Skipping a Couple Thousand Feet

I awoke the next morning feeling great. My date with Thunder had gone off without a hitch, and I felt we truly may have a future together. Maybe I even had a chance of marrying her.

But that’s just me being a hopeless romantic as usual.

I hopped out of bed with a little spring in my step. I was supposed to be meeting up with Vinyl today. We had another big concert tonight. With our skills, I suppose we might end up hosting the biggest rave the world has ever seen. I cracked my neck, and looked at my DJ glasses. I never really went out as H8TY7. I guess there’s a first time for everything.

As I stepped out of my house, I saw everything in the familiar shade of red I saw when I met… I shuddered at little at the thought.

But that’s the past now. I’ve moved on, and I’m in a good relationship with a mare.

Good times.

A few ponies stared at me, my glasses and custom headphones with compass marks on them obviously attracting attention. I noticed Lyra staring at me, mouth agape, so I slid my glasses down on my muzzle, and gave her a little wink.

I have never seen a mare react more spastically. She had pretty much a mini seizure, and then got a wide smile on her face.

I’m such a lady killer. I'm smooth as glass.

I slowly approached Vinyl’s house, and knocked on the door. Vinyl opened it.

“Well...look who got dressed up. Come on in, Nick.” She smiled and stepped aside.

“Thank you ve…” I paused in mid-step. She just called my by my human name.

Vinyl raised an eyebrow. “Is there an issue?”

I slowly turned to her and shut the door. “You just…”

She nodded. “I called you Nick. Is that a problem?”

I bit my lip. “Well...Vinyl...to tell you the truth, I don’t feel like Nick anymore. I don’t think that’s who I am anymore.”

Vinyl sighed. “I get you must miss your old home...and I really shouldn’t have opened up stitched wounds by calling you that.”

I shook my head. “It’s fine. I do miss my old world. But what’s there for me?”

Vinyl rolled her eyes. “Fingers? Toes?”

I laughed and stepped in a bit more, changing the subject. “So...what’s the deal with you and Thunder?”

Vinyl blushed a deep red and began to stutter. “I...um..we…”

I put a hoof on her shoulder. “Vinyl Scratch...I’m going to ask you a question, and I want you to answer honestly. Know that I will NOT judge you.”

Vinyl slowly nodded. “O...okay.”

I looked her deep in the magenta eyes (god, they were beautiful.) and asked in all seriousness, “Are you a lesbian?”

There was a long silence between us, and she looked away. “Well….yes and no.”

I kept looking. “Then, you’re bi?”

Vinyl answered with a slow nod. “It started with harmless experimentation with Thunder...and then it got serious…”

I hugged Vinyl. “Seriously, PON-3. Don’t worry. I still love you like a little sister. Come on, let’s go out for a drink.”

Vinyl shook her head. “Can we just stay here?”

I shrugged. “I guess.

For the next hour, I just sat in Vinyl’s living room, her head in my lap, with the fire crackling.

“Vinyl…” I started, not sure how to phrase this.

“Yeah?” She sounded relaxed...calm...like someone who really enjoyed my company.

“I don’t mean to open up old wounds either...but about Thunder…” I gently stroked her mane.

“Hotshot, I’m not a cat.” Vinyl moved away.

“Right...sorry.” I shook my head, and stared into the fire. “...I really feel like I have something with her. I don’t know any women like that on Earth. I want to stay here.”

Vinyl looked up at me. “Well, what’s stopping you? You just need to have one of your fainting episodes, and you could go back for as long as you wanted.”

I sighed. “I want to marry her, Vinyl. I want to have kids. We’ve only been on one date...but it just feels right.”

Vinyl smiled. “Nick...if she’s making you feel that loved, why not?”

I looked down to her. “You know what? You’re right. But tonight...I need to be here with you.” I looked back into the fire, burning any regrets I had about staying here.

Two years later….

I trotted home, a huge smile on my face. Tonight was a big night.

Thunder had been my marefriend for two years, and it was clear she was ready to take the relationship to the next level.

I’d been at that point for two years.

I walked inside, and called for her. “Hello? Thunder, you home?”

She walked down the staircase, the same radiant mare as ever. “Yes, sweetie. I’m home.”

“Come with me….” I smiled and walked into the kitchen. The ring in my saddlebags felt heavy, as if it was gaining weight with every step.

“Sweetie, what’s going on?” She raised an eyebrow, but followed.

I set the saddlebags on the table. “Thunder, how long have we been together, now?”

“One year, eleven months, twenty seven days.” She said, without hesitation.

“And I know you want me to take our relationship to the next level.” I put the ring under my wing, still in its box.

Thunder raised an eyebrow. “It’s that clear?”

“Yes.” I softly smiled, and walked up to her.

Her eyes widened. “Are...are you okay with it?”

I nodded and knelt down. “I’ve been okay with it for two years.”

Her eyes widened even more and she started blushing severely. “A..are you…?”

I slowly nodded, and reached behind me for the ring. “Thunder Flicker….will you marry me?”

She gasped as I took out the ring and held it out to her. “Yes! Yes, of course I will!” She hugged me tightly.

I smiled and stroked her mane, which she loved.

Later that night, we’d gotten together with some friends, to celebrate.

We were all having a good time, and everypony was laughing.

We were all absolutely hammered.

Big Mac was trying to show off...which was unusual of him. He pointed at me. “You think yer such a Hotshot? Live up to it!” He set up his hoof for a hoofwrestle.

I put up a hoof against his. “Worker pony...such a big title for such a little stallion.” I cracked my neck and we tried to get each other out.

After a long two minutes, Mac started to look tired. I was still going.

“Buck it, you win!” He let go.

I smiled and flexed, even though it was mostly the alcohol acting.

I then looked over at Shining and saw a familiar sight….

Gleaming Shield.

These two years….and Vinyl was right. Shining was Gleaming.

And it took me being drunk to see it.

I smiled and walked over, stumbling a little bit.

Shining turned to me, a look of suppressed shock on his face.

I put a hoof on his shoulder, and whispered, “You owe me one hell of an explanation….Gleaming Shield.”