This is What True Love is...

"My heart is, and always will be, yours."

Chapter 2. Awaking on a cloud

Shimmering's ears drop and he lies against the cloud. "I have never had a marefriend, I was bullied as a foal for being flightless and so decided to jump off the tallest tower in the city, fortunately, and a somewhat cruel twist of fate, a Unicorn foal fell out of a window two floors below me, I then jumped to save her life. That's when I started to fly. That Unicorn was Vinyl Scratch, that's when I also got my cutie mark of a shield to signal I was a protector. I joined the Royal Guard and  here I am now, an unqualified, dyslexic and dyscalculia sergeant who protects ponies."

He finally said. "I have had so much bucking bad luck in my life, I often wonder why I carry on.." Tears rolling down his cheeks. "I get drunk once a month and find a thunderstorm to beat up... I can never show my true emotions to anyone... and I always end up saying something I regret not two seconds later... like what I muttered in the club...I am a useless Pony and deserve all the bad luck I get...maybe then somepony will get my share of good luck."

Shimmering was a ball of tears by this point, he had curled up into a ball and was covering himself with his wings... *and now she will fly away, not wanting anything to do with pussy pony like me, they always do. He thought to himself....he waited for the inevitable sound of a pony taking off from the clouds. Midnight stayed silent a moment before she turned his head to face her and kissed him, Shimmering's eyes shot wide with shock.*

"Why? why kiss me? why not fly off like the rest of them?" he asked.

“Because...." tears filling her own eyes. "I know what it's like"

"What?" was all he could say.

"I know how you feel.... I won’t go into detail but.... I know your pain in a different way" She kisses him again as she chokes back sobs. Shimmering Honor’s wings slowly uncurl and shot back out...

"Thanks, I am sorry for running away..." he apologized.

"Don't be sorry. I get it.... well.... I’ll be your marefriend Shimmy" She smiles slightly with tears running down her cheeks. Shimmering Honor went into a state of shock... his wings went as hard as stone, while the rest of his body went limp…Midnight Winds pressed herself into Honor's coat nuzzling his chest and breathing in his furs scent "Is that alright?".

Shimmering stares blankly at the sky....after a few seconds "yes" he replies. Midnight sequels happily as she pressed herself closer. Shimmering giggled as a wide smile appeared on his muzzle.

"I know what you mean" he looks at the mare and kisses her… they soon drifted off to sleep.

Shimmering Honor awoke with a start...how long had he been out? He looked down at his chest and to his surprise, there was a mare with her head on his chest. He tried to get up slowly so as to not disturb her. However his cautious movement did nothing as Midnight awoke with a start.

"Oh... Shimmy it's you... we are still out here? huh thought it was a dream for a second... but then I saw you" She kissed him, gently pressing their lips together. Shimmering returned the kiss, when they pull apart, he looked around....

"Do you think it is sunrise, or sunset?" he asked noticing the position of the sun.

“hmm... it's in the... East so its sunrise. if you're wondering how I know that? Ponyville is south of Canterlot. The sun is over there in between them which means it's in the east. The sun always rises in the east. Celestia is like that."

"That's good, what happened last night, I remember going to the club and meeting you, but what did I say, what did I do... I didn't hit anypony did I?" Shimmering asked.

“You had a couple of emotional.... moments then.... i kissed you and... became your marefriend" Midnight blushed deeply as she chuckled awkwardly "But if you change your mind now that you're sober.... I’d understand."

"And you pass the test... I do apologise, but I often do a test of truth the day after I end up drinking, especially if I end up waking up with a mare, which has never happened till this morning. Anyhoof, my memory is as clear as anything, I am sorry for deceiving you, I have trust issues.” Shimmering looked sadly at the mare.

“Eh i don't really care... so... you going to leave me now?” Shimmering sat back down on the cloud and looked at the sky... after a few moments he simply said.

"Why, should I?" Then he realised what he had said, his eyes shrank.

"SORRY...no..sorry, shouldn't have said that, shouldn't have said that!" Shimmering shouted to himself and started to beat a hoof against his head. "Damitdamitdamit, suchanasssuchanass...I am so sorry Midnight...you can fly away if you want...I am used to it." Shimmering turned away and laid back down on the cloud, holding back the tears.

"You have REALLY low self esteem don't you?" She got down beside him kissing his cheek.

"Eeyup... But what can I do, everything I say is wrong, as you said, I have really low self esteem, lack of confidence... I am just an accident waiting to happen, or have I already happened!" Shimmering couldn't hold back the tears…and just great, I am crying again, in front of the cutest mare I have ever seen, how weak am I, she will definitely leave now, nopony wants to be near a weakling like me. he thought to himself, not realizing he had muttered every single word. Midnight stood up and laid on top of Honor's back

"I don't care. you can be who you are. That doesn't change a thing in my eyes. when I met you I thought you were cute and kind. You are cute and kind. I don't care that you’re emotional or anything. I actually think that makes you better than other stallions". Shimmering's wings pop out in a flash.

"you know, that is... sniff the kindest thing anypony has ever said to me..."

"And I meant every word" She nuzzled into Honor's neck affectionately. "I really like you Shimmy. It will take a lot more to get me to go"

"You don’t know how much that means to me...." he replied.

"I doubt I ever will." She stands and walks to face him but trips. Midnight falls straight back onto Shimmering giving him a face full of her sweet folds without even realizing

"I'm so sorry Shimmy!" When Midnight got off his face, Shimmering's face was the brightest red ever imaginable.

"Err..what, how, why, I...ow, my wings, they feel really heavy!" He looks back to see his wings are straining to get as straight as possible causing him immense pain.

"I'm so sorry about that. This stupid cloud tripped me. are you ok?"

"Tripped, on a cloud?, how does....you know what forget it, but yeah I am fine, just don't really wanna get up right now..."

"Oh um... that is fine. I will go grab us some breakfast. we can eat up here." She flies off the cloud. Shimmering watches her fly off....his heart flutters as he watches her.

"Is that mare for real...She is so sweet, I break down in front of her and she still wants to stay with me... I, can't believe it, must be dreaming." Shimmering lies on his back and raises a hoof, he drives it down into his stomach.

"No...definitely not dreaming" he rolls over and laid his head against the soft cloud, a small tear of joy rolled from his eye as he drifted back to sleep.

It felt like seconds had passed when Midnight returned waking Shimmering from his slumber.

"Come on sleepy head. The food is gonna get cold." He awoke with a start, the sudden voice in his ear shocking him, he instinctively jumped backwards and missed the edge of the cloud, falling with a small welp. Midnight jumped after him and caught him within seconds

"We are both clutzes huh?" she giggled and brought him back to the cloud, his cheeks burning a deep red.

"So what did you do while I was gone? Beat the morning wood like the other stallions I know?"

"I...err...no, no, I checked to see if I was dreaming...and I never said I had morning wood!"

"Doesn't mean you didn't. It would explain why you didn't want to stand, just so you could keep your dick hidden" She giggled. Shimmering's cheeks get another dose of red haze... then he notices a slight gleam on one of Midnight's hoofs.

"So, do you often polish just the one hoof, or is that something else?" He asked smugly.

"Huh?" She looked down at her hoof "I don't polish. I never have time to."

"Then you must have had time to do a little beating of your own, the sun has moved enough for an hour to have passed" Shimmering pointed to the sky. Midnight blushed deeply and turned her head

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

"oh ha-ha.." Shimmering said and leaned down to her hoof and gave it a lick. "Tastes familiar.” Midnight yelped in surprise and pulled her hoof back.

"Please don't do that!" Shimmering Honor just laughed.

"Oh come on, at least clean up afterwards...."

"I don’t know what you're talking about"

"Oh really?" Shimmering lifted his head up and smiled. "Remember a certain little trip? and what took you an hour to get food?" he asked.

"... fine i did... so what?"

"Oh nothing, just trying to get you back is all, Anyhoof, what do we have to eat? I am a wee bit nippy, or should I say licky" he winked at Midnight resulting in a smirk appearing on her muzzle

"Your funny Shimmy."

"I try when I am not in a spiral of self hate...anyhoof, where is the food?"

"It's over here"  Midnight turned and bent down just as her tail swished giving Shimmering another look at her slightly moist folds. Shimmering jumped forward and planted his muzzle between Midnights legs, sticking his tongue out as he made contact. Midnight yelped and flew upwards.

"WHAT WAS THAT?! WHY DID YOU DO THAT?!"

"Sorry, I don't know what came over me..." He dropped his head in shame, then took off and flew away.

"STUPID STUPID STUPID!!!" He screams, using his forehooves to beat his head. He was once again tackled to a cloud

"Would you PLEASE stop running away! You don't have to! I was surprised. Its fine really."

"But I bucked up, mares hate that, I told you, all I ever do is buck up!" He yelled trying to struggle free.

"WOULD YOU BUCKING STOP!" She slapped him across the muzzle. "JUST CALM DOWN!" she then kissed him gently on the lips.

"I have never know anypony go from slapping me to kissing me, I am sorry Midnight, I really am... I am just so stupid at times..." Shimmering lowered his head. She lifted it again and kissed him once more, Shimmering returned the kiss with an equally passionate one to the lips.

"just... don't worry about it" When she stood she saw a wet spot in his fur, causing her to blush brighter than ever. Shimmering saw a glimmer from between Midnights legs and felt a wet patch on his fur.

"Well at least someone liked it"

"I guess i'm going into heat... well that's an issue."

"Yeah, that can be an issue...err....OH, why didn't I think of this...VINYL!" A twinkle of a plan formed in his eyes. Midnight thought for a second then drew to a conclusion.

"I am not having sex with Vinyl and i'm not having a three way either!"

"NO SILLY FILLY! Magic... I could see if she knows a spell to help you... but a three way does sound interesting..." Shimmering looked up and to the left, jokingly pondering the scene. She pushed him slightly with her wet hoof and laughed.

"Yep. I got myself a comedian"

"Awesome...so shall we get back to the food?" He said, slowly flying back towards the cloud that had become their picnic cloud..

“Sure.” she flew back with him nuzzling his cheek. After eating their food, Shimmering decided he needed to get cleaned up.

"Midnight, I need to go back to my hotel, I need to wash up, do you want to come with or meet up later?" He asked.

"I am not leaving your side." She sucks gently on her dirty hoof with an innocent face. "Unless you want me to go?"

"Okay then, follow me..." He flew off towards Canterlot. Midnight followed behind staring at Honor's flank before nuzzling it gently.

"Oh, and you don't like it when I surprise you." He smirked, they soon reached the hotel. The walls and windows had seen better days and the sign looked like it was about to fall off.

"You stay here? As a guard couldn't you be doing better? My brother is a guard and he makes a fortune." Midnight looked disgusted.

“It's only a hotel, my real home is on the barracks...but they don't let you stay there while on leave, plus this was the only booking I could get..." He walked in observing the paint peeling off the walls.

They headed upstairs to a small room.

"Here we are..." he opened the door, a musty smell filled the hall, inside was a small living room, the chairs had been stacked on one side of the room  a few clouds were thrown into the centre to act as a sofa and chair.

"The bedroom is over there," he pointed to a open door, the bed was up against the wall, another large cloud hung near the floor.

"And the kitchen is there..." he pointed to a dirty kitchen.

"And the bathroom is connected to the bedroom....not much, but beats a Fox hole any day." He smiled as he stood in the middle of the room, a ceiling tile falling towards the floor behind him, kicking up a large cloud of dust.

"...Hun you are checking out. Now! You are moving in with me! Now!" Midnight looked around flapping her wings so she didn't even touch the floor.

"but...but....I... fine, let me get my uniforms.." Shimmering walked into the bedroom and came out with three big olive drab bags in tow or thrown across his back. They were the size of ponies themselves, two were flat and easily foldable, yet one had a big lump at one end, the last was bulky and heavy looking. Midnight grabbed one of the bags.

"Here let me help with that. Looks pretty heavy for one stallion." She kissed Shimmering on the muzzle before heading towards the door.

“WAIT!..stop, that one is a Prototype...here, have my Parade dress.." he hoofed her the thinner of the three bags.

"I can carry the rest."

"Oh... ok then..." Midnight traded bags with Honor and proceeded out the door. "Just so you know. I live with my brother at our families mansion. been in the family for 6 generations"

"Ma...Ma...ma...mansion!" Shimmering stops in his tracks and stares at Midnight, his mouth wide open, pupils the size of a bit...