2.3 - Revelations

‘I’m in bed…’ Wildfire processed the thought as she opened an eye and took in her surroundings. ‘I don’t remember coming to bed. This duvet’s nice though.’ Lifting her head up and getting a proper look around made Wildfire giggle. The ‘duvet’ was in fact a pair of lime green legs and a lime green wing draped across her body that she was sure, when she rolled over, were attached to an awesome lime green mare.

Carefully doing just that so as not to disturb the said awesome mare, Wildfire smiled to herself, pleased that she wasn’t disappointed. Even though the mare in question was sleeping and currently making a noise like a chainsaw trying to cut through concrete, despite being repeatedly assured that she didn’t snore. ‘My left flank you don’t’, Wildfire leaned forward and gently kissed her marefriend’s nose. ‘Still love you though.’

‘Coffee. Need coffee.’ With that thought in her head, and a considerable amount of care and patience Wildfire was able to extract herself from the tangle of limbs that was her sleeping partner and make her way quietly down the stairs to the kitchen. With the kettle on and coffee and sugar in their two favourite mugs Wildfire investigated the fridge while she waited for it to boil.

The magnetic digital clock on the fridge door said the time was six in the p.m., that she’d slept all day wasn’t a surprise, given it was about four that morning when (she assumed) Air Raid had carried her to bed. A large, garishly bright poster pinned to the door by the clock caught her attention. The annual Canterlot funfair started today at seven thirty, and this year Wildfire was determined to go, seeing as how they’d all missed last years due to being stuck in Las Pegasus.

Just then the kettle boiled and Wildfire added the water to the mugs with a smile, a thought occurred to her as she did so. ‘Your marefriend’s taking you this year, just like a proper couple.’ Wildfire’s smile dipped a little then. She loved Air Raid with all her little heart, and while she was reasonably sure the older mare felt the same about her, there was a lingering doubt in the back of her mind.

Wildfire sighed as she hoofed the hot mugs onto a tray. The past two months with Air Raid had been the best ever. Living with her meant she didn’t have to go home and be around her dad, and the sex, oh Celestia’s blessed fetlock the sex…well, the sex had been amazing! In that regard the two months since that first time on the cloud had taught her more than she’d ever thought possible, and certainly Air Raid was an enthusiastic teacher, but…every time Wildfire had tried to talk about more, ‘relationshippy’ things, her marefriend would either grow distant, change the subject or just not bother answering at all.

Taking the tray in her mouth Wildfire hovered her way back up the stairs. ‘Is sex all she wants me for?’ The yellow mare thought sadly as she flew up to their bedroom, and to her sleeping mare. ‘Is that all I am to her, a bit of fun when she’s in the mood?’ Wildfire landed at the threshold of the bedroom and quietly trotted inside to put the tray on the bedside table. ‘Question is Wily, are you okay with being Air Raid’s sex toy? Do you want more or not?’ Wildfire looked at her mare asleep on the bed where she’d left her. Truth was she didn’t know what she wanted, and as much fun as it sounded, being a horny pegasus’s stress relief for the rest of her life didn’t sound like an ideal life choice.

Wildfire hopped up on the bed and laid on her side next to her marefriend. Snuggling her muzzle deep into Air Raid’s dark blue mane she kissed the back of her neck and breathed in her scent. As much as she wanted this moment to last forever she knew she had to wake her up. They needed to talk. And talk properly.

Reluctantly Wildfire nudged the mare next to her, to no response other than a deepened snore. “Raid.” Still nothing. “Raid!” Her marefriend rolled over to face her, but otherwise stayed asleep. ‘Fine!’ Wildfire leant over her and licked her tongue straight up Air Raid’s exposed ear twice, the second time nipping the tip hard. “Air Raid!”

“Hmm, hey…what the…!?” Air Raid started into consciousness, finding herself staring into Wildfire’s chestnut brown eyes. Rubbing her ear with a hoof she gave Wildfire a kiss; “Did you have to bite so hard?” She asked with a rueful smile.

“Well, in my defence, you were asleep, and I want to talk to you.”

“Yeah?” Air Raid sat up in the bed, reaching for the steaming mug of coffee with a sinking feeling in her gut. “What about?”

“Us.”

Air Raid groaned internally. Her sinking feeling suddenly sprung a leak a decided to sink all the quicker. Hiking what she hoped was a genuine smile to her face she asked, “What about us?”

“Well, where do you see us going?”

Air Raid casually checked her watch, six twenty five. Taking a sip of her coffee she placed the mug back on the tray as she considered her answer. “In about an hour I see us going to the funfair with our friends, unless you’ve got a better idea?”

Wildfire fought the temptation to scream in her face. She was doing it again! “Raid, stop it, that’s not what I meant, and you know it.”

Air Raid leant in close to Wildfire’s jawline and started trailing nips and kisses down her neck. “Actually, I’ve got a better idea, let’s blow it off and stay here, have some fun?”

Involuntarily a low growl escaped Wildfire’s lips. If Air Raid noticed she pretended not to. “Raid! No! Look I want to talk to you!”

“Uh huh…” Air Raid suckled down Wildfire’s neck to that spot on her shoulder she knew she really liked and nipped it in the way she liked. “You talk, I’ll kiss…”

This time Wildfire actually did scream in her face. “I. Said. No!” The yellow pegasus punctuated each syllable with a thump of her hoof to Air Raid’s chest that left them separated on the bed. “Why do you always do this?”

“Ow!” Air Raid rubbed her chest where Wildfire’s hoof had struck. “Do what?” She asked with a pout.

“You know what! Every time I try and talk to you, you either change the subject or try and sex me up!” Seeing Air Raid’s smirk then just wound her up even more. “Is that all you want me for? Fanny on demand when you feel like it?”

“What?” Air Raid lay on the bed, taken aback. Where in Tartarus had this come from? “I thought we were having fun Wily?”

“We are, we do…I just, I dunno Raid, I want more than to be your bit of fun, y’know?”

“Like what?”

Wildfire hopped back on the bed and took her marefriend’s forehooves in her own; “I want to marry you, have foals with you. I want to watch them grow up with you, I want to grow old with you. I want to have grandfoals and watch them play around us as we sit in rocking chairs and curse how old they make us feel!” Wildfire paused for breath, hopefully she looked at her marefriend, trying to judge her reaction.

What she heard next just about broke her heart.

“You want all that huh?” Wildfire nodded as Air Raid took a deep breath. “Then you’re going to be disappointed.”

“W – what d’you…”

Air Raid cut her off with a hoof to her lips. “I’m not the marrying sort, and I’m sorry Wily but I don’t want foals. Not now, not ever. I never have…” She looked away as her voice broke, unable to meet Wildfire’s hurt expression. “A – and I, I never will.”

As she looked away Air Raid had never felt so small and wretched in all her life. Not only had she broken her lover’s heart, she’d lied to her too. ‘This is okay,’ she told herself, ‘better she hate you for this lie than know the truth and hate you for the freak you are.’ “Wily, I…I’m sorry…”

“Sorry? You’re sorry!?” Wildfire let go of Air Raid’s hooves in a violent motion, throwing them away from her in disgust while trying to sum up in words her anger and despair. Air Raid had just crushed her hopes and dreams and she was sorry? Had Wildfire’s chest been a cannon she would’ve shot her heart at the mare looking away from her. No…something was off here. Way off, and she was damned if she wasn’t going to get to the bottom of it.

“Raid, what is it?” Her marefriend just shook her head, tears leaking from her grey eyes. “Air Raid, look at me…” Wildfire reached for her chin with a hoof and turned her head to face her; “Babes, what is it? What aren’t you telling me?”

Air Raid shook her head miserably, “Its, its nothing alright?”

“Raid, tell me, please?”

Air Raid gave a hiccupped sniff and took a breath to try and stem the flow of tears. “Just leave it Wily, you…you wouldn’t understand.”

Wildfire leant in close, almost muzzle to muzzle with the mare in front of her. Any other time the lime green mare would’ve gone for a kiss. "So make me understand." Air Raid just shook her head silently. “Fine.” Wildfire didn’t try to hide the venom in her tone. “Don’t tell me. See if I care.” Wildfire jumped off the bed and turned her back on the sobbing pegasus.

“Wily, Wily wait…”

Wildfire gave her a backwards glance over her shoulder. “It’s five past seven. Get ready, we’re going to the fair. We are going to have a good time, and when we get back we will talk about this, and if what you have to say isn’t the best thing that’s ever left your lips I won’t be here in the morning. Understand?”

Air Raid nodded meekly. “I understand.”

~ ~ ~

“Raid, what time is it?”

Air Raid checked her watch with a scowl and an audible sigh of exasperation. “Is nopony else wearing a watch? Brightstar it’s seven forty, about three minutes after the last time you asked.”

“Hey,” Darkstar took a step towards Air Raid, a frown on her face. “Who’s pissed on your primaries? My bro was only asking the time!”

“Darkie chill, it’s alright,” Brightstar smirked at his sister, “Wily was probably too tired after the fire to give Raid her mid-morning preen. No wonder her feathers are all flustered.”

Air Raid turned on the blue unicorn as Wildfire giggled. “What’s it got to do with you what we do or when we do it?”

“Raid, seriously, calm it down would ya?” Slingshot nudged her with a pink hoof, “We’re supposed to be enjoying ourselves, remember? You wanna spoil the rumble, sling your wings and come back in a better mood.”

Air Raid fixed Slingshot with a cold look as she swatted her co-driver’s hoof away from her chest. “Yeah, maybe I’ll just go ahead and do that!” She spat at him, “Not like I’m gonna be missed here.” She added just under her breath as she turned to go home.

“No.” Wildfire stopped her in her tracks with that single word. “No. You’ll stay, and we’ll all enjoy ourselves, just as soon as Cyclone gets here.”

“Pfft, whatever…” Air Raid sat on her haunches, a sour look on her face. ‘Not like I actually want to be here…she’s only gonna leave me later, why wait?’

“Guys…” Stood between Darkstar and Slingshot, Dusk Melody had his hoof to his eyes, blocking out the late evening summer sun as he squinted into the distance. “She’s coming now.” He pointed his dark blue hoof at the rapidly approaching black speck that was their friend.

“About bucking time…” Air Raid started to mutter before being shut down by five glares directed straight at her. ‘Whatever…let’s just get this over with…’ If she was going to be dumped, she’d much rather get on with it than drag it out.

Cyclone landed a few feet from the circle of friends with a beaming smile on her face, “Hey guys, sorry I’m a little late.” The black mare offered her friends each a quick smile as she straightened her plain red dress, a smile which became a wide grin as her gaze settled on Darkstar. “What’d I miss?” She asked with a wink.

“Oh, nothing much Cy, just Raid being a grade A plothole, nothing you haven’t seen before.” Darkstar sniggered as Air Raid shot her a particularly foul look. “Nice dress by the way.”

“Cy, you haven’t…have you?” Dusk asked incredulously, his pink eyes wandering to his friend’s flank.

“Certainly have Your Majesty.” Cyclone giggled as she gave her dark blue friend an over the top bow.

Darkstar touched Cyclone’s rump, getting a pleasant squishy sensation under her dress. “You actually have, too. Y’know that dare was a joke right? None of us actually expected you to do it.”

Slingshot’s smile faded slightly, replaced with a concerned look. “Cy, you don’t have to go through with this chick.”

Cyclone finished smoothing out her dress over her rump with a wing as she turned her turquoise eyes to the pink stallion. “Sure I do. I was dared, I’m doing it. Simple as.”

Dusk put a concerned hoof on his friend’s shoulder. “Shot’s right Cy, Blitzwing and his half-heads get hold of this you’ll never hear the end of it.”

Cyclone spat on the dirt floor; “Pfft, as if I care what that cock-womble thinks, says or does. Now, are we gonna go have some fun here or stand around flapping our gums?”

“Well said Cy,” Wildfire couldn’t quite hold in her giggle at Cyclone’s insult. Even Air Raid cracked a smile, she noticed happily. “What’s everypony plan on doing? The yellow mare asked as the group of friends entered the fun fair, each pony paying their entry fee. “Bet you’re on the rollercoaster right Cy?”

Cyclone sniggered as they entered the fair proper, the faint crinkling noise from her rump being quickly drowned out by the carnival noises from various game booths, rides and other attractions. “Oh yeah Wily, and then after that I’ll be racing Dusk to mach one.”

“Actually I fancy an exhilarating ride on the Tea Cups, followed possibly by a daredevil thrill blitz on the Carousel.” Cyclone quipped as everypony was still laughing from her first joke. “Who’s with me?”

Brightstar grinned as he walked beside his sister to Cyclone’s side. “I’ll join you Cy.”

“Really bro? Or are you hoping for a different experience?” Darkstar tipped an eyebrow at her brother, getting a wink in return. “Uh huh, I thought so. Watch him Cy. As for me I fancy something fast and exciting.”

“Too bad Air Raid’s already taken then.”

‘Not for much longer’ Air Raid stuck her tongue out at her co-driver. “Buck you Shot.”

“Hey Darkie,” Slingshot called out to the white unicorn, “You wanna ride the ‘Coasters with me?

“You know it Pinks, all night long baby.”

Dusk looked about the fair, catching sight of a few stages set up with instruments a short distance away, set aside from the smaller rides and prize booths. Pulling out a flyer for the fair from his saddlebag Dusk checked the performers, if he was honest it was a seemingly unimpressive list, until one name in particular caught his eye. “Guys I might go over to the stages, check out this unicorn singer called Vocal Chord.

Wildfire gave her best friend a little smirk, “On the pull D?”

Dusk blushed a little, a faint red colouring his fur, much to the amusement of the others. “Maybe, this Vocal does look cute.”

“Well good luck mate. Raid, let’s go over the game booths, I want you to win me something.”

Air Raid gave her marefriend a disbelieving look. “Why? You know that junk’s only worth a fraction of what you pay right?”

Wildfire pouted at her marefriend’s obstinacy, unsure if the lime green mare was being difficult on purpose or if she was doing some game where she pissed her off enough to get herself dumped. Either way Wildfire was determined whatever it was it wasn’t going to work. They were talking later, no matter what. But for now… “Because it’ll be fun, and I’d love you to win something sweet for me.”

Darkstar snickered beside Slingshot; “Maybe she can win herself a new attitude Wily.”

“Oh do buck off Dar…”

“That’s enough!” Wildfire exclaimed with a stomp of her hoof and a dark look at both Air Raid and Darkstar. “Now, you and Shot are on the fun rides, Cy you and Bright are on the foal rides for fuddies, D, you’re on the make at the stages. Me and Raid are gonna hit the booths.” Wildfire checked her watch as she received nods and ‘yes’s’ from her friends. “It’s ten after eight, so say we meet up at the photo booths about ten-ish?”

~ ~ ~

“That’ll be thirty bits Sir, Miss.” The carnie eyed the fully grown mare and stallion as their turn came to ride the tea cups.

Cyclone reached a hoof into her saddlebag and retrieved two small pouches of money as she and Brightstar took their seats in a brightly coloured pink tea cup, the hem of her red dress riding just above her knees. “There you go,” She smiled as she hoofed over the pouches to the waiting stallion.

“Bit big for this aren’t ya?” The carnie asked gruffly as he returned the now empty money pouches to the black mare. As if to prove his point two fillies and three colts ran past him to jump in the remaining pink and blue cup respectively as he clipped the safety chain across the entrance hole.

“Not at all, we just don’t care for the bigger rides.” Cyclone giggled as she gave Brightstar a wink. “We can have all our fun right here.”

“S’long as ya pay, whatever floats ya boat.” The carnie shrugged as he made his way over to the fillies, practiced wide smile in place.

Cyclone then gave her friend a mischievous smile as she toyed with the hem of her dress. “So…awfully nice of you to accompany me on this very dangerous ride,” she said as the ride lurched into motion, spinning at a sedate pace that wouldn’t have disturbed a sleeping foal. “Who knows what could happen otherwise?” Cyclone watched Brightstar lick his lips, noted with satisfaction the hungry look in his eyes.

“You know what I’m here for Cy.” The light blue unicorn’s yellow eyes were glued to the rising hem of his friend’s dress as he spoke.

“Do I now?” She asked with a wink, her left forehoof curled around the hem of her dress. “And what’s that?”

“Show me it.”

Cyclone smirked, “Here?” She asked as innocently as she could manage as the tea cup carried on its slow circular motion, “What if somepony should see?”

Brightstar smiled to himself as the carnie spun the tea cups around themselves so that they spun around as they carried on their course. He knew this game, and Cyclone knew how to play it almost as well as his sister. “Please Cy, please show me.”

Cyclone inched her dress higher up her thighs, noting with a satisfied smile the frustration on her friend’s face as she stopped just short of his prize. “Beg me Brightie.”

“Cyclone please, please show me what’s under your dress.” Brightstar smiled internally, he loved this game. The trick was not appearing too eager, while injecting just the right amount of pleading in the voice. “I – I really need to see, please…”

Cyclone raised a teasing eyebrow and fractionally raised her hoof as well. She knew how far to push. Just one more tease should do it. “Show you what, Brightie?”

“T – the nappy.” Brightstar whispered through dried lips, the excitement and anticipation just about killing him, “Please Cy, please show me the nappy you’re wearing.”

“Weeeeell,” Cyclone sang out with a smile, “Since you asked so very nicely I suppose I could give you a quick peek.” With that she hiked up the front of her dress to her dress to the level of her hips, showing off the nappy to her friend. Keeping her turquoise eyes on Brightstar’s yellow ones Cyclone watched his reaction as she ran her black hoof over the padded crotch between her hind legs. “You like?”

Brightstar nodded mutely, his reply dying on his lips. The question was of course entirely rhetorical, the flared head of his penis protruding from his sheath more than answer enough. So focused was his attention on the foolish garment Cyclone was wearing that the blue unicorn hardly noticed his friend take a pouch of bits from her saddlebag and drop it between her hindlegs.

“You’ve been a naughty colt Brightie, but you did beg ever so sweetly, so I suppose I can reward you.” Cyclone pointed her hoof to the dropped pouch of bits with a smirk. “Do be a love and pick those up for me, won’t you?”

In a flash Brightstar was on his knees on the floor of the tea cup. He could’ve easily retrieved the pouch with his magic, but that wasn’t how the game was played. Just as he picked up the pouch in his teeth he heard Cyclone’s voice above him; “Y’know, I have had a lot to drink today…” Brightstar grinned, he could practically hear his friend’s smile as she teased him. “Good job I’m wearing this,” She whispered as she patted the front of the nappy scarce inches from his muzzle, “I just can’t hold it any longer.”

Taking his cue Brightstar pressed his muzzle into the padded crotch of the nappy, took a deep breath and waited while Cyclone gently massaged her bladder with a hoof. A second or two later she spread her hindlegs and sighed happily as she released herself into the absorbent material strapped to her rump.

Brightstar breathed deeply as he heard his friend sigh, then smiled happily as he heard the faint hiss of her released stream filling the inside of the nappy, the clear cloud on the front turning to a dark storm cloud as it absorbed the pee within.

“That’s better…” Cyclone whispered happily to herself as she felt the ride starting to slow down. Tapping Brightstar on the shoulder the stallion removed his muzzle from her now squishy crotch and regained his seat opposite her in the slowing tea cup, only to be greeted by a fit of giggles from the black pegasus as she hastened to rearrange her dress.

“What? He asked innocently.

“You want to do something about that…” Cyclone sniggered as she pointed to Brightstar’s crotch, namely the erection that she judged was bigger than her lower foreleg, that was currently bobbing there at full mast. “You’ll scare the fillies walking around with that on show!” Cyclone lost herself in giggles once more.

“I daresay I’ll scare the colts too…” Brightstar snickered as he lit up his horn with a yellow glow and cast the invisibility spell is sister had taught him. He watched as the yellow aura surrounded his stallionhood and the spell started to take effect. While he wasn’t as accomplished at illusions as Darkstar, he was talented enough, which was handy, given that the carnie had unclipped the safety chain just as Brightstar’s impressive erection faded from view.

“Do come again,” The carnie pony’s gruff voice was dripping with sarcasm, “Always love giving rides to overgrown foals…” He added, his nose twitching suspiciously as he picked up the faint smell of urine. Shrugging he decided to drop the issue. There was no puddle in the tea cup, and he decided it was an over excited filly sat somewhere else.

“It’s a good thing Darkie taught you that spell mate.” Cyclone sniggered as they left the ride, the full nappy squishing slightly uncomfortably as she walked. “C’mon,” She pointed to the nearby toilets with her hoof, “You can change me in there.”

“Change you?” Brightstar asked, a puzzled look on his face.

“Well yeah, I ain’t walking round with a nappy full of piss all night am I?” Cyclone nudged him as they made their way inside the foal changing toilet, “I’ll get a rash, and besides, it’s making my dress bulge.” The black mare hovered over to the changing table and laid on her back, hindlegs pulled up wide. “So, get to changing!”

Brightstar snickered as he cancelled the spell around his groin, his stallionhood fading back into view. While not as erect as it had been on the ride, it was still an impressive sight. Taking his friend’s hindlegs in his yellow aura he lifted her ass off the table and used his hooves to remove the sodden nappy, balling it up and throwing it into a waste bin next to the changing table. “You got another you want on, or what?”

Cyclone nodded, “In my saddlebag, but not yet, I’ve got an idea for a game. Wanna play?” She asked as she hovered over to the toilet in the corner of the room and squatted on it as she landed.

“Sure Cy. What’s the game?” Brightstar asked as his cock started to harden again under Cyclone’s lewd display.

“Well, I still need to go, badly, but there was no way I was crapping in that nappy. So, my little voyeur, here’s the game. You get yourself all nice and hard watching me go, and then we’ll have ourselves a race. Whoever cums first wins. I win, we go on the Carousel next.”

“And if I win?” Brightstar asked as Cyclone started to relieve herself noisily into the toilet.

“We’ll go on the biggest rollercoaster here, twice.” Cyclone winked as she started to rub her hoof over her marehood. “Deal?”

“Deal.” Brightstar smirked at his friend’s head start as he cast a numbing spell over his stallionhood. This was a race he didn’t mind losing, he much preferred watching his friends get off before he did. ‘Besides,’ the blue unicorn thought to himself as he started to run his hooves over his length, ‘the Carousel really isn’t that bad…’

~ ~ ~

Dusk Melody sighed for what must’ve been at least the twentieth time since he decided to leave his friends and catch one of the live shows at the fair. Yes he was a Prince. Yes he was Princess Luna’s son. He had long ago accepted that no matter where he went or what he did there would be stares and whispers. Stares and whispers Dusk could handle. Or rather, ignore.

No, what the young royal stallion found really irritating, to the point of wishing he’d stayed in the castle was the attention. It had only been a few hundred feet since their group had separated to where he was now, stood amongst the small crowd in front of stage two, but the amount of ponies who had greeted him in that short amount of time was just crazy.

That wasn’t the worst though. No the worst part was how polite everypony always was. Everypony else around him was exchanging casual ‘Heys’ or ‘How’s it?’ or ‘Hi mate’s’, every greeting directed at Dusk was always a ‘Good evening Your Majesty’, or a nod with ‘Your Highness’. It thoroughly drove him insane. Twilight had warned him about this side effect of being a royal. He hadn’t believed her when she had said how annoying it would become. He did now.

This was why he appreciated his friends so much. Wildfire, Air Raid; Brightstar; Darkstar; Cyclone and Slingshot. Six ponies who weren’t afraid to just be themselves around him and not feel the need to stand on ceremony all the damn time. Most importantly they treated him like a pony. He was important to them, not his title.

“Evening Prince Dusk!” An excited chirp from the seating pad to his left snapped Dusk out of his reverie. Looking to see who it was this time the midnight blue stallion had to fight the urge to facehoof in frustration. He actually knew the mare sat next to him! Instead he forced the same old smile.

“Hey Mirage, enjoying the fair?” While not one of his close friends Dusk recognised the cream unicorn from school, they shared some of the same classes, though Dusk couldn’t quite remember which ones of the top of his head.

“Oh yes Highness, thank you.” Mirage gushed with a wide smile that made Dusk want to cringe.

Dusk Melody gave the unicorn a long sideways glance, and did his absolute best to mask the irritation in his voice. “Mirage, call me Dusk, please.”

“B, but…” The cream mare stuttered, a faint blush colouring her cheeks, “You’re a…Prince!”

‘Oh bucking well spotted you stupid dumb mare!’ Was what the royal pegasus wanted to snap in reply. ‘How in the wide world of Equestria does Mom, Aunt Tia, Twi and Cadey cope with this crap *ALL** the damn time?’* Dusk thought in exasperation as opened his mouth to once again remind her that he was just a pony, not an actual god.

Whatever Dusk’s reply was going to be was lost on his lips as the spotlights lit up the stage and a tall light grey unicorn stallion with a short spiked electric blue mane stepped through the curtain. Three other ponies stepped out behind him and took up their respective instruments, a green unicorn stallion stood behind the double tiered keyboard; a yellow earth pony mare played bass and finally another earth pony mare, this one a lavender colour, plugged in her electric guitar.

At the sight of the light grey stallion Dusk’s midnight blue wings shot out from his sides with audible *poomf!*‘Sweet Mother of all Ponies he’s beautiful!’

The light grey unicorn lit up his horn with a pale green glow and levitated the mic stand out of the way, stepping to the centre of the stage as he did so he spoke into his head mounted mic and addressed the small crowd gathered around stage two; “Hello Canterlot! I’m Vocal Chord…”

‘Holy Goddesses…his voice is as beautiful as he is…’ Dusk found himself barely paying attention as Vocal Chord introduced the rest of the band. The lavender mare with the guitar was called ‘Strings’, the mare playing bass was ‘Falsetto’ and the stallion on the keyboards he named as ‘Crescendo’.

“We’re The Roses, and we’re happy to perform for you tonight!

Dusk was vaguely aware of Mirage saying something next to him, but he couldn’t bring himself to focus on what she was saying. Once Vocal had finished the introductions the crowd gave a polite smattering of applause. Some clapped their hooves while others stomped theirs. Dusk managed both, leading the crowd’s applause as he stomped his rear hooves while clapping his front ones together.

“This is our first song for you, it’s called ‘Here and Now’.”

Dusk listened with rapt attention as Vocal Chord began to sing the intro while Falsetto and Strings provided backing vocals. He quickly picked up the beat, tapping his hooves in time with the music. While it wasn’t his first choice of genre, Dusk quickly realised he’d be quite happy if Vocal sang out the phone book. Vocal Chord began the first verse and Dusk was in heaven.

“time is running out on you and me

Cos nothings what it used to be

I guess I'm the only one to blame

But I promise you to make it right

Forget all the sorrows you bear within tonight

Believe in me when I say

Here and now I wanna be the one for you

In everything you want me to

Cos I couldn't live if were apart

Say there is something I can do

If I can make it up to you

For every time I let you down

And I promise you to make it right

Forget all the sorrows you bear within tonight

Believe in me when I say

Here and now I wanna be the one for you

In everything you want me to

Cos I couldn't live if were

apart

Here and now lets tear down the walls together

it's better late than never

I know that we could find a way here and now

Ill be there for you

Here and now I wanna be the one for you

In everything you want me to

Cos I couldn't live if were

apart

Here and now I wanna be the one for you

In everything you want me to

Cos I couldn't live if were

apart

Here and now I wanna fall in love again

And try to be the best I can

So give me a chance to win your heart”

As soon as Vocal finished singing the crowd went nuts, whooping and cheering like mad ponies, Dusk chief amongst them. Vocal smiled as he bowed to the cheering crowd, Dusk swore to all the Alicorns in the world that the singer’s green eyes met his as he swept the front of his mane from his eyes with a hoof.

‘He looked at me! Sweet heavens he actually looked at me!’

The rest of the forty five minute long set passed in a similar vein. Vocal belted out song after song to thunderous applause. After the twelfth song Dusk’s forehooves were sore from all the clapping and stomping, and his throat was feeling hoarse from all the cheering and whooping. He’d already made mental notes to get all of The Roses’ CDs as soon as he was able.

“Thank you Canterlot, you’ve been amazing!” Vocal took one last bow and swept himself off the stage to one last round of tumultuous applause.

~ ~ ~

“Hey Princey, can I join you?”

Dusk Melody looked up from his pint of Sweet Apple cider, an irritated look on his muzzle ready for the idiot pony who had the nerve to address him thusly. The irritation became a huge smile as he recognised the light grey unicorn stood in front of him.

“Vocal?”

“The one and only,” Vocal gave Dusk a little bow, “At your service my Prince. So…can I join you?” Vocal Chord sat at the table opposite Dusk without, the pegasus noted, waiting for an invitation.

Dusk smiled in spite of his initial irritation; “Take a seat, but call me that again and you’re drinking alone.”

Vocal took a mouthful of the cider he had held in his green aura before settling the bottle on the table. “Ahh, so you’re a ‘Highness’ or ‘Majesty’ kind of royal then huh?”

“What? No!” Dusk spluttered, “Just Dusk is fine, thanks, and how did you find me anyway? You stalk stallions in bars?”

“Pfft,” Vocal sniffed derisively into his cider bottle, “As if, Just Dusk. Trust me, it wasn’t that hard to find the cutest stallion at the fair, and this is a beer tent, not a bar.”

Dusk’s heart skipped a beat. Or several if he was counting. ‘He thinks I’m cute! He thinks I’m cute!’ “Y – you…you think I’m cute?” Dusk blushed so hard and fierce the red tinge could be seen through his midnight blue fur. “How d’you know I even like stallions?”

Vocal cancelled his hold over the cider bottle and leant over the table so his muzzle was inches from Dusks. “Firstly I know you’re cute, and second, you either like stallions or I imagined you drooling over me for the whole forty five minute set. Which is it Just Dusk?”

Dusk giggled, and was about to reply that no, Vocal hadn’t imagined a thing when he saw the one thing that made his blood run cold. His giggle turned into a low heartfelt groan as he saw the brown fedora, flanked as always by the two Diamond Dogs that were ever at his side, approaching their table. ‘Not now…Oh Goddesses not now!’ “Oh no, no no!”

“What?” Vocal asked as he noticed the sudden change in Dusk’s demeanour, saw the colour fade from his fur. “What’s wrong Dusk?”

“It’s him, it’s…Blitzwing…” Dusk’s eyes went wide as he squeaked out the name of his personal tormentor and full time bully.

~ ~ ~

“What d’you wanna do first?” Wildfire virtually bounced with excitement, her chestnut brown eyes trying to take in all the sights and sounds at once. “You wanna check out the game booths or go on a ride?”

Air Raid scuffed the ground morosely as she walked by her marefriend’s side. “I want to go home and forget today ever happened…” She muttered miserably.

“Well if you’re gonna be like that, I’ll pick.” Wildfire scanned the area, hovering a few feet off the ground in order to see above everypony in the crowd. She pointed a yellow hoof to a nearby game booth. “There!” She shouted excitedly. “Win me something!”

Air Raid scowled, “You really want some cheap carnival stuffed animal?” The lime green mare shrunk under the look Wildfire gave her.

“Fine, whatever Wily.” The mares made their way through the crowd to the booth. Air Raid searched through her saddlebag with a hoof, retrieving the money pouch and dumping the sixty bits on the counter. The pink carnie pony in the booth placed three well-worn hoofballs on the counter. Air Raid picked one up in her left hoof and tested the weight. “Which one do you want?”

Wildfire looked around at the various plushies, all depicting one of the Elements of Harmony or one of the four Princesses. Eventually she settled on a medium sized plushie of Octavia. “That one!”

Air Raid sniggered. “It’s a bit foalish, don’t you think Wily?”

“I like it.”

“Yeah, but Dusk’s mum? A Princess I can understand, and look, it hasn’t even got her cello.”

“Octavia is a Princess, technically” Wildfire stomped her hoof impatiently. “Just win it, okay?”

“As you wish, Princess.” The prize Wildfire wanted was in the middle tier, so Air Raid needed to knock over two stacks of cups with the three balls she paid for. She used her wings to balance herself as she pulled her foreleg back, set her sights, and threw.

Throw. Hit

Throw. Miss.

Throw. Hit.

Air Raid sullenly took the Octavia plushie from the pink carnie unicorn. “Here, one dumb plushie. I’m real happy for you Wily.” She pushed the plush pony into her marefriend’s forehooves and waited a moment while the yellow mare safely stowed her Octavia in her own saddlebag. Once her prize was safely secured away she nudged her shoulder. “Let’s get on a ride.” ‘And get this stupid night over with.’

Wildfire smiled and nodded. “Your turn to pick.”

Air Raid harrumphed as she looked around the immediate area, weighing the pros and cons of the rides she could see. ‘Why can’t we just go home already? If she’s gonna dump me just get it over with…’ Roller coasters were always fun, but the queue looked way too long. The spinning Wall of Death thing that pushed you against the wall? Maybe later, ‘If I’m not drinking myself unconscious from grief…’. Maybe the Dodgems? No, no, no. Wily would never sit with her in any kind of car after the time she took her up the Canterlot Hill Climb in her Audi TT. ‘Aha! The Twister!’

Air Raid pointed to her target triumphantly. “The Twister! That thing looks awesome!"

Wildfire’s face fell momentarily, but she hiked the smile back in place once more when her marefriend turned to face her. “Sure! That looks…great…amazing!” She hoped the shakiness in her voice went undetected.

Air Raid put her lime green wing around Wildfire’s slim shoulders. “What’s the matter, Wily? Scared of a little carnival ride?”

“N - no, I just…“

“Oh come on Wily, you flew through a burning building two months ago to save three earth ponies. Yesterday you were part of a team battling a huge nightclub fire. This…” She pointed a hoof at the Twister ride, “Should be easy! Don’t worry, I’ll keep you safe.” Air Raid’s cocky smile was present once more.

Wildfire felt her cheeks burn hot with a furious blush as she pushed away from Air Raid. “Fine then, you win sweetie, Twister it is.” She hurried towards the ride, wishing to Celestia her cheeks would resume their yellow once more.

Thankfully the line was short, but the wait felt as though it took hours. Wildfire watched with apprehension as the ungodly contraption shuttered to life, spinning and swinging its arms wildly. She flinched involuntarily every time a car passed their position in the line, fearing that it would move a few inches closer, shattering through the wooden fence that separated the spectators from the ride. ‘This is stupid,’ Wildfire thought to herself, ‘Raid’s right…I’ve flown through worse than this, I can do this…if only I could work out what’s eating Raid…’

Finally, it was their turn. They walked towards the monstrous machine, and Air Raid led her marefriend to an open car. She gestured dramatically, allowing Wildfire to seat herself first. Air Raid followed, taking the outer seat, and waited for the carnie to lock the safety arm into place. Wildfire glanced around at the other riders, watched them get ready and take their seats, all of a sudden understanding Cyclone’s reticence at these kind of rides. Still, it was Air Raid’s pick, and she hoped the ride would go some way to snap her out of this funk she seemed to be in. ‘If I only knew what caused it…’ She thought sadly.

After a moment of hesitation, the ride began to lurch into motion. Wildfire thought about closing her eyes as their first rotation began, but that seemed somehow worse than keeping them open. Their car slowly passed by another couple’s, a young mare and stallion, and Wildfire nervously took notice of the space between the cars. There’s plenty of space for them to pass by one another. There’s no way they’ll collide, right?

Suddenly, the Twister started to pick up speed. Wildfire suppressed a fillyish squeal, and clenched the bar in front of her with a grip so hard her hooves went white from the pressure. Air Raid laughed at the sudden burst of speed while her marefriend felt her heart leap into her throat. They spun past more cars full of laughing or screaming couples as they reached top speed. Suddenly, their car was on a collision course with the fence. It rushed towards them, but they stopped at what looked like mere millimeters from it. The centrifugal force of the ride caused Wildfire to slide down the bench and collide with Air Raid.

She looked up into Air Raid’s grey eyes for a moment before the ride swung them around again. Wildfire felt Air Raid’s strong foreleg around her shoulder as they nearly collided with another car. Suddenly, the fear seeped out of Wildfire’s mind. Suddenly, she was just happy to be there. She let a smile spread across her muzzle, and she gripped Air Raid’s hoof firmly. She began to laugh as they nearly collided with the fence once more.

Soon enough, the ride was over. They climbed out of the car, breathlessly laughing and stumbling. Wildfire’s head was swimming and her eyes couldn’t quite focus, but she didn’t care. She was too damn happy to care right now. ‘What’s more, Raid looks happier than I’ve seen her in a few days. Why, she has that look on her face when she’s just won a big race.’ Wildfire stumbled over her own hooves, but caught herself on Air Raid’s wing. Air Raid laughed a genuine laugh and held her marefriend with her wing, pulling her onto her hooves. Wildfire held onto the wing firmly, and blushed as she gazed into Air Raid’s grey eyes.

Air Raid leaned in, her lips slightly parted for the kiss, and…winced as she was knocked to the ground by a pink blur that resolved itself into the form of her co-driver as she looked up to see what had hit her. “Oomph! Slingshot you arse, what the buck’s wrong with you?”

“Sorry, no time…explain, Dusk…need help…” Slingshot gasped as his lungs filled with much needed air, “Come…you…quick!”

Wildfire glanced from Air Raid to Slingshot worriedly, wondering what in Equestria was going on as the pink stallion extended a hoof to her marefriend and helped her to her hooves. “Shot, what’s up?” She asked, concern on her muzzle, “What’s wrong with Dusk?”

“Blitzwing and his Dogs have got him in the beer tent!” Slingshot explained, “Look’s bad this time guys, Blitz has been drinking. A lot, by the smell of it.”

“DUUUSK!” Wildfire didn’t wait to hear anymore, Slingshot had barely uttered the word ‘tent’ when she was galloping off towards the beer tent at full chaff, her head down and black mane and tail streaming behind her, scattering startled ponies as she belted off.

Air Raid silently cursed herself as she gave chase after her rapidly disappearing marefriend. “Wily, wait!” She shouted ineffectually, ‘She’s gonna get herself killed…or worse…’ She thought as she neared the scene of the commotion.

The lime green pegasus froze at the sight that greeted her as she burst through the side of the tent. In the few seconds since Wildfire had left her she had managed to get herself caught in a tight headlock courtesy of the huge Diamond Dog bitch, Boudica, while the other Dog, Rex, had Dusk in some sort of reverse stranglehold.

Blitzwing had his back to her as he cheered on his cronies. None of them had noticed Air Raid’s sudden arrival. Looking between the three targets the pegasus quickly weighed up her options, saw her opportunity and took it without thinking twice.

“GaaaaAAAAH!” Blitzwing grunted with pain and surprise as Air Raid tackled him from behind, her shoulder impacting the middle of his back just below where his wings joined his barrel, the force of the impact sending the fedora flying from his head as the younger stallion went sprawling forwards into the dirt.

“You!” Blitzwing spat as he rolled over onto his hooves, a murderous rage in his eyes, “I’m gonna put you down you filthy slag!”

Air Raid gave him a feral grin as she reared to here hind legs, adrenalin surging through her body. “Come on then little colt, let’s have you.”

Blitzwing pulled his lips back in a snarl as he charged at the mare in front of him, the insult pushing all rational thought from his brain. Air Raid sniggered mockingly as she easily sidestepped the clumsy charge. What she wasn’t expecting was the swipe of the dark grey leg to the back of her own as he passed her, the hit taking the mare off her hooves and sprawling on her back, her wings failing to arrest her fall as they flared uselessly.

“AaaGGH, Shit!” Air Raid grimaced in as pain blossomed over her lower back and shoulders, the arms of her wings going numb briefly.

“Raid!” Wildfire managed to shriek through the vicious headlock Boudica still held her in. “Get up!”

“Ha!” Blitzwing spun around to see the lime green mare sprawled on the dirt in front of him. Grinning in triumph he advanced on the fallen mare. “Told you I’d put you down you rug munching dyke!” The dark grey stallion was three feet from Air Raid as she dug her left forehoof into the dirt, in what the stallion saw as an attempt to stand up. “Stay down. Your fag Prince is next, and you can watch what’s gonna happen to your mare.”

Air Raid smiled to herself as she dug her hoof into the dirt. What Blitzwing didn’t know was she had no trouble standing up. ‘Closer you little bucktard…just a little closer…’ Even though she was older by a few years Air Raid was in no doubt the stallion’s larger size made a straight fight a tricky prospect. Luckily she had no intentions on fighting a straight fight.

Blitzwing was just inches away from her prone form when Air Raid flung the hoof full of dirt at the stallion’s face. He reared up in surprised panic as he frantically rubbed his eyes to clear the blinding dirt. That was all the chance Air Raid needed. Lunging forwards she brought her right foreleg up as hard as she could between Blitzwing’s rear legs, impacting his balls and sheath with a dull thud that sent him backwards to the ground.

Quick as a flash Air Raid was on her hooves on top of the stricken stallion. Her left forehoof was just above his bruised sheath, the other holding his right foreleg down. Her left hindleg was planted firmly on Blitzwing’s right wing and her right hind hoof was stuck on his neck. “Your Dogs…call ‘em off Blitz, now!”

Blitzwing writhed under the angry mare, his attempt to throw her off unsuccessful, due in no small part to the intense pain between his legs and the pressure at his throat.

“Now Blitz, call ‘em off!” To accentuate her point Air Raid gave her hoof at his neck a vicious twist.

“Why…aaaaack!...why sh  - should I?” Blitzwing gasped out as Air Raid’s hoof made it hard to breathe.

“Because if you don’t,” Air Raid increased her pressure just a little, enough to make the stallion’s eyes bulge, “I’m gonna pretend your neck’s a gas pedal. Get me, you pathetic waste of feathers?”

“Y – you…eeeeeuuukk! W – wouldn’t dare…the d – dungeons…”

“Try me…” Air Raid stomped the hoof on Blitzwing’s wing hard, causing him to squeal in agony. “I’ll be out in twenty years, and I’d be doing Equestria a favour.”

“Actually…” Dusk breathed around whatever hold Rex had him in, “I’ll make sure you’re out in five.”

“So what’s it gonna be Blitz?” Air Raid gave another savage twist of the hoof on his wing.

“Ugh…f – fine…Rex, Boudica…drop!” The two Diamond Dogs that held Dusk and Wildfire immediately let go of their holds, their hulking forms suddenly unsure of themselves as they waited for Blitzwing to tell them what to do. Something that wasn’t forthcoming however as Air Raid still had him pinned to the dirt. “I *cough* I let them go, aaahk! Now let me up!”

Air Raid flashed him a devious smirk; “Say you’re sorry…”

“W – what!? Go to Tartarus you lezzing bitch!”

“Hmm…wrong answer Blitzey,” Air Raid sniggered, “Now, say. You’re. Sorry!” She used her left forehoof to slap both his balls and finally his perineum hard as she punctuated each word.

“Ow ow OW!...S – s – sorry!” Blitzwing whimpered through the pain at his nethers.

“Louder. I didn’t hear you, and neither did they.” Air Raid pointed in turn to Dusk and Wildfire.

“I’m SORRY!” Blitzwing cried out, tears of humiliation burning down his face as his cheeks lit up in a furious blush.

“That’s alright then, up you get.” Air Raid jumped off of the fallen bully and watched as his two cronies helped him up unsteadily to his hooves.

Blitzwing paused at the entrance to the beer tent, “I’ll get you all back for this, just you see if I don’t!” At that the bully staggered on his shaky hooves and had to be supported out the tent by Rex and Boudica as Dusk, Wildfire, Air Raid and the rest of their friends shared a hoof bump and a congratulatory pat on the back.

Dusk straightened the feathers on his ruffled wing as he shot Air Raid a complimentary nod. "Hey Raid, I never knew you could fight that well." He said with a grin as the last of his feathers were lined up properly.

Air Raid returned the nod with a smile; "I can't fight that well D, I just know how to fight dirty."

"Well whatever you call it, I'm glad you were here Raid." Dusk offered her a hoof bump, which she happily returned. "Probably shouldn't have rubbed it in though, you know Blitzwing won't let it go."

"Meh," Air Raid shrugged, "Whatever."

“Dusk, you alright?” Vocal Chord burst through the other side of the large tent at that moment, followed by Strings, Falsetto and Crescendo. “I went to get the guys when that lousy plothole started causing trouble…hey!”

The rest of whatever Vocal was going to say was cut off as Dusk tackle-hugged him hard, smothering his muzzle with kisses. “You came back! I thought you’d left me!”

“As if,” the light grey unicorn giggled, planting several kisses on Dusk’s snout in return, “I just went for help.” Vocal looked to the ground that still held the signs of the recent struggle, “Seems it wasn’t necessary though, you,” He nodded to Air Raid who was currently being likewise tackled by Wildfire, “Seemed to have things well in hoof Miss…?”

“Oof!” Air Raid exclaimed as her marefriend squeezed the air from her lungs, “Name’s Air Raid, and you’re Vocal, the singer Dusk was so eager to see?”

“That’s me.” Vocal gave Air Raid an easy smile, which the lime green mare returned happily as she kissed Wildfire’s muzzle.

“Would you all like to go back to my place?” Dusk asked, still entwined in Vocal’s hooves.

“The Castle?” Falsetto squeaked disbelievingly.

“Yeah, my suite’s big enough for all of us, and there’s a stocked bar,” Dusk gently kissed Vocal once more on the lips, “I mean, if you want to and all.”

Vocal gave Dusk another kiss and a smile; “Sounds good to me Dusky, you in guys?” He asked the other three ponies with him, who quickly nodded their agreement to go to the Castle.

“I’ll go get us all a taxi,” Slingshot trotted to the entrance of the tent, “I’ll go round up the others too, I assume we’re all going?”

Air Raid looked into Wildfire’s loving chestnut brown eyes as she hugged her tight, their earlier argument all but forgotten, and smiled a wide smile. She knew she owed Wildfire an explanation, and now was the time, while she was still feeling high from the brief fight. “No Shot, we aren’t coming. I’ve got something I need to do here first mate.” She gave her marefriend a kiss on her forehead before she whispered in her ear, “I wanna go on the Ferris Wheel next.”

~ ~ ~

“Forty five bits each ladies.”

Wildfire hoofed over the pouches of bits to the brown carnie stallion with a smile and lead Air Raid over to the bright red seat of the Ferris Wheel. The lime green mare stood aside and let Wildfire get seated first before hopping up and snuggling next to her as the carnie trotted over and secured the safety bar. “Five times around, keep your legs and wings inside the seat.”

Wildfire looked at the photo they’d just had taken of themselves at the photo booths as she snuggled up to her marefriend. “Raid?” She murmured happily as the Ferris Wheel started to move gently.

“Yeah?”

“We look good don’t we, all together?”

Air Raid couldn’t deny that. The seven of them together in the booth, faces all smiles, eyes all bright, Wildfire giving her the world’s biggest hug, yeah they looked good. They looked damn good. “Yeah Wily, we look good together.” ‘It was good while it lasted I guess…’

Air Raid sighed deeply as Wildfire safely stowed the photograph in her saddlebag next to her Octavia plushie. ‘If I don’t tell her now I’m not gonna…’ She removed her foreleg from around Wildfire’s shoulder, casting her eyes about for a place to start. Hesitantly she took a deep sighing breath as she reluctantly started to speak. “Wily, Wildfire…I need to talk to you, about earlier in bed.”

Wildfire put her hoof to Air Raid’s mouth as the Ferris Wheel reached the top of its first rotation. “Hush babes, there’s really no need, I love you Raid, and I’m sorry I yelled at you.”

Air Raid kissed the sensitive frog of Wildfire’s hoof, earning her a delightful squeal of laughter. She kissed it again just to hear that noise one last time before gently brushing the yellow hoof away from her lips as she took another heavy sigh. “No Wily, there is a need.” Air Raid slumped her shoulders in defeat, tears brimming the corners of her grey eyes. “See, there’s something I’ve been keeping from you, something I haven’t told anypony else, ever.”

Wildfire tenderly put her hoof on her marefriend’s own as she looked into her grey eyes. “What, Raid what is it?”

Air Raid turned her gaze away from those adorable brown eyes she loved so much and hung her head. “I lied to you Wily.” In answer to Wildfire’s questioning look she continued quietly as the Ferris Wheel rotated past its starting position and started upwards once more, “When I said I didn’t want foals with you. I do, I want them more than anything, I…I just can’t…” The tears at her eyes fell freely down her cheeks, staining her green fur. “I can’t have foals.”

Wildfire lowered her hoof to Air Raid’s belly with a faint blush; “Why…is, is something wrong, y’know, here?” She asked as she gently rubbed her belly fur.

To Wildfire’s surprise Air Raid laughed, albeit it wasn’t her usual laugh. “No Wily, everything there works as it should, or so I’m told anyway.”

Wildfire gave her a confused look, “Then…I don’t understand…what’s wrong Raid?”

“I…I…” Air Raid cried all the harder as she choked out the words; “I, c – can’t f…fly…”

“But…but you’re a pegasus, of course you can fly!” Wildfire raised her hoof to Air Raid’s shoulder, disbelieving of what she’d just heard. ‘How can a pegasus not fly?’ “We’ve flown lots of times!”

“Name one…” Air Raid muttered sadly as she wiped the salty tears from her muzzle.

“Well there’s…and then there was…then we…” Wildfire stuttered, trying desperately to think of a time she and Raid had flown together. Now she tried to think of it, she realised she’d never actually seen her fly. “Our first date, on the cloud!”

“I rode on your back, remember? I said it would be cute.”

Wildfire nodded slowly, “You, you really can’t fly, at all?” She watched as Air Raid nodded her head sadly; “But why can’t you? I don’t get it, how is it stopping you having foals?”

“The…the reason I can’t fly…” Air Raid’s voice was barely a whisper through her tears. Wildfire had to lean close to hear her at all as the ride completed its second loop and started the third, “I have Scootaloo’s Syndrome. It’s a rare birth defect, and I have it.”

“I’ve never heard of it.”

Air Raid sniffed heavily as her marefriend gave her what she hoped was an encouraging hug. “Of course you haven’t. it’s rare, like, affecting one pony in two hundred thousand rare.”

“What’s it…I mean, how does it, y’know…”

“Stop me flying?” Air Raid asked as Wildfire nodded. The lime green mare took a deep breath and began to explain; “My parents are earth ponies. My grandparents are earth ponies. My great-grandmother was a pegasus. Put simply Wily Scootaloo’s Syndrome means I have too much earth pony magic in my body and not enough pegasi magic. It means my bones aren’t hollow like yours, my flight muscles and primaries are underdeveloped and I have no wishbone. I can cloudwalk, that’s about it, I’m afraid. As to why I can’t have foals…well, there’s a fifteen percent chance I’ll pass it on to them too, and I just can’t risk putting them through this.”

Wildfire put a comforting foreleg around Air Raid’s shaking shoulder and pulled her in close for the tightest hug she could manage in the confines of the Ferris Wheel. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I…I wanted to…but, I was scared, I, I didn’t want you to leave me.”

Wildfire giggled softly as she raised her head up and kissed Air Raid’s wet cheek gently; “Why would I do that Raid?”

Air Raid wept onto her marefriend’s lips, who kissed them away as they fell. “B – because I can’t give you what you want, because…because I’m a…a flightless f – freak of a pegasus!”

Wildfire nuzzled her gently as she turned Air Raid’s head to face her. “So what?”

Air Raid looked at her, not daring to believe her own ears. “Wh – what d’you mean?”

Wildfire gave her a warm smile and another tender kiss, “This doesn’t change anything Raid, does it?”

“It d – doesn’t?”

“Of course it doesn’t you silly filly.” Wildfire giggled as she kissed Air Raid again gently, “In a few years I’ll be able to be inseminated myself, and in the meantime I have you…” Wildfire kissed her again, a third and fourth time, “All to myself, my bestest most awesomest mare ever!”

“You…you don’t think I’m a freak?”

“Of course I don’t Raid. So you can’t fly. So what? Did you need to fly to enjoy our first date on the cloud?”

“No…”

“Did you need to fly to give me the bestest birthday ever?”

“Well, no, but…”

Wildfire pressed on, hoping that Air Raid would see her point. “And did you need to fly to run me that bath and care for me when I got back from that fire earlier?”

“No I didn’t, but Wily…”

Wildfire shushed her with another forehoof to her lips. “But nothing Air Raid. You didn’t need to fly to do all those awesome things for me. I don’t care you can’t fly. You’re still my Air Raid and I still love you.” Wildfire kissed her nose softly.

“You…you really mean it, don’t you?” Air Raid gave her a shaky smile as the Ferris Wheel came to a gentle stop and the carnie stallion trotted over and released the safety bar on the ride’s seat.

“Yes I mean it.” Wildfire giggled as they left the ride and trotted side by side near the now closed food vans and away from the dwindling crowds. Looking up into the night sky Wildfire had an idea as she saw the few Stratos clouds floating a few hundred feet above them. “C’mon, I wanna go on a cloud.”

“Wily…you know I can’t fl…get up there…” Air Raid coloured up in a fierce blush.

“So?” Wildfire sniggered as she flared her yellow wings out wide. “Jump on…Dodo.”

“Hey!” Air Raid pouted as she duly hopped on her marefriend’s back, taking a slightly firmer hold of her neck than was strictly necessary. “You’re allowed one of those, and you just used it.”

Wildfire’s snigger became a full on belly laugh. “S – sorry Raid, I couldn’t resist…no more, I promise babes.” The yellow mare took off with a powerful flap of her wings, carrying them both up into the starry night sky. “Directions, Ma’am?”

Air Raid looked about with a smile as they flew steadily higher. Carefully she leant forward and whispered in her marefriend’s ear; “Second star to the right, and straight on till morning.”

Back on the ground the hulking form of Boudica emerged from the shadow of the closed food van where she’d been rummaging through the bins. The Diamond Dog couldn’t believe what she’d just overheard. ‘So the green pony can’t fly…’ She smiled an evil smile. How Blitzwing would reward her when he heard this.

~ ~ ~

“It’s a lovely night, Luna’s outdone herself tonight hasn’t she?” Air Raid observed the night sky as she snuggled up close to her marefriend on the cloud she had selected. They were both laid out, side by side, their heads resting on their crossed forelegs. ‘I can’t believe I still have a marefriend! She loves me!’

“It’s not as beautiful as you.” Wildfire gently nuzzled her marefriend’s shoulder before resting her head dreamily back on her legs, smiling happily as Air Raid shushed her playfully. “Air Raid?”

“Yeah?”

“Just earlier, why were you so scared to tell me about your ‘Scootaloo’s’ thing? Did you really think I’d leave you over something like that?”

Air Raid sighed deeply as she angled her head to nuzzle Wildfire’s cheek. “Yes, no…I dunno, maybe I guess…I was so scared Wily, more scared than I’ve ever been in my life.”

Wildfire nuzzled her shoulder once more, concern on her face. “But…why? I’m not that scary surely?”

Air Raid received the nuzzle with a soft giggle; “Don’t call me Shirley.”

“Oh ha, ha, ha. You know what I mean sweetie. Seriously, what got you so wound up we almost split up?”

The lime green pegasus rested her head back on her forelegs and closed her grey eyes as she took a brief moment to organise her thoughts and prepared to confront an old demon. “My mum.” She said finally, exhaling the breath she was holding.

Wildfire was puzzled, “Starburst? What’s she got to do with it?”

“C’mon Wily, you’ve met my mum, you know what she’s like.” Air Raid said quietly, her voice oddly flat toned, “Everything has to be the best. She desperately wanted an earth pony son. Instead she got a pegasus daughter. So, she got used to me being a pegasus, I had to be the best pegasus I could be. Nothing less would please her.” Air Raid paused as she took a breath, then carried on, her voice sounding more and more deadened the more she spoke. “Mum had my life all planned out. Junior Speedsters, Cloudsdale Flight Academy, Senior Speedsters, Rainbow Dash Stunt School, Wonderbolts Academy. After that it was to be Captain of the Academy then on to the Air Force.”

Wildfire reached up with her neck and gave her a gentle kiss at the base of her ear. “Sounds like it was all planned out for you.”

“Yeah.” Air Raid nodded sadly, “Only, it didn’t work out like she planned did it?” She couldn’t keep the bitterness from her voice as she carried on. “When I got to five and I couldn’t even hover off the ground I was sent around the unicorn doctors. I must’ve seen at least ten, all of them gave the same diagnosis. ‘Scootaloo’s Syndrome’. Mum wouldn’t accept it. I think she couldn’t accept it. I wasn’t the pony she wanted. I wasn’t going to allow her to bask in my flying greatness. She didn’t want to know.”

"Is that why you race, because you can't fly?"

Air Raid smiled, "That's why I race with the roof down, to get the wind in my mane. Believe it or not Scootaloo inspired me to become a racer." She grinned at the confusion on Wildfire's face, "Ironic I know, but you've heard of Scootaloo, world famous stunt performer? She's a demon on her scooter. So what she can't fly? She never let it hold her back from pursuing her dream and being as awesome as she could be. I decided I was going to follow her example and be my own kind of awesome. That's why I race Wily, and to show my mum I don't need to fly to be the best, I just do it differently to most other pegasi."

Wildfire raised herself up to her elbows so she could whisper in her marefriend’s ear; “I know how you feel babes.”

“How? How can you possibly know how I feel?”

“Your mum’s rejected you just like my dad’s rejected me since my mum died.” Wildfire licked her tongue up Air Raid’s ear to nip the tip softly. “I do know how you feel sweetheart.”

Air Raid snickered at the feel of her marefriend’s hot wet tongue on her ear. “Y – yeah…I guess you do sweet flanks, I guess you do. And sorry but your dad’s still a drunken wanker Wily.”

“Uh huh, and your mum’s a stuck up prissy bitch who can’t appreciate what she’s got.” The two mares both laughed at that, especially Air Raid, the tension leaving her body as she giggled happily next to Wildfire. “Is your mum the only reason you were frightened to tell me?”

The happy smile left Air Raid’s face as quick as it arrived. “No.” She said simply. “You started at the university the year I left. You didn’t know what it was like, living with the bullies.” Air Raid shuddered at the memory.

“But…I thought you didn’t tell anypony?”

“I didn’t. My mum was, is, friends with the lead bully. After a few drinks her tongue was as loose as a whore’s hind legs. After that, school was hell.”

“Like Blitzwing?”

Air Raid trembled unconsciously, fluttering her wings as she did so. “Oh…no…they were far worse than that arrogant plothole.” Memories of being held down while her wings were clipped passed through her mind. “And please Wily…I really don’t want to talk about that. Like, not ever, okay?”

“Okay babes, I get it, not ever.” Wildfire, still on her elbows, gave Air Raid’s cheek a soft kiss. “I promise you Raid, nopony will ever hear about this from me.”

“So…we’re okay…we’re good?”

Wildfire giggled as she pounced on her marefriend’s back and kissed her way up the back of her neck. “Air Raid, I love you more than life itself.” She carried on kissing up her neck to her ears as Air Raid tried to fend her off, “Don’t you ever forget that, sweet filly of mine.”

“N – no…ho ho no Ma’am, no I won’t…” Air Raid laughed as Wildfire hopped off of her back and stood up on her hind legs.

“C’mon Raid, I wanna dance,” She said as she held out her foreleg, beckoning her marefriend to get up and join her.

“Wily…there’s no music up here,” The older mare started to protest, albeit half-heartedly.

“I don’t care…c’mon, I wanna dance!”

“Wily…I can’t dance…”

Wildfire sniggered as Air Raid got to her hind legs and put her forelegs on the smaller pegasi’s shoulders. “You can’t fly either, Dodo, but you’re up here aren’t you?”

Air Raid stuck her tongue out at her sniggering marefriend, “I said you only get one of those. Now, lead me in this dance my fair maiden.”

Wildfire moved her hooves in the slow dance that Darkstar taught her, a memory of a poem came to her as she glanced at the stars over Air Raid’s shoulder. “Hey, do you remember that poem Dusk taught us, about his mom painting the sky with stars?”

Air Raid kissed her neck gently as she answered; “Of course I do Wily, it’s a lovely piece.”

“Recite it with me, as we dance, please?” Wildfire asked, her voice barely a whisper as they danced slowly on the cloud.

“Sure Wily, I’d love to.”

As both mares danced to a tune only they could hear, they started to recite the poem their friend had taught them;

“Suddenly before my eyes

Hues of indigo arise

With them how my spirit sighs

Paint the sky with stars

Only night will ever know

Why the heavens never show

All the dreams there are to know

Paint the sky with stars

Who has placed the midnight sky

So a spirit has to fly?

As the heavens seem so far now,

Who will paint the midnight star?

Night has brought to those who sleep

Only dreams they cannot keep

I have legends in the deep

Paint the sky with stars

Who has placed the midnight sky

So a spirit has to fly?

As the heavens seem so far now,

Who will paint the midnight star?

Place a name upon the night

One to set your heart alight

And to make the darkness bright

Paint the sky with stars.”

Wildfire grinned up at her marefriend as they finished the poem together. “I always loved that, I love it all the more now.” She hopped on to the tips of her hooves to kiss Air Raid’s nose, “Almost as much as I love you.”

Air Raid smiled down into Wildfire’s beautiful brown eyes and tenderly returned the kiss. “I love you too Wily, with all my heart.”

“Hey, you wanna head over to the party at D’s place?”

Air Raid thought for a brief moment, still held in her marefriend’s hooves as an idea wove its way into her head. A delicious, naughty, sexy idea that brought its own crop and hoofcuffs. “Nah, let’s go home.”

~ ~ ~

“M – m – my…my c – car!” Air Raid sat on her haunches on the kerb next to her Audi TT, her left foreleg gently caressing its ruined bodywork.

Wildfire sat next to her, her leg and wing draped around her stunned marefriend’s shoulder. “Raid…are, are you okay?”

Air Raid didn’t hear her, not really. Her focus was taken up by the murder scene in front of her. “My car…”

Following the dance on the cloud, Wildfire had flown them both home. Air Raid had that glint in her eye that promised sexy times when they got back, and Wildfire had made it home in excellent time, eager for what she had in mind.

Within seventy feet of the ground in front of their house however all thought of bedroom (or any other room) activities had fled both their minds. Air Raid’s car had been wrecked. All four of the six thousand bit whitewall semi slick tyres had been slashed, every piece of glass had been smashed, the hood had been forced open and every wire and valve around the prize winning specially tuned engine had been ripped out. Worse was the paint stripper poured over the rest of the car, eating into its bright red paint, ‘chicken’ and ‘dodo’ had been carved into the doors.

“My c – car…” Air Raid burst into tears as she laid her head against the ruined passenger door, “W – why did he have to k – kill m – my car?!”

Wildfire reached into her saddlebag next to her plushie and retrieved her mobile. “I’ll call the police babe, we know who did this.”

“Don’t b - bother Wily…we have no proof, and nopony round here will have seen anything. Just…just leave it.”

“But Raid…your car! We have to get him for this!”

Air Raid turned her tear streaked face to look at her furious marefriend; “We get him back, then what? What do you think he will do next Wildfire? Vandalise the house? Hurt me? Hurt you? You think he’ll stop at name-calling and wrecking cars?”

“No…well, I…but, we need to do something!” Wildfire gestured angrily between the ruined car and her sobbing partner.

“We will. You’ll call the tow ponies to get rid of this,” Air Raid stroked her car one last time, “And I’ll get a secure garage built while I search for a new car for next week’s race.”

“But…”

“No!” Air Raid stomped her hoof into the concrete of the kerb. “Let it go Wily! It’s just a car…a, a thing. That’s all. Just…let it go, please.”

“Okay Raid. You win. I’ll let it go.” Wildfire dialled the number for the tow service, silently dreaming up ways of making Blitzwing pay for hurting her marefriend. ‘Don’t think you’ve gotten away with this Blitz,’ She thought to herself as she spoke to the mare on the other end of the phone, ‘I’ll get you back for this, you just see if I don’t…’

Wildfire hung up her phone after she'd called the tow firm. "Raid, I need to call the police hun, for the insurance, if nothing else..."

Air Raid hung her head as she removed her hoof from her dead car. "Fine. Call them, whatever."