You had been preparing for this moment for months now. As each day ticked on by your eagerness only grew. But like a weed, your anxiety grew as well. It'd nag at your thoughts, twist your perception of the world, and would often attempt to strangle what little self-confidence you still had.

But this time you wouldn't let it control you any longer. This time, you managed to keep your bubbling anxiousness for the future to a mere simmer rather than a boil that would consume your very mind.

For this time, you're going to ask the true love of your life to finally go out with you on a date you had been planning since the second you saw her. Forget about the possibility of rejection. Ignore the crying calls of stupidity for your actions. You were going to do it!

You visited Sweet Apple Acres where you had heard your love was last spotted, but you could see not a hair nor muzzle of her. Approaching the fields, you caught sight of Applejack performing her daily chores by kicking a tree repeatedly until it finally sacrificed its much cherished apples. A bit barbaric by your standards, but it did get results.

Bidding Applejack a fine afternoon, she waved and called out a greeting to you as well. Inquiring the location of your beloved, a devious smirk appeared on Applejack's freckled face, and you knew a sly bit of teasing would come next.

It was no secret about your crush, since anypony with eyes could see it clear as a cloud in a big blue sky. Heck, even your much beloved probably knew already. But Applejack obliged you with where she had said she was departing to, and wished you luck in your endeavors.

You made your way through Ponyville, nodding to passerby on your way. You were different than most ponies in town, considering you weren't even a pony to begin with, but they had welcomed you in with no bother at all.

After the trip you've finally arrived at the final leg of your journey: Carousel Boutique, where the most beautiful mare you had ever laid eyes upon lived.

You steeled yourself for the confrontation. What words could you possibly say that would even be enough to show a mere inch about how you loved her more than the entire world? What had once been a cold, stony lump of misery in your chest has finally blossomed into a full, beating heart through the love you have for her.

You checked your appearance once last time in the window and tried with vain to not drop the bouquet of roses you held.

Finally, you opened the door, but before you could declare your love for her, something else was quite apparent.

Rarity, the most marvelous mare in the entire world, was wrapped in the forelegs of another stallion. They were kissing in a passionate embrace that seemed to go on for a lifetime, since every second that ticked by you could only watch with muted horror.

It was a blessing Rarity finally realized she had a guest and dropped the kiss, but she was too late to save your heart dropping to the floor.

"Oh, it's you," Rarity said, her cheeks flushed. She glanced back at the nameless stallion, then back at you, just as the flowers you held fell to the ground, along with the first tears.

"Oh no, please, I didn't know you were coming over," Rarity began, but it was too late.

You were already turning around to leave, not listening to another word she said.

"Please, wait!" Rarity said, just as you were about to roll out the door.

You glanced back, your expression stoic and emotionless, like a statue.

"I didn't mean to hurt you," she said. "It's just that... we're both so different. It never would have worked between us. You know that."

You did. You just never wanted to admit it to yourself.

Sniffling, Rarity asked, "I'm so sorry it had to end like this. I hope you could ever forgive me."

You mulled it over. Could you?

With dread you knew you had no choice. Your heart was stone now, but it still lived for Rarity.

You nodded, and Rarity breathed a sigh of relief. "Oh, thank goodness. At least we can still be friends. Right, Tom?"

You nodded your head, your face a rock with no emotions, even though you knew you were dead inside.