What Path to Choose

“Wake up lover.” Came Rainbow Dash’s voice

Drako opened his eyes slowly then closed them quickly as the bright summer sun almost blinded him as it came in through the open window. He groaned and moved his head sideways saying “What time is it?”

“It’s almost Noon. I mean I know I’m lazy at times but come on your sleeping the good part of the day away.” She said pulling the covers off of him

He sighed and got up opening his eyes again “I’m tired…I was out doing night duty with Luna last night. I have to do it tonight too so I wanted my rest.”

“And I want to spend time with you before you have to go to work silly. I have a few hours before I have to set up the storm for later tonight. We been working so much lately that we don’t see each other much.” She said smiling at him

“Well can we do it in here I don’t want to get up yet.”

“Nope you owe me a date. I have a sexy stallion now and I get to show him off from time to time.” She said giggling

He laughed too and jumped out of bed “You’re lucky I love you so much or I would just go back to bed.”

“Oh don’t lie to me that has nothing to do with you loving me, it’s just because I’m a sexy Mare and nothing more.”

“I was trying to be romantic but since you seem to understand my feelings for you better than me I guess you’re right. I only stick around for your hot body and nothing else.” Said Drako walking past her giggling

“Oh you're terrible.” She said following him.

“Am I now?” he said stopping and jumping at her pinning her to the ground

“Ewwwww Can’t you guys do that in your room and not in the hallway please.” Said Scootaloo who was standing next to the stairway

Drako got up blushing “Hey now not my fault your still home on a nice sunny day.”

“Yeah kiddo why are you home anyway I thought you had a date with Sweetie Belle today?” said Dash picking herself up

“I do but first we are going to hang out with Applebloom today and do some Crusading. I just came home to get my Cutie Mark Crusader’s cape.” She said pulling it out from her saddle bag.

Drako giggled and blushed some then walked over to her sister and ruffled her mane “You’re a good kid you know that. Go and have fun.”

“You’re so strange bro.” she said turning and walking off then she stopped and looked back at him “Will you be home tonight?”

“No I am pulling another all-nighter with Luna. She is adding new Consultation’s to the sky still and wants me there to keep an eye on her while she works. She gets lost in her work and can’t really pay much attention to what is going on around her.”

“That is too bad.”

“Why do you ask?”

“Well I wanted to know if Sweetie Belle could…stay the night if it was ok with you. But I know you don’t like that when you’re not here.” She said blushing

He looked thoughtful for a moment then smiled “I think you’ll be fine as long as Rainbow is here to keep an eye on you two. I trust you Loo and you are old enough to make up your own mind on this kind of thing. As long as Dash doesn’t mind then it’s ok with me.”

“I don’t mind. I like having the kids over at times they are a lot of fun….most of the time.” said Dash laughing “But I do have a storm to set up tonight so she can’t come over until I am home.”

“Thanks Dash!” squeaked Scootaloo flying out the door with a quick good bye.

“She’s funny sometimes.” Said Drako

“You should have seen her when she became friends with Applebloom and Sweetie Belle. They were her first friends after moving here. She was even funnier then. She thought being friends with a Unicorn and an Earth Pony was weird but funny.” Said Dash

“haha I was like that too when I was younger. I would have never thought I could be friends with them. Not until I left that is.” Said Drako walking over and kissing Dash “I have to head to work soon and I want to go for a walk before I do. Feel like joining me?”

She smiled kissing him back. “I think I would like that.”

They both smiled at each other then headed for the door. As they did Drako couldn’t help himself as he said “I love you Dash.”

“If you say so. And remember while we are out you owe me a date.” She said giggling and trotting off

“I haven’t forgot.” He laughed closing the door behind him

The day went by quickly but it was still fun. Drako took Dash to a nice restaurant where they enjoyed a nice lunch. After words Dash took him to Fluttershy’s place. He hadn’t had time to talk to her much since he had come back and he hadn’t seen her before that since they were foals. They spent a few hours talking about old times when she still lived in Cloudsdale and how her life has been since she left the cloud city.

It was something Drako needed to take his mind off all the things that had been going on in his life. It had been almost a month since Dr. Whooves had been arrested. Drako made sure to keep tabs on him to see how he was doing. The princess sentenced him to a year on a work farm as punishment and a year of AA and therapy. He had already shown signs of improving, when he sent Drako a letter once he seemed really down in it. He could remember it still just like had it in front of his face.

Dear Drako Moon

Dr. Whooves here as you should know from the envelope I guess. I wanted to just say thanks again for how much you helped me. I am finding it a bit harder getting used to not being around Derpy and I been thinking too much on what she said when I saw her last. My therapist said its regret or something like that or guilt for what I did. I’m not sure I think it’s still love but he doesn’t’ seem to agree. But I’m still keeping a bit of hope alive that I’ll have another chance with her or at least be able to make this up to her by being a good friend.

As you should know since I know you been keeping up on me, I have been having trouble remember something’s from that day. It is like a big chunk of my memory just vanished. One moment I remember hitting you, then you looked up at me and smiled…after that it’s all a blank at least until you had me in the air and I was telling you how I really felt about Derpy. It’s been keeping me up at nights and bothering me a lot. I’m not sure what happened but can you tell me when you have time what is missing in my memory. I know it was something big and do to stress or shock that part of my memory is blanked out. Well any who if you can tell me what it is, it would help a lot thanks.

Sincerely,

Dr. Whooves

P.S. Tell her I am sorry and I hope she is doing ok, same to your sister.

Drako knew what he forgot of cores, but he couldn’t tell him what it was. He had Luna remove that part of his memory for a reason. He knew sooner or later he would have to make up some story to fill in the gap but he wasn’t sure how powerful the spell was and if Dr. Whooves would buy it or not. So he was avoiding it for now hoping it would pass.

After the meeting with Fluttershy he had to say good bye. He had to get to Luna’s and Dash needed to start her job with the storm. So they said their good bye’s and with a kiss to Dash he flew toward Luna’s House. He landed at her door not long after taking off and as he normally did he walked right in.

“Hello Drako Moon you’re early as usual I see.” Said the moon Princess as he walked into her living room

“Well I was out already and not far from here.”

She laughed and smiled at him “Well come on in I am just about to raise the moon and start on my last Consolation. If all works out right it shouldn’t take me long to finish then we’ll have the night to rest and chat a bit my friend. I do have something I wanted to talk to you about.”

“Sounds good to me, should we head up to your balcony. It’s going to rain soon and I figured that would be a good place to work.” Said Drako

“Oh I forgot about the storm tonight. I should have asked the Weather Patrol to put it off a day or two. Well no time to fix that now. I guess we’ll have more time to chat than I thought tonight.” She said

“Why is that, can’t you still do your constellation even with the clouds in the way?” he asked

“I can but I still like to see my handy work after words so I’ll just have to put it off till tomorrow night if you don’t mind another night of work.”

“I don’t mind too much. Rainbow Dash might though.” He said laughing

“Well I’ll be sure to apologize myself then.”

“Good idea.”

They went up to the balcony next and Drako sat back and watched as Luna started her ritual for bringing the moon up. He knew that right now as in Canterlot Celestia was waiting so she could let the sun set. This was his favorite part of his job. He loved watching the moon come up and it was even better watching the Princess do it.

The process took about a half hour or so as slowly the two Princesses worked there magic to slowly move the giant orbs across the sky. And slowly the sky grew dark and the stars came out. It was a beautiful sight, until he saw Pegasus moving the clouds in the sky to cover it up. He smiled as he watched; he was able to see Dash’s Rainbow Tail and Mane even from here.

“You do care deeply for her don’t you Drako?” asked Luna following his gaze

“I always have. She’s been a good mare to me and I couldn’t ask for more.” Said Drako looking away from the sky “That is why I can’t do what your sister is asking of me.”

She smiled and moved over to lay down by him “Drako do you know why my sister is asking this of you?”

“Asking? More like demanding.” He said rolling his eyes

She giggled a little then took on a serious face as she said “Drako she isn’t wrong about your Cutie Mark. You are the pony who is meant to be with me but not just for that. I could marry any pony I wanted too. I could take on a lover as I have done in the past, but I can’t just find the one who is meant to spend a life time with me just anywhere. This doesn’t happen often.”

“Stay by you for all time. You’ll only get what 50 maybe more years out of me maybe a bit longer if you use magic. But after time I will end up aging and dying.”

“Not really. You see on the day we are joined together your true power will come out. There are words of power in the wedding vows meant for a princess and with them they would turn you into a new pony. An Alicorn to be exact.”

Drako looked shocked and tried to talk but his voice seemed to have left his body. His mind was going nuts as he tried to wrap his mind around the idea. Then finally he was able to sputter out “How is that possible you have to be born an Alicorn.”

“That is true, but when an Alicorn finds that special somepony who they were meant to be with then that pony is granted great power and knowledge. Your life would be transformed forever.”

“I…I could never do that, even if it meant I could live as long as you and Celestia. I would rather live a short life than an eternal one.”

She laughed a bit at that “Our life is not eternal at all. It is magic that keeps us alive and young, and we can still die of sickness or if we are injured. It has happened a few times before. Celestia’s husband died a few years before I became Nightmare Moon. He was killed protecting her from an enemy invasion.”

Drako looked down at his hooves at that and felt a tear or two fill his eyes “I bet that was hard for her. Hasn’t she ever found another pony that is like I am for you? You know the perfect fit?”

“Twice now and she didn’t do anything about it even after I pressed her to do so. The first one was a couple of years after he died and the next was while I was in the moon. I couldn’t press her to do so then and I do understand why she didn’t the first time.”

“So this does happen from time to time.”

“It does but for me it is rarer. More ponies love the day time and not so many love the night like you do.”

“I’m sure it will happen again and I mean why do you care though? You said yourself that you wouldn’t be interested in me anyway.”

She blushed some at that and got up walking back toward the house “I think we should get inside the rain will be falling soon.”

He got up too and looked at her oddly “What is wrong?”

“Nothing is wrong with us.” She said falling back into her royal speak

“Ok now I know there is something wrong. Luna I am your friend and I can tell when you’re hiding something from me.” He said walking in front of her

She turned her head and to his surprise he saw she was crying softly. She took a moment to breath then said in a calm voice “We…I mean I care for you more than I thought I did. You have been a good friend and I can see why Derpy and Dash love you like they do. You’re a good pony and a perfect match. I agree with my sister and I would like you to be my husband. And I know how bad that sounds but it can’t be helped.”

Drako was shocked at that and he took a step back saying “But you wouldn’t force me to marry you. You’re the one who is going to make your sister change her mind.”

“Drako Moon I have never found the one for me in all the years I have lived. I have no idea how long it will take to find another one who is as perfect for me as you are. I don’t want to let this pass me by so no I will not change her mind because I agree with Tia. We will be married next month.” She said still crying

“You…you can’t; that isn’t fair.”

“That does not matter. I am the princess and one of the rulers of Equestria. One day you’ll thank me for this trust me.” she said

He backed up more and said “And here I thought you were my friend. I guess I been trapped. I hate my life.” And with that he ran out the front door into the now pouring rain

Luna tried to go after him but she fell over with a pain in her heart. She started to cry harder than she had done in years. She huddled into a ball and let her emotions go wild not caring that he front door was open and anyone could see her laying at the end of her hallway near the back door. At the moment the world was gone and only he emotions excited. And as she cried she let out a simple word “Sorry!”

Drako was lost in fear and anger. He wasn’t really mad at Luna. He understood what she was saying and why this meant so much to her. It was himself the he feared and was angry at. He was angry that he couldn’t stop his feelings for the pony’s who loved him so much. And he was afraid because he knew he liked Luna almost as much as the other two. It was hard enough to deal with the feelings he had for Derp and Dash and now he had Luna to deal with too. He also feared himself because he liked the idea of living forever and being a powerful ruler like Celestia and Luna where.

As he ran through the down poor a flash of lightning lit up the dark sky and in that instant he saw Rainbow Dash standing under the cover of an apple tree. He knew he needed to talk with her so he made his way toward her. As he did he noticed he was going toward Sweet Apple Acers. He was about to call out to Dash who he couldn’t see well any more but knew she was under the tree when he heard another voice.

He stopped at what was said and decided to duck behind another tree. The voice of Applejack flowed toward him and this time he heard the entire sentence “I mean it Dashy tell me the Truth.”

“I have told you the truth ok.” Said Dash

“Sugarcube you know that is a lie. I’ve known you for a long time I aint buying it. You can’t just tell me we had a fling like you do with most mares. What we had was a relationship even if we had kept it quiet from the others. Then this Drako comes back into your life and boom you’re off with him and leaving me in the dust like an old plow. Ya told me ya loved me.”

“And I did ok. But I also loved him too AJ, what do you expect me to do. Scootaloo needs her brother around and I wanted him back in my life. The first night was an accident nothing more but when I woke up the next day seeing him asleep I had to just let him stay.” Said Rainbow Dash and he could hear the pain in her voice “I miss you so much and you know this but I also missed him too. Why can’t you just let this drop?”

“Because Sugar I love ya with all ma’ heart.” Said Applejack and at this another flash of lightning lit up the sky and as it did Drako looked around his tree and was shocked by what he saw. After Applejack had said she loved Dash she had leaned forward and Dash did too kissing each other deeply

At that moment Drako Felt his heart break and his mind go blank. This was it. Another thing in his life to go wrong just like it always did. The mare he loved was kissing one of her friends and talking about a relationship they had before Drako had come back to Ponyville. He was the reason so many people were having their lives messed up. If he didn’t come back Dr. Whooves would have been ok and still with Derpy, Scoot would still be with Sweetie and happy as she was now so that wasn’t much to do with him, but Dash would still be with Applejack. And he could tell she cared deeply for the orange mare a lot just by what he saw and heard.

“I want another chance Dashy.” Said Applejack pulling away from her

“I…I’ll have to think on that. I have a lot to think about with Drako and Scoot.”

“I understand Sugarcube.” Said Applejack

Drako turned away from them and ran off into the night as he did another flash of Lightning lit up the sky and Applejack and Rainbow Dash took that moment to look over toward where he was. Applejack said quietly “Who was that, it looked like somepony was listening in on us.”

Dash shook her head “I’m not sure some pony’s are just weird.”

Drako didn’t stop running until he found himself looking at a door. He didn’t care who’s house it was he just knocked and waited with his head low and tears in his eyes. Finally after a few minutes the door opened and a voice he knew met his ears “Drako Moon what brings you to my place so late at night?”

He looked up into Twilight Sparkle’s eyes and then past her he saw Derpy standing in the back of the library looking at him too. He tried to hold back his tears but was unsuccessful as he said “I…I have no idea…first house I ran into I guess.”

“Drake what’s wrong? You look like something happened Come on in out of the rain and tell us what is wrong.” Said Derpy walking over to him picking up a blanket as she did and wrapping it around his shoulders

Twilight moved out of the way with a gentile smile and he made his way to the back room with them shivering some. He sat down and looked up at the two mares and started crying more. Derpy handed him a Handkerchief and he took it happily.

“Drako what is wrong?” asked twilight “Did something happen with Princess Luna or is it something else?”

“Come on Drako buck up and tell us.” Said Derpy using her tone she did when he was being stupid

It was her voice that snapped him out of himself and he looked up at them and said “Dash, Luna, you Derp…everything…It’s all my fault…”

“What do you mean?” they both said

He sighed and took a deep breath and started to tell them what had happened…