Author's Note

Hello everyone I am back. I hope you all enjoy the chapter the next one should be coming out fairly soon. I've been trying to get back on the horse here lately. Its been a long while since I've posted anything this long. Chapter co-written by my friend Harbinger-of-script

Mechanical Bull

Crimson Link worked into the dead of night. For the time of year was fall, his grace period if you will; The time of year when he was most active with his writing. He wished, actually it was summer. June 19th to be exact. He glanced over at his clock, staring and watching as the hands ticked away in the circle. It read, 1:23 A.M. “Hmph...” he looked back at his parchment. Ink scribbled across in a blotched mess. His work was more stressful than anyone realized. But he loved it so. Cris watched as his silver, magical aura danced around the quill that was currently in his grip. It waved and bounced, formulating its next move like a strategist. He gently exhaled, dropping the quill down onto the parchment. He ran his hooves through his short blue, red hair. A dozen thoughts ran through his mind, and at an instant they all vanished. His mind was blank again.

A soft knock patted against his door. “Come in,” he called, pushing his glasses against the bridge of his nose. “Hey dad.” A unicorn about head taller than Sweetie Bell entered his office. “Hey Star.” Cris replied in a warm, fatherly voice, “shouldn't you be in bed?” he asked pulling his glasses from his face staring at his son with deep blue eyes.

His son smirked, “actually that is what I came to talk to you about.” Star watched as his father raised an eyebrow at him. “In two days there will be the Summer Sun Celebration, and I was wondering if I could go and spend the next few days with Aero.”

“When will you back?”

“No later than the noon after the festival.” Star smiled, “besides don't you have a special somepony that will be expecting you?”

“No, why would I?” His father asked, raising his eyebrow even higher.

“Oh just this letter you received from the princesses, separate of course.” Star flared his magic as the parchments hovered over his hoof, and he looked at his father with a smile, “I never knew you were so popular with the ladies dad. Maybe you could teach me your tricks.”

“I honestly have no idea why they are always writing me. I never respond. At all! A couple of times I got trolled. Trollestia is a bitch.” Cris muttered underneath his breath.

“Anyway, I'll see you later dad!” Star gently placed letters on his desk, waving goodbye to his father. Red spindles of light ran around his son's form, gently scratching at the fabric of reality, taking him to someplace entirely different from where he was now. He watched as his son vanished into thin air. A wave of red echoed out into the world, dissipating after only a few seconds. Cris opened the letters on his table. He was torn. Which one was he to open read and then burn on the spot? “Hmm...” he muttered to himself, “quite the predicament.” After a few minutes of mulling it over, he decided to go with Luna's. He might get a kick out of it.

Dear Crimson Link,

We write to thee this day wishing to know if thee hast time to spare for us during the festival tomorrow. It would be an honor if thee would allow us to spend some quality time with our favorite author. Whilst our sister only likes your exports for the romance. We scoff at those feeble ideals, her heart and mind are fickle and change just as often as our moon. Frissons athwart our spine, thee swinks for months without an end for our pleasure. We fain for thee, and we hope thee will accept our proposal.

Sincerely,
Princess Luna

Yeah...fuck that. He instantly set the parchment ablaze, leaving it as nothing but ashes on his desk. He knew for a fact that if he replied it would do nothing but encourage them, and if he didn't reply they would just send more letters. Stuck between a rock and a hard place. Now for Celestia's.

My Dearest Crimson Link,

It seems as though the time of year has come again, wouldn't you say? A nice Summer Sun Celebration is on the horizon. I can't wait for the festivities. And guess what? This year, said festivities, will be held in Ponyville at the request of Princess Twilight Sparkle. The sun shines in my heart when ever I think of seeing you. We shall have a glorious evening and more! That is if you have time to spare, which I am sure you do. See you then!

Yours Truly,
Princess Celestia

At this point he was considering moving to Saddle Arabia. Although he would probably be hunted down and brought back by the Night Guards. Still stuck between a damn rock and hard place. Cris pondered for a brief moment. Thinking that maybe he should just pander to them and give them what they want, and then give them some half thought out excuse to why he can't choose and just end up right back were he left out. Chasing rabbits isn't exactly a solid plan.

He sighed loudly. Deciding that he would just destroy the letter and play dumb. Thats a solid plan, right? Nevertheless he proceeded. The sparks of his magic illuminated at his horn, this was for the best. Let it burn... he thought waiting for the parchment to explode into flames, and oddly though it didn't. Cris was surprised at this. He puzzled and puzzed, until his puzzler was solved. Celestia must have enchanted the parchment to be flame proof. “Smart,” he muttered to himself. Why they even wanted a dalliance was beyond him. “I mean come on!” he shouted loudly to himself, “Celestia could have Twilight, Luna could have...I don't know fuck she could probably have anyone she wanted. And yet they just have to go after me.” He uttered an exasperated sigh.

An odd sensation worked its was up through his hooves. Strange, it was gone at in an instant. Like a mild gust of wing on a hot day that was missed as promptly as it passed. He felt a slight tug at his shoulder as if someone was pulling at him. Which was impossible because he was the only one in his house. All pondering aside, he stood up stretching his stiff limbs. Not exactly throwing caution to the wind. Cris groaned, stepping out of his office. Ready to hit the sack. He was going to need his energy. A wild night of partying was to be had.

With his friends? Hell yeah! Cris smiled at the thought, trudging towards his bedroom down the hall on the left. Speaking to himself inside his own head. Personal habit he has had ever since birth, inferior minds never got him. Twilight and Aero were the only ponies that he could have an adult conversation with. Okay it would be rude to leave out the princesses. They could have a riveting colloquium. Idle chit-chat wasn't exactly their style.

Cris made his way over to his bed, flung back the blankets, and submerged himself under the cotton fabric veils. He sighed in relief, snuggling against his pillows. Ebbing his way into dream land. But...he couldn't. Cris rolled over on his side, exhaling. Nothing. He turned onto his stomach, exhaling again. He felt his wings tighten a bit. Stupid fucking wing boners. Even though Cris was a man of substance rather than outright libido, he had his urges. Everyone did.

That tugging feeling came back again stronger this time like something was pulling him from his bed. Then everything around him dissipated into black, then vibrant rainbow colors swirled. Something that mirrored a bad LSD trip. Then the motley of tints became a simple grey. “Hello!” A voice said with utter vigor and seduction. “I hate you,” he muttered. Throwing off the grey sheets that were obscuring his vision. Looking at the sun goddess. Anger and chagrin clearly visible in his eyes.

“Now we both know that is not true.” she said sweetly.

“Oh its so true!” he shouted, swinging his hind hooves over the edge of her bed. This was...really, really rubbing him the wrong way. “You are the most...” A few seconds past. He couldn't sum up enough sour, ill-will filled words to unleash on her. Even if he could think of them, Cris couldn't even vocalize his negative thoughts. “I'm leaving.” Cris said flatly.

“WAIT!!!” Celestia cried.

Scrambling out of bed to quickly catch her not-yet lover. “Cris... do you know what its like to be immortal? Watching countless lovers vanish before your eyes?” She said with a catch of the throat, “its horrible.” Cris stopped in his tracks, thinking for a second. “For once I thought maybe this time I would have someone I could spend eternity with...” Celestia trailed. Cris turned around spotting a tear gleam in her eye.

He approached, with much hesitation Cris placed his hoof on her shoulder and said, “Nice try.” Chuckling which turned into a hardy laugh, “Oh man! You had me going there for a second!” After which he promptly teleported away. “Ah horse apples!” she cried out into the night, her plan to instill empathy in his heart had failed.

Maybe this time I will actually get some sleep Cris reappeared in his bed. Eliciting a loud yawn, before placing his head back down onto his pillow. This time successfully falling asleep, undisturbed.

Cris woke up earlier than usual. One of these days his night owl tendencies would get the better of him. He got out of bed, and headed down stairs. Stepping out in of his home looking up at the grey skies. The wind blew, sharp and cold. Cris shuttered, pulling his favorite jacket from its hanger. Fastening the warm garment around himself. A warm sigh of relief echoed out. He took wing. Flying into the towards Ponyville, in a sleep-induced stupor. “MMMMMWAAAHHH! HMPH!” He yawned loudly, accidentally bursting through a dampened cloud. Who would have guessed on the day before the Summer Sun Celebration the pegasi would schedule it to rain.

Their eyes locked for a split second, both saved the color of the others eyes just before impact. Blue and pink. They butted heads extremely hard. Crying out in response to the stinging pain as they fell to the earth below, landing with a loud thud. “Shit!” Cris muttered, holding his right hoof against his head. “Oh no!” A feminine voice cried out loud. He lifted a single eye open through the pain, watching as several papers flutter through breeze in a formless dance. “I'm so sorry!” He cried, reaching out with his magic and grabbing all the papers at once.

“Here.” Cris neatly stacked everything back together.

“Oh thank you,” said the mare with a smile. He was absolutely over taken with her beauty. Even the slightest twinkle in her eye sent shivers down his spine. The feeling was indispensable, his nerves crumbled, his mind turned numb at an instant. There was something...familiar about her. But he couldn't place his hoof on it. “I'm such a clutz,” She giggled, whipping her pink mane from her face.

“N-No, no!” he shouted louder than he had wanted, “Please it was my fault. I should have known better than to fly during a state of lethargy.” She raised her eyebrow, questioning the word lethargy. He offered his hoof, which she gladly took. Pulling her up from the ground, both with smiles on their faces.

She looked upon him with her sweet eyes, which of course numbed his mind again and sent his heart rate through the roof. “Oh you're an alicorn! You must be royalty!” She backed up a bit, intimidated by the thought that he could have her through in the dungeon.

“No not even close,” he answered, “I just happened to be an alicorn. I am of no noble birth whatsoever.” She Hmm'd, scrutinizing him for their was something so mundane about the way he spoke. “I'm just a simple man, in a simple town, who's simple career is writing for a living.”

“You write, huh?” she circled him a bit. Something that creeped him out very mu.ch, but he tried not to let it bother him. “Would I be familiar with your work?”

“Well, my books are quite popular. They actually rival the Daring Doo series in sales, at the moment anyway.” Cris said with a smile.

“I apologize for my tactlessness. I am Crimson Link but everypony just calls me Cris, and you are?”

“Rose Quartz, its a pleasure.”

She stood there staring at him with complete contempt, “You! You're Crystal Moon!”

“I am.” Now this time he backed away.

“This is awesome! Will you sign something for me?”

“Better yet, I was just heading out for a cup of coffee. Would you like to join me?” He asked.

“Yes yes yes!” This mare appeared to be a handful, though it seemed to be worth it. “Follow me.” he called. They walked down the street, in...you could call it awkward silence. Spanning over the entire trip to the coffee shop. “Unfortunately we don't have a Starbuck's here, but this place makes a wicked cup of coffee.”

“Irvings?” She asked, “in the Crystal Empire this is the name of a whorehouse.”

“Oh...that's the place Sora was talking about...” Cris muttered to himself.

“Friend of yours?” Rose asked.

“No, in fact you could barely call him an acquaintance.” Cris opened the door for her.

“Oh? Then how do you know him?” again she asked with incredulousness in her voice, stepping into the establishment.

“He's one of my son's friend's dad,” he sighed, “when he comes to town we mostly just exchange colloquial 'hi's' and just leave it at that.”

“Uh... So I take it your married?” Rose queried, a tinge of disappointment echoed in her voice.

“No, at one time I did have pending nuptials with a mare that happens to be one of the bearers of the Elements of Harmony, but that ended over a year ago.”

“Uh... So you're a single father?” Never before had anyone made her feel this dumb.

“Yes.” Cris stepped up to the counter, the pony behind smiled at him asked, “The usual?”

“Yes.” he replied stepping to the side allowing Rose a chance to order. She looked up at the menu and thought it over for bit. “I'll have a Pumpkin ginger spice latte please.”

“This together?” Cris nodded, “Okay that will be fifteen bits.” he gladly handed over the money. “Thank you sir. Your order will be ready...er...forthwith?” Cris nodded with a smile.

“Don't worry you'll get it.” Cris turned to Rose and pointed the small table over in corner, ensconced in solitude. “Is you're son with his mother?” Rose was starting to hope she wasn't getting too personal with the questions. After all they only met recently.

“No he's out with his friend. And technically he's not really my son.” Cris noticed he these questions were getting pretty personal. For some reason he didn't mind this mare's prying, if it were anyone else he would have snapped at them to mind their own damn business. But not her. She had a strangely comforting aura.

“What do you mean?” She felt she was prying to much. She just couldn't stop herself. Her curiosity was causing her to ask more and more questions.

“He's adopted. When I was still to be married, my fiancé and I took our friends and family on vacation with us to Butterfly Island. You know where the massacre happened some years back? Anyway on of our friends got mugged and I found him the next morning rummaging through the trash for food. After that I had grown attached to him enough that I adopted him.” Cris looked fondly back on those days, remembering the dirty little colt he came to call a son.

“Is Star the name you gave him?”

“Yeah.”

“Hey Cris your coffee's ready!” He summoned them over without a problem. Not wanting to disturb their conversation.

“What's his real name?”

“Nopony really knows. He has birth records but his name was completely wiped from all of them.” Cris noticed something out the corner of his eye, a black shadow on the roof overlooking the shoppe. Which he shrugged off nonchalantly taking a sip of coffee as if nothing was wrong.

“Enough about me, where are you from Rose Quartz?” He asked. The shadow was still their but he paid it no mind. For it was just a trick of the mind.

“The Crystal Empire.”

“Hm, beautiful place.”

“Yes it is. I got transferred here, to Ponyville's weather team that is. Apparently this place pays more. But I have been having trouble trying to find a place to live.”

“If you need lodgings you can stay with me.” He almost choked on those words. Cris recovered and brought the cup of piping hot coffee to lips, savoring the flavor of peppermint mocha.

Her heart sank at the thought, and instantly restarted with happiness filling it. She knew if she didn't calm down her form would fade. “Thank you. That would be delightful.”

“Your welcome.” The room became brighter almost instantaneously. “Oh the pegasi must have destroyed the cloud bank.” Cris looked back out the window, and what he saw shocked him. Thick black vines, lined with vorpal thorns coiling themselves around anything they could get their grimy mitts on. The shadowy figure was standing on the roof plain as day, with the sun and moon equal in the sky at his back