The Choice

>You are just fucking about on your computer, as is usual for you after a rough day at work.
>You're currently on /mlp/, your little guilty pleasure, posting about your waifu.
>The power blinks, and your PC unceremoniously clicks off.
"Ah DAMMIT." You growl, smacking the keyboard ineffectively.
>You had an RTS game running at the same time, so back to the last save you go.
>Oh well.
>The lights kick back on, and you notice a black mist swirling around...until suddenly, it's not a black mist.
>It condenses into a four legged form, complete with what appears to be a robe made out of the very fabric of space itself.
>You can make no features out, aside from two yellow orbs glowing from under the hood.
>"Greetings." 'He' says, voice almost ethereal.
>"I am here to grant you your greatest wish."
"Fucking...what?"
>Realistically, that's all you *can* say.
>"A chance to come with me, to Equestria."
>You simply blink in confusion.
"Wait wait wait...it exists?!"
>"Oh yes, Equestria is very real."
>The figure chuckles.
>"There is a pony there that pines for you, as a matter of fact. Would hang on your every word and action as if it would save her life. She, however, believes you to be imaginary as well."
>The stallion locks his solid yellow, glowing eyes to you.
>"You can change that."
"What do I have to do?"
>Your closet door slides open, and instead of your clothing, there is a stark white room.
>On the floor is a child, looking like he was simply snatched from his bed just a few moments ago.
>He's even still asleep.
>"In order to enter, you must kill this child with the weapon you find inside. Only you and your lover will know of this."
>This is...barbaric.
"What if I say no?"
>"Then I simply leave, and you will forget about my visit and that Equestria is real. You will never think of this land as anything more than a fairy tale."
>You deliberated, briefly.
"...let's do this."
>"Splendid."
>He guides you into the room, where a lone weapon hangs on the wall, underneath a window.
>A machete, sharp as it could be.
>You look up, and you see...her.
>The pony that caught your eye and affections, all without even being real.
>She's up in a room, peering through a window.
>Your pony sees you...and simply loses all composure, finally realizing that she *isn't* crazy, and that you *do* exist.
>It's enough to bring a few tears to your eyes.
>Opposite her, in another room surrounded by soundproof glass, is a large group of people.
>They look a bit like the child in complexion and even a few features.
>Family, you assume.
"Hey, this wasn't part of it. You said only she and I would know."
>"That is true. They will find this child butchered in the streets later tomorrow, by an 'unknown assailant'."
>Your stomach was already churning, and now it was doing backflips.
>The family was pounding on the glass, and you could read a few of the words they were *screaming* soundlessly at you.
>"Now, all you must do is pick it up, and swing."
>Your mare was looking at you in a mix of horror and confusion, wondering what you were doing.
>The family was going absolutely ballistic.
>You lifted the machete.
>"Good."
>The dark stallion was standing near the child, waiting for you to do the deed.
>"Remember: Kill him, and Equestria is yours. Your lover is yours."
>You lift it high...
>Then twist your wrist a bit, bringing it down onto the stallion's head and splitting his hat (and head) wide open.
>The yellow orbs that had been staring at you, unblinkingly, finally went dark.
>You wrench the blade out of his head, and suddenly you find yourself standing in your closet.
>No child, no machete.
>But a definite blood spatter is up your arm, from arterial spray.
>Damn that thing had been sharp.
>No body, though there was the same starry black cloak that stallion had been wearing sitting on the floor.
>A small note was sitting inside it.
>Picking it up, you unfold it.
>"Though you will never meet her, she has seen what she needs to see."
>"She is proud of you and will teach other ponies, until the end of her days, about the self-sacrificing and brave human that she almost met."
>"I regret that I cannot bring you to Equestria after this. A deal is a deal, I'm afraid."
>"The child has been returned to his family, and they will not remember this incident. Excellent work, Anon."
>It was signed "Starswirl the Bearded", complete with a little shooting star over his name.
"No way."
>Jogging over to your window, you looked outside.
>Nothing in the streets.
>You couldn't tell anyone about this, naturally.
>They'd think you were crazy.
>But maybe, just maybe...
>One day, you would meet her again.