It's not like that; it's not your fault

just take it easy peasy, my little lemon squeezey

“Thank you for being with me Tuba,

I’m going to keep loving you like you’re still here 💕”

Childhood memories, tainted forever

Mlp au when Jesse is a pegasus and Lake is a unicorn and they hang out by the pond and Lake decides to practice their magic and create a barrier that would let them walk on water,because they kinda stayed away from any water related things for obvious reasons,and because they were created when Tulip walked into that fuck ass pond that made billion copies of Pinkie pie

Anyway

To say that their relationship with bodies of water was shaky was an understatement (ironically to their name) but they always liked water and places like those and now being free they wanted to see more of that,especially because Jesse made it so appealing when he splashed in the pond inviting them in and sticking close to the shore so Lake wouldn’t accidentally be covered by the wave or something,but it wasn’t enough for them

Hence walking on the surface,and it felt like back there when their body had natural resistance towards the surface of magic pond,only one goes in,the other is already on the other side,and you can’t reverse it,just hit the surface with your hoof to no avail,luckily for Lake tho because Tulip couldn’t get rid of them if she tried but they found similar ground pretty fast when facing the danger together,they separated after that,hiding the pond for a time being,no one knew that those who came from it might be sentient and alive in full way,or maybe it was just Lake who’s to say

Now they stood near edge of the other pond,lit by the evening sun and sparkling when tiny breeze would make ripples on its surface,Jesse stood close,he didn’t particularly knew what Lake had in mind but the way they were smiling mischievously how they often do when they are exited about discovering something new,he figured there’s honestly no limit how far his friend can go

And then Lake started waking step by step carefully,it wasn’t obvious at first that her hooves are not in the sand but in fact right above the surface and when it worked and they took few more steps,their magic illuminating every time they touched the water like glowing plankton,with this blue hue shift and vibrant sparkle to it,the kind of color that Jesse marvelled at any time Lake showed him their magic.

he was so proud of them,even if they weren’t good at it for a while,only getting magic of their own after they lost track of Tulip

It was a struggle to pick up this absolutely new skill but then again so was dealing with everything else having a physical body meant.

He cheered them on tho,relentlessly,asking them to show him a new trick they learned,and Lake amused with a playful roll of their eyes shows him the best they got,to see him beaming at them,and later at night they wold hunch over a book for little colts how to do magic 101,it was cringe but it was worth it if that meant they would have by morning a new thing to show to their friend.

With this newfound confidence Lake basically started prancing towards the deeper side of the pond and being too caught up in their own experience they didn’t look back or even heard that Jesse was calling out to them,he wasn’t mad just concerned a little,he was proud of them,for everything they achieved,seeing them be free like this and explore the world in their own unique way was exactly what made his heart soar, but he also knew that with Lake being absolutely amazing they still couldn’t swim for shit,it was one of those things that he could actually be proud of for himself,even if Lake didn’t waste an opportunity to throw a line insinuating…something

Maybe teasing him,maybe encouraging him to try harder because they know he can

Maybe saying that he looks beautiful…but only for Lake to hear their own words,they knew they will say it one day,they were practicing tho,

he was practicing for a competition and Lake had a competition with themselves waiting for a better chance

When after like third time unsuccessfully trying to call out to them he took into the air,silently enough not to startle them and not to ruing this moment of pure excitement and maybe because he wanted to see it closer,their smile,their gleaming eyes,the silly prance of joy they were doing that they will absolutely deny later,the way their coat shined in the rays of setting sun,the peace that settles on their face as they turned around to look at him, him of all things,they had this incredible ability to find beautiful things all around them,ways to explore the world in a way no one thought of before,all of this wonder around them,ready for them,waiting

And they choose to look at him

-you knew I was here?

-I wouldn’t confuse the sound of your feathers with anything else

-there goes my attempt at being stealthy I guess 😩

-were you trying to spy on me?😏

-NO…I was just…(worried? They would punch him for that.wanted to see you?much too…well too much)

…Just wanted to be near…just in case…not that you need it! But like what if you’ve seen some cool fish and wanted to show me?

Satisfied with his answer and a small laugh Lake promised to look for any particulary fascinating fish that might be of interest to him

They pretend to look together,Lake standing on the water,Jesse hovering right beside them,his hooves getting splashed by water because of how low he was,trying to stay as close as his wingspan would allow,after a bit of making as little movement with his wings as possible laws of gravity started to drag him lower towards the water with only goofy ass “oh-oh” escaping from him

Lake quickly hooked their hoof with his and brought him closer right before he wold go sinking allowing him to jump into flight again,even tho he would rather stay glued by their side,but he wouldn’t risk them using magic on him too,it’s okay he can stay here for now,thanking them quickly with nod of acknowledgment and amused smile from his friend

Lake turned around to him once more and in a smaller voice,almost apologetically saying that they want to try go further,it meant mostly that they wanted to go alone,for just a bit,they would come back and they can look for more “fish” together if he wants.

It doesn’t hurt,not really,it’s something else,that feeling again of having to let them go,and Lake knows it way too well,they wait for his response,if he says he doesn’t want them to,they won’t,they can always do something else,they want him next to them,as often as possible,to the point they have to hold themselves back a little for someone’s sake(their own probably)

But sometimes they just…they need to be on their own,to breath in and out and to feel ground under their hooves,focus on whats real,inside of them and outside,they need that,and then immediately they need him,to feel…him…and how real what they feel being next to him

He of course can only look at them with his softest expressions,reassuring them,smiling and nodding towards the sunset they were in front of.

He knows they won’t disappear,they wouldn’t choose to,they would find their way back,and Lake would,every time,meeting him in some early hours of the night on his porch after a walk in EverFree forest,name of which she liked a lot surprising literally no one. They would show him some cool stones and bugs and plants that might actually be cursed but them holding it with their magic and yoinking it away from Jesse’s curious muzzle when he got to close prevented them from getting any obvious side effects…they think😑

If not it would explain some things,like why Jesse would get all red in the face when they were playfully putting a flower behind his ear,or when he’s getting stiff as a log when Lake leans on him on their couch,for an animated guy like him that is the strangest thing,they really have to be more careful about the things they choose to bring to him.The last thing they want is to…hurt him,in any way.this still was safer than taking him into deep of the woods tho,bro can’t shut up especially when he is on edge which is expected when you are surrounded by timber wolfs,and is also very deadly,in the same context

They would fight for him of course,anytime there’s a need for that,they know he’s strong tho,in his own way,he’s fast and can weave through branches and seaweed alike,when he swims he is really something,using his wings to propel himself further,they seen it once,they were trying to make a magic shield around themselves and go underwater,and he was there,just flying through the thick of water like it was breathing.He’s a bit of a show off tho taking the opportunity to make some pretty cool move’s deliberately making sure Lake can see them,and she just has to look anywhere else because of how cute he is,and because she knows what he’s doing and it brings the biggest smile to their face and makes their heart beat faster,to the point that they loose focus and all pressure of water on top of them tries to break into their cracking shield

Lake has just enough time to panic but not enough to do anything to escape,they can’t teleport yet and won’t have time to run back to the shore,this is the kind of ambition that bites them back.When they think about being careful it’s always about keeping safe Jesse or Nate but when it’s just them they throw caution to the wind thinking they are unbreakable,when they are not.they were lucky that day because he was there,he got them to the surface just in time,not before getting absolutely drenched tho,but that was a small price to pay,especially considering that they got to sit on the beach and cling to him for warmth…of one kind or another,while he was making gentle waves of warm air with his pretty wings around them so they would dry faster,not too fast tho…they can take their time sitting like that

They know he’s got them,he’s keeping his eye on them,not because he doesn’t trust them but because he cares too much,

and they are grateful,for everything that he is,