Down against the spiral, he looked in. His visions contorted into red. A guilty conscience will ferment and become stronger, filling with grief until it can hold no more. And Cris knew that. The dreams were getting progressively worse. Often the dreams were subtle producing only minor amounts of tears, but some caused loud weeping in his sleep. Which worried his lover to no end. Though he always told her he was fine. The word he always used to describe how he was, how he was feeling, and his life in general.

His mane was a mess. It was all just out of place. Strands flung about here and there, all mangled. His eyes were crusted over and tears still wet on his face. He breathed a sigh of relief, staring out his window. Which was adjacent to his bed. The sun peaked out from the horizon, checking to see if it clear. Sunlight creeped its way to his bed and up the walls. Slicing through the curtains billowing in the wind; yet some still remained trapped, unable to break through the gossamer-like veils.

Cris moved slightly, turning over and meeting Chryssi’s open green-eyes. “You’ve been crying again.” She whispered, on the verge of tears herself.

Cris gave a light smile, “Yeah...sorry. Did I keep you up?”.

She smiled back and chuckled, “No.” Awkward silence consumed the open air for about a minute or so. Both pondered over what they wanted to say to the other. “Does it bother you that much?”

“How else am I suppose to react?” Cris closed his eyes and drew a dismal breath. “I killed a colt out of rage, and wanting to protect the town during the elements absence.”

“I know. What other choice did you have? It was kill him or let him and that demon annihilate the entire town.”

Poor kid... Cris thought back to the evening he had spent with his mother. Apologizing constantly for what he had done. She forgave him, though it would take a while before she wanted to see him again. He offered to make reparations, he insisted. But she refused each time. Her work provided enough for her and the son she use to have.

He pushed that out of his mind and returned to the present. Looking back into the changeling’s beautiful eyes before him. “Come on let’s go get some breakfast huh?” Her stomach rumbled, an offer she gladly accept. If anything they would have gotten up right away. None of them felt it. With slow and sluggish posture the lovers got up from their bed and headed downstairs to the kitchen. Which was relatively empty. Mostly all that was in the cabinets and pantry were quick meals and snacks.

All unhealthy. Chrysalis frowned at the poor quality kept by her mate. It was amazing how much stamina he had with garbage running through his system. No wonder he almost got beat She thought to her rifling through the cabinets for something more...suitable. “Eureka!” She said aloud, pulling out a box of pancake batter.

“Aww...its so cute when you try.” Cris laughed with glee as she flipped around staring daggers into him.

“FYI I happened to know that word beforehand.”

“Okay then.”

For a matter of moments nothing was said. Cris quietly hummed to himself the songs of his youth, while he watched his lover attempt to make pancakes. She hm’d reading the directions from the back of the box. Mulling it over for a second, “Okay.” Chryssi said with a lighting her magic and opening the fridge bringing out a carton of eggs, and a bottle of milk. She shook it lightly. “There is hardly anything in here!”

“Extra bottle in the back, behind the apple juice.”

Pushing the gigantic bottle aside and there it stood. “Oh.” She pulled it out, too. “Why do you have that much apple juice anyway?”

Cris shrugged. “Who doesn’t like apple juice?”

She admitted defeat; however she still thought it was a little nuts to have that much of one particular drink. Resuming the task at hand with an effort of making this perfect.

“I was wondering…” He started. Mulling over the question in his head once more. Just so he didn’t screw it up.

“Yeah?” the changeling queen turned to him holding a mixing bowl and continued to fold in the contents.

“Well I was thinking that you, me and my son could… get away for bit. From this town anyway, you know with all its dementia.” A strange look came across her face. She stood still, holding her eyes up towards the ceiling, and continuing to stir the mixing bowl. Cris was instantly puzzled by this. He figured that she would like something of the sort. Maybe they were moving at a too quick of pace for a only a short standing relationship.

“Where would we possibly go? I know for one thing I’m tired of this heat-”

“You didn’t prime the stove.” Cris interjected.

“What?” She asked.

“The stove. You didn’t turn it on.”

Chrysalis cried. “Oh!” Her magic snapped back in reality, and the stove came clicking to life as the sparks attacked the gas. Flames burst into existence with a blue hue and a combo of orange and yellow at the tip. She move a flat pan over the flame, and then resumed. “Stalliongrad. It’s high in the mountains, not to high to suffer from altitude sickness. Cold and I hear they have a plethora of shops, activities, and food.”

Chrysalis thought about it for a moment pouring the somewhat-thick essence onto the heated pad. “Sounds nice. But…”

“What is it?” They both listened to the light sizzle elicited from the cake.

“Are you sure that I should go with you? I mean...we’ve only been dating about week and a half. I don’t want things to be weird between me and your son.” She realized that she had never got a spatula. Oh well… She raised the pancake with her magic. Inspecting the underbelly making sure it was golden brown. And it was somewhat. Had more of a dark brown aspect, mixed with umber that rivaled tree bark.

“Of course I do.” They both stood in silence. Figuring this was nothing but wasted effort. Cris stood up from chair he was sitting in. “How do you like your coffee?” he asked. There was only a certain amount of time he could go without his caffeine. And the limit was reached.
She offered a rebuttal. “Black,” simply put. “And strong.” Perplexing was the only thought that came to to mind. Albeit he was fully functional, cognitive wise, there was something off.

The two battered ponies, both feeling for the others pain, sat down at the kitchen table, the griddle slowly heating behind them. Cris, with his tea, and chrysalis, with her coffee. “Pancakes are burning.”

“Crap!” She hollered. Cris took a sip of his tea with a shit-eating grin on his. Trying to hide his laughter beneath a thin veil. “You cannibal, you meat-eater, you see for I have seen the same. I know the shame in your defeat.” He muttered underneath his breath.

“What do you mean by that?” A bit of anger flared up in her voice. Cris went wide eyed instantly. He could see every muscle in her body tense, a bit of tears swelled in her eyes. She just looked so hurt.

“I meant nothing derogatory by it love, honest.” He took another sip of his tea. “In a way. We are cut from the same clothe. Our past relationships haven’t exactly worked out. Like I said, once had pending nuptials with one of the Elements and she called it off. I dated Cheerilee some years back and that ended in a disaster.”
She quivered a bit, more tears forming in the corners of her eyes. The pancakes were burning, but they didn’t care. It in was just them now. “I’m sorry,” taking another nonchalant sip of his tea. That was all he could say. He think of anything else that was comforting. Say something damn you! his brain screamed loudly. Ugh this was so frustrating! Why did he have to be this fucking weak?

"I am so sorry," he said again, but this time with a catch of the throat. Indicating he was crying as well. They both stared at each other for a long while. Silent repentance is what it was. After while all was fine.

"So how about that vacation?" she finally choked out, clearly taking a while to bring the word to her voice. Cris replied with a chuckle and smile, reaching for the newspaper to his side.

xxxxxx

The train manifested itself in the distance. Coming in slowly and surely, blaring its whistle creating an example of the Doppler effect. Something that Aero would relish in, and explain the phenomenon in great detail. Something that very few cared for or even acknowledged. Three ponies stood on the dock the sun was high over head, bearing down heated light upon them. They all stood awkwardly. Cris was in the middle wearing a bright smile, humming to himself and trying to figure out what exactly his next book was to be about. Various thoughts and ideas came through his head, none of them good enough to be put to words.

Chrysalis under the guise of Rose. Standing slumped a little, eyes wandering, heart racing, and mind blank. What was she suppose to say? What the hay was she suppose to do?! I hope he likes me. I hope we can get along. I hope… I hope… She wondered to herself. “Hey Dad.” Her ears perked up, and she noticed that Cris’s smile instantly widened. She could tell that he loved his son dearly.

“What is it?” Happiness was in his voice.

“You know Stalliongrad has one of the highest rape and murder rates? Surprisingly Butterfly Island is below that place. I don’t know how you survived on that island for a week.” Star looked his dad straight in his blue eyes.

“Fair point. But Star? Come on. When have we ever encountered any trouble?” Star went to speak, but his father cut him off rather abruptly, “Outside Ponyville.” He went silent. There were no other times he could think of.

The trains whistling blaired closer now, coming in a little ways outside Ponyville before slowing to a grinding halt. Steam billowed from the stack above. Subtle hisses were elicited from beneath the wheels. “Let’s go get our seats. I’m not one for first class but I made a special case. For this one.”

“And what exactly would that be?” He took it as his sons voice. “Well as everyone knows I’m not one to flaunt my wealth with tawdry items of meticulous and pretentious nature but I think every once in a while its nice to enjoy the finer things in life that said wealth brings.” he said all this with his eyes closed, unaware of the circumstances. “So I present to you my lovely “family” with three first class tickets, enjoy.” He felt it necessary to add the quotation marks in. Hopefully his lover wouldn’t find them to be of nocuous nature.

“Sweet! Where are the other five?”

“Other five?” He opened his eyes, frowned and then groaned at what he saw. “Oh for the love of faust.” Melody had her wing wrapped around Rose/Chrysalis, who was looking rather uncomfortable and blushed madly. Honestly Cris was a little hurt by this. She managed to mouth the words “I’m sorry.”

“Public speculation was right,” Melody chuckled, “she is quite the looker.” Cris was impressed that Melody actually used that word in its proper syntax.

“What are you, my idiot friends, doing here?”

“Going on vacation with you duh!” Shadowfire replied. “Good thing Star told us yesterday.”

“Star!” And came the red-hot anger.

“I thought you wanted them to come.”

“No the point of this vacation was for you and Chr-Rose to get to know each other. And for my sanity. This faust forsaken town shears it away little by little.” His eyes roamed a bit to right. Staring at nothing but trees.

“Oh-kay…” Grey Knight droned whipping back his blue and grey hair back from his eyes. “Look Cris. If it helps I didn’t approve of this. I’m just coming to help keep the peace.”

“All aboard!” Called the conductor.

“Fucking fine.” He levitated a prism-shaped green gem from his bag and tossed it to Grey. Which he in turn caught with his magic, sky blue in color. “Go buy five more first class tickets.” Grey smiled with glee and ran off to do so.

“Glad to see your accepting us into your love life!” Herald cheered, making Cris sigh out loud, then turn to his son.

“I am so getting you back for this. And won’t be expecting it.” he said with a hiss in voice stepping onto the train. This was going to a be a LONG ride… He handed his ticket to the mare guarding the first class area, no one else was sitting in there. He had hoped to keep it that way, but fate had other plans for him.

“Hey Cris!” Melody shouted into the door. “Where are you going?”

“Stalliongrad!”

“Seriously?! You trying to get raped/murdered?” He groaned and annoyance. This is not how he envisioned his vacation. Fuck me... he thought to himself, throwing his head and wings back in exhaustion then proceeded plop down onto his seat. Rose/Chryssi sat beside him, wearing a reassuring smile. It helped... but not much.
He wrapped his wings around her, pulling her close. He hoped this would be just as nice with his friends coming along. At the thought of the fun they could have, he smiled. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all.

Author's Note

The Doppler effect is a scientific principal in which sound goes through an apparent change in frequency caused by relative motion between the source of the wave and the observer. I'm teaching you something about physics almost every chapter. Enjoy it. Co-writer Harbinger-of-script