Inky: The Mistress of the Night

Inky: The Mistress of the Night

Page 3 pt. 2

Star and Sparks both hid underneath a flight of stairs, the nightmare continued to stalk them throughout Inky’s subconscious, and it showed no signs of ending the chase. Star did her best to hold her breath, waiting for the monster to leave, and search somewhere else. Sparks on the other hand, was slightly panicking, and she had been blaming herself for the misfortune that was brought on them.

This is all my fault. I was too wrapped up in trying to beat Star that I got us lost. Sparks couldn’t believe how foolish she acted and now it seemed that it was going to cost them their lives. Shit, Captain is angry with me I just know it. Sparks started to hyperventilate, the stress of the failed infiltration, and her own self doubts weighed down on her.

Star noticed Sparks hyperventilating, she dared to take her eyes off of the monster to comfort her team mate. “Sparks, calm down. Breath dammit,” She said, trying her best to get Sparks breathing back down to normal.

“Captain, I messed up. This, this is all my fault.” Star’s breathing continued to climb, her eyes becoming distant, and she started to shake.

“Sparks, Sparks listen to me, this isn’t your fault, and you didn’t mess up.” Star knew that Sparks had a high sense of duty just like she did, if not more, but right now she didn’t need her worrying about the mission.

“No, no, no this is my fault. If I just let you take lead, if I had just listen to you from the start, we wouldn’t be in this mess because of me.” Sparks started to rock back and forth, her body locked in the fetal position.

Star knew that Sparks wasn’t going to listen until her breathing got back under control. She did the only thing she could think of to get Sparks breathing back to normal. Star grabbed Sparks by the shoulders and planted her lips over her’s, forcing Sparks to breath through her nose.

Once Star felt that Sparks breathing was under control, she parted her lips from Sparks, and wiped the small bit of saliva. “Better?”

All Sparks could do was nod with a dumb look on her face. “Y-yeah, I’m fine.” Her black fur only made the blush on her face seem that much brighter. Star ignored the blush on Sparks face, knowing that they have more things to worry about.

“Good, come on let’s get out of here. You can handle taking lead, right,” Star asked, assured that Sparks was more than capable of doing the job.

“Yeah I got it, let’s get out of here.” Sparks somehow felt better knowing that Star still trusted her to take lead. I can’t- won’t -mess up again. The two mares started to make through the corridors, careful not to alert the monster of their whereabouts. The trious escape took only mere minutes but to the two it felt like an entity. Once out of range of the nightmare’s gaze, the two allowed a moment to take a sigh of relief.

“Think that it’ll go away,” Star asked, curious as to why Inky would have such a nightmare running amuck in her head.

“I don’t know. Then again, I don’t even know what kind of nightmare it was. It seemed to be something fairly recent.” Sparks forced herself to think about the monster’s appearance and ‘feel.’ “It’s too weak to be an old one, yet it big enough to have been here for a long time.”

“How’s that,” Star asked, again impressed by how much Sparks was able to understand about other’s suspicious.

“Well, for a nightmare to have any ‘hold’ on anyone’s dream, a fear must have time to grow, and become a nightmare,” Sparks stated, remembering the psychology classes she sat in for extra credit in college. “In this case though, the nightmare is still just a fear, but a big one.”

“It must have something to deal with the book, the creature did seemed to be made of ink.” Star noted. “Do you think she afraid of it now?”

“No, no I don’t think she afraid of the actual book. More like she afraid of what she can do with it,” Sparks said, knowing that without any restriction on the book, Inky could do as she please, and that also means that she could simply kill anypony in the book and get away with it. “She’s not that kind of mare, is she?”

“Huh, what kind?” Star was confused by the vague question Sparks just asked.

“I mean, she like a god in the book now. So if she wanted she could destroy anything and anyone that she wanted to.” Sparks continued to think about what she was saying, knowing that within everyone there’s always that touch of evil. “She could destroy a whole living world and get away with it. Not many can say that now can they?”

“You’re right she could, all she would have to do is redraw everything or make something new, and add it to the comic,” Star said, knowing where Sparks was coming from. “But, she doesn’t seem to be interested in mere destruction, then again its far too early to tell just yet.” To the team’s knowledge she only been in the comic once and the very next day got a marefriend. I wonder,

“Hey Sparks, do you think there’s anyway to get her more attached to the book?” Star and the team knew the real reason why Inky made the comic, now that she has a marefriend she won’t have a need for it any more.

“What, like get Ms. Pen to go in the comic with her?” Sparks could faintly see what Star was thinking but to do something like that would be difficult.

“Yes that’s exactly what I’m saying. If Feather sees what they are able to do in the comic versus real life, then she’ll have to be more willing to go in the comic,” Star explain her thinking, already coming up with a plan. “Anyway let’s keep moving.”

Sparks thought about it, if Inky did had any hidden potential, and the comic was the only way to awaken it then the plan sounded smart. Except for one thing, “I don’t know, like I said there are no restrictions on the comic book, so Ms. Pen would suffer backlash from prolonged exposure.”

“Hmm, yeah you’re right. We can’t endanger others, or even Inky herself. We’re just going to have to make subtle inputs about it,” Star agreed, seeing the flaw in her plan. And she does it again. Sparks seemed to be able to think two steps ahead of me everytime. That’s what I really admire about her. She always seem to be thinking. I wish I wasn’t such a coward, I confessed my love for Stone. So why can’t I do the same for her?

“Captain!” Sparks yelling finally got through Star’s thoughts. “Geez, don’t just space out like that.”

“Huh? What is it?”

“I said, we’re almost to the exit, and that we should be getting ready for the jump,” Sparks repeated the instructions.

“Huh, jump? Oh, right, right we’re done here.” Come on Chain, get your shit together. You’re a captain for Nightmare’s sake. Star shouted in her head, she straightened up, and resumed the role of captain.

Sparks did a double take, Whoa, one sec she’s all lost in thought now, she all focused. I could never do that. Sparks knew that Star had her moments where she seemed lost, but then she would recover the next second.

“Sparks? Are you alright,” Star asked, shaking Sparks out of her thoughts. “Are you ready to go? We’ve still got work that needs to be done and not that much time left.” That’s when it finally hit Sparks that she still have to alter Feather’s memory and match it to Inky’s as well.

“Y-yeah, I’m ready.” Sparks and Star joined hands, channeling their magic through each other, and opening a ‘portal’ out of Inky’s subconscious.

“Okay, on three. One, two, three!” They jumped through the portal, making sure not to sever the connection between them.

Outside of Inky’s subconscious

The world around them started to become known to their minds again, as both Star, and Sparks started to awake. Both of them groan from the slight stiffness that they felt, bumping their heads when they looked up to the ceiling.

Man, that was tough. Good thing Feather isn’t a unicorn, or we would be here all night. Sparks sighed knowing her job wasn’t over yet.

Sparks? Sparks blinked a few times, for a second she thought she heard Star’s voice echoing inside of her head.

Huh, for a second it almost sounded-

Sparks, is that you? Why can I hear you in my head? Star’s voice again echoed through her head, confirming her doubts. Sparks and Star quickly separated, looking at each other knowing that they still could ‘feel’ each other’s thoughts.

Captain, I think something went wrong.

No duh something went wrong. How do we fix it?

Well, that’s the problem. There isn’t a way to ‘fix’ it, only to live with it. Sparks had heard of unicorns minds becoming linked from mind-infiltration spells, she also knew the only way to ‘fix it’ was to learn to control the mental link between her and Star. Okay, so this is how its done, right now there’s a mental link between us.

Okay.

Seeing as how we do trust each other, this should be easy. This mental link acts like a mental spell, meaning that we can turn it on, and off at our own will.

Sparks, get to the point.

We need like a phase or something like that, that will serve as an activation for the mental link. Any ideas?

Really? Its that simple?

Well, at first there maybe some, ‘complications,’ but nothing a little one on one practice can’t solve.

Fine, how about Tantibus? You know after the team’s name.

Oh, um yeah that works, and if we think of anything else we want to use then we could change it. Well, I’m going to try it out now. Tantibus. Sparks focused on the word, using her magic, and her mind to associate the word with the mental link shared with Star. Captain, can you hear me? She waited a moment, hoping the magical word association was working. Great, it worked. Tantibus. Sparks again focused her magic on her thoughts, re-opening the link. Captain.

So I’m taking it that it worked?

Yup, like a charm. I’ll get to work on altering Feather’s memories.

Good, I’ll take Inky to your room. You don’t mind, do you?

N-no I don’t, that’s fine. Sparks did her best to hide the blush on her face and to keep her thoughts in check. The moment of silence in her head allowed Sparks to hear the faint snoring sound that Ignite was known for. She looked through the darkened room to see Ignite, Nyx, and Stone all sleeping on the couch in each other’s embrace. Oh man, when Captain see this-

When I see what? Sparks forgot that she still had the link opened, she looked over to Star who has already walked over to the stairs with Inky over her shoulder.

Sparks pointed towards the couch. That. Star looked over where Sparks was pointing to, only to see the three wrapped in each other. She could see the dried stains of cum in between their legs and over Ignite’s and Stone’s faces. Ignite did mention something about a new ‘game’ just didn’t think she meant that.

Gah, that dog. He going to get one of us pregnant one day.

That’s not a bad thing is it? Sparks asked, biting her bottom lip, and blushed slightly. She knew one day that she would like to carry Stone’s foal- or rather -cub, seeing as canines have more dominant traits than ponies.

No, it isn’t, but not until we finish our mission. Though, we have been under a lot of stress lately, exactly tonight. Maybe we deserve a ‘swim’ ourselves.

How do you know-

Vixen told me. Now get to work on Feather, take her to your room when you’re done, and report to my room for the night.

Y-yes ma’am.

Good luck Sparks, we’re counting on you. Tantibus. Sparks could feel the mental link being sever, a sign that Star has already successfully learned how to control the link. Star walked up the stairs, careful with carrying Inky, and disappeared to the other side of the house.

Sparks looked over to Stone and sighed, knowing that Star did had a point. They were on a mission to insure the safety of Equestria and the Lunar Republics, there wasn’t time for any of them to be dealing with a pregnancy during this mission.

She decided to put the dream aside for now, knowing that she had one last thing to be done before she could call it a night. “So, Ms. Pen, what kind of pegasus are you?” Sparks re-cast the mind infiltration spell, immediately getting to work.

Sparks’s room

Star carefully laid Inky down on Sparks bed, she removed Inky’s glasses from her face, and placed them on the nightstand. Star turned to leave when she felt Inky grab her tail, she turned her head glad to see that Inky was still asleep, but she was muttering something under her breath.

“Mom, please don’t, please don’t leave me.” Was the only thing Star was able to understand, a small slimming line was seen rolling down her cheek. She swiped Inky’s hand from her tail, gently laying it back on her side. Star wiped away the tear, looking down at her seeing the obvious signs of a nightmare- or better said -memory. “Mom,” Another tear rolled down Inky’s face.

Star sighed, knowing whatever was the problem that she couldn’t help. At least not directly. Star did the only thing she could think of, which was sing just like her mother used to do.

I will be here waiting for you,

I will be here watching after you

My love is true,

I will see you through

Hush, my child let the nightmares go,

Let your mind flow

Open your eyes to the sea

Please hear my plea

Listen to the calm waters, the pushing and pulling

Hear the cries of the birds, of their soaring

Feel the warm sand,

Of this Graceland

Know that I will always be here, waiting and watching after you

You will make it through

Star hummed the soft melody of the song, memories of her own mother singing the song to her came back, and even brought a tear to her own eye. She repeated the same verse of the song until she was sure that Inky was fully asleep.

She stood from the bed and walked out of the room, gently closing the door behind her. “Thanks mom,” Star heard Inky call out from her sleep, she bit her lip, but still left the room heading straight towards her’s.

She threw open the door, took her clothes off, threw on a sports bra on, and a pair of training shorts. Star collapsed on the bed, the long day of tracking Quip, worrying about her team mates, dealing with her own self doubts, and finally being forced to remember her old family took its toll on her.

Three weeks of nonstop stressful work, dealing with Vixen’s competitive attitude, and any crap these cover jobs throw our way. Yeah, some alone time with Stone, and Sparks is really needed. Star rolled over to stare at the ceiling and simply let out a tired sigh that had been building all day. She rolled to her side, closing her eyes to take a much need sleep.

Moments later, the door opened up to an very exhausted looking Sparks. She simply hobbled over to the bed, collapsing right next to Star, groaning as the soft mattress accepted her sudden weight. “I take it everything went as planned.”

“Mmm, yes ma’am, Ms. Pen is a lot heavier than she looks,” Sparks muttered and Star could tell that she was tried.

“Well get some rest, we’re the only ones that can explain what happen.” Star rolled over to wrap Sparks in her arms. Sparks herself just nuzzled in the embrace, taking a spot under Star’s muzzle. The two allowed the exhaustion of the day to take them to the welcoming world of dreams.

The Next Morning; down stairs

Soreness. Weight. Pain.

These were the first things that greeted Stone as he was the first to awake. He cracked his eye open to see that Ignite and Nyx were still happily in his arms. Ignite’s usual goofy smile could always bring a chuckle to Stone’s face and he always thought that Nyx looked cuter with her hair pulled back.

A small chuckle escaped the weight that was laying on his chest, but a sharp stinging pain on his neck forced the chuckle to end. Okay, next time we going to play this ‘game’ in your rooms. Stone tried to get up but felt Ignite push back down. “Ignite, Nyx get up.”

The two mares grumbled something in their sleep, which only led to further irritating Stone, and forcing him to do the only thing he knew that would wake them up. With their flanks pointed outward to his sides, Stone moved his hands down, and pulled on their tails.

Both mares worked up with their own different type of moan, one was from pleasure, and the other was from pure irritation. “Well I’m glad to see you two up,” Stone said with a sly smirk, which was met with a fiery slap from Ignite.

Not even given anytime to recover, she pulled on his collar. “Come spring, that rod of your’s have better be ready,” Ignite said in a threatening tone.

“And I love you too. Now can we go take a shower? We smell like sex, sweat, and stress.” Stone know Ignite hated when he- or anyone of the others -pulled on her tail, something about the weak feeling in her knees.

Ignite stared into Stone’s pitch-black eyes, her fiery ones able to burn holes through the toughest of stones, but Stone himself remained unmoved by the intensity of the orbs of pure fire. “Fine, but you’re taking it with us, and you are doing all of the work.” Ignite pushed him back down on the couch, grabbed her shorts, and walked off to the room she shared with Nyx.

Stone started to laugh at Ignite’s predictable reaction. “That’s always too easy to pass up, no matter how pissed she gets.” He continued to laugh, but the silence from Nyx told him something was up. “Nyx, are you alright?”

Nyx just sighed, laid her head back down on Stone’s chest, and wrapped her arms around him. “No, Stone I could feel it leaking out of me all night, and some of it is still inside of me.” Nyx buried herself in Stone’s winter coat.

“Hey, its alright. Its still winter so-”

“Are you two coming, or am I going have to drag you up here!” Ignite shouted from bathroom in her and Nyx’s room. Stone and Nyx started to laugh, knowing that Ignite would do something like that. Nyx tried to move but her legs failed to respond to her commands.

“Um, Stone? C-could you c-carry me?” Nyx blushed, knowing that she sounded like a little foal, but it hurt to move her legs.

“Heh, sure.” Stone gently picked Nyx up in her arms as she wrapped her’s around his neck. “Comfortable?”

“Y-yeah, thanks.” Nyx nuzzled under Stone’s muzzle, to hid the bright blush on her indigo fur. She took in a whiff of Stone’s natural scent, her mind going numb, and a content sigh left her lip.

Stone chuckled at the bat-pony’s antics, he started to make his way towards the stairs, but stopped when he noticed that Inky and Feather were missing from their spots. “It looks like everything went right last night,” He said, breaking Nyx out of her day-dream.

She looked over to where she last saw the two, only to see that Stone was right. “Yeah, I guess it did. I’m sorry about it too, it was my fault.” Nyx tightened her grip around Stone’s neck, realizing that all of last night was her fault. “Captain Star is no doubt upset with me. I wouldn’t be-”

Stone silenced Nyx with a reassuring kiss, she was surprised at first, but eventually returned the affection. Stone pulled away when he felt that Nyx was calm, he looked into her eyes, and smiled. “Nyx, I’m sure that Captain isn’t mad at you. ‘Cause if she was, you would be doing laps around the sea-port, and she’ll have a spell-gun pointed at you the entire time,” Stone finished with a laugh, successfully getting one out of Nyx.

“Yeah you're right, come on let’s hit the showers, soldier-dog,” Nyx joked, which by itself was a rarity. Stone did a mock salute and continued his way to the showers. When he pushed open the door to Nyx’s and Ignite’s room, it was easy to tell whose side was whose.

“So, you and Ignite. You’re sharing the room better than I thought.” Crushed tin cans, discarded clothes, and misshapen bed all marked Ignite’s side. While neatly folded clothes, a single glass on the nightstand, and perfectly made up bed marked Nyx side.

“Like fire and ice.” The two heard the shower going, so they assumed that Ignite was already in the shower, and Stone walked over to the bathroom door still carrying Nyx safely in his arms.

Stone pushed opened the door to see Ignite sitting on top of the of the sink. “Hey Ignite-”

“Get in and get to work.” She interrupted Stone, hopping off the sink, and walking into the shower. Stone shrugged and did what Ignite told him to do. He sat Nyx down on the edge of the tub, facing her towards the cascading water, and took off his collar tossing it towards the sink’s counter. “Alright,” Ignite started having her back turned towards Stone. “could you wash my back and wings? They been stiff lately.”

Stone rolled his eyes, grabbing a wash-rag, and squirting a good amount in it. “What about Nyx?” He gestured over to Nyx, who already started to wash the front of her body.

“I can wait, besides Ignite seems to be trying something, and I want to see what it is.” Stone arched an eyebrow towards the bat-pony, who just continued to wash herself. “Isn’t that right, Ignite?”

Dammit. Why does she have to be so freaking perceptive? “Ignite? Is Nyx right, because I have like zero energy for something like that.” Stone know it will be a little while before he was up to full caliber again or until he gets to eat some real meat.

“It’s not like that, my wings are stiff is all.” Ignite herself really wasn’t up to anymore ‘games’ for a while.

“Sure, and Princess Nightmare has a crush on princess Luna,” Stone joked, remembering the off rumor he- and just about the entire guard -heard during their recruit training.

“Whatever, are you going to wash my wings, or not?”

“Fine, fine don’t get you tail in a knot,” Stone said, stepping over to get closer to Ignite’s back, and rubbing the soap in the rag. “Spread’em.” Ignite did as instructed spreading her wings out slightly, blocking some of the shower water. Stone got to work on the rough leather wings, going down each individual segment, and membrane.

Ignite moaned from the gently treatment. Stone knew that bat-pony’s wings were slightly more sensitive than pegasi, with Ignite being a bat-dragon hybrid, she also had a dragon’s tough scales making her wing tough yet very sensitive. Stone washed all along the top of her wings, reaching down to the base point where they connected to her back.

Stone rubbed over the base feeling a knot underneath the muscle. “Right there.” Ignite moaned on reflex. The stain of holding up the wings all day, flying around the city as a mail-pony for her cover job, and the extra flying she did last night added up to a massive tight knot in her back.

It was then, Stone realized what he was there for, and started to pay more attention to the base. “A-a little to the left, no my left.” Stone rolled his eyes yet still followed the commands. “Oh, oh right there, right there. Mmmm, use a claw dammit.” Not wanting to make a big deal about it, Stone unsheathe his index claw, and placing it over the spot. Ignite’s wings flared out as she let out a half cry and moan.

Seeing the perfect opportunity to have a little fun, Stone moved the claw around the base only touching the spot, and mercilessly teasing Ignite. “Stone, s-stop it, the other will be up soon.” Ignite’s pleas fell on deaf ears as Stone continued to play with the base of Ignite’s wings. Moaning from behind Stone, told him that Nyx too was ‘enjoying’ the show.

“Oh Nyx, you are washing yourself, right? We do have to be on time for work,” Stone said, knowing that Nyx was more than just washing up. Stone pushed down on the spot again, Ignite flexed out her wing, and screamed in pure joy. Stone could tell that Ignite’s leg were getting weak, so he took hold of a breast to hold her up.

“Stone, s-don’t stop.” Ignite twisted and whined under the clawed hands of Stone, the moaning sounds from both mares grew in volume and pitch. A few weeks after making his pack, Stone did some reading into bat-ponies wings, and he learned that if you find the right presser point at the base it will force the pony- typically a mare -to cum on the spot.

Now, where is that little- “Ahhh!” Ignite suddenly expanded to their full length as her body tensed up and she came right on the spot. Nyx reached her peak right after, letting out a high-pitched screech. Ignite collapsed backwards to Stone’s chest, heavily breathing from the sudden orgasm. “Stone, where did you learn that?”

“Major Endive gave me a book about bat-pony wings. I’ve always wanted to do that,” Stone said, laughing at the dazed look on Ignite’s face. Stone was startled when a pair of hands came from behind him.

He turned his head around seeing that Nyx somehow stuck up on him. “Ignite, why don’t we ‘wash’ Stone before me?” She moved her hands down to his hardened shaft, wrapping it in her fingers that still had her cum on them.

“Um, girls I really don’t-”

“Yeah, let’s.” Ignite bit on the crack of Stone’s neck while Nyx rubbed his shaft. Shit, we don’t got time for this.

Meanwhile, in Sparks room

“So you guys are from the Lunar Republics?” Inky and Feather shortly woke up right after Sparks had set out a glasses of water for them, the three sat in her room going over what happened last night, and Sparks made sure not to hit anything that would get the team caught.

“Yes, we’re the elite guard for the Nightmare guard, and we’ve been stationed here to investigate mafia activity in the city.” Sparks knew withholding the wrong information could lead to trouble down the line, so she knew that lying to them was a bad idea, but not telling what actually went down was also key.

“Oh, so those guys were really Equine kings,” Inky said to herself and putting on her glasses. “So what happens now? I mean, are we going to be put in some protection program?”

“Well, I would assume not. The one that saw you two is in a Lunar Republics prison, so the likely-hood of you two ever being targeted is next to none, but we’ll have to see what my captain says.” Sparks stood up, intending the other two to take the hint, which they did as they got off the bed.

They walked out of the room, to see that Vixen, and Star where talking about something. “Captain, look who's up.” Star and Vixen looked to the second floor to see Sparks waving a hand towards the other two mares.

“Well, its about time you two woke up. Had a nice sleep,” Star joked, knowing that she has to get Inky more willing to use the comic book. “Seriously, everypony alright?” Tantibus. Sparks, follow my lead.

Feather did a quick stretch, flaring out her wings a bit. “Aside from the pounding headache, stiff wings, and sore neck I’m fine. What about you Inky?”

“I’m fine, a little sore, but fine.” Vixen started to call the two mares down the stairs, keeping up the happy attitude, and striking a conversation with them while Star and Sparks went over the plan.

So how much do they know?

Enough to where not questioning anything that we tell them. Why?

Before you brought them down here, I went through Inky’s bag, and I got her book. Our best bet is to say that its was a part of a routine check. Once I question Inky about the book, I’m hoping that she’ll open up about it.

What if Feather wants to go in the book?

Doubt that Inky would let her. The book isn’t to be known about, so Inky would most likely try her best to keep it away from Feather.

That’s a big ‘most likely.’

Just follow my lead. “So,” Star started, breaking the conversation. “now that you two are up, I must tell you that as standard procedure I was required to go through your things.” Inky’s ears perked up upon hearing this, worried that the book would look suspicious under any magical scans. “Ms. Brush, mind telling me about this.” Star produced the book from under the counter.

“That’s just a little project I was working on,” She said, completely devoid of emotions, shocking the three elites. Well this might be difficult.

Yeah, I didn’t think that Ms. Brush could do something like that. She almost like Nyx.

The sound of a door opening and closing cut through the mental conversation the two were having, everyone looked towards the second floor to see that Ignite and Nyx being carried by Stone. Speaking of which.

“When did they wake up,” Stone asked, attempting to fix his collar around his neck, though he was having troubles with the simple task making Ignite roll her eyes, and swatted his hands away to do it herself. “Thanks mom,” Stone mocked when Ignite finished it for him.

“Can it, mutt. Can’t you see we still got work to do,” Ignite asked, slapping Stone on the back of the head, and started to make her way down the stairs. Stone stuck his tongue at Ignite. Nyx rolled her eyes at the two’s antics, wiggling her way out of Stone’s arms, and flew down the stairs also staying hovering in the air. “So, what we missed,” Stone asked, jumping over the railing, and landing with a loud thud that shook the house slightly.

“I was just telling Ms. Brush and Ms. Feather what’s happened when they were out,” Star answered, giving Stone a look that told him to keep quiet, which he did so without question. “So where were we? Ah yes, so this is a project you said?”

“Yes, I only just started, so there isn’t much to it,” Inky answered, keeping with the emotionless tone. Great, just great. I’ve only had the chance to use it once and its already in the hands of a guard. And now, Feather may want to check it out.

“Oh really?” This time Sparks was the one to open up. “Would you mind telling us what’s it about,” She asked, knowing that it would be best if the team knew more about the book.

“Well, I haven’t really decided yet. I was going to work with a suggestion I got from some diamond dog yesterday.” Inky knew that it would be best to use vague answers, so is not to alert anyone.

“Oh a diamond dog you say,” Stone asked, pushing off the wall. “Was this dog smart, really good with his explanations, and incredibly handsome?”

“Wait, that was you,” Feather asked, just now making the connections.

Stone smirked, clapping his hands together. “Someone give this mare a prize. Heh, yeah that was me. So Inky, you're really considering what I said?”

“Um, yeah.” Star noticed that Inky dropped the act as soon as the conversation changed. “It sounded really interesting, I mean a hero that does anything they want? Who wouldn’t want that life?”

“Ha, I hear that, but it isn’t always about doing what you want. Sometimes its about doing what has to be done. How you do it, makes the difference,” Stone said, adding more information about anti-heroes.

“Ha! You’re telling her about anti-heroes,” Ignite scoffed, closing the refrigerator, holding three bottles of apple flavored energy drinks, and tossing one to both Stone and Nyx. “Let me tell ya about anti-heroes: one, they always have something about them that makes them god-like. Two, they can’t really care less about risk. Three- and this is really important -they’re always a complete badass.”

“As right as you think you are, that only touches the surface about anti-heroes.” Stone stood in front of Ignite. “Anti-heroes, usually have much more to them then that.”

“Okay, okay, okay you two can have your little nerdish argument somewhere else,” Star said, breaking the two up with her magic. “Now, we’re going to let you two go home, but you can not tell anyone that we’re here. In fact, forget that you’ve seen us,” Star said, giving Inky, and Feather their stuff. “Nyx, escort Ms. Pen back to her house, and report back here. Stone, you escort Ms. Brush, and do the same. Understood?”

Both Nyx and Stone snapped to attention. “Yes ma’am,” They said in unison.

“Alright, its raining outside, so grab a jacket, and an umbrella.” The two nodded in understanding, Stone went up stairs to grab the jackets, while Nyx grabbed the umbrellas from next to the door. “Now that’s settled, I can’t stress how important it is to our mission that you tell absolutely no one. Not even those closest to you. Understood?”

“Yes ma’am,” Inky and Feather said together.

“Good, now I would like to say that I’m sorry you two were attacked.” Stone hopped down the railing again, curiously he didn’t make such an impact. He tossed a small dark-purple jacket to Nyx, who tossed an umbrella back at him. “Now that these two a ready, you may go.” Nyx opened the door, revealing the light rain of the early morning.

Feather was the first one up, ready to get home after the odd night. “Sure, thanks for everything, and we promise we won’t tell anyone. Right Inky,” She asked, nudging Inky out of her thoughts.

“Huh, y-yeah, I’m ready.” Inky stood up and bowed her head towards Star. “Thank you for looking out for us and I wish you luck on your mission.” Inky and Feather walked over to the awaiting door with Stone behind them.

Once the four were gone, Sparks let out a sigh of relief. “Well, that was close.”

“Yes, but now at least we know what we can do,” Star said, re-thinking the layout of the schedule for the team.

“Now we know about what,” Ignite asked, unaware of Star’s plan.

“Sparks and I were trying to think of ways to get Inky more attached to the book, now we know. Ignite.” Ignite snapped to attention, awaiting Star’s orders. “You and Stone will be looking after Inky for now, at least until the rest of us can read up on elements of comics.”

“Gah, do we have to,” Vixen whined, not really caring about comic books. “Does it have to be little kiddish comics? Couldn’t it be the more nightly heroes?” It didn’t take much for the rest of the team to figure out what Vixen was talking about.

“Well seeing as Inky is that kind of artist, then fine.” Star knew that Inky was going to need all of the different views to really make a choice. “But let’s try keeping the subject similar to each other’s. We don’t need her second guessing herself.”

“Yes ma’am,” The three others said in unison. Captain, do you think that this will work?

I don’t know, we’ll have to be careful what we tell her, but in the end its up to her.

Meanwhile; Path down Inky’s house

The light rain pattered down on umbrella as Stone escorted Inky to her house. The two were silence, Stone reverted back to his military experiences due to Star’s commanding voice, and Inky was lost in her thoughts.

What am I going to do? Do I continue to use the book or do I leave it alone? No, I-I can’t. I put too much time in it, and its my responsibility. Right? Inky continued the inner conflict, nothing she could think of sounded all too good. On one hand, she could use the book as practice for more story lines, but that would mean she would eventually drag Feather in with her. On the other one, she could just simply forget all about the book, and focus on being with Feather, but that would mean giving up on her dream.

I give up.

“Um, Mr. Stone?” Inky decided that since Stone helped her out once, he may be willing to do it again.

“Please, my father was called ‘mister.’ Stone would be fine,” Stone joked, but the blank military stare throw off Inky.

“Oh right, anyway can I ask you a question?” Inky wasn’t sure if she could ask the question without completely tipping Stone off about the book.

“You just did, sorry that was too easy, go right ahead.” The military stare slightly broke, letting Inky know that he really was just joking.

Inky took a moment before asking her question, trying to think of the best way to word it. “Okay, if you had the chance take your dreams in your hands, at the cost of someone close to you, would you do it?”

“Um...so you mean, being one of the best non-crystal pony artist isn’t your dream? Well, to answer your question, I would do what most anti-heroes do.” Stone figured that he might as well make a connection with anti-heroes and Inky’s question.

“And what would that be?”

Stone stopped walking, making Inky do the same, and sighed. “An anti-hero would strive for their dreams- short-minded or not -and also made sure that they keep the ones close to them. Its what I did and I’ve got the best job in the world and the ones close to me.”

“You mean,” Inky had a guess that Stone and his team- or at least some of them -were in some kind of relationship with him.

“Yes, and if you’re wondering, yes all of them are mine. Somehow we make it work, most of the time.” Stone continued the walk, Inky following close behind. It was only then, that Inky thought back to the five as they all- aside from Ignite and Nyx -had a different color diamond around their necks.

“So those diamond around their necks, those are from your personal hoard?” Stone’s ears perked up when he heard Inky ask the question. He never thought that anypony knew anything about canine’s- or at least diamond dogs’ -traditions and costumes.

“Yeah, they are. Wow filly, I didn’t think that ponies would pay any attention about my species costumes,” Stone said, surprised by Inky’s knowledge of a diamond dog’s claim. “I gave it to them after they confessed their love to me, it was awkward at first, but I think that everything is situated.”

“Well, I’m happy for all of you, and I learned about in high school when I still lived in the Lunar Republics,” Inky said with a genuine smile, despite the bad memories associated with her high school years.

Stone nodded as they came up on Inky’s house. “Ah, I see. Well Inky if you ever need any help, know that we’re here. Oh and if you ever hear any explosions, don’t worry about it.”

“Okay? I’ll keep that in mind,” Inky said, unlocking the door, and stepping inside. “Thank you again, I’m sorry if Feather and I caused any problems with your mission.”

“Pfft, don’t worry about it. Just make sure to stay safe, you’re important to a lot of people.” Before Inky could question what Stone meant, he was already making his way back to his house. Inky just stared down the street until Stone turned the corner. She closed her door, walked over to her couch, and laid down too tried to do anything else.

She just laid there, thinking about all of the things Stone told her, and how they could help with her and the book. One thing was clear, one day she will have to tell Feather about the book, and how she reacted and the thing that happens next will depend on Inky.

Take my dreams and keep those close to me safe, that’s what I’m going to do.