at all. The unicorn, seeming to see my surprised and/or shocked look, said "Whatever, seems to be the matter?"

"You just said... you consider me a friend?"

"Yes," he answered matter-of-factly. "You are a kind young stallion, er.. young 'man'," I smiled as he said it. "You didn't have to go down and allow Lady Rarity a second chance. And yet you did, and you broke her out of the habit of being a 'Canterlot snob', as I like to call it." he shook his head softly some more before saying. "You are well mannered and the way you speak, I dare say if given the chance, you could do great things. You have a way with words. In fact," he looked me up and down before nodding his head as I tilted my head toward the side. "Do you happen to be employed anywhere?"

"Yes, part time, but it pays the bills."

"Well!" he clapped his hooves together. "If you ever decide to change jobs, or even move here and are of need of work; come to me!"

"I... well... thank you," I looked down a bit before saying. "But, other then all of this, why do you think we are friends? We only met yesterday. No offense."

Again he only laughed softly, shaking his head before pouring me another cup of tea. "Young man, you must understand something. Friendship here is like breathing, we all need a friend or two, and all it takes is the smallest push!" After filling my cup, near the rim, he did the same to his own before his wife went and sat down beside him, leaning her body along his own. "I can understand, we are two different beings, both born and raised in different worlds; but think, any land can be different. From the Gryphons to the Dragons and so forth. We are born from the same world, and we are different, but still can be friends with each other."

"Yes... this is true," I nodded my head before smiling softly, looking up at the couple. "Thank you, and I accept your most welcome gift, as friends." the unicorn smiled, as his wife was poured a cup as well, the two holding their cups up, before I to did as well. A small toast to new bonds formed, before we all started to drink.

Fancy Pants told me he had only a small bit of human clothing for me to pick from, I was thinking he meant about, oh, ten or so, but no. The bloody pony has about a hundred different sets! First, we had to find a style I would like. I told him something simple, like a tux. He wanted me to try on the type of shirt he wore with the 'tails' along the back, but it just looked silly on me.

In the end, I came out with just a simple but elegant suit. It was a black jacket with a black tie, a white, cuffed button up shirt with some gold lining along the sleeves and cuffs, plain black dress pants and black shoes. Smoothing myself out once more, I looked at the mirror and grinned as the two ponies clapped their hooves, Fleur still trying to convince me to model and all I did was laugh it off. She just smiled and said something before I left.

"I will get you in front of the camera one of these days, Brandon."

"The kind I saw you doing today, or the kind I overheard?" I just watched as she seemed to smile wider.

"How do you know if I wasn't just at the end of 'the one you overheard'?" My brain fizzed before coming up with a response to that. Nope, nope, nope.

With bags in hand, I made my way back to the hotel. A quick check of my phone found out the time was 1:31pm, which meant I still had about three and a half hours before Nova would meet me at my room to go on this... okay, it's not a date but why do I keep going back into almost calling it a date? I mean, yes she is cute, and I like that she seems to think the way I do, but- "Excuse me sir?" I blinked and turned, looking down to see a small Earth pony looking up at me, he looked about ten, rather cute as he had on a blue cap, a letter folder along the front and wings on it side. He wore a blue vest as well, allowing his white coat to easily been seen. He didn't have a cutie mark, and his mane was pure blue; as well as his eyes. "Are you Brandon, the human from Earth?" I knelt down before him and smiled with a nod. He had this small cute voice that would make anybody die from cute overload.

"Yes, but who's asking?" he smiled before pulling out a small salute before saying.

"I am a paper-colt!" he said with pride. "I was told to give you this letter from the princess!"

"The princess?" I repeated as he nodded, patting his vest before lifting his hat off, a closed letter inside as he handed it to me.

"Yuh-huh, you're my first job, now just a few dozen more, and I can keep going on learning how to do bigger jobs!" Man, when I was his age, all I cared about was playing Pokémon... eh, I still do.

"Well here ya go then buddy, you have a bit bag for tips?" he nodded his head as he pulled one out. Slipping my hand in my own, I pulled out ten bits and slipped it in as he smiled with a wide grin. "Have fun."

"I will, thank you mister!" and with that, he was gone. Heh, cute kid. But still, what would the princess have to talk to me about?

Going up to my room, and placing the bag along the bed, I sat down in a chair, and opened the letter. It was more of a scroll, with a ribbon tied around it and a small dot of wax covering the knot and an emblem of the sun and a crescent moon inside of it.

Dear Brandon Casey of Earth,

I must apologize that during your stay here you had to have such a vile encounter with another human. I was told that you heard the plea of one of my little ponies, when they needed someone to help them in their time of need. Your heart is filled with such nobility that few hold in their hearts.

I am writing to simply say thank you. Thank you for helping somepony who needed it. Not many humans have such a kindness towards ponies. It is one of the many reasons why this year, we, the Princesses of the Sun, the Moon, Love, and Magic, are inviting humans to this year's Grand Galloping Gala.

After hearing what you had done from one of my guards who interviewed young Nova Star, I was complied to offer you such a ticket, but was reminded that you were one of the lucky ten who were given a ticket already. But this is not the only reason I have taken the time to write you this letter.. it was also as a warning for both your friend, and perhaps yourself.

Before the human was to be returned to Earth, I and the three other princesses would decide if he be just charged, or exiled permanantly from Equestria. Entering the room he was being held in, I had a short talk with him. I asked him what could compel him enough to attack a pony. Bits? The thrill of overpowering somepony? Neither were the answers I was looking for, nor was what I was thinking. He told me he was paid by somepony; in fact, it seemed this man was nothing more then an actor. The attack Nova Star suffered was more of a fault of his. He was paid to simply scare her, to see if his acting skills were so great that he could convince somepony he was going to mug them. He meant no harm to her, but what he said to me was that he was indeed paid as well to harm her; even though he claimed it was just a slip. He was never going to harm the young unicorn. I sensed truth in his words, when you have lived as long as I, you tend to pick up ways to see if one is lying, and he was not.

Before I could ask more, such as, who paid for him to 'act' this out, another pony came in, claiming to be a lawyer paid by a source he would not give up, to relieve the human of his hold. In the end, we could only gather that it was just an accident, and let him off with a warning, provided that he paid a small fee of twenty bits. He agreed and left after the payment was given.

As to why I am telling you this, I worry for this one named Nova. If somepony had paid another to rough her up, even as an act, I worry for who your friend truly is. Has she wronged somepony or someone in the past? Will they return? These are the questions that have crossed my mind, and all I ask is that both you and your friend be safe. You interfered, and I pray that they do not come after you because of this. All I ask is for you talk to your friend and see if she truly knows more.

On a final note, I would like to ask if, on the night of the Gala, that we could speak, if only for a moment. I would indeed like to meet the noble heart of one that came to another's need.

Her Highness,

Princess Celestia

I'll admit, I did not see this coming at all. Someone paid for that person to attack, or make her scared; but for what reason? I was glad that Princess Celestia at least took the time to write to me explaining her concern. I've heard nothing but good things about her, but still; in the back of my mind, I would've thought she would've done nothing to tell me, or Nova of this.

I folded the letter up and slipped it inside my new dress pants to show to Nova later. However, I felt another item within the pocket. Pulling it out, I was surprised to see a piece of folded paper. Unfolding it, it was yet another letter.

For Brandon

I do hope that you find this before your date with miss Nova Star, I know I've already given you so much already, the suit you will be wearing being one of them. But, even if you don't claim that this is a date, if your relationship with this Nova Star, were to ever blossom into something more, I wish to give you some more help.

There is both a dance, and dinner building, known as the Moonlight Rays. It is a brand new stop for nearly everypony to go, dine, and have a good time. Normal, the wait list is very large, only very few can easily get in; and lucky for you, you know me.

As you were dressing, I sent a letter toward the place, and received word back, that all you have to do is state your name, and you shall be let in and your dinner will be on the house. I do hope you have a good time, and please do tell me how it went

Fancy Pants

I said it once and I'll say it again: what is it with ponies and just giving stuff away?!

It was now close to five, and seeing how I was to be going out tonight, I shaved my chin and jaw line, and lastly along the neck. The only hair along my face was a small patch that covered my chin, and under my nose; a line of hair connecting the two patches of hair to make it look like one. It took me a while tto make sure I was very clean, combing my hair backwards, making it slick, but I didn't like it, so I tried moving it forward; again, didn't like it. I decided to go with my normal hairstyle, a wind sweep backwards, but it was cleaner and neater than usual.

Working my socks and pants on, making sure Celestia's letter was tucked away in my pants, I worked on getting the rest of my new clothing on. Just as I placed the tie about my neck, fidgeting to make it look like Fancy Pants showed me, I heard a knock on the door. "Just a second!" I called out, cursing under my breath as the tie was undone and flopped about my chest. Giving up after a bit and knowing we still had time, I went and opened the door.

Nova Star was standing before me, a soft smile along her lips, her pink eyes looking up at me, and I was breathless. I'm not sure about the name of what she was wearing seeing how I didn't know if it was called a dress or not, but she wore a necklace, or a collar of some sort, connecting it, along the back, was a long black like dress like item. It covered her whole back, covering her rear and her back legs as well. It seemed to shine in the light. She also wore black shoes along her hooves, a tiny star along the front of each, as well as the one on her neck. Her eyelashes were curved upward, and a darker shade of purple along her eyelids.

I just looked down at her as she kept on smiling up at me, I don't know what it was about the way she looked, the way her eyes locked along my own. I felt the heat along my cheeks and I couldn't really say anything at all, as she only giggled softly. "Are you okay, Brandon? Cat got your tongue?" I simply just coughed, holding a fist up to my mouth as she only giggled again as she moved away from the door. "Shall we go? I have been wondering where you were taking me." I was thinking about that myself. I really will have to thank Fancy Pants, the next time I see him.

"Well...I'm sure you will be surprised when you see it as well," I answered with a small smile as I left out of the room, closing and locking it. "Shall we?" she smiled once more and nodded as we left side by side.

To say I was rather worried as many of the ponies watched me and Nova walk together in the streets of Canterlot was an understatement. Many of the snobby ponies who I always saw with their heads up, looked toward us, giving a soft nod as if they knew me. Was it because of the way I was dressed? Did they think I was some rich... ugh, so that's how it is up here for some of them, huh? I pretended like I didn't see them, I'd rather not make them think I am something I am not. "Are you okay, Brandon?" I blinked and looked down beside me, seeing Nova Star looking up at me. "You seem troubled."

"Huh? Oh, I'm fine.. it's just.." I looked away for a moment, wondering if I should show her the letter now. Deciding it was best, I pulled it out of my pocket and offered it to her. Her magic grasped it and took it from my hands as she read over it quickly. I noticed her eyes grow wide for a moment, before she soon folded it. "Are you okay?" I asked her as she sighed softly. "Look, I don't judge anyone's past, if the reason that guy came to you about it..."

"It's fine," she answered softly as I looked down. "How about during dinner I'll tell you?"

"You sure?"

"You should know, since you're involved now."

It didn't really take us that long to get to the place where we needed to go. The building was two floors high, maybe the top half could be for relaxing, the bottom for the dancing and eating maybe? I'm not really sure. The logo of the place with the large name of Moonlight Rays was planted across the front, in soft pulsing lights. Everyone that seemed to be going there were very well dressed, even if this place was a club like back home, they be very, very over dressed. There was a long line, but it was going down very quickly, ponies were being asked to leave because, surprise surprise, there was indeed a list, and it seemed many were not invited in. I could see the look of Nova's face, was she worried that we wouldn't get in. Either way, when it was our turn, the rather bland pony spoke up while looking at a podium with a small book on it. "Name?" he simply asked.

"Brandon Casey, Fancy Pants wrote in to-"

"Ah, yes; we've already got your name on the list," he simply moved away to allow us in. "Everything tonight is on the house, enjoy your stay."

Nova, as we sat down to wait for our food, told me of what had happened. It seemed from what she told me, Nova took a husband from another mare. She now knows it was wrong and deeply regrets it, but back then, she claimed, if the stallion wanted her, it was more his fault than her own. It seemed the mare in question at last caught her, and vowed to get back at her. She also explained that now she was worried I would be on the list because I had helped her. I just waved it off, saying it didn't matter to me, as long as she was alright. As we spoke, I couldn't help but start to like her more and more. She was smart, that much was known, and she was very open about how she supported humans and other races being together. And she would give me this smile... It just made me smile back. But after a moment she would look away, and for the shortest moment, I saw a look of confusion onto her face. Why was she confused?

It was.. really fun! I'll admit that much. Even though we couldn't dance for the life of us, we still had a great time. We drank a bit, maybe a bit too much. Not drunk, but buzzed all the same. So now, walking out of the building a little after nine, having been there three hours, I was a small bit buzzed.

"I had a really good time," she said, looking up at me as I smiled and looked back down at her. "No, really. I'd be lying if I said many of my last relationships were nothing more then one nights stands, but you.. you listened to what I had to say, you paid attention!"

"Yeah, well, I never had a father growing up, as I told you," I shrugged before saying "Even though right now I don't like my mother, she raised me right." I sighed again and shook my head. "I've seen men treat her wrong at times, simply because they thought they could. I always promised myself I would never be that kind of guy."

"You took what you saw growing up, you saw what they did to others, and you didn't want to become something like that."

"Pretty much yeah," I answered truthfully. We made it back to the hotel and went towards the elevator. As we waited for the doors to open, I felt her softly lean along my side and I looked down at her with a smile. As the doors slid open, and we walked in, I pressed the button toward where my floor would be. Seeing how she never told me what room she was in, I decided to go toward my room. Maybe she was on the same floor as me?

We stepped out, there were a few maids going in and out of the hallways, doing their work. They smiled as we passed, before coming toward my door. "I can walk you to your room if you want?" I asked her as she only softly smiled and shook her head.

"No, it's fine. Do you mind if I come in for a moment?" she asked. "I still wanna talk to you, and at least in there we won't have to worry about somepony eavsedropping." I raised a eyebrow at her, wondering what more she could want to talk about, before nodding, pressing the key in the door and slipping inside with her.

After she entered, she sighed as she started to take off her dress, unclipping the collar like piece, allowing the dress to simply fall off her body. "I'll admit, I hate dressing up, but, I deal with it at times, such as a date like this."

"You really think this could count as a date?" I asked her as she looked back with another warm smile.

"Why not?" she asked. "I only date cute guys anyway,"

"Bet you say that to all the cute guys you get to go on a dinner date with, huh?"

"Well, not the ugly ones," we both looked to each other before laughing as I went and sit on the bed. I took of my tie and tux jacket, leaving me in only my shirt and pants. "So, about this pony you dated... what was her name?"

"Lyra?" I asked as she nodded in agreement. "What about her?"

She looked toward me as she smiled softly before saying, moving her hips side to side as she walked toward me, taking off her 'shoes' off as she did so."So, you're into ponies huh?" I blinked as my cheeks flushed a bit at the way she was walking. "What did you like about her?"

"Well, uh.." I chuckled rubbing the back of my head. "Me and her had a lot in common I guess, we both understood each other." I then said, with a bit of worry in my voice. "And maybe it was because... she wasn't human."

"Oh?" she was close to me now and I could barely feel her breath on me. "What do you mean? Do you not find your own race appealing?"

"Sounds strange huh?" I answered as she placed her hooves along my knees to lean up a bit, looking into my eyes again, much like when she did when we were at the dinner table. I could've sworn for a moment I saw her eyes flash, but it passed the moment I blinked. Was it because I was buzzed, or was it just the lighting itself? "I don't know. Don't get me wrong, I would still date humans if I found the right one, but I just feel more open around ponies and other races I guess." I answered once more truthfully. "Besides, so far, with every time I've tried to date my own kind before The Gate was even made, I've always been burned. Either they were just using me, or they only dated me because they felt pity on me."

I looked away, Lyra was the only one I never spoke about this to. But when looking at Nova, it felt like I could tell her all my worries. "And I really don't care who you are, be you a dragon, a gryphon, hell, I know Diamonds Dogs are now becoming part of villages to live with others, and they are with others that are not there own." She seemed to nod at this before I went on. "What I care about is how the the person, or pony, treats me and others. If you are mean and a prick to everyone around you, I won't like you. But if you are kind to those who are kind back, then I will like you. It just depends on your mindset."

"So... if I was a human," she asked looking to me. "and I acted the same way I do now, and you were not dating anypony..."

"I would give you a chance, yes," I smiled again before saying. "As I said, Nova; it doesn't matter to me what you are, it's your mind and heart I care for."

She looked back up to me again, her eyes seeming to scan my own again, looking at me with a hint of something. I couldn't quite place what she was thinking. I didn't see it coming as she leaned close, and pressed her lips to my own. My eyes were slightly wide as she did so. Her lips were soft to the touch as she kissed me. Her right hoof moving up to hold my cheek, as she pushed herself up, to sit herself between my open legs to get a better ground. My eyes slowly closed as well, My hands drifted to her, one holding her to me and the other on the side of her face as we kissed.

After what seemed like forever, and in reality it was probably just a minute or two, she pulled away, smiling at me as I blushed heavily; her cheeks were also flushed. "How about we give it a shot? Being a couple?"

"Don't think you're moving a bit fast, huh?"

"We don't have to be a fully fledged couple yet.. We can try it out, see how it goes, and when we think we are both ready, we really get into it." she then moved closer, nuzzling my neck softly, minding her horn.

"Uh..." I blushed, my words caught in my throat before speaking. "Yeah... we can do that." She smiled again, looking up to me before leaning close and kissing me again and throwing my mind into a peaceful bliss.

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