Doing Things for Your Waifu, Maud – Part 3

>You saw Maud a few times over the course of the next week.
>By a few times, you mean a grand total of four different times.
>Two of those times you had lunch in silence.
>The other two were you and Maud walking around Ponyville, again in silence.
>It would have been awkward for you had it been any other pony.
>But Maud was different.

>In addition to that, you were noticing that she was becoming a bit more receptive to your presence.
>Rather… she wasn’t ignoring you or walking away from you as much.
>Pinkie Pie had to pick up extra shifts at Sugarcube Corner, as well as host a bunch of parties this week.
>As such, she was unable to help break the tension between you and Maud.
>You DID promise to Pinkie that you would watch over her sister in her absence.
>And that’s what you did.

>Well, TRIED to do.

>You sought Maud out those four times, and kept it at that.
>The gray mare enjoyed her solitude.
>You didn’t want to overstep her boundaries.
>You’d like to think that Maud appreciated that.
>You’d like to think a lot of things right now.

>The sun begins to set on the horizon.
>It’s been a long day of doing odd jobs and performing other tasks for various ponies.
>You decide to head over to Sugarcube Corner to check on Maud.
>Mrs. Cake greets you as you walk in.
>”Oh, hello, Anonymous! How are you? Pinkie isn’t here right now. She’s hosting a private party in the park tonight.”
“Oh, that’s right. She told me about that one. No matter. I’m actually here to talk to Maud.”
>Mrs. Cake frowns at you.
>”Oh, Maud? I haven’t seen the dear all day.”
“Wow, alright. That’s a bit odd….”
>Mrs. Cake nods in agreement.
>She left in the morning saying she was going to do some research near the Everfree Forest. She hasn’t returned since!”

>It didn’t surprise you that Maud would vanish for the day to do some rock-related research.
“Maybe I’ll go and check on her.”
>”Alright, Anonymous. You should take this to her. It’s just a few sweets I baked for her.”
>Mrs. Cake heads behind the counter and pulls out a picnic basket.
>A sweet smell escapes the basket.
“This smells wonderful, Mrs. Cake. What’s the occasion?”
>”Oh there is none! I just thought she would like them.”
>You laugh and walk over to the front door with Mrs. Cake.
“I’ll be sure she gets these. Have a good night.”
>Mrs. Cake thanks you and bids you a good night as you exit Sugarcube Corner.
>Basket in hand, you make your way to the Everfree Forest.

>You pass Fluttershy’s cottage, following a small stream the leads to an entrance into Everfree.
>You make an educated assumption that Maud would probably be somewhere near the stream.
>Though, nothing would stop her from entering the forest….
>You shake your head and continue onwards.
>The ground becomes more littered with rocks the farther you travel.
>You’re hoping Maud would appear at any moment.
>The sizes of the rocks begin to increase drastically.
>You even spot a few large boulders.
>The river becomes wider and begins to flow more aggressively.
>You’ve never walked this far before.
>You turn around.
>You see a faint light that is Fluttershy’s cottage.

>You sigh and sit on a large rock.
>Might as well take a quick break.
>Or maybe… you can just call it a night and head home.
>This pursuit of Maud seems somewhat pointless.
>Mrs. Cake told you that she left in the morning.
>There’s no telling where Maud could be now!
>You groan and rub your eyes.

>You hear a branch break behind you.
>You quickly get up and turn around.
>You don’t see anything.
“Must be my imagination.”
>As soon as you face forward, you realize you aren’t alone.
>You yell in surprise, nearly fainting from shock.

>A gray pony stands inches away from you.
>A pair of turquoise eyes staring into yours.
>”Anonymous.”
>You fall to the ground, holding your chest.
“M-Maud…!”
>”…”
>You breathe heavily and slowly, trying to ease your rapid heartbeat.
>Maud blinks at you.
>”...”
>You feel yourself begin to relax.
>You put your head down and sigh.
“I nearly jumped out of my skin, Maud!”

>Maud stares at you, her face unchanged, as per usual.
>”Can humans do that?”
>You groan.
“Never mind. I came looking for you. I brought you some sweets that Mrs. Cake baked for you.”
>You point to the neatly packed and sweet-smelling picnic basket.
>”…”
>Maud slowly trots over to the basket and sniffs it.
>She turns and faces you again.
>She blinks.
>You blink.
>She blinks again.

>”…”
“What have you been doing out here?”

>”Research.”
>You slowly get up and shake dirt off of your clothes.
“Plenty of rocks for you to do that around here, I suppose.”
>”…”
>At least she was all right.
>That’s all you cared about.
>That, and having her eat these sweet treats.

>You pick up the basket and hand it to Maud.
>She steps back a bit.
“Sorry… I just wanted to make sure you got this.”
>”I do not want it.”
>You raise an eyebrow to her.
“But Mrs. Cake made this for you.”
>”I do not like sweets. I have told her that.”

>You frown.
>Maud remains quiet, her eyes locked on yours.
“I understand. Well, I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”
>”…”
>You put the basket on the ground.
“Clearly you are, so I’ll take my leave now.”
>”…”
>You turn and begin walking back to Ponyville.

>You didn’t want to leave her.
>But it was clear she didn’t want to be bothered.
>You sigh deeply and turn around.
>Maud was watching you as you walked away.
>Her turquoise eyes shimmering slightly.
>You face forward and continuing to walk.

>There’d be no point in talking with her anymore tonight.
>You delivered the sweets.
>Whether she takes them or not is none of your concern.

>Nothing else to do but go home.

~

>You sigh and sit back, pouring freshly brewed green tea into a mug.
>The smell is wonderful.
“Mmm… this is just what I need.”
>Hot green tea is to you what alcohol is to others.
>It removes your stress, calms your body and mind.
>It’s a truly zen feeling that you’re glad you can experience here in Equestria.
>You take a sip of your hot tea.
>The taste sends a soothing shock throughout your entire body.
>You feel warm, alive, at peace.
>Tranquil.
>You take a deep breath and sigh.

“Relaxation.”

>You hear two hard knocks on your door.
>Relaxation ruined.
>You groan and grumble as you get up from your chair.
>You head over to your door.
“Who is it at this hour?”

>You look out the peephole.
>A pair of familiar turquoise eyes peeks back through it.
>”Anonymous, it is me.”
>Of course it is.
“Maud?”

>You open the door slowly.
>A gray pony stares at you, saddlebags on her side.
>She is holding a picnic basket in her hoof.
>”Hello.”
>You stare at her.
“Um… hi?”
>”…”
“…”
>”…”
“Is everything… all right?”
>”I would like to come in. If that is okay.”

>You step backwards and invite Maud inside.
>She slowly trots inside and places the picnic basket on your kitchen table.
>You gently shut the door and walk over to Maud.
>She turns and looks at you.
>”…”
“…”
>She points a hoof to the picnic basket.
>”You left this. I have brought it back for you.”
>You scratch your head.
“Thanks, but that was for you.”
>”…”
>Maud blinks at you.
>Her eyes look a bit different.

“That’s not really why you came here, Maud.”
>”…”
“What’s up? What’s going on?”
>”…”
“Maud?”
>”I am sorry, Anonymous.”
>You are slightly taken a back by her apology.
>Mostly because you don’t know why she is apologizing.
“What? What for? You haven’t done anything to me.”
>”…”
“…”
>Maud kicks at the ground gently.
>You continue to scratch your head in confusion.
“Maud, what is this-“

>”I am sorry… that I have feelings for you.”

>You don’t respond.
>Maud’s eyes leave yours as she puts her head down.
“You… have feelings for me?”
>”…”
“Maud?”
>She trots over to you, her head still down.
>You kneel down to her level.
“Maud, what do you mean?”
>”…”
>Maud softly rubs her head into your chest.
>You don’t move.
>She continues to nuzzle herself in your chest.
>You slowly place a hand on her head.
“Maud… talk to me….”
>You run your fingers through her mane.
>”…”
>She stops nuzzling you and pushes herself away from you quickly.
>”I… I need to leave.”
>She walks past you, still holding her head down.

“But I-“
>”You remind me too much of him.”
>You get up and walk over to Maud.
“Of… who? Flint?”
>”…”
“How? How is that even possible, Maud?”
>”He used to act like you.”
“…”
>Maud walks towards the door, her head still hung low.
>”Then we got close, and I pushed him away.”

“Maud, wait.”
>She stops in front of the doorway.
>”I can not fall in love with you, Anonymous.”
>You eye her carefully.
>You want to walk up to her and hug her, but you don’t want to scare her.
>”If I do, I fear that you may become what he became.”
“…”
>”And it will be my fault.”

“I could never do what he did! Never!”
>Maud turns around slowly.
>Her eyes meet yours.
>They are a bit pink.
>But no tears come out.
>”Anonymous… please do not make this harder for me.”
“…”
>”Just let me go.”

“Maud, you have to trust that I would never hurt you.”
>”I trusted Flint with everything I had.”
“I’m not Flint!”
>Maud blinks at you.
>You feel as if she may cry at any moment.

>You want to comfort her.
>You want to hurt Flint.
>You want to make everything right.
>You want Maud to be happy.

“Tell me what I need to do to prove to you that I am not like him.”
>Maud turns around and opens the door.
>”Listen to me. Let me go.”

>You walk up to Maud.
>You kneel down next to her as she faces you.
>She apprehensively moves a bit backwards.
“Maud, don’t leave yet. Just talk to me.”
>”…”
“Please.”
>”Anonymous….”
>You slowly put your hand out.
“Just trust me.”
>Maud closes her eyes.
>You close your eyes as well.
“I could never hurt you.”
>You remain still for a moment.
>”…”
“…”

>You feel Maud’s head brush into your hand.
>She slowly nuzzles it.
>She feels soft.
>Her warmth spreads throughout your body.
>Maud is giving you affection, even though it hurts her
>You show her none back.
>You don’t think you can.
>You don’t move, or speak.
>Neither does she.

>After a moment, she pulls her head away.
>You hear your door close slowly and shut.
>You open your eyes.

>She is gone.

~