An Affinity With the Sun: Act I: Chapter I

~An Affinity With the Sun~
{Act I}
[Chapter I]
|Confessions of the Heart|
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"How can she just stand in the rain like that?"
>You've noticed the marble white horse a few weeks ago
>Everyday right after sunrise she stops by the bakery you work at and ever so often throughout your day you catch her somewhere in your background
>She claims she's a giant fan of the cakes
>But in actuality she is here for you
>You see this in the way you two briefly exchange glances, though she holds them a bit longer than you anticipate
>Today she breaks the norm however
>It's no longer sunny and rain falls over Canterlot in a gray haze
>Instead of sitting at her familiar window seat she now stands in the rain
>You've seen her make countless attempts of entering the establishment, but none have succeeded
>She looks agitated and your lunch break starts in 5 minutes
>Maybe you should talk to her
>It's not everyday you get to casually converse with the leader of an entire country
>You lazily clean dishes as you watch her trot in circles outside in the rain

>Finishing the last of your dishes you make your move
>Over the counter, pass a few tables, and through the door is all it takes to close the distance
>She doesn't notice your approach and nearly shrieks in surprise
"Hey Princess, you've finally had enough of our cakes? Don't worry, I'll save you the trouble of breaking our hearts."
>You try to break the ice
>This is the first time you've actually exchanged words
>The air around her isn't what you'd expect it to be, instead of a stiff and cold atmosphere, it's soft and welcoming.
>You wonder if she's like this with everyone else
>She chuckles at your joke, to your relief
>"Hello Anonymous. It seems you're not very busy."
>She peers over your shoulder to the nearly vacant bakery
"Well, actually it's always been like that."
>She gives another slight giggle, though too stifled to feel genuine
>You've realized that she has not once looked you in the eye
>She's been eyeing the ground ever since she noticed you
"Is anything wron-"
>"Do you love me?"
>She interrupts you
>With the strangest question no less
>You don't know how exactly to answer
>She waits on the edge of every second for your response
>What should you say?
>You hardly know her, and isn't she a Princess?
>You'd imagine that all her subjects 'loved' her
"Well, I can't say I -don't- like you"
>You try to tip toe around the question, but to no avail
>"But do you -love- me?
>She inches closer this time
>Making sure the question has the desired impact
>She studies your silence
>"I've been following you for sometime now Anonymous. Though it be embarrassing to say, you've caught my eye."
>She still avoids your gaze
>Ever so unsure of herself
>You stand there, trying to think of a response

"You've been following me?"
>Is all you can say
>She shows signs of embarrassment and annoyance that you're avoiding her inquiry
>"Yes, I've been following you. Is there any shame in that?"
"Well, I can't say I'm like the idea of a giant horse deity stalking me."
>"Stalking? Don't mistake my love for mere lowly stalking!"
"Your what?"
>She holds a hoof over her mouth
>She practically just said she loved you, in front of everyone
>You noticed that nearly the whole town has surrounded the two of you
>Curious on what the Princess could want with Canterlot's most mysterious resident
>You lower your voice to maintain even a little privacy
"So, you love me? We've never even spoken before. I think calling an infatuation love is a bit overdoing it Princess."
>She raises her head high and gives you a stoic gaze
>"Do you mean to imply that the love of a Princess is not worth your attention?"
>She regains some of her royal confidence
>If she meant to intimidate you, it was working
"Well, uh... I just don't know how to respond to a love struck horse. And actually, I've got to get back to work."
>In an instant, her confidence shatters and she leaves without a word, the crows of ponies parting as she makes her exit
>The only thing that crosses your mind is how strange and how short the conversation actually was
>Though you can't be blamed, this world is full of strange happenings
>You return to your work station after dismissing the crowd of ponies who had gathered

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

>A couple of weeks have passed and you haven't seen her
>Maybe she's over you?
>After a hard day of honest bakery work, you're ready to clock out for the day
>Your boss calls over to you, prolonging the rest of your day
>"Anon, could you come on over for a minute?"
>You think to yourself that he is probably going to pack more hours into you
>Not that you'd mind though, you rather like working at the bakery
>And you've been doing it for two whole years
>But instead of increasing your work hours, the opposite happens
>He fires you
>The shock is immense
>"You've done nothing wrong. We just aren't making enough money to keep you. Business hasn't been all that great lately. It's like everypony's afraid to come in here. I'm sorry Anon, you are a good worker and it's a shame to let you go. You'll get a severance check in the mail."
>Now you walk home in disbelief
>How were you going to pay the bills now?
>It wasn't easy getting a job in Equestria, being the only human and all
>You turn the final corner leading to your residence
>The sight before you is enough to send tears rolling down your cheeks
>Your house is doused in roaring flames
>It's flames blending with the oranges and yellows of the afternoon sky
>All of your possessions and the only things that remind you of Earth have now gone up in flames
>You run toward the ponies dressed adorably in firefighter garbs
>The report is your house caught flame from some little rascals playing with fire
>You stay long enough for the fire to be controlled and extinguished
>Now you are alone in the vacant lot where your house once stood
>You're homeless from this point on
>Just as you are about to crack from all the stress you feel something touch ground behind you and approach
>"Do you still think my love is nothing but mere infatuation?"