Then There Was You

Chapters

Chapter 1 - "The Guard and the Blacksmith"
Chapter 2 - "Forging More Than a Sword"
Chapter 3 - "A Memorable First Date"
Chapter 4 - "Longing and Desire"
Chapter 5 - "A Match with Malik"
Chapter 6 - "Wounded"

Chapter 1 - "The Guard and the Blacksmith"

“Then There Was You”

Chapter 1:
“The Guard and the Blacksmith”

Written by
JaydexTheShadowKnight

A beautiful morning had dawned over the illustrious capital of Canterlot. It was still early morning, and the sun was gradually making its way into the vibrant blue sky.

A group of Celestia’s Royal Guards had returned from an early morning patrol. There were four pegasi, each was new to the guard, and had only been on duty for about a month now. Their instructor and the captain were confident in their abilities, which was why they were permitted to perform a standard patrol over Canterlot on their own.

One of them stood at the castle wall, gazing out across the vastness of Equestria. She smiled as she beheld the morning vista and felt the warm caress of the sun’s rays fall upon her white coat and golden armor. It was a particularly humid spring day, and the morning mists still clung low to the ground over the grassy and heavily wooded areas.

Jeannedarc cast out a happy sigh as she continued enjoying the view from where she stood. The sounds of hoof steps made her ears twitch. She turned her head back and saw one of her fellow guards.

The brown stallion trotted up beside her and joined her in looking out over the countryside. “So Jeanne, what’re you up to?”

She looked at him briefly, then resumed her gaze. “Just enjoying the view from the castle, Rampart.”

He chuckled at his fellow guard. “Well, don’t stare too long, or you’ll waste all your free time.”

Jeanne giggled briefly, before turning her sparkling blue eyes back to Rampart. “Oh, I won’t. I just really enjoy taking in the view, whenever I’m here at the castle.”

“Not me!” Rampart announced patting an armor-clad hoof on his chest. “I’m going to hit the town and stop by one of the taverns. After all those patrols and that extra training Shining Armor put us through, I need to blow off some major steam.”

She laughed to herself at his bravado. Rampart wasn’t nearly as gruff as he let on, but it never bothered Jeanne. The two had became friends during their training and always tried to watch each other’s back in order to do their best.

“Tell me, Jeanne, what are you going to do with your time off?” His amber eyes looked at her questioningly as a hoof came to rest on his chin.

Jeanne smiled at him and looked back over the wall. “Well, I’m not quite off-duty yet. I’m going to be heading for Ponyville to get something, and Shining Armor asked that I fly a standard patrol over the town. You know, so I can kill two birds with one stone…uh, not that I’d ever want to kill any birds, mind you.” Her voice became a little nervous. While Jeannedarc typically tried to present herself in a confident manner, her shy side seemed to always find a way to assert itself. At her core, she wasn’t a violent pony, but she still had plenty of good reasons for joining the guard. Most of these stemmed around fealty to the princesses and a desire to protect loved ones and the innocent. It had a lot to do with the way her parents raised her, which was why, despite the saying “killing two birds with one stone” being a typical social norm, she didn’t want anyone to think that harming innocent creatures was something she’d willing take part in.

“Why do you want to go to Ponyville?” Rampart scratched his head, feeling a little confused.

Jeanne smiled again. “Well that’s simple. I know we all were given spears, but I also want a sword. Spears have their uses, but can be heavy and clumsy, not nearly as elegant as a finely made sword.”

Her fellow guard gave her a quizzical look. “But there are plenty of swords in the castle armory. And, even if you don’t want a boring stock sword, why not head to town and pick one up form one of the local Canterlot smiths?”

Jeanne shook her head. “Even though I know Canterlot has skilled smiths, I’ve heard that the swords crafted by the blacksmiths in Ponyville are really impressive, especially from this one smith in particular. So, that’s why I’m heading there.”

Rampart shrugged his shoulders. “Well, suit yourself. I’m off to the pub. Have fun.” He waved at her briefly and then spreading his wings, he took off heading toward town.

Jeanne waved a farewell hoof and soon he flew out of sight. She stood there for a few more moments, continuing to take in the awe-inspiring view. Then, after adjusting her helmet, Jeanne spread her feathery wings, and gave them a quick stretch, before she too took off, departing the castle.

Ascending into the sky, she quickly got her bearings and set off toward Ponyville. She was really excited about finding a good sword to carry at her side whenever she would be on guard duty – be it at the castle or out somewhere on patrol.

* * * *

In minutes she had arrived in the skies over Ponyville. Jeannedarc decided to complete her surveillance of the town, before landing to find the blacksmith she sought.

After soaring over the entire town, the guard pony saw no sign of trouble, let alone anything out of the ordinary. Convinced all was well, she made a mostly graceful landing just outside the north end of town. Usually Jeanne was very graceful when she landed, but the added weight of her armor was still taking some getting used to.

Scanning her surroundings, Jeanne wasn’t sure where she’d find the blacksmith. She was no stranger to Ponyville, yet she hadn’t visited it enough to be too familiar with its layout.

Placing an armored hoof to her chin, she figured she might as well have a look around. This was a fairly large town, but nowhere as big as Canterlot, her hometown, where she was originally born and raised.

Slowly but surely, Jeannedarc made her way through Ponyville. She did manage to find the first two blacksmith shops, but upon sampling their wares, she knew her search wasn’t over.

After searching a bit more and reaching the western side of town, she noticed a plume of smoke rising up from a nearby building. Drawing nearer to the building, she heard the distant striking of metal on metal. Jeanne could only hope it was the sound of a heavy hammer clanging against an anvil.

She followed the sounds to the last blacksmith’s shop, which was in a fairly sizable building, made of a combination of brick and stone with a tastefully tiled roof. Glancing up, she saw the shop’s sign read: Clang’s Forge. Of all the smiths in Ponyville, this had to be the right one. Walking up to the door, Jeanne peaked inside the shop. A cursory glance revealed no sign of anypony. Judging by the size of the shop, she concluded it was most likely a home as well as a place of business.

Her ears twitched again, in response to more metallic clanging. Backing away from the front door, Jeanne decided to walk around to the back. True, she could have just walked through the shop, but with nopony around she didn’t feel right doing that.

Behind the shop, she discovered the forge, along with a series of awnings, workbenches and tables, a shed, and all manners of tools. There was a strong scent of burning coals and hot metal drifting through the air. While she continued scoping out the back part of the shop, Jeanne noticed an older stallion walking her way. He still appeared to be in good shape, despite his age and the gray beard and mustache clinging to his face. His pale red coat seemed to reflect his age, yet his cutie mark – a hammer raised above an anvil still had a vibrant look to it. He briefly stared at Jeanne with his lavender eyes.

"Why hello there." His voice had an aged but profound quality to it. Giving him a polite smile, Jeanne knew he was a pony to be respected. The stallion gave her another good look. "You know, it's not very often that we’re visited by a Royal Guard. Not to mention a mare half as lovely as you."

Jeanne fought the urge to let her cheeks blush. She took her duties as a guard seriously, and while in her armor, she always tried to carry herself in a respectable fashion. However, she couldn't help but feel a slight warmth come to her cheeks, thanks to his flattering words. She managed to stifle a giggle by clearing her throat. "Thank you, that’s very kind of you to say. Now, I was wondering if you might be able to help me?"

"It would be a pleasure. So tell me, what brings you to my humble forge?" He gave her his full attention and offered a kind smile.

Jeanne returned his smile and gave him a slight nod. “I’ve heard that you’re known for making some of the best swords in Equestria. I’m hoping to find one that suits me and will be useful in my duties as a guard.”

The stallion rubbed his beard with a hoof. “Well you heard right, and you’ve certainly come to the right place. By the way, I’ve been rude. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Anvil Clang, at your service. But my friends call me “Clang”.” He bowed respectfully to her.

Jeanne was fighting to keep her shy side in check, thankfully donning her guard’s armor gave her added confidence, so even though he was a stranger, she didn’t feel as uneasy as she normal did when meeting someone new.

She smiled again in response to his polite gesture. “A pleasure. I am Jeannedarc, but most usually call me Jeanne.”

The sounds of the clanging hammer rung out once more. Anvil Clang glanced over his shoulder and then back to his customer. “Now, if you’re looking for a good sword, I think I should introduce you to my apprentice. He’s quite skilled at crafting them.”

Jeanne’s face lit up; the rumors about this place were starting to prove true. “I thought I heard somepony mention that one of the smiths in Ponyville had a skillful apprentice, but it’s hard to believe everything you hear.”

Clang chuckled at her and nodded. “That’s quite true. Now, I must caution you. My pupil is not a pony, in fact he’s not even a native of our world.”

Jeanne fought the feeling to let her eyes widen. It seemed another rumor was proving correct. “You don’t mean…is he a h-human?” She was well familiar with the fact that Celestia had gone to Earth and set about to bring humans to Equestria, even if she didn’t know the exact reason. In the beginning Jeanne didn’t know what to think about all of this. Like most ponies, she had only known the half-truth about humanity and the brief twenty-year period they spent living in the pony world, a little over 2,000 years ago. While the history books didn't really mark humans as being bad, they did note that humanity had a treacherous side. Personally, Jeanne didn't think it was entirely true, especially since Celestia had allowed their kind to return to the pony world.

Regardless of history, the thought of meeting a human always intrigued her, especially now that they were once again living in Equestria. It’s just she wasn’t sure what to expect. Thankfully, her curiosity was stronger than any reluctance or fear that might make her hesitate. She could only hope that Clang’s apprentice was a human. Her blue orbs fell upon the pony smith as she awaited his response.

He gave a throaty chuckle. “As a matter of fact, he is a human. I should have known a Royal Guard would know about humans living it our world.”

Jeanne shook her head, continuing to focus her attention on him. “It’s nothing to do with my being a guard. I’ve heard a lot about humans from two of my friends in Canterlot. Plus, I’ve seen a few of them on the streets of town in passing. Though, I’ve never gotten to meet one personally.”

“Well then, allow me to change that.” Anvil Clang looked over his shoulder and called out, “Galen! Galen, would you please come here.”

There were a few more bangs of the hammer, followed by a clear response. “Be there in a second, sir!” The two ponies stood there, and after a few more clangs of the hammer, they heard the heavy sound of it flopping onto its side, making a low metallic thud. Jeanne looked up in response to the sound of Galen’s boots brushing along the mixture of grass and dirt on the ground. Her eyes teemed with fascination as she saw the human walking on two legs, appearing to be fairly tall. Galen was dressed in a pair of heavy blue denim pants, a tan short sleeved shirt and was covered by a thick and heavy navy blue apron, which was accompanied with a pair of heat resistant gray gloves. Sweat clung to his forehead as he proceeded to wipe some of it away with his forearm. Just above his face, she noticed his head was covered with short brown hair.

At first Galen didn’t see the guard pony, and only looked to his mentor and friend as he removed his gloves and patted Clang’s furry back. “What did you need sir, I…” his words dropped off abruptly as he noticed Jeanne standing there. Even though she was wearing the armor of a Royal Guard, the human could certainly tell by her build and presence that she was a mare. There was also something rather feminine about her blonde mane as it spilled out from under her helmet, framing the back of her neck and shoulders.

Galen stood there, trying to keep his mouth from dropping. There was something almost magical about this pony – he couldn’t put his finger on it. Though, after living in Ponyville for a little over three years, he was no stranger to mares, especially after having shared intimate relationships with a few. To his surprise, Jeanne’s sparkly blue eyes stared back with nearly the same level of intrigue, directly into his expressive green eyes.

Jeannedarc kept gazing upon the human with quiet awe. She had always wondered what it’d be like to see one this close. His face was dirty, but despite that, she could see a strong yet yielding presence in his eyes. The smile he was now giving her made her resist the urge to blush. While she never gave it much thought in the past, there was something oddly attractive about him, even if she had no clue as to why.

Anvil Clang saw them practically staring at each other, and smiled as he softly chuckled to himself. Patting a hoof on Galen’s shoulder, he turned to him. “This charming lady, and a member of Celestia and Luna’s Royal Guard, has come looking to buy a sword. I told her you could help her with that, my boy.”

Before his eyes could linger, staring at the lovely white pegasus, he turned to Clang. “Yes, sir.”

He patted his apprentice’s back again, harder this time. “How many times must I tell you, not sir, Clang? Don’t make me feel older than I already am.” Clang snickered at Galen.

The human gave his mentor a sheepish look and chuckled nervously. “Of course, Clang. My apologies.” Galen turned his focus back to Jeanne and smiled, offering her a look of confidence. “I’d be happy to help you. By the way, I’m Galen. Pleased to meet you.” Following his words, he bowed respectfully to her. Like many of the residents in Ponyville, he too had the highest respect for those that saw to Equestria’s continued safety and security.

This time, Jeanne couldn’t help but blush a little, her cheeks become a rosy shade of pink from his polite gesture. She resisted the urge to giggle and cleared her throat, just as she’d done with Clang. Feeling her face begin to cool, she looked up to the human who must have stood a few inches shy of six feet tall, which wasn’t that big a difference, given that she stood close to four and a half feet tall, when on all fours.

The guard pony closed her eyes momentarily and composed herself. She was still a guard and needed to behave accordingly, though she didn’t want to come of nearly as cold as some of the guards tended to be, much like Celestia’s Elite personal guards. The pegasus returned her eyes to him. “Pleased to meet you. I’m Jeannedarc, but most just call me Jeanne.”

Galen smiled at her and gave her a thoughtful nod. “Okay, Jeanne. If you’d follow me, I have plenty of swords you can choose from. In fact, I just finished work crafting a few the other day. I’m sure we can find something you’ll like.”

Jeanne’s face lit up, as she followed him back to one of the awnings, not too far from the kiln itself. They weren’t close enough too feel the heat rolling off it, but she could see the glowing embers of the coke and coals that were smoldering in the hearth. Accompanying him the rest of the way, Galen led Jeanne to a stone wall, covered by one of the several awnings. There along the wall were shelves and racks holding easily more than a dozen different swords. She couldn’t help but feel giddy at the sight of so many blades all in one place. Jeannedarc was quite the admirer and enthusiast of such elegant weapons. The fact that these appeared to be well crafted made her smile grow. Now, if only she could find the right sword among these works of art. She placed a hoof to her chin as she pondered that very idea.

Galen walked over to the wall and picked up one of the sheathed blades. “Here, see what you think of this one.” The human had taken a sword resting in a scabbard coated in black leather, adorned with silver accents and rubies on either end of the sheath’s point. The hilt was also silver and both the pommel and ends of the cross-guard were decorated with shiny rubies.

“Oh my.” Jeanne gasped softly, reaching her hoof forward and taking the sword from him. She studied it carefully, bringing it close to her nose, allowing the scent of the leather to enter her nostrils. She sighed, following a short breath and slowly withdrew the weapon from its holder. The blade was equally beautiful. It had a length of about two feet and felt properly balanced. Manipulating it with her hoof, she held it firmly and stepped out into the open grass adjacent to the partially enclosed structure. Jeanne swung the blade around, getting a feel for it.

“That was a sword I made…” Galen placed a hand to his shaved chin. “About a month ago.”

She placed it back into its scabbard, and offered it to him. The human took the weapon, gently, making sure to maintain a kind demeanor to his customer. Jeanne looked at him and then over at the rack. “That’s a fine weapon, but I don’t think it’s the one for me.”

Galen set it back on the shelf with the others. “No problem, I have plenty more for you to choose from. Besides, if none of these swords are to your liking, I could always forge one special for you.”

His proposal met her ears with much delight, and she happily closed her eyes and nodded. “Okay, but let’s see these other swords first.”

“Of course.” He reached up and selected another he hoped she might like.

A good fifteen to twenty minutes went by and before long, they had exhausted his assortment of swords. Galen placed the final sword back onto the rack. “Well, that’s the last of them. So, none of those seem right for you?” He glanced back at her and saw Jeanne shake her head.

“No, I’m sorry. Those are all lovely blades, but I don’t know, the look and their feel just doesn’t quite seem to match me.”

Galen couldn’t help but sneak another brief stare at her, while Jeanne continued looking at the swords resting on the shelves and racking along the wall. He then spied the forge and turned back to her. “There’s no need to apologize. If there isn’t a sword here that you like, I’d be more than happy to make one for you. It’ll take some time of course, but it’s certainly no problem.”

Jeanne smiled happily at him and gave him another brief but endearing look. The two quickly realized they were all but staring at each other again. Galen shook his head and removed his gloves from his apron pockets, setting them on his workbench. Smiling at her again, he stepped closer to her. “Now, if you don’t mind, there is a little strength test I like to do, before I start working on a custom order.”

She blinked her eyes at him, feeling a tad perplexed. “What do you mean, little test?”

He chuckled, hoping to ease the anxiety clinging to her voice. “Don’t worry. I just found that most ponies have different foreleg strengths. I’ve done this for several stallions and even a few mares. It helps me to properly craft a weapon for them. So…if you don’t mind?”

Jeanne stood firm for a moment and felt a little on the spot, but giving it some thought, she made a decision. “I guess not. No, go ahead.” She slowly held up her right hoof. “Oh, wait! Should I remove my hoof guard?”

He smiled at her. “That would certainly help.”

“Okay.” Her voice was a little reluctant, but hardly reflected the number of emotions coursing through her. Nimbly, she slipped her hoof armor off, and let it fall softly onto the short grass below. She remained on her hooves, figuring it’d best help him with his test.

Again, she held her hoof up, and Galen gently clutched it in his hands. Jeanne felt a sudden rush. She’d never had a human touch her before, let alone any species that had hands. The sensation of his fingers along the fur of her hoof was unlike anything she ever expected. It felt oddly alluring to her.

Galen saw the awe in her sparkling blue eyes as his fingers grazed the velvety soft fur clinging to her appendage. While Jeanne had a rather commanding presence in her armor, the look and feel of her hoof was delicate and very ladylike.

Jeanne felt his fingers twitch hesitantly along her hoof, suggesting he was feeling a bit bashful, much like her. Then she couldn’t fight it any longer. Her cheeks won the battle and started blushing, becoming a strong red. She turned her head to side, trying to hide them.

Galen felt a slight start, realizing he might be embarrassing her. Clearing his throat, he gave her a more focused look adjusting his hands along the base of her hoof. The blacksmith dropped to one knee and remained at the ready. “Okay, then. Go ahead and push your hoof toward me, as hard as you can. I’ll push back, and you try to keep me from overpowering you.”

Jeanne did as he said, starting to understand how this test could help gauge her strength. The shyness left her eyes and the determined guard within reemerged. She pushed her right foreleg against him as hard as she could, adding whatever power she had. Galen didn’t make it easy for her, thrusting his hands toward her with impressive strength of his own, gradually driving her limb back towards her. Jeanne keep resisting, causing his hands to inch back his way.

A few seconds passed, and Galen finally spoke. “Okay, you can stop now.”

Jeanne eased up and felt his hands do the same. “Did I do okay?” She wondered, blinking at him for a moment.

He chuckled softly at her. “Yes, I have a very good idea about your strength, now. Um, do you use your left at all? If so, I could test that one as well. That is, providing I haven’t made you uncomfortable.”

Jeanne could hear the sincerity in his words and the uneasiness in his tone, from what she could only guess was the thought of embarrassing her. She smiled, allowing her other hoof guard to fall to the ground. Then, giving him a calmer and more confident look, she held up her left hoof. “No, it’s quite all right. So, go ahead.”

He reached up and placed his hands on her other hoof, making sure not to linger his touch this time and focusing on the task before them. “Ready?” She nodded. Galen began testing her left hoof, applying a similar force. The guard pony resisted, trying to work his hands back. Galen felt a similar strength in her left foreleg, but unlike her right, it was certainly a bit weaker, still the human could tell she must use this one a good deal as well, just from the effort she was putting behind it.

“Okay, that should do it for your left,” Galen announced. Again, she eased her hoof as his hands came to rest. A smile formed on his face as he rose back to his feet.

“So…did that help you?” Jeanne wondered, while re-equipping her hoof guards.

Galen nodded enthusiastically. “It did indeed. I should be able to craft you a fine sword, thanks to these results.” He walked over to his workbench and grabbed a loose sheet of parchment. Taking a nearby ink pen, he scratched down a few notes, her name and the data of her hoof tests, but nopony other than Clang or perhaps Clang’s grandson would understand what they meant. Turning to her, he gave her an inquisitive look. “Do you have any idea what style or appearance you’d like this to have?”

She walked closer to him and twitched her lips giving the matter some thought. “Well…I’m not sure.”

He chuckled softly. “Do you want the blade to look a certain way, any specific decorations, maybe a favorite gemstone or color you’d like?”

Jeannedarc placed a hoof to her chin and gave his question criteria some consideration. “Well, I liked the blade on this one here.” She pointed her hoof to one of the swords he had shown her.

Removing the sword form the rack, he partially unsheathed it. “Okay. Did you want the same length as this one?”

The guard pony nodded affirmatively. “Yes, that’s a good length, say about three feet?” She glanced at him, wondering if her guess was correct.

He smiled and gave her a nod. “Yep, that’s a three foot blade. You certainly know your swords. How about the hilt, and the scabbard? Oh, and decorations?”

The hoof returned to Jeanne’s chin as she tried to think it over, but sadly, nothing sprung to mind. “I’m still not sure on that.” She shook her head and gave him a slightly dejected glance.

The smile remained on Galen’s face. “Don’t worry about it. Why not give it some time, and think it over?”

“Are you sure, I wouldn’t want to delay you, or hold you up.” Jeanne couldn’t help but be herself. She always tried to be considerate, if nothing else.

Galen chuckled softly. “You wouldn’t delay me. I’ll need time to work on the blade of your sword, and I already know how you want that to be. Besides, I have other things I can do in the meantime. So, it’s no problem at all.” He walked back over to her and gave her another smile.

She returned his kind smile, while trying to discreetly sneak another glance at him. “All right. How long did you want me to take?”

“Take all the time you need. If you need a day, then come back tomorrow, or if you need longer, it’s quite all right.”

Jeanne closed her eyes and gave him a content smile, almost forgetting she was still in her armor. “Thank you. I probably just need a day to think it over. Oh, but wait, what about payment? How much will I owe you for this sword?”

Galen waved a dismissing hand at her. “Ahh, we’ll worry about the price when the sword’s closer to being finished. Okay?”

Jeanne giggled briefly, and totally forgot herself, enjoying how polite and understanding the human seemed to be. “Well then, I’ll give it some thought, and see you tomorrow. It was very nice meeting you, Galen.”

He smiled back at her, and gave her a thoughtful expression. “It’s been a pleasure, Jeanne. I’ll look forward to seeing you tomorrow.”

She gave him a short nod and then proceeded to depart. The guard pony made her way out of the forge and waved to Clang as she left.

Galen made a few more notes on the paper, then took one last look at Jeanne and smiled again, noticing her lightly flip her long blonde tail contently as she trotted down the street.

Anvil Clang walked up to his youthful apprentice. “So, how did it go? Will we be seeing her again?”

Galen gave him a puzzled look. “Huh? Seeing her again?” Then his expression shifted. “Oh, you mean in regards to her making a purchase?”

“That’s right. What else did you think I meant?” Clang scratched his beard, furrowing his brow at Galen.

The human chuckled nervously. “Nevermind. But, it went quite well. Jeanne didn’t find anything suitable from what I had, but I think I’ll be able to craft her a perfect sword.”

“Ah, so she’s getting one of your special commissions. I’m sure she’ll be very happy with that then. You certainly have a skill at making weapons, and you have come a long way since joining me over two and a half years ago. Seems I’ve taught you quite well.” Clang chuckled from his own mawkishness. “You’ll have to pardon my sentiment. I am old after all.”

Galen shook his head. “Nonsense. You’ve been a fine teacher, and you’re not old, just experienced.”

“You flatter me, my boy.” Clang patted his human friend’s side, looking at him happily.

A content smile formed on Galen’s face. “Oh, you’ll be happy to know, Jeanne will be coming back tomorrow with ideas on how she wants her sword decorated.”

“Jeanne?” Clang questioned. “I find it quite interesting that you keep referring to her by name, rather than just saying “her”.” Galen’s face dropped, he hadn’t even realized he was doing that. “There isn’t a reason you’re doing that, now, is there?”

His apprentice shook his head. “No, no reason. Um…if you’ll pardon me, Clang. I have work to do.” With that, Galen picked up his gloves, secured his apron and walked back over to the anvil.

Clang snickered at Galen. While the stallion may have been old, he certainly could tell Jeanne made quite an impression on him. Anvil Clang could only wonder what things would be like, during her next visit.

* * * *

Following her departure, Jeanne returned to Canterlot, and checked in with Shining Armor. After giving her report from patrolling Ponyville, she took her leave, and was officially off duty. The guard pony made her way to her quarters within the castle barracks.

Jeanne’s quarters were similar to that of a small apartment or a typical room found at a dormitory. It bore a similar motif to that of the palace itself. Aside from the décor, it was basically a modest-sized bedroom. Due to space limitations, all Royal Guards had to share a common living area, kitchen, and of course bathrooms. They could also make use of the castle dinning hall. Despite the limited size, Jeanne was still grateful for her own room, even if the barracks weren’t the greatest source of privacy.

Space had become so limited due to the volume of guards Celestia had been forced to recruit a few years back. Following the changeling invasion that took place a little over five years ago, the princess had been forced to step up Canterlot’s defenses. Her tensions didn’t ease following the harrowing events of nearly four years ago either, when a great evil threatened to shroud Equestria in darkness, under the ambitions of a truly sinister being known as Ghastaloom.

While Jeanne didn’t enjoy the lack of privacy, she still thought it was very generous of Princess Celestia to offer these mostly comfortable quarters and living areas for her guards. It was just one of the many things that Jeanne loved about her, and made her only too happy to serve. Thanks to the princesses, all ponies had chance for a happy and productive life. This fact was one of the key reasons Jeanne decided to become a Royal Guard.

Entering her room, Jeanne sighed quietly. She walked over and slid open the door to her closet, preparing to slip out of her armor. She placed the hoof guards on a small rack, then loosened and set her cuirass on the closet floor, beside the furnishing. Finally, Jeanne removed her helmet, setting it on the flat surface on top of the rack. Then, she closed the door, letting out a relieved sigh. The pegasus stretched her back and her wings. It felt really good to get out of that armor. While it wasn’t too difficult to move around in, Jeanne was still getting fully used to the weight of it on her body. At times it did make flying a bit of a challenge, but with each passing day she was adapting.

One might wonder why she chose to keep her armor in the closet. Most guards tend to keep their armor out on display, but Jeanne knew this was more of a macho thing the stallions did, so they could show off to mares that they wanted to impress. Jeanne on the other hoof liked to be practical. She felt her armor, like any article of clothing or personal item would be best kept tucked away in her closet, besides, were she asleep in bed and suddenly called to duty, her armor would be nearby, ready for her to don.

She stepped over to the window in her room, and glanced outside. The sun was almost to its zenith. Nodding to herself, she decided she’d gather her bits and take a trip into town, then she could check the shops of Canterlot, seeing as she needed a few things.

Jeanne, secured her money pouch at her side, and put on a chipper smile. She was still feeling very happy from meeting her first human. She sincerely hoped she could come up with some ideas for her sword, seeing as she was looking forward to seeing Galen again.

Taking a deep breath, she left her quarters, and set off into town, with a happy step in her trot as she wondered where she should stop first.

* * * *

Meanwhile, back in Ponyville, it was early afternoon. Galen had just finished taking a lunch break, and was getting back to work. He had greatly enjoyed meeting the guard pony, Jeannedarc, and was giving plenty of thought to how he wanted to fashion her sword. He also found himself thinking about her. She was indeed quite a unique mare. While she came off with the similar presence the Royal Guards seemed to prize, there was something softer and very enticing about her.

Shaking his head, he focused his thoughts. Her visit was most opportune, seeing as Galen didn’t have too many projects on his plate. Thus, he figured he’d get a head start on her sword. Before lunch, he placed a piece of steel into the forge, allowing it a chance to properly heat up.

Galen walked over to the forge and made use of the bellows, pumping in added air to stoke the fire. The metal had already begun to glow, but he knew it needed to be just a little hotter.

It didn’t take long before the metal started glowing, a bright orange, and was now malleable enough to shape. Taking his tongs, he gripped the metal and removed it from the hearth, transporting it over to the anvil. Carefully, Galen set it down, and secured his grip on it with the tongs. He reached for his hammer, and made sure his fuller was at the ready. Gripping the heavy tool in his left hand, he began pounding the piece of burning hot metal.

Unlike any project before, he was really looking forward to seeing how this one would turn out.

* * * *

Before he knew it, Galen found his workday and evening had come to an end. He had returned to his small, but roomy, house in Ponyville. In the beginning, things did take some getting used to, but every time Galen thought back to life on Earth, he was always grateful for the day that Princess Celestia had arrived and offered him a new life in her world.

The tired human had just finished washing up in the bathroom, and was now dressed down in his underwear. Turning back the covers, he flopped down onto his bed, casting out a weary sigh, enjoying the calm of his bedroom. He smiled, looking back at the progress he’d made on Jeanne’s sword. The blade was coming along nicely. He still had a good deal of work to do on it, but Galen was more than delighted by the results.

He chuckled to himself as he wondered what ideas Jeanne might come up with for her sword’s decoration. Galen also considered some finishing touches he might add to her sword upon its completion.

The human took a deep breath and let his head sink into his pillows. He closed his eyes as he rested in the darkness. For a moment, he let his mind wander, and found his thoughts remained on the guard pony. Though, they weren’t in regards to the sword she requested. No, they focused on their meeting, and then… Galen found himself thinking about touching her hoof – Jeanne’s soft, delicate and very feminine hoof.

He rolled onto his side and let out an almost dreamy sigh. In the little over three years he’d been living in Equestria, Galen had been in several short-lived relationships with some of the local mares. In the beginning, he never would have guessed he’d one day become attracted to a different species. It was most likely due to the fact that Equestrian ponies were sapient and had a very human-like presence to them. Perhaps it wasn’t so farfetched that in time he became so taken with them. Even if he wasn’t completely sure of all the reasons, Galen was happy. In many ways the mares were superior to human women. They were very kind and attentive, and didn’t seem to be repulsed by the fact that he was generally a nice guy and not a jerk.

Setting his debate aside, Galen realized his need for both intimacy and sexual release were most likely the two key reasons he ended up becoming so enamored with the ponies. That’s most likely why his thoughts began focusing on Jeanne. There was something about her, and while many mares in Equestria were intrigued with the presence of humans in their world, he could only wonder…would Jeanne be interested in a human?

Galen laughed to himself. He’d only just met Jeanne. There was no need to go getting ahead of himself, and it was never his desire to rush things. He just felt delightfully excited from having met such an intriguing mare. It wasn’t hard to see why he eagerly awaited the chance to see her again. Thankfully she would need to stop by the forge a few times, in regards to the sword she requested. Hopefully, if nothing else, Galen could engage her in a few conversations.

As he continued to think, Galen also began to wonder what Jeanne would look like without her armor on. While he could easily see her eyes and most of her mane, he didn’t get much of a look at her cutie mark. All he saw was something resembling half of a blue circle with something white and gray he couldn’t discern. It didn’t help that he had to mind his eyes as he sneaked glances at her.

His thoughts about her began to calm him, as his mind began to grow fuzzy. Galen’s eyes drifted shut, and giving his covers a good tug, he finally fell asleep.

* * * *

The barracks within Canterlot Castle were silent. The day to day activities of the guards had calmed. Most were either in bed or out on night patrol. There were a few stragglers silently meandering about the common areas, either suffering from mild forms of insomnia or just out for a late night snack.

Jeannedarc was within the welcomed isolation of her quarters, resting on her side, curled up on her bed. She hadn’t covered up yet, and was just letting herself wind down. Her trip to Canterlot was rather enjoyable, but nothing topped her visit to Clang’s forge in Ponyville. Meeting Galen and ordering her sword was the highlight of her day, hooves down.

Adjusting her head along her pillow, Jeanne gave some more thought to her sword’s style. She knew she would tell him that her favorite color was blue, and she was keen on the use of gold trim on the hilt. Given his talent, from what she saw in the other swords Galen had created, she was going to trust him to decide the rest. While one of the other swords might have worked, Jeanne really liked the idea of having one fashioned specially for her.

It was then that Jeanne held up her right hoof. She stared at it as she thought back to the test that Galen had her do. She closed her eyes and remembered the intriguing sensation of his fingers brushing gently across the end of her foreleg. His touch was so gentle, and left her feeling intrigued. There was also something strong and very masculine about Galen as well.

The pegasus lowered her hoof, and began to wonder what it might be like to be in a relationship with a human. Her own experience in relationships was quite limited, but she was quite aware that a number of mares, both in Ponyville and Canterlot, had been open to the idea of dating a human. Some in fact, were even in serious relationships with Galen’s kind.

It was also common knowledge to most ponies that both Princess Luna and Princess Celestia had human companions of their own as well. Jeanne often wondered if that didn’t have anything to do with the reason Celestia began bringing humans into Equestria in the first place.

Jeanne sighed as she continued to picture Galen in her mind. His short muddy brown hair and expressive green eyes. There was certainly an attractive quality in him, but there were quite a few questions swirling about her mind. She could only wonder what he’d think of her, plus would pursuing a relationship with a member of another species be such a good idea? Well, she knew other mares seemed to think so. Besides, nothing was in stone, surely it wouldn’t hurt to at least learn more about Galen, before she made any major decisions.

Perhaps the one fact that had Jeanne so excited about this whole matter was a mounting loneliness she’d been feeling. Despite being surrounded by fellow guards and having both her parents and friends living in Canterlot, the guard pony just felt like something was missing in her life. Maybe it was just her imagination or the results of her feeling fatigued from all of her recent training and patrols.

Sadly, the more she pondered, the farther away the answers seemed to roam from her. Though, she still held onto that delightful feeling, which almost seemed to settle around her heart. Jeanne smiled as she pulled up her covers and lightly fluffed her pillow. Resting her head back down, she let out a quiet yawn and closed her eyes. Before too long, she drifted off to sleep, still eager for her next trip to Ponyville.

Author's Note

Aside from this chapter, I have chapters 2, 3 and 4 already drafted. In case any of you are wondering, chapter 4 will feature the first of the mature content and the first clop scene. I'll be working on a few of my other stories as I see how this one does, but it won't be hard to edit the other chapters of this and then continue to outline new chapters for this story down the road as well. I hope you enjoy it!

Jaydex

Chapter 2 - "Forging More Than a Sword"

“Then There Was You”

Chapter 2:
“Forging More Than a Sword”

Written by
JaydexTheShadowKnight

The morning sun had already risen above the horizon, dawning a new day for Ponyville. It was another fairly humid spring morning, just as the one before. Mists hung low to the ground, along the fields and forests surrounding the town.

Anvil Clang’s forge, situated along the western most side of town, wasn’t far from the nearby groves of mist-covered trees. Galen had just arrived there, about an hour after awakening at his normal time, around 6AM. Like usual, the distant crow of the rooster from Sweet Apple Acres had stirred him from a dream-rich slumber, like most mornings and like clockwork, a good fifteen minutes before his alarm could blare in his ear.

This was, however, one of those mornings Galen would have enjoyed sleeping just a little longer. Still, he wasn’t too crestfallen, and once his mind made the connection that the new day had arrived, he happily had made his way to the forge. Galen was eager to resume work on shaping the blade of Jeannedarc’s sword, not to mention seeing her upon her arrival, hopefully with ideas for her weapon’s decorations.

There was a distinct nip in the air, which almost made Galen wish he had worn long sleeves. However, his indecision wasn’t to last. The warming flames and rippling heat of the forge kept him warm, along with the coverings of his gloves and heavy apron.

Galen adding some fresh coals to the kiln, mixing them with the older ones and the coke, which were already burning in the hearth, filling the air with their charred scent. He turned to the side and began working the bellows, increasing the heat within. Placing the beginnings of Jeanne’s sword into the forge, Galen released it from the tongs and stepped aside, giving the metal time to warm up.

He wiped fresh beads of sweat from his forehead, which dampened his hand, right before he noticed the sound of hoof falls on the grass. At first, he wondered if it might be her. Turning around abruptly, he saw that it wasn’t Jeannedarc. Instead, it was Anvil Clang’s grandson, Tempered Blade.

Galen looked to his fellow smith, giving him a nod. Rays of the morning sun gleamed off the younger stallion’s dark blue coat, while a brief breeze rustled through his short fiery orange mane. “Wow Galen, you’re here early this morning. It’s only quarter till seven.”

Galen smiled and shared an amused chuckle with Clang’s grandson. “Come on Blade, you know I take my work seriously.”

Tempered Blade snickered, he knew Galen was hiding something. “After more than two years, you can’t possibly think you can still pull the wool over my eyes?”

The human gave the stallion a perplexed look. “What do you mean?”

Blade looked over at the forge and spied the beginnings of a sword. Turning his gray eyes on Galen, he smirked. “Who’s the sword for?”

Galen’s face softened for a moment, before he shook his head. “It’s for one of Celestia’s Royal Guards.”

“I know, Gramps told me about her!” Blade grinned, stifling a snicker. “So how is the sword coming then?”

Galen felt relieved as Blade finally stopped teasing him. Checking on the hunk of metal, heating in the kiln, the human gave the stallion a focused look. “Well, so far it’s coming along great. Jeanne asked for a three-foot blade, and I already know how I want to model it. I just need her to stop by later and tell me what decorations she wants for the hilt and scabbard, and if she wants any special marks on the blade itself.”

Tempered Blade considered joking about the length of the blade, but didn’t want to tease Galen any further. The stallion knew where to draw the line. Smiling at his human friend, he accompanied him over to the forge. The intense heat rolled across at them, feeling rather nice on this cool and damp morning. Blade placed a hoof to his chin and looked at the metal as it began to glow. “Well, I hope she does come up with some good ideas for you. This already looks like another of your masterpieces.”

Galen gave a nod as he worked the bellows. “I sure hope so. I want this to be something really special.” The fire began to grow as the added air did its job.

“Well, if I know you, it will be. I’m sure “Jeanne” will love it.” Tempered Blade couldn’t resist teasing Galen just one more time.

“Tease me if you will, but there’s something I really like about her.” Galen walked back over to the hot piece of steel. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have work to do.” Taking the tongs, Galen picked up the partially formed billet and moved it over to the anvil.

Blade chuckled at him one more time. “All right. I’ll leave you to your task. Later!” He stepped away, leaving the blacksmith to his element.

Hoisting his heavy sledgehammer, Galen firmed his grip on it, then began clanging it against the hot steel, causing it to slowly take shape more and more. Periodically, he’d set the hammer down, and make use of his fuller to shape the ridges along the center of the blade as the billet began forming a more uniformed sword shape, all while he kept a firm grip on it with the tongs.

Before he knew it, Galen had become totally absorbed in his work, powered by thoughts of Jeanne and following his inspiration with each percussive strike of his hammer. More and more the blade continued taking shape, forming the proper length and consistency he wanted.

The blacksmith was so focused on his task that he didn’t notice the sound of approaching hoof steps. Then he heard a voice call out, “Hello, Galen?”

He ceased his hammering for a moment, having recognized her voice. “Jeanne, is that you?” He called back.

“Yes, it’s me.” Her voice had a rather shy overlay, stronger than it had the day before.

Galen gave the blade a few more whacks from his hammer, before finally stopping. He raised the heavy tool from the anvil and turned around to greet his guest. He fell into a stunned silence as his green eyes beheld Jeanne standing there without her armor. This time, Galen couldn’t keep his mouth from lightly falling open as he gazed at her in speechless awe. Jeanne was more enchanting that he ever dreamed. Unlike yesterday, he could clearly see her entire white coat, with her feathery wings tucked neatly at her sides. Gazing beyond her aerial limbs, he could at last see her cutie mark – a blue shield featuring a gray sword with white wings on either side of the blade. His eyes were quickly drawn back to her deeply expressive and sparkling blue eyes. The lovely and fairly lengthy blonde tresses of her mane framed her face and draped softly along her neck, giving her a seemingly endless beauty, only augmented by her flawlessly matching tail. The gentle smile on her face caused his grip to weaken on the hammer as it fell from his grasp, clanging with a metallic thud beside the anvil.

A blush fell along Galen’s cheeks, as he went to recover his fallen tool. “Oops, don’t worry about that. I sometimes lose my grip on this.” His sheepish words brought a smile to Jeanne, she could clearly see he was indeed charmed by her appearance, but she wondered if he would find her personality equally engaging.

Jeanne joined him in blushing as she walked over to him, fueled by a desire to make sure he hadn’t hurt himself. “Are you okay?”

He snickered nervously, while he picked up his hammer and placed it back on the anvil. “Yeah, I’m fine. You’ll have to forgive me, I wasn’t expecting you to be out of your armor…and well…” Galen’s words dropped off, leaving her to look at him full of wonder.

Jeanne cautiously stepped just a little closer, still maintaining her distance. “Well…what?”

Galen couldn’t figure out why he was blushing. Even when he had been with mares he liked in the past, he never experienced this kind of feeling. Steeling himself, he glanced over at her and managed a smile. “Well…even in your armor you looked very lovely, but…I never dreamed you’d look this beautiful without it.” He wasn’t usually so forward with his comments, well, not at first anyway. This time, however, it felt different, something compelled him to speak his mind to her.

The pegasus felt more than a little flattered by his thoughtful words. Again her cheeks blushed, while she turned her head to the side. Jeanne blinked and turned her intrigued eyes back to him. “That’s very sweet of you. I guess I should explain. I was here while doing a patrol yesterday that’s why I was in my armor. Right now, I’m off duty, and will be for several days.”

He didn’t miss the strong blush on her cheeks and hoped he hadn’t embarrassed her. “I understand. I hope I wasn’t being too bold, just now.”

While Jeanne felt a bit nervous, she smiled at him politely. “It’s okay. I’m just not used to getting such kind compliments.”

The human returned her smile. “I find that hard to believe. Anyway, have you come up with any ideas for your sword?” He glanced over at the hot metal, which continued to glow.

“I have.” She looked over at the anvil and noticed what looked like a crudely formed sword. “Is that my sword?”

Galen nodded. “Yes, I’m still shaping the blade, but as you can see, it’s coming along nicely.”

Jeanne looked at it and studied the piece carefully. “I can hardly wait to see it when its finished. I’m sure it will be amazing.”

He chuckled as he picked the blade up with the tongs, handling the somewhat heavy piece of hot metal carefully. “I think you’ll be pleased. Here, let me cool this off, so we can discuss the decorations. I’ve still got quite a bit of work to do on this before it’ll be completed.” Galen then immersed the hot metal into the slack tub. The metal hissed as it hit the water, generating some steam from the volume of heat still radiating from it. He walked over to his workbench and removed his gloves, setting them on top of it. Galen reached in a small bin on top of the table and removed the sheet containing details of Jeanne’s order, and grabbed his pen. “Okay then, what were you thinking?”

She smiled at him, taking a moment to gather her thoughts. “Well, I was thinking gold for the hilt, and I’m not sure what all you can use to accent it. After giving it some thought, I don’t really have a favorite gemstone, but blue is my favorite color.”

Galen made a few new notes, jotting down what she had just shared with him. “Okay, gold for the hilt, and I can use that to match with the scabbard, if you like. Oh, and blue, huh? Well, I could decorate the hilt with sapphires, if you want?”

Jeanne closed her eyes and kept smiling. “Yes, gold would also work with the sheath, and I didn’t even think about sapphires.” She couldn’t help giggling a little, her voice building with excitement.

Her dulcet laughter brought a new smile to Galen’s face. He all but sighed contently, making some additional notes to her sheet. “Okay, sapphires it is…oh but do you have any other preferences on the appearance? Any special engravings on the blade at all?”

She shook her head and glanced over at his other swords, resting on the racking along the far wall. “No, I trust you’ll know what to do with the rest. All of your other swords turned out beautifully. I just wanted this to…well, you know, be crafted more for me.”

Galen gave her a happy nod, making a few final notes. Turning his gaze back to her, he smiled yet again. “I understand perfectly. Don’t worry, I think I know just what to add to this.”

“Wonderful.” It was at that point that Jeanne began to feel a little saddened. She had already come and said her piece, and there didn’t seem to be a way she could draw him into a longer conversation. She didn’t want to hold him up, but she didn’t just want to leave without trying to learn a little more about him. Jeanne wanted to say something, but her shy side wouldn’t let her.

He turned and sighed quietly to himself. Galen enjoyed chatting with her, but it seemed with the purpose of her visit concluded, there was little reason for her to talk with him any further, thus no chance to learn more about this enchanting guard pony.

Having no idea what else to do, Galen figured he might as well get back to work. “Well, if that’s everything…I suppose I’ll get back to it then.”

There it was, an opening to say something, but Jeanne was having trouble mustering her courage. Then her eyes widened – there was an almost melancholy tone to Galen’s once chipper voice. If she didn’t know any better, she’d swear it sounded like he didn’t want her to leave. Shyness aside, she saw a chance, but wasn’t sure what to say.

A renewed smile formed on Jeanne’s face. “Actually, if you wouldn’t mind…um, could I watch you work for a little while? I’ve always wanted to see a sword as it’s being made.”

Galen felt a joyous warmth pour out from his heart, almost like that feeling of having butterflies in his stomach. He was thrilled by her suggestion. Now, she could stay and perhaps they could share some light chatter as he worked; though the sounds of his hammer on the metal might make conversing a little challenging. At that instant, it didn’t matter. He just wanted to enjoy having her around a bit longer.

Jeanne looked up at him with some apprehension. Then, her smile returned as she saw the look in his eyes. Galen smiled at her. “Of course you may stay and watch. Just please, keep your distance. Though, I doubt I need to tell a guard to be careful.” He chuckled, feeling a little nervous, thinking – smooth line Galen.

“It’s okay, and thank you.” The joy in her voice almost seemed to match his. Galen could hardly believe it, Jeanne seemed excited to stay, but was this any cause to think she might feel anything for him? Deciding not to worry, he just picked up his tongs and figured he’d enjoy her company as long as she was there.

After removing her blade from the slack tub, he placed it back into the forge, so it could warm up again. Sword making wasn’t devoid of its challenges. The metal had to be handled carefully and cooled periodically to help prevent structural weaknesses from occurring. There was still a long way for Galen to go, and he’d have to warm and cool the metal quite a bit before the sword’s blade would be ready for the finishing processes of quenching and tempering.

Now that the metal was heating in the forge, Galen returned to Jeanne. “I’ll need to give the steel some time to heat back up. I’ll also need to periodically work the bellows as well, keeping the fire good and hot.” He chuckled, feeling mildly giddy.

Jeanne giggled at his enthusiasm, noticing how he seemed to really enjoy his work. “I just hope I won’t be in the way.” She voiced her concern quite well, but Galen knew she had little to worry about.

“You’re fine. We can chat if you like, while I wait on that metal to get to temperature.”

“Okay.” Jeanne loved the idea of chatting with him, but wondered what to talk about first.

Galen pondered the same question. He smiled again, turning to look at the lovely white mare. “So, in addition to being a sword enthusiast, you’re also fascinated by the process of making a sword?”

Jeanne smiled at him. This was a good start and helped her know where to begin their conversation. “Yes, I’ve always admired swords. Ever since I was a filly and my parents took me to the Summer Sun Celebration. The knights of Canterlot would joust but they would also show off their sword skills and spar with their fancy blades. My father also took me by the blacksmith’s stall, where they’d have all manners of swords for sale or on display. He always showed me the most impressive ones, and I always admired the beauty and elegance swords seem to possess.”

He nodded at her informative explanation. “Well, I can see why you enjoyed them. This must be a real treat for you.” Galen concluded, looking back to the kiln.

“You have no idea.” Though swords were hardly the only thing on Jeanne’s mind. Still it gave her something to talk about with him. Then she thought of a question for him. “Galen…I was wondering.”

“And what’s that, Jeanne?”

“What made you decide to become a blacksmith? I mean, were you one back on your world?” She looked at him, her eyes full of wonder.

He stood close to her, and Galen found himself resisting the urge to place his arm on her shoulder. “Well,” he began, “It’s sort of a long story.”

Filled with intrigue, she looked at him with awe. “I’d love to hear it.”

He chuckled softly at her eagerness. “All right then. First off, I wasn’t a blacksmith back on Earth, the world I’m from. It all started about six months after I started living here in Ponyville.” Galen began telling his tale, while pumping more air into the forge, augmenting the flames.

Jeanne stood at a safe distance and clung to his every word, with the awe of a filly.

* * * *

The rest of the morning went by swiftly. Galen finished his tale, and Jeanne learned how he met Clang and expressed his fondness to the stallion for sword forging. She also learned that to Galen’s delight, Clang offer to give him a chance at becoming a blacksmith, making the human his apprentice.

Jeanne enjoyed watching Galen work his craft as he beat the heavy hammer on the hot metal, continuing to shape her sword. She found the whole process incredible and marveled at the assortment of tools he used and had on his workbench, not to mention those on the shelves around the entirety of the forge.

She couldn’t help but stare in awe, while Galen worked himself into a good sweat. Little by little she was starting to see why other mares found human males so fascinating. There was something about watching him work with such passion that made him very attractive to her. The feeling it stirred within her was both alarming and yet at the same time, delightfully addictive. For whatever reason, she couldn’t get enough of it, and kept smiling as the result.

As noon arrived Galen didn’t even notice that Jeanne had disappeared. He finally looked up and saw she was gone. It left him feeling a little down. While he had gotten caught up in his work, he enjoyed having her around to gaze at and feel renewed inspirational vigor as he worked. Though, he figured she must have needed to leave. It would have made him happy to at least say goodbye to her.

About the time he decided he’d stop for lunch, Galen looked up and saw Jeanne walking toward him. “You’re back!” He tried to keep from gasping his response, but wasn’t sure how well he did.

A muffled giggle met his ears. Jeanne walked over to him, carrying a white paper bag in her mouth. He couldn’t help but think how adorable she looked holding it. She reached up and set the bag on his workbench and gave him a cheerful smile. “Sorry about leaving like that. You were busy, and well, I didn’t want to disturb you. Anyway, I was hungry and thought I’d go pick up something for lunch.”

He smiled at her. “So that’s what happened. I was hoping you wouldn’t leave without at least saying goodbye.” Galen felt a little silly, but his concern was valid.

Jeanne gave him a slightly bashful look, before she replied. “Of course I’d say goodbye. I can’t forget my manners. Now, are you hungry, Galen? I brought something for you, if you like.” She couldn’t quite put her hoof on it. Normally, Jeanne was rather uptight and nervous around strangers or individuals she had just recently met. Yet, things were different with Galen. Even though she still felt shy and rather bashful towards him, Jeanne noticed she was also able to feel a little relaxed and at ease around him.

Galen was touched, not only had she enjoyed observing him at work, she allayed his fears and was kind enough to bring him something to eat. He chuckled at her thoughtfulness. “So, what did you bring?”

Jeanne giggled briefly, eyeing up the bag. “Well, I wasn’t sure what I was hungry for. So, I thought something simple would work, and ended up at Sugar Cube Corner.”

He joined her in looking at the bag. “Oh, they have some of the best pastries around!”

Her smile grew. “I’m glad to hear you say that. I picked up some of their big muffins. Originally, I was just going to get some for me, but then I thought, maybe you’d like some too.”

“That was very thoughtful of you.” Galen felt very touched as he walked over to her and continued smiling.

Jeanne kept sharing his smile, while she slowly unrolled the bag. “Now, I wasn’t sure what you’d like so I bought some apple crumb muffins, a few chocolate chip, and an experimental flavor, Mrs. Cake said she got from your world, called Double Dutch Chocolate. If I understood her correctly, it’s basically a chocolate muffin loaded with chocolate chips.”

Galen nodded. “I’m actually familiar with that flavor. Back on Earth, the bakery at the local supermarket made muffins like that.”

Jeanne reached into the bag and removed one of the aforementioned muffins. “You mean like these?” She held it up for him to get a good look at.

Galen removed his gloves and set them on the workbench. Placing a hand on his chin, he studied the pastry carefully and gave a nod. “Yep, wow. They look almost the same. Huh, Mrs. Cake even added a sweet crust of sugar at the top.” He closed his eyes briefly and smiled very contently.

Jeanne shared another of his smiles and chuckled softly. “Well then, why don’t you have one?”

“I will, but let me wash up quick.” Galen removed his apron, setting it with his gloves. He then proceeded to walk over to a nearby sink. The water started to flow with a simple twist of the hot and cold faucets. A damp and metallic scent reached his nose, while Galen gave the water a chance to warm up. Once it was the right temperature, he dampened his hands and applied some soap. It’s subtle orange fragrance filled his nostrils as he worked it into a good lather.

Jeanne was just gazing as he cleaned up. She smiled to herself, watching the water fall from his fingers and focused as he scrubbed his hands. The more Jeanne watched him tend to his hands, the more her mind began to wonder. It was still very fascinating that she knew someone with hands, especially a human. Her eyes fell shut for a little as she recalled Galen gently touching her hoof, just before administering the test of her foreleg strength.

The pegasus sighed dreamily, recalling how soothing his fingers felt against her velvety fur. A series of shivers jolted up her back, as she looked over at him, unaware that she was staring at him. The whole experience yesterday had taken her by surprise. Jeanne shook her head as something came to mind – was Galen typically a gentle individual, day by day? Then, another thought came to mind. If he were like anyone else, he’d most likely have treated a mare guard like a tomcolt while she was wearing her armor, and yet, he didn’t. Galen treated her like a lady.

As he continued washing his hands, he looked her way and smiled. Jeanne felt her heart race for a moment – he gave her quite a charming expression. She felt momentarily flush as warmth tried to pool along her cheeks, making her smile back.

Galen turned off the water and properly dried his hands with a towel, carefully hung beside the sink. Returning to Jeanne and his workbench, he kept smiling. She looked at him and reached for the muffin. “So, ready to eat?”

He briefly placed a hand to his chin. “Yeah, but…” The blacksmith looked around the forge. “This place is dirty and rather cramped. Would you like to walk outside the forge? There are some nice shade trees over there.” He pointed to a few nearby maple trees, only a matter of feet from where they were standing.

She loved the idea. The fresh air would be nice, and so would getting away from the confined area. In some ways it almost reminded Jeanne of the barracks in Canterlot. She gave him a cheery look. “I’d like that.” Placing the muffin back in the bag with the others, she rolled it back up and clutched it in her mouth again.

Galen on the other hand, reached under his workbench and pulled out his cooler. Opening it, he retrieved two bottles of chilled water from within. Jeanne gave him a happy glance from her eyes, and proceeded to follow him. Galen led her outside the area of Clang’s Forge and just beyond to the nearby trees.

He stopped under the welcoming and cool leafy branches of a tall maple tree. There, Galen sat down, quickly joined by Jeanne. She parked her flank onto the soft blades of the green grass, which covered the area below the roots of the large timber.

“How’s this?” Galen asked her, taking in a refreshing breath of the warm midday air.

Jeanne smiled brightly at him, giving him a nod as she set the bag of muffins beside them. “This is perfect.” Slowly, she unrolled the bag and removed one of the Double Dutch Chocolate pastries. “Here you are.”

Galen deftly took the muffin from her delicate hoof, sharing in her kind smile. “Thank you, Jeanne. Oh, here, I brought us each a bottle of water, from my cooler.” He handed her the bottle.

She blushed slightly, touched by his thoughtfulness. “You’re welcome, Galen, and thank you. I completely forgot about getting something to drink.”

“It’s okay.”

“Oh.” She stuck her hoof back into the bag, and briefly rummaged around. “I did remember napkins.” She gave him a proud look, offering him a few.

“Thanks.” Galen placed the napkins under the muffin and started to slowly tug at the thin paper covering it. The pastries were very fresh, and the rich chocolatey scent made its way up his nose, making his mouth water. “These smell great!” He grinned as he pulled away the wrapper.

Meanwhile, Jeanne was attempting to remove the plastic cap on her water bottle. Normally, such a task was child’s play for her, but this bottle seemed particularly stubborn. Each time she went to pop it off with her hoof, she slipped before it would give way. “Darn, I can’t seem to get this cap to cooperate.”

Galen set his muffin down, and tried not to laugh at her. There was something really cute about watching her struggle with that defiant bottle cap. “Here.” Galen reached over for the bottle. “Let me get that.” His fingers lightly brushed against her hoof as he took the water from her. Taking his free hand, he twisted the cap, causing it to make an audible snap as the seal around the lid broke. “Ha! Not so defiant now, are you!” Galen grinned as he lectured the bottle. “Here you are.” He handed the bottle back to his charming lunch guest.

“Oh…thank you.” Jeanne’s words were soft and rather demure. He smiled at her again, unable to miss the rosy glow on her cheeks. Part of her wanted to hide, but she was just enjoying his company too much to give into her flight instincts. She also felt reason to stay calm, as her shyness seemed appealing to him. She returned his smile, and then finished removing the cap, taking a refreshing drink of the cool water.

Galen picked up his muffin, removed the rest of the paper and proceeded to take a small bite. To his delight, this pastry was delightfully moist for such a chocolatey treat, unlike the ones he knew from back on Earth, which were dry at times. Jeanne couldn’t help but watch him as he sampled the first bite. He glanced her way. “You know what I used to do with these back on my world?”

Her eyes seemed to sparkle as she shook her head. “No, what did you do?”

“Well, since these were so big, you couldn’t just eat them like a normal muffin. So, I’d do this…” Galen placed his fingers below the cap of the muffin and gradually tore it in half. “This way, it’s a lot easier to eat. I’d eat the bottom part and the save the sugar coated top for last.” He grinned in an almost playful fashion, taking another bite from the bottom portion of his lunch.

Jeanne set her water down, and removed one of the Double Dutch Chocolate muffins. She peeled the paper off, and then did just as Galen had, dividing it in two. He looked up just as her mouth surrounded the edge of her muffin’s bottom half, taking a small bite. She chewed it gingerly, and savored the moistness and rich flavor as it danced across her taste buds. Galen kept smiling as he took another bite of his muffin, then washed it down with some of the cool water.

After finishing half of her muffin, Jeanne moved just a little closer to Galen. A partial fringe of her blonde mane fell near her eyes as she gave him a happy look. “This was a great idea…like a picnic.”

He nodded. “Yeah, I just hope you don’t mind I didn’t have a blanket or large towel we could sit on.”

She shook her head. “No, it’s fine. The grass is more than okay. Besides…” Jeanne had to pause a moment, while she composed herself. “I’m grateful for the company.”

“Aww, I’m happy for the company, too.” She turned her head away, trying to conceal her once again reddening cheeks, while Galen finished the last of his muffin.

Jeanne held up the bag, clutched securely in her hooves. “Did you want another?”

“Yeah. Didn’t you say you had apple crumb?”

She nodded happily. “Uh-huh.”

The two went on to enjoy a few more muffins, finding them to be more than filling, and shared some light chatter about their meal and then about her sword, both of them enjoying every second. By the end, the two had each eaten two muffins and drained their water bottles dry, save only for a few straggling droplets.

Galen stretched out his legs and then lifted his arms over his head, letting out a mild yawn. “Ahhhh… Mmm, that was tasty. Thanks again, for thinking of me.”

Jeanne signed contently. “You’re quite welcome.” She giggled softly, delighted by the joy in his voice.

Galen rested against the trunk of the mighty maple tree, glancing up at the rays of sunlight poking through its leafy canopy. He closed his eyes and let out a calming breath, enjoying the peacefulness of the moment. Jeanne looked over at him, then studied the surrounding area. Just ahead lay the sprawling grasslands and forests surrounding the town, and off to the right, Ponyville itself stretched out standing proudly like always. The pegasus started to lose herself in the calm surrender of the early afternoon. A powerful joy thrived within her, and forgetting herself, Jeanne slid over and leaned up against Galen, casting out a happy sigh.

Galen had almost nodded off, when he noticed, much to his surprise, the weight of what he could only guess was from her resting against him. Opening his eyes, he confirmed that it was her. “Jeanne…” He whispered softly to her.

Her eyes had fallen shut for a moment. Then, she heard his voice. “Huh?” Turning a bit, she realized what she was doing. She quickly pulled back, her cheeks turning bright red. “Galen…I’m so sorry. I got caught up in the moment. I…”

He could tell she was feeling pretty embarrassed, and Galen certainly didn’t want that. Slowly, he moved closer to her, offering her a kind expression. Galen reached out and gently brushed the fringe out of her eyes, rejoining it to her bangs. “It’s all right, Jeanne. No need to apologize…I didn’t mind.” The human quickly looked at his hand and pulled it back, now that he was the one forgetting himself. He grinned nervously, before suggesting, “Uh, maybe we should head back. I still have quite a bit to do.”

Jeanne felt her tension ease, the nervous presence in his words told her that he was more than okay with what she did, and was feeling a little uneasy as well. Though, as she quickly thought back to what she’d just done, Jeanne couldn’t help but smile. Giving him a nod, she rose to her hooves. “Okay. We have been out here for a little while.” She rolled up the muffin bag and clutched the remaining muffins in her mouth. Galen secured the two empty bottles and their used napkins. Then, the two made their way back to the forge.

* * * *

The two stopped by his workbench, now that they had returned. Jeanne set the muffins on the flat surface near the edge. Galen smiled at her, while he re-donned his apron, securing it in the back.

“Galen.” Jeanne looked at him with thoughtful eyes.

“Yes?” He looked at her, continuing to smile.

“Would it be okay if I stay a while longer, or would I get in the way?” She blinked her eyes, giving him a hopeful look.

As Galen looked into her eyes, he knew there was no way he could simply turn her away, besides, he was still enjoying her company.

He gave her an affirmative nod. “Of course you may stay. Oh, and don’t worry, you won’t be in the way.”

She smiled, letting out a relieved sigh. “Thank you. Oh, and I’m sorry again for getting carried away.” The uneasiness in Jeanne’s words were hard for him to miss.

Galen walked closer to her. He gave her the sincerest smile he could muster, and placed his hand gently on her shoulder. “Like I said, it’s more than okay. I didn’t mind at all. In fact if we’d had a little more time, I’d have enjoyed sitting like that with you. It was rather relaxing.”

Jeanne tried to keep her mouth from dropping open, and felt her cheeks starting to blush. Galen had no problem with what she did, but more to her delight, he claimed to have enjoyed it, and his hand was resting delicately on her shoulder. She looked at him with nearly shimmering eyes as her cheeks remained red, making her smile at him.

Galen chuckled softly, patting her shoulder, prior to removing his hand. “Stay as long as you like. Now, let’s see if your sword has heated up properly.” He placed his gloves back on, and walked over to the forge carrying his tongs.

Jeanne stood there, filled with awe. It made her feel very happy that she hadn’t done anything to upset him, rather, he liked it, and she knew she did as well. Realizing she was standing there, half in a daze, she quickly trotted over after him, maintaining a safe distance as not to get in his way.

Jeanne peaked over at the forge and spied the glowing billet of steel. Galen worked the bellows with his foot. “Looks we need to get this just a little hotter.” He gave her a brief wink, adding more air to the fire. “Your sword had just finished cooling off and before you came back, I had put it back into the kiln to warm up over lunch.”

She nodded. His explanation made perfect sense. “I see, this way it would be all but ready, when you got back.”

“Exactly.” The metal started glowing a little brighter, a strong orange hue coating the majority of the blade. Grasping it in the tongs, he removed it from the forge. “Yes, this should do it.” Galen took the long bar of steel over to his anvil, and set it down deftly. Jeanne followed him, still maintaining her distance.

Her eyes lit up as he secured the tongs and reclaimed his sledgehammer. She watched the fingers of his left hand wrap around the handle as he raised the tool and began striking it against the hot metal. The loud metallic bang of each percussive blow met her ears, while she watched on marveling. As he continued using the hammer and fuller, she could really see her sword coming along.

He looked up briefly, and caught a glimpse of her smiling at him. Galen shared her expression, and then resumed his work.

Jeanne remained there watching him with almost endless fascination. She wasn’t sure why, but she felt there was something special about Galen, and she wanted to keep getting to know him better. Hopefully then, she would find out why she found herself so captivated by him.

Author's Note

I hope none of you are thinking that Jeanne isn't worthy of being a guard. She's simply acting bashful around Galen as that's part of who she is and like all of us, she is nervous when she's trying to make a good impression on someone she likes. When duty calls, she'll more than be up to the challenge. Personally, I love that she has a shy side, but can still be strong when she dons her armor and looks out for those in need (as you will see in future chapters).

Oh, and in case any of you are wondering, I made use of some Wiki entries in researching "sword making" back when I started working on this story a few months ago. In addition to those articles, I also used what I've seen on TV shows, movies and documentaries on the History Channel and the Learning Channel.

Here are the "sword making" links I used:
1) Sword Making
2) Forge
3) Sword

I'm certainly not an expert and am not claiming to be 100% right on how this is done, but I did some research and pulled what I knew from memory of various documentaries so I could attempt to bring you a fairly decent representation of what it's like at a blacksmith's forge and what goes into making a sword.

Chapter 3 - "A Memorable First Date"

“Then There Was You”

Chapter 3:
“A Memorable First Date”

Written by
JaydexTheShadowKnight

Following Friday, the second day of their meeting, the weekend went by and as the new week started, Jeanne began making the flight from Canterlot to Ponyville each day. At first Galen thought she was stopping by with new ideas for her sword, but she claimed to have come to simply check on his progress, and would then ask to watch him as he worked. Though unlike their second meeting, Galen was a bit busier, so their chats were quite limited. Another thing that didn’t help matters was that Anvil Clang and his grandson were also there, working on other projects. The resulting noise played another factor in preventing them form carrying on a proper conversation.

Thankfully, during Galen’s lunch break they could head out to the maple tree and enjoy a decent talk as they shared the midday meal together. Sadly, the time during his lunches always seemed to go by so quickly, not that Jeanne didn’t enjoy sharing it with him while it lasted.

As each day passed, Jeanne seemed to show up, almost like clockwork. Galen began to realize that she must have felt something for him. Sadly, there just really wasn’t a way for them to have long enough discussions for him to broach such a wonder. Nevertheless, with each passing day, he was just becoming happier and happier to know that she would be there, and they always had fun sharing lunch together. Knowing that her actions the first time they shared lunch weren’t an issue – Jeanne would lean beside him as they’d enjoy a few moments of silence together, under the cooling shadow of their favorite tree. They’d chat a little but it was never beyond her sword of minor details about each other. One thing Galen certainly enjoyed was hearing about her duties as a royal guard.

* * * * *

Thursday arrived, and the week had started coming to an end. It was late morning, a little after eleven. Galen was putting the final touches on Jeanne’s sword. After a good seven days of work, including time over the weekend, the blacksmith had all but completed the weapon. The blade held up beautifully, following the quenching and tempering processes. Quenching hardened the metal so it could hold an edge longer, while tempering helped to restore a good deal of the sword’s durability, as quenching can make the metal warp or become brittle, especially if great care wasn’t applied. Thankfully, Galen’s skills had come a long way, so there were no real issues.

He studied his work meticulously. Giving a nod, he saw that the sapphires he added on both sides of the cross-guard looked perfect, and the emerald he mounted to the pommel seemed to complement the other jewels nicely. Galen was grateful that he learned a great deal form the local artisans of Ponyville, as well as crafting techniques he learned from Clang and Blade. It really helped him in learning to decorate his creations, be they weapon, jewelry or even day-to-day items. Though weapons and armor seemed to be his true forte.

Galen was also thankful for his dealings with Rarity. Following the arrival of the first human on Equestria, Princess Luna’s partner, Rarity found she really enjoyed making clothing for humans. Naturally, Galen turned to her for clothing as well, seeing as he hadn’t brought that much with him when he first came to the pony world.

Over the visits he made to her boutique, Galen learned that Rarity often set out and used her magic to find gems. After becoming an apprentice blacksmith, Galen made an arrangement to help Rarity gather gems, whenever Spike was busy. In exchange for his labors, Rarity would offer Galen some of the gems for use in his projects and a discount on future clothing purchases. The two of them had a good working business relationship, but they also enjoyed hanging out from time to time at one of the local coffee shops, just to find out how things were going for each other. That was about as far as things went with them.

Checking the hilt, again, Galen was still pleased with the decorations. He looked to the sheath and felt equally satisfied with the matching sapphires he added to it. Turning back to the hilt, he noticed that the leather grip added to the overall appearance of the weapon. In addition, the engravings of her name and his first initial added a beautiful touch to the silvery sheen of the finished blade. Now, all that needed done was for Galen to sharpen the sword.

He took the weapon over to the sharpening station and began running the blade along the moving wheel of the stone.

Nearly an hour had passed after Galen finished using the sharpening stone. He had properly honed the edge of the weapon, completing the final step. He smiled as his labor was now, at last, complete.

All that needed done now was to polish the sword’s blade, and give it an even nicer shine. Galen checked his tools and grabbed some sword polish and a clean rag.

After carefully applying the polish, Galen looked up and noticed Clang approaching, no doubt checking on his progress.

The elder stallion stood by his human apprentice. “Hello, Galen, my boy. How are things going?”

Galen greeted his mentor with a warm smile, placing Jeannedarc’s sword back into its sheath, and then setting it on his workbench. “It’s going very good, Clang. I have finished Jeanne’s sword.” He announced in a proud voice.

Clang eyed up the sword, examining the work on the scabbard and admiring how the chape (the part that protected the blade’s point) was adorned with sapphires on each side of its point. The stallion placed a hoof along the blackened leather grip. “Do you mind?”

Galen shook his head. “No, go right ahead, just be careful with the blade, it’s very sharp.”

Clang gripped the sword and began sliding it out of its scabbard. The blade made a soft scraping sound as he drew it out from the locket of its sheath. Clang studied it carefully and noticed the care Galen had put into its creation. “You did a fine job on this, my boy. One of your finest swords yet.” He slid the sword back into its scabbard. “Jeanne will be very pleased with this, I’m quite sure.”

Galen grasped the sheathed weapon in his hands as he hoisted the sword from his workbench. “I’m confident she’ll like it. I put my heart into it.”

“It shows, it really does. Giving you little to fear.” Clang chuckled to himself. “You really are quite taken with Jeanne, aren’t you?”

Galen promptly set the sword on the table, and gave him a thoughtful look. “I guess there’s no fooling you, huh?”

The elder stallion laughed again, this time more heartily. “Oh, there’s no denying it, my boy. Blade and I both could see it. The way you worked so tirelessly, and the way you both behaved all week.”

Galen smiled, placing a hand on her sword, his thoughts shifting to her once again. “Yeah…she is really special. I enjoyed eating lunch with her each day. I only wish…” The human paused, and sighed.

“What is it, Galen?”

Turning to Clang, he gave him a strong glance with his expressive green eyes. “I only wish we could spend more time together. I’d really like to get to know her better, but I can’t do that here at the forge.”

Clang placed a supportive hoof on his pupil’s lower shoulder. “Then why not simply ask her out on a date?”

Galen’s eyes widened, it was a heck of an idea, simple, but brilliant. He smiled at his mentor. “Clang, that’s a great idea, oh, but would she really be up for it. I mean she seems interested.”

Clang shook his head. “Why the sudden backpedaling? I know she must feel something for you. Why else would she bring you lunch, and have made the journey here from Canterlot each day?”

“You’re right of course.” Galen placed a hand to his chin. “I’m just a little jittery, I guess. Though, I’m sure I’ll find a way to ask her. Now, if you’ll pardon me, Clang, I need to prepare her sword belt.”

“Of course. I trust she’ll be by for her sword sometime today?”

“She will. I told her to stop by this afternoon, that way I’d have time to finish the last details.” Galen patted her sword very cheerfully.

“I’ll keep an eye out for her.” With his piece said, Clang took his leave of Galen.

The human continued to smile, wondering how he should go about asking her out. One thing was certain; he couldn’t wait to see Jeanne again.

* * * * *

The sun had just passed its zenith, now that it was a little after one. Jeanne stood beside a nearby window along one of the many corridors of Canterlot Castle. She wasn’t alone. Merry Way, one of the castle maids and a friend of hers, was standing beside her. The white earth pony mare was wearing her typical maid’s ensemble, which consisted of a black dress with white lace, a big white bow along the back of her waist, matching white stockings, and a traditional maid’s black and white lace headband. The two ponies were gazing out the window and enjoying the view as they chatted.

“Can you believe it? Galen said my sword will be ready today!” Jeanne was beside herself with excitement. It was ever present in her voice and her words. She was thrilled to have another excuse to go see Galen. Since their first meeting about a week ago, she was really looking forward to visiting him again, and that was considering Jeanne had just been to the forge yesterday.

Merry Way giggled at her enthusiastic friend. “I sure can, but I don’t think you’re nearly as excited about the sword as you are at the chance of seeing Galen, are you?”

Jeanne saw the look in Merry Way’s sapphire eyes. She blushed a little as she nodded to her friend. “Yeah, I admit it. While I am excited about the sword, I really just want to see Galen, again. It’s hard to explain.”

The cheerful maid patted her hoof on her friend’s shoulder. “I think I understand. Galen has come to mean a lot to you, in a short time.”

Jeanne nodded, continuing to gaze out the window and in the general direction of Ponyville. “He has, Merry. In some ways it doesn’t make any sense. He’s not even a pony, but whenever I see him or when we share lunch, I feel incredibly happy.” For a moment she forgot herself and let out a dreamy sigh.

Merry Way continued to smile warmly. “You aren’t alone, Jeanne. There are a number of mares in Equestria that have been falling for these humans, since they started arriving…um…how long has it been…three years?”

Jeanne nodded. “Yeah, it’s been at least that long.”

The maid giggled again. “You know the princesses each have a human partner, don’t you?”

Jeanne turned her head to Merry Way, glancing at her wide-eyed. “Really?” Her friend nodded. “I heard a number of ponies talking about it, even amongst the guards, but I was starting to wonder if it was just a rumor. So you’re saying I heard them right?”

“Yep. It is true. In fact I met Princess Luna’s human partner, David. It must have been almost five years ago, since he arrived. Naturally, when I first met him, I was very shy. I’d never seen a human before, so I didn’t know how to act around him.”

Jeanne sighed again, leaning on the windowsill. Her thoughts remained on Galen. She couldn’t get him off her mind, nor could she stop thinking about the ways he gently touched her. While they were all perfectly innocent gestures, like: placing a hand on her shoulder, patting her back, or sweeping a lock of hair from her eyes, she couldn’t help but wonder how his fingers would feel grazing her in more intimate areas. She turned to her friend. “Merry?”

She smiled at the guard mare. “Yes, Jeanne?”

“Do you know…or have you, uh, heard what humans are like with their mares…you know, as lovers?” Jeanne blinked her sparkly blue eyes at the maid, full of awe and wonder.

Merry Way joined Jeanne, leaning along the window’s edge. “You know, I don’t have any first hand knowledge about them. Since we met, back when you were still training to be a guard, and even before then, I never had much luck with stallions, and I don’t know if I’d ever be brave enough to speak with one of the humans. Though, I have heard some rumors about them from the other maids.”

Jeanne’s eyes remained fixed on Merry Way. “What did you hear?”

Her white cheeks quickly became flushed as she reached up to sweep a stray lock of her purple mane off her face. “Well, it seems that most are very attentive and in many cases quite gentle lovers. They are eager to please their mares, and respond quite well when their mares return the favor. Oh, and I hear that when it comes to the bedroom, they aren’t just a quick rut and done, you know, like some of the stallions tend to be. But, these are only rumors.” Merry Way continued looking out the window, and let out a dreamy sigh of her own. “Still…if they are true…it would be so nice to have a special somepony like that. Good stallions are so hard to come by anymore.”

Jeanne had been hanging on her every word, right up to the part where Merry Way said the human males weren’t just a quick rut and done. From there, her mind went elsewhere…as she dared to imagine Galen’s touch along her most private regions. She caught herself and realized her focus had slipped. “Oh, Merry Way, I’m sorry, what were you saying?”

She giggled at her friend, one more time. “Day dreaming already? I was just saying it would be nice to have someone like these male humans, that’s all.”

“Yeah…I know what you mean. I wonder if Galen thinks about me as more than just a pony or a friend?” Jeanne sighed again, continuing to stare out over the view of Canterlot and beyond.

“From what you’ve told me, it sounds like he really does like you. Hmm, maybe you two should try getting together away from the forge. It might make things easier, you know, to learn more about each other. You’ve been chatting and seeing each other for a week now. You must mean something to him.”

“Yeah, you might be right. Well, I guess there’s only one way to find out…” Jeanne moved away form the window and gave her wings and back a good stretch. “I should get my bits and head to Ponyville. He said I should stop by sometime after lunch.”

“Okay then. I hope everything works out for you two.” Merry Way offered a smile along with her moral support.

“Thank you. Well, I’m off.” Jeanne waved to her friend and trotted down the corridor, bound first for her room at the barracks and then to Ponyville.

* * * * *

Heat rippled up from the fresh hunk of burning hot metal. Sweat dripped form Galen’s brow as he clutched the heavy sledgehammer in his left hand. The smell of the coals within the furnace and the warm scent of the metal crawled into his nose as he sniffed in a breath of air. Then, swinging one of the many hammers in his arsenal, he struck the hot steel, filling the forge with sounds of metallic clanging.

The human had begun working on a project for another customer, and was doing his best to pass the time till Jeanne’s arrival. Even as he began pounding the flaming steel into a proper shape, his thoughts rolled with images of her vibrant white coat, sparkling blues eyes, flowing locks of blonde silk and her heartwarming smile. He hadn’t been this smitten with a mare in quite some time. More than anything, Galen had an unrelenting desire to learn more about her. If his past relationships with other mares in Ponyville taught him anything, it’s that they were better and lasted longer, providing he got to know more about them, before simply rushing blindly into things. While in many cases it could take an irritatingly long time to learn about someone new, Galen found he knew plenty about Jeanne already.

Taking a moment to focus his thoughts, as he continued to work, he considered what he currently knew. Galen had learned that Jeanne’s favorite color was blue, and that she was an admirer of finely crafted swords, as well as swords in general. She worked as a guard in Canterlot, helping to oversee the welfare of Equestria. Then, there were a few more personal things he learned about her over the course of the past week. She enjoyed the sweets from Sugar Cube Corner, and bringing some of them to share with him as they ate lunch under the shady maple tree. Jeanne enjoyed his company, stated that she was lonely, since she didn’t have anyone special in her life. There were a few other minor details she also shared, but he froze holding his hammer. He couldn’t clearly think of them. As she had mentioned those points, he recalled being captivated by her beauty as he tried not to stare into her eyes, too obviously, as he knew she had a bit of a shy side to her and could be quite bashful at times.

Shaking his head, Galen was pleased at how much he understood about her already, as he resumed striking the hunk of steel, which remained securely gripped in his tongs. He then began to think of the things he told her about himself, but just as he went to start recollecting, he noticed a familiar scent fill the air. It was the delicate floral fragrance of Jeanne’s perfume. He noticed that she had started wearing it as of Monday, when she came to check on his progress.

Galen immediately set his hammer down, and turned to see if his nose hadn’t been deceiving him. There, he saw her, standing just beyond his workbench. Jeannedarc, the gorgeous guard pony, out of her armor and just as radiant as ever. He greeted her with a kind smile, eager to unveil the culmination of his week’s labors to her.

“Jeanne,” he called out to her.

She quickly made her way over to him, trying not to seem too eager. It was clear by the look in her eyes that she was more than happy to be there. “Galen, it’s so good to see you again.”

“Likewise. You’re timing is perfect. Just, let me place this metal into the slack tub, so it can cool.”

“Okay.” She beamed him a happy smile, standing near him.

Galen kept a strong grip on the metal as he moved it from the anvil. He immersed it into the slack tub, stirring up a cloud of hot steam as the steel began to cool. He set the tongs down on the anvil and walked back over to her. “All right then. I have your sword, all ready for you.”

“I’ve been looking forward to seeing it completed.” Her voice teemed with excitement as she followed him over to the workbench.

Galen removed a piece of cloth, which had been concealing her weapon. He gripped it in his hands and lifted it off the table. Holding it securely, he walked over to Jeanne. There, he knelt down before her and held the sword up, presenting it to her. “Here you are, my lady.” He spoke in a very chivalrous manner, which left Jeanne all but speechless.

She looked at him in awe, her cheeks blushing softly as she was touched by his thoughtful gesture. Her eyes quickly focused on her sword. The blade had been sheathed within its scabbard, and Jeanne saw that Galen had used a gold color on both the locket and chape of the sheath, as well as on the hilt itself. Giving it a closer look, she noticed the lovely blue of the sapphires, which seemed to stand out along the gold color of the weapon’s décor.

Jeanne reached for the sword, and carefully took it form him in her hooves. “Oh my.” She quivered softly, her mouth hanging open in silent awe as she continued examining the elegant weapon. The sapphires along the hilt’s cross-guard were just stunning, and then she noticed the complementary effect of the emerald, which had been added to the pommel. Not wanting to wait a moment more, she slowly drew the blade form its cover. It made a soft metallic scraping as she fully removed it.

She made her way into the open patch of grass at the center of the forge. Galen had returned to his feet and watched her intently. Jeanne swung the sword, and in an instant she could tell how nicely balanced it felt in her grip. Not only was it a lovely design, but it also had a good weight and feel to it. It was then that she noticed markings along the base of the blade. Looking closely, she saw it spelled out her name “Jeannedarc” in fancy letters. This made her smile, as she realized that this meant the sword was truly for her. Something else stood out to her eyes. Just below her name, she saw a small ‘G’ framed in a square. Her mouth fell open again as she suspected it was his first initial. “Galen,” she light gasped.

“Yes, Jeanne? Do you like the sword?” He looked to her, waiting for a response.

“I do, it’s beautiful. But, this.” She pointed to the letter below her name. “Is this suppose to be your initial?”

He nodded. “Yes, I thought in addition to your name, it would add a nice personal touch, so you knew the sword was made by me.”

She closed her eyes and gave him a big smile. “Thank you, Galen! I love it!”

“Hang on, there’s more.” He gleefully announced.

“There’s more?!” Her words had a slightly dumbfounded quality to them. Jeanne slid the sword back into its scabbard, and joined him by his workbench. “What else could there be?” She wondered with growing anticipation.

“This.” He announced, holding up her sword belt. “I thought a belt would be a fitting touch, so you could wear your sword and always keep it by your side, during a patrol, in case of trouble. Now, why don’t you set the sword on the workbench.”

“Okay.” Jeanne deftly set the blade down. She eyed the belt, thinking how great it would be to keep her sword at the ready.

He walked over to her, holding up the belt. “Do you mind if I put it on for you, unless that would…”

She shook her head before he could finish and offered a response. “No, I don’t mind. Go ahead.”

Galen smiled in response to her gentle words. It made him feel good knowing she wasn’t nearly as nervous around him, well, unlike she was during their first meeting. He placed the belt along her back, minding her wings, and then Galen knelt down drawing the two ends together. Tucking the one end into the buckle, he carefully secured it. His fingers inadvertently brush along the fur of her belly, filling Jeanne with welcomed chills that rolled up her spine.

He turned to the table and retrieved her weapon. Galen attached it to the belt, and stood back. “There…you look great.”

Jeanne turned her head to glance at the belt, which was partially hidden by the bottom of her folded wing. “Yeah, it does look nice, and like you said, this will make things convenient during my patrols.” She gave him a happy grin, but then recalled something important. “Oh, how much do I owe you for all of this?”

He didn’t even pause before replying. “Nothing...you're a Royal Guard, in the service of the princesses, and are helping protect everyone in Equestria. How can I charge you for this sword?” Galen gave her a truly genuine expression.

Jeanne placed a hoof over her heart. “Thank you. That’s so generous of you, but…I insist. Won’t you at least let me give you something in return for this remarkable sword? You worked so hard on it and deserve some kind of payment for your efforts.” He placed a hand to his chin, as he considered her offer. “Please.” Her kindness and yearning echoed with the utterance of that single word.

“Well…” He began, continuing to think, not that it was very hard to come up with an idea. This was actually quite perfect. Galen chuckled softly as he walked a little closer to her. “Okay, how about this? I’d love to see you again, but not here at the forge, rather, away from all the smells and noises, somewhere we can talk and get to know each other better.”

Jeanne smiled, and couldn’t help but feel both nervous and exhilarated. This was just what she was hoping for, even if it felt a little unnerving. “Yes, I’d really like that. If you want, I’m free the rest of the day. We could hang out now, if you like?”

Galen loved the idea, but had to present her with some bad news. “That’d be great, but I still…”

Before Galen could finish, Anvil Clang walked up to them. He had been innocently eavesdropping on them. “Now then, Galen, my boy. Did I just hear you ask this young lady out?” The elder stallion flipped his gray tail as he looked to his apprentice.

“Yes, I did. She wanted to offer something in payment for the sword, but I know I can’t just abandoned my duties here at the forge.”

“Nonsense. You are a fine worker and a very hard one at that. Such reliable effort deserves rewarding. With that said, you may have the rest of the day off.” Clang patted Galen’s back and gave them both a warming smile.

“Thank you, Clang. You’re the best.”

“It’s nothing. You’ve more than earned it.” Clang nodded as he looked to them both again.

Galen smiled at Jeanne. “Let me wash up, quick, then I just need to stop by my house to change, and from there we can go out and enjoy the rest of this gorgeous day.”

Jeanne smiled at him. “That sounds wonderful.”

He placed his gloves into his apron pockets and then removed it, hanging the protective covering on a hook by his workbench. Galen made his way to the sink, and prepared to wash up.

Meanwhile, Clang and Jeanne walked toward the front of the shop, where she could wait for him. The elder stallion looked at her and smiled. “That sword certainly looks very fitting on you.”

“Thank you. I’m very, very happy with it!” Jeanne gave clang a gleeful smile, while she glanced at her sword. It made her think even more about Galen.

“You know, Galen put a lot of hard work into crafting that for you.” Clang scratched his beard and gave a firm nod, looking over at her with his purple eyes.

She was silent for a moment, remaining almost lost in thought. “I know, Clang. And speaking of Galen, I was wondering if you could answer a question for me?”

Clang fluffed his beard and gave her his undivided attention. “What is you wish to know, my dear?”

“Well, I’ve become very fond of Galen.” She began.

“So I’ve noticed, but please, go on.”

“Do you know what his intentions might be? I’m glad he wants to get to know me better, but would he ever want to be with a mare?” Jeanne could only wonder, as she looked to Clang, hopeful for a positive answer.

He chuckled softly. “A good question. I know Galen has been with a few mares over the course of the last few years. But, if you wish to learn more, you’d best ask Galen himself.”

Jeanne smiled. “I will. Thank you, Clang, you’ve been very helpful.”

“My pleasure.” She then fished some bits form her coin pouch, presenting them to him. He looked at the money. “What’s this for?”

“Please, Galen worked so hard, but wouldn’t let me offer him any money. It’s not much, but at least take these bits for your trouble.” Jeanne placed the coins totaling 200 bits onto his hoof.

He took the money and smiled at her. “That’s very thoughtful of you.”

“It’s nothing. Would you let him know I’ll be waiting out front for him?”

“Of course.” Clang, bowed his head respectfully to her and then trotted back to the forge.

Galen was drying his face and hands with a towel when Clang arrived. The pale-red stallion looked at his apprentice, while Galen hung up the towel and glanced back at his mentor. “What is it, Clang?”

“Here.” He held up his hoof, and dropped the coins into Galen’s hand. “Jeanne was kind enough to offer us these as a small token of her gratitude, since you wouldn’t accept a proper payment. I thought you should have them.”

Galen clutched the coins in his palm, and nodded. “Thank you. I know just what to use these for.”

“Oh? And what’s that, if you’ll forgive an old stallion for prying.” Clang chucked at his own curiosity.

He patted Clang’s back and smiled. “These will come in handy for our date. I’ll use this money for anything we might need.” Galen dropped the coins into his money pouch, which was now tied to the side of his pants.

“I’m glad you’ll put the money to good use. She will no doubt appreciate it. Speaking of which, Jeanne said she’d be out front when you’re ready.” Clang pointed to the front of the shop.

Galen nodded. “Right. Well, I should be off. I know it’s rude to keep a lady waiting. Thanks again for letting me have the rest of the day off.”

“Anytime, my boy. I hope everything works out for you two.”

Galen simply smiled as he took his leave of Clang. The stallion waved to his human friend as he vanished around the front of the shop. Galen arrived out front, where Jeanne was waiting for him. Jeanne heard the sound of his footsteps along the dirt and grass, causing her to look up and smile happily at him. “Ready to go?” he asked her. She nodded. “Now, we just need to stop by my house, so I can change into something more causal.”

“That’s fine. I certainly don’t blame you for wanting to get out of those dirty clothes.” Her thoughtful words reflected the joy that clung to her jubilant smile.

Galen shared her gleeful expression as they departed the forge, making their way across town to his place.

* * * * *

Jeanne and Galen arrived in front of his Ponyville residence. The human lived in a decent sized home. It was a single level dwelling, comprised of a combination of wood and brick, with a shingled roof. Needless to say, his income from the forge, along with the bits that he saved from his past jobs in Ponyville, allowed him the chance to purchase a nice home.

He looked to Jeanne and smiled. “Okay, I just need to get out of these dirty work clothes. Do you mind waiting here for a few minutes? I won’t be long.”

She returned his smile. “Of course not. Take your time.”

Her soothing voice made him take in a deep breath. He was so happy that they were going to have some real time to spend together. Just as he went to head to the front door, he noticed she was still wearing her sword. While she looked stunning with it on, Galen thought it might not be the most practical thing for her to wear on a date.

“Jeanne, did you want to take off your sword and keep it here, for now?” He gave her an inquisitive look.

She nodded and giggled softly glancing at her sword and belt. “Now that you mention it…this would most likely get in the way, and be a bit of a burden. Just let me take this off.” But to her dismay the buckle didn’t want to cooperate. Try as she might, her hoof couldn’t seem to get it to come loose.

Galen stifled a chuckle as he walked up beside her. “Hang on. Maybe I can help.”

“Huh?” She looked at him as Galen knelt down. Jeanne was still trying to free the belt, just as his hands moved toward the buckle and lightly brushed against her hoof. She froze for a moment, delighted by the unintentional sweep of his fingers.

Galen focused as he worked to loosen the belt. It even took him a little effort, but in a few seconds, he had succeeded. “There we go.” Carefully, he removed the sword and belt from around her. “I don’t get it. This shouldn’t have happened. I tested this thing ten times.”

“It’s okay. I’m sure it was just being stubborn.” Jeanne looked at him thoughtfully, placing a supportive hoof along his side.

He gave her a nod and smiled. “You’re probably right. You know…it could just be that the leather is still stiff, from being so new. Well, I’ll be back in a few.”

“Okay.” Jeanne continued smiling as Galen stepped into his house, carrying her sword, belt and all.

She stood there for a little over five minutes. Then, Galen emerged from his house, locking and closing the door behind him. Jeanne focused her eyes on him and couldn’t help staring for a bit. He was now dressed in a pair of casual black pants, had on a green short-sleeved shirt, and had switched from his boots to a pair of brown, laced sneakers. Lastly, she happened to see he had his money pouch tied to the belt of his pants.

He stepped off the small porch and joined her on the street. Jeanne nearly froze, from the heavenly fragrance that began assaulting her nose. It possessed a faint musky scent, which she found very pleasing. She took in a deep sniff of the scent. “Hmm…what is that I’m smelling? Are you wearing cologne?” Jeanne looked at him curiously wondering.

Galen chuckled softly and nodded. “Yeah. I thought you’d enjoy it if I didn’t smell like a blacksmith’s forge.”

Jeanne walked up close to him, and briefly forgetting herself, she rubbed up against him. “I like it.” Then she realized what she had just done. “Galen,” she gasped, “I’m so sorry. That wasn’t too much, was it?” Her cheeks quickly turned red, but she began to calm as she managed to look him in the eye.

Shaking his head, Galen patted her back gently. “It’s okay, Jeanne. No harm done. I actually enjoyed it.” He shared in her momentary feeling of awkwardness. “Um, shall we head out?”

Jeanne nodded. “Yes. Did you want to go anywhere special?”

“Yeah, I have place in mind. How would you like to stop by Ponyville Park? Maybe sit under one of the shady trees, and watch the ducks as they float along the creek?”

The delight seemed to pour from Jeanne’s face as her smile grew. “That’d be great. I love the park, and it’s been a while since I was there.”

“Splendid. Shall we be off, my lady?”

Jeanne couldn’t help but blush a little, in response to his kind words. “Oh my, yes.”

He grinned briefly as they started down the road, heading toward the park.

* * * * *

Following an enjoyable walk, Jeanne and Galen arrived at their destination. The park was calm and peaceful, like it usually tended to be. Galen spied a very inviting tree that stood several yards from the creek. “There.” He announced, pointing to a tall and leafy oak tree. “Care to rest under its branches for a little?”

“Mm-hmm.” She nodded happily.

They made their way over to the tree and much like the maple tree by Clang’s forge, the two of them sat under this fully-grown oak, among the others in the park.

Galen leaned against the trunk and let out a calming sigh. “It’s the perfect day to be at the park.”

Jeanne enjoyed his musings as she looked out across the way, spying a group of ducks splashing in the water of the large stream. Her ears twitched, as she heard the distant sounds of fillies and colts playing, most likely on the playground equipment beyond the far side of the park’s wooded area. She sat close to Galen and took a relaxing breath as she got comfortable. “You’re right. This is ideal. I always enjoy coming to Ponyville.”

Galen smiled over at her, and thought of a good way to draw her into a conversation. “Oh, so you come to Ponyville a lot?”

She giggled softly. “Well, I’m not sure I’d call it a lot. While I was born and raised in Canterlot, back when I was a filly, my parents and I would come here to visit relatives. And what trip here would be complete without stopping by the marketplace? Ponyville has a really lovely market.” Jeanne chuckled as she recalled more of her past visits to the town. “Oh, and I can’t forget about Sweet Apple Acres. Whenever we could, we’d stop by their farm stand and pick up some of their yummy produce. They have the finest apples in all of Equestria.”

Galen shared her polite laughter. “They do at that, and I know what you mean. This is one of the most peaceful towns I’ve ever lived in.” He paused to think about Ponyville. “Like you, I’ve enjoyed plenty of trips to the marketplace, as well as the various shops and businesses across town. But, I always enjoy coming here to unwind. Well, when I’m not chilling at home in my recliner.”

Jeanne couldn’t help but giggle. The idea of Galen in a reclining chair made her smile, but her cheeks began to feel flush as she imagined herself sitting with him in the recliner. She turned her head away, hoping her blush would go unnoticed.

Galen looked over at her. “You okay, Jeanne?”

She placed a hoof over her mouth for a moment, then smiled. “I’m fine. Just lost in thought.”

Galen crossed his arms behind his head and leaned against the trunk of the proud oak. “It’s nice to know we have that in common.”

“Oh, what do you mean?” Jeanne glanced over at him curiously.

“Like you, I have a habit of getting lost in thought at times. It’s nice to know, I’m not alone.” He snickered as he adjusted his head, letting out a quiet breath.

She smiled at him again. Then, she had an idea she hoped he would like. “Um, Galen?”

“Yeah?” He muttered lazily, resting with his eyes closed.

“Would you mind…if I, uh…” She froze, concerned that the simple gesture she had planned might be too much, again.

He opened his eyes, giving her a sincere look. “What is it? Come on, you can tell me.”

Jeanne returned his look and nodded. “Okay. I was wondering…could I lean beside you, like we usually do during lunch?”

He smiled at her, giving her a genuine look. “Of course. You don’t need to be so nervous about that. We did that most of the week. You know I don’t mind.”

“Yeah, I guess I just didn’t want to be rude.”

He smiled at Jeanne, motioning for her to come closer. The pegasus shared his smile, sliding closer to him over the soft blades of green grass. She leaned beside him and rested her head on his shoulder, letting out a quiet sigh. Galen placed his left arm around her, and gently stroked her velvety fur. “Don’t worry, Jeanne, you’re fine.”

“Thank you, Galen.” He chuckled warmly, and patting her side. Jeanne leaned her weight against him a bit more, marveling at having his arm around her, while they rested under the tree and enjoyed the calm of the park.

He took in a deep breath, the dampened smell of the creek and scent of nearby flowers rolled up his nose, along with the heavenly fragrance of Jeanne’s perfume. It made him sigh happily, as he felt even more relaxed. Galen chuckled as he gently ran his hand along her furry side. “So you used to like coming here in the past as well?”

“Uh-huh. During some of our trips, we’d stop at Sugar Cube Corner for ice cream and then come here and eat it. Then, I’d either play on the swings or in the sandbox. My dad would help me try to build a sand castle of Canterlot, but it never looked even close to the real thing.” She then giggled at her happy memories.

“That sounds like fun. I used to spend time with my parents when I was little, back on Earth.” He thought about them for a moment, feeling the bittersweet memories wash back to him.

Jeanne looked at him and asked, “Were you close with your parents?”

“For the most part, but let’s not talk about our families right now. I just want to spend some time with you and enjoy getting to know you better.” Again, Galen ran his hand along her incredibly soft white fur.

Jeanne adjusted her head along his shoulder and sighed gently. “Okay. Sorry, if I was prying.”

“Don’t worry about it.” He leaned his head so it could lightly touch hers. Jeanne shivered, lightly smiling from being so close to him, in this peaceful setting.

“This is nice.” Jeanne lightly rubbed her cheek along his shoulder.

“Yeah.” Galen let out a small yawn as he began to feel a little too relaxed. “But, I think we should move on. If we stay like this much longer…I’m gonna doze off.”

Jeanne giggled at him. “Would that be so bad?”

He leaned his head against her harder. “You know, it really wouldn’t be…but there’s another place in the park I’d love to show you.”

She smiled at him. “Okay. We can always come back here, right?”

He smiled back at her. “Of course.”

They slowly moved apart, standing back up. Jeanne and Galen left the oak tree, and he led her over to his favorite arched bridge. It was the one that connected the road back into Ponyville. The two of them stood along the beautifully crafted bridge. Jeanne joined him in casting her gaze off the side and into the clear surface of the creek.

“Is this the place you were talking about? It’s very lovely.” Jeanne noted fondly, enjoying the sight of the pristine water and its crisp scent. The creek was so clean that the plants and fish dwelling within could easily be seen, along with the ducks floating above its surface.

“That’s why I love coming here. Like the rest of the park, it’s always so peaceful.” Galen joined her in gazing at the fish as they swam randomly through their aquatic home.

“It really is peaceful.”

He smiled and gave her a nod. “That’s why I come here. It’s a good place to clear my mind. I like watching the fish or listening to the birds as they sing. But, I really love staring at the little waterfall and the creek itself. The sight and sound of the flowing water is very soothing.” Galen rested his right elbow on the bridge, leaning his chin on his hand as he eyed the small section of falling water.

Jeanne gave him a fascinated look, then proceeded to join him in watching the water flowing, the sound of its gentle trickle was almost mesmerizing. It didn’t take her long to see why he enjoyed it. “I see why you like it.”

He briefly glanced over at her. “Oh?”

“It’s soothing…just like you said.” Jeanne chuckled, as a pair of ducks landed on the surface of the water and started floating below them. She moved closer to Galen and placed her right hoof on his left hand. He turned his head and smiled at her.

“So you like it here?” Jeanne nodded. “I’m glad.”

She continued to smile at him as her vibrant blue eyes turned back to the water. “Galen, there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you. It’s just that during the past week, we didn’t have that much time to talk.”

“What did you want to ask?” He turned, offering his undivided attention.

Jeanne did the same, facing him so she could see she had his full focus. She took a deep breath, summing up her thoughts. “I’ve been wondering…what made you decide to leave your world and come here?” The pegasus paused after asking her question and quickly followed with, “You don’t have to answer, if you don’t want to.”

Galen smiled at her. “I’m happy to answer, there’s just no simple answer, you see.”

Jeanne kept her eyes on him, filling with wonder and overjoyed that he was willing to answer. “I can only imagine.”

He placed a hand to his chin, giving her query more consideration. As Galen had told her, this was an involved question with a rather lengthy answer, nevertheless, he was certain he could sum it up.

“Well, I won’t bore you with all the details. It began the day Princess Celestia arrived at my house on Earth. I was spellbound form her grace, her beauty and her presence, like that of an angel. Never in all my life had I met someone quite like her. She had a regal bearing and was beyond polite as she offered me a chance to come to this world and make a new life for myself.” Galen took a moment to let some of what he just said sink in for Jeanne, plus he had more to tell.

She continued hanging on his every word, patiently waiting for more. “Wow, I’ve heard that Celestia went to your world and brought a number of your kind to Equestria.” Jeanne placed a hoof on her chin. “If I’m remembering correctly, she searched for specific humans and then offered to bring them here.”

Galen chuckled. “You are exactly right, well, that’s what I learned from the princess anyway. I was understandably skeptical when she made her offer. It’s not everyday a human is given such a choice or meets an alicorn. Though, I wasn’t afraid of her, a little startled at first, but she had a calming aura about her, so I didn’t feel a need to run or panic.”

Jeanne tapped her right hoof on the wooden surface of the bridge as she thought of something. “Galen, I’m curious, what made you accept her offer? Was your life on Earth really so bad?”

“A good question.” He continued giving her his complete attention. “It wasn’t horrible, but it was less than ideal, and certainly not as fulfilling as life has been since I arrived here. Every year since I got out of school, on Earth, saw me drifting further and further from my friends. It was a real shame. Plus after six years of working the same dead end job, I was desperately yearning for a change in my life. I had no career ambitions and didn’t feel like struggling to afford going to college.” Jeanne remained silent, while she happily ate up everything he told her. Galen’s face had fallen a bit, but seeing her cheerful eyes made him smile, once more. “Oh, and I’m not going to even bother telling you about my joke of a love life. Let’s just say in a nutshell, I could never seem to relate to human females. I still don’t know if it was them or most likely…just me.”

Jeanne’s face filled with concern and her eyes reflected a strong compassion. “I’m sorry, Galen. No wonder you ended up accepting the princess’s offer.”

“Yeah. More than anything, I wanted something fresh in my life. I knew it was going to be a change if not a challenge going to a new world, but the romantic lure of this place was too strong to pass up. Princess Celestia told me all about Equestria, and I figured I had nothing to lose.”

“So that’s why you came here.” Jeanne found his tale to be quite interesting, but there was still one part she was preoccupied about. “Has it been hard for you adjusting to life here?”

As Galen recalled his brief but memorable history in Equestria, he couldn’t help but chuckle at it from an ironic perspective. “Well, at first it was a challenge.” Galen turned back to the water, casting his gaze at the waterfall. “I think it was mainly because I was new to this land. I didn’t have any friends, at first, plus it was a challenge adjusting my diet. Meat isn’t readily available here, so I had to adapt.”

Jeanne joined him gazing over the bridge. “Was it hard to adjust to your new diet?”

“It was for a time, but I learned to enjoy alternatives. Plus, I discovered that fish was a meat I could still enjoy here, and there were protein-rich foods you ponies enjoyed, such as eggs, dairy products, and beans, to name a few. Not that I’m a big fan of beans.” He chuckled, shaking his head briefly.

Jeanne smiled at him and giggled to herself. “I’m glad you were able to find alternatives. I guess everything else began working out then?”

He nodded in response. “Yes. The ponies here in Ponyville were very friendly, and to my surprise a human didn’t alarm them. I later learned that my kind had already been living in this world. Well it began with two, then there were a few more Celestia had brought, before she came for me. Then, after about seven months, I eventually met Clang and got my job as a blacksmith, and have been living here for a little over three years.”

“Wow, so that’s how you ended up here. I remember now, you telling me about meeting Clang from before.” Jeanne smiled, giving Galen a charming expression. “Thank you for sharing your story. I feel like I’m getting to know you better with every minute.”

“I feel the same way about you. And it was a pleasure to tell you more about myself. I just hope my story wasn’t too boring.” He snickered nervously, while thinking his life was anything but exciting.

Jeanne placed her right hoof along his left arm and shook her head. “Uh-uh. Your story was very fascinating, well, to me anyway.”

Galen smiled at her, and placed a hand on her furry shoulder. “I’m glad you enjoyed it. Now, what do you say we head to the marketplace and continue our…I guess we can call this a date?” He grinned sheepishly.

“I’m fine with calling it that.” Jeanne beamed him a gleeful smile.

“All right. Shall we be off?”

“Of course.” Jeanne smiled, as they made their way out of the park and back into town.

* * * * *

After having spent a few hours in the park, Jeanne and Galen spent roughly the same amount of time, give or take a few minutes, browsing through the marketplace. They mostly window-shopped at the various shops and stands, all while they enjoyed spending more time together.

Their trek eventually took them to the flower shop. Galen and Jeanne took their time perusing the assorted flowering plants, enjoying both their beauty and fragrances. The two had stepped outside the shop, but Galen asked Jeanne to wait a moment, while he went back inside for something.

A few minutes passed, and Galen returned to her cradling a lovely red rose in his hands. Jeanne looked at him with a type of awe, wondering what the flower was for. “Is that…for me?”

He chuckled and nodded, bearing her a jubilant smile. “Yes. I saw these by the counter and thought you’d enjoy having one for your mane.”

Her face lit up at the sight of his thoughtful gift. “Aww, that’s so sweet of you. Do you mind putting it on for me, uh, on my left side, I think that’d look nice.” Jeanne’s shyly spoken words seemed to make him grow even fonder of her.

Galen nodded, laughing happily under his breath. He took the rose by its shortened stem and carefully placed it by her left ear, sliding it into her silky blonde hair. Galen partially weaved a few locks of her hair around the tip of the rose to help it stay in place. “There you are, Jeanne. You look lovely.”

She blushed in response to his kind words. “Oh, thank you, Galen. Huh?” She gasped softly, feeling his hand gently caress the side of her mane.

Jeanne looked at him, her eyes filling with wonder. He gave her a slightly bashful look of his own. “I hope you don’t mind, but after securing that flower, I was amazed at how soft your mane felt. I just had to touch it again.”

Her face got a little redder as she let out a faint sigh, enjoying the sensation of his fingers gliding gingerly across her hair.

Galen removed his hand, noticing how red her face had become. “I’m sorry, I’ve gone and embarrassed you.”

She placed a hoof on his hand. “No, you haven’t. You just took me by surprise, that’s all.”

“So you’re not mad?”

Jeanne shook her head. “No. Not in the least.”

Galen smiled at her and then looked to the evening sky. The sun was beginning to set, and he noticed his stomach began to grumble. “Jeanne, would you like to get something for dinner?”

She looked at him fondly, noticing that after he said “dinner” just how hungry she had become. “That sounds good. Oh, but what did you have in mind?”

He smiled, since he already had an idea. “Do you like pizza?”

Again, her face lit up. “Yes, it’s one of my favorite foods.”

Galen shared her enthusiasm. “Great, then why don't we head to Vinny’s. Clang recommended me to his place a long time ago, and he makes some of the best pizza in all of Equestria!”

“You’ve sold me! Shall we go?” She smiled at him, feeling half-giddy.

He nodded. “Sure. I’m glad you seem to be so happy.”

“Why shouldn’t I be? I’m enjoying your company, just like I did during the past week.” The expression on her face more than convinced Galen she was being sincere.

“Aww, that’s sweet, Jeanne. I know I’ve been enjoying your company as well.”

The two of them started toward Vinny’s restaurant, and as they walked, Jeanne remained very close to Galen, lightly rubbing against him. He looked at her and smiled, taking a gambit and placing his arm around her. Jeanne sighed happily, delighted by his thoughtful action, while they continued walking on their way to dinner.

* * * * *

Jeanne and Galen arrived, only to discover that Vinny’s was insanely crowded. There wasn’t a table left in the place, and what made matters worse, there was a line of ponies waiting to get in.

The two stepped outside to get away from the chaos. Galen looked at Jeanne, pondering their predicament. “Well, what should we do? It’s at least an hour’s wait for a table?”

Jeanne gave the situation some quick contemplation. She didn’t care for crowds and the whole point of their date was so they could talk with each other. She gently bit her lower lip, and felt conflicted. Jeanne wanted to enjoy dinning with Galen in a restaurant setting, but the crowd was a real turnoff. “I’m not sure. I’d say go for it, if it wasn’t so crazy inside.”

Galen placed his hand over his mouth, while he gave the matter plenty of thought as well. “Hmm. Well, what if we order a large pizza and drinks to go?” He turned to her and gave her a hopeful look.

Jeanne twitched her lips, and quickly broke out into a cheery smile. “That sounds like a good idea to me.”

He walked up to her and placed his arm around her again. “Once we get our food, we can sit on one of the benches and eat under the glow of the moon and stars.”

“Mmm, that sounds great.” Jeanne giggled, as she rested her head against him, enjoying the touch of his arm on her shoulder.

“Then, why don’t you wait here, while I order our dinner. Did you want cheese or extra cheese? Oh, and would you like water or soda to drink?”

She smiled at him. “How about lemonade, and just a large cheese pizza will be fine.” Jeanne nuzzled against him again, while he ran his hand along her shoulder.

“Okay, I’ll go put in our order. Back in a few.” Galen left her, looking back a few times, before he vanished into Vinny’s.

* * * * *

After placing their order, it took over forty minutes for their pizza to be ready. Thankfully, Jeanne and Galen didn’t mind waiting and passed the time chatting amongst themselves, happily recalling the events of the past week.

Once their pizza and drinks were ready, Galen made the purchase, and carried their meal to a secluded bench, near a group of trees, a good distance from the chaos back at Vinny’s.

He set the box between them on the bench and set the drinks, in their carrier, on the ground in front of the bench. Galen tucked the napkins beside the box and was grateful that the nighttime air was calm, devoid of any wind or breeze. He looked to his lovely dinning companion. “Ready for a great pizza, Jeanne?”

She nodded. “Uh-huh.” Her eyes glistened in the starlight.

Galen smiled at her, then proceeded to open the pizza box. Steam rose up from the warm cheesy pie, while its heavenly aroma spread into the air and made its way into their noses. He chuckled and took in a deep sniff of the yummy smell. The pizza itself have a wonderfully round shape, cut into eight, mostly even, slices. It’s covering of mozzarella cheese was uniformly melted and was lightly sprinkled with a hint of oregano.

Jeanne eyed the pizza hungrily, smiling as she looked at Galen. He reached down and removed a slice from the box. The wild aroma intensified as the cheese strung beautifully, while he lifted the slice. Galen carefully severed the strings of clinging cheese and placed a few napkins under it. “Here you are…my lady.” He presented the slice to her in a very noble fashion. Jeanne was tickled by his chivalrous gesture, much like the way he presented the sword to her. She continued to smile, glad that the cover of night and the dim glow of a nearby streetlight mostly concealed her rosy cheeks.

“Thank you, Galen.” She happily took the slice in her hooves. Galen grabbed a hunk of pizza for himself, while keeping an eye on her. Jeanne took in the scent of the pizza one more time, before taking a small bite off the point of her slice. She began chewing it as the rich flavors of the buttery and flaky crust, zesty tomato sauce, and bold but mild cheese meshed in her mouth, complimented by the light sprinkling of oregano. Her throat lightly flexed as she swallowed the first bite. “Mmm…Galen, you weren’t kidding. This is the most delicious pizza I’ve ever had!”

“Glad you like it.” He chuckled at her excited reaction, and proceeded to chow down on his slice. Like Jeanne, Galen equally enjoyed the consistent flavor of the zesty pie. After swallowing his first mouthful, he shared a happy gaze with her.

They continued eating their pizza and sipped from their cups of lemonade, enjoying the sweet but tart flavor of their beverages.

After they had both eaten enough, Galen closed the box; pleased that there was still half a pizza he could take home for later. “That was tasty,” he mused. “Uh, did you want any more?”

She shook her head and patted her belly. “No, I’m nice and full.” Jeanne turned slightly and gazed into his green eyes, which seemed a deep blue under the shroud of night. “Would you mind if we just…sat close for a bit, and enjoyed the calm of this lovely night?”

Galen set the pizza on his left side, and smiled brightly at her. “I’d love to. Let me just toss our empty cups and used napkins, okay?”

“Mm-hmm.” Jeanne nodded, just as she let out a dreamy sigh. Part of her felt a little alarmed by her growing feelings for Galen, but the rest of her was enjoying these captivating emotions too much to care.

After tossing their trash in a nearby waste bin, Galen sat back beside her, sliding very close to her. Jeanne partially lounged on the roomy wooden bench and rested against him. She placed her front hooves over his belly, while he placed his right arm around her, drawing her close. Galen began feeling a strong sense of serenity, one he’d not experienced in a quite a while. “This is heavenly.” His words were spoken softly, while he stroked her silky blonde mane. Jeanne cooed faintly, letting him know she was more than happy with his gesture.

“I don’t know if I’ve said this before, but I really enjoy your gentle touch.” Jeanne sighed contently, savoring the moment.

“I’m glad you like it,” he whispered back, continuing to trail his fingers through her delicate locks.

The chills his soothing touch brought her, teamed up with the scent of his cologne, all but began intoxicating Jeanne, making her yearn to be with him even more than before. She thought back to her conversation with Merry Way and felt her curiosity grow. Jeanne gazed up at Galen’s expressive face, as she wondered if what Clang told her was true – had he really been with a mare before? While she was really enjoying the moment, she had to risk spoiling the mood to ask this very important question.

“Galen…I need to know something.”

“And what’s that, Jeanne?”

“Uh…” She paused, and decided to nuzzle against him, hoping to quell her growing anxiety. This was a very serious matter, but she was hesitant to bring it up, nevertheless, it had to be discussed. Jeanne steeled herself as best she could, mustering all her courage. She faintly startled as Galen resumed walking his fingers through her mane. Jeanne tried not to lose herself in his captivating touch. “Galen…I’m not quite sure how to ask this.”

He sighed, leaving his hand rest along her mane. “That’s all right, ask anyway. If it’s that important to you, please, go ahead.”

She smiled up at him; he was unfailingly kind, which was one of the qualities she was growing to really love about him. “But…” Jeanne sighed part in frustration. “…I don’t want to spoil this perfect evening.”

Galen gave her a kind expression. “It’s okay, Jeanne. This date has been about getting to know each other…and so far I’ve enjoyed everything we’ve discussed.” His hand bumped into the rose he’d bought for her only a few hours ago. “You still look lovely with this flower in your hair. But please, ask away.”

“Okay, and thanks again for getting this rose for me.”

“You’re quite welcome.” He sighed happily, while stroking her mane one more time.

She smiled at him, and gave her question some final thought, now that she finally felt ready to ask it. “This may seem a little silly, but I couldn’t help but wonder…Galen, have you ever been with a mare before?”

He heard her every word and noticed the nervous overlay in her speech. Clearly, this question meant a great deal to her, which was what he suspected from her reluctance to ask it. Hoping to calm her, Galen resumed tenderly stroked her mane, starting along her crown and running his hand down along the hair covering the back of her neck. “So, that’s what has you sounding so nervous, right now.”

Jeanne nodded. “Uh-huh.”

He chuckled warmly at her, continuing to savor the silky texture of her flawless mane in his fingers. “Well, there’s no need to be too concerned. To answer you, yes, I have been with a mare before, a few in fact.” He stroked her mane again, and wasn’t sure if his answer was what she’d been hoping for. “It’s not a problem is it?”

“No, I was just wondering. It’s a little complicated.” She then glanced at him, while her eyes seemed full of a number of emotions as they shimmered in the glow of the moonlight.

“I think I understand what you’re trying to say.” Galen felt hopeful, it seemed Jeanne was indeed interested in him.

“Well then, you have been with a mare…b-but, you aren’t with anypony now…right?”

Galen shook his head. “No, I haven’t been with anyone for months now.”

She smiled up at him, and really started enjoying his fingers as they glided through her hair. “That’s good to hear.”

“Jeanne, can I be honest with you?” Galen asked her in the sincerest voice he could muster.

She nuzzled against him, rubbing her hoof along his side. “Of course.”

“Since meeting you last week, I can’t recall when I’ve been this happy. You inspired me while I worked on your sword, and brightened each day by spending lunch with me, and now this date.” He paused a moment, then continued, “I really like you, Jeanne.”

Jeanne looked up at him, while her mouth partially hung open, before she managed to close it. She felt an intense happiness bubble up within her, because those were just the words she’d wanted to hear. That’s when she turned her eyes back up to him. Jeanne was thrilled, because she could now tell him how she felt – though she was feeling just a tiny bit nervous about it. Even as her cheeks began to blush, she didn’t care, after all, she had no reason to be afraid.

“Awww, I’m so glad you said that. You see, Galen, I really like you, too. I just wasn’t sure if you felt exactly the same. I’ve never liked a human before and I didn’t know if you’d be interested in a mare.”

He leaned down and nuzzled his cheek against her mane. Jeanne gasped softly from his delightfully startling gesture. “Oh, but I do. I’ve grown to love spending time with a nice mare. When I first came here, I wouldn’t have thought so, but over time, I’ve found mares, like you, to be very beautiful.”

Jeanne gave him a cute look. “You think I’m beautiful?”

Galen blushed, but thankfully the cover of night hid it from her. “I do, and you really are.”

“Awww.” Words started to fail her, so Jeanne simply nuzzled against him, as she turned slightly to place her hooves around him, giving him a brief but tender hug. Galen placed both his arms around her and gave her an affectionate squeeze back. She sighed happily, glad to have her question answered. For a moment, however, Jeanne did feel a bit upset and a little jealous that she wasn’t going to be his first mare. That was, until she realized there must be a reason things didn’t work out between him and the others, plus if he’d been with a few mares, that most likely meant he knew how to please one as well. Thinking back to her chat with Merry Way, again, she wondered what kind of a lover Galen would be. Plus, she still wanted to know what his touch would feel like in some of her more intimate places.

There were most likely other concerns worthy of considering, but they hardly seemed like an issue at the moment. Rather than worry anymore about it, Jeanne was more than happy to enjoy spending the last of the night with Galen.

* * * * *

The hour began growing late as the two returned to Galen’s house. They walked up onto the patio. There, he set the leftover pizza on a small table, and returned to his date. “Well, I guess I’ll get your sword, that way you can head back to Canterlot.”

Jeanne nodded. “Yeah. It’s really getting late, but I had a great time, Galen.” She gave him a big smile, and he happily returned her expression, before giving her an almost yearning look. Her mouth fell open for a moment, as she understood what he seemed hesitant about.

She trotted right up to him and stood up partially, resting her forehooves on his shoulders. Jeanne saw his smile grow as she leaned in and gently kissed his lips. She figured there was no harm in a simple goodnight kiss. Well, that was till she felt his lips against her own. Jeanne hadn’t kissed many stallions, but this simple touching of her lips to Galen’s felt amazing, even though she couldn’t quite figure out the reason. Sadly, she knew it had to end.

Galen was half mesmerized by the touch of her delicate lips against his. He felt her start to pull away, but the touch of her hooves on his shoulders and an obvious hesitation made her seem reluctant to end it. That’s when Galen decided to place his arms around her, keeping Jeanne from pulling back. He waited a moment to see if she would try to break his embrace. She didn’t, and so, he happily pressed his lips back against hers, extending their kiss, turning it into a much more passionate one.

Jeanne felt her mind start to swim with joy. It made her soar with delight that Galen wanted the kiss to continue just as much as she did. She lightly twitched her hooves along his shoulders, trying to convey her delight as she moaned very softly from the pleasure their kiss brought her.

He was just as delighted by this turn of events. The delicate fragrance of her perfume and her soft moans made him respond in kind with soothing moans of his own, hoping to share his joy with her. Losing himself in the moment, Galen began caressing her mane, savoring its silky locks as they continued kissing just a little longer.

Their lips finally parted after several blissful seconds passed. They gazed into each other’s eyes, neither one spoke, rather they smiled gleefully together.

Jeanne was happy to present him with rosy cheeks, but sadly she turned her head away, for she knew it was growing later by the minute. “That was wonderful…”

“Yeah, it was. I’m glad we could share a goodnight kiss.” Galen kept smiling at her.

“Me too, but I should…” Jeanne let out a fairly loud yawn. “…really get going.”

“Yeah, let me get your sword…” Galen trailed off, he looked at Jeanne, just as she yawned again. “Are you going to be up to making the flight back to the castle? It seems you’re a lot more tired than I would have guessed.”

Jeanne wanted to say yes, but she knew her body all too well. She sighed. “Now that you mention it.” She yawned again. “Excuse me. I felt a little tired earlier, but I figured I could easily make it back to the barracks.”

“I don’t know.” Galen looked at her again and felt concerned. He hadn’t meant to keep her out so late. That’s when it hit him. “Jeanne, why don’t you spend the night at my place?” She looked at him, blinking groggily. “You could rest on the couch or if you’d prefer, I’ll sleep on the couch and you could use my bed.”

Jeanne looked off into the distance and saw the lights of Canterlot. It seemed farther away than normal. Seeing that his house was right in front of her, his invitation did seem more than a little tempting, and she really liked the idea of spending the night under the same roof as him. “Well, that does sound like a good idea…oh, but I wouldn’t want to impose.”

He shook his head. “You wouldn’t be imposing. Please, I don’t want you to try to fly if you’re that tired.”

She placed a hoof to her chin. Jeanne liked the idea of using his bed, but after sharing that kiss, she began feeling a strong stirring in her loins and feared what might happen if she used his bed, even while he’d be on the couch.

Jeanne gave him a nod and smiled. “Okay, but I’m fine with the sofa, all right.”

“You sure?” She nodded again. “Then please, won’t you come in.” Galen opened the door and motioned for her to enter. Jeanne stepped slowly into his dwelling, and once he recovered the pizza box, Galen followed behind her and both closed and locked the door for the night.

Chapter 4 - "Longing and Desire"

After placing the leftover pizza in the fridge, Galen went to get some pillows and covers for Jeanne. In the meantime, he had told her to make herself at home. She took a seat on the plush tan sofa and glanced around, enjoying the décor of his living room. The details seemed a little fuzzy, seeing as she was still feeling very tired, but Jeanne felt a little renewed, now that she was somewhere she could rest.

As she continued to look around his den, she greatly enjoyed the pale blue color of the walls, and aside from being her favorite color, it had a soothing feel to it. Jeanne also enjoyed how he had chestnut stained wood shelves with assorted books and decorations adding to the ambiance of the room. She also saw he had some decorative swords and even a shield hanging from the nearby wall.

The swords on the wall reminded her of the one she had resting on the coffee table in front of her. She eyed the hilt and continued to admire the golden color and the beautiful jewels that added to its appearance. She leaned front and clutched her weapon in her hooves. Jeanne stared at the emerald and smiled.

Galen returned and set two white pillows beside her. “Here you are, these are some extra pillows I had stashed in the hall closet. They should be fluffy enough.” He smiled as he patted one of the pillows.

Jeanne nodded, offering him a thankful smile. “I’m sure they’ll be fine. Thank you.”

“You’re quite welcome.” He then noticed she was admiring the sword he had crafted for her, and his smile began to grow. “I’m so glad you are pleased with your sword.”

Jeanne turned to him and smiled again. “I really am. I just love the sapphires on either side of the cross-guard.”

He chuckled at her. “Well, you said blue was your favorite color, so I thought those would be a nice touch.”

She nodded happily. “They are, and I still just love the way this emerald looks here at the pommel. What made you decide to use this instead of another sapphire?” Jeanne looked at him curiously, eagerly awaiting his response.

“Well, I thought it would add a personal touch, and you see, green is my favorite color, and blue and green always seem to go so good together.”

Jeanne giggled. “They do, and I know I’m always going to cherish this.”

Galen chuckled. “I’m really glad. Now, let me grab you something to cover with. I’ll be right back.”

“Okay.”

He trekked back the hallway, while she continued admiring her sword. Slowly, she slid the blade out from its sheath. There it was. Her name in fancy letters, engraved in the shiny steel. She ran her hoof along the smooth side of the blade, feeling the indentation of the letters.

She let out a dreamy sigh, as she slid the sword back into its scabbard. Jeanne placed it back on the coffee table, as her mind turned to thoughts of Galen.

A few minutes passed and he returned to her carrying a white sheet and a dark blue blanket. “Here we go.” He set the neatly folded blanket and sheet beside her, while Jeanne set the pillows at the one end of the couch.

“Thank you, for letting me stay.” Jeanne placed a hoof over her mouth as she yawned. “I guess we really got carried away on our date, huh?”

He snickered and nodded, agreeing with her. “I’ll say, but I had a wonderful time.” Galen placed a hand on her shoulder and smiled.

Jeanne returned his smile and placed her opposite hoof along his hand. “So did I.”

Galen turned his hand and gently clasped her hoof and let out a happy sigh. Jeanne continued to smile, presenting him with rosy cheeks. There was a brief silence before he released her hoof. Galen took the white sheet and began unfurling it. “Here, let me give you a hand.” He covered Jeanne with the sheet, allowing her to grip the top end in her hooves.

Once again, Galen had caught her off-guard. She blushed a little more as she tugged on the sheet. “Thank you. You didn’t need to do that.”

“It’s my pleasure. And here…” Galen carefully unfolded the warm blue blanket and tucked it at her hind hooves. “It’s all set in case you get cold during the night.”

Jeanne nodded, giving him another smile. “I appreciate it. Well, I guess I’d better get some rest.”

“Same here,” Galen remarked. That’s when it hit him. “Oh, if you need the bathroom at all, it’s the first door, down the hall, on the left. Should you need anything else, please feel free to get me. My room is the second door, down the hall, on the right.”

“Okay, but I should be fine, well aside from needing the bathroom, which you already told me where I can find it.” Jeanne giggled, while she continued to smile. She then let out another yawn.

“Sleep well, Jeanne.”

“You too, Galen.”

He gave her a respectful nod, then made his way to his bedroom, after turning out the lights.

Jeanne remained there in the darkness. She slid under the covers and made herself comfortable. Then, feeling a slight nip in the air, she reached down and pulled up the warm blanket. Turning, she glanced in the direction of the hall, specifically toward his room.

She let out another dreamy sigh. It had been a perfect day. Jeanne finally got her sword, which was totally worth the wait, and then she got to share a wondrous date with Galen. He was unlike anyone she’d ever known. He was a hard worker, incredibly kind, had a nice sense of humor, and seemed completely enchanted by her.

Her thoughts returned to their goodnight kiss. It happened less than twenty minutes ago, and Jeanne found herself thinking of it rather intently as she placed a hoof to her lips, recalling the sensation. It made her feel warm and happy all over. She could only wonder what the future would hold for them. Jeanne sincerely hoped she would have the chance to kiss Galen again, and if possible in a even more passionate way. Her heart almost fluttered at the thought, before her body reminded her she was still very tired.

Jeanne yawned as sleep began to pull her under its drowsy veil. Her thoughts happily remained on Galen, and she smiled briefly, before she dozed off and began resting soundly.

* * * * *

Galen awoke in his room. Glancing around, he saw everything was still bathed in the darkness of night. Turning to his one nightstand, which stood on the right side of his bed, he eyed his alarm clock. It was nearly two in the morning. He wiped his eyes and wondered why he woke up. Taking a moment to think, he realized that Jeanne was still heavily mired in his thoughts. As he scratched his head, Galen seemed to recall dreaming about her, but it was fuzzy. If his groggy mind was working right, it mostly seemed to be images of their date.

He let out a quiet yawn and then noticed the more likely reason that he’d awakened. “Of course.” He whispered to his empty room. Galen turned back the sheets and dragged himself to the bathroom. Thankfully, his house had two bathrooms. The one he went to was exclusive to his bedroom, which made answering nature’s call less of a chore at night.

After relieving himself, Galen washed his hands and prepared to go back to bed. Before he allowed himself to drop onto the mattress, he thought about Jeanne. Since he was up, he figured he might as well be a good host and check on her. Galen walked to his closet and retrieved his robe. In case Jeanne was awake, he didn’t want to face her in nothing but his underwear. Well, at least not yet.

He walked to his bedroom door and quietly opened it. Then slowly, he crept into the hallway. His path took him into the living room, where his lovely guest was still resting.

Galen arrived in front of the sofa, and discovered Jeanne was still resting peacefully. He stood there for a moment and listened to the sound of her breathing. It was very soothing, causing him to sigh silently. Taking another look at her, he saw she must have gotten warm at some point, because the blanket was bunched up at her hind legs. Galen quietly chuckled to himself, finding it amusing since he’s had the same problem of going from cold to warm as he sleeps.

He felt satisfied that she was okay, that was until he noticed Jeanne starting to shiver. Galen placed his hands on his arms and noticed there was a distinct nip in the air. Concerned for her, he reached down and took hold of the blanket. Then very deftly, he covered Jeanne with it, and unable to resist, he gingerly brushed the back of his hand along her velvety cheek.

Moving away from her, Galen looked down and saw her shivering had ceased, and she was once again sleeping soundly. She looked so adorable as she slept. Which is why he couldn’t resist leaning down and softly kissing her cheek. Jeanne smiled within her slumber, letting out a quiet moan.

“Sweet dreams, Jeanne.” Galen whispered in an almost inaudible tone.

He walked back to his room, and closed the door behind him. Then laying down in his bed, he covered up and smiled as he fell back to sleep.

* * * * *

Jeanne began stirring as she opened her eyes. Looking around, she saw glints of the first light of morning, peering around the green curtains of Galen’s living room windows. She felt really warm and cozy under her covers. That’s when her eyes widened for a moment. Jeanne checked and saw she had both the sheet and blanket on her. Thinking for a moment, she could have sworn she removed the blanket at some point during the night. That’s when it dawned on her, Galen must have checked on her and covered her back up.

She smiled and felt a warm sensation in her heart. It was very sweet of him to check on her. Then, her mouth lightly fell open. Not only had he looked in on her, but also Galen hadn’t tried anything funny either. He’d been the perfect gentlestallion, well being a human she figured that’d make him a gentleman. At least she thought that’s what the humans were known to say amongst each other.

His unending kindness made her feel an even stronger yearning to be with him. For a moment, she considered going to his room. Maybe he’d enjoy it if she crawled under the covers and woke him. Jeanne was all set to put her little plan into motion, until she spied a nearby clock. The pegasus let out a bewildered sigh as she saw it was already after five-thirty. Despite wanting to go to see Galen, she knew she was needed back in Canterlot.

Reluctantly, she claimed her sword and made haste as she departed his home. Sadly, there wasn’t even time for her to leave him a note. Jeanne looked back in the direction of his room and gave a slight whimper, then she turned and stepped out the front door, quietly closing it behind her, and doubled checked that she had locked it.

Once she was clear of Galen’s porch, she spread her feathery white wings and took to the sky. One thing was sure, as soon as Jeanne was able; she’d be coming back to Ponyville in order to see him again.

* * * * *

Galen awoke, as usual, to the sound of the rooster crowing from Sweet Apple Acres. He wiped his eyes and let out a hearty yawn, before he turned to check his alarm clock. Sure enough, it was about fifteen minutes till his alarm was due to sound. "It figures," Galen groaned.

He slowly sat up and looked around his room, slowly feeling more awake. Galen felt a slight rush as he turned back his covers. He remembered Jeanne had spent the night. Quickly, he rose from his bed and dressed in his work clothing, heavy jeans, a gray short sleeve shirt, and put on a clean pair of socks.

Galen wore a chipper smile as he made his way out of his bedroom. He strolled down the hallway and into the living room. He wasn’t sure if Jeanne would still be asleep or not, so he made sure to tread softly.

A cursory glance around the living room revealed no trace of her, so Galen figured she might still be asleep on the sofa. That was until the furnishing came into full view. Jeanne was nowhere to be seen. The pillows and covers remained, but it was clear she was gone. His eyes moved to the coffee table and saw that her sword was gone too. He nodded his head, figured she must have needed to leave. She was a Royal Guard after all. Still, it would have been nice if he could have said goodbye.

Shaking his head, he figured there was little cause for concern. Hopefully she’d be back to see him again. One thing was certain, as he stood there in the living room and glanced at the disturbed aftermath of his couch, he marveled at how only a short time ago, Jeanne had been resting there. With her gone, he felt a strong emptiness in both his house and more prominently within himself.

Galen did find cause to be happy, after their memorable first date, he was sure he’d see her again. After all, they shared a heavenly first kiss that doubled as a goodnight kiss. Not to mention they did confirm any lingering doubts about their growing feelings for each other.

Noticing the time as Galen spied the living room clock, he figured he’d best pack his lunch, eat breakfast and make his way to the forge. Thankfully, it was Friday, so there was only one day to go, before the weekend.

* * * * *

Friday morning came and went, like most do, and before Galen knew it, noon had come and gone. The midday sun had reached its apex in the sky, casting its rays through a partly cloudy sky.

It was another beautiful warm day, which Galen found out first hand after taking his lunch. Even though Jeanne hadn’t been there to share it with him, he still sat under the shady maple tree. The very same tree they had both shared his lunch breaks under throughout the previous week.

Following his lunch, he promptly returned to work. With Jeanne’s sword completed, he had moved on to another project for a different customer. Walking over to the forge, he gripped a piece of properly fired steel within his tongs. Taking it over to the anvil, Galen kept the metal pinched in the tongs with his right hand, while he raised his sledgehammer with his left. Then, he began focusing on the steel as his proceeded to strike it, slowly working it into a proper shape.

Thankfully, Galen’s work had managed to distract him, causing the time to pass, but part of him felt a nagging feeling in the back of his mind. Despite burying himself in his work, he still couldn’t completely stop thinking about Jeanne.

As he continued to work, he began considering making the trip to Canterlot. He very much wanted to see her again. Galen could have sent a letter, but it’d be so impersonal and fail to properly convey his feelings to her. Before he could contemplate the matter further, he noticed that familiar fragrance hanging in the air. He set the piece of workable metal down and placed his hammer beside it. Galen removed his protective gloves, closed his eyes and took in a deep breath of the aroma. He sighed as he confirmed it was her scent – that heavenly fragrance of lilacs.

Opening his eyes, he turned and there she was the beautiful Jeannedarc. Galen broke out into a jubilant smile as he promptly made his way over to her. Jeanne’s face lit up as she trotted over to him, meeting him half way. He didn’t even fight his first emotion as he drew her into a tender hug. “Jeanne, I’m so glad to see you!” He held her tightly in his arms.

She whimpered softly in response to his caring words. Jeanne secured her hooves around him and let out a happy sigh. “I’m so glad to see you too, Galen.” Their hug ended and Jeanne looked at him with apologetic eyes. “I’m so sorry I left without a word, this morning. I’d nearly forgotten I was due back in Canterlot for a morning guard shift.”

Galen breathed a sigh of relief. “I knew you hadn’t left without saying goodbye on purpose.”

“No, and as soon as my shift ended, I rushed to my room, took off my armor, freshened up and came back here as quickly as my wings would carry me.” Jeanne stood up on her hind hooves and felt a little bold as she drew him into another hug. “I missed you.”

Galen chuckled warmly at her. “I know I missed you. In fact, I was considering making the trip to the barracks at Canterlot Castle, just so I could see you again.”

Jeanne softly nuzzled against him as their hug continued. “Hmmm…that’s so sweet of you, but I’m glad you didn’t. That place is so noisy.” They moved apart and continued smiling at each other. “So, when do you get off work?”

“I’ve got a little over an hour to go. You’re happy to stay here and watch me work till then. And I have an idea.”

“Oh? What’s that?”

“Would you like to spend some more time together? Maybe have a more romantic dinner…say at my place, and this time, if you spend the night, you wouldn’t have to sleep on the couch.” He gave her a very suggestive look.

Jeanne blushed, but the smile on her face seemed to grow. “Mmm, a romantic dinner at your place…and a chance to spend more time together. I’d really enjoy that.” She took in a deep breath and let out a dreamy sigh. Jeanne grinned a little as she gave him a curious look. “I didn’t know you cook.”

“Well, I’m no master chef, but I can prepare a few tasty dishes.” He winked at her.

Jeanne giggled, delighted by his words. “Then I’m really going to look forward to it.” Her eyes fell partially shut as she stared at him. “So, I won’t have to sleep on the sofa this time?”

Galen gently caressed her mane and let his hand rest on her shoulder. “No,” he whispered softly. “Unless you want to.”

She shook her head and just kept smiling at him. “No, I’d be happy to be closer to you. I considered visiting you this morning, but time didn’t allow it, but now, with the weekend all but here…” Jeanne giggled at him, feeling her cheeks continue to blush.

“Yeah, I know.” He chuckled as he walked back to his anvil. “Well, I’d better get back to work.”

“All right.” She agreed. Jeanne glanced around the forge and gave him a quizzical expression. “Are you the only one working today?”

Galen shook his head as he put on his gloves and picked up his tools. “No, Clang is watching the shop, and his grandson, Blade, took some of our goods to sell in the market at Trottingham.”

“I see. I was wondering.” Jeanne let out a sigh of relief, as Galen began hammering the piece of metal. She hadn’t even been paying attention to her surroundings when she shared those hugs with him. Thankfully, the others weren’t around. That could have been very embarrassing. Though, as she gave the matter some thought, she didn’t really pay it as much mind as she would have in the past.

* * * * *

With Galen’s day at the forge concluded, Jeanne accompanied him on the way back to his home. The two walked closely as his house came into view. Making their way across the porch, Galen led her inside.

“I just need to change out of these work clothes and then I can get started on dinner. Why don’t you have a seat in the living room, in the meantime?”

Jeanne nodded. “Okay.”

“I should probably get a shower too.” He considered, noticing he smelled a bit like the forge.

Jeanne smiled at him thoughtfully. “You could always get one after dinner.”

“Yeah. I guess that’d be all right.”

“It wouldn’t bother me if you wait.”

“Okay.” He gave her an affirmative nod and walked back the hall to his bedroom and proceeded to change. Meanwhile, Jeanne took a better look around his living room. It was the same as she’d seen the night before, but one thing she hadn’t noticed was his light green recliner. This had to be the one he mentioned when they were in the park yesterday, Jeanne was sure of it.

She considered sitting on it, but thought the sofa would work just as well. Taking a seat, she let herself sink into its plush cushions.

A few minutes passed, and Galen walked back into the living room, wearing a pair of casual pants, and a blue short sleeved shirt. Jeanne gave him a cheery smile, while she eyed up his top. “Nice shirt.”

“Thank you. I thought you’d enjoy the color.” He snickered as he walked over to her.

“So tell me, Galen, what’re you going to make for dinner?” She gave him a very sweet look, beaming him another of her charming smiles.

“Well, I was planning to make my recipe for four cheese lasagna with a tangy marinara sauce, and I was going to accompany that with some garlic Parmesan breadsticks and a fresh tossed salad.”

Her face seemed to light up. “Mmm, that sounds yummy.”

“Ah, so you like lasagna?”

“I do, and all the sides sound great as well.”

“I’m glad to hear it. I’ve been planning to make this for some time, but it’s really going to be nice to have someone to share it with.” Galen smiled as he patted her furry shoulder.

Jeanne sighed and gave him a nod. Then she thought of something. “Galen, I was wondering?”

“Oh, and what might that be, hmm?” He chuckled again.

“Could I lend you a hoof in the kitchen? I learned a lot about cooking from my mother.”

“Sure, this can be a rather involved meal. I’d certainly appreciate the help.”

Jeanne accompanied him into the kitchen. They both washed up at the sink, and then, together, they began gathering the various cooking implements and ingredients needed to prepare their dinner.

Galen set a bowl and the cheese grater on the far counter across from the stove and oven, while Jeanne did her best to assist him. He’d retrieve items and she’d happily ferry them over to the counter.

Taking a quick glance, Galen gave an affirmative nod. “It looks like we have everything we need.”

Jeanne simply smiled, and after giving a cursory look, recalled from memory what was typically needed to make such a meal, so she felt no reason to disagree. “It sure looks that way. Uh, what would you like me to do first?” She bubbled with joy, giving him a very enthused expression.

He shared her smile, placing the a few chunks of the different cheeses by the bowl and grater. “Aside from that ricotta, the other three cheeses will all need grated. So, if you don’t mind, would you take care of shredding them? Meanwhile, I’ll start on the sauce, get the water boiling for the pasta…and oh.” He walked over to the oven and switched it on. “Heh, heh. Don’t want to forget to preheat the oven.” Galen grinned as he looked to his lovely pony guest.

Jeanne couldn’t help but giggle, enjoying her incredibly good mood. She eyed the cheeses and the bowl, then turned and gave him a nod. “I’ll be more than happy to prepare the cheeses, Galen.”

“Wonderful!” Galen glanced back, while waiting for the large kettle to fill with water. Once it was full enough, he marched it over to the stove, set it down and then switched on the burner.

He looked at the box of lasagna pasta. Thankfully, like Earth, the ponies had prepackaged items too. He checked the instructions and set the box back down. Galen stooped down and opened an adjacent cupboard door and retrieved a fairly large saucepan. Placing it on the counter, he checked to see if he had everything for the sauce. Seeing that everything was there, he added the first of the ingredients to the pan and after turning on a second burner, he placed it down so it could start to simmer.

As he busied himself with a few other tasks, Jeanne grated the mozzarella, Parmesan, and provolone cheeses, making sure to do little bits of each to help ensure a good mixture. While she ran the pieces of cheese across the shredder, she couldn’t resist glancing back every now and then, so she could drink in a glimpse at Galen. She was so looking forward to dinner, but in all honestly, Jeanne really was looking forward to spending the night with him. She wasn’t sure what all the night would yield, but if her growing desires for Galen were any indication, she was hoping to at least discover what it felt like to feel his enticing hands and fingers on her in hopefully a more intimate fashion.

She had to tear herself back to reality, though her mind wanted to fantasize, she knew she had cheese to grate in the meantime. Smiling to herself, she resumed her task, while Galen kept making additional strides in the preparation of their meal.

* * * * *

In a little over an hour everything had been prepared, and Galen slid the lasagna, pan and all, into the oven. While it cooked, Jeanne helped him prepare a fresh garden salad, and he waited a little closer to time, before placing the breadsticks into the oven.

There was still a little over an hour before their entrée would be ready. Galen wasn’t a fan of doing the dishes and he knew this meal made more than a few dirty, which was why he decided to start them awhile and filled the sink with hot soapy water.

Jeanne stared at him briefly. “What are you doing?”

He chuckled thoughtfully before replying. “Well, since we have a rather large pile of dirty dishes, pots and pans, I thought, why not get a head start on cleaning up? This way we’ll have more time to spend together, after we eat.”

Jeanne couldn’t argue with that logic, and she really wanted to spend as much time with Galen as possible. Though, even helping him prepare dinner had been a thrill. She smiled at him and nodded. “It makes sense to me. Say, would you like a dryer?”

“I thought you’d never ask.” Galen chuckled happily.

She stood by his side as they began tackling the large heap of dirty kitchen cookware. Galen glanced over at her as he began scrubbing the first pot. “Jeanne…I’ve been wondering something.”

“What is it, Galen?” She looked at him, her blue eyes full of wonder, partially hoping his question had something to do with what they might be doing later that night.

He resumed his scrubbing as he began to speak. “I was wondering. What made you decide to became a Royal Guard?”

That wasn’t quite the question she wanted him to ask, but she smiled anyway. It was still very touching that he wanted to know more about her.

She took the pot from him and began drying, giving his query some thought. Once the item was dry, she set it on the counter beside the draining rack. Then, Jeanne focused her eyes on him. “There were several reasons I made the decision.” Galen had placed a few cleaned items in the dish rack. She reached for another as she continued. “I guess one of the biggest reasons is my loyalty to the princesses. Thanks to both of them, ponies have a chance to lead happy prosperous lives. Becoming a guard is just a small way I hope to repay them for their kindness.”

Galen rinsed another small bowl and set it in the draining rack. He looked her way and sighed quietly. “That’s a very admirable reason. I’m sure the princesses are grateful to have a guard like you among their ranks.”

Jeanne blushed a little and waved a hoof. “Oh, I’m still quite new to the guard. I’m hardly anything special, but hopefully one day I can make them proud.”

Galen started cleaning a few of the large mixing spoons. “Jeanne, from what I’ve seen, you are special. Don’t sell yourself short, even if you’re new to the guard.”

“Aww, I don’t know…but it’s sweet that you think so,” Jeanne leaned closer to him, giving him a happy smile.

He gazed into her beautiful eyes, and nearly felt like he could become lost in their radiant beauty. Shaking his head, he returned his focus to the sink. “So, were there any other reasons you made your decision?”

The Pegasus nodded. “Yes. I know that not everyone can defend themselves, so I’m hoping that as guard I can protect my loved ones and just as importantly, those that cannot protect themselves.”

Galen whimpered softly to himself, almost fearful that she may he heard his muffled cry. It touched his heart to hear her noble sentiment. Jeanne seemed to share many ideals and values that he himself held dear.

She looked at him with concern in her eyes. Clearly she had heard his faint cry. “Are you okay?”

He bore her a cheery smile. “I’m fine. I just felt touched by your explanation. It’s very honorable that you want to protect others. I’m sure you’ll be a great guard, as long as you stay true to what you believe in.”

She chuckled faintly in more of a silent coo. Nearly every word Galen uttered just made her feel closer to him and more of a yearning to be with him. Even the simplest of his actions seemed to stoke the fires of her desire for him, despite any implications involved. At this point her curiosity and feelings for him were overriding everything.

In light of this new information, Galen couldn’t help but feel even more attracted to Jeanne as well. Not only was she one of the most beautiful Pegasus ponies he’d ever seen, but also she had a personality he could really relate to.

They shared some more lighthearted chatter as they finished cleaning the mess of dishes.

Once they wiped the counter down, Galen saw the lasagna was getting close to being done as he checked the timer. He placed the breadsticks in the oven, and then returned to Jeanne. “Would you care to help me set the table?”

“I’d love to.” She smiled gleefully, as she followed him into the next room.

Together, they covered the table with a lovely white cloth. Then, Jeanne and Galen set the plates, glasses, a pitcher of ice water and utensils placed by two of the chairs that sat side by side at the fairly sizable table, which could easily accommodate six guests.

Galen grinned to himself as he added the finishing touch. He set a pair of two blue stick candles, reasonably spaced on either side of a decorate centerpiece, comprised of various flowers tastefully arranged.

“That just about does it…oh, wait. Jeanne, would you go over there and get us some napkins, please?” He pointed to the counter in the kitchen where the napkins were sitting in their little wooden holder.

“Of course.” She spoke in a rather silky voice. Jeanne gave Galen a flirtatious look. It was clear she wasn’t overly experience in giving such a glance, but Galen enjoyed it anyway.

Then, as she waltzed over to the counter, he noticed her flipping her tail. She flipped it in such a way that Galen couldn’t help but catch a glimpse of her marehood. He felt quite a rush as his eyes enjoyed the brief sight of her feminine curves. In a mere instance all the intense desires he’d been repressing for her came to the surface of his mind. Galen closed his eyes briefly, and allowed the heavenly sight of her to etch into his memory.

Shaking his head, he tried to continue composing himself as a gentleman, but with a very attractive and flirtatious mare in the room, that was going to be quite a challenge.

She returned to the table and set a small stack of napkins in between their place settings. Then she proceeded to playfully bump into Galen, hoping her gestures would be to his liking.

Jeanne managed to elicit an equally playful chuckle out of him, which was music to her ears. “Did you need me to get anything else?”

He shook his head, continuing to feel more than a little distracted by her recent actions. Clearly she was just as eager to move their relationship to the next level as he was, even thought it might seem a little soon in some ways. If anyone were to see them, they’d think the two were acting more like teenagers, rather than adults.

Galen cleared his throat. “No, I think that’ll do there’s still a little time till the lasagna and breadsticks will be ready. Unless, you want to start with the salad awhile?”

She smiled and nodded. “That’d be perfect. Why don’t I just go get it? We have everything else at the table.” Jeanne noted, heading toward the kitchen.

Galen followed her. “Wait up, I’ll get the salad dressing.”

Jeanne glanced back at him. “Okay.” She hummed to herself as she continued forward, with Galen walking close behind her.

The two were just about to the kitchen, when he saw her swish her tail again. Like before, he was unable to miss the flashes of her lovely crescent.

He enjoyed the sight once again, only this time he felt compelled to say something. “Jeanne, are you sure you want to swing your tail around like that?” His words were followed by a playful chuckle.

Jeanne looked back at him, her cheeks turned a little flushed, but she was more concerned with his reaction to her bold gesture.

Galen smiled, standing beside her, before he tenderly placed his hand on her shoulder. “Though, I have to say…I really liked what I saw.” He winked at her.

The blush on her cheeks remained but was now joined by a delighted smile. Jeanne was happy she took the gambit. Then, she gave him her best “come hither” look. “So, you enjoyed it?”

He rubbed her shoulder, offering her a rather enticing look of his own. “I really did. I’m glad to see you are feeling the same way.”

Jeanne placed her hoof on his forearm. “Of course I am. Mmm, I can hardly wait till later on…I really love the idea of being in bed with you.”

“Just resting?” He whispered, moving his hand to gently caress her soft cheek.

She shook her head. “No, hopefully it’ll be more…” Jeanne swallowed a little thickly, “If you’d be interested.” Jeanne gave him a slightly withdrawn look. She was trying not to be too forward, but didn’t want to keep beating around the bush either.

“Yes, I’m curious what it’d be like with a mare as captivating as you.” Galen continued smiling at her, while his fingers danced along her soft furry cheek.

Her blush deepened as she replied, “You do…I am…I uh…could you, maybe give me a preview? Please?”

Galen could hardly resist the adorable look on Jeanne’s face. To deny her would be unthinkable. He smiled and gave her a soft throaty chuckle. “A preview, huh?” He couldn’t resist teasing her just a little.

“Uh-huh.” She looked on at him, wondering what he was thinking.

His hand graced his chin briefly, and then, he gazed at her in a manner that made Jeanne feel like she could almost melt. She swallowed thickly again as she awaited his next response, filled with a mixture of curiosity, anxiety and desire.

“Please stand up on your hind legs and rest your hooves on my shoulders, just like last night.” His instructions were direct and commanding, just as they were refined and polite.

Jeanne happily did as he asked, standing on her hind legs, and then placing her front hooves along his firm shoulders. “Like this?” He nodded. “Then what did you…” Her words fell silent.

Galen placed his hand under her chin, gazing deep into her blue eyes. “You’re so beautiful, Jeanne, and just an amazing pony.”

“Galen.” Was all she could manage to reply, as she felt a strong heat roll across her face, while her cheeks continued to remain rosy. Her mouth hung open and she panted lightly, being held in the grip of an incredibly captivating sensation. She hoped with all her might that he’d at least kiss her.

Jeanne was all but ready to ask, when Galen finally leaned front, pressing his lips to her own. Just like the night before, she felt a rush of exhilaration from his kiss. She wrapped her hooves around his neck and pressed her lips harder against his. Jeanne moaned softly as she felt him push back and let out a soothing moan of his own. Galen placed his arms around her securely and pulled her close.

Her eyes joined his falling shut as the emotion of the moment continued to drive her wild with delight. Jeanne had kissed others before, but not when she felt so passionately about them. This was something entirely new to her, and it felt beyond wonderful. She almost wished they could take the kiss further, but she felt a wave of shyness at being any more forward that she’d already been.

Just as she feared the kiss was about to end, she noticed Galen’s tongue gently sweep across her lips. Had her eyes not been closed, they surely would have been bubbling with delight. Clearly, he was signaling her to join him in deepening their kiss. Happily, she opened her mouth, bidding him entry. She felt his tongue, which felt nothing like a stallion’s, reach inside her and gently caress her own tongue.

Gradually, Galen drew her out to where their lips had merged. There, Jeanne grew a little bolder and began sharing his passionate gesture. He was delighted by her boldness as their tongues started to share a sort of dance. They both breathed through their noses, not wanting this enrapturing kiss to end. It felt a little awkward but neither seemed to care as they both let out a series of muffled sighs and quiet moans. Their embrace strengthened as they savored the preview of wonders to come.

A few more seconds passed and finally they parted mouths, leaving them both to gasp softly. They remained close, holding each other in their caring grip. Jeanne smiled, gazing deep into his green eyes, while he stared right back into hers.

“That was…um…ooh, wonderful.” She smiled at Galen, rubbing her hoof along his shoulder.

He secured his grip around her shoulders, sharing her jubilant smile. “Hmmm.” Galen sighed as he swept the fingers of his left hand along her mane. “It really was something…hmm.”

Jeanne leered back at him, feeling her yearning for him grown, and from the way he had kissed her, she knew there was no more need for any awkwardness between them, Galen clearly felt the same.

The oven timer sounded before either one cold make another move. Galen looked to the kitchen. “Darn, we should probably get our dinner out of the oven.”

Jeanne giggled softly at him. “Yeah, you’re right.”

He chuckled at her, continuing to feel enthralled as he stroked her hair again. “We wouldn’t want it to burn, besides…we can always continue with this later.”

“Mmm, I’d like that.” She whispered ending in a delighted sigh.

Reluctantly, he released her and pulled away. His gait was a bit airy as he walked over to the oven. Placing on his protective mitts, Galen opened the oven and removed the pan filled with bubbling lasagna. Its aroma was even stronger now that it was being placed on the stove. He also recovered the breadsticks, setting them beside the main dish. Then, before removing his hand protection, he very cautiously pealed back the layer of aluminum foil.

Jeanne stood beside him as he unveiled the fruit of their labors. The top layer of cheese had melted beautifully and was still bubbling while the entire entrée lightly sizzled in the very hot baking dish.

She took in a deep breath. “Mmm, that smells delightful.”

“Wait till you taste it. For now, why don’t we start on the salad and give this just a few minutes to cool. It’s best eaten warm but it’s a little too hot to eat just yet.”

She nodded. “You’re right. I remember when my mom made her lasagna, it sometimes needed to sit for a little.” Jeanne turned to the salad. “I’ll fill our bowls, why you get the dressing?”

“Sure.” He chuckled happily, delighting her with his infectious good mood.

The two began with their salads, and didn’t really say much, but enjoyed their veggies, while exchanging affectionate glances.

Galen politely took their salad bowls and went to the kitchen. He first returned with the breadsticks, placed in a fancy basket. A few moments passed and he returned carrying the pan of lasagna. Setting it down on a pre-placed potholder, he took a knife and cut them each a piece. Then using a small pancake flipper, he set a piece on each of their plates.

Steam rose up from the hot food as Jeanne eyed it hungrily. Their pre-dinner activities had distracted her from the fact that she was quite hungry.

Galen sat beside her, and picked up his fork. “So, are you ready to try this?”

She smiled and gave him a nod. “I sure am. Mmm, it smells so tasty.”

He chuckled warmly as he cut a small piece with his fork. The cheese strung a little as he lifted the bite on his fork. Galen gently blew on the piece to help cool it. “Jeanne, open up.”

She felt a slight start. The Pegasus had always heard that some couples fed each other during romantic meals, but she never dreamed it would ever happen to her.

Jeanne smiled at him and then gladly opened her mouth. Galen smiled back, placing the morsel on her tongue. She bit down around the utensil and pulled the piece off the fork. He retracted it and watched as she began chewing.

Her eyes widened as the flavor of the cheeses blended with the pasta, sauce and seasonings, adding to her enjoyment of the first bite. “Mmm. Oh wow, that is delicious.”

Galen chuckled at her, happy that she was enjoying the main course. “I was hoping I prepared it correctly.”

Jeanne smiled over at him. “You did, and I’m glad I could help.”

“So am I.” He shared her joyful expression, then offered her another bite. “More?”

“Yes, please.” She giggled as she opened her mouth again. Galen couldn’t stop smiling as he fed her another bite of the warm cheesy lasagna.

Just as the first, Jeanne enjoyed the bursting flavor of the second morsel. “That is so good. How did you learn to cook like this?”

He laughed at her enthusiasm and was all too happy to answer her question. “Well, years of practice, and I learned a good deal from cooking with my mother.”

“Oh, you learned from you mom too?” Galen nodded. “Aww, that’s sweet. I remember you mentioned being close with your family.”

“Yeah, I did.” He replied, his expression falling a little.

Jeanne remembered that yesterday when she asked about his family, Galen had opted to switch the conversation. Rather than want him feeling uncomfortable, she had a clever idea. “Say, you haven’t tried any of this wonderful lasagna. Here, try some of mine.” She smiled as she carefully manipulated her fork in her right forehoof.

Galen watched as she sank the fork into her dinner and loaded a nice bite onto it. “You know, it amazes me how you ponies are able to hold things in your hooves without having hands or thumbs for that matter.”

She giggled softly at him. “It’s not hard, with a little practice. Now, open up.” Jeanne grinned playfully as she held the fork up to him.

Galen gave her a really big smile, then opened for her. She placed the fork in his mouth allowing him to bite down and enjoy his first taste of the main course. He chewed the piece several times allowing the harmonious blend of flavors to dance across his taste buds. The mild salty and creamy taste of the cheeses, the squishy texture of the pasta, followed by the tangy and tomato flavor of the sauce. Swallowing, he gave a nod of satisfaction. “Yum, you’re right that is delicious.”

She loaded the fork again and held it back up. “Then here, have some more.”

He chuckled and she giggled again. The two continued feeding each other flavorful bites of the lasagna, and also enjoyed the bounty of the breadsticks, periodically taking a refreshing sip of the cold water he’d poured into their glasses, back when they had set the table.

They didn’t share too much conversation, but that wasn’t the aim of this dinner. The two just wanted to enjoy being together again and without having any bothersome deadlines.

* * * * *

After Jeanne and Galen were done eating, they cleared the table, put away the leftovers and worked together washing the remaining dishes. Now that they had finished, the two walked out of the kitchen and made their way into the living room.

Galen turned to Jeanne and smiled. “Thank you for helping with the dishes and cleaning up. You really didn’t have to do that.”

She shook her head, and gave him a cheery look. “Maybe, but I was more than happy to help. So, what should we do now?

Galen spied the clock as they walked through the living room. “Well, it’s a little after nine. But, before I do anything, I should really get that shower. You don’t want to lay next to me when I start to reek.”

Jeanne smiled as she playfully bumped against him. “But you smell fine right now.”

He chuckled briefly, while they started down the short hallway. “That’s because I put on clean clothes, some deodorant…and a few dabs of my cologne. Otherwise, I’d be quite stinky.”

“Well, I can’t blame you for wanting to be clean, so go ahead.” Jeanne gave him her best sultry look and then she whispered, “Just don’t be too long.”

Galen enjoyed her saucy look and gave her a firm nod. “Don’t worry, I won’t be long. Heh-heh, I wouldn’t want to keep you waiting.” He said with a wink. Jeanne giggled at him as he led them into his bedroom. “Now, why don’t you relax on my bed and make yourself comfortable in the meantime.”

Jeanne eyed up his full-size bed. There were four plush pillows situated along the top, and they appeared to be in green pillowcases. She couldn’t make out the rest of the sheets as his bed was covered with a large tan blanket; nevertheless, it appeared very inviting to her. “Okay, I will,” she said in response.

Galen chuckled softly as he gathered some clean undergarments from his chestnut stained dresser. He walked over to where she was standing along the left side of the bed. “I’ll be out in a little bit.” Giving her a joyful look, he briefly kissed her lips.

She gazed at him happily. “I’ll be waiting.”

Galen walked over to the bathroom and shut the door behind him. Jeanne laid down on the bed, resting on her back. The blanket had a wonderfully soft texture to it. She let out a happy sigh as she started to partially sprawl. Glancing around, she saw the walls of his room were painted a soothing shade of medium blue. It wasn’t quite dark blue but it certainly wasn’t too bright either. Regardless, Jeanne enjoyed the color as it was bathed in the soft glow of the accompanying lamps on each nightstand.

She let her head sink into the pillows, not paying much heed to the other furnishings in Galen’s room. The dresser, shelves, and the door to his closet – none of it really seem to register. Jeanne was thrilled enough to be resting on Galen’s bed, knowing he would soon join her.

Jeanne turned her head and let out a dreamy sigh as she could just imagine what they might share in the minutes to come. It was then that she caught the whiff of a very familiar scent. Taking another deeper sniff, she realized it was the fragrance she came to know as his scent. It was a combination of his perspiration and deodorant with just a hint of his cologne. Jeanne noticed it on him whenever she visited him at the forge and when they were on their date yesterday.

The aroma began making her think intently of him as Jeanne turned onto her side facing the bathroom door, hoping she wouldn’t miss a glimpse of him as he entered the bedroom. The Pegasus flipped her tail straight out past her hind legs. Her eyes closed in response to the images of Galen present in her mind. Jeanne soon began fantasizing about him running his hands all across her body. She knew what his touch felt like in a few places, so she figured it couldn’t be too hard to imagine how his touch would feel elsewhere.

Her fantasy grew as she could almost feel his touch along her nether region. The idea of his touch along her hungering loins made her whimper out loud, while she was still alone in his room. Jeanne felt her body cry out for stimulation in response to her mental images and unending desire for him. Unable to deny her body’s request, Jeanne slowly trailed her right hoof down across her belly and beyond, arriving at her dampening marehood.

She heard the distant sound of the shower continuing to run, which allowed her to know it was safe to continue. Jeanne moaned very faintly as she began gently rubbing her moistening mound. “Ooh…Galen…” She sighed under her breath, while her hoof continued moving along her slit, lightly parting her delicate lips.

A few minutes had passed, and the door to the bathroom opened, Jeanne hadn’t even realized the running water had stopped. Galen stepped out clad in nothing but a white T-shift and a pair of matching briefs, feeling fresh and clean, and quite eager to return to his lady. His gaze was cast on the floor as he ventured into his room. “That was refreshing. I really needed that. I…” His speech dropped off, Galen noticed a faint whimper from Jeanne and what sounded like her gingerly moaning his name. Lifting his head, his eyes widen at the sight that met him. Jeanne was still there, lost in her fantasy and continuing to pleasure herself. “Jeanne?” Galen spoke in an incredulous tone, full of wonder, as he was unable to look away from the enticing sight before him. He felt a little awkward, but after hearing her speak his name, any lingering doubts he had about her desire for him fell to rest at that exact moment.

Her eyes slowly opened. Jeanne wasn’t sure if she had heard his voice or simply imagined it. Glancing up from the bed, she saw him standing there by the foot end. Her hoof froze and she pulled back against the bed. She hadn’t even realized she’d gotten so carried away. Jeanne’s cheeks turned bright red as she contemplated hopping off the bed and fleeing his room.

She swallowed hard, and managed to speak. “G-Galen…I…u-uh.” Jeanne was all but convinced she should get up and make a run for it, until she saw the look in his expressive green eyes. A wave of relief washed over her, at least he didn’t seem upset or overly embarrassed at what just happened.

Galen kneeled on the bed and made his way over to her. He made sure to give her some space, offering her a thoughtful smile. “I guess I kept you waiting too long.” Galen chuckled softly, continuing to give her a calming expression.

Jeanne lowered her head briefly and then returned his glance. “No, I just got carried away…but you don’t seem upset about it.”

“Should I be? I don’t think so.” Galen moved closer to her and placed his hand on her shoulder, moving it in a very caring fashion.

“You’re so kind and understanding, Galen. I have to confess, I’ve just been longing to know what your touch would feel like in…” Jeanne paused as her shyness began to reassert itself.

“In more intimate places?” He spoke quietly, continuing to caress her shoulder. Jeanne simply nodded. “Well then, my lady…my dear, Jeanne. Why don’t I make your fantasy a reality?”

Jeanne’s eyes widened at the thought. “Really?”

Galen nodded. “Of course. That’s why we’re in my room, isn’t it?” Again she nodded. He repositioned himself, moving closer to her. Galen reached his hand toward her chest and paused. “May I?” Jeanne nodded eagerly. He began running his hand along her furry chest, enjoying its velvety texture under his fingers. “I’ve been really wanting to spent some time alone with you, so we might share something like this…but I know from the past that it’s a bad idea to rush blindly into these things. And Jeanne, I don’t ever want to risk mistreating a mare as amazing as you.”

Jeanne couldn’t help but softly whimper from his endearing words. She smiled up at him while she remained on her back. Jeanne reached up her right hoof and placed it along his cloth-covered chest. “Galen.” She spoke softly as her hoof encircled his chest briefly.

He chuckled quietly at her as he reached over and darkened the lamp on the nightstand beside her, leaving only the pale glow of the other lamp on the opposite nightstand to light the room. Galen placed his right hand along her left cutie mark, remaining poised above her. He softly caressed her thigh and gave her a very affectionate look. “Jeanne.” Galen joined his lips to hers, sharing a wondrous exchange of their igniting passion.

She placed her hooves on his cheeks as their lips wrestled tenderly together, while his hands began roaming across her furry exterior. Muffled moans of pleasure attempted to flee Jeanne’s mouth, as Galen grazed his fingers along the soft feathers of her folded wings. He could feel her faintly tremble under his touch as their kiss continued.

Not wanting to be a horrible tease, Galen knew where she longed to be touched. He caressed her mane with his right hand, placing his left hand on her chest, where it began trailing down across her belly, slowly descending to the area just above her marehood. Jeanne felt a rush of exhilaration. His fingers were only a few inches from her crescent. The feeling of his tips drawing nearer to her curves caused her an intense feeling of arousal. One she couldn’t and didn’t even try to fight.

Their kissed ended at just the right moment. Jeanne let out a soft gasp as her wings began tingling profusely. She moaned gently as she felt the invigorating sensation of them rising up on their own, stretching out on end.

Galen chuckled quietly to himself – after all he was no stranger to wing behavior when a Pegasus became aroused. No longer wanting to deny her, Galen’s left hand glided down to her waiting curves. There, he tenderly ran his fingers along her folds. Jeanne lightly whimpered and let out a staggered moan as she felt his touch run along her. The sensation was unlike anything that she’d dared to imagine. The fact that his caress was so gentle only added to her pleasure.

He started running his fingers along her slit, feeling the dampness of her arousal coat his digits. He indulged in a savory glance at her gorgeous flower. Galen was quite amazed at how incredibly wet she was already as he continued touching her. A delighted smile formed on his face as he parted the delicate petals of her flower, and began softly stroking them with a few of his fingers, hoping his touch would be to her liking.

Jeanne tilted her head back, and let it sink deeper into the pillows as her breath began to deepen. She closed her eyes from the jolting ripples of pleasure that kept shooting up her back. The touch of his fingers felt beyond amazing. No hoof had ever felt that good caressing her down there. She let her head sway back and forth as he continued pleasuring her. Her eyes snapped open as she felt a jarring rush of bliss from the wondrous sensation of Galen sliding two fingers inside her. She let out a few more soothing moans of deepening ecstasy. Softly, she began to whimper as Galen started massaging her incredibly moist inner walls. She felt a warmth pool across her face as he continued touching her.

“Oh–oh. Galen, that feels…mmm incredible.”

“Better than you imagined?” He wondered.

“Mm-hmm.”

Galen chuckled quietly at her as he continued his tender fingering, adding some speed to his movements. He leaned up and planted an affectionate kiss on her neck, making her shudder in between moans. Galen enjoyed sharing a short kiss with her, before he pulled back. Wanting to add to her pleasure, he placed his right hand on her thigh and began rubbing his fingers along her leg.

Jeanne began to twitch and lightly squirm under his enrapturing touch. She laid there loving every passing second, feeling her body break out into a warm sweat, while her heart raced in her chest. Her breath continued to grow more labored as her level of bliss continued to rise. A heavenly tingling in her loins made Jeanne feel like she was all but melting from his touch.

She shivered as his free hand move from her leg to caress her silky blonde mane. Jeanne was really beginning to love the sweep of his fingers through her hair, but not as much as what the fingers of his left hand were doing. She managed to open her eyes through the haze of bliss and smiled at him. He smiled back, while his right hand remained along her mane. “Jeanne, you’re so beautiful.”

Her eyes feel back shut as she started to enjoy his touch even more. Letting go, she began to sigh and moan more frequently, but Jeanne wasn’t overly loud, which was quite to Galen’s liking. Her soothing moans did more for him than any amount of screams or overblown moans could ever do. In fact, since about the time her wings became erect, so had he. If Jeanne had her eyes open, she would most likely see he was pitching a tent in his underwear.

Keeping his focus on her, Galen adjusted the stroking of his fingers, giving some special attention to the roof of her marehood. His fingers ventured in a littler deeper, where he felt her walls momentarily clench around his fingers as she let go and moaned very pleasantly. “There…keep touching me…there…please.” Her all but moaned words were just what Galen wanted to hear. Focusing his touch where she politely requested, he added just a little more vigor to his flexing digits. Jeanne began all but rhythmically gasping as his touch made her feel hotter and hotter. She grunted briefly and let out an enraptured moan. Galen felt her squeeze around his fingers and then as he almost instinctively glanced down, he saw a mostly clear fluid squirt out of her. Jeanne moaned a few more times and let out two more, smaller, spurts of the rather viscous liquid, which joined the first coating his hand and fingers. To Galen’s delight, it appeared that Jeanne was a squirter.

She gasped and sighed, doing her best to regain her breath. Jeanne opened her eyes and glanced down at him, still softly panting for air. Her eyes widened briefly as she realized what she had inadvertently done. “Oh, Galen. I’m so sorry about that. I should have warned you that tends to happen to me a lot.” Her cheeks were still rather red as she placed a hoof on his shoulder.

He smiled up at her. “Don’t worry for a moment. It’s more than all right. In fact I really enjoyed it.”

“You did?”

“Yeah.” Galen couldn’t help but notice the enticing scent of her fluid as it continued to coat his fingers. He chuckled warmly as he leaned down to nuzzle his cheek to hers. Then he whispered into her ear, “Hmm, your marehood has a wonderful scent, just like the rest of you.”

Jeanne shivered and as Galen pulled back, he could see her blush deepen. She gave him an adoring look. “I…I’m glad. But, I made a mess.”

Galen sighed and smiled at her affectionately. “Don’t worry, it’s nothing some tissues can’t fix…and I guess this means my touch was more than to your liking.” He chuckled warmly, reaching for some tissues.

Jeanne intercepted him, snagging him in her hooves. “It was…so much more than I ever imagined. Mmm…I loved it.” She giggled softly and playfully at him.

Galen grinned as he wiped his hand with the tissues, and then tossed them into the nearby waste bin. “I’m glad to hear it…Jeanne.” He placed his arms around her as they both laid on their sides and started sharing kiss after kiss, until their lips locked into a deeply passionate embrace.

Jeanne enjoyed the pleasant sensation of his lips against hers, and began marveling it even more as she felt Galen’s right hand gingerly sweep along her mane. She moaned softly, feeling her affections for him continue to grow, all while she felt a wonderful sensation in her loins. Jeanne let out a muffled sigh when she heard him moan softly from their ongoing kiss. She wanted to reciprocate, so Jeanne placed her hoof on his chest and began swirling it across the cottony fabric of his shirt.

Galen sighed, enjoying the tender motion of her hoof as it moved across him. He pressed his lips against her harder in response to his rising desire. Jeanne grew bolder in her attempts to return the favor. She slid the end of her limb down across his belly and beyond, where she bumped into a bulge in his underwear.

Their kiss ended and Jeanne glanced down and smiled happily. Her cheeks reddened again as she gave him a half-lidded gaze. “Oh my, how could I forget?” Galen didn’t speak, but rather he laid there listening to her. She giggled softly and gently rubbed her hoof against his crotch. “You happily tended to me, but now. Hmmm…I’d like to do the same for you.”

Galen smiled at her and chuckled playfully. “I’d really like that.”

“I’m sure.” She whispered, attempting to be seductive for him. “Now why not uncover yourself…for me.”

His smile grew as he replied with a simply nod. Galen removed his T-shirt, uncovering his moderately hairy chest, and then tossed the shirt to the floor. His eyes returned to her as he placed his thumbs under the elastic of his underwear. Carefully, he lowered them in the front, allowing his manhood to stand freely. Jeanne indulged a lengthy stare at his member for the first time. An expression of silent awe crept up on her face. She had been wondering what a human male’s genitalia looked like.

She leaned over to his ear and whispered, “Do like I did…and lay on your back.”

“All right,” he smiled, laying on his back and taking in a deep anticipatory breath.

Jeanne glanced down at him and shared his charming smile. Her eyes trailed back down to his spiring masculinity. She couldn’t get over how similar and yet how different a human’s member was from that of a stallion’s. Either way, she found it quite captivating as she gently touched her hoof along the head of his manhood. From there, she slowly moved her hoof along his length enjoying the smooth texture of his skin.

Galen moaned softly from the heavenly sensation of her hoof’s velvety fur rubbing against him. He may not have said it or given it endless thought, but Galen had been longing to know what her touch would feel like on him. He let out a short gasp as her hoof moved to the even smoother underside of his spire. Galen almost felt like letting go right then and there, but he was easily able to fight back the urge, besides he so wanted to savor her touch for a while longer.

He gave her a very affectionate look as she continued stroking him. “Mmm, Jeanne…your hoof feels so soothing.”

She giggled at his kind reaction to her caring touch. Jeanne may not have had a lot of experience, but she wasn’t completely clueless, and was grateful that he seemed to have similar sensitive spots on his member, much like those of a stallion.

Feeling even bolder, Jeanne leaned down and kissed Galen, drawing him into another passionate kiss. She moaned softly for him, eliciting equally pleasant sounds from him. She wanted to make him feel as wonderful as he made her feel, so Jeanne placed her left hoof on his bare chest and rubbed it against him, adding to his pleasure

Their kiss broke and Galen let his head drift back into the pillows. The addition of her other hoof on his chest was amazing. It made him realize it’d been too long since he was last with a mare. He felt a slight start and let out a few pleasant moans in response to Jeanne stroking him faster. Her hoof vigorously ran along his smooth length, driving him wilder and wilder from her gentle touch.

Galen began to breath deeper and more rapidly, while he started to notice a strong tingling in his erogenous zone. He looked up at her and hooked his hand around her neck, pulling her down to share another kiss.

Jeanne’s hoof continued rubbing against him as she joined him in closing her eyes during their kiss. Just like before, she moaned quietly. Her sweet sounds only seemed to make him feel hotter for her as he felt himself near the point of no return.

Their mouths parted, and Galen drew in needed gasps of air. He moaned softly and more frequently as his breath continued to grow more rapid. Jeanne smiled as seductively as she could, knowing he must be getting close.

A few more seconds passed and Galen could hold back no more, her delightful touch suddenly caused him to feel a jolting wave of pleasure as he broke out into a lengthy and blissful moan. Jeanne looked down in time to see his manhood burst forth with several shots of his warm seed. She felt some of it graze her hoof with its fleeting warmth and gooey texture. Her smile grew as she looked up and saw the exhausted, yet satisfied expression on Galen’s face.

His violent gasps for air began to calm after several moments passed. Jeanne looked at him as he reached for her left hoof and clutched it in his right hand. “Hmmm…Jeanne, that was great.”

She giggled back at him. “I was just trying to return the favor, to someone very special.”

Galen chuckled back at her and reached over to his nightstand and grabbed the box of tissues. He was still lightly huffing for breath. “I’d better…c-clean up.”

Jeanne shook her head. “Uh-uh. Allow me, if you don’t mind?”

He shook his head. “No, not at all.”

She clipped several tissues and delicately cleaned him and then her hoof. “There we go.” Jeanne smiled as she tossed the soiled tissues into the trash can. Before she could make another move, Jeanne paused and shuddered from a sudden wave of pleasure. She discovered that Galen was using a few tissues to dry her still rather wet fruit. His touch felt so captivating and pleasant. She happily moaned from the inviting sensation.

He retracted his hand. “There, I hope I wasn’t out of line. But I realized…I never helped you clean up.”

She giggled. “Yeah, but your hand was messed up more than me.” Jeanne grinned at him in a playful and slightly sheepish manner.

Galen tossed the tissues and set the box back on the stand. Then, he placed his arm around her shoulder. “Come over here.”

She batted her eyes at him, sliding closer. “Okay, here I am. So, what do you want to do with me now?” Jeanne giggled softly staring into his eyes.

Galen sighed as he stared right back into her eyes. “Would you care to cuddle, before we call it a night?”

Jeanne closed her eyes and smiled. “I’d love to.”

“Hang on a sec. If you would, help me push the covers back, that way we can slide under them without having to get up.”

“Sure.” Jeanne reached up and joined Galen in pulling down the sheet and blankets so they could make their way under them. It took a little effort, but in a few moments, the two had made their way beneath the sheets.

Galen pulled the covers over them, and made sure she had a fair portion. “There we are. Comfy?”

She nodded and giggled again. “Uh-huh. Mmmm, come here, Galen.”

He chuckled playfully as he slid closer to her. “Here I am, Jeanne.” Galen placed his arms around her again and drew her close.

She gently placed her hooves along his chest as they began nuzzling their cheeks together. “Ooh…this is nice.”

“Yeah.” Galen sighed contently as he nuzzled her back, and moved his hand to gently caress her mane.

After cuddling for a few minutes, they both began to yawn. Galen stretched a little and then secured his arms around her. “I think I’m going to sleep great tonight.”

“Me too.” Jeanne let out another cute little yawn and let her head sink into the pillow, breathing the fresh clean scent of his hair into her nose. “You smell nice.”

He chuckled weakly. “That’s my shampoo,” he mumbled. “But…I think you smell nicer.”

“That would be my lilac perfume.” She replied weakly.

The room grew silent, save only for their collective breathing. Galen and Jeanne had fallen under slumber’s welcoming veil, now that another memorable date had come to an end.

Author's Note

I'm so sorry this was so delayed. I was hoping to have this posted months ago. Winter took its toll on me as did a number of personal matters. But, now that spring has returned, I will be able to get back back on track. And note that if I'm not satisfied with the quality of my work, I'll delay it before I risk posting anything that feels rushed. Thank you all so very much for your patience. It's appreciated.

I hope you enjoyed this new installment of Jeanne's story. And let me assure you, it's only just beginning. There is so much more to come. So if this chapter didn't quite measure, up, I think you'll find developments in the next chapter to be most intriguing.

Jaydex

Chapter 5 - "A Match with Malik"

Jeanne murmured softly as she opened her eyes. Looking around Galen’s room, she caught a glimpse of sunlight peaking in from around the curtains. Her ears twitched as she noticed the chirp of nearby birds. A smile formed on her face as she realized it was morning.

Her hooves were still resting against Galen’s warm chest. Jeanne’s smile grew as she gazed over at him. Galen was still resting as she reached out her hoof and lightly swept it across his cheek. “Galen.” Jeanne whispered, happier than ever to still be at his side.

Jeanne sighed as she felt his strong arms adjust around her. She closed her eyes for a moment, then bid them to open again. Looking back at Galen, she noticed his green eyes had opened. He greeted her with a warming smile. “Morning, Jeanne.”

She smiled back at him. “Morning.”

Galen moved his right hand to gently caress her golden mane, which was only slightly mused from sleep. He laid there with her, happiness present on his face. “How’d you sleep?”

Jeanne snuggled up to him and nuzzled his cheek. “Mmm, I slept great.” She let out a faint yawn, and began running her hoof along his shoulder. “How about you?”

His fingers continued to fondle her silky locks, while he returned the favor and nuzzled her back. “Wonderful. I love a peaceful night’s sleep. I think we wore each other out…that and we did put a lot of work into dinner last night.” Galen chuckled.

Jeanne giggled from his thoughtful words. “You’re right. But from the moment I returned to you yesterday, I enjoyed…no, I am treasuring ever moment with you.” She gasped lightly, placing a hoof over her mouth. “Did that sound all right?”

Galen smiled and nodded. “It’s fine, honey.” He moved his hand and lightly scratched Jeanne behind her ear.

She sighed and whispered, “Honey.” Then she giggled again. “Mmm, I love your touch, Galen.”

He let out a hearty chuckle. “After what we shared last night, I know you do.”

Jeanne blushed, then resumed looking at him with her beautiful blue eyes. “I still feel wonderful from last night.”

“So do I. And to think, we can spend all day together.”

“And all night, again.” Jeanne smiled. “I wonder what we’ll share tonight?” She attempted to give him a sultry gaze, which just made Galen smile all the more.

“The sky’s the limit. Why don’t we just see where the day takes us, and go from there.” He placed his hand on her velvety shoulder and patted her tenderly.

“Sounds great. And best of all…we’ll be together.” She chuckled.

Galen turned back the covers and sat up, swinging his feet to the floor. He checked his alarm clock. “It’s almost eight. Would you like to go out for breakfast, my treat?”

Jeanne turned back her portion of the sheets and rose to her hooves. That’d be great. Where did you have in mind?”

Standing upright, Galen enjoyed a good stretch. “Ponyville Café has an awesome variety, and they make some of the best scrambled eggs I’ve ever had.” He grinned.

Jeanne made her way over to him and rubbed up against him. “I’m game.”

“Good. Now, I just need to get dressed. Won’t take but a minute…well, maybe two.”

Jeanne chuckled at him. “While you do that, I’m going to slip into the bathroom quick.”

He nodded as he opened his dresser drawer and grabbed a pair of socks. “Okay. Think I’ll sneak in there after you’re done. Then we can head out.”

“All right,” she chirped. Then, Jeanne began humming as she stepped airily to the bathroom.

Galen chuckled to himself as he gathered some clothing and got dressed.

* * * * *

After finishing their preparations, Jeanne and Galen departed his house. The sun had made its way well above the horizon. From the way the morning air kissed them as they walked, the couple knew it was shaping up to be a beautiful day.

Galen placed his arm around Jeanne as the two made their way to the café. The streets were just beginning to brim with life on this promising Saturday morning.

Following a brief stroll, they had arrived at their destination. Galen glanced around and nodded. “Good, it’s not too busy this morning.”

Jeanne looked at him and blinked. “How can you tell?”

He chuckled. “Some Saturday mornings, it’s so packed there’s a line out the front door of ponies and a few humans waiting to get a table.”

“Wow! The food must be really good if it gets that crowded.”

“Oh, it is, trust me.”

“I do, Galen.” Jeanne smiled as they walked into the charming building. Like most of the structures in Ponyville, it was comprised of a combination of wood and stone, only it featured a shingled roof, while still maintaining the same picturesque look the buildings brought collectively to the town.

Once inside, Galen felt even more relieved. For the moment, there wasn’t even anyone waiting by the “Please Wait to Be Seated” sign.

The two of them stood next to the sign, waiting for the hostess to come and seat them. Galen ran his fingers along Jeanne’s shoulder and she responded by lightly nuzzling his side. Tilting their heads up, the two saw the hostess pony walking back to her small podium. She smiled at her next two customers, looking at them with her purple eyes. “Welcome to Ponyville Café. Just two of you?”

Galen nodded, “Yes.”

“And did you want a table or a booth?” The tan mare inquired.

“A booth, please,” Galen replied, while Jeanne smiled nodding in agreement.

The hostess studied the table chart, scratched a number next to one of them and grabbed two menus. “Right this way, please.”

Jeanne and Galen followed her to a booth near one of the front windows. The mare placed their menus and some wrapped silverware at both sides of the table. “Here you are.”

“Thank you. This will do nicely.” Galen smiled graciously to their hostess as Jeanne and he both took a seat.

“Your waitress will be with you shortly. Enjoy.” And with her final words spoken, the hostess left them to study their menus.

Jeanne looked around and noticed there weren’t too many ponies, or humans for that matter, at the restaurant. She smiled, turning her attention back to Galen. “So, what do you recommend?”

Galen opened his menu and flipped through a few pages. “Ah, here we go.” He pointed to one particular item. “I usually get the “Celestia’s Sunrise” breakfast. It gives you a really good meal.”

Jeanne glanced at it briefly and noticed the price. “Wow, only 6 bits. That’s not bad.”

“Nope. You get two eggs. They come sunny side up, but I usually get mine scrambled. Then, you have a choice of home fries or hash browns, and can get pancakes, French toast, or a fruit crepe. Oh and you can also opt for toast as well for only 1 bit more.”

“It’s nice that there’s plenty of variety. But, I wonder what I should go with.” Jeanne placed a hoof to her chin and gave her options some thought. She grinned and looked back over at Galen. “You know, I think I’ll just go with whatever you usually get this first time. I’m not awake enough to make any major decisions yet.”

Galen laughed. “All right. Like I told you, I get my eggs scrambled, go with the hash browns and the fruit crepe, it’s usually blueberry or cherry…mmm and comes with a nice mound of whipped cream.” A big smile formed on his face.

Jeanne nodded. “That sounds good, and I see you enjoy whip cream too.”

He snickered. “Are you kidding, I love it. In fact that’s why I’m planning on getting some hot chocolate. They serve it with a nice dollop of whip cream as well. And there’s just the right hint of a nip in the air this morning, that’ll make some hot chocolate really hit the spot.”

“That does sound good. And I guess that nip in the air is why you’re wearing long sleeves?” Jeanne patted his left arm and ran her hoof across the sleeve of his shirt.

He placed a finger on his nose and nodded. “Yep.”

Jeanne’s eyes widened for a moment. “Oh, I almost forgot. After breakfast, can we stop by the forge?”

Galen scratched his head curiously. “Sure, but what for?”

“This is a little embarrassing, but, after I met up with you yesterday, I had set a bag with some things I brought for the weekend near the back of the shop. I was so happy to see you again, that I…forgot it when we left for your house yesterday.” Jeanne tried not to look too sheepish as she briefly facehoofed.

Galen patted her shoulder and smiled. “It’s all right, Jeanne. We all forget things every now and then. So it’s no problem.”

She shook her head. “Yeah, but I’m a Royal Guard, I should have a better memory than this.”

“No one’s perfect. Don’t be too hard on yourself. Besides, I’m sure you’ll do fine when push comes to shove.” He patted her foreleg supportively.

Jeanne sighed silently and shared his smile. “I really glad you’re so understanding.”

“I try to be.” He replied.

“Hi there!” Said a very chipper mare. She had purple fur, blue hair and was wearing a simple white apron. “I’ll be your waitress this morning. Sorry I kept you waiting so long.” She greeted them with a warm smile and her cheery emerald eyes, while she sat a glass of ice water down for each of them.

“That’s okay. We needed some time to look over the menu anyway.” Galen shared her smile.

“Are you ready to order then?” Their waitress held up her order pad, eager to serve.

“Jeanne.” Galen left it to her to start.

“Oh.” She pointed to the menu. “I’ll have the “Celestia’s Sunrise” breakfast.”

“Did you want the eggs sunny side up?” The waitress asked.

“No, I’d like them scrambled, and I’ll go with hash browns and the fruit crepe. Oh, and could I get some hot chocolate.”

“Certainly, did you want whip cream?”

“Yes.” Jeanne replied, glee beaming from her eyes.

“All right. Scrambled, hash…uh, is a blueberry crepe all right?” Jeanne nodded. “Okay. And for you, sir?”

Galen smiled. “I’ll have the exact same thing as her.”

“Exactly the same, sir?” The waitress checked, looking at her pad and then again at him.

He nodded. “Yep.”

She looked at her customers, scribbled down a few quick notes and smiled. “I’ll put that right in. It shouldn’t be too long, and I’ll be right back with your hot chocolates.” The waitress departed and made her way back to the kitchen.

Jeanne reached across the table and ran her hoof along Galen’s hand. “This was a great idea, Galen.”

Joy remained present in Galen’s eyes as he patted her hoof with his other hand. “Well, with the crowd at Vinny’s the other night, I thought it’d be nice if we could actually eat inside a restaurant.” He chuckled. “Besides, after all the work that went into dinner last night, I thought it wouldn’t hurt to let someone else make breakfast.”

Jeanne giggled, while she continued to rub his hand. “Yeah.” She pulled back her foreleg as the waitress returned.

She set down their mugs of hot chocolate. “Here you are. Your food should be up in about ten minutes or so.”

Galen reached for his mug. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” The waitress smiled as she trotted off.

“Look at all that whip cream.” Jeanne eyed up her cup and licked her upper lip in anticipation.

“You are in for a treat.” Galen grinned as he unwrapped his silverware and set the napkin to the side. He grabbed the spoon and was just about to dig into the spiral lump of whip cream.

“Galen? Galen, is that you?” A male voice called over.

Jeanne looked up as Galen turned around. He knew that voice all too well. There, approaching them from behind Galen’s side of the booth was a human that stood close to six feet tall. He was clad in black pants, a pale gray shirt and had on a pair of leather boots. The human chuckled as he ran a hand through his short auburn hair. “I thought that was you.” He stepped proudly as he walked right up to the table they were sitting at.

“Yeah, it’s me.” Galen replied, with a mixture of feelings stirring within him.

Galen’s acquaintance chuckled. “Well, Galen, I see you’re with a new mare. She’s lovely. In fact, I’d say she’s a vast improvement overly the last one you shacked up with.”

Galen slammed his fist on the table. “Darn it, why do you always have to do that?”

“Ha, ha, ha, oh come on, Galen. Where’s your sense of humor. I’m only teasing you.”

Galen shook his head. “Then why doesn’t it feel like it?”

“You’re far too sensitive, you know.”

Jeanne looked at Galen with uneasy eyes. “Galen, who is this? Is he a friend of yours?”

Galen scoffed. ““Friend”, might be a bit of a stretch, but he’s someone I’ve know for a while. He is…”

Galen was cut off. “Please, I don’t need an introduction. I’m perfectly capable of introducing myself. My name is Malik…that’s Mal-ik, and Galen and I go way back.” Malik snickered again.

“If your idea of a year and a half is way back.” Galen huffed, before composing himself. He turned his eyes to Jeanne. “Malik’s “charming” personality aside, he has been a big help in showing me the ways of the sword.”

“That’s right, I have. Oh, and you didn’t introduce me to your lovely dinning companion.” Malik ran his hand across his mustache and goatee, which shared the same color as his hair.

Jeanne smiled, while she was still trying to figure out what she thought about Malik, though she saw no reason to be rude. She just wished that he would stop annoying Galen. “My name is Jeannedarc, but most just call me Jeanne.”

“Hmm, an interesting name. Sounds similar to Jeanne D’Arc, better known as Joan of Arc from Earth’s history, wouldn’t you say, Galen?” Malik briefly stared at Galen and was delighted at just how uncomfortable he was. A snide chuckle left his mouth as he patted Galen’s shoulder. “I’m sorry. That’s enough chatter. But after seeing you here, I just wanted to make sure you didn’t forget about our sparring match this afternoon.” Malik gave Jeanne another glance with his gray eyes. “And judging from your date’s demeanor, I don’t think you two are parting after breakfast. But, can I still expect to see you?”

A stern expression formed on Galen’s face as he turned his head to face Malik. “Oh, I’ll be there. Two-thirty, and don’t think you’re the only one I’ve been learning swordplay from.”

Malik rolled his eyes and snickered. “Oh please, don’t tell me Blade was giving you lessons again. The grandson of that foolish old blacksmith isn’t half as good as he thinks he is. But either way, Galen, I look forward to seeing you this afternoon.” He bowed insincerely to the couple and started walking away. “Till then. Oh, and do enjoy your meal. Ha, ha.”

Galen did a double facepalm. Jeanne reached over and placed a hoof on his shoulder. “Are you okay?”

He sighed, uncovering his face. Galen closed his eyes and placed his right hand on Jeanne’s foreleg. “I’ll be all right.” Shaking his head, Galen continued, “I’ve gotta stop letting him get to me.”

“It’s okay, Galen. From what I can tell, Malik’s just a jerk. Don’t let him bother you.” Jeanne smiled at Galen.

Galen nodded, and smiled as he noticed the affection brimming from her captivating eyes. “Thank you, Jeanne. Heh, I never expected to run into him here. Oh, my sparring with him this afternoon won’t be a problem, will it? I almost completely forgot?”

Jeanne closed her eyes for a moment and shook her head. “Uh-uh. It’ll be fine.”

Galen secured his grip on Jeanne’s hoof and guided her foreleg back to the table. He tenderly stroked her fur with his thumb. “Thank you, Jeanne. And don’t worry, this won’t take long. There will still be plenty of time for us to be together.”

She nodded, patting his hand with her other hoof. “Of course. I know there’ll be, but Galen, while I know you’re fondness for swords, I didn’t know you were training to use one.”

Galen grinned a little, a serious expression formed on his face. “Well, like you, Jeanne. I want to be able to protect those important to me. And while Ponyville is essentially a peaceful town,” he made a face, “Most of the time. Equestria does experience more than its fair share of threats. I just figure, the more I know. Besides, where’s the fun in forging swords if I don’t know how to use them?”

Jeanne chuckled, while staring at him with sincere eyes. “It makes complete sense to me. And, now I know why you were so touched with my reasons for becoming a Royal Guard.”

“Yeah.”

The waitress returned and had their breakfast on her tray. “Here you are. These just came out, so they’re good and hot.” She placed the plates of steaming hot food in front of Jeanne and Galen. “Enjoy, and if you need anything else, please just let me know.”

“Thank you, but we’re good. Right, Jeanne?”

The Pegasus eyed up her meal hungrily. “Yeah, we’re good.”

The waitress smiled and trotted off to see to her next customer.

“This breakfast sure looks delicious.” Galen looked around at the nicely prepared scrambled eggs that had a really fluffy look to them, and next to them was a generous pile of hash browned potatoes, which appeared to have just the right amount of crispiness to them. His eyes leaped over to the second plate that held the blueberry crepe. It was mired in a small pool of blueberry sauce with plenty of extra berries, a generous mound of whip cream and had been lightly dusted with powdered sugar. “I’m not sure where to start first.”

Jeanne giggled. “I know what you mean. This all looks so good.”

“I don’t know about you, but I think I’m just going to start with a bite of that crepe. Then, after breakfast, we’ll stop by the forge for your things.”

“Mm-hmm.” Jeanne smiled happily as the two put the encounter with Malik behind them and enjoyed their breakfast, starting with the decadent pastry.

* * * * * *

Malik made his way through the streets of Ponyville. He all but scoffed at the bubbly expressions on the ponies’ faces as they went about their daily routines. Still, he couldn’t help but enjoy the pleasant weather.

A smile formed on his face as he continued strolling along, while he reached over and patted the side of his satchel. Looking ahead, he saw his destination coming into view. As he slowed his gait he nodded at the iconic Golden Oak Library.

For the most part, Malik didn’t care for the sugary demeanor the majority of the ponies had. However, he did find Twilight Sparkle’s love of books and exceptional level of intelligence refreshing.

He knocked on the library’s front door and patted his bag again. A few moments passed and the door opened. Twilight looked up and smiled. “Oh, good morning, Malik.”

Malik nodded. “Morning.”

“What brings you here? Oh, and please come in.” Twilight motioned for him to enter.

He smiled as he entered the library, followed closely by Twilight. Malik glanced around, while he mused there were most likely larger libraries in Equestria, he was still impressed at how well Twilight kept this one and despite its size, the Golden Oak still held an impressive variety of literature.

She shut the door and glanced his way, still smiling. “I didn’t expect to see you this morning.”

Malik turned to Twilight and reached into his satchel. “I stopped by to return this.” He handed her the book.

Twilight gripped it in the raspberry glow of her magic. She glanced at it and blinked at him. “You finished it already?”

He nodded. “Yes. “The History of Magic in Equestria” was a really stimulating read. I could scarcely put it down.”

Twilight smiled brightly, it was always a thrill to find someone else as fascinated with magic as she was, not to mention reading. “Well, is there anything else you wanted to borrow?”

He smiled. “Yes there is. Do you have any books about relics or magical talismans? That book mentioned a few but only briefly. And it’s still impressive how gifted Starswirl the Bearded was.”

She chuckled as she put the book he returned back onto its shelf. “I know. Not every unicorn can boast to creating over 200 spells.”

“Indeed. And I’m sure he saw his share of relics and other magical items. Oh and what about potions?”

Twilight giggled as she moved to a different shelf. “Potions you say, and relics? Hmmm…” She searched a few leather spines along the sprawling recessed bookcases. “Ah, here we go.” She plucked a pair of tomes from neighboring shelves. “Here.” Twilight floated the two books over to him. “Give these a read.”

Malik took the first book and studied the cover. It was leather bound in red and had an elegant font and the title done in gold. “Hmmm. “Bubble Brew’s Guide to Potion Making”.” He blinked. “Wow…first edition!”

Twilight grinned and nodded. “Yep. It’s a very good book for anyone looking to get their hooves…or in your case hands into potions.”

He nodded, and then he took the second tome from Twilight’s magical grip. Leather bound in dark blue with a fancy silver font. “Oh wow…this is perfect! “Ancient Magical Relics & Talismans of Equestria”, yes, this will be just what I need to follow up on “The History of Magic in Equestria”.”

“I’m glad to hear it. Now, let me just get these checked out for you and you can be on your way. Unless, you’d like to stay for tea.”

Malik lowered the books and broke out of a sort of trance. “Huh? Tea?” he mumbled.

“Yes. I just brewed some and if you’d enjoy talking about the history of magic, I’d be happy to hear another human’s views on magic.”

“Uh…” Malik’s mouth hung open, he didn’t really want to stay for tea, but when he saw the eagerness on Twilight’s face, and gave her proposal some thought, he smiled. “Sure, I guess I can stay for a cup of tea. I do have a few questions anyway.”

Twilight’s eyes sparkled. She always enjoyed having someone to share intelligent conversations with. She took the books from him and filled out her checkout log. Then, she led Malik to her sofas and coffee table.

He walked over, but still wasn’t overly eager to stick around, but at least he could ask his questions.

* * * * * *

Galen stretched his arms as he and Jeanne made their way to Clang’s forge. “Ahh, that’s better.” He snickered as he flung an arm around Jeanne.

She chuckled, while she walked closer to Galen and lightly brushed against him. The Pegasus smacked her lips. “Mmm, the vanilla custard in that crepe was soooo good.” Jeanne giggled.

Galen smiled, rubbing his hand along her furry shoulder. “I told you they were good.” The human glanced up and saw the familiar structure of the forge. “Ah, we’re here.”

The bell jingled as they opened the shop door and entered. They both glanced around a bit, before their eyes were drawn to the counter.

“Ah, there you are,” Clang called out in his distinct raspy voice. “I figured you two would be back.”

Galen smiled. “Good morning, Clang. I take it you found Jeanne’s things?”

The stallion nodded. “I did. I’ve kept them locked up safe, here in the shop. And a fine good morning to you, Galen, my boy.”

Jeanne let out a sigh of relief, the sincerest of looks in her eyes. “Thank you, Clang. Thank you!”

He chuckled warmly at her, closing his eyes. “Oh, you are quite welcome, my dear.” Clang reached below the counter and placed her pack on the table. “As soon as I saw this resting by Galen’s workbench, I figured you must have gotten sidetracked.”

She lowered her head and nodded, before she replied in a shameful voice, “Yes. Not very fitting for a Canterlot Royal Guard now, is it?”

Clang chuckled again and fluffed his gray beard. “Don’t fret too much about it. We were all young once. Ah,” Clang began to reminisce. “I remember this one lovely mare, a cream-colored earth pony with lovely teal locks. She was a sheer delight to be with. One day, she came to visit me. I was so happy to see her that I ran off and left my bit pouch behind.” The elder stallion shook his head. “Needless to say my face was red that day. But she was a real sport and like Galen here, very understanding.”

“So it’s not just because I have a bad memory?” Jeanne mused, a light-hearted grin on her face.

“Exactly,” Clang replied. “We all do foolish things when we’re young and being led by our hearts.”

Jeanne blushed a little, then looked over at Galen, before looking back at Clang. “Yeah.”

Galen moved closer to Jeanne and took a deep breath. “Well, thanks again for keeping Jeanne’s things safe. We’d stick around more, but the day is probably going to fly. And I have to be back here at 2:30, and that’ll be here all too soon.”

“It’s only five till ten, but I know what you mean. And forgive an old stallion for prying, but why are you coming back?” Intrigue filled Clang’s pale purple eyes.

“I have a sparring match with Malik,” Galen answered, a deadpan look on his face.

Clang’s eyes widened. “Again? Galen, why do you keep hanging out with him? He’s hardly a friend of yours.”

Galen strolled over near some of the displayed weapons for sale, namely the swords. “Most of the time I can barely stand him, but Malik is very skilled with a blade. I want to get better, and while Blade is great to train with, I want to learn all I can, and detestable as he is, Malik knows things your grandson doesn’t.”

Clang just shook his head, then smacked his hoof along the counter. “I don’t trust him. Just make sure you take care. You know he likes to spar with real swords.”

Galen nodded. “I know. But I’m getting better all the time. And despite Malik’s attitude toward Blade, your grandson is also helping me learn more all the time.”

“I’m glad Blade has been able to share what he knows. He is one of our family’s best swordsponies.” Clang smiled and nodded confidently.

Jeanne placed a hoof over her heart. “You two had me worried for a second, but wait, you really use actual swords to spar?”

“Well, yeah,” Galen answered. “Malik says the spectacle of injury makes one’s true skills come out. At least I think that’s how he worded it.”

She smiled. “Well, as our training in the guard advances, we end up using real swords. Shining Armor always says there’s nothing like real-life experience to help sharpen your skills.”

“Wise words, but I’d expect no less from the Captain of the Royal Guard.” Clang took a deep breath, then lightly ushered Jeanne’s bag closer to her. “Here, I’d best not keep you two.”

Jeanne took her bag and slung it over her shoulder, it was somewhere between the size of a large purse and a backpack, ideal for packing items for more than and short stay. “All set, Galen.”

“Then, let’s head out. See you, Clang.” Galen and Jeanne waved as they left the shop.

Clang waved back and chuckled. “Well, he finally stopped calling me sir. I think Jeanne is going to do wonders for him.”

* * * * * *

Nearly three hours had passed when Malik finally opened the front door of the library. He turned back and forced a smile. “Wow, that’s really great, Twilight. Now I won’t wonder about that.”

Twilight smiled and nodded as she followed him to the doorway. “That’s right. Only certain unicorns, like me, are gifted with the use of multiple kinds of magic. Most only use basic magic and that which is specific to their special talents.”

“Great. Well, I’d better be going. I still have some things to do today, and I can’t wait to read these two books.”

“All right, I won’t keep you any longer. Sorry if things got a little carried away.”

Malik gave a wry chuckle. “Think nothing of it. I’ll see you later, Twilight.”

The unicorn smiled and waved to the human as he walked away. “Take care, Malik.”

“You too,” he replied, waving back. Then, as Malik put some distance between him and the library, a bitter frown formed on his face. Ugh, I don’t believe it. She kept me there rambling till after eleven o’clock. He facepalmed and shook his head. Well, I’m glad I already ate breakfast. But I’m getting hungry again. I didn’t expect to be there that long. Might as well head out to the usual place and grab some lunch. Malik snarled under his breath as he continued walking. Wait, I don’t want to be too far away. I do have that match with Galen. Might as well head home. I can grab a bite there, and take some time to start one of these books. He chuckled as he scratched his head. Glancing down as his satchel, he gave it a firm pat. If nothing else, I suspect that long rambling session of Twilight’s will be worth it. Especially since I was able to get these. I just hope these two books are as enlightening as the last one.

Arriving at his simple, but somewhat elaborate Ponyville home, Malik stepped inside and walked through the living room. The décor was nothing too fancy, but everything had a place and was neatly organized. Very little if anything Malik owned didn’t serve some purpose. Be it the fancy swords and shields that hung on the living room walls or the shelves lined with books or figurines. Everything was there for a reason.

Malik entered the kitchen and hung his satchel on one of the chairs along the dining table. He popped by the refrigerator and opened the door. “Ah, good, I’ve got plenty of cold cuts.” He grinned happily as he removed some of the wrapped deli meats from his fridge.

While some humans made the conscious effort to refrain from eating meat. There were more and more humans discovering that grocers in Ponyville and other towns and cities in Equestria were now offering meat products for sale to humans. Originally, Malik discovered limited areas of meat in the stores, which were typically offered for other carnivorous and omnivorous denizens of Equestria and even those visiting from territories beyond. But as more and more humans came to live in Equestria, local merchants decided it might help their businesses to expand the meat market. It raised more than a few questions, but with other races out there such as minotaurs, griffons, and certain breeds of dragon, the initial shock faded and it quickly became the humans’ decision on what they wanted to eat.

After making a few preparations, Malik made himself a sandwich and after placing it on a plate, he set it down on the table and plopped a bag of potato chips with it, before having a seat. “There. This should do. And…” He reached over to his bag and removed one of the two books. “Might as well kill two birds with one stone.” The human chuckled as he opened the book about potions. After taking a bite of his sandwich, he started pouring over the table of contents, a delighted grin formed on his face. “I will have to thank Twilight again. This book will be very helpful.”

* * * * * *

It was a little after noon when Jeanne and Galen returned to the forge and made their way to the area out back. The two made for their favorite of the maple trees. Jeanne smiled as she spread out the soft blue picnic blanket they brought. Galen set the fairly large basket down once she finished smoothing it out. He then removed his sheathed sword and leaned it along the tree.

Galen took in a deep breath and let out a relaxing sigh. “This was a great idea, Jeanne.”

She smiled as she gracefully sat down on the blanket. “I thought you might like it. I mean we needed to come back here later on anyway. And…” The Pegasus looked to the nearly crystal sky, beams of sun were shining through the treetops and the birds were still chirping their songs of joy and thanksgiving. “It’s such a lovely day, I could hardly resist suggesting we have a picnic.”

He sat down beside her and placed a caring arm around her. “I know. It’s so nice to have such a peaceful day off.” Galen chuckled halfheartedly. “I almost wish I hadn’t scheduled this match with Malik. But, it’s no big deal. I need to train anyway, and it’s not like it will take long. Besides, we still have a little over two hours till then.” He pulled her close and smiled, running his hand along her fur.

Jeanne nuzzled him. “Good, then we have plenty of time to relax and enjoy ourselves.”

“Mm-hmm.” Galen rubbed his cheek along her soft white fur. “Your fur is so velvety.”

Jeanne giggled, partly from his words and little because Galen’s whiskers were starting to grow and tickled her as they continued to cuddle.

He kissed her cheek softly, which in turned caused Jeanne to kiss his cheek. They both sighed and resumed their cuddled, under the cooling shadow of the sturdy maple.

Several minutes passed and they turned to look each other in the eye. Galen’s green eyes locked onto Jeanne’s lovely blue ones. They seemed to sparkle as he gazed deep within them. A smile blossomed on her face as her eyes fell partially closed. She swept her hoof along his cheek. “Galen.”

The human stared at her half-lidded, while he reached over and began stroking her golden mane as it draped along her neck and shoulder. Galen reveled at the silky texture as the fondness on Jeanne’s face grew. Her eyes closed as she leaned forward. Galen responded in kind until their lips met for a tender kiss.

Gentle moans wafted from their wrestling lips and intertwined with the breeze that swept across them. Then, after a time, their kiss ended, but not before the two found each other sharing a tender embrace.

Jeanne sighed and lightly rolled her head. “That was wonderful. And almost temps me to do more.”

Galen chuckled, running the back of his hand along her mane. “I know what you mean. But, this place is way too public for something like that.”

“I know, but it makes me long for tonight.” She stared at him with dreamy eyes and a soft but noticeable blush on her cheeks.

“You know, if you ever would want to have some fun outdoors.” Galen began, resting his hand on her shoulder. “There’s a nice secluded place along the northern forest. It’s a decent hike from here, but it would make a nice spot.”

“Oh really? Have you been there before?” Jeanne asked, running her hoof along his forearm.

“Yeah. One of the mares I went out with last summer joined me in hiking there. Only, she didn’t get what I was suggesting when I said we could have some "fun" there.” He laughed and shook his head. “Afterward, the most exciting thing that happened was when she nearly got herself lost after looking for an isolated tree to pee behind.” Galen continued to reminisce and snickered again. “It’s lucky for her that I was still within ear shot when she started shouting my name. Oh you should have see it, Jeanne.” He laughed again. “Her eyes were like saucers when I found her. And she was still standing close to the tree she used. Her…bwah, ha, ha, ha,” he continued to cackle, smacking his hand on the picnic blanket. “Oh, oh, ha, ha, ha, ha. Her face turned bright red when she saw me looking at the big wet spot on the tree she was standing by. And she started hustling me away when I saw the sizable puddle at its roots.”

Jeanne’s smile continued to grow, evolving into a grin and quickly she broke out into laughter, unable to resist the infectious nature of his. And she pictured his date and the tree he described. The scene was quite humorous in her mind as she joined Galen in rolling on the blanket with laughter. “Nah, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha. Oh, I’ll bet she was mortified.”

Galen grinned for a moment, then patted Jeanne’s shoulder. “Oh, she was. She really was. You’d think I’d watched her pee by the way she was acting. The only thing I think would have made it funnier is if my date at the time had been Rarity. Seriously, Jeanne, my date was really reminding me of her that day. Mwa, ha, ha, ha, ha.”

Jeanne was still laughing with him as she wiped a few humorous tears from her eyes. “Oh, Galen, please, I need to breathe.” She snickered a little as she regained her composure. “It sure sounds like you’ve had your share of fun and adventures during your time here in Equestria.”

“You could say that,” he replied taking a cleansing and calming breath. “That story never seemed so funny before.”

“Sounds like your date was a real stick in the mud. But, I would have enjoyed having some fun with you there. In fact if you want, maybe we could plan a trip to go hiking there some day soon.” Jeanne smiled and rested her head on his shoulder.

Galen reached around and ran his fingers through her mane. “That would be great. We could make an outing out of it.”

Jeanne giggled before she nuzzled him. “And unlike her, I wouldn’t need to venture that far to relieve myself. And I’d hardly be mortified like that if you found the tree I used.” She grinned a little sheepishly. “I’d probably blush a bit, but I wouldn’t have acted like her.”

He closed his eyes and smiled. “That’s good to know. I might do the same if the roles were reversed.”

The Pegasus nodded. “Then that’s something we have in common.” Just then, Jeanne noticed her stomach rumbling.

“Was that your stomach?” Galen asked with a smile.

She closed her eyes and nodded. “Yeah. You ready to have lunch?”

“Of course,” he replied all smiles.

Galen reached over and moved the picnic basket closer as he opened the lid and began removing the contents to set up their meal.

* * * * * *

After finishing their lunch, Galen and Jeanne shared some casual chatter, mainly what their plans were going to be for later on, following Galen’s sparring match with Malik.

The two of them cuddled some more, while they discussed their plans for later that night at his place, only as they nestled close, the two became drowsy and soon drifted off to sleep.

It was nearly 2:30 when Galen started to stir, roughly an hour had passed since he and Jeanne nodded off. He glanced around and realized what had happened. “Oh rats. Jeanne, are you awake?” He nudged her.

She moaned faintly and began to stir. “No…I don’t want to get up yet. Just…five more…” Jeanne blinked her eyes. “Huh?” She turned and saw Galen sitting beside her. “Galen…did we fall asleep?”

He nodded. “Yeah, we did.”

Then just as Galen thought they still had some time, he noticed the sound of boots rustling along the grass. “Ah, here you are,” the stern voice of Malik called out.

Galen’s eyes widened, this was not how he was hoping to greet his sparring partner. He swallowed thickly as he looked up at the familiar visage of Malik. “Yeah, we’re here.”

Malik chuckled and stroked his goatee. “Well, at least you aren’t late. But, oh my, I’m not interrupting anything important between you two…am I?” He grinned a little as he looked the two of them over.

Galen scrambled to his feet and took a deep breath. “N-no, of course not. We were just relaxing after having lunch.” A smirk formed on Galen’s face, “While we were waiting for you.”

“I’m sure.” Malik nodded and returned Galen’s smirk, with one of his own. “But not to worry. It’s not quite 2:30. So take a minute or two to steel yourself.” He glanced over at the tree. “Ah, I see you did come prepared. I did as well.” Malik turned, showing off his left side and the fancy hilt of his sword, resting within its black leather scabbard.

Turning to Jeanne, Galen offered her a hand up. “Come on, Jeanne. Let me help you up.” She offered him her hoof and with a gentle pull, he helped her onto her hooves.

She stood there, and fought the urge to leer bitterly at Malik. While she did enjoy her time with Galen, the way Malik handled his arrival just rubbed the Pegasus the wrong way. However, she knew this was important to Galen, so she offered the other human a welcoming face. “So, are you ready to face Galen?”

Malik chuckled and shook his head. “My, my. You have confidence in Galen. That’s good, Galen, you have a cheerleader. All she’s missing is her pom-poms.” He turned and smirked at Jeanne. “Have you ever seen Galen use a sword?” Malik laughed mockingly. “He may be skilled at crafting them, but wielding them is another story.”

Making for the side of the tree, Galen recovered his weapon and re-attached it to his belt. “That’s enough of your venom, Malik. Don’t forget I’ve been training. I’ve come a long way since you first crossed blades with me.” Galen patted his right hand on the hilt of his sword.

“Of course.” Malik ran his hand over his facial hair and smiled in a most unsettling manner. “Still, you’ve got a ways to go till you’re anything close to “good” with a sword.”

Galen pointed to an open area several feet from where they were standing. “Over there, now! Let’s do this!”

Malik’s smile grew. “Good, I see you’re ready. Very well.”

The two men made their way over to the large open grassy area. This place had served host to their previous matches, not to mention it was where Galen did his training with Clang’s grandson Tempered Blade. It was during one of his training sessions with Blade that Malik discovered them. That was how he and Galen first met. Only, calling their relationship friendship would be more than bit of a stretch. Even so, the two enjoyed their matches, despite the fact that Galen found Malik callous and grating most of the time, not to mention arrogant.

These thoughts and impressions stayed with Galen as he unsheathed his sword. Its long silvery blade shimmered in the ambient sunlight.

Jeanne marveled at the craftsmanship of Galen’s blade. She wasn’t completely sure if he had forged it himself or if it was one of Anvil Clang’s. Regardless, she found it to be a very lovely weapon.

Her eye was soon drawn to Galen’s opponent. Malik drew his weapon from its sheath. It was of a similar design to her human friend’s sword, only the blade was a much darker gray color, though it still shinned in the light.

Jeanne brushed a lock of hair from her fringe out of her eyes. She was both excited and extremely nervous. When she and her fellow royal guards used real weapons to train, they also were clad in their armor and would often be issued a shield to use as well, even if the shield was nothing more than a simple wooden one. At least it would work in tandem with the armor to reduce one’s chance of getting hurt during the training exercises. But, Galen and Malik were just wearing simple clothing and had no armor or shields to protect them.

The Pegasus took a deep breath in an attempt to calm her self. Surely, these two knew what they were doing. Though that thought did little to comfort Jeanne. For whatever reason, Malik continued to rub her the wrong way and she didn’t feel he was someone to be trusted. Of course, it could just stem from her being protective of Galen, now that the two were growing a lot more fond of each other.

Galen and Malik sized each other up, holding their blades up at the ready.

“So, Galen, shall we begin, or do you need more time to prepare for your defeat?” Malik taunted with a sly grin.

“Gee, gloating already, Malik? You usually wait till you have the decided advantage to start that.” Galen stood fast, and planted his legs firmly as he prepared to meet his opponent.

Malik lowered his sword for a moment as he shrugged his shoulders. “What can I say, I feel surprisingly confident. I only hope you can say the same. Raaaaaaghh!” Malik raised his sword and charged Galen.

Already expecting this first move from Malik, Galen adjust his stance and placed his other hand on his sword, blocking the attack just as Malik launched it. Their swords struck, but neither one’s grip showed any signs of faltering. “Not bad, Malik. You’re just as aggressive as ever.”

He laughed. “Well, Galen, you make it so easy. But, I can certainly see you’re learning.” Malik grunted a little as he spoke, “But don’t let it go to your head.”

Galen snickered. “Perish the thought. Yahhh!!” He swung his sword as the two began an exchange of blows.

The sound of their clanging blades filled the air and made Jeanne’s ears twitch as she continued watching them share blow after blow.

Malik launched a few of his signature attacks at Galen, but after having sparred with him so many times, his fancy combination of lunges and slashes weren’t nearly as hard to predict as they used to be. In fact, using what he learned from Blade, Galen employed a few moves that Malik wasn’t expecting.

“Rrrr, you’re getting better. A lot better than I ever would have guessed. But no matter…what!?” Malik’s eyes widened as Galen came charging at him. He held his sword straight out. “You wouldn’t!”

“Try me!” Galen shouted as he closed in on Malik. Then instead of stabbing at him, he drew back his sword slightly and thrust it forward. The force of the blow shook Malik driving his weapon form his hand. It spiraled behind him and impaled the ground, sinking into the grass and dirt.

Malik stood there, an incredulous expression on his face. “Well now. You actually got one over on me.”

“How do you like that!” Galen spoke with a forceful nod. “It’s taken me a while to perfect that move.”

“It’s simple, yet effective.” Blast, I got cocky and let my guard down. No matter, Galen doesn’t know all of my moves. Malik grinned. “How about one more go? What do you say?”

“Way to go, Galen! You show him what you’ve got!” Jeanne cheered from under the branches of the maple tree.

Turning her way, Galen smiled and waved. “Thank you, Jeanne.” He looked at Malik and nodded. “Okay, fine. One more round.”

Malik walked over to his sword. Placing his hand upon its hilt, he removed it from the ground and held it aloft. “All right then. Playtime’s over!” He chuckled as he walked back to Galen.

“Fine.” Galen stretched his neck and loosened his shoulders. “I’m ready!”

“He-yahh!” Malik launched a fierce attack, coming off a lot more aggressive than he did during their last exchange. “Hah! Come on, Galen. Do like, Jeanne, said and show me what you’ve got!”

Only showing Malik what he had was easier said than done. At this point, all Galen could do was defend against each of Malik’s attacks. Somehow, Galen’s victory only seemed to fuel his anger and made Malik all the more dangerous, especially since his anger seemed to give him even better focus.

Galen managed to fight off Malik’s last attack and this time he took off running hoping to put some distance between them, so he could mount a counterattack. But it wasn’t proving to be easy. Malik was keeping up very well with Galen. He had only managed to put a slight gap between them. However, it was enough that he could attempt an attack of his own.

Galen firmed the grip on his sword and lunged at Malik. Their blades stuck violently. The two began a sort of dance as they circled each other and struck their blades together, trading blow after blow.

Jeanne felt that nervous feeling return. She swallowed hard as she couldn’t fathom the ferocity Malik was displaying. It was starting to look like Galen got lucky when he disarmed him during their last bout.

“Give it up, Galen. There’s no shame in walking away.” Malik gripped his sword with both hands as he attempted to drive Galen back.

“And leave you to gloat and rub it in my face for the next four weeks? I…don’t…think…so.” Galen strained as he held his sword tightly and continued to push back against Malik’s attempted advance.

Malik snarled and glared bitterly at Galen, anger burning in his gray eyes. “Fine. Have it your way.”

The two resumed exchanging blows until their swords locked again. “This ends now, Galen.” Malik hissed as he pushed Galen back enough that he was able to launch another wave of slashes. “Errragghhh! Eeeyahhh!! Haaaaaa!”

Malik swung his blade, it pushed Galen’s out of the way, allowing Malik’s sword to sail over and cut into his upper right arm.

A hot burning sensation filled Galen’s right arm at the sight Malik’s blade had struck. “Argh.” He grunted loudly in pain as he pulled back. Galen’s arm felt damp as blood began to flow from the freshly inflicted wound. Man that smarts. Malik you son of a… Galen sneered at Malik, and despite the pain he was feeling, he stood his ground. “Come on, Malik. Is that your best? My left arm is my good arm.”

Malik laughed at Galen and shook his head. “Come on now. Good arm or bad arm that wound has to be hurting you. I’d love to continue. But that is going to require medical attention. Besides, it would be unsporting of me to face you any more.” He offered Galen a less than sincere face. “Oh, and I do apologize for that. I over did it a little. What can I say, I don’t like to lose.”

“Yeah, good, great.” Galen set his sword down as he could no longer maintain his bravado and clutched his wounded limb. “Ah, man.”

Jeanne glared, starring daggers into Malik. “Get lost, you creep.”

“I’m already gone. Do see that Galen gets that looked at. I’d hate to not have him to spar with in the future.” Malik snickered as he continued walking away.

“Why, I ought to…” Jeanne heard Galen groan and quickly abandoned her anger for Malik and raced over to his side. “Galen, are you okay?”

“I don’t think so. I’m not sure how deep this cut, but it’s bleeding pretty good.” Her turned to her, blood was seeping out form under his left hand as he continued applying pressure to the cut.

“Oh, Galen.” Concern and worry were heavy in her voice as she tried to find something to wrap his wound with.

“Hang on you two. I’m coming!” Called the familiar rasp of Clang’s voice. He came galloping over to them. “Here.” He presented Jeanne with some cloth bandages.

She took them from him. “Thank you.” Jeanne turned to Galen. “Move your hand so I can bind this for you.”

Galen looked up from his arm and over at Jeanne. He saw the concern in her blue eyes. Jeanne’s heart sank as she saw the worry and pain in Galen’s normally cheery green eyes, while tears of agony forced their way down his face.

“Are you ready?” She asked.

Galen nodded. “Okay, here goes.”

He removed his hand and a surge of blood ran from the wound. Jeanne did her best to stay calm as she started wrapping the cloth around his arm. The panic tried to best her as with each freshly wrapped layer, blood quickly darkened the white material. Jeanne's hooves moved furiously as she finished binding his arm. “There,” she said after tying it off. “That should do.”

Clang shook his head. “Those bandages are nothing fancy, but should control the bleeding. You’d best get him to the hospital and get that tended to.”

Jeanne nodded. “Um is there a wagon or anything?”

“Hey, I’m still alert, and I can walk. It’s not…that far to the hospital. That’s the beauty…of Ponyville…everything is nice and close. Ugh.” Galen grunted, as his arm seemed to burn with pain even from within the shelter of the bandage.

“All right. Come on, Galen. Lean on me if you need to.” Jeanne reached a hoof for him. The concern she had for him was making it hard for her to keep her composure, but she knew she was a royal guard and could steel herself to do what she needed for Galen.

Galen waved a dismissing hand. “I’m fine. I’ll make it too…whoa.” He stumbled a little. “Okay, maybe I am just a little wobbly from the pain.”

Jeanne stayed close to his left side. “Here, put your good arm around me. I’ll help guide your steps.”

“Okay,” Galen replied with a nod.

“Hang in their, Galen. You’ve been through worse,” Clang called out as he scratched his beard. Part of him wanted to tell Galen he told him this might happen, but right now it was crucial that he get medical attention.

Jeanne stayed close to Galen as they made their way as quickly as they could to the hospital. Thankfully, the bandages had greatly slowed the bleeding, buying them the time they needed.

Chapter 6 - "Wounded"

After a nearly ten-minute walk, Jeanne and Galen arrived at Ponyville Heart and entered the emergency room. He was leaning on her when the nurses arrived with a gurney.

Concern was heavy on Nurse Redheart’s face. “Oh my, what happened?”

Jeanne swallowed hard. “An accident during a sparring match with real swords.”

Redheart’s eyes widened. She made her way over to Galen and examined his bandaged shoulder. Jeanne turned and saw the same sight as the nurse. Blood was starting to soak through the bandages Anvil Clang had given them. “Oh no. His cut is still bleeding.”

Redheart patted Jeanne’s shoulder. “It’s all right. It doesn’t look that bad. But we’ll make sure to give him the best possible care.”

“Um, are you equipped to handle a human?” She asked, a quiver of panic in her voice.

Redheart smiled reassuringly and patted her shoulder again. “Yes. This is hardly the worse incident we’ve seen. And our supply of human blood is good. Not to mention since the number of humans living in Equestria keeps increasing. Treating them is no longer as challenging as it used to be.”

The other nurses gave Redheart a serious look, then wheeled Galen through the double doors and from there into one of the exam rooms. The nurse mare looked at Jeanne. “Don’t worry. Your friend is in good hooves. The doctor will be in to see him. If you’d wait here in “Benches”, we’ll call you once he’s stabilized and the bleeding is under control.”

Jeanne blinked, then gave a fairly confident nod. “All right. Thank you, nurse.”

“You can call me Redheart.” She titled her head and gave Jeanne sympathetic eyes. “Don’t worry, we’ll take good care of your friend. Just wait here, please.” She turned and went through the doors and joined the others back in the exam room.

Jeanne looked for a bench, but was flagged down by a pony at the reception desk. “Could you please come here, young lady?”

She walked over to the desk. “Yes?”

“Can you give us some information about the patient. Anything you know will help.” The receptionist set down a clipboard and held a quill in her hoof.

“Okay. His name is Galen. He’s a human, a male. His arm was injured with a broad sword blade. And just when they took him into the exam room, it was still bleeding.” Jeanne stood there shaking. She never would have wanted to admit it to anypony, but she was scared. Sure it was just a cut, but she’s heard stories of others that were injured and cases where a simple wound caused the loss of a limb or worse…death. She hung her head, while the receptionist wrote down all the information. Jeanne almost cursed the fact that she was a guard, mainly because, a guard should be fearless in the face of anything, especially the injury of a friend.

“Do you know anything else? What’s the patient’s medical history like? Do they use any medications or have any allergies we should know about?”

Jeanne’s ears drooped. “I don’t know. I’m sorry.”

The mare shook her head. “No problem. I’ll go check with the nurses and see what they got from the patient. He was conscious. Just wait here, please.”

Turning away from the desk, Jeanne walked back past a few rows of benches and took a seat. She sighed heavily, then looked over at the double doors. There were sounds of beeps and indistinct chatter. She turned away and focused on the fish in the fancy aquarium. Curiosity got the better of her and Jeanne looked that way again. She could no longer banish the worry from her mind or her heart. That fearful sensation was still present as she turned and saw a nearby restroom. Making a beeline for it, she darted inside and concealed herself within one of the stalls, closing and locking the door. Jeanne stood their as the floodgates in her eyes opened and tears began pouring down her face. She wasn’t sure if she was overreacting, but the way his arm was bleeding left her more than a little worried for Galen. Leaving the big question – would he be all right?

* * * * * *

Malik walked a goodly distance beyond the outskirts of Ponyville. He grumbled under his breath and shook his head. Pathetic…here I thought Galen was improving. It must be that stupid Pegasus he was with. Just like so many men on Earth, they think they’re all that when they have a chance to show off for a girl. Malik scoffed and clenched his fist. At this rate he’ll never be a worthy sparring partner. And chances are he’ll never want to cross blades with me again. He hoisted the strap on his satchel and took a look around. “Ah, not far now.”

As he continued along, Malik arrived at a small rocky ridge. He took the left fork in the road and made his way down. The ridge was to his right and a dense forest stretched out to his left. Checking the path a little father down, he saw his destination. Malik glanced up at the welcoming sign that had the name “Lucky’s Pub” in dark green and had a matching shamrock. He smiled as he started toward the front door. Many ponies in Ponyville don’t even know this tavern exists. It’s one of Equestria’s best kept secrets, despite its sizable number of patrons.

As Malik continued to make his way to the entrance, he was still impressed with the pub’s size. Not to mention even out here on its own, it had a very similar architecture to that of the buildings in Ponyville. Its walls were made of wood and stone, and the roof was crowned with tile, as opposed to the thatch that crowned a typical pony’s home.

The human knocked on the front door. It was a solidly crafted from oak and painted a dark brown, secured on metal hinges. The doorknob clicked as it opened. A burly looking charcoal gray stallion greeted Malik and grinned. “Ah, Malik.” The stallion squinted and looked behind the human, then he motioned for him to enter. “Come on in.”

After leaving the bouncer, he made his way over to the bar. A smile curled up on his face as he saw the bartended wiping down the bar. “Lucky, how are you?”

Lucky was cleaning a few mugs when his ears twitched. Looking up, his green eyes turned to Malik. “Ah, Malik, me lad. What brings ya to my pub?”

“A rather typical day, I’m afraid.” He took a seat on one of the short, but surprisingly comfortable stools.

The dark tan stallion placed a hoof on the bar. “Anything ya want to tell me about? How about your usual, eh?”

“Yeah, that would be great actually. Thanks, Lucky.” Malik set his satchel down and felt a hoof on his shoulder. Turning back he saw the bouncer. “Coal Cracker, is everything okay?”

He gave him a stoic face. “It is…except for one thing. You know the rule.” Coal Cracker pointed a firm hoof at Malik’s waist.

“Huh. Oh.” Malik saw his sword resting at his side, still sleeping in its scabbard. “Right, no weapons in the pub. Sorry. Here.” The human removed the weapon, sheath and all.

Coal Cracker took it and nodded. “I appreciate it. Sorry to interrupt you, but…”

Malik shook his head. “No, no, no. The rules are the rules.”

“Good to hear it. You humans aren’t all bad.” He snickered as he took the sword to the weapons locker. “It’ll be here waiting for you.”

“Right.” Malik turned back in his stool. He may not have been fond of the ponies, but even he knew not to mess with a built stallion like Coal Cracker.

Lucky just chuckled as he set a glass of Malik’s usual on one of the coasters. “Don’t mind Coal Cracker, Malik. He always takes his job seriously. Not sure why he didn’t get your sword when ya came in though, laddie.”

Malik reached for his glass. “Maybe Coal Cracker’s day was going about the same as mine.”

Shrugging his shoulders, Lucky just shook his head. “Eh, who knows? There, a Lime Gemstone, that should make ya feel better, me boy.”

“Yeah, I think so.”

Lucky placed a hoof on Malik’s shoulder. “What is it. What’s eating you?”

“I just found out my sparring partner isn’t as up to speed as I am. Plus, now that he was wounded in our last match.” Malik sighed, stopping to take a swig from his glass. “Ah…just as good as ever. But yeah, I doubt he’ll want to spar with me again.”

“What? Over a little scratch?” Lucky gave Malik a puzzled look. “Would he really be such a softy?”

Malik shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. “Possibly, but I hope not. And then, I’m hoping to try my hand at mixing up some potions.”

Lucky stroked his fiery orange mustache. “Ah, right. So you read up on the history of magic did ya? So, you really are gonna work out some potions then, me lad?”

“I am, Lucky. I just hope it works this time.”

Lucky let out a hearty chuckle. “You did speak with Twilight Sparkle, didn’t ya?” Malik nodded. “Well then, right there ya go. If anypony can help you with anything magic or something related to learning. It’d be her.”

Malik ran a hand under his goatee. “Yeah. Maybe stopping here was just the thing for me.”

“Exactly. You’re one of the more impressive humans I’ve met. It just seems ya lost a little of your fire. But leave it to old Lucky. I’ll help ya out.”

Taking another sip of his drink, Malik nodded. “You always do.”

“Right, now how about something to eat? I have some nice chicken or steak available. The griffons don’t need all of it. Besides, I know you humans need your proper fuel.” He winked.

“Yeah. I could really sink my teeth into a steak right now. And do me a favor, make it medium. I hate burnt meat.” Malik lowered his head a little and gave Lucky a superior grin.

Lucky nodded approvingly. “There it is. The confidence you didn’t come in with. Your gray eyes are not meant for disappointment.”

“No, they aren’t.” Malik smiled and took another gulp of his Lime Gemstone.

“Will ya be want’n a refill, lad?” Lucky grinned.

“Of course.”

Lucky left the bar and walked back into the kitchen. Meanwhile, Malik sat a little more confidently. Yeah, why was I worrying about that dolt Galen? Even if he doesn’t come back, I can always find others to spar with. He isn’t the only human. And perhaps there are other stallions like Lucky. They wouldn’t be too bad an option. Malik nodded and took another sip from his glass. Perhaps these ponies aren’t so bad after all. At least those that come here anyway.

“No! Leave me alone!”

Malik looked up from his glass and turned toward the sprawling section of tables. Lucky’s Pub was more than just a simple tavern. It was also a restaurant and there were rooms upstairs for wondering travelers to book for the night. And in the dining area, there were also games and a pool table. But the thing that caught the human’s eye was the cries of the waitress.

“Please stop.” She cried again.

Malik took a harder look and saw one of the patron stallions harassing Emerald Leaf, one of the waitresses, an Earth pony. She was waiting tables and it appeared that the stallion was rubbing his hoof along her flank near her cutie mark.

“Come on, cutie. Don’t be so uptight. Give daddy some sugar.” He reached over and pulled her in his forelegs. “Yeah. That’s better.” He gave her kiss on the lips.

She pulled back and smacked him with her hoof. “No, let me go.”

The stallion rose from his table and snarled. “You worthless hussy.” He threw her onto the floor. Emerald leaf cried out in pain.

Malik turned in his stool and slowly rose to his feet. He started panting heavily as the whimpering cries of Emerald Leaf washed over him like a storm of daggers. “Not…another…bully.” Malik watched as the terrified white mare hunkered. Her apron was torn and her violet eyes were full of fear and tears. The stallion, a dark red brute slowly made his way toward her. His orange eyes were full of anger and his dark yellow mane framed the fury on his face.

“Now, are you gonna be a good little mare, or am I gonna have to take what I want?” He held up a thick hoof as he reached for her.

Malik continued to seethe with anger, but he didn’t move. Fear held him at bay, until the stallion drew Emerald Leaf in his clutches again. “Nooooo! Please, let me go.” She tried to free herself, but she was injured and the stallion was stronger than she was.

“Not again…no.” Malik looked down at the barstools and picked one up. He walked forcibly over to the stallion.

“Heh, heh. There.” The stallion kissed Emerald Leaf again. “Isn’t that better?”

“Leave…HER…alone!” Malik growled and all but hissed his words, while holding the stool at the ready.

The stallion let out a boisterous laugh. “Bwa, ha, ha, ha, ha. What do you think you’re gonna do…human…ape?”

“This!” Malik moved around and smashed the barstool into the back of the stallion’s head. It broke into four pieces making him drop Emerald Leaf, giving her a chance to slip away.

He turned to Malik, rubbing a hoof on the back of his head. “Not smart.” The stallion plowed his right hoof into Malik and sent him sailing into a nearby table. He struck it with such force that the table broke and the surrounding chairs fell to the floor with a wooden bang.

“Ow.” Malik went to get up, but the stallion was moving toward him. “That really hurt.”

“Yeah, and now I’m gonna finish you.”

“Eh-hem.” The stallion turned and saw Coal Cracker standing there. “You’re going to do what? Hmm?”

The stallion stared at the fury in Coal Cracker’s blue eyes. “Nothing. Nothing at all, sir.” His ears drooped and the cockiness he had been running on seemed to fizzle like a deflated balloon.

“Well, well, Timber Axe, acting up in my pub again?” Lucky joined Coal Cracker, and his green eyes shown with betrayal. “I gave you a chance when I let you come back. But now, you harass my waitress and attack one of my patrons…and a friend at that.” Lucky shook his head. “Not a good idea for you.” He pointed a hoof, then turned to Coal Cracker. “Come on, let’s throw him out.”

“Hmm.” Coal Cracker nodded firmly.

Timber Axe whimpered as the two seized him and dragged him out of the tavern. They took him outside and gave him a powerful toss across the road. Timber slammed into one of the oak trees and nearly toppled it, leaving a big dent in it.

Lucky walked over to him and placed a hoof at the once rowdy stallion’s throat. “Now, don’t ever let me catch you in my pub again. Or…well, it won’t end well for you. Let’s leave it that, son.”

All Timber Axe could do was cower there, even after Lucky went back into the pub.

Coal Cracker helped Malik back onto his feet. “You okay?” He asked the human.

“Uh…” Malik groaned softly, then shook his head. “Ugh, yeah. I think I’ll be okay. What about…Emerald Leaf?”

Lucky walked up to Malik. “She’ll be fine, laddie. But what about you, my boy, you’re bleeding?”

Malik looked himself over. He did have a few cuts that were dripping a little blood. “Oh, wow. He really clocked me hard, didn’t he?”

“Aye, but ya took it with courage and at least he didn’t hit ya in the face.” Lucky went to the bar and grabbed his first-aid kit. “Here, let’s patch ya up.”

Coal Cracker shook his head. “I turned my back to check on a few arriving patrons and he struck. Grrr.” The stallion snarled. “But, thank you, for keeping an eye Emerald Leaf.”

Malik managed a smile. “Sure. Ouch. That smarts.” Lucky applied some disinfectant to his wounds, while Coal Cracker made his way back to his station by the door.

“I gotta ask ya one thing, me lad. Why did you take on that stallion all by yourself?” Lucky poured more peroxide onto a cloth, before he resumed blotting Malik’s wounds.

Looking over to the table area. The cook and his aide were cleaning up the mess in the tables, while another waitress was tending to Emerald Leaf. She looked over at Malik with curious eyes. He wasn’t sure why she was looking at him. He hung his head and sighed. “Timber Axe was picking on her. It just made me snap. Even though she’s a pony…Emerald reminds me of someone I used to know back on my world. She was bullied and it didn’t end well.”

“Ah, I see, laddie. Well, that was brave, and a little bit stupid, but mostly brave. I’m sure Emerald appreciates it. And I’m sorry I was out of the room for so long. Didn’t think I’d have to wake the cook.”

“It’s nothing. Nothing at all, Lucky.” Malik sat there. Here I am giving Galen a hard time. I can’t even best a stallion. But, that feeling…it was just like when I found out about what happened to her. He closed his eyes and remained on the stool, while Lucky bandaged him up.

* * * * * *

Jeanne had returned to “Benches” and took a seat. The waiting was the hardest part. As she sat there, she felt a little silly for having been so emotional. However, Galen had come to mean a lot to her in a short time. While Jeanne had done her messing around with the occasional stallion, she never really had anything this close to a special somepony or a meaningful relationship. That and she never thought she’d fall for a human.

Puffing out a sigh, Jeanne looked up at the front desk and then over at the doors where they had taken Galen. There was still no word.

Another twenty minutes passed and she heard somepony call her name. “Jeanne, Miss Jeannedarc?”

Jeanne looked up and saw one of the nurse ponies. It was he white one, Nurse Redheart. She remembered her from when she brought Galen in.

The Pegasus rose to her hooves and lightly trotted over to the nurse. “Yes?”

Nurse Redheart smiled and offered Jeanne blue eyes full of sympathy. “Galen is resting in his room and all patched up. If you’d like to follow me, he’s been asking about you.”

Jeanne smiled for the first time since she entered the emergency room. “He is? Please, take me to him.”

“Of course. Right this way.” Nurse Redheart motioned to Jeanne.

Jeanne followed her back through the double doors and into a long hallway. She looked to the nurse and then at the plain walls of the hall. Then, she noticed a series of doors and room numbers.

“Galen is right in here, room 103.” Redheart stopped at the proper room and motioned for Jeanne to enter.

She swallowed hard as she slowly made her way inside. Her ears twitched as they met the sound of a heart monitor. “Galen?” She asked.

“Hey, Jeanne. Over here.” He spoke a little weakly.

Jeanne’s face lit up. “Galen.” She smiled as she walked over to him. He was lying in bed and his right arm was bandaged where he’d been cut. Concern was strong in her sapphire eyes. “Are you okay?”

Galen chuckled and nodded his head. “Yeah. A little sore, but I’ll be all right.”

“Thank goodness.” She ran her hoof through his short brown hair.

Another pony walked over to greet Jeanne. “Hello there, Miss Jeannedarc. I am Dr. Screen.”

Jeanne looked the doctor over. He was a tan stallion wearing a white lab coat and had a stethoscope around his neck. He pushed up his glasses as he held Galen’s chart in the pale cyan glow of his magic.

“Hello, doctor. How is Galen?”

Doctor Screen smiled and checked Galen’s information on his clipboard. “He had a three inch laceration and it took quite a few stitches to suture the wound.” The doctor flipped a few pages on the chart. “Ah, yes. He lost a little blood, but nothing that warranted a transfusion. Of course we have a supply on hand from donors like Galen and other humans that both live in and frequent Ponyville. Eh-hem.” He cleared his throat. “So far, Galen is stable and his vitals are looking good. We’re just keeping him for a little longer to make sure his vitals stay that way. Another hour tops. Then, we can release him to you.”

Jeanne breathed a sigh of relief. “That’s wonderful. Thank you so much, Dr. Screen.”

He smiled and gave Jeanne a proud and confident look. “No problem. That’s what I and my fellow physicians and the nursing staff are here for. If you don’t have any questions at this time, I’m going to slip out. But if you have any later, Nurse Redheart can help you with them. Right now, I’m going to write up his orders and prepare his release papers. You should be out of here well before dinnertime.”

“All right. Thanks again, doctor.”

“Mm-hmm. You’re very welcome. If you’ll excuse me.” The doctor took his leave and left Jeanne alone, for the moment, with Galen.

Galen reached over with his good hand and caressed Jeanne’s velvety shoulder. “So, looks like it wasn’t too bad. Still, I hope I didn’t worry you too much.” He looked over at her and smiled.

Jeanne turned to hug Galen making sure to mind his injured shoulder. “It’s all right. I’m just glad you’re okay. I was worried about you.”

Galen reached up ran his fingers through Jeanne’s silky blonde mane. “Aww, Jeanne.”

She looked up at him, a fresh smiled decorated her face and her eyes glistened with tears of joy. “Mmm, Galen.” She nuzzled his cheek and sighed as he nuzzled her back.

“Jeanne…you’re so sweet.” He kept caressing her mane. “I guess I should have quit while I was ahead with Malik.” Galen chuckled a little.

Jeanne laughed a little back. “Yeah. You were amazing though. I dare say, our captain would have been pleased with your skills.”

“Thanks, Jeanne, but I still have a long way to go. But, I’m so glad you’re here.”

“Ahh, Galen. I’m glad too.” She rested her head on his left shoulder and sighed again. The Pegasus could breath easier. Galen was going to be all right.

* * * * * *

Following the altercation at “Lucky’s Pub”, Malik returned to his house. He retrieved the copy of “Bubble Brew’s Guide to Potion Making” that he had borrowed from Twilight Sparkle.

Like a number of homes in Ponyville, Malik’s was blessed with a basement. His featured both an in-home entry point and an outside point that ran along the side of the house. He set the book down on a large wooden table. The basement was an idea place for him to set up a lab of sorts. He got the ideal from Twilight after he started borrowing books from the Golden Oak. Hearing her speak of the experiments she did in the lab she set up in her basement gave him the same idea.

He had the book opened to what seemed a simple enough recipe. Though, even with a hefty dose of common sense, potion making was a very delicate art. So far, Malik hadn’t been overly successful. Today however, he felt a lot more confidant, despite getting his butt kicked at the hooves of a large stallion.

Double-checking the book, Malik nodded once he had all the ingredients he needed. Carefully, he added them one by one to the small mixing caldron he had on the table. It bubbled and churned under the flame it rested upon.

He made sure to add each item just when the book called for. A misty haze began to form in the basement and added a refreshing scent of mint to the air. The potion bubbled after he added some powder to the mix. It was an ingredient known as lyme powder and unlike lime powder on Earth, this was a consumable ingredient.

Slowly, Malik stirred the concoction as the mist continued to roll and hang from the pot it was brewing in. Checking the book again, he began wondering if this would turn out all right. There was only one ingredient left to add. “Hmm, add 1tsp of vanilla extract…but do so only while the potion is bubbling.”

The human blinked as he saw the bubbles dancing on the surface of the potion. Steadying his hand he poured the vanilla onto the spoon and then dumped it into the brewing mixture. He set the bottle of extract down and waited.

A few seconds passed and the potion gave off three big bubbles and then just returned to its normal bubbling. Only now, the mist it gave off had a somewhat pungent aroma and seemed to lose its appeal. Holding his nose, Malik checked the book. “What?!” He facepalmed and groaned. “How could I miss that part? Ugh! Only add the vanilla after the potion has been brought to boil a second time.”

He made his way to the side entrance of the basement and opened the dual doors and climbed up the steps. Malik emerged into the fresh air outside and just sighed. “Why…why does it have to be so difficult?” He leaned along the side of his house and lightly banged his head along the wall.

Malik turned his eyes to the sky and began to wonder if swordsman skills were the only thing close to power that he would ever be able to achieve. If so, then life in Equestria would bear him no better fruit than he had on Earth.

He closed his eyes and took a cleansing breath in through his nose. Then, he noticed what sounded like someone knocking on his front door. Malik furrowed his brow. He wasn’t expecting anyone and he figured he wouldn’t hear from Galen or his mare until he was patched up.

Malik made his way to the front door and looked on in surprise. “Emerald Leaf? What are you doing here?”

The lovely white mare smiled at him. “Hi, Malik. Is now a good time?”

He placed a hand to his chin and shrugged his shoulders. “Yeah, I was just taking a little break.”

“Okay.” She walked over to him. Happiness sparkled in her violet eyes as Emerald lightly shook her head adjusting her lengthy emerald green tresses. “I just wanted to thank you for helping me earlier.”

Malik resumed leaning on the side of his house. “Sure, it was nothing.” He turned and saw a few bandaged spots on her cheek and barrel, near her cutie mark – a group of sparkly green catalpa leaves. “Uh, that stallion didn’t hurt you too much…did he?” The human looked at the grassy ground and lightly kicked it with his boot.

Emerald walked in front of Malik. “No. He didn’t. I’m sore here and there from when he threw me to the floor…but.” He looked up at her. Sincerity mirrored in her eyes. “Had it not been for you, he might have hurt me a lot worse till the others could have come to my aid.”

As he listened to her talk, Malik had never realized what a delicate voice Emerald Leaf had. It was soft and soothing, yet forceful enough that he could tell she was a passionate pony. He smiled at her and stood up straight. “I’m glad I could help.”

She placed a hoof over her mouth and cleared her throat. “Um, I know that unlike other humans in Ponyville, you don’t seem as fond of us. But, I just wanted to thank you…you know, for what it’s worth.”

“Sure…sure. I appreciate that. Well, I’d better head back inside.” Malik pointed to his house and sighed.

“What were you doing…and is that bold minty potion I smell?” She took another sniff. “With traces of burnt vanilla?”

Malik turned to the basement doors. Both were still open. “Why yes. I was…attempting to brew some in my basement. Good nose.”

She giggled. “It’s a gift. Not my special talent, but a gift.” Emerald walked over to him. “Did you need or maybe want some help?”

He placed a hand to his chin. Malik wasn’t sure if accepting help would be practical or a sign of weakness. Then again, Lucky had mentioned speaking to Twilight, only Emerald might be a little easier to understand. Given his own vast vocabulary, Malik still found himself stymied when Twilight went off on a tangent. “All right. But, you have potion brewing skills?”

Emerald chuckled as she followed him over to the basement doors. “Not a lot actually, but it’s not unlike cooking or baking. They all use recipes, and I don’t want to brag, but lots of ponies like the things I make.”

Malik swayed his head a bit as they walked down into the basement. “Well, then maybe you can help me with this potion. Come over here.” He led her over to his worktable and presented her with the potion in question. “It was misting really good, before I went outside. So, I took it off the heat and set it on this cooling surface.”

Emerald placed a hoof to her chin. “Hmm.” She walked up to the brewing caldron and took a more through sniff. “Ahh. Good news, you don’t have to scrap this.”

Malik looked at her. “Really?”

She nodded. “Yep. I have a friend that makes potions. She’s always making bold minty potion for Sugar Cube Corner. The Cakes like to use it to help flavor drinks and frostings and fillings as well.”

Malik dared to breathe a sigh of relief. At last, there was a break in the failure. “Good. I was afraid I had wasted all these ingredients for nothing. But does, this have any other uses?”

Emerald grinned as she moved the pot back onto the flame. “Oh yeah. You can use this to help flavor mixed drinks. Lucky could suggest a few and you can mix it with black or green tea to make a very soothing blend.” She smiled.

Malik watched as she checked the book. “Those sound like good uses.”

She turned his way and nodded. “Oh, yes. Not only is this a great potion for beginners, but it’s also quite useful.”

“Hmm, you might even say…practical.” Malik grinned.

“Of course. Now let’s just get this warmed up. I know just what to do to fix this.”

“Great.” Malik stood there with Emerald as the potion heated back up. It may be a small start, but he just might get the hang of potion brewing yet. He tried not to laugh at the irony of getting more help from the ponies. And while usually their bubbly demeanor left him feeling nauseated, Malik didn’t mind Emerald Leaf. In fact, he found her as refreshing as the minty scent of the potion…minus the hint of burnt vanilla extract.

* * * * * *

Jeanne opened the front door of Galen’s house, now that they had returned from the hospital. She helped him over to the couch. “Easy now, Galen.”

“I’m fine, Jeanne. It was my arm that was hurt, not my legs. Whoa.” He staggered a little. “Okay, maybe I’m a little woozy from the whole encounter.”

“Right. Now don’t be stubborn, let me help you, silly.” Jeanne feigned punching him with her hoof.

“Ouch.” Galen pretended to grunt in pain. “Now look, Jeanne, my other arm is hurt.” He snickered as he took a seat on the sofa.

She placed a hoof to her chin. “Hmm. Ah, I’ve got the cure.” Jeanne giggled as she walked over to him. She kissed the spot she had pretended to punch. “There…feel better?”

Galen sat back and stared at her. She saw the gratitude and affection in his green eyes. “Yes. Thank you for everything you did back there, Jeanne.”

The Pegasus took a seat beside him and briefly stretched her wings, then tucked them back at her sides. “There. That’s better.” She placed a foreleg around Galen. “Are you doing all right? Let me know if you’re in any pain or if you need anything.” She smiled and like he did to her so many times, Jeanne ran her hoof through his short but soft hair.

He sighed and smiled back at Jeanne. “I think my pride was wounded more than my body. Ooh, but it does still smart a bit.”

“I should get you some water and maybe something to eat.” Jeanne went to get up.

“Wait, Jeanne.” He gently grabbed her right foreleg with his good hand. “Please, stay for a bit. The pain isn’t that bad, and I can wait a little bit for some food and water.”

“Okay, but just for a few minutes.” She sat back down and snuggled up to him. “There, is this what you had in mind?”

Galen chuckled as he placed his left arm around her. “Yeah. I’m sorry, Jeanne. I should have cancelled my match with Malik. Now, our weekend plans aren’t going to work.”

Jeanne shook her head and let her sapphire eyes gaze deep into his. “Don’t worry about it, Galen. We’re still together.” She patted his leg.

He nodded. “Right. Well, one thing’s for sure. I’m taking Clang’s advice. I won’t be sparring with that jerk ever again. Malik went too far.” Galen snarled under his breath.

Jeanne pulled back for a second. She had never seen such an angry look in his eyes. It nearly frightened her. But as quickly as she saw it form, it faded. Galen’s normal cheerful face and expressive eyes were back. She slid closer to him and nuzzled his cheek again. Jeanne sighed as he nuzzled her back. Regardless of the face he made, she was glad to hear she wouldn’t have to worry about him dueling Malik again.