Chapter 20: What Should Have Happened
Dan had flown to the maze and landed outside the entrance. He stopped and used his magic to pull out the glass that was stuck in his wings and body. He left the pieces in a pie off to the side. Then went into the maze. He walked the maze without a care. He was sick of walking the maze after a few minutes. He knew the center was on the other side of the hedge. So he backed up and ran through it. Dan was scratched and cut as he went through the hedge. Then when he made it to the other side he hit his head on the base of a statue that had been placed there. Dan's horn was now cracked near the base.
Dan was bruised and bleeding but he didn't care. He no longer felt anything. Not even pain. He felt a throbbing in his head and that was it. He didn't care all he felt was the sadness of losing his chance at being happy or with Luna. Dan laid down next to the fountain and leaned against it. He crossed his hoofs and put his head on them. He was lost in his mind and sadness. He didn't notice anything, he didn't hear anything, he didn't feel the world around him.
Luna had run out of the doors and flew to the maze. She was the one fighting time for once. She came to the entrance of the maze and saw the pile of bloody glass to the side. "Oh Dan please be ok!" Luna flew into the air and looked for Dan. She saw a hole in the hedge near the center then saw Dan in the center of the maze next to the fountain. She dove and landed on the other side of the fountain. She cleared her throat but Dan didn't move. 'Don't let me be too late!'
Luna walked up behind Dan and saw he was breathing calmly. She let out a breath that she hadn't known she had been holding. She saw how badly he had been hurt and felt bad for him. "Dan. Are you ok? You look bad. Do those hurt? Do you want me to heal them?" Dan didn't move he barely head her. He moved his ear to hear her better but still didn't move. "I don't feel them so don't waste your time on someone like me." Luna was now getting worried about Dan more than she ever had before.
She knew he was in pain if he was talking like his human self. And she knew that if a pony didn't feel their injuries that it meant their mind was in so much pain that the body could no longer feel anything. They called it being dead on the outside and tortured on the inside. Luna now knew how much she had truly hurt Dan. And how he felt. Both for her and about what she said. Her words had much more weight than she ever could have imagined. To hurt somepony this much. She then realized how much Dan had been there for her.
She remembered how he had always been there for her. Weather she was crying on his shoulder or yelling at him, he took it all. He never complained, or gave up on her. And all she ever did was ignoring his feelings and now hurt him. She couldn't believe how strong his love for her must be, and how much of a foal she was. She never took Dan seriously, and the only time she thought of him as more than just a friend was on and for a short time after hearts and hooves day. Then her training made her almost forget what they had and what they both felt. She now knew what it was like to be in love, and how she had hurt Dan so much.
"Dan please look at me. Are you mad at me for what I said?" Dan turned his head slightly to look at her. "No. I am not mad at you, I could never be mad at you. I am pissed at others and events but not you." Dan then turned his head back to the way it was. Luna was starting to tear up. 'He still doesn't blame me for what I have done? But how? After everything he still loves me enough to forgive me?' Luna gave up trying not to cry. Dan's ears perked and turned to hear the sound that had started behind him.
Dan instinctively got up and walked over and sat next to Luna. "May I put my wing around you princess?" Dan had a flat but caring tone. This made Luna cry more. "Yes you can and please never ask me again. Just do it like you used to. And don't talk to me like any of the guards would. That is not you. I want the you that called me Luna. I want the you that never asked for permission to make me feel better. I want the real Dan back, not this sad one." Dan had put his wing around Luna and she had leaned against him. he listened but could not bring himself to speak until she was done.
"Fine Luna, I will try." Luna cried harder because she knew he would just for her. "Why didn't you tell me?" she sniffled but managed to ask. Dan just stared forward. "Tell you what?" Luna was breaking down seeing Dan like this. This was worse than any emotionless version of him. She would rather him feel nothing for her than this pain because of her. "Why didn't you tell me you were going to ask me out? And why did you just smile and tell me to have fun? How could you do that without letting me know how you felt and what you were planning to do?" Dan had flinched when Luna had said the part about the date.
"As I told Discord, I will never get in the way of your happiness. And if that meant seeing you with another then so be it. I told you to have fun because I meant it. I wanted you to have a good time. I didn't think I needed to tell you how I felt. I thought you knew. I wanted the date to be a surprise, so I didn't tell you. I was proven wrong about it all, especially you knowing my feelings when you took that date. And told your sister you had never been asked out. It was then I knew you had forgotten about me and my feeling all together. So I did not find it right to stop you from going and finding a chance to be happy. and if you not wanting me around is what it takes to make you happy I will leave in the morning."
Luna gasped at the last part. 'He is willing to leave just for me to be happy?' Luna looked up to him. "But where would you go?" Dan shrugged. "I don't know. Not here and not Ponyvil. I would probably leave Equestria, and travel the areas far from here." Luna was shocked at the lengths that Dan would go for her. "Why not Ponyvil?" Dan blinked but did not move. "For two reasons. One is that you might visit Twilight and her friends and that is the only reason I would go there. And it would remind me of what I have lost for the same reason. So to keep your wishes I will stay away from there. And if I leave all of Equestria it makes sure your wish will be granted."
Luna was crying hard because she still could not believe that Dan would go to these lengths just to listen to her wish and after she had hurt him so. "I take that wish back. I never want you to go anywhere. I want you to stay at the castle with me… Please." Dan simply nodded as a response. Luna got up and face Dan making sure he had to look at her. "Can we please go on that date now? I would like something to cheer me up if you don't mind?" Dan was caught off guard and turned his head to the side in confusion. Dan finally agreed after looking into Luna's pleading eyes.
"Ok. The first part was a walk through this maze. But I had made it up for you. Stand here a minute and I will make it up." Luna saw that Dan's wounds had started to heal. This meant that Dan was no longer completely lost to her. Dan walked to the edge of the Hedge and used his magic to create a beautiful path. When Dan was done he stumbled and almost collapsed. Using his magic had taken a toll on him because his horn was still cracked. A lot of the magic had backfired on him. Luna rushed to his side, but he just stood up and started walking forward.
Luna was shocked at the pure beauty of the path Dan had made. "What are these flowers?" Dan turned to look at her. "They are a mix of rare flowers that can only be found in the Everfree forest and other dangerous places. Most of these only bloom at night and others are just a rare beauty. I hope you enjoy them. If you wish I can have a vase of them brought to your room later." Dan turned to keep walking forward. Luna was floored by his answer. She knew this meant he had gone and picked them himself just for her. Luna caught up to Dan just in time to leave the Maze.
"I would like some of those flowers in my room if you don't mind. And what is the next part?" Dan looked back at her and raised an eyebrow. "What makes you think there is more?" Luna smiled knowingly. "I know you plan more than just one thing. You plan the best nights with many fun things, and you also said that that was the first part." Dan finally let a small smirk show on his face. "I am glad you listen. The next part would be in the kitchen. That is if the cooks have not eaten it. When I canceled the date I told them they could eat it if they wanted to. so if it is not there I will make what I had prepared and bring it to you later."
Luna nodded knowing not to be mad at the cooks. When they got to the kitchen Dan stopped and held the door open for Luna. It was a bad idea because of the cracked horn, but he did not care. Luna hurried through the door so Dan could enter faster and stop using his magic. Dan walked in to see a big platter on the middle counter. Dan walked up to it and used his magic to lift the lid. "Time to see if they listened to me or not." They had not. Luna saw a big and beautiful cake sitting on the plate. Its top was meant to look like the moon's face. It looked layered and very appetizing to Luna.
"Wow, what is that? I have never seen it before? Is it new? Did you find this in the archives?" Luna was excited to see the new desert in front of her. Dan couldn't help letting a small smile creep onto his face. "Yes it is new and no not from the archives. I created this from your five favorite flowers and then your favorite apple. It is a layer of the five flowers then a layer of apple slices, and then another set of flower layers. And just so you know not everything I do comes from the archives." Luna giggled at him. "I know but it got you to smile." Dan was surprised and it showed. This just made Luna giggle more.
Dan was going to cut the cake so they could eat but Luna had beaten him to it. She already had two plates and forks and knives out. Dan walk to his plate and took a bite without using the utensils. His head hurt too much to use magic and he didn't care about looking good any more. Luna just smiled at Dan. Then Luna took a bite and her eyes lit up. "Oh my! This is amazing!" Dan then took the bite he was planning before Luna's out break. Dan was forced to smile when he tasted the desert. "Wow its better cold."
Luna looked at him confused. "What do you mean?" Dan turned to her with a look of concentration. "This was supposed to be served warm. But apparently letting it cool to room temp enhances the flavors. It was good warm but is much better now. I have to add this to the recipe." Dan walked over to the counter where a stack of recipes were sitting. Dan's was on top. He picked it up and wrote to let it cool for best results. Then noticed he had not named it. "What do you think the name should be?" Luna looked at him with confusion.
"It is your creation I think you should name it." Dan shrugged. "It is for you so what do you want to order if you ever want this again?" Luna thought a minute. "How about Luna surprise! I like that one because you surprised me with making it." Dan nodded and wrote that name on the top of the recipe. "It is done. Now all you have to do is ask for "Luna's surprise cake" and then wait and you will have it." Luna was giddy at having her own desert named after her. And Dan had made it just for her. This was great! No wonder Dan was bummed when she wasn't going to try it.
"That was great! So what is the next part?" Luna and Dan had eaten their full and Dan's mood had even gotten better. That was until she asked that question. That was when Dan turned and started walking away. "There was no more. Not anything that would matter now anyway." Dan walked into the main hall with a worried Luna following. "I am sure that it has to mean something. If not just to you. So please tell me what you were going to do?" Dan lowered his head and sighed. "Why? What's the point? If it won't mean anything to anypony but me then why should anypony know but me?"
Luna understood his feelings on hiding his feelings. But he also knew this was important if he was hiding it like this. "Because it will make you feel better to get it off your chest. So why don't you tell me?" Dan sighed and gave in. "Fine if you have to know. I was going to ask you to be my marefriend. But now that you hate males like me there is no point in asking such a stupid question." Luna gasped at what Dan had said. She would have been asked that by Dan if this all had gone to his plan? She could have been happy with him by now instead of hurt and hurting him?
Luna was tearing up at the thought of being Dan's marefriend. She was not sad, but happy with the idea. She loved the idea! Luna ran up and hugged Dan around the neck. She barred her face into his shoulder. "YES!" Luna was sure this is what she wanted. Dan just moved his head back so he could look at her. He was slightly confused. "Yes what?" Luna lost all control at this. She was crying hard at the thought of Dan not wanting to be with her anymore. She didn't think Dan would except her after all this but she had to let him know what her answer to his question and how she felt.
"This night may not have gone according to your plans but it was still amazing! Even with you being hurt you are still able to make me so happy! The answer to your question is yes. I would love to be your marefriend! That is if I have not hurt you too badly to accept me anymore." Luna was scared to look at Dan's reaction but dared a look anyway. She saw a look of complete confusion. Dan couldn't make sense of what had just happened. Luna had just said yes to him but he couldn't tell if he wanted to say yes or not.
Before this night he would have jumped with joy, now he was so hurt that it had to sink in. He could still be happy, and with Luna. She just told him she would love to be his. This couldn't be true. He had to make sure but before he could ask anything he was stopped by his answer. Luna had reached up and kissed Dan passionately. Dan's thought and doubts were gone in seconds. Luna was determined to show Dan she meant every word she had said. Dan was now sure she meant what she said and returned the kiss happily.
They pair only backed away when they had to breath. And even then Luna was scared to stop for fear Dan would turn her down or still be in his sadness. Luna backed away when she felt Dan's hoof on her cheek. Dan looked into Luna's eyes and knew what he was going to say to Luna's confession. "Thank you Luna." Dan's normal caring and loving tone had returned. Luna was happy to finally hear his real voice that she was almost in tears again. "For what?" Dan smiled wide. "For being my angle with a shotgun. You are always there when I need you. And thank you for that kiss." Dan and Luna giggled at that.
Luna was happy to be there for Dan, though she thought she had only been there this once. "I couldn't let you stay like that after I hurt you like that, and after you stood up for me like that. It was the least I could do for the one I love." Dan slightly froze at the last word. A smile crept onto his face. "I love you to. But I am sorry you had to see that. And I will always stand up for you. No matter what happens." Luna smiled. "It's ok we all lose it sometimes. All that matters is that you win in the end. a very wise alicorn told me that once. And I now know that he was right."
Dan smiled hearing his own words coming back at him. it showed that Luna truly did listen to him and take his words to heart. "Thank you Luna. So I got to ask, what I looked like?" Luna started to think back. And told him how he looked. "You looked really cool and even kinda hot, but I still prefer this Dan over him any day." Dan had a smirk form hearing Luna call him hot. She had never been open like that before. "I am glad you like this version better. So now what shall we do now, my marefriend?" Luna blushed and giggled at that. She liked being called that. It was much better than princess that was for sure.
"Let's go to bad I am tired after a long night, and you need to rest up to heal those wounds." Dan looked back at himself and was surprised to see how bad he really did look. "I guess you are right. I will walk you to your room." Luna smiled, she had a plan. Dan and Luna arrived at Luna's room and kissed each other good night. Dan turned to go to his room when he felt Luna use her wing to grab his. Then she led him into her room. "What are you doing?" Dan was curious where this was going. Luna just blushed.
"You can sleep here tonight, with me, if you want to." Dan smiled and nodded. "I would love that." Dan got onto the bed and laid down. Then Luna got onto the bad and cuddled up next to Dan. Dan felt some pain from his body but ignored it for the feeling of being close to Luna. Dan draped his wing over Luna and held her close. The two kissed once more before settling down to sleep. Both Luna and Dan found that sleep would come easy to them. They were happy and with the one they cared most for. This would be a nice and restful night for the couple.