Fleeting Flames

Chapters

The Next Morning
Rainy Conversations
Flying Pains
Making Choices
Clover's Bar
The Orphanage
Pyro's Wishes
Pyro's Peace
Ponyville Trip
Dual Surprises
Date Preparation
The Date with a Surprise
Redheart's Check-Up
Early Meeting with Celestia
Introductions
Flying Pranks

The Next Morning

Fleeting Flames
By: Duelist96
Chapter 2: The Next Morning

So far I was having a very nice first night in my new home. I was sleeping peacefully, but it was kind of boring since I wasn’t really dreaming. Luna was nowhere to be seen so I could only assume that she was busy helping someone else that was having nightmares. I didn’t mind being alone in my own dream world, as it gave me time to reflect on my day. There was a few things that I could sort through, but everything else was on assumptions.

Fleetfoot was a nice mare and she seemed to have the potential to be a great friend. The only problem was the way she acted towards me. Many of the ponies were very expressive when talking with me, and they even made a few jokes to help fight against an awkward situation. I could only assume that she was probably unsure of how to act around me since reading notes and dealing with the real thing are two different experiences. I pushed aside some thoughts about what the mare and I could do for now as I focused on the other pegasus.

Spitfire was the complete opposite of her friend. She could easily hold a grudge for a long time, and I’m certain that if I don’t watch my back, she would pounce on me like a lioness. I was surprised with how hard she could hit, but it wasn’t that surprising since she was part of the Wonderbolts. Dash explained some of the Wonderbolts’ training routine, but it seemed like there was more that the prismatic mare didn’t know of. Fleetfoot makes Spitfire sound like she’s a fun mare to hang with, but seeing that the golden mare wasn’t satisfied with sending me to the hospital the first time, I would need to just remain off her radar.

I also became aware of another thing about my situation. As far as I understood my situation, the mares didn’t have to keep housing me. From what Celestia told me, the entire thing was voluntary. If Spitfire was still mad at me after the shower incident, and sending me into the hospital wasn’t enough, then why was I still around? All she needed to do was send a letter to either of the princesses and I would be out of their manes. I continued to ponder on this thought before a sharp pain rushed through my head. I started overthinking my situation, and now I had a splitting headache. I rubbed my temples as I pushed aside the thoughts for now until I could get some answers.

Still left with little understanding about the mares and my situation, I drifted along the empty space until I woke up. It didn’t seem to take long for me to wake up as everything started to shake. As everything shook, though, I felt something wet land on my head. I ran my hand through my hazel hair to find where I was hit. Pulling my hand away, I didn’t see anything that caused any alarm. Another two drips landed on my head, and I looked up to see what was causing it. There was nothing above me, but I caught sight of the water droplets as they fell towards me. I looked at the falling droplets with a raised brow, confused as to what was happening.

“What the heck is this?” I asked openly, but I was soon going to regret asking.

Bedroom

“Wake up you lazy human!” Spitfire shouted as she dumped another bucket of water.

My eyes shot wide open after getting hit with the water. I tried to jump out of my bed, fearing that I was drowning. As I jumped, though, I ended up tangled in my bedsheets. I fell from the side of my bed and hit the wooden flooring. Hard. Very hard. I shut my eyes tight as I groaned loudly in pain. I could hear the soft flaps of wings above me. I rolled over to my side to see the golden mare hovering above me. Usually, I wouldn’t be scared of seeing a pegasus flying above, but the glare Spitfire was giving me caused my entire body to freeze.

Spitfire dropped the bucket that she held in her hooves next to my head. I looked at the bucket before turning back to the mare as she spoke in a stern tone. “Good to see you’re finally awake. Now stop messing around and get downstairs before breakfast gets cold.”

“What time is it?” I asked groggily, grabbing my head in slight pain.

“Time for you to get up and eat something,” Spitfire stated sternly before flying out of the room.

It took a lot of willpower to not yell at the retreating mare. There was also the fact that she would tackle me to the ground again if I did such a thing, so I just kept quiet. Mumbling under my breath as I clawed my way to my feet, I saw out the window that the sun was rising. I groaned internally at how early it was, but didn’t yell to avoid having the golden pegasus fly up to my room again. I gave a small laugh at my current predicament before going to my dresser and grabbing some clothes. I slipped out of my pajamas and got dressed before joining to the two mares downstairs.

I ran my hands over my face, trying to rub away more of the sleep as I descended the stairs. Halfway down the stairs, I could smell something sweet in the air. I instantly recognized the scent as pancakes and quickened my pace for the kitchen. I walked into the kitchen to see Spitfire eating away at her own stack of pancakes, while Fleetfoot was busy cooking her own batch. Spitfire noticed me at the door, and after giving a quick glance at her friend, gave a low growl. It was interesting to hear a pony growl, but at the same time a little frightening.

I was certain that if Spitfire had any sharp teeth, then her growl would make her seem exactly like a lioness. I quickly shook that thought away as I took a seat at the table. I saw Fleetfoot’s ears swivel before she turned around and saw me. She seemed a little surprised at my presence, but gave a small smile as she greeted me.

“Good morning, Mark. Did you sleep well?”

I was tempted to tell her that I was having a peaceful sleep, until Spitfire ruined it, but a glare from the golden pegasus had me think otherwise.

“I slept very well, thanks for asking.” Spitfire gave a slow nod before going back to her breakfast.

“Would you care for some breakfast?” Fleetfoot asked as she went for more ingredients.

“Sure,” I answered. Fleetfoot gave a single nod before getting to work. I sat in silence as Fleetfoot cooked and ate her food and Spitfire devoured hers. I thought now would be as a good a time as any to get to know the mares better. “I know you said that you got up early for work, but I didn’t think it would be this early.”

Fleetfoot gave a small laugh as she transferred my pancakes to a plate. “It’s usually never this early, but we need to be at the castle before the other ponies wake up.” Fleetfoot placed my plate in front of me, setting a bottle of syrup and a fork to the side.

I drowned my pancakes in syrup as I continued from where she left off. “I thought the two of you worked at Cloudsdale?”

Spitfire removed herself from the table to clean the dishes while Fleetfoot explained what their job entailed. “We do work at the Wonderbolts academy, but there are times that we need to train with the guard.”

I was still chewing a piece of pancake in my mouth, and I gestured with my hand to elaborate what she meant.

Thankfully, Fleetfoot understood my motion and continued. “There are some performances that we do with the guard during certain festivals. These performances aren’t as extravagant as the ones we do during our travels, but it keeps the ponies entertained.”

I swallowed my last bit of food and took my plate over to the sink. Spitfire hopped away from the sink, leaving me to clean my own dish. This didn’t bother me much since I cleaned my dishes before when I was at the castle. As I cleaned away the vast amount of syrup that was still on my plate, I glanced behind me to see the two mares whispering to each other. I couldn’t catch a single word about what they were talking about, but if the small looks that Spitfire gave were anything to go by, then I was the topic in some form. I finished cleaning off my plate, and the sound of clopping hooves brought me back around to the mares.

Fleetfoot stood in front of me, a small smile on her face as she spoke. “Hey, since you’re already up, I was wondering if you would like to come with us to the castle? If not, then it’s fine, but could you head to the market to get some groceries?”

I looked at the mare as I weighed the two options. Going to the market allowed me some ample time away from Spitfire, and it would probably help calm her down. Going to the castle, though, also allowed me to speak with the princesses again. I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was another reason these two decided to house me, and the princesses were the only ones that could probably answer this question. Going to the castle also gave me a chance to see one of their many routines that they have, and getting to know the mares better wasn’t such a bad thing. I hoped.

After a few more seconds of thinking, I came to my decision and knew that a certain pegasus wasn’t going to like this. “I’ll come with you to the castle.”

I swore I heard some wood crack after I said that. I didn’t risk looking at Spitfire, fearing that she was daring me to look her way. Fleetfoot, thankfully, gave a few nods before turning around. She walked out of the kitchen, and a few seconds later, I heard Spitfire stomp her way out. I was really hoping that I could make it to the castle before something bad happens to me. I walked out of the kitchen, hearing the mares’ hooves clopping above. I assumed that they were grabbing their gear, so I took a seat on the couch as I waited for them to come down. I didn’t have to wait long as I heard the soft flapping of their wings.

I looked behind me to see the two mares dressed in their uniforms. The blue latex suit clung to their bodies, but not tightly enough to show certain areas of their body. I was glad for that because I was still trying to come to terms with these ponies walking around naked. Their goggles were around their neck, swaying side to side as they floated in the air. They both had saddlebags that I assumed was carrying the rest of their gear. I heard a pair of hooves clopping together to get my attention.

“Ready to go?” Fleetfoot asked, her smile still present.

I gave a small shrug of my shoulders. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

Fleetfoot gave a single nod before heading for the door. She opened the door and Spitfire was the first to exit. I waited a few seconds after the golden pegasus left before exiting the house as well. Once I was outside, Fleetfoot closed the door behind us, locking it with a key. Fleetfoot placed the key in her saddlebag. She looked at both Spitfire and I before flying off for the castle. Spitfire was at her friend’s side while I stayed in the back, looking around the city.

The middle part of the city was about how I expected it to be. None of the buildings were overly extravagant, but neither were they run down. Most of the buildings seemed to share the same two story plan, but thankfully they all had color variations. Many of the homes also seemed to be able to house a specific type of pony. Houses that I could assume have pegasi would have a few clouds hanging around them, while earth pony houses catered more to an earthly feel with vast amounts of flowers or small gardens. Unicorn houses were hard to discern because there wasn’t really a way to show an affinity to magic. I could only guess that a house that had less of a garden and no clouds would have the unicorns.

A few ponies were leaving their homes, probably off to work or school as my only guess. Some of these ponies greeted me as I walked by, even giving a hello to the two mares in front of me. There were a few ponies that gave me weird looks, but it was nothing compared to the ones I got in the upper city. I let those ponies give me weird looks as much as they want, since I already have great friends that I made. If these ponies wanted to be judgmental about what I was, then so be it. Those ponies get to lose out on knowing me, while the ones that do approach me get to see that I’m not such a bad, or even a scary person.

The walk to the castle was fairly slow, Spitfire and Fleetfoot hardly flapping their wings to keep afloat. I began wonder why they weren’t flying off to the castle at full speed. I easily knew my way back to the castle, thanks to Twilight and two weeks of my life I’m never getting back, but it seemed like they were treating me like I didn’t know the city. I could also assume that they might end up late because the sun was visible now. I wasn’t sure what time they needed to be there, but I guess we had enough if they weren’t speeding for their destination.

As we continued to walk, I found it very hard to look forward. The two mares were flying at eye level with me, so if I tried to look forward, then all I would see would be their flanks. I knew I would never get a chance to explain myself if Spitfire turned around and jumped to another conclusion about what I was doing. So to avoid any problems, I either looked towards the ground or to the side of them. The mares themselves were occupied with their own conversation as I kept my eyes away from their backsides.

We finally made it to the castle after about half an hour of walking. I was glad none of the snobs were up yet, so I was able to avoid any confrontation. We walked up to the gate where the two unicorn mare guards waved us through. The two mare guards said nothing to the Wonderbolts, but when they saw me, they waved happily. I happily returned their wave as the one on the left trotted up to me.

“What’s up, Mark?” The mare asked.

“Nothing much, except for the clouds,” I joked.

The mare gave a slight frown at my poor joke. “Do you feel proud of yourself now?”

I looked at the mare with hurt eyes. “What’s wrong with that one? Everyone likes that joke.”

The mare rolled her eyes as she poked at my shin playfully. “Come on, even Shield thinks that joke was terrible.”

I looked over at Shield, and she tensed as I looked at her. She tried to act like nothing was going on, but her shaking body proved otherwise.

Seeing that I wasn’t going to look away, she let out a heavy sigh. “Strongheart’s right, Mark. I mean seriously, you’ve hung out with Pinkie long enough that you should know what a good joke is.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at her line of thinking. “You seem to forget that Pinkie also laughs at almost anything.”

“Maybe you can just walk into the mares’ barracks like last time,” Shield said as she gave a big grin.

“I did that one time and nobody seems to let that go.” I sigh heavily from that past mistake.

Both mares were laughing loudly as they remembered that scene. Strongheart was the first to control her laughter to form an actual sentence. “Your face back then… was… PRICELESS!” Strongheart went back to laughing again.

Shield was able to control her laughter to add her own thoughts. “You acted like you’ve never seen a mare naked.” Shield went back to laughing at my embarrassment.

Both mares were still laughing, but their eyes were on me still. I gestured to myself with my hands. “That’s because I’m human. We don’t walk around naked like it’s a normal thing.”

“Then why don’t you try it out?” Shield suggested.

“Because I don’t want my junk flying around for everyone here to see. I get enough of seeing everyone’s genitalia on display,” I said as I started to rub my head.

“Are you saying you don’t find us attractive?” Strongheart asked, her eyes getting big as small tears started to form.

I was very aware of the trick she was trying to pull. Fluttershy used her sad puppy dog eyes on me, and word spread around the castle that it worked. Strongheart was one of the few guards that use this trick on me, even though I’m not really hurting their feelings at all. The only problem right now was the question that she asked. I could only answer with silence because saying either yes or no had their own set of consequences. Silence was starting to settle between us, but thankfully it was broken when a voice called out to me.

“Mark, are you coming or not?” Spitfire asked as she flew straight towards me.

“Sure, I’ll be there in a second,” I called back.

Spitfire stopped her flight towards me as she gave a small nod. The pegasus went back to the castle, entering through the front door. I saw her make a left before she was completely out of my sight. I had a pretty good idea where she went, so it would be unlikely for me to get lost. I felt someone poking my shin, and looking down, I saw it was Strongheart.

“You should probably head on inside,” Strongheart said with a warm smile.

“Yeah, it’s time for our shift change and you probably don’t want to keep her waiting,” Shield added as she gave a small laugh.

“Thanks, but before you go, do you know if either of the princesses are in?” I asked the retreating mares.

“Celestia’s in the throne room right now and doesn’t have any appointments for a bit. If you want to speak with her, make it quick before she starts her meetings,” Strongheart called back.

Watching the two mares walk off for a bit, I turned towards the large doors and walked in. Once I was inside, I made the immediate left that Spitfire did. I decided to stop by where the mares were so I could let them know where I was going to be at. During my walk I passed many of the maids and guards that I have gotten to know. Each one of them greeted me warmly, and a maid was kind enough to hand me a cider and a cinnamon roll as I passed by. I took the many twists and turns I needed to make before I was finally standing outside in one of the open fields. I guessed right in where the mares were going to be as I noticed Fleetfoot talking with a few guards. I walked over to the mare, who saw me coming and waved at me.

I waved back as I reached her. “Hey, I’m going to speak with Celestia real quick before she starts her meetings.”

“Okay, just make sure to come back here when you’re done. If we’re not here when you get back, we might be in the dining hall,” Fleetfoot said.

I nodded to the pegasus before she went back to speaking with the guards. As I headed back in the castle, I saw Spitfire flying in the air. Even with her attitude, she was a pretty graceful flier. The mare seemed at peace as she flew, and I barely caught sight of a smile as she flew by. I watched as she did a few barrel rolls and hard banks, mesmerized at how easy it came to her. I shook my head to focus back at my task, knowing that I can watch her later. Once I was inside again, I looked left and right to decide the best route to Celestia. Giving a shrug, I headed down the left hallway.

I passed a few more maids and guards before finally reaching the throne room. The large golden doors were as imposing as ever as I stood outside the throne room. Two pegasus guards were stationed in front of the double doors, smiling as they looked at me. I was able to speak openly and casually with all the princesses, but it doesn’t help my nerves when I have to walk through these large doors. The guards noticed my nervousness, well aware that I kind of froze when I came here, and pushed the doors open. The guard on the left walked behind me and pushed me inside.

Once inside, the guards closed the door behind me. A loud slam from the doors echoed in the expansive room as I looked around. Nothing really changed much from my visits to the throne room. The same red carpet leading up to the two thrones in the middle of the room looked as clean as always. The golden trim on the side reflecting the sunlight onto the marble columns. The columns gave a simple sparkle from the small amount of light, but they were beautiful like always. I looked over at the thrones to see Celetia leaning on one of her hooves, looking bored like always. When she noticed me, her sour attitude soon brightened.

“Mark, it’s lovely to see you. How’s your day been going?” Celestia asked as she rose from her seat and started trotting towards me.

“It’s been pretty good. I’m here with Spitfire and Fleetfoot as they work out a routine with the guards,” I answered.

I walked towards the alicorn as she invited me for a hug. I happily gave her the hug, her fur still as warm as always. I don’t know how she stayed warm, but I assumed it had something to do with magic and accepted that as my answer. Celestia and I held our hug for a few more seconds before pulling apart.

Celestia’s smile was still bright and motherly, her tone caring as she spoke. “I’m glad to see the three of you getting along so well. Did you have any problems during your first day there?”

I let out a heavy sigh as I was going to have to explain everything that happened yesterday. “It could have gone a bit better.” I saw Celestia’s smile lower a bit as she looked at me with a bit of concern.

Celestia placed a hoof on my shoulder as she spoke in a calm, even tone. “Is Spitfire still upset about the incident from a few months back?”

I looked at the alicorn with a raised brow. “How do you know about that?” I knew that the question was probably stupid, but I didn’t hear from anyone that the princess was contacted about the incident.

Celestia gave a comforting smile as her voice took on a motherly tone. “Redheart sent the files about your visit. She also left a few choice notes about how you answer a simple question.” Celestia laughed lightly and I couldn’t help but laugh a little as well.

I rubbed the back of my head in embarrassment as I remembered that incident. “Yeah, I think I hit my head harder than I thought.”

Celestia laughed a little at my embarrassment before becoming concerned again. “I do hope she didn’t hurt you that badly.” Celestia grabbed at my head, pulling me down so she could inspect it.

It was nice to see Celestia in such a caring mood, but she was overreacting slightly. I grabbed at her hooves and pulled them away from head. “From what others have told me, I guess I got off a little easier.” I smiled at her and this seemed to calm her down some.

“I’ve read about some of her fights. It’s a little unsettling, but I can understand why she acts like that.” Celestia seemed to become sad again, but shook her head before adorning her same caring smile.

“This kinds of leads into what I wanted to ask you,” I said, rubbing my neck nervously.

Celestia easily noticed my nerves and moved to sit next to me. Once she was seated on her haunches, she draped a wing over my back as she spoke in her motherly tone. “There’s nothing to be worried about. I told you that you could come to either myself, my sister, Cadence, or Twilight and her friends. So please, ask away and I’ll answer the best I can.”

I remained silent for a few seconds, enjoying the comfort Celestia’s wing brought me. I swallowed a lump in my throat that I wasn’t aware was forming before speaking. “Why is it that Spitfire and Fleetfoot took me in? Also, how could Spitfire not know that it was me that she was going to be housing?”

Celestia looked at me with a serious expression before speaking. “Both of those have complex answers, to which I’m not allowed to say. The best answer I can give is to your second question and that is because I didn’t specify exactly who would be staying with them.”
I looked at Celestia with a raised brow. “Why didn’t you tell them?”

Celestia let out a heavy sigh before turning to look out the window. “I wanted to see Spitfire’s reaction.” She turned back to look me in the eyes. “I never intended for you to get hurt, but I’m trying to help her as well as you. I wish I could tell you more, but it’s personal matters between Spitfire and you.”

Celestia seemed a little disappointed that she couldn’t give me more, but I could understand wanting to keep it all a secret. I ran my hand along her slender neck, hearing her let out a small sigh of comfort. She pulled her wing off my back, allowing me to get to my feet. Once I was standing, she gave me one last hug before heading back to the throne. I walked back to the large golden doors, but before I left, I turned back to Celestia.

“Hey, Tia,” I called out.

“Yes,” Celestia responded.

“I was wondering what you thought about my joke telling?” I asked with general curiosity.

Celestia placed a hoof on her chin as she thought about her answer. After a few seconds, she looked at me with a small smile. “I think you could probably use some new material. Shield told me that bad joke you said to her.”

My hand was placed on the door, a small chuckle escaping my lips as I gave a slight shake of my head. I could hear the princess trying to cover her own laughter, but ultimately failing as she couldn’t control it. I bid the princess farewell and wished her luck with her meetings. On my way out of the door, I ran into her first client of the day. I accidently ran into the stallion, and he looked at me like I just assaulted him. His eyes held the same disgust that most of these nobles looked at me with, but I ignored it. I turned away from the stallion, hearing the clopping of his hooves as he went to speak with Celestia.

Leaving with at least some kind of answer, I began walking back towards the open field. This walk was a little uneventful as I didn’t run into anyone. I wouldn’t say I was friends with everyone in the castle, but we all had enough conversations that we could enjoy each other’s company. A few minutes after walking, I arrived at the open field. Fleetfoot and Spitfire were flying around in the air. I looked at the far end to see the guards resting under some shady trees. The mares didn’t seem to have noticed my arrival, so I took a seat on a bench under a tree.

I watched as the mares flew around each other in circles. They did a few dives and twirls, but nothing like what Rainbow described they could do. I did notice their electric smoke streak a little, so it should mean they were putting in some kind of practice. Seeing that they may be flying for a bit longer, I laid down on the bench to catch a little nap. I’m not sure how long I was asleep for, but I was rudely awaken by someone giving me a charley horse. I grabbed at my leg as I bit my lower lip to keep from screaming. I looked to my side to see Spitfire looking at me with a neutral expression.

As she spoke, her tone was neutral. “We have some lunch if you’re hungry.”

“Than-” I didn’t get to finish as the mare flew off.

I just ignored that bit of rudeness as I stretched along the bench. I saw the guards, Spitfire, and Fleetfoot eating in the middle of the field, and it seemed like they were given a simple lunch. Rolling to my feet, I gave on final stretch before heading to join the group. The guards happily waved me over to join them while Fleetfoot offered me a smile. There were some sandwiches, fruit, and some cake they were picking from, and I grabbed my own little lunch.

Conversation for my part was relatively quiet as the mares and guards spoke about different ways to show off during their performance. Now that I actually thought about it, I wasn’t sure what celebration they were preparing for. The only thing I could catch from the conversation was that it was about Celestia in some way. Everyone finished their meals, while I slowly finished off mine.

“I think we’ll call it for today,” Fleetfoot said as she gave a few stretches.

All the guards nodded their heads before leaving. Spitfire and Fleetfoot stretched their bodies and wings before looking towards me. They saw that I was still eating and waited as I finished off my last few bites.

“So, what else are we going to do?” I asked as I cleaned off my hands.

The two mares glanced at each other before Fleetfoot spoke up. “We’re going to change out of our uniforms first. After that, we’re heading for the market to pick up our groceries.”

I gave a small nod as I rose to my feet. “I’ll be here after you finish getting dressed.”

The two mares shared a confused look before giving a slight shrug. I was expecting them to head for a changing room, or even a bathroom, but they seem fine getting changed in front of me. Seeing that they were changing right before me, I turned around so my back was facing them. I rocked back and forth on my feet as I listened to the mares shuffle out of their uniforms. A few flaps of their wings gave me the assumption that they were somewhat out of their suits. I kept my back turned to them, until I felt a hoof poking the back of my leg. I took that as my signal to turn around, when I did, both mares were looking at me with confusion.

Surprisingly, Spitfire was the one to speak up about what I did. “Any reason why you turned around?”

I let out a heavy a sigh, not really wanting to explain the entire situation to them. I hoped that giving a smaller explanation would answer her question. “It’s just a human thing.”

This didn’t seem to satisfy either mare as Fleetfoot spoke. “What’s that supposed to mean?” One of her brows was still raised in confusion.

I’ve explained this situation well over a hundred times that I thought Celestia would have mentioned something about it. “It’s just very rude to watch someone change.”

Spitfire looked at me with a raised brow, her eyes showing a little anger. “So what? We’re naked all the time, and it’s not like we’re doing anything provocative. Do you get off watching ponies change out of clothes?” The last question came out a little accusatory.

I rubbed the bridge of my nose as I answered her questions. “I know that you’re naked all the time. Really hard not to notice something like that. It’s just about privacy is all.”

Spitfire gave a slight roll of her eyes as she grabbed her saddlebags. I only shook my head as Fleetfoot just remained silent. She looked between us for a few seconds before lifting herself into the air. Spitfire joined her as they started to leave the open field. I followed behind the two of them, keeping my eyes off their backsides. I could hear Spitfire whisper harshly at Fleetfoot, but I couldn’t make out what she was saying. If anything, I would guess that it was something about me being a pervert or deviant. The mares kept to their own conversation while I waved goodbye to some of the guards and maids.

Once we walked out of the front of the castle, we started back for the middle district. The walk was a little bothersome as the nobles were out. None of them hid their disgust about me as I walked by. I picked up my pace, walking past the two mares as I tried to get back to the middle district. I could hear the mares flap their wings a little more to keep pace with me. Spitfire gave a confused stare, while Fleetfoot seemed a little concerned. Fleetfoot would poke my arm a few times, but I didn’t want to talk about anything until we were somewhere away from all the nobles.

The walk back to the middle district was short, thanks to my speed walking. We were back in the middle district, but I didn’t stop walking until we were in the market area. The mares were able to easily keep pace, but their looks didn’t change at all. Fleetfoot was still poking my arm, while Spitfire was still staring at me with confusion. I took a few seconds to compose myself before facing Fleetfoot.

“Yes?” I asked, rubbing the bridge of my nose.

“What happened back there?” Fleetfoot asked, her voice laced with slight concern.

“I just don’t like being stared at. I got enough looks when I was on Earth, I don’t need to deal with it here,” I answered, my voice slightly harsh.

It seemed that Fleetfoot wanted to say something more, but thought otherwise. She gave a slight nod, and I was glad to have that subject dropped quickly. She pulled open one of the flaps on her saddlebag, digging through it for something. Her head popped out with a brown bag in her muzzle. Fleetfoot grabbed my hand with her hooves, pulling it out and dropping the bag in my open palm. I heard the metallic clink of coins when the bag landed in my hand. I opened the bag to see there was a decent amount of bits. I looked at the mare with a raised brow, but before I could ask what it was for, she beat me to it.

“This is for your ‘other’ part of your diet.”

I looked at her a little hesitantly before looking at Spitfire, who didn’t seem to mind much. “So, you’re aware of my ‘special’ diet.” I wasn’t sure why I was a little hesitant that they knew, but so far their reactions were a little more positive than before.

“It was mentioned in your notes. We have a few griffons on the team, so the idea of a creature eating meat isn’t entirely foreign to us. Plus, most pegasi eat fish to help keep our wings healthy.” Fleetfoot showed this point by presenting her wing.

I had to hand it to her. Her wings seemed positively healthy, and they glowed a little in the afternoon sun. I gave a few more looks at her majestic wings before moving on with the conversation.

“Do you know where I can get my food?” I rubbed the back of my neck in embarrassment.

Fleetfoot nodded as she pointed towards the back of the market. “Just head down that way. There’s a griffon stand that sells everything that you need.”

I nodded to the two mares before setting off for where I needed to go. As I walked down to the griffon stand, a few ponies that were shopping stopped and stared. Their stares didn’t last long as they gave me a once over and then went back to whatever they were doing. A couple foals seemed interested in me as they followed me. I could hear them whispering to each other and gave a small laugh at their childish intrigue. As I neared the griffon stand, the foals stopped following. I didn’t blame them for not wanting to go further, since it seemed a good portion of the ponies here avoided the griffoness. As I got closer to the stand, the griffoness seemed to take interest in me.

“So you’re the strange creature that I’ve been hearing these ponies talk about,” the griffoness smiled as she presented her talon.

I gripped her talon and shook it. “Seeing as there aren’t many other bipedal creatures around here, I guess that’s me.”

The griffoness released her grip on my hand as she went about checking her stock. I’ve only seen a few griffons, but she seemed to have a few more vibrant colors. Her body was covered in brown feathers that traveled to her wings. At her wings, the feathers started from brown to a dark orange. Her neck feathers were white, but the tips were a deep purple. The feathers around her beak and eyes were pink.

I was pulled from my inspection of the griffoness as she spoke up. “So, what can I get you?”

I took a few seconds to look around her stand. There were a few things that I recognized and pointed to them. “I’ll take some of those steaks, some pork chops, and a few chicken breasts.”

The griffoness nodded as she went about picking up my order. She packed everything away in a brown bag with a griffon emblem on the front. She placed the bag on the counter before looking at me with a bright smile. “This would usually cost about fifty-five bits, but because you’re new and seem like you’ll be stopping by for more, this will only be twenty bits.” She extended her left talon, her smile still warm and kind.

I gave a confused look at the griffoness as I pulled out the bit pouch. I dug through the bits until I counted out twenty. I grabbed an extra ten to give to her as a tip. I placed the bits in her talon and grabbed the bag.

The griffoness started to count through the bits, but called out to me before I could leave. “Sir, you gave me more than what I asked for.” She tried to hand back the extra ten bits.

I smiled at the griffoness as I pushed her talon back. “I wanted to give you a tip. You also didn’t freak-out or try to attack me after seeing me. Also, since I’m going to be stopping by for food, can I get your name?”

“The name’s Razor Wing.” Razor smiled. “Don’t be intimidated by the name. I’m a lot nicer compared to other griffons.”

“It’s good to meet you, Razor. The name’s Mark.” I smiled back.

Razor and I gave a final shake before I left. I actually liked her, since out of the few griffons that I met, she didn’t try to challenge me to a fight or buy me like a slave. I kind of hoped we could become friends, because being friends with a griffon would actually be pretty cool. I continued to walk through the market, reaching the area where I split off from the mares. Seeing there was no sight of them, I took a seat on the bench. I watched as the ponies went from stand to stand, buying groceries or bartering for better prices on other goods. I waved to a few ponies as they passed me.

I leaned against the back of the bench, staring into the sky as I waited for the mares to return. Several minutes passed by until I could hear the soft beating of wings. I lifted my head up to see the two mares floating in front of me. Their saddlebags were full with the groceries that they bought, a few extra bags on their back and in their mouths. They both landed on the ground, placing the bags in front of me.

“So, did you get everything that you need?” Fleetfoot asked.

“Yeah, the griffoness running the stand over there was really nice,” I said.

Fleetfoot’s eyes went wide at that. “Oh, is Razor working the stand today?”

I raised a brow at the mare. “How do you know her?”

“Her sister is part of the team. Her name is Steel Wing. If it wasn’t for their opposite color schemes, nopony would be able to tell them apart,” Fleetfoot explained, laughing a little.

“That’s cool, but yeah, Razor is working the stand,” I replied.

Fleetfoot gave a quick nod. “That’s good. As long as she’s working the stand, then you shouldn’t have a problem getting anything.”

The mares were about to grab the bags again when I grabbed them myself. Spitfire was about to say something, but I cut her off as I raised a hand. “You have enough stuff to carry. Let me get these.”

The mares gave a quick nod before backing away. I grabbed the two bags that were on the ground and gestured for them to lead the way. They jumped into the air, flying out of the market. I followed behind the two mares, looking through the bags. It was pretty much what I expected to be in there. There were assorted fruits, vegetables, and cleaning products. The cleaning products were probably gotten because whenever they would leave on one of their trips, I would be the only one in the house.

The walk back to the house was pretty quiet. The only noise that I could hear was the beating of the mares’ wings. We reached the house as the sun started to set. I was still amazed that the sun and moon were still controlled by magic, though. I did also amaze the princesses when I told them it occurred naturally back on Earth. Fleetfoot unlocked the door and allowed Spitfire and myself to enter. I placed the bags in the kitchen and started to sort through them. As I sorted through the two bags, I found a few things that I could use to make dinner with.

I stepped away from all the bags, putting away my meat first before going to make dinner. The mares continued to put things away while I made a few sandwiches. The sandwiches weren’t anything special, but they would be filling nonetheless. The mares finished putting away all the groceries and sat at the table. I placed the plates in front of them and they happily accepted the meal. The three of us ate in silence until all the plates were clean of crumbs. Fleetfoot took the dishes away for cleaning, while Spitfire headed for her room and I headed for mine.

I grabbed my sleeping clothes and headed for the shower. I took a quick warm shower, reflecting on past events. I didn’t get much for answers, but I at least had something to go off of. Whatever the reasons were why these mares took me in, I wasn’t going to pester them about it. They could tell me on their own time. As I walked out of the shower, I saw Spitfire’s door open wider than before. Going against better judgement, I walked towards the golden mare’s room and looked inside. I saw Fleetfoot sleeping peacefully in bed, but Spitfire was sitting at a desk at the other end of the room.

Spitfire’s back was turned to me, but I could hear the scratches of a quill on parchment. She seemed deep in thought as she wrote on that parchment. I didn’t think much about it since it was probably personal, and headed for my room. I closed the door behind me and crawled under the sheets, letting sleep take me over.

Rainy Conversations

Fleeting Flames
By: Duelist96
Chapter 3: Rainy Conversations

Two days have passed since my stay at Spitfire and Fleetfoot’s house. Nothing has really changed much, but I’m not being rudely awakened anymore. Spitfire got tired of dumping water on me and ended up getting me an alarm clock. The only downside to having the alarm clock is that I don’t know how to use it. Spitfire set the alarm so I would wake up early enough to eat breakfast and join them in their training sessions. I’ve also taken the time looking around Canterlot for any kind of job.

During my job search, though, I found a flyer for one of Vinyl’s parties. I only met the mare a few times, along with her roommate, Octavia. I wondered exactly how they could stand living together since Vinyl was such a party mare and Octavia seemed like she was part of some criminal organization. Either way, it seemed like they were getting along well. The last thing I heard about them was that they were looking for a third roommate. I really should go to that party because I could use that time to relax.

Thinking back as well, I should probably check on Lyra. Even with her human obsession, she isn’t that bad of a mare. She lives with her marefriend, Bon Bon, at her candy shop called Sweetie Drops. Last thing I heard from Lyra was that she was going to confess her plans for the two of them to get married. I hoped that Bon Bon would accept her confession because those two always looked so happy together.

I actually would be doing a lot of this if it wasn’t raining outside. Actually, that isn’t even true. I’m still willing to go, but the two mares didn’t want me going out with all the rain. Spitfire and Fleetfoot were sitting on the couch while I just stared out the front window. Seeing the two mares were distracted with their reading, I grabbed an umbrella and quietly opened the front door. I wasn’t planning on heading for the train station, but I wanted to enjoy some of the weather. Stepping outside, I could see why the mares told me to wait on heading out to see some of my friends.

The rainfall was pretty heavy so the train wouldn’t be going anywhere for the day. Taking a seat at a nearby chair, I opened my umbrella and looked out at the city. The sight of the gray city would seem gloomy to most people, but I found it quite relaxing. Listening to the pitter patter of the rain all around me helped to ease my mind. I enjoyed rainy days like this as it would always allow me ample time to think. The smell of the rainfall brought back pleasant memories of when I would play with my friends back home.

I was too distracted with my own memories that I didn’t hear, or even notice a certain golden mare walk out. The only thing that brought me to her presence was when she poked at my leg. I looked down to see the mare looking up at me with a confused expression. Her mane was flattened because of the rain and I offered her the umbrella. She took the offered item as I enjoyed the cool feeling of the water against my skin. I heard a few wing beats from the mare, before she settled on the chair next to me. Silence filled the space between us, the two of us just looking at the city in front.

A couple minutes of this peaceful silence passed before Spitfire finally spoke up. “Any reason why you came out here?”

I gave a slight raise of my brow as I looked at the mare. Out of the few times that I’ve spoken with her, this was the first time her question seemed genuine. I gave a small shrug of my shoulders as I answered. “Just came out here to enjoy this weather.”

Spitfire turned towards me, her brow raised in confusion. “What’s so great about this weather? It’s gloomy, depressing, and nopony is really doing anything.” Spitfire gave a small pout as she went back to looking out at the city.

The two of us sat in silence again, the sound of rain hitting the ground was the only noise that filled the empty space. Spitfire could have left whenever she wanted, she could even leave with the umbrella if she wanted. I was starting to get soaked from all the rain, but I was glad for the relaxing feel of the water. I closed my eyes, breathing lightly as I let my mind wander again. I thought back to my three oldest friends. Will, Chris, and Maurice were the first friends I ever made, and we were closer than most others.

I was pulled from my trip down memory lane when I heard the door open. Spitfire and I looked at the door to see Fleetfoot coming out. She looked at both Spitfire and me, and without saying anything, she took a seat next to her friend. She stared at the gray city with us, listening to the calming rain.

Fleetfoot turned towards me as she spoke. “So, what are we doing out here?”

“Mark found it relaxing out here and I wanted to make sure he didn’t end up getting sick. I don’t have time to nurse him back to health since we’re so busy,” Spitfire answered.

I knew the small peace that Spitfire and I had was going to be short-lived. At least the moment was nice while it lasted. I didn’t say anything as I went back to relaxing in the rain. The two mares were silently talking to each other while I just leaned my head back. My mind went back to the last time I was with my friends, and I was glad that it was a good memory. The four of us were just out in the town, going to see a late night movie.

I was pulled from my thoughts again when I felt a hoof prodding against my side. “Hey, Mark, how come you like the rain?”

I scratched my chin in thought, trying to think of the best answer. There were hundreds of reasons on why I liked rainy weather, and the next reason I would think of was better than the last. Going through the multiple answers, I decided on one that probably made the most sense. “It just reminds me of the things I did with my friends.”

Spitfire handed the umbrella to Fleetfoot so she could turn towards me fully. “What exactly could you and your friends do in this situation?” Spitfire gestured towards the rain covered city.

I gave a shrug of my shoulders as I stared at the gray clouds. “It’s a silly thing, but we would go out and try to find a rainbow.” This earned me a confused look from both mares.

Fleetfoot spoke up as she turned in her seat to face me. “Why would you go looking for a rainbow?”

“We just thought they were cool looking. Seeing the sun reflect through the moisture in the clouds, making seven colors arc through the sky, it was truly beautiful.” I gave a huge smile as I thought back to chasing a rainbow.

I heard a gentle flap of wings, and the rain that was soaking my body ceased. Fleetfoot was closer to me, the umbrella she was holding covering all three of us. She had a slightly nervous look as she spoke. “I guess you might get this a lot, but what were your friends like?”

“Their names were Will, Chris, and Maurice. We’ve been together since we were children, and I was surprised to see us stay so close, until,” I gestured to everything around me, a small bit of anger beginning to form. “Until all of this happened.”

“What was the last thing you did with them before ending up here?” Fleetfoot asked with slight concern.

I gave out a big sigh at having to recall my last memory on Earth. “We went to see a cheesy horror movie that was playing. The theater was doing a special showing of the first four Paranormal Activities before showing the fifth one. It was as bad as we expected, but then again, horror movies aren’t what they used to be.” I let out another sigh, letting silence fill the space between us.

“What happened after that?” Spitfire asked, listening closely to my story.

I adjusted myself on the seat, getting comfortable so I wouldn’t have pain later. “After that, we headed to our old hangout. It was an Italian restaurant we loved, and after we ate, we all left on our separate ways. I was halfway to my apartment when everything went dark. Next thing that happened was that I woke up here. You know the rest after that, I’m sure.” I left out a few things, but what I did remember really didn’t make me comfortable to share with the two mares.

I was a little surprised when I saw a golden hoof gently pat my shoulder. “The explanation was brief, but we could fill in some of the blanks.” I was certain that I saw her give a genuine smile for the first time.

I was pulled from my moment of happiness at getting Spitfire to be nice when Fleetfoot cut in. “Hey, Mark, would you like a job?”

“I kind of would, but most of the places I visit just aren’t hiring.” I gave a dejected sigh as I thought back to the last twenty places that turned me down.

Fleetfoot smiled as she placed a hoof on my shoulder. “Well, how about you become our assistant?” I had never seen Spitfire turn around so fast.

The golden mare’s jaw was open, her eyes wide as she stared at her friend. It seemed like the idea of me being her assistant wasn’t very well liked as her surprise turned into a pout. I was certain that if I wasn’t near them, she would have very choice words about what her friend offered. Fleetfoot seemed to have noticed her friend’s stare, but didn’t say anything as she patiently waited for my answer. I have thought about seeing if I could work as something for the two mares, but it just didn’t seem right. The only problem I saw with working under the two mares was payment.

Fleetfoot took notice of my hesitance, her voice taking a reassuring tone. “If you’re worried about payment, you don’t need to worry about it. We won’t be able to pay you, but the two of us have enough income to support all three of us. Your payment for working for us would be allowing you to stay here.”

I rubbed my chin in thought as I pondered her explanation. From what I’ve gathered between these few days, the mares do have a pretty steady income. I also have been kind of mooching off of them without really doing anything to at least earn my keep. Sure, I’ve kept the house clean and made a few meals, but that would at best only cover a part of my expenses.

I gave a small sigh before turning towards the mare, a smile on my face. “I’ll accept your offer.”

Spitfire’s eyes went wide as she looked at me. Not only did she probably have choice words for Fleetfoot, but now she probably had a few for me. I watched as Spitfire opened and closed her mouth a few times before giving a slight shake of her head. The golden mare jumped off her seat, heading back inside. Fleetfoot and I gave each other a quick glance before following after Spitfire. I caught a glimpse of Spitfire’s fiery tail as she rounded the corner upstairs. I looked towards Fleetfoot, who gestured for me to take a seat.

I nodded as I watched the mare retreat upstairs. Once she was out of sight, I walked over to the couch and took my seat. I looked at the two books that were placed on the coffee table. They were a couple of cheesy romance novels that I could probably get a good laugh at. I placed the books back on the coffee table as I lounged on the couch. The sound of the rain hitting the window filled the empty space as I closed my eyes. My body started to relax and I was sure I could get some rest before I had to cook lunch.

Sadly, my peaceful rest was disturbed when I heard a loud crash from upstairs. My eyes shot wide open as I jumped to my feet. My brain was still trying to process what might be going on upstairs, but I was already moving for the stairs. I was skipping every other step, trying to reach the mares’ room as fast as I could. Once at the top, I made my turn too sharp, causing me to slide into the wall. I slammed against the floor after making contact with the wall. A loud thud could be heard around the house, and the door to Spitfire’s room opened.

I cracked one eye open to see the two mares looking at me with raised brows. I chuckled lightly as I rolled onto my back. The mares moved closer as I stared at the ceiling, the pain from my fall keeping me from getting up. Spitfire was the first to come into my view, her eyebrow raised in confusion. Fleetfoot came up next, her face showing a mix of confusion and worry. After giving a small smile to the two mare, I went back to staring at the ceiling.

Fleetfoot’s voice pulled my attention back to them as she spoke softly. “Are you okay, Mark?”

I gave a warm laugh as I shrugged my shoulders. “Kind of hurt my back, but everything else seems to be okay.”

“What exactly caused this to happen?” Spitfire asked as she gestured to my prone form.

“I heard a loud crash from up here and I tried to come up and make sure everything was okay.” I looked at the two mares. “Is everything okay?”

Fleetfoot went to answer, but was swiftly cut off by Spitfire. “Everything’s fine. A few things fell from my bookshelf and ended up breaking a picture.”

There were times that I was glad when I hung out with Applejack, even though it was hard to always tell the truth around that mare. Thanks to being around her for a decent amount of time, I was able to see subtle signs when a pony was lying. I wasn’t entirely great at it, since most ponies were really good at hiding the truth, but I was able to see her upturned desk in her room to show that she was lying. I could only assume that she lied about what really happened because she didn’t want to talk about it, and I decided to leave it at that.

“Well, I’m glad that you’re all okay,” I said as I smiled at them.

Fleetfoot gently pushed her friend to the side as she offered me her hoof. “Thanks for the concern. Now follow us.”

I shook my head as I tried to figure out what she was trying to say. “Follow you where?”

Fleetfoot didn’t stop her stride, making me have to chase after her so I could get an answer. “We’re heading for the castle.”

I raised a brow as I looked at Spitfire, quickly turning back to Fleetfoot. “What’s at the castle?”

I heard Spitfire let out an exasperated sigh as she shook her head at me. “We’re going to the castle so we can fill out the proper paperwork to show that you’re our new assistant. Thankfully, the rain has calmed down enough so we can get there without getting drenched.”

Confused at when the rain possibly could have slowed down, I looked out a nearby window to see that Spitfire was correct. The strong rain had turned into a gentle drizzle, possibly giving us enough time to get to the castle, fill out the paperwork, then come back home. I gave a slight nod to no one in particular, waiting for the mares to get their coats on. I’ve questioned many times why they bothered wearing clothes for rain and cold, but have no problem walking around naked the rest of the time.

That was a question that I regretted forever after hearing Rarity drone on about fashion statements. Twilight made it slightly uncomfortable as she went to ‘teacher’ mode and also explained the sexual appeal to it. Remembering that latter conversation caused my cheeks to tinge a light red before I quickly shook it off. Now that I actually thought about it, I owe Twilight a few samples that she can study. Actually, that could possibly wait. I really didn’t need another pony cupping my balls.

I gave a heavy sigh, really wanting that part of my memory to be pushed into the deepest parts of my mind to never see light again. I was thankfully pulled from my embarrassment when Fleetfoot pressed my leg. I looked at the raincoats that both mares were wearing, and there wasn’t anything really different about them compared to an Earth raincoat. Fleetfoot grabbed the umbrella with a hoof, a feat that still amazed me, and handed it to me. I nodded my thanks to the mare as I walked past her and opened the door.

I gestured for the two mares to head out first and they each gave me a curious look. I completely understood their difference in cultural norms, but I was still human and I was going to do things like I used to, somewhat. Thankfully, neither mare argued about what I was doing and left through the open door. I closed the door behind us, making sure it was locked before opening up my umbrella and following after the mares. The walk to the castle was quiet, and the soft patter of the rain made it very peaceful. It felt kind of weird to use the umbrella since there wasn’t any harsh storm at the moment.

Wanting to enjoy the walk a little more, I closed up the umbrella and let the slow drizzle land on my skin. I shivered a little at the cold feeling of water running across my face, but it helped to bring back pleasant thoughts. I saw the two mares quickly turn their heads away, probably only looking at me to see what I was doing. We made it to the castle quicker than before, but that was only because the mares were trying to get out of the rain. I waved to the two guards stationed outside, and they happily waved back.

I would have stopped to have a small conversation with the guards, but it seemed the mares were really wanting to get this paperwork business finished as fast as possible. Once we were in the castle, a maid trotted up to us and offered to take the umbrella and their raincoats. The mares did a quick shake, splattering me with a little water. The maid seemed to get a good laugh out of it as I gave a small frown. Spitfire and Fleetfoot showed their own enjoyment as they laughed along with the maid.

Their shared laughter lasted longer than I wished it would before the maid gave a final bow and left with our stuff. The two mares continued to laugh for a few more seconds before finally getting themselves under control. With the last of their jitters out, they took to floating in front of me again, probably well aware how much this bothers me. Spitfire and Fleetfoot led me through a part of a castle that I hardly ever walked through. I could tell that I was in the pegasus wing of the castle for new recruits, but I never really got to see what goes on in here.

There were a few new guards hanging around, their looks of curiosity at my presence a dead giveaway. The only thing that surprised me was that they weren’t entirely freaking out about my presence. I assumed that one of the princesses probably had an orientation that talked about my existence here. Some of the new guards were nice as they waved to me, but there were always those few that showed disgust. I happily ignored those guards as the mares led me through a few twists and turns, finally reaching the Wonderbolt office.

Spitfire grabbed a key from a file box that was hanging on the wall. She opened the door and allowed Fleetfoot and myself inside. I looked around the office, and I was actually surprised with its look. From the way the mares looked, even though it’s possible their manes and tails come out messy, I kind of assumed their office space would be an entire mess. The office was actually well kept with papers placed in their proper folders, no dust was collecting anywhere, and their awards were neatly framed behind their desks. Spitfire threw her key on the desk as she opened her filing cabinet, mumbling under her breath as she searched through the many folders stuffed inside.

Fleetfoot jumped behind her desk, pulling open one of her drawers and pulling out a bottle of scotch. She grabbed three glasses and filled up two of them. She looked at me and gestured to the bottle and glass. I wasn’t much of a scotch man, probably not much of a drinker as well, but I could probably use one. I nodded my head and she filled the third glass. She put the cork back into the bottle and passed my drink across her desk. I took the offered shot as she carried over Spitfire’s, the mare giving a small ‘thank you’ before taking the shot. Seeing that she hadn’t even flinched from the drink, I assumed that it was a pretty calm one.

I was so wrong after I took that shot. I almost coughed up a lung at how powerful the scotch was. The drink burned the entire way down my throat, and even with the nice little warm feeling it gave, the burning pain was the only thing I was focused on. Spitfire seemed to get a good laugh from it as she covered her muzzled with a hoof. Fleetfoot gave my back a few final pats before laughing herself. Fleetfoot trotted back to her desk, pulling open another drawer and grabbing a large stack of papers. She let the papers fall to the desk, hitting it with a loud thud as she slammed the drawer closed.

The two mares seemed busy with what they were doing and I decided to take a seat near the door. I wasn’t sure what Spitfire was looking for in her cabinet, but a few glances at the papers Fleetfoot was going through showed they needed to be sorted. Fleetfoot saw me sitting in the chair and cut her stack in half. She placed the stack on her back, carrying it with great balance to make sure none of the papers fell. Once the pegasus was in front of me, she took the papers off of her back and placed them in front of my feet.

“Mark, I assume you know your way around the castle, correct?” Fleetfoot asked as she placed a hoof on the paper stack.

“Yeah, I’ve been in the castle long enough to know where everything is.” Spitfire gave a sharp snort at my answer, mumbling something under her breath. I could easily guess what she was saying and thinking from the way she looked at me.

Fleetfoot got my attention back as she prodded my leg. “Anyways, I need you to deliver these to their proper places. They’re already organized on where they need to go, so all you really need to do is look through what belongs in what area and drop them off. Once you’re finished, you can just come back here and we should have your paperwork finished.”

I looked down at the stack of papers before looking back at Fleetfoot. The mare gave a small smile as she removed her hoof from the stack of papers, leaving to go back to her desk. Getting up from the small chair, I grabbed the stacks of papers and looked at the location. I headed for the door, but stopped as I turned to face the mares.

“Thanks for this. I’ll be back as soon as I can,” I said as I backed out of the room.

Spitfire gave a lazy wave while Fleetfoot waved me away happily. Once I was out of the office, I looked at the top paper again to make sure what my destination was. My first stop was at Shining Armor’s office. I couldn’t really understand why this paperwork had to be sent to his office. He was the Captain of the Guard, but he did live with Princess Cadence, co-ruling the Crystal Empire. Celestia probably saw no need to get a new Captain yet since it was probably easy to get him to come from the Crystal Empire to Canterlot.

As I walked through the hallway, I passed the few guards that didn’t really like my presence. I could hear their quiet whispers, but I couldn’t make out what they were saying. I had a few ideas of what it could be, but continued on. I walked through the large castle, taking a few shortcuts to get to Shining’s office quicker. I reached his office and started leafing through the papers until the destination location stopped saying his name. Taking those papers, I stuffed them into the plastic box next to his door and looked at my next location.

My next stop was the culinary section, and I really wished not to go there. The chefs here were able to understand my unique diet, but they had to hire a griffon to cook my meat. I offered them that I could go without meat, but they assured me that everything was fine. None of the pony chefs really disliked me, but conversation was tough to have when their mind understood what I could eat. I easily made my way to the culinary wing, and began leafing through the papers again. My next stop was the throne room, and I was kind of happy to go there.

My eagerness might have been a little much as I took the quickest route to the throne room. If I remembered correctly, Twilight should be looking over the day court right now. Celestia, Luna, or Cadence would be there as well to teach Twilight what her responsibilities entailed. She did have a castle of her own, but since she lived in a small town, she never really got to have many court meetings. Twilight was eager at first to learn something new, but after seeing how the court worked, she really wished she was back at her castle.

As I continued to walk to the throne room, I looked through my papers to see what my possible last stop was. I read the destination and it was actually on my way back to the throne room. I made few left turns, heading down the trainee wing. I saw Spitfire and Fleetfoot’s office up ahead and picked up my pace. As I neared their office, I caught the ending of Spitfire’s conversation.

“… job here?!” Spitfire yelled angrily.

“He needed a job, and even though we don’t really need an assistant, we need to keep an eye on him,” Fleetfoot explained, but her tone was different. Instead of the happy tone that I was used to, it was flat, uncaring about whoever this topic was about. The painful part was that I knew exactly who they were talking about.

“Then we could have gotten him a job somewhere else,” Spitfire retorted.

“What would we do if he ended up hurt during that job? He needs to be kept safe so we can keep getting that monthly allowance for housing him,” Fleetfoot explained, her voice still remaining flat.

“I don’t remember signing up to be a babysitter. He seems to be able to take care of himself,” Spitfire shot back.

“I’m not risking a chance with him getting hurt! If he ends up in the hospital by anypony, not including the time you did, we are going to be in a lot of trouble! We’re already dealing with enough problems as it is!” I jumped back a little as I heard Fleetfoot yell. I didn’t think she had such a strong voice for yelling, but then again she was friends with Spitfire.

“I understand that we have a few problems, but he’s shown that he’s smart enough to take care of himself,” Spitfire said, her voice a little more calm to avoid a yelling match with her friend.

“Look, I’m not entirely happy about having to look after him myself. All we have to do is make sure that he’s safe and healthy. As long as he stays that way, then we don’t have to worry about anything else. I’m ready to lose my bucking mind at having to fake kindness towards him, and your antics aren’t helping,” I could hear Fleetfoot panting heavily.

Things were quiet in the office. I wanted to go see if they were fine, but after hearing what they thought about me, I really didn’t see a need to. I gripped the papers for their office tightly, the paper crumpling under my harsh grip. Being careful to make sure they didn’t hear me, I placed the papers into their bin and headed for the throne room. I fought back my tears as I walked past a few friends, ignoring their cheerful greetings. I was about ready to have an outburst, but of what kind, I wasn’t sure. I needed some form of comfort, and it would only seem I would get it from maybe one of my true friends.

I reached the throne room, placing the papers into the bin and standing outside. The two guards looked at each other before looking back at me. The guard on the left opened the door, gesturing me to enter. I was able to keep my anger in check as I gave her a slight nod. The guard returned my nod, closing the door behind me when I entered. I looked at the two thrones and I was glad to see who was here. Twilight was sitting in Celestia’s throne, bored out of her mind as was Luna. The two alicorns looked at the throne room door, and when they saw me, they perked up quickly.

Twilight jumped from her throne, galloping towards me as fast as she could. She apparently decided that galloping wasn’t fast enough, so she jumped to the air and used her wings to propel her faster. Thankfully, I was more prepared for this flying hug than the others before it. I spread my arms open, planting my feet firmly in the ground as the lavender mare shot towards me. As she neared me, her hooves quickly went around my neck as I wrapped my arms around her back. Twilight gave a soft nuzzle to my cheek as she sighed happily in our embrace. I heard a loud pop next to me and felt Luna offer a hug of her own.

The three of us enjoyed the shared embrace a few seconds before we finally let go, Twilight’s excited voice already making me smile. “Mark, it’s so great to see you. How’ve you been since we last saw each other?”

My happiness died as quickly as it arrived as I tried to think of the best answer. “It has been going pretty well. I actually got a job not too long ago.” I rubbed the back of my neck nervously, unsure how I want to talk about what I just heard.

Hearing that I got a job made Luna smile as she joined in the conversation. “You must tell me where you work. I have all sorts of pranks to plan out now that you’ve found a job.”

I could only shake my head a Luna’s antics. “I’m actually working for Spitfire and Fleetfoot as their assistant.”

Twilight seemed to explode with excitement while I noticed Luna gave a slight wince. There was something I was missing from the way Luna reacted and how Spitfire and Fleetfoot spoke about my housing condition. I wished to speak with Twilight a little more, but apparently there was an appointment. I saw the noble walk in, and Twilight gave a slight eye roll as she went back to the throne. Luna was about to join, but I stopped her with a hand on her back. She looked back at me as I gestured for her to come off to the side.

Luna nodded as she turned around and followed me to one of the ornate columns. Luna gave a confused look as I looked around the throne room. It didn’t seem anyone was really listening, but I had to make sure.

Once I finished looking around, I spoke to Luna with a calm tone. “What’s wrong with me working as an assistant for those two mares?”

“There’s nothing wrong with you working for Spitfire and Fleetfoot as their assistant. I’m very happy that you were able to find a job with them.” Luna had many years to build a perfect poker face, but the wince she gave before was all I needed to know something wasn’t right.

I pinched the bridge of my nose, refusing to run around in a circle for an answer. “Look, I already spoke to Celestia and she gave me somewhat of an answer. There’s apparently something going on if you wince about me working for them. Now, please, just tell me what’s wrong with me working for them.”

Luna gave a soft frown as she looked at me. She never really liked to upset her friends, especially keeping a secret from them, but she had her reasons sometimes. “I really wish I could tell you, Mark. Spitfire and Fleetfoot are wonderful mares, but I can’t give you the answers. The only ones that could would be those two mares.”

I let out a heavy breath as I ran a hand through my hair. I was only given another ambiguous answer and I didn’t want to pull the information from her. The princesses and Twilight’s friends would probably be the only ones that I would trust to give me the truth if I ever asked a question. Nodding to Luna, I stepped aside so she could join Twilight. She offered me another frown as she trotted for the other alicorn. I followed behind Luna, watching the noble leave so I could say goodbye to Twilight.

Once the stallion was gone and the heavy golden doors closed, Twilight turned to me with a bright smile again. “Sorry about that, but I’m glad to hear that you got a job with Spitfire and Fleetfoot. I’m afraid that we will have to cut this meeting short as I have a few more appointments after that one.” Twilight gave a small frown at not being able to talk.

I ruffled the lavender mare’s mane a little as I offered her a smile. “Don’t worry, Twi. It’s not like I’m going anywhere anytime soon. You’re free to stop by if you ever want to chat.”

Twilight playfully batted my hand away as I stood up. She busied herself with fixing her mane as I gave Luna a hug. Luna gave a little more force behind her hug, hoping to make me feel a little better. I returned her intense hug with one of my own. Luna gave a few pats to my back before finally releasing me. I’m sure she didn’t mean it, but she may have hugged me a little too tightly. I felt my spine pop as I turned towards the golden doors, heading towards them so I could find the garden and relax in the rain.

As I neared the door, a loud echoing of hooves clopping against tile was heard. I turned to see Twilight galloping towards me. I raised a brow as she seemed worried about something. I know Luna didn’t say anything about what we talked about, so I was curious to see what had Twilight all flustered. The lavender mare came to a skidding halt in front of me, her horn glowing its dark purple aura.

“Before you go, Mark, I need something from you,” Twilight said as she tried to get her breath back.

I looked at Twilight curiously as I lowered myself to my knees so we could see each other eye to eye. “What do you need?”

Twilight hovered over a plastic cup and I knew exactly what it was for. “I’m going to need a sample at some point.” Twilight gave a wide grin as she placed the cup in my hand.

My expression became flat as I stared at Twilight. “Really, Twilight? You need me to give you sample after I’ve given you at least twenty so far?”

Twilight gave a loud gasp at my words, her eyes going wide like I stabbed one of her favorite books. “Of course I do. I need all the data I can get to see what your body can and can’t do in Equestria.”

I lowered my head, giving a slight shake before looking back up at Twilight. “What are you doing with all of them? Eating them?”

Twilight’s expression turned flat as she stared at me, unamused at my small humor. “You know that I don’t do that. That’s just wrong, and I need them so I can learn more about you.”

I jumped in on the open joke that Twilight left me with. “You know spitters aren’t fun, right?” Twilight became a little flustered before her expression went flat again.

Luna seemed to enjoy my little joke as I could hear her laughing from across the room. “Very funny, Mark. Just get me the sample and drop it whenever you get the chance.”

I gave a mock salute, earning a headshake from Twilight before she pushed me out the door. Her magic enveloped the door, closing it before either guard had a chance to. I gave a few more laughs before turning around and heading for the nearest park. It was still raining outside, so it was nice enough to get some relaxation in. I found the nearest park and walked outside, heading for a bench that was dry. I took a seat on the bench as I watched the rain cover the entire garden, the plants looking very healthy from all the water.

I did nothing as I watched the water fall from the sky, landing on the plants and the ground in front of me. I pocketed the sample cup that Twilight had given me and decided to lay down on the bench. I listened to the water hit the roof and plants, letting my mind wander as I tried to figure out what to do. I really didn’t know what to think of Spitfire and Fleetfoot. I thought that I could possibly become friends with them, but from what I’ve heard, I’m just some sort of annoyance. I rolled to my side so I could watch the rainfall, pushing away the mares’ conversation. I was so distracted by the rainfall that I didn’t hear someone coming up behind me.

I felt a claw poke me in my back. I turned around to be met with a griffoness in a Wonderbolt uniform. The griffoness had dark orange feathers around her body, leading up to her wings where they turned brown. Her neck feathers were white, but the tips were pink. The feathers around her eyes and beak were a deep purple. The colors were easy to recognize as they were the opposite of Razor Wing’s.

“So, you’re the new recruit that’s joining the team?” The griffoness asked as she looked me up and down.

“Sure am. The name’s Mark, and judging by the coloration of your feathers, you must be Steel Wing,” I answered as I extended my hand.

Steel smiled as she gripped my hand with her talon, giving a few hard shakes. “That’s right. I guess you’ve met my sister?”

I smiled as we let go. “I did. Compared to other griffons, she’s really nice.”

Steel smiled as she spoke in a cheery tone. “She better be. Our parents raised us better than to look down on the ponies.” I could hear the dislike she held for those type of griffons.

“Well, I do hope to meet her some more since she’s the only one that sells food that I need,” I said.

“That’s good to hear. Razor likes meeting new ponies and tried to be friendly to them,” Steel explained. The griffoness looked around the park before looking back at me. “Hey, do you mind if we continue this conversation as we walk? I need to change out of my uniform.”

I nodded to the griffoness, gesturing for her to lead the way. Steel walked forward, already starting to take off some of her uniform. Once she had the zipper down, she pulled her wings out of the holes and gave them a few flaps to stretch them out.

“If they make these uniforms any tighter, I’m afraid I’m going to have to find a way to make a censor bar real,” Steel spoke openly.

The way she said that caused my cheeks to flush a little. “I take it that these uniforms hug in areas that aren’t really desired?”

The griffoness turned to me, smiling as she spoke. “Exactly. I don’t have anything against my body. I just don’t want to be showing off.”

I nodded to Steel’s explanation, understanding exactly what she meant. I remembered that I had a question about the Wonderbolts and Steel seemed like she could give me an answer. “Hey, which part of the Wonderbolts are you with?”

“You have the main Wonderbolts that are led by Spitfire and Fleetfoot. They do the more big shows around Equestria while I, which I belong to the secondary unit, do some of the smaller shows,” Steel explained as we rounded a corner, nearing one of the changing rooms.

I nodded my head at Steel’s explanation. “That makes sense. If the entire main unit went to every show, then they would end up tiring themselves out and getting hurt.”

Steel nodded at my assumption. “We’re actually just as famous as the main unit, but just in those smaller areas. We do get to switch off every so often so we all have a chance to be at different shows.”

We reached the changing rooms and Steel headed to go inside. Her talon was placed on the door before it fell to the ground. She turned around to face me, a smile on her face. “It’s nice to know that you’re also staying with Spitfire and Fleetfoot. Those two mares are really great to hang around.”

“Oh, are they?” I said sarcastically.

My sarcasm wasn’t lost on the griffoness as she hung her head down, shaking it at me. “I take it that you’ve heard their rougher side?” I nodded. “Believe me when I say don’t take it personally. Those two have a lot to deal with than most ponies know about. Just give them some time and you’ll see that they’re not so bad.”

“Sure,” I said with a slight eye roll.

Steel saw me roll my eyes and punched me in the leg. “I’m serious. Those two really aren’t as bad as they seem. If they weren’t dealing with their own problems, I’m pretty sure the three of you would be good friends.”

After that, Steel turned around quickly and entered the changing room. I rubbed the spot of my leg that she punched before walking away. I didn’t really have a set way to go, so I decided to just walk around. The halls were quiet as the maids turned in for the night, the Lunar Guards taking up posts around the castle. I was headed back to Spitfire’s office when a maid trotted up to me.

Her smile was warm as she greeted me, giving the same bow that every other maid gave. “Hello, Mark. I’m here to take you to your room so you can turn in.”

I raised a brow at the mare. “Why am I staying at the castle?”

The maid looked up at me, her smile never faltering. “The storm is about to get strong again, so Luna requested that you and the mares stay here tonight. Spitfire and Fleetfoot have already been escorted to their rooms for the evening. Shall I take you to your room?”

I stood in place as I scratched my chin in thought. Bed sounded like a nice thing to have right now so I could sleep and figure out what I’m going to do. I nodded to the mare and gestured for her to lead the way. The maid gave another bow as she trotted past me and I followed behind her. The mare seemed to know her way around the castle as she led me the quickest way to my old bedroom. We arrived at my room and the maid gave a small curtsy before heading off for her own room.

I moved towards my bed, a huge yawn escaping me as I kicked my shoes to the side. I sat on the edge of the bed, throwing my shirt to the side and sliding under the covers. Sleep would help me figure out how to handle my current situation, and if I was lucky, I might be able to speak with Luna. It wouldn’t be about anything that’s going on, but just a way of just catching up and talking.

Several Hours Later

I let out a heavy sigh as I rolled onto my side, trying to find a way to get comfortable in my bed. It was nice to sleep in my old bed at the castle, but it seemed really empty without my usual stuff in here. The conversation that Fleetfoot and Spitfire had still spun around in my head, causing me to give a small frown. I thought that I wasn’t hurt by what Fleetfoot said, but I guess I really had hoped that she cared about me. It seemed like I was back at square one at trying to figure out these mares.

I don’t know what was really compelling me to try and befriend these two mares. I could leave whenever I wanted and find another place to live, but I could either end up in three different situations. The first situation would be that everything would be better than what I’m dealing with. The second situation was that everything would stay the same, only causing the cycle to repeat entirely again. The final one would turn out worse than now, and I probably would never leave the castle again.

Those scenarios probably weren’t the only reasons why I’m trying so hard. My determination was pushed forward by Celestia’s and Luna’s ambiguous answers, along with my want to see what exactly the mares had a problem with me specifically. Staring at the ceiling a little more determined, I found a spare clock and set it to the appropriate time. I was going to show these mares that I’m not what they think I am and I’m fully capable of doing any of the work they would give me. Once I had my alarm set for the early training session, I set the clock on the shelf above my bed and closed my eyes to get some sleep.

Author's Note

I've made four references in this chapter, and if you can point all four of them out, then you're awesome.

Fun Fact: Scientists say that indigo is no longer part of the rainbow.

Flying Pains

Fleeting Flames
By: Duelist96
Chapter 4: Flying Pains

I woke up to the sound of my alarm going off, and I remembered why I never really had one when I stayed in the castle. Alarm clocks in Equestria were annoyingly loud. I could have it set to play whatever news station was on at the moment, but I wasn’t really sure how. This only left me with the good old buzzer sound, but that only made the situation much worse. Thanks to the magic crystal that helped power the infernal machine, it also helped to make the alarm sound. Instead of waking up to a normal beep like I was used to, it turned into a loud hum.

The hum wouldn’t have been so bad if I had remembered to turn down the volume a little. Once the alarm started going off, I was wide awake. I tried to turn off the alarm as fast as I could, but I couldn’t do it because of the loud hum that it was giving off. Using only one last solution that could solve most alarm problems, I chucked it at the wall. Thankfully, the clock broke on impact, and I could take a second to relax. I laid in bed for several seconds, my heart hammering in my chest as I tried to take in my surroundings.

I left the curtains on my window open so the small amount of light that would come in could give light to my room. Rubbing my face, I rolled out of bed. I was only half dressed and as I neared the dresser, I remembered that I didn’t have any clothes. I sighed heavily as I hit my head lightly on the dresser. I could try to do a quick wash for my clothes in the shower, but it wouldn’t get rid of the stench entirely. Plus I would have to wait a while for them to dry I was about to take a quick shower and hopefully head back home to get a fresh pair of clothes when someone knocked on the door.

There were only a few ponies that would be up this early in the morning and I went to see if it was either one of them. I ignored my shirt on the floor, not really caring how I was seen from the waist up since most of these ponies have seen my entire nude form before. Giving a huge yawn, I opened the door to allow whoever was standing outside to enter. I didn’t even need to open my eyes to know who entered the room. The sound of her joyful trot, the smell of her vanilla shampoo, and her motherly humming gave it all away.

“Morning… Celestia,” I greeted between a yawn.

“Good morning, Mark. I trust you had a wonderful night’s rest?” Celestia asked happily.

I rubbed the back of my neck, my mind still asleep and unable to filter what I was saying. “I wish I had slept great. I didn’t get to see Luna at all to talk with her more, and I’m about ready to lose it with those two mares.” Once I registered what I had said, I looked at Celestia with wide eyes.

The cat was out of the bag and I was starting to freak out. I tried to say something to hopefully avoid any incident, but she stopped me by raising a hoof. Her calm gaze became a little serious, but she spoke with a caring tone. “Twilight has already told me about your job with Spitfire and Fleetfoot. I’ve also finished the paperwork to show that you work with them. Luna has also mentioned that you seemed a little off when you spoke with her privately.”

My only response was a groan as I rubbed at my eyes. I could continue with some sort of lie to make it seem as if everything was okay, but I was just getting tired. “Of course I’m a little off. Kind of hard to keep a cheerful attitude when you overhear someone insulting you.” My voice was raised a little bit, but I needed to release this energy before causing another incident.

Celestia gave a soft frown, her voice quiet as she placed a hoof on my shoulder for comfort. “I’m sorry to hear that, Mark. Why didn’t you say anything earlier?”

I moved away from Celestia’s hoof, moving towards the bed and sitting on the edge. “I didn’t say anything because I didn’t really think anything of it. I had my suspicions, but I wanted to hope that I was possibly overthinking it.” I fell back on the bed, staring at the ceiling as I heard Celestia come closer to me.

Celestia sat on her haunches, her eyes showing concern as she continued to speak in her motherly tone. “May I ask specifically what you heard them talking about?”

I let out a loud groan, making sure Celestia knew how frustrated I was. Sure, I was ready to try and face these mares, but after saying something I kept buried, I had to explain myself. “It was the end of whatever their conversation was. They mentioned something about getting a monthly allowance for housing me. Fleetfoot even admitted to not really liking me at all. They’re only looking after me just to make sure I don’t get hurt.”

I sat up from my bed so I could look Celestia in the eyes. “What exactly am I signed up for?”

Celestia looked away for a second, her features showing concerned as she pondered something. Silence filled the space for a few seconds before the alicorn turned towards me. “I’m sorry that I didn’t tell you this sooner, Mark, but I wasn’t sure how you would’ve handled it. Please understand that I wouldn’t have let it gone this far if I had paid more attention earlier.” Celestia looked at me with very sad eyes, her mistake weighing heavily on her shoulders.

I gestured for Celestia to continue, curious as to exactly what she was talking about. I needed to know the full story before possibly yelling at her and creating a fifth incident. Celestia looked between me and the window, her face scrunched in thought.

After a few seconds, she turned back to me, her expression hopeful as she spoke. “Do you mind if we go get something to eat? I promise that it will just be me and you in the dining hall.”

I crossed my arms as I gave it some thought. I was getting kind of hungry and Celestia would make sure that our conversation would remain private if I wanted it to be. Getting up from the bed, Celestia let a small smile appear as she stood up. I nodded to her and gestured for her to lead the way to the kitchen.

We neared the door before she stopped and turned towards me. “I almost forgot the other reason I came here.”

I raised a brow in confusion at what she meant. Her horn glowed its signature golden aura and she summoned a pair of clothes. She floated the clothes over to me, and I accepted them. Giving a small nod to the mare, I went to the bathroom to change. I was only gone for a few seconds before coming out of the bathroom in clean clothes. I threw my dirty clothes with my shirt that was on the ground. Celestia didn’t seem to mind as she smiled and headed for the door again. Neither the princess nor I said anything as we walked to the dining hall.

I gave my greetings to the few maids and guards that were going about the castle, going straight to work. It wasn’t long before we finally reached the dining hall. Celestia opened the door and allowed me to enter first. She closed the door behind her, erecting a sound proof barrier around it. I sat at the middle of the table, wanting to at least eat something before continuing my conversation with Celestia. I was expecting Celestia to sit at the head of the table like usual, but I guess today was a different kind of day.

I wasn’t sure if it was because she was feeling sympathy for me, or if she wanted to make sure I was fine, but she sat next to me. The next thing that surprise me was that she removed most of her royal regalia. I’ve only seen the princesses a few times without their regalia, and that was only because they were either relaxing while off duty or in their bedrooms preparing for sleep. I didn’t bother pushing the princess away, her presence not entirely unwelcome. I heard the princess let out a soft sigh of comfort, glad to be free of her regalia. I couldn’t blame her. All the jewelry that she possessed was heavier than she made it look.

I was pulled from staring at her bare form as the doors to the kitchen opened. The pony and griffon chef walked out, coming towards us to take our orders. Neither the pony or griffon said anything about Celestia without her regalia, so I could assume this wasn’t the first time she took it off during a meal. Celestia ordered two fruit parfaits and a cup of coffee. I ordered some sausage and bacon, needing something delicious to help ease my mind. The two chefs nodded before walking back to the kitchen and starting on our food.

Celestia didn’t say anything, allowing the silence I kind of wished for. She gave a motherly smile as she stretched out in her seat, a wing draping over my back. Her soft feathers and warm aura helped calm me a little. I hadn’t even realized I was tense until Celestia started moving her wing up and down my back. I closed my eyes as I breathed softly, hoping to keep some of my cool until we started the conversation and I go back to yelling about everything. The chefs returned from the kitchen with platters on their backs as they came towards us. They deposited the platters on the table in front of us, pulling the lids off.

Steam rose from my plate of meat, my mouth watering at the succulent meal. The pony and griffon bowed to the princess before going back to the kitchen. Once they were in the kitchen, Celestia silently erected another barrier over the kitchen door. The alicorn took a few seconds to make sure she had everything covered, moving on to her meal once everything was secured. Celestia hummed happily as she ate her parfait, her small smile turning into a bright and warm one as she enjoyed her food. I couldn’t resist my own hum of pleasure as I bit into my sausage. The juices and flavor of the meat filling my mouth as I enjoyed the delightful taste.

Celestia started on her second parfait, looking at the doors to see if anyone was about to come in before turning to me slightly. “I would firstly like to apologize for letting things get so out of hoof.” Celestia looked at me with slight worry.

I gave a gentle scratch to the mare’s neck to show that I accepted her apology. She gave a small sigh at my fingers scratching her neck before continuing. “I can’t tell you why they took you in because it does relate to personal issues. I can, however, tell you about the whole monthly payment deal.” I nodded as I started chewing on my bacon.

“Finding somepony to house you was actually quite difficult. There were some that were willing to house you, but it just wasn’t a safe environment for you. Luna and Twilight were at a loss about what to do with you as well. We actually feared that we wouldn’t be able to get you somewhere to stay.” Celestia’s smile turned into a frown as she thought back to that day.

“That is until you found Spitfire and Fleetfoot,” I added, filling in what I understood.

“Precisely. I had forgotten that they were looking for somepony to rent their place out to. I went and talked with them about the situation, but I apparently came at a bad time. They were having a few personal issues at the time. One of those you already know about since they’re getting a monthly allowance.” Celestia looked at me to make sure I was still following along.

I nodded my head so she could continue. “They were having a few financial problems that arose because of another problem. I thought they would be good enough mares to look after you, so I promised to give them a monthly payment so they could house you and pay off their financial problem.” Celestia went quiet as she stared into her steaming cup of coffee.

So far, I was getting what she was trying to tell me, but there was still something that was left out. “What about the whole ‘making sure that I stay safe’ agreement?”

Celestia took a sip from her coffee before turning fully to face me. “It was more to protect you from one of their personal problems than anything else. From what I’ve seen so far, the clause shouldn’t be there anymore as that problem has been dealt with. I’ve actually informed them that everything has been settled and they don’t need to keep such a close eye on you.”

I looked back at my empty plate, my head swimming with this new information. I never really thought much about them having some sort of problem, but the pieces to the puzzle were beginning to make sense. Still, it doesn’t entirely excuse their behavior. There was only one question left that I needed an answer to. What problem do they have with me? I didn’t know how deep in thought I was until Celestia pulled me from my thoughts.

Celestia placed a hoof on my shoulder, her delicate wing draping over my back. “I know this is asking for a lot, Mark, and I’ll understand if you choose not to,” Celestia took a deep breath before steeling herself. “Can you find it in your heart to forgive them?”

Celestia’s eyes pleaded that I do, but I wasn’t sure if I could. “I don’t know, Celestia. I want to, but after taking a few minutes to think about it, I don’t think I can. If I even want to forgive them, then I need to get some answers.”

Celestia smiled as she gave a few pats to my shoulder. Her horn flared to life again and the sound proof barriers were taken down. Once the barriers were down, the griffon and pony walked out of the kitchen and took away the platters. The pony bowed to Celestia while the griffon shook my hand. The two chefs retreated back into the kitchen and disappeared out of sight. Celestia grabbed her regalia and started to put it on. After she placed her crown on her head, she got up from her chair and headed for the door. Seeing there was nothing left to really do, I got up from my chair to see if Spitfire and Fleetfoot were out training.

The two of us neared the door, but Celestia stopped before opening them. She turned around to face me, her face having a serious expression. “May I offer you some advice?”

“Sure…” I said with slight uncertainty.

Celestia held her air of seriousness as she gave a knowing grin. “Spitfire and Fleetfoot didn’t make it to where they are now by being soft. If you want those answers, you’re going to have to stop avoiding conflict. Make yourself assertive and show that you’re tough.”

I raised a brow in confusion. “What are you trying to get at?”

Celestia turned back to the door, leaving as she spoke. “I never had to pick Spitfire and Fleetfoot to look after you. If everything works out, you will get along very well, but that’s only if you’re still willing to live with them.”

Celestia left through the door, leaving me very confused. I was ready to leave for the mares when I decided to act on Celestia’s advice. Opening the door, I ran down the hall, chasing after Celestia. It seemed she planned this very scenario as she slowed her trot so I could catch up with her. I ran past her, stopping a couple feet in front of her. Celestia smiled up at me as she waited for what I had to say.

I held a serious expression, pointing an accusatory finger. “What plan are you plotting?”

Celestia’s smile never faltered. “I’m looking after my friends that could use extra friendship, but if you wish to leave, then I’ll see to it that you’re moved back here.”

I was still confused about what she was trying to get at. “Stop making me run in circles. What exactly are you trying to get out of this? Why are you keeping secrets from me that only seem to make the situation worse?”

I seemed to have asked the right questions as Celestia sat down, speaking in a lecturing tone. “Mark, you need to remember that you haven’t been the only human here. Each human has gone through something similar, but have all had varied results. They do reach the same conclusion in the end as they find happiness.”

I lowered my finger as I stood up straight. “So is this supposed to be some sort of lesson?”

Celestia nodded her head as she smiled brightly at me. “Exactly. There is only so much that you can be taught from my sister, myself, Cadence and Shining, or Twilight and her friends. Twilight had the same problem, but she finally learned everything on her own, away from books. You need to learn things that we can’t teach you, and the secrets were to see how you react.”

I stood in front of Celestia, dumbfounded at her explanation. She did all of this just so I could learn more about pony society. I wasn’t sure what she was trying to teach me exactly, but I guess that was for me to find out. I looked at Celestia, nodding to her as I stepped to the side. Celestia trotted past me, stopping to give me a quick hug. I happily returned her hug, returning the small nuzzle that she was giving me.

As Celestia pulled away, she whispered something in my ear that confused me. “Just remember, interspecies dating and marriage is allowed here.”

Once Celestia was on her hooves, she trotted back to the throne room. I stood stock still at her statement, confused over what she was trying to get at. I was aware that interspecies dating and marriage was allowed, so I wasn’t sure why she reminded me of this. There was absolutely no way that any creature in Equestria was interested in me, except for Lyra, but we easily established our boundaries. Plus, it would be awkward having sex with something that barely reached my waist.

Shrugging at Celestia’s statement, I turned away from her, heading for the practice field. I took the long path to the practice field, needing time to process everything Celestia and I talked about. Even though I was still slightly scared of how badly Spitfire could hurt me, Celestia was right. I needed to stop avoiding confrontation like I always did so I can get my answers. It wasn’t going to be a fun confrontation, but it had to be done. I also thought about pulling Fleetfoot into the conversation, and ultimately decided I was going to.

As I continued my walk, I ran into Steel Wing. The griffoness saw me walking and flew over to me. The griffoness landed next to me, joining me on my walk. She smiled up at me as I gave a small wave. The two of us walked in silence, enjoying the familiar company of each other. Steel Wing was dressed in her form fitting outfit, something I wasn’t entirely thrilled to see. It wasn’t that I didn’t find her attractive, but I really didn’t want to make is seem like I was ogling her or having perverted thoughts.

I was pulled from my musings when Steel spoke. “See something you like?” Steel stretched her body a little, showing how tightly the uniform hugged her body.

My cheeks burned lightly, and it wasn’t lost on the griffoness. “Must you be so sexually crude? I’m not interested in you like that.”

Steel gave a hearty laugh as she turned around, walking backwards as she looked up at me. “I do it because I’m such a tease. You also don’t have to worry about me jumping you. My wife wouldn’t like that.”

I raised a brow at the griffoness. “You’re married, but she allows you to walk around, teasing everyone that you meet?”

Steel continued to laugh as she turned to face forward. “I only tease the ones that I know I’ll get a reaction from. You’re literally too easy.”

I rubbed at my temples, fighting back an oncoming headache. “Please tell me your sister isn’t anything like this. I really don’t need that kind of tension when shopping around.”

Steel was able to get her laughter under control, wiping away a tear that had formed. “You don’t have to worry about that. Razor likes to be the kind and caring griffoness. That’s not to say that I’m not the same, but I like to have a little fun sometimes.”

We took a left as we started to near the practice field. “Do you not find you sister fun?” From my one interaction with Razor, she seemed like she could be fun.

Steel shook her head at my question. “That’s not what I’m saying at all. She’s the best sister I could ask for. She knows her limitations on fun and helps me because I don’t know when to stop. Probably doesn’t help since my wife acts the same way.” There was a small hint of laughter behind Steel’s tone.

“Who exactly is your wife?” I asked with a raised brow.

Steel went to answer my question, but I felt something jump onto my back, screaming loudly into my ear. “SURPRISE!”

I did the only sensible action that any human would do when facing the unknown. I dove to the ground, screaming loudly. “Holy fuck! What was that?!”

Whatever was on my back let go. I heard the sound of wings flapping before the clopping of hooves on tile. Steel was having a great laugh at my expense as I laid on the floor, looking for who jumped me. I looked forward to see a pair of white hooves. My eyes traveled up the legs to see the pony in front of me had a white coat. Her mane and tail were very poofy like Pinkie’s, but the difference was in their color. The white pony in front of me was a pegasus, as I noticed her wings, and she had a mane and tail color that was blond. Her eyes were a light purple like Fleetfoot’s and she had a wide grin.

I slowly got to me feet, and when my beating heart had finally calmed, I spoke. “Who is this?” I asked as I pointed to the mare.

Steel was clutching her sides as she roared with laughter. “She’s… my wife.” Steel answered between laughs.

I looked at the pony with a raised brow before crouching and extending my hand. “Hello. What’s your name?”

The pegasus gave a bright smile as she took my hand and shook it like Pinkie did when she first met me. Looks like I’ll be going to the hospital for a dislocated shoulder. “Surprise.”

I looked between the pony shaking my hand and Steel, waiting for a name. “Yes, you did surprise me, but I would like to know your name.”

Steel recovered from her laughing fit, but remained on floor as she gasped for breath. “That’s her… name… silly.”

My expression fell flat as I looked at the mare. “Of course it is.”

Surprise started giggling as she spoke. “Why else would I yell my name?”

“Maybe to give me a heart attack. I nearly have them every time Pinkie visits, I don’t need a second one doing it.” This caused Surprise to stop giggling as she stared at me with wide eyes.

The pegasus stepped closer, her eyes wide as dinner plates as she started to shake my leg. “You know my cousin Pinkie?”

My eyes went wide when she put ‘cousin’ and ‘Pinkie’ in the same sentence. I just couldn’t comprehend there being a second Pinkie, so I had to make sure. “You’re really related to Pinkie?”

Surprise raised her hoof, shaking it in between like a human would. “Kind of. I’ve been removed and put back in several times.”

I honestly wasn’t surprised by this. One Pinkie is bad enough, and I remember Twilight telling me about the mirror pool incident where there were hundreds of Pinkies. I could only think about how many parties were probably thrown as each Pinkie greeted the new one. No wonder party stores in Equestria are able to stay in business. I took a calming breath as Steel finally stood up and brought Surprise into a deep kiss.

“Thanks for that, Surprise. I don’t think I could have gotten him out of that funk any better,” Steel said as she gave another peck to Surprise’s lips.

I shook my head from everything related to Pinkie and looked towards Steel Wing. “What ‘funk’ was I in?”

“This awkward funk that you were in since I joined you in walking to the practice field. I don’t know what has you so down, but anypony can see it from a mile away,” Steel said with a knowing grin.

I rubbed my temples as I closed my eyes. “It’s a lot of things, Steel. I’ve got a lot on my mind and I need to talk with Spitfire and Fleetfoot.”

Surprise gave a loud gasp as she floated up to my face. “Oh my gosh. I forgot to welcome you to the team. Welcome to the team, Mark, and I hope we have lots of fun together.”

I smiled at the mare’s antics as I petted her mane. “Thanks, Surprise. Are you part of the Wonderbolts as well?”
Surprise nodded her head enthusiastically. “Of course I am. I’m part of Spitfire’s team.”

“Any reason why you aren’t in uniform for practice?” I asked with a raised brow.

Surprise giggled at my question. “That’s because I’m on maternity leave, silly.”

I gave the mare a confused look as I leaned to the side to look at her belly. It show no signs of expansion, but then I remembered her relation to Pinkie. This actually raised a question for me as I remembered she was married to Steel Wing. “How are you pregnant?”

Surprise seemed really excited to talk about it. “Well, you see, there’s this spell that Cadence knows-”

I immediately cut the mare off, having a good idea where she was going. “Never mind, forget that I asked. I get the picture and it’s very disturbing.”

Steel Wing gave a small nod of her head. “You have no idea how weird it was.”

“I think I can make a few guesses,” I said as I tried to burn the image of Steel Wing and Surprise together out of my mind.

Surprise poked my shoulder a few times to get my attention. “I’m not sure if this information is helpful to you, but Cadence has been teaching Twilight a spell that can help with interspecies breeding.”

I honestly had no idea what to do with that information. “Thanks, I guess. Not really sure where that’s going to play in my life, but I guess it’s good to know.”

Surprise smiled as she floated towards her wife. The pegasus whispered something into the griffoness’ ear before kissing her on the cheek and flying away. Steel waved goodbye to the pegasus before gesturing for us to continue walking. The griffoness seemed to have an extra spring in her step, and it probably had something to do with what Surprise said. I gave a small chuckle at how cheerful the griffoness was acting.

My chuckle wasn’t lost on her as she turned her head to look at me. “What’s so funny?”

I got my laughter under control as I gave a small shrug of my shoulders. “Nothing, but you seem really happy compared to when we first started.

Steel seemed to get a little embarrassed as she controlled her walk. “I’m just happy that Surprise was able to get you out of your funk. I may also be a very excited mother as well.”

I gave a playful grin as I pressed for more. “Does it have something to do with the baby?”

Steel gave a warm laugh as she smiled. “Surprise is actually having twins. A colt and a filly. The colt is actually a griffon and the filly is a pegasus.”

I smiled as I patted the griffoness’ back. “Well, congratulations! I hope you, Surprise, and your children have a happy life together.”
Steel stopped in her walk, rearing on her back legs and giving me a quick hug. “You have no idea how happy I am. We weren’t sure how our children would turn out. Surprise wanted a pegasus, and I wanted a griffon. We really lucked out that we got what we both wanted.”

I could feel a few tears damp my shirt as the griffoness let loose a few tears. I returned Steel’s hug with a caring one. We held each other for a couple of seconds before Steel finally let go and dropped to the floor. I didn’t press for any more conversation, letting the griffoness enjoy the wonderful news. We finally reached the practice field and went our separate ways. Steel went to another group of Wonderbolts and guards that were going on after Spitfire and Fleetfoot’s show. I looked up to see the two mares flying around, practicing a few tricks. Fleetfoot noticed me and waved.

I gave a small wave back, not really feeling up to actually giving one that meant something. Seeing the mares were busy, I went to a bench that had a box filled with paper. Guessing that was something for me to work on, I headed for the bench to get started. I moved the bench under a nearby tree so I could get some shade as I grabbed at a few papers. There was nothing much to the paperwork. Most of the papers were either reminders of performances, payments needed to be made to the other Wonderbolts, and a few recruits up for review.

Grabbing the pen in the box, I gave one final look into the sky to see Spitfire directing the guards. Seeing that she and Fleetfoot were busy with their own thing, I went to signing the papers. I went through the recruit paperwork first since there was only a handful. Most of the recruits were trying out for the Wonderbolts and needed to go through an audition before moving on to the academy. Finishing off the reviews, I moved on to the performance reminders. I looked at the dates of the planned shows, comparing them to a calendar in the box to make sure everything was set up accordingly.

Seeing there were no conflictions and that everything was set in stone, I placed those papers with the reviews. I looked at was left of the paperwork and sighed at how much there was. I was probably only through a quarter of all the paperwork and still had much to do. Looking up to the sky, I saw a few other Wonderbolts join Spitfire and Fleetfoot in their practice runs. Sighing heavily, I went back to work. Grabbing the first paper, I skimmed over its contents. It wasn’t anything overly too hard, but it was more math than I was really wanting to deal with. Grabbing my pen and a piece of scratch paper, I started to balance their payments.

A few hours had passed as I got through half of the payment papers. My hand ached from all the writing that I was doing, but thankfully I had a chance to relax. A maid brought me a tray of food that contained a peanut butter sandwich and fries. I thanked the maid as she handed me my food and trotted away to get back to her duties. I looked up from the tray to see Spitfire and Fleetfoot eating with the guards and other Wonderbolts. They all seemed so happy together, that I actually lost my appetite. Pushing my food to the side, I grabbed at the papers and started to work through them again.

I decided that the sooner I could finish, the sooner I could head back to the house and leave without them knowing. I really didn’t need to put up with their awful attitude towards me. An hour went by as I neared the last of the papers, my hand feeling slight relief at the thought of finishing. Spitfire and Fleetfoot were back in the air, this time practicing their own stunts. Taking my eyes away from their spectacular stunts, I grabbed the next paper. Everything seemed normal on payment, until I reached the bottom.

My eyes widened in surprise at how much they owed the Mareiott. “How the hell does someone owe 100,000 bits in damages?”

Putting the paper down, I looked up at the two mares. They were spiraling around each other dangerously close that if they even touched wingtips, they would come crashing down. Shaking my head, I started rifling through the papers. Thankfully, they were all dated when the payments were due and when they were paid off. I looked through the remaining papers until I found one that was the date I had moved out. Skimming through it all, I reached the bottom to see that Celestia had paid off the 100,000 bit fine. Looking between the two papers, I gave a harsh frown. I folded the papers and pocketed them away.

Now I was needing some answers more than anything. I’ve been walking in a very tight circle this entire time, letting others keep me on the path. I stood up from the bench, packing away the other papers as I finally decided to choose my path. Once the papers were packed away, I turned around and headed for the middle of the field. I was so distracted in my own thoughts about how I was going to confront the mares that I didn’t see something flying towards me.

“WATCH OUT!” a Wonderbolt mare yelled at me.

I turned towards the mare with a raised brow, trying to see who she was yelling at. It started to get dark around me, but everything away from the darkness was still glowing with light. Turning towards the direction I was walking, I looked up to see Spitfire and Fleetfoot falling towards the ground. The two mares were coming in fast, their wings and bodies tangled together from a failed execution on one of their tricks. I didn’t move as I stood my ground, arms spread wide. I knew I shouldn’t be doing what I was, but a part of me felt a sense of pride for not turning into a total asshole.

The mares crashed into me, the wind getting knocked out of my system as I wrapped my arms around them. The three of us tumbled on the ground, my body taking most of the damage as we rolled on the ground. The mares hit me with a surprising force as they sent me back into one of the pillars. I felt the impact of the pillar against my back, pain racing up my spine as I gave a loud scream. I could hear the screams of other ponies as they went around looking for someone that could help us. I wasn’t sure what happened next, but I felt a magic aura envelop me before everything went black.

Several Hours Later

Time went by as I saw nothing but blackness. When I finally came to, I took quick note of my surroundings. Through the small amount of candle light I could see I was in a bed, but not a hospital bed. If anything, I was in a regular guest bed in the castle. It clearly wasn’t my room as there wasn’t any shattered remains of my alarm clock, or even my dirty clothes. Slowly sitting up, a small throb of pain ached at my sides. I removed the covers to see there were a few bandages wrapped around my midsection. Groaning as I rolled to my side, I picked up the candle holder and walked towards the window.

I pulled the curtains aside to see that night had come along, and it was still early in the night. Remembering one important detail, I felt around my waist. I gave a relieved sigh as I felt my pants right where they belonged. I moved my hand towards my left pocket to feel the payment papers still there. Pulling out the papers, I unfolded them and held up the candle so I could read through them again. It was still baffling to see how much the mares owed the Mareiott, and then for Princess Celestia to pay it off, I had to know what happened. Breathing deeply, I gave a small wince at the pain that shot through me as I headed for the bed.

As I headed for the soft bed to take a nap, I heard some shuffling. Avoiding the bed, I walked around to see there was another only several feet away from mine. Not far from the second bed was a bathroom. I moved the candle light to the second bed, and froze at what I saw. Spitfire and Fleetfoot were in the bed, their wings slightly bandaged. Spitfire gave a low groan as she tried to flex her wing. Setting the candle light on its stand, I moved closer to the mare. I looked at her wing to inspect the damage, and it didn’t seem terribly bad.

At worst the mare probably suffered a sprain. Looking around the room, I saw a nightstand near the front door, a bottle of pain pills sitting on top. I moved to the nightstand, keeping quiet as to not disturb the mares. I looked at the bottle to see that it was for the two mares and myself. I read the instructions that were labeled on the side of the bottle. Taking out two pills, I placed the bottle on the stand again and headed for the bathroom. I closed the door behind me so I could turn on the light.

My eyes strained as the bright white light burned my retinas. Giving a few blinks, I walked to the sink and looked at my bandaged body. Not really able to see the damage that was done, I decided to go against the doctor’s orders. I started unwrapping the bandages, noticing the large bruise on my back. Seeing where the pain was located at, I gave a few twists and turns. I took note of the pain radiating from my sides and the side edges of the bruise. Giving a few final looks at the bruise, I wrapped the bandages around me again and used the toilet. As my contents were flushed away, I grabbed one of the upside down glasses and filled it with water.

I dropped the pills in the water, watching them bubble up as they dissolved. Taking pills this way was much nicer as I got to avoid choking on the large pills. Grabbing the handle of the door, I opened it and turned the light off as I exited. I walked back towards my bed, but stopped as I watched Spitfire’s form quickly turn on its side. Giving a flat look, I went back to the bathroom and grabbed the small chair that was in there. Ignoring my bed, I walked towards Spitfire and set the chair to the side. I sat in the chair, watching the mare’s side rise and fall as she slept. She actually would have been convincing if her snoring didn’t give it away.

I set the glass on the floor next to me. The mare gave a slight flinch at the glass clinking on the tile. Once the glass was on the ground, I sat up straight in the chair. I didn’t say anything, hoping the quiet would coax the mare to turn around again. A few minutes passed, my back growing sore as I tried to avoid moving. The mare seemed determined to be keep facing away from me. My eyes grew heavy, the pain in my side a dull ache as I tried to keep myself awake. Several minutes passed and the mare still hadn’t moved. Thinking that she probably had fallen asleep, I moved to head for my bed.

I stopped my movement when I saw Spitfire move. Her body turned to its other side, and her eyes met mine. The pegasus’ eyes went wide as she saw me staring at her. Her surprise turned into a small scowl. Spitfire adjusted herself in her bed, wincing a little as she put slight pressure on her wing. After a few seconds of fighting the covers, she was finally comfortable.

She spoke with a slight growl. “What’re you doing watching me?”

I grabbed at the glass next to me, offering it to the mare. “I was waiting for you to stop fake sleeping so I could give you this.”

Spitfire looked at the water quizzically, taking it from my hand as she swirled it around. “You watched me fake sleep so you could give me a glass of water.” Her tone was still harsh, even in her whisper tone.

I held back my anger, trying to keep my voice calm as I explained what I did. “I put some painkillers in there to help with your wing sprain.”

The mare looked at the water again, her gaze showing uncertainty. Seeing that she was probably not going to believe me, I got out of my chair. Spitfire’s eyes followed me as I walked towards the nightstand. I grabbed the bottle and tossed it near her. The pegasus gave a small scowl as she grabbed at the bottle and read the label. Opening the lid, she counted out the painkillers to see two missing. Seeing that I might be possibly telling the truth, she gulped down her water. Once the glass was empty, she placed the bottle inside the glass and set it on the floor. Getting comfortable in her bed a little more, she looked back at me.

“I’m going to sleep now. Just because Fleetfoot and I are injured doesn’t mean you’re free to slack off.” Her voice held authority as she gave me a piercing glare.

I was ready to submit to her slight command, but then Celestia’s advice rang loudly in my head. Steeling my gaze, I walked back to my chair, Spitfire’s eyes following my every move. The pegasus seemed ready to pounce as I sat in the chair. I didn’t look up for a few seconds, but when I did, Spitfire flinched a little. I don’t know how many ponies have ever given a harsh look at Spitfire, but I could assume it wasn’t many. Her gaze held up though, even after her little flinch, as she waited.

“How’s your wing doing?” I wanted to start a little casual conversation before laying into her.

“It’s just a light sprain. Those painkillers and a good night’s rest is all I need before I’m back in the air again,” Spitfire said as she gave a cocky grin.

I nodded my head as I picked up the glass. “That’s good to hear. I was a little worried that the damage was a little more serious than that.” I wasn’t entirely lying, but my anger outweighed most of my worry.

Spitfire gave a nonchalant wave of her hoof. “We’ve had worse.” Spitfire made to try and get some sleep, but I stopped her.

“May I ask you a question?” I asked as I reached for the papers in my pocket.

“You already did. Now go to bed,” Spitfire said with slight annoyance.

I ignored her as I moved forward in my chair a little, her eyes fixing on me as I closed the distance. “How much are you getting paid for housing me?”

It was a simple little question, but it caused the mare to freeze a little. Her eyes widened in surprise for a few seconds before becoming cold. “Go to bed, Mark.”

The command wasn’t lost on me, but I wasn’t really going to back down. “Not until you answer my questions.”

This seemed to upset Spitfire as she threw her covers off, causing Fleetfoot to stir. Spitfire spoke with a strong, if slightly threatening voice. “This doesn’t concern you. Go to bed and never speak of this again.”

Seeing this was how the mare wanted to play, I put the glass on the floor and stood up from the chair. I crossed my arms over my chest as I glared down at the mare. “I’m not backing down from this, Spitfire. We are going to talk about this, even if this has to turn into a shouting match.”

Fleetfoot gave a loud yawn, causing Spitfire to turn towards her. Her eyes went from me to Spitfire, her sleep addled mind trying to process everything.

“What’s going on here?” Fleetfoot asked as she rubbed at her eyes.

“Nothing you need to concern yourself with, Fleet. Mark was just heading to bed-”

“Don’t you dare pretend this isn’t something that needs to be addressed!” I yelled, causing both mares to look at me.

I never thought it would happen after seven months of living here. All the time I spent with Cadence and Fluttershy to control my temper was finally flushed down the toilet. Spitfire and Fleetfoot looked at me with surprise, probably because they’ve never heard many ponies yell at them before. Their eyes were wide as they breathed softly, my own breathing heavy as my anger just continued to burn. Seeing that my anger was in control of my actions now, I wasn’t going to stop anytime soon.

Grabbing the papers from my pocket, I threw them in front of the mares. “Care to explain to me what this is?”

Fleetfoot grabbed at the papers, quickly looking them over before handing them to Spitfire. Spitfire grabbed at the papers and looked through them. The golden mare’s eyes went wide as she set the papers down. She looked up at me with a mixture of emotions. Anger, surprise, and confusion all passed by quickly, but a few were more intent on staying. Regret, sadness, and guilt painted the new features on Spitfire’s face. Spitfire shook her head before hardening her gaze again and looking at me.

“Get out!” Spitfire yelled, pointing a hoof at the door. “Get out before I decide to kick your flank out the window!”

I stood my ground as Fleetfoot rolled to her hooves, grabbing Spitfire by the side as she stroked her mane. I refused to move, looking at Spitfire with my own glare that told her I wasn’t leaving.

“I want answers to my questions. I’ve put up with your crap for five days, and this is the quickest I’ve lost my temper after learning to control it.” I lowered my arms to look less threatening, but my glare remained. “What happened at the Mareiott that caused you to deal 100,000 bits worth of damage?”

Fleetfoot held Spitfire closer to her chest as she addressed me. “It’s nothing to worry about, Mark. The payment is squared away and it’s in the past. There’s no reason to open any old wounds.”

I looked Fleetfoot directly in her eyes. Her eyes were pleading that I dropped this, but I needed to know. “If it wasn’t something to worry about, then Celestia wouldn’t have paid it off. I know you saw that other paper. Why exactly is she paying you to look after me after she paid for the damages? Why was such extensive damage caused?” My voice had calmed a little, but still showed my frustration.

Neither mare said anything as they looked at each other and me. They seemed to be having some quiet conversation with each other that only years of friendship could form. Spitfire looked down at her bed before looking up at me. Her glare was gone as her eyes now filled with tears. The pegasus seemed so hurt at this moment that I fell back in my chair, letting out a deep sigh as I rubbed my temples. My body shook as I tried one of Cadence’s breathing techniques to clear my mind.

I was pulled from my calm state when Spitfire finally spoke up. “We get paid to look after you because those bits are meant to help take care of you. All that money is stored away for emergency use if we ever need it.”

I looked up at the mare as she wiped away a tear with her hoof. Fleetfoot was stroking her mane, whispering something in the mare’s ear. “So it’s just an emergency fund in case something happens?”

Spitfire nodded her head as Fleetfoot explained a little more. “You’re an exotic creature, Mark. Not trying to say that as an insult or anything, but that’s how you’re labeled. You have extra needs that ponies can easily look over. Clothes, food, and living quarters have to be taken into account to make sure you don’t become sick. Hospital visits are another thing as well since we still aren’t sure what magic and medicine can do to you.”

Spitfire turned her head from Fleetfoot’s chest, looking at me with her tear filled eyes. “None of that money is allowed to be touched unless needed. There is a limit to how much can be stored into that account before we can’t earn anymore. Once it gets spent, and that’s only in case it needs to be for emergency, then we can get more.”

I looked at the two mares, nodding my head slowly at the information. That much made sense to me since even most of the unicorn doctors hesitate to use any medical magic on me. That just left only one thing to be answered. “Why did Celestia have to pay off the 100,000 bits you owe so that you can look after me?”

The two mares looked at each other worriedly before turning to face me. Fleetfoot was about to answer before being stopped by Spitfire. Fleetfoot looked at her friend with worried eyes as the fiery mare looked at me with determination. Spitfire was easily fighting back tears that were threatening to spill forth as she took deep breaths.

After a few seconds to collect herself, Spitfire looked at me with a determined gaze, her voice for once calm instead of annoyed. “The damage that was caused at the Mareiott was my fault.”

I raised a brow at Spitfire as Fleetfoot placed a hoof on her friend’s shoulder. “Are you sure you want to talk about this, Spits? You’re still trying to get over her and I don’t want you having another outburst again.” Fleetfoot’s voice showed her concern as she looked between Spitfire and myself.

Spitfire nodded her head as she continued to look at me. “I have to, Fleet. He’s obviously not going to let it slide, even if he leaves. He deserves to know after how I’ve treated him.”

The room fell silent as I grabbed the glass on the floor. Spitfire watched as I got out of my chair and headed for the bathroom. I wasn’t sure how long this story was going to be, and I wasn’t even sure how much it was going to be painful for her. I filled the glass with water from the sink and headed back to the two mares. Fleetfoot was holding Spitfire’s hoof as she stroke her mane. I offered the fiery pegasus the glass of water and she happily took it. Spitfire took a small sip of her water before setting it on the bed.

“As you saw from the date, the damages to the Mareiott were done around the time you arrived here.” I nodded my head. “For the past couple of years I was dating a unicorn mare. Her name was Ember Glow. I met her after one of my shows and she seemed pretty interesting to hang around. I took notice of her a little more as she appeared at more of my shows. After about the tenth show, I finally went to talk to her.”

“We got to talking and she asked me out for some drinks. I accepted her offer since I wanted to get to know her better. After that, we started going out more. It was casual get-togethers, but after a couple of months, I asked her out on a real date. At first she didn’t seem to take me seriously, but after several seconds of laughing, she saw that I was. She accepted my date and we started going to more areas.”

“We did everything we could together when we met up. I would take her to some nice pegasus places that I knew and she would take me to some nice unicorn places as well. I grew closer to her as time went on and I thought about having a future with her. I was actually ecstatic to find somepony that was generally interested for me as a pony instead of my title as a Wonderbolt. Now we near about the time you show up.”

“The entire Wonderbolts group had a show to do at the Mareiott to celebrate its brand new expansion. I ordered a room for Ember and myself so I could speak with her. She didn’t know it yet, but before I went out to perform, I had a jeweler make me a ring that I could propose to her with. I paid him extra so it would be finished by the time night came. After the show finished, I went to the jeweler and picked up the ring.”

“I was so excited that I was pretty much jumping with glee. I couldn’t wait to get back to the hotel room, propose to the mare that had stolen my heart, and possibly settle down. All those dreams came crashing down as soon as I opened the door.”

Spitfire grabbed at her water and looked into it. She gave casual sips as her body trembled. Her tears had fallen from her eyes and Fleetfoot was trying to wipe them away. Fleetfoot was close to crying as well, but she remained strong for her friend’s sake. I had a good idea of what was next, but I had to make sure for certain. As much as this pained her to talk about, I couldn’t jump to assumptions without hearing it from her.

“What happened once you opened the door?” I asked.

The reaction from Spitfire was one I kind of guessed would happen. Spitfire threw the glass against the wall, shattering it on impact. She was breathing heavily as Fleetfoot tried to reign her in. If it wasn’t for her wing being bandaged up, I was sure Spitfire would have flown out of the room. Thankfully, Fleetfoot was able to calm her friend down a little. Taking a few calming breaths, the fiery mare looked at me with the most hurt in her eyes that I’ve ever seen.

“I found her having sex with some stallion,” Spitfire said as her head hung low.

“I’m sorry to hear that,” I said.

I hesitantly reached out to Spitfire and placed my hand on her mane. The pegasus didn’t fight back as she allowed me to stroke her mane. I could only guess how much that hurt Spitfire. I’ve only had a few bad girlfriends, but to see someone that you loved with all your heart, and about to propose to, having sex with another? It must hurt immensely.

Spitfire spoke again, but her voice was in a soft, hushed tone. “That’s not even the worst part.”

Lowering my hand, I cupped the mare’s jaw, lifting her head so she could look at me. “What made it worse?”

The mare didn’t fight back as she started whimpering, tears free falling from her face and staining the bed. “The stallion she was having sex with was her husband. Apparently, they had been married for about four years. They go around, seducing those that are really high celebrities for a sick thrill and bragging rights to their friends.”

“I felt my heart shatter in my chest as I learned that I was a plaything for their sick game. I promptly kicked them out of the room, but I was just furious. I went on a blind rampage, breaking everything that was in the room. Once everything was broken, I flew out the window and went back to Cloudsdale. I stopped by Fleetfoot’s home and told her everything that happened.”

Spitfire let out a huge breath as she slumped on the bed. Fleetfoot slowly stroked her back as Spitfire took a few relaxing breaths. A lot of things were starting to make sense now. Celestia had asked them to look after me because she knew everything that happened between Spitfire and Ember Glow. Celestia needed someone else that was more of a third party so that Spitfire didn’t do anything drastic again. That only left one question that begged to be answered now.

“What was with both of you hating me so much?” My voice was calm as I looked between the mares.

“I have no proper justification other than the fact that I just didn’t have much trust for you. I actually forgave you for that shower incident, but I just wasn’t sure about you as a pony. I had no idea what kind of motivations that you might have had for when you moved in. I was also still venting some of my anger from before while trying to make sure you knew that you couldn’t do anything to harm me,” Spitfire explained as she looked at the floor.

I heard Fleetfoot give a heavy sigh as she looked at me. “I guess I don’t have a great reason either. I was looking out for Spitfire’s safety. I just couldn’t stand seeing her get hurt in some way. I’ve never seen Spitfire so distraught that I just had to do whatever it takes to look after her.”

“So where does that leave me?” I asked as I looked between the mares.

“Well, now you know everything. You decide what you want to do from here on out. If you do leave, can you at least tell us and not just disappear. We would at least give you a proper goodbye, even after everything that has happened,” Fleetfoot said as she helped Spitfire into bed.

I nodded my head as I got up from the chair. I picked the chair up from the back and carried it back to the bathroom. I walked out of the bathroom to see Fleetfoot give Spitfire a kiss on her head before settling in on her side. I went over to the candle and picked it up, heading for the door.

I was stopped at the door when Fleetfoot spoke up. “Where’re you going, Mark? You need your rest to help heal up.”

I turned my head slightly so I could look at the mare. “I’m just going for a walk, and this injury is nothing compared to when Spitfire sent me to the hospital and what happened to me back on Earth.”

I could barely see anything in the room since I was holding the light, but I could make out Fleetfoot nodding her head. I gently closed the door behind me as I looked to my left and right. I was correct in assuming I was in one of the many visitor rooms as I made note of all the rooms. Taking a deep breath, I turned to my left and started walking. I was left with much to think about now, and I really didn’t have any guidance. I decided to stop by the throne room and see if Luna could offer me any advice.

I walked through the halls, greeting many of the bat ponies that I passed. They were an interesting breed of ponies with their slitted eyes, fangs, and cute little tufts of fur on the ends of their ears. Their membranous wings really helped to show the differences between them and pegasi. There were only two thestrals that I would say that I was really good friends with, and they were Luna’s very personal guards. I reached the throne room and saw the two mares I was thinking about.

“Echo, Moon, how are you two doing?” I greeted as I ran towards the mares.

“Mark, it has been such a long time. You need to visit more before Moon drives everypony up the wall with her whining,” Echo teased as she gave me a hug.

“I do not whine, Echo. If anypony is going to drive somepony up the wall, it’s going to be you because you do nothing but complain about Mark not stopping by,” Moon shot back as she joined in on the hug.

“Sorry about that. I’ve been kind of busy for the past while,” I apologized as I let the mares go.

“It’s fine, Mark. We’re just giving you a hard time,” Echo said as she gave me a warm smile.

“Are you here to see Luna?” Moon asked.

“Yeah, I have a few things I would like to ask her,” I said.

“Good, because I think Luna is getting bored with nopony to talk to,” Echo said as she started pushing the door open.

I raised a brow at the mare’s statement. “She doesn’t have any night court duties today?”

Moon shook her head as she spoke. “Not for the next couple of days. Not many ponies have issues to address her with and she seems so bored in there. I think she’ll enjoy your company.”

“I guess I’ll go make her day then. I’m sorry still for not visiting. I’ll make it up to you, I promise,” I said as I gave the two mares a final hug.

“You better, or else Moon and I will have to drag you out of your bed to talk with us,” Echo joked as she let me go.

Laughing a little at Echo’s small threat, I walked into the throne room. The door closed behind me and I was left in an empty room. Knowing exactly what was going to happen next, I closed my eyes as I opened my arms. Not long after had I opened my arms, Luna had me wrapped in a hug. I felt her nuzzling my neck as she gave a warm laugh. I wrapped my arms around the mare, stroking her back as I gave a small smile. We held each other for several seconds before she finally released me.

Once Luna was on the floor, she looked up at me with a cheery smile. “How’s your night going, Mark? Are your wounds doing fine?”

I laughed a little at Luna’s concern. “My wounds are fine, Luna. My night, though, is something I would like to talk about.”

Luna took on a serious look as she looked at me. “Would you like to talk about it?” Luna gestured towards the thrones and I followed her.

“I actually would, but only if you have the time. I know you have a long list of ponies that you need to see,” I teased.

Luna laughed a little, her expression becoming joyful as she spoke. “Please, Mark, I will gladly push aside any appointments to speak with you. Now let’s see what is troubling you, shall we?”

I nodded as I stood in front of Luna. Luna sat on her throne, giving me her full attention. “I spoke with Spitfire and Fleetfoot about everything that happened.”

Luna gave a small frown. “And what do you think?”

I scratched my chin in thought. “Honestly, I don’t really know. I was hoping you could give me some advice, or even a push me in some type of direction.”

Luna nodded as she placed a hoof on her chin. “There are many courses of action that you can take. Each one has a different outcome, but it depends on what you really feel.” Luna placed her hoof back on the cushion as she looked at me.” How do you feel?”

I gave a big sigh as I looked at the floor. “I’m not really sure at this moment. Before I was hurt and irritated by their actions. I actually lost my temper with them, but I didn’t do anything like I did the last five times I lost my temper.”

Luna gave a sigh of relief as she relaxed a little. “That’s good to hear. Glad those lessons with Cadence and Fluttershy have paid off.”

I nodded my agreement as I continued. “After hearing their story, I’m more confused than ever. I feel sorry for what happened to Spitfire and I can slightly see where Fleetfoot was coming from. That doesn’t entirely mean their actions were justified, but I still understand. I’ve also figured out that you and Celestia are having me room with them because you think I can help Spitfire in some way.”

Luna nodded her head before turning to the window and looking up at the moon. “Celestia was telling the truth though when she said that it was also to help you learn what we can’t teach. We also thought it would help Spitfire get over her pain. You can think less of us if you want, but we never wanted any of you to get hurt.”

“Why have me help her, though? What exactly can I help her with?” I asked with my arms spread wide.

Luna looked at me, her eyes showing a slight determination. “It’s because you’re a kind person, Mark, but that’s only if you’re not avoiding confrontation. Spitfire has been through much to reach where she is now, and the same is easily said for Fleetfoot. Those two mares need a very close friend they can lean against for support. You’ve had your fair share of problems as well, and it seemed like you would be able to relate on some level.”

“Those two mares have so much together that I would hate for any of it to be ruined. You’ve always made sure that you adapted to some of our culture as we allowed to adapt some of yours. We thought that maybe if you could break through Spitfire’s hard shell, then she could finally be the mare she used to be.”

“But the choice is up to you. You can decide to try and forgive Spitfire and Fleetfoot, and try to become friends, or you can pack up your bags and leave. This choice is ultimately yours to make, and we’ll respect whichever you choose.”

I looked at the floor as my head swam with many different feelings and thoughts. One choice was easy to follow through with, but Luna was right in what she said. The choice was mine to make and I had to think it through. Picking up everything that I owned and moving out seemed so easy, but it just didn’t feel right. Giving forgiveness to the mares was difficult as well since it wasn’t that easy to forgive and forget. Looking up at Luna, I nodded my head as I turned to leave the throne room.

I stopped walking as I heard Luna call out to me. “Make sure you pick the choice that makes everyone happy instead of just yourself.”

I gave a thumbs up to Luna as I walked out of the throne room. Moon and Echo looked up at me with cheerful smiles. Their smiles made me think back to the ones that Spitfire and Fleetfoot gave me. Even though theirs were fake, I kind of wondered what a genuine smile would feel like. Crouching down so that I could look at Moon directly, I smiled at her.

“Hey, do you know if the flower shop is still open?” I asked.

“Are you asking about the one that has the rare and exotic ones?” I nodded my head. “It is, but why do you need to know?”

“I need to see if I’m willing to follow through with something,” I said as I turned to Echo. “Hey, Echo, you mind doing me a favor?”

Echo jumped into the air, her wings keeping her afloat as she grinned at me. “What do you need me to do?”

I went into my pocket and pulled out a key to Spitfire and Fleetfoot’s house. “I need you to fly over to Spitfire and Fleetfoot’s house and get my money pouch. It’s in the top drawer of my dresser. Once you’ve grabbed it, meet Moon and I at the flower shop, got it?”

Echo gave a small salute as she grabbed the key and took off. I looked down to Moon as she grinned up at me. “You mind leading me to the flower shop?”

Moon nodded her head as she jumped into the air. I followed the mare out of the castle and headed towards the flower shop. I had only seen the shop in passing, but it did have some interesting flora that I kind of thought about getting. It didn’t take long to get to the shop and it was open like Moon said. I wasn’t sure why I thought it would be closed since it was a shop that liked to stay open throughout the night. Echo had already beaten us to the shop as she leaned against the front of the building, juggling my bit bag.

“Took you two long enough. I could have flown to the house and here three more times before you finally arrived,” Echo joked as she tossed me the bit bag.

I could only shake my head at the mare as I entered the store. The two mares followed behind me and went about looking at all the flowers. I saw a mint green earth pony mare behind the counter, reading a flower magazine. She looked up from her magazine as she saw me walking over. She quickly put away the magazine as she gave a warm smile. I waved to the mare as I started looking through the front case. I heard about two flowers that were extremely rare that only this shop carried and sold. I looked through the case for a couple of minutes before coming up short.

I looked up at the mare with a slight frown. “Do you not have any of these flowers in stock today?” I pointed to the two flowers that I was looking for.

The mare smiled as she jumped off her seat. “Actually, you’re in luck. Our shipment came in and my friend should be finished preserving them. Would you like me to get them?”

I nodded my head as the mare retreated to her back room. While the mare was gone, I looked back to see Moon and Echo trying out different flowers. I watched the mares mess with different combinations of flower before finally stopping. They both gave small frowns as they walked up to me.

“What has you two so down?” I asked as they jumped up on the stools.

“We’re trying to find a flower that would look good for Steel Wing’s foals,” Moon answered.

I slapped myself on the forehead for forgetting something like that. “That reminds me, I should probably get those two something.” I looked around the flowers up front before seeing something that caught my eye. “How about this one?”

The two mares looked at the flower I was pointing to before giving huge grins. The flower I had suggested to them was a rare earthlily. A few ponies talked about this particular flower giving good luck to those that were becoming parents. The two mares nodded as they carefully pulled out the small container holding the flower. The earth mare walked out from the back room with the two flowers that I had requested. She placed them into their own glass containers before setting them in front of me.

“Are you sure you have enough to pay for these? They aren’t really cheap flowers,” the earth mare said.

I didn’t say anything as I looked at the flowers. Echo and Moon took this chance to buy the earthlily as I made sure I wanted to follow through with this. Money wasn’t a problem for me since I never really had much to go out and buy. Echo and Moon finished their purchase and watched me as I lifted my bit bag. Giving one final look at the two flowers, I gave a quick imagination of the mares wearing them. I gave a small smile as I turned towards the mare.

I dropped the bag of bits on the counter as I spoke with certainty. “I would like to buy these.”

The mare nodded her head as she grabbed the bits. Her eyes went wide as she counted through the bits, taking only the amount needed to pay for the two flowers. Looking at the amount of bits that were left, I looked at a couple more flowers. Seeing three that I liked, I pointed to them as I spoke to the mare.

“I would like this moonlily, icelily, and lightninglily.” The mare nodded as she took more of my bits away.

Giving back the last of my bits, she grabbed the three flowers and gave them to me. I wished the mare a goodnight and left the store with Echo and Moon behind me. The two mares gave me curious looks as they looked at the three extra flowers that I purchased.

“What did you get those for?” Echo asked.

“Well, I got the icelily for Surprise since the earthlily is going to be Steel Wing’s,” I explained as I handed them the icelily.

“What about those two?” Moon asked as she gestured to the other two flowers.

I smiled at the mares as I handed them the two other flowers. “These are for the happy bat ponies that have finally started their relationship.” The two mares blushed as they took the flowers.

“How did you know that?” Echo asked as she opened the moonlily case.

I gave a slight shrug of my shoulders. “I might know a lot about flowers, but the few that you tried on I recognized from a magazine. I’m actually kind of glad that you two got together.”

Moon raised a brow at me as she put the lightninglily in her mane. “Why’s that?”

“You two just seemed like a really good pairing. I’ve hardly seen either one of you separated, so I guess there was some sort of budding romance,” I answered calmly.

“Can you at least keep it quiet for now? I don’t want other ponies knowing yet,” Echo asked.

I ruffled the bat mare’s mane as I gave her a big smile. “Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me.”

Echo gave an amused laugh as she batted my hand away. We reached the castle and the mares waved goodbye to me as they headed back to the throne room. Waving goodbye to the mares, I turned and headed for Spitfire and Fleetfoot’s office. My walk to their office turned into a sprint as I wanted to get these flowers dropped off. I reached their office and grabbed the key that was in the plastic bin. Opening the door, I grabbed the two flowers and placed them on the desks. Making sure the flowers were properly placed and they were still in good condition, I closed the door and locked it.

I threw the key back into the plastic bin and headed back for my own room. Opening the doors to my room, I walked over to my bed and slid under the covers. I was prepared for whatever tomorrow would bring. I fell asleep quickly, glad with the decision that I made.

Morning

I was disturbed from my sleep by a series of knocks at my door. Groaning as I got up from bed, I searched for my alarm clock. Not finding it anywhere, I wondered what I did with it. My mind slowly came to and I looked towards the wall when I remembered what happened to it. Giving a small sigh and chuckle, another set of knocks rang out. Stretching my arms as I got up, I walked towards the door. I opened the door and was greeted by the one pony I wasn’t expecting to see yet.

“Hello, Mark. I just came by to check up on you. Are you feeling any better?” Celestia asked as she trotted into my room.

I scratched the back of my head as I spoke. “I’m feeling slightly better. I assume that Luna talked to you about what I talked about with her?” Celestia nodded.

“Have you decided what you’re going to do?” Celestia asked with slight concern.

I walked over to my bed and sat on its edge. “I have,’ I answered as I scratched at my bandages.

“What did you decide on?” Celestia asked as she trotted over.

Celestia’s horn glowed its golden aura as she gripped at my bandages. She slowly took off my bandages, giving small apologies for every time I winced. “I think I’ve went with the best choice that I could.”

Celestia looked up at me, but didn’t stop unwinding the bandages. “And what choice would that be?”

“That’s going to be a surprise later today,” I answered as I gave her a small smile.

Celestia only shook her head playfully as she finished taking off the bandages. She winced a little at seeing my large bruise. She carefully pressed around the edges of the bruise and my sides to see my reactions. Most of the pain in my sides had subsided, but the area around my bruise was still a little tender.

Celestia continued to check on my bruise as she spoke. “I’m still amazed that you only suffered this bruising after impacting that pillar.”

I gave a small laugh as I spoke. “If this weirds you out… sore… then you should have seen what happened to me on Earth that left the doctors baffled.”

Celestia raised a brow, her hoof no longer prodding at my bruise. “What happened?”

I looked up at the roof as I thought back to that day. “Pretty much what happened was that I was returning home from work. I was minding my own business when a car hit me.” Celestia gave a loud gasp at that, her eyes looking at me with a little worry. “I go to the doctor’s to get checked up and they were surprised to see that I hadn’t really suffered any serious damage. They really couldn’t explain how it happened, but they placed it with sheer luck.”

Celestia let out a small sigh of relief. “I remember you telling me about vehicles from your world. I’m very glad that you didn’t suffer any serious injury.

“Thanks,” I said as I gave a smile to Celestia.

Celestia summoned another roll of bandages and had me stand up. I really didn’t see the need to wrap me up in bandages since I wasn’t bleeding from anywhere, but I wasn’t going to argue. After hearing Spitfire and Fleetfoot’s explanation about everything, I really couldn’t find a reason to argue. After Celestia finished wrapping my torso in the bandages, she got rid of the roll and gave me a fresh pair of clothes. I went to the bathroom and did a quick change before coming out and throwing my clothes to the side.

“So, what’s the plan for the day?” I asked as I made for the door.

“Well, it’s noon right now, and I have no meetings for a couple of hours, so I was thinking we could have lunch at the practice field,” Celestia suggested.

I stopped at the door after she told me the time. “It’s noon? Why didn’t you wake me up earlier? Why hasn’t Spitfire barged in here to yell at me for still being asleep?” I wasn’t sure where that last question came from, but I asked it anyway.

Celestia gave a gentle smile as she guided me out of the room. “Mark, take a few deep breaths.” I did as she said. “Good. I didn’t wake you because you, Spitfire, and Fleetfoot are to take it easy until your injuries are healed.”

I nodded my head as she led me to the practice field. Once we were at the field, I saw that there was no one there. I guessed they either moved practice somewhere else, or cancelled it since Spitfire and Fleetfoot were out for the day. I wondered if they had gone to their offices yet to see what I left them. Shrugging my shoulders, I joined Celestia under a shady tree as she summoned a blanket and a picnic basket. I took a seat next to her, leaning against the tree as she filled a small cup with tea.

I gave a small snicker that caused Celestia to look at me with a raised brow. “What’s so funny?”

“Nothing, except how much you ponies like your tea,” I said as I grabbed a bottle of water.

“There’s nothing wrong with a good cup of tea every now and then. You would be doing the same if you actually tried it,” Celestia said as she turned her head with a little humph.

“Did you forget what happened the last time I drank your tea?” I asked as I continued to laugh.

“You meant that time you over-reacted?” Celestia asked as she gave a small smirk.

“If you call vomiting all over your dining table over-reacting, then you’re right,” I said as I laughed at the memory.
Celestia shared in the laughter as she started giggling at the memory. “I really should’ve made you clean it up.”

“I warned you what would happen if you had me try it. You have nobody to blame but yourself for that,” I said as I grabbed a sandwich from the basket.

Celestia could only shake her head at me as we ate in silence. It was a pleasant morning where it wasn’t too hot to be outside. There was a gentle breeze that felt soothing against my skin as I closed my eyes. Everything just felt peaceful at this moment and I didn’t want it to end. After Celestia and I finished our lunch, the princess decided to pass the time with one of her new favorite activities. Celestia laid her head across my legs and I gently scratched her neck. The princesses enjoyed this very much as it gave them a great deal of relaxation.

Celestia let her eyes close as she enjoyed the feeling of my fingers scratch across her neck and mane. I looked around the empty field, relaxing the small quiet that I was gifted with. I didn’t really notice it before, but those five days I spent with the mares and that night where we finally got everything out in the open had me drained. I looked down at Celestia as she breathed peacefully, dozing off under my touch. I heard the soft flapping of wings and looked up to see Steel Wing and Surprise coming down. The griffoness and mare landed in front of me and I held my fingers to my lips as I pointed to Celestia.

The two nodded as Steel spoke in a whisper. “We just came by to thank you for getting these flowers for us.”

I looked at Steel’s talon to see she had the earthlily clipped to her left and Surprise had her icelily placed on the right side of her mane. Both of them seemed really happy to have those flowers as they smiled brightly at me.

I gave a small shrug of my shoulders as I answered back in my own whisper. “Think nothing of it. You should actually thank Echo and Moon for reminding me about it. I would have forgotten at the last minute and gotten you a very crappy gift.”

Surprise moved next to me as she gave me a soft hug. “You being there would be enough of a gift for me, Mark. These must have been really expensive.” Surprise fiddled with the flower in her mane.

“It was worth it though. I wasn’t really spending my bits at the moment and I had enough to get two flowers as well for Spitfire and Fleetfoot,” I said as I lightly nudged Celestia awake.

The princess slowly blinked her eyes a couple of times before giving a huge yawn. She slowly lifted off my lap as she rubbed at her eyes with a hoof. Once she wiped away the last vestiges of sleep from her eyes, she waved to the new arrivals. Steel and Surprise waved to the princess as they looked back at me.

“So what did you get them?” Steel asked.

“That is something you’re going to have to wait and find out,” I answered as I leaned against the tree.

Surprise and Steel gave each other a curious look before joining Celestia and me on the blanket. The pegasus and griffoness were leaning against each other, playing with their flowers as they whispered to each other. They both looked really happy together and I hoped they had a wonderful life together. An hour passed as we continued to sit under the tree. I was worried they weren’t going to show up, or I did something stupid, but was given relief as I saw them trotting from one of the hallways. The mares looked around the practice field before spotting us under the tree. I waved them over and they happily trotted towards us.

I heard Surprise, Celestia, and Steel Wing give a surprised gasp as they looked at the mares. I could understand why since I was generally surprised as well. The two mares were wearing their flowers in their manes, and it paled in comparison to what I had imagined. The firelily in Spitfire’s mane stood out proudly, glistening in the sun and showing off its fiery petals for all to see. The snowlily in Fleetfoot’s mane was subtle, but still impressive as it glittered in the sunlight like a snowflake would.

I don’t know what it was, but I could possibly chalk it up to my slight lack of sleep, because the mares looked gorgeous as they trotted up to us. Their coats and manes radiated beauty as the sunlight shimmered off of them. Their manes were still in their messy state, but the flowers finished off their elegant beauty. I couldn’t help but stare at them as they neared us, but I was thankfully pulled from my gaze by Celestia. I shook my head from the thoughts that ran around my head, hoping the mares didn’t notice my stares.

Once I had my head clear, the mares stopped in front of us. Their wings were no longer covered in bandages and looked ready to fly. Spitfire walked up to me, her face showing slight anger before calming down into a relaxed smile. Fleetfoot joined Spitfire in standing in front of me, her features expressionless at the moment, but there was a subtle hint of happiness.

“You wouldn’t happen to know where these came from, would you?” Spitfire asked as she messed with her firelily.

“I got those as a sort of apology,” I said as I rubbed the back of my head.

“So, you forgive us?” Fleetfoot asked with a little hope.

“Not entirely,” I said as I crossed my arms and looked at the mares.

“Then why did you get us these?” Spitfire asked as she pulled the firelily out of her mane.

“I would like to think of it as a new start. We’ve gotten everything out in the open, and I think we can try getting along again. I’m still very pissed about everything you did, but if you’re willing to accept these flowers, then I’m willing to try and start this friendship again,” I said as I looked between the mares.

Spitfire and Fleetfoot looked at each other before speaking in a hushed whisper. I looked at Steel Wing, Surprise, and Celestia to see them blushing slightly and conversing silently with each other. I wasn’t sure what had those three slightly flustered, but I was more focused on Spitfire and Fleetfoot’s answers. The two mares continued to converse with each other before giving small grins. I shuddered lightly as they turned to me, their grins looking a little predatory. Spitfire’s was a little more predatory because of her lioness attitude that she took when she grinned.

“Very well, Mark. Let’s start a clean slate with each other, and get to know each other,” Spitfire spoke in a slightly sultry voice.

My face grew a slight blush at hearing Spitfire speak, but I quickly shook away my embarrassment. “That’s great to hear. I hope that we can be great friends now that we can finally get along.”

Fleetfoot nodded as she gave a slight smirk, her voice going a little sultry as well. “Then we accept your offer of a date and look forward to it.”

My mind froze at hearing that. My mouth opened and closed, trying to figure out a proper response. I wasn’t given a chance to respond as the mares turned around and walked away. The mares gave a little sway in their hips, their tails slightly swaying side to side. They looked back at me, smirking at my stunned expression as they unfolded their wings and took to the air. I watched in stunned silence for a few seconds as the mares disappeared from sight. I looked at Steel Wing, Surprise, and Celestia to see they were holding back their laughter.

I finally found my voice after processing everything that happened just now. “What just happened?”

Celestia was able to control her laughter first to answer me. “I didn’t think you were that fast in asking a mare out.”

“I’m being serious here. I have no idea what I just did,” I said as I gestured to where the two mares were before.

Steel Wing walked next to me, draping her talon leg around my neck. “Dude, if I had known you got something like that, I would have warned you about what you were doing.”

“What did I do? Can somebody just tell me that?” I asked.

Surprise jumped on my back, her voice full of cheer as she explained. “Well, it’s not used as often, but ponies would usually give either rare or exotic gifts to show they had interest in pursuing a relationship. Flowers were usually a more common gift since a pony would get one that matched the pony’s personality or mane color.”

“So I pretty much asked out a mare without actually having to speak with them?” I asked as I laid on the ground.

Celestia smiled as she placed a hoof on my shoulder. “I’m very happy for you, Mark. You’ll be able to learn something that I wouldn’t be able to properly teach you.”

I looked up at Celestia with a slightly irritated expression, but I just let out a deep sigh as I softly banged my head on the ground. Steel Wing and Surprise gave me a few comforting pats on my back before getting up to leave. I waved goodbye to the two as I stared deeply into the ground. I could hear the two fly off before rolling onto my back to look at the sky. I could barely make out the small forms of Spitfire and Fleetfoot flying through the air.

“Why does this always happen to me,” I mumbled into the ground.

Celestia gently lifted me up with her magic so I could look at her. “Cheer up, Mark. I’m proud of you for getting out there. You should take this opportunity to see what you like in a mare and try to find one you might want to settle down with.”

“This isn’t making me feel any better,” I said as I gave a small frown.

Celestia continued to smile as she spoke calmly. “How about this? Take the day off to think everything through. Go around the city and just have a peaceful walk. If you don’t want to walk, then go back to bed and sleep on it. I really think you should give it a chance, but if you don’t, then they’ll understand. They might also be messing with you since you probably didn’t know what you were doing, and if you explain it to them, then you all can share in a laugh.”

I thought about what Celestia said for several seconds before nodding my head. Celestia smiled as she released me from her magic hold. I brushed off my pants and shirts before turning around and leaving.

“I’m going to sleep on this,” I said as I went for my room.

“I hope you sleep well, and either Luna or I will talk to you later,” Celestia said.

I waved goodbye to Celestia as I headed for my room. Celestia waved goodbye as she cleaned up everything and left for the throne room. I went straight to my room and slipped under the covers of my bed to sleep on my decision. I stared up at the ceiling as I let my mind process everything that has happened in these past couple of hours. I saw Spitfire and Fleetfoot quickly pass by my window as they flew around happily.

I laid in my bed, my mind racing at what I’ve just done. I was still trying to get over the initial shock that I had just apologized to and asked out two mares. They also weren’t any ordinary mares. They were both Wonderbolt superstars and that they even said yes to me was still a little surprising. The only thing that bothered me was did I really want this? I’ve been here for several months and haven’t really thought about dating or finding a relationship with anyone. Could I even have a normal relationship with a pony?

I looked out the window and saw Spitfire and Fleetfoot flying around. They seemed to not have noticed me as I smiled. Both mares looked positively happy now that everything was cleared up. I slowly entertained the thought of dating the mares and it didn’t seem entirely that bad. The idea seemed fun and it probably would be nice to get out in the dating world again. Looking back at the mares as they flew through the sky, I decided to give it a shot. If it didn’t work out, then we could still remain good friends. I was about to sleep when another thought occurred to me. Who was I going to go out with first, and who would I ultimately decide upon if I wanted to pursue a relationship with either one of them? I sighed heavily as it was going to be a long date with those mares.

Making Choices

Fleeting Flames
By: Duelist96
Chapter 5: Making Choices

Two days have passed since I talked with Spitfire and Fleetfoot. Things have changed, if only slightly. I guess it’s just their attitudes, but after the two mares were cleared for flight, Spitfire went back to giving orders while Fleetfoot went back to being hard to gauge. I could probably ask Spitfire to tone down a little with her bossing me around, but then again, everyone did have their own personality. The mares have been treating me a little better, but things were still kind of tense between us.

Thankfully, Spitfire and Fleetfoot would wear the flowers that I got them when they weren’t practicing with the guards. The mares also haven’t bothered me about the whole ‘date’ thing, and I was actually kind of glad. Not being bothered by it allowed me to try and think of something we could do while I filled out the paperwork. Rainbow Dash and Rarity also visited during the past two days. Rainbow was a little jealous that I was working with her idols, while Rarity was generous enough to make a few clothes to better fit my job.

The clothes weren’t overly extravagant, but neither were my regular clothes since I was able to convince her to keep things subtle. The few shirts that she made me were light blue in color with the Wonderbolt symbol on each sleeve. She made a few shorts that were a darker shade of blue and had the Wonderbolt symbol on the left pant leg. The clothes were actually subtle enough that if I wanted to, I could just wear them like regular street clothes. Rarity didn’t seem to like this idea very much, but she did have a good laugh from it.

It was disappointing with their visit though, since they were only stopping by to pick up something from a nearby store. I asked them what they were getting, but after I asked that, their cheeks burned a soft pink as they moved the conversation on. Spitfire actually allowed me to see them off when they left to go back to Ponyville. Spitfire doing this for me was probably the actual first thing that was nice. The kindness, though, was pretty short-lived. After I came back from seeing my friends off, I was immediately given a box of paperwork.

I saw the small grin the pegasus gave before she flew back to her office. Taking the box to a nearby park, I sat on the bench and got to work. I was given my own little office space, but I preferred working outside. Being in college, in a cramped room full of sweaty people makes you enjoy the outdoors a little more. It was also nice to be outside since the air was fresh and wasn’t stale with city odors. I lost myself in the paperwork, the forms all the same and easy to follow as I leaned back on the bench.

I was able to get through half of the work before deciding to take a break. Putting away the finished papers, and organizing the ones I still had left, I grabbed my small notepad. I flipped through a couple pages, skipping some random pictures that I had drawn and found the section for date ideas. I looked at the list with slight amusement as it had… nothing. There was nothing on this list and I had no idea what I was doing. Left with little option, I stared at the blank sheet, waiting for words to appear on the paper to give me something to work with. I got bored within a few minutes of staring as I tossed the notepad to the side.

I really wished I knew what those mares enjoyed doing. I mean sure, flying was a thing they enjoyed, but most pegasi enjoyed it, except for Fluttershy. I wasn’t really too keen on what food they enjoyed and if there were any restaurants around that had something they would like. As many ideas ran through my head of what I could possibly do for a date, my gut believed that I was overthinking my current situation. Sure that gut instinct that people would get to warn them about danger worked, but I couldn’t see how it was working to help me with my current predicament.

Taking a deep breath, I packed away the last of my work and headed for my office. It wasn’t a long walk to my office since I didn’t travel far from it in case Spitfire, Fleetfoot, or another Wonderbolt needed my help with something. I actually got to meet a few other members of the team and they seemed pretty nice. Apparently, they heard about me working with Spitfire and Fleetfoot because of Surprise going around and telling them. I swear if Pinkie and Surprise actually worked together to plan some ultimate party, everyone would know about it days in advance. That also means a lot of party cannons, and I’m not really looking forward to that.

I prefer my cake served to me on a plate, not fired from a cannon and nearly taking my head off. Still, it was nice enough for Surprise to go out of her way and get the other Wonderbolts to introduce themselves to me. I was able to meet Misty Fly, Rapidfire, and Soarin during the small get-together that Surprise had planned. Misty Fly and Rapidfire were actually pretty calm when compared to the other Wonderbolts. They never really asked too many questions about my home, and I was actually thankful for that. What made me even more happy was that they didn’t really care that I was a different species.

I could probably thank the fact that there were other species besides pegasi on the Wonderbolts to make it easy. Soarin, though, was a different person to deal with. He’s a very friendly pegasus, maybe a little too friendly, but he was someone that I could enjoy the company of. The only thing that bothered me was how close he liked to be to me. I swear I caught him eyeing me a few times, but I just pushed it to the side. Things were different in Equestria, so I put it up to being a cultural difference.

Giving a small smile at the memory, I placed my paperwork on the table and sat in my chair. Sadly, as I went to sit down, the chair broke underneath me. I looked up at the ceiling, the feeling of a broken piece of chair stabbing in my back as I kept my cool. Moving off the broken pieces, I remained on the floor as I gave a heavy frown. Apparently, it was too much to ask for a chair that could support my weight. I could already hear Spitfire yelling at me for breaking such a sturdy chair, but it’s not my fault they were built for ponies. I could hear the sounds of talons tapping against the door frame, and turning to my side revealed Steel Wing looking down at me.

The griffoness was trying very hard to not bust out laughing as she walked up to me. She offered me a talon to grab, but I waved it off as I rolled onto my back again. The griffoness gave a small shrug as she sat in one of the chairs in front of my desk. I didn’t even try to move myself from the floor as Steel went about playing with things on my desk. She found great interest in my miniature fun mirror, while she turned to partially face me.

“Are you sure you don’t want help?” Steel gestured to my prone form as she made faces in the mirror.

“I need to regain my independence,” I said as I continued to lay on the ground.

“You want me to get you anything?” Steel asked as she put the mirror down and jumped from the chair.

I looked towards her as she stepped towards the door. “If you could get me a power bar, that’d be great.”

Steel gave a sharp nod as she walked out of the door. She wasn’t gone long as she returned a couple minutes later with the requested power bar. She tossed me the bar and I opened it to see that half of it was missing. I looked back at the griffoness to see her smirking as she ate the other half. I gave a small sigh and frown as I ate the last half. I really didn’t need a power bar to help me get up, but I was kind of feeling a little hungry. I quickly finished off the bar and rolled to my feet. Steel walked back into my office, jumping on the chair again as I went about picking up the broken pieces of the chair.

“Hey, so have you figured out anything for your date yet?” Steel asked to hopefully break the slowly growing tension.

I placed the broken pieces to the side of the room while I pulled out the notepad. “I actually have. Flip past the first ten or so pages and you’ll see a page labeled ‘date ideas’.”

I listened to Steel flip through the pages while I gave one final look over my office. I was pulled from my inspection when Steel coughed.

“Mark, what are these?” Steel asked as she presented the drawings to me.

“Yeah, I should have probably torn those out or just given it to you already turned to the proper page.” I nervously rubbed the back of my head as I turned away.

I could already hear Steel ripping out some of those pages. “You’re lucky they aren’t anything bad, but you’re probably safe without anypony seeing these.”

Steel offered the papers to me and I took them from her talon. The griffoness went back to flipping through papers as I locked away the suggestive pictures. Once I locked up the drawer, I felt the notepad hit the back of my head. Rubbing the spot where the notepad hit me, I turned to face Steel.

Steel gave a neutral expression as she rubbed her temples. “You have absolutely nothing written down.”

I picked up the notepad and pocketed it before facing Steel again. “It’s not my fault that I don’t know what to do. It was sort of easy when dating a woman back on Earth, but here, I’m dealing with a different ballfield.”

Steel let out an exasperated sigh as she jumped off the chair. She started walking towards my door before looking over her shoulder at me. “Come on, let’s get you out in the real world so you don’t buck this up.”

I gave a small frown as I followed the griffoness. “Hey, it’s not my fault a lot of things are backwards here.”

The griffoness seemed to ignore my comment as she continued to walk. “Now, what do you know about Spitfire and Fleetfoot?”

“Is that a serious question?” I asked as I gave her a deadpanned expression.

Steel stopped walking, turning to face me with a raised brow. “Please tell me you know more than just their names and occupations?” I didn’t say anything as I turned away from the griffoness. My silence seemed to give her my answer as she let out a heavy sigh. “Great, looks like we have to pretty much build an entire foundation.”

I gave a sheepish smile as Steel turned around and started walking again. I could hear Steel mumbling to herself and I took this chance to see if I knew anything helpful. Both the mares were long-time friends and really enjoyed flying. Looks like I had basic information, but was there anything that really stood out about them? The house being barren when I first arrived was enough of a dead giveaway that they don’t technically live in Canterlot. I was curious as to where they usually lived since nobody has mentioned anything.

“Hey, do you know where Spitfire and Fleetfoot actually live?” I asked as I caught up to Steel to walk beside her.

Steel tapped her chin in thought before speaking. “If I remember correctly, they should be residents of Cloudsdale. The house that you’re living in is a place they bought for when they have to be here.”

I raised a brow as I looked down at Steel. “Cloudsdale? You mean the city made of clouds that just floats around?”

Steel nodded her head. That killed a possible place to go to show the mares a great time, but Steel seemed to it as a great idea.

“We should head to Cloudsdale. I know a few places there that they might enjoy going to.” Steel was giving me a huge smile.

“No way in hell am I going to Cloudsdale,” I stated firmly.

Steel gave a small frown as she looked up at me. “Why not? Cloudsdale is a wonderful city and has a lot of memories for Spitfire and Fleetfoot. I think they would really enjoy it.”

I gave a small frown at the griffoness. “I may have gotten myself in a little trouble when I punched the current mayor.”

Steel froze in place as she stared at me with wide eyes. “Wait, that was you?” I nodded my head as she continued to stare. “I heard the story, but I honestly thought it was just a bunch of rubbish. Were you trying to get yourself locked up?”

“Oh, I was locked up for a few hours for what I did. After that, Celestia had me serve community service for three weeks as my punishment,” I answered with a small shrug.

“Why would you do that?” Steel asked as she started walking again.

“This happened during my first couple of months here. This was incident number three and I just really didn’t like his attitude. I didn’t have the best control of my anger at the moment and I snapped pretty quickly.” I gave a small groan as I rubbed the back of my neck.

“I guess today is about learning new things about each other.” Steel gave a small laugh as we exited the castle. “Now let’s get back on topic. Do you have any kind of idea what, no matter how small, could possibly point us in the right direction?”

I shrugged my shoulders as I looked to the sky. “We just now finally settled on trying to be friendly with one another after yelling at each other. We haven’t really talked much since we’re trying to give ourselves some time to cool down.” Steel was silent for several seconds, and when I looked down, she was staring up at me again. “What?”

Steel shook her head to get her brain working again. “You’re probably the first pony that I’ve met, besides Fleetfoot that has actually yelled at Spitfire.”

I raised a brow as I stared at the griffoness. “Why is that so surprising?”

“It’s surprising because most ponies don’t actually yell at her. Hardly any pony can match her in yelling, except for Fleetfoot. You might have actually gained a few respect points from Spitfire for standing up to her.” Steel patted my back in pride.

I gave a small laugh at her attitude. “Trust me, I was actually expecting to be kicked in the chest after I did that.” I gave a sigh as I started walking, Steel following as she listened. “A lot of things happened that night. Personally, I think we’re a little stressed right now after getting everything out in the open.”

Steel looked at me worriedly as she floated next to me. “Are you regretting your actions?”

I rubbed my chin in thought for a few seconds before turning to the griffoness. “Not really, but I also haven’t had a lot of time to think about this. I was just trying to start off on this clean slate by doing something nice. In all honesty, I really think this kind of went too far with the ‘date’ thing.”

Steel looked between me and the ground, a worried expression on her face before looking at me again. “Mark, I need to tell you something.”

Steel’s voice sounded worried, and I was a little concerned with what she had to tell me. “Sure, but you don’t really seem up to telling me.”

Steel shook her head as she stared at me intently, her gaze showing determination. “I have to, Mark. You can be mad at me later, but this is something I want to tell you. Surprise wasn’t wrong when she said that flowers were a common gift to show that you wanted to pursue a relationship.” I gestured for Steel to continue. “It’s just that flower exchange isn’t used that often anymore. Most ponies usually go for the direct approach. Surprise thought it would be a good prank since you weren’t aware, but I felt it was a little much after we left.”

I stopped walking as I stared at the griffoness. I had been driving myself partly insane because I thought I was about to go on a date with two mares. I glared at the griffoness, who was currently wincing slightly under my gaze. I took a few deep breaths before relaxing my gaze. Steel seemed to notice my calmer gaze and looked at me, waiting for my reaction. I took a few seconds to collect my thoughts before looking back at Steel.

“That’s a little upsetting, but I’m not mad.” Steel relaxed, giving a small smile that I wasn’t going to yell at her or break off our friendship. “Pinkie has done her fair share of bad timed pranks, and I’ve learned to shrug it off. I know Surprise meant no harm in what she did and I thank her for trying to lighten the mood.”

Steel seemed to be happy that I had forgiven both her and her wife. We each gave each other hugs before continuing down the street. I realized that we didn’t have any particular place we were going to, but were just going about walking. As we walked a few more steps, I remembered something that I’ve kind of been practicing with Pinkie. Since the pink mare liked to show up at random times, I took note of each appearance. Pinkie would appear in more of a pattern if she felt sad about hurting someone’s feelings within a few seconds.

Seeing as how Surprise was related to Pinkie in some way, I thought I would give my theory a little test. It will probably stay a theory as well, since I’m dealing with Pinkie. Counting down the few seconds that were left before she should arrive, I took a few steps to the left. As soon as I finished counting, a white blur shot past Steel and myself. After Surprise shot past us, she made an immediate stop and turned around to face us. Her lower lip was trembling as her eyes threatened to let tears spill forth.

The pegasus went to say something, but I cut her off with my hand. “I know what you’re going to say. No, I’m not mad at you. We are still good friends, and I thank you for trying to lighten up my mood.”

The tears in Surprise’s eyes were gone instantly as she smiled brightly, launching herself at me and wrapping me in a hug. The mare nuzzled in between my neck, giving a soft giggle as my stubble tickled her muzzle. I really couldn’t find myself staying mad at the mare. All she wanted to do was have a good time and I couldn’t really deny her nature. I gave a few pats to the mare’s back before we finally separated. After sharing a little laughter, all three of us went about our walk. Surprise placed herself on Steel’s back, the griffoness trying to fight off a blush as she lifted her wings to keep the pegasus balance. Seeing the two like this reminded me of a question that I had.

“Hey, Steel,” I called out.

Steel turned her head slightly to look at me. “Yeah?”

“When I went to get the flowers, I had Moon and Echo there with me. I didn’t ask at the time when they mentioned you since I was more focused on dealing with my problem at the moment, but how do you three know each other?” I asked.

“They’re my first friends that I made when I first arrived at Canterlot.” I raised my brow as it sounded like there was a story to go along with this. Steel noticed my expression and she started to giggle lightly. “I was a new recruit to the Wonderbolts, and between you, me, Surprise, Moon, and Echo, I couldn’t read a map to save my life.” I tried to hide my laughter, but failed to do so as a few chuckles escaped my lips.

Steel quickly turned her head at me, giving a slight glare before joining in my laughter. “I know it sounds silly, but it’s the truth. Anyway, I was walking around the castle during the middle of the night and I ran into Echo. I asked for her help and she tried to get me to my quarters. The funny part was that she was a new recruit for Luna’s guard. So we still ended up lost and then we ran into Moon. Thankfully, Moon had been in the castle long enough to get me where I needed to go. After that, I kind of just wanted to get to know them better since they seemed like a nice pair of ponies.”

I nodded my own head in agreement as I voiced my opinion. “I think they’re pretty nice as well. They’re probably my only pair of bat pony friends that I get along with so well. Then again, they’re the only ones that I probably talk to since I go to talk with Luna a lot.”

The three of us continued to walk as we reminisced about our times here in Canterlot. I was actually surprised to learn that Surprise has only been with the Wonderbolts for two years while Steel had been with them for five. Seeing this as something worth talking about, I wanted to get to know a little more about their past.

“Hey, Surprise, can I ask you something?” I asked.

Surprise stuck her head around her wife’s wing so she could look at me. “Sure. What would you like to know, Marky?”

“How exactly did you two end up getting together?” I asked as I pointed between the two.

The two looked at each other before Steel turned towards me to answer. “Would you believe me if I told you that I was the one that tried to get her attention?”

I shook my head in disbelief. “A proud griffoness chased after the mare of her dreams than the other way around.” I received a friendly deck in the arm, but the griffoness was laughing at the craziness behind it.

“Yes, I, Steel Wing, went against my pride as a griffon to gain the attention of this lovely mare. And every second I spend with her is a great part of my life.” Steel admitted, giggling a little as she nuzzled her wife.

Surprise enthusiastically returned the nuzzle before continuing the story. “Yeah, right. After I joined, I was more focused on trying to be the best that I could be. Steely’s advances on me weren’t lost, but I just wasn’t interested at the time. I actually said no to her a few times for a date, but she was really persistent. What probably finally got my attention is when she planned an entire evening dinner, but that was sadly ruined.”

“What happened?” I asked with intrigue.

Steel shook her head as she remembered that day. “The Canterlot weather team forgot to mention that they had a rainstorm planned, and it ruined everything. I had everything planned perfectly and after the storm hit, everything was ruined. I actually went on a rage as I cursed loudly and destroyed the stuff that was already ruined.”

Steel rubbed at her temples for having acted so childishly as Surprise finished for her. “I actually never saw somepony act so genuine with their feelings. I kind of blame my parents for that since they never really liked griffons all that much. Once I actually saw that Steely here had actual feelings for me, I went ahead and gave her a shot. About a year and a half later, we’re married and now with kids on the way.”

Surprise gave a bright smile as she ran a hoof along her belly. She gave a warm giggle as I assumed that one of the little foals gave a kick. Steel ran a talon of her own against Surprise’s belly, giving a warm smile as she probably thought about her new future. After giving a few more rubs to her belly, she gave a loud gasp as she turned her heads towards me again.

“Mark, you should be our foals’ uncle. Oh, I can just picture it now. You’ll all look so cute and happy, too.” Surprise’s eyes gave a little gleam as her smiled widened.

I held up my hands as I tried to get her to calm down a little. “Whoa there, Surprise. Don’t you think that’s a little too forward for me? I mean, you only met me a few days ago. You don’t really know much about me.” The mare really didn’t know much about me, especially my first couple of months here.

Surprise lifted herself off of Steel’s back and floated towards me. The pegasus placed a hoof on my shoulder as she smiled at me. “It’s true that I don’t know much about you, except the few rumors that have gone around, but I don’t see you as a bad pony. You’re very kind to everypony around you, and even though we did meet a few days ago, I don’t see anypony else that could be a good fit.”

The mare gave a sincere smile that told me how much trust she had in me. It felt nice to know the mare trusted me enough to be an uncle to her foals. This was actually the first time, outside Twilight, her friends, and the princesses, that someone really trusted me. A few tears escaped my eyes as I wrapped the mare in a hug. Surprise gave a loud squee as she wrapped her legs around me. The hug at first was a good idea, until I required air. Finding it hard to breathe, I tapped Surprise on her back to hopefully get her to let go.

Tapping on her back seemed to prove fruitless as she seemed determined to hug the life out of me. Taking the last few seconds of consciousness that I had, I started gesturing to Steel. The griffoness was failing at stifling her laughter as she looked at my panicked face. Steel finally got control of her laughter to help me from my predicament. The griffoness poked her wife somewhere on her back, probably in between her wings, but I couldn’t really see very well, and the pegasus let go.

Taking a few deep breaths, I looked at the griffoness gratefully as I smiled at her. “Thank you, Steel.” After filling my lungs with air, I pointed to the stiff pegasus on the ground. “What did you do to her, and can you teach me it?”

Steel gave a hearty laugh as she picked up her wife and placed her on her back. “It’s just a simple pressure point that has many uses depending on how much pressure you place. I can teach it to you, but you might not like exactly everything it can do.”

I raised a brow in confusion, trying to figure out what it was that she meant. “What are saying exactly?” Steel gave me a serious expression as she gave me a few seconds to think about it. What exactly wouldn’t I like about learning what Steel did? Rubbing my chin in further thought, I looked to Steel for a little help.

Steel let out a frustrated groan as she rubbed her temples. “Do you know anything about pegasus anatomy?” I nodded my head. “What area is very sensitive to a pegasus?”

Thinking back to the anatomy lessons I had with Cadence, which were really weird to have, I told her what I knew. “Pegasi are very sensitive all along their wings, including the base, but there’s a spot that a few don’t know about. The other sensitive spot is-”

My eyes widened as I finally understood what she was getting at. Steel seemed to notice my sudden clarity and calmly nodded her head. I let out a deep breath as I tried to keep my small blush under control. I gave a rough cough as I continued on the walk. Steel followed right behind me, her smirk in full bloom as she laughed at me.

“Nothing can ever be easy for me, can it?” I asked no one in particular.

“Cheer up, Mark. You figured it out faster than I thought you would, and this should make things easier for you.” Steel said as she bumped against my side to get me to smile.

It worked a little as I gave a small chuckle. This world still knows how to throw me through a loop every day. “So, how do I go about using that pressure point?”

Steel stopped her laughter as she adjusted her wife and looked at me. “There’s a spot a couple centimeters below the joint where the wings connect. Press against that area with varying degrees of pressure for different results. To get their bodies to tense up, like I did with Surprise, just use the same amount of force you use to snap a cracker in half.”

I nodded my head. “That seems pretty simple. Might come in handy if I ever need to use it.”

Steel laughed as we made our return trip back to the castle. “Hopefully, you’ll never need to use it.” Steel turned to me, giving me a wide smirk. “Unless you’re going to be in bed with them.”

My face gave a small blush as I scowled at the griffoness. “That’s never going to happen.”

Surprise gave a soft frown, rolling to her side after making sure her entire body could move. “Don’t you wish to be their coltfriend?”

I looked at the small hurt that Surprise had in her eyes, but I couldn’t lie to her, even if it kept her from crying. “I honestly don’t know. We aren’t even friends, and I highly doubt they would want to be something more. I’ll be lucky at all if we can at least have a regular friendship.” I stopped walking as the castle came closer into view.

Steel stopped next to me, Surprise gently falling to the ground and trotting towards me. Surprise placed a hoof on my leg as she gave me a concerned look. “What makes you say that?”

I sighed heavily as I looked at the white pegasus. “Just look at me.” I gestured to my body. “There’s nothing here that they would like. I can’t fly with them and I don’t share any of their interests.”

Steel moved next to me and placed a talon on my shoulder as she spoke clearly, but her concern was evident. “Isn’t this a way for you to get to know them better? This is your first chance to actually speak with them without resorting to yelling or fighting with each other. You’re jumping to conclusions before you even give them a chance.”

I was about to say something, but Surprise cut me off as she floated into the air and placed a hoof on my other shoulder. “I won’t lie to you, Mark, you’re partially right.” I gave her a flat look, but she continued on. “You are different from them, but it’s that difference that might actually get them a friend that they could really use.”

I raised a brow at the mare. “What do you mean they need a friend?”

Surprise looked at the ground before looking back at me. “You’ve already heard Spitfire’s story about her heart being shattered.” I nodded my head to get her to continue. “That’s not the only problem they have. Most ponies think that Spitfire and Fleetfoot are really harsh and mean, but that’s usually not the case. Neither of them really had an easy foalhood and this kept them from making any friends.”

I pulled the mare and griffoness away from me as I looked at them curiously. “But aren’t you guys their friends?”

Steel and Surprise nodded their heads, the former stepping into the conversation. “We are their friends, but we’re not that close. We only know what they’ll tell us and that’s only a very small amount. There’s still things that they only tell each other. If there’s anypony that could actually get them to open up more, then it’s you.”

I didn’t say anything as I let my mind ponder on everything I heard. There had been this small sense that they had problems to deal with, but I never pushed for information. Knowing this actually helped to figure a few things out about the mares. Since they never really had friends better than each other, then they would usually be on guard. Being on that guard would also mean their slight attitudes they had, but it didn’t seem like those attitudes really kept them from making a few friends.

Steel and Surprise didn’t say anything, or even move as they let me think about this. It was a lot to take in and I wasn’t sure I could handle it all. I did want to try and become friends with the mares at least, so I had that. Taking a deep breath, I looked at my two friends and nodded my head. Steel and Surprise gave small smiles that I was willing to try and become a very close friend with Spitfire and Fleetfoot. With everything decided, the three of us continued back to the castle.

We entered through the front doors and went our separate ways. As Steel and Surprise walked away, the griffoness mentioned something about going on vacation with the pegasus and their foals. Giving a small smile at how loud the pegasus squealed, I walked as fast as I could to Spitfire’s office. As I walked through the expansive halls, I took note that there weren’t many guards around. Before, it caused me to worry for the princesses’ safety, but Celestia explained that it was common for the guards to get together every once and a while to relax.

Waving to the few maids that were around, I made it to the office. The door was slightly ajar and their light was on. Walking towards the door, I gave a few knocks. The response I was given was a banging on a desk. Taking that as an entrance admittance, I walked into the office. I entered the office to see both the mares working on their own paperwork. Spitfire and Fleetfoot looked really irritated with whatever they were working on. I was tempted to leave and let them work before my presence to them was known.

“Do you need something, Mark?” Fleetfoot asked as she pushed her papers to the side.

“I just came by to see how you two were doing. Should I come back at a better time?” I asked as I took a few steps back towards the door.

“You’re fine. We were just finishing up some reports and then head off for some flight practice,” Spitfire answered as she gave a few swipes with her quill and pushed her papers to the front of the desk.

“So, have you figured out what we’re going for our date?” Fleetfoot asked as she fluttered her eyes a little.

“Not entirely, but I did learn that what I did wasn’t asking for a date,” I answered as I grinned at the two mares.

“Well, looks like our fun was killed.” Spitfire let out a deep sigh, shaking her head softly. “So who gave it away?”

“Steel and Surprise did,” I replied as I sat in the chair against the wall.

Fleetfoot gave a small giggle as she shook her head as well. “Sometimes those two are too nice for their own good, but then they wouldn’t be who they are if they didn’t follow through with it.”

Fleetfoot and Spitfire continued to laugh softly before the latter finally settled down again to speak. “Well, it was fun while it lasted. If I may, can I offer a possible place for us to go to?” I nodded my head since I probably would never think of anything for a while. “There’s a local bar that’s close to where we live. It’s nothing too fancy and it has a decent selection of food and drinks to pick from.”

I gave a slight frown to the fiery mare. “You’re not going to make me drink, are you?”

Fleetfoot shook her head as she gave a small smile. “Not unless you really want us to make you. We just want to see what the place is like and just get to know each other.”

I took a second to think about this as the mares busied themselves with cleaning everything up. There wasn’t much for the mare to clean up, and by the time they finished, I had decided on an answer.

“Sure, sounds like it could be fun and it would be nice to find a possibly nice place to hang out at,” I said as stood up from the chair, stretching my limbs as the mares turned out the lights.

“So does tomorrow afternoon sound like a good time?” Spitfire asked as she locked the door to the office.

I gave the mares a thumbs up before heading to the throne room. The mares waved goodbye before flying off for their own little practice flights. I wasn’t sure what would happen when we meet at the small bar, but I pushed the thought aside. I wasn’t going to allow these different scenarios to get in the way and cloud my mind. Having a small smile of my own at the thought of making friends with the mares, I began to hope everything would be good.

Clover's Bar

Fleeting Flames
By: Duelist96
Chapter 6: Clover’s Bar

The sun came rising over the horizon and I was thankful that the mares and I had the day off. Spitfire was kind enough to show me how to work the clock and I was able to change the alarm. I messed around with what I would want to listen to when the alarm went off, but found nothing of interest. I kept the annoying buzzer to wake me up, but I did make sure to keep the volume down so I wouldn’t have to smash it again. I could hear a few birds chirping in the early morning sun and it was comforting to wake up to.

I rolled out of bed as I stretched in the few rays of light that penetrated my room. I looked at my clock to see that it was eight in the morning and decided to get cleaned. Grabbing a fresh pair of clothes, I left my room and headed for the shower. I reached the bathroom and saw that the door was closed. I looked over at Spitfire’s room to see the door closed, and since there was no sound of water coming from the bathroom, I went on in. I instantly regretted that decision after I saw who was currently occupying the bathroom.

My eyes were wide as Fleetfoot looked at me, a towel covering her plot and her eyes narrowing. I quickly put my arms up, readying myself to receive a tackle from the mare. I stood there for several seconds, hoping the pain would be quick, but it never came. Being careful, I lowered my arms to see Fleetfoot continuing to dry herself off. I couldn’t do anything but stare as she went slow with drying off her body. The mare made sure to stretch her body, showing off her lithe body with her eyes locked onto me, giving me a sultry gaze.

I actually had to give it to the mare as she caused a deep blush to form on my face. Fleetfoot looked absolutely sexy like Spitfire with her body covered in water. Her mane was down, sticking to her face as her wings gave little flaps to get rid of excess water. The mare seemed very aware that I was staring and seemed to make the most of it. She moved the towel up to her head, covering her backside with her tail. I shook my head after a few seconds of staring at her plot, trying to get out of this awkward situation.

“You know, you’re going to have to get up a lot earlier than eight if you want to shower with either I or Spitfire,” Fleetfoot said huskily, her eyes giving a few flutters.

“Whoa, I was just coming in here to take a shower. Spitfire’s door was closed and I assumed that either one or the both of you were asleep or gone,” I defended as I avoided the mare’s gaze.

Fleetfoot gave a hearty laugh as she finished drying off and threw the towel to the side. Her voice went back to its normal tone as she trotted for the door. “You’re too easy, Mark. I thought you were told about how ponies work?”

I let out a heavy sigh as I tried to control my blush. “I was given only generic information. There are still things I don’t know that Celestia believes I can only learn from by being out in the world. I wouldn’t doubt that since I did read some of the books about what she wants me to learn, and it doesn’t even compare to actually having to deal with it.”

Fleetfoot gave a soft giggle as she patted my back with a wing. Only shaking my head, I ushered the mare out of the bathroom as she closed the door behind her. I headed for the shower when I heard the mare call out for Spitfire, causing me to hang my head in embarrassment. It hasn’t even been five minutes since I got up and I was already not looking forward to going to the bar. Giving a few hits of my head on the shower wall, I turned on the water and set about cleaning myself.

I was in the shower for a good amount of time before shutting off the water and drying myself off. I ended up using three towels since I haven’t grabbed my old ones that were made specifically for me. Getting dressed, I opened the bathroom door and walked downstairs. I turned into the kitchen to see both Spitfire and Fleetfoot sitting at the table, empty bowls in front of them as they drank their coffee. Once I stepped foot in the kitchen, Spitfire lowered her cup and looked at me with a raised brow.

“Do you plan on walking in on every mare as they shower?” Spitfire gave a neutral expression.

I raised my arms as I tried to defend myself. “It was an accident, okay! Can we just pretend this didn’t happen and move on?”

Spitfire crossed her hooves and closed her eyes as she hummed in thought. I really couldn’t believe that she was taking her time to think about this, but I kept quiet to avoid making things worse. “I guess we can put this behind us since we’re going to be heading to that bar here soon to get to know each other.”

I gave a sigh of relief as I gave a few mental fist pumps. Glad to avoid any confrontation in the morning, I moved to the refrigerator and opened the door. I gave a few glances at what was inside before finding a container with my name on it. I pulled out the container and opened it to see a few muffins inside. Closing the door to the refrigerator, I sat at the table, happily munching away at my muffin. Spitfire went back to drinking her coffee, giving me a few glances after every few sips. I finished off my muffins and cleaned my dishes as the mares finished off their coffee.

While the mares finished cleaning their cups, Fleetfoot turned her attention towards me, giving a small smile. “After we finish cleaning, we’re going for a flight around town. You can do whatever you want. We will meet you at the bar sometime around five.”
I nodded to the mare as I headed for the front door. “Cool, I think I’ll go see Razor for a bit.”

I waved to the two mares, who actually waved back to me with small smiles as I headed for the market district. I walked along the sidewalk, giving a few greetings to a few ponies that greeted me. During my walk, I ran into the two foals that followed me from the last time I was in the market. Both the foals were fillies and seemed to share similar traits. They each had dark blue fur while their manes and tails were white. The two foals were different in their mane and tail styles as the one on the left had a messy look while the one on the right had hers combed neatly. Their eyes were a light fuchsia and they each had small wings.

I continued walking, hearing the hushed whispers of the two foals. I could hear some of their whispered conversation and I couldn’t help but chuckle to myself. They were both trying to figure out what I was. I was able to push away the mention of hairless ape and naked diamond dog since they were only kids. The filly with the neatly combed mane gave a small mention about finding me exotically cute and I just found it adorable. The filly with the messy mane gave a gagging gesture as she playfully pushed at the other filly.

As I continued to walk, I heard a stallion call out two names. “Summer Wind, Tiger Lilly, please leave the nice human alone.”

I heard the two fillies give a loud moan of disappointment before trotting off. I looked back to see a stallion with two mares on either side of him, and they were all pegasi. The mares were similar to the fillies, except for the coat, mane, and tail color. The older mares had a light blue coat color and their manes and tails were a pale opal. The older mare with the neatly combed mane and tail had on a pink bow. The stallion had a dark gray coat and his eyes were a light gold. His mane and tail color was a light cyan and done up in a Mohawk.

I raised a brow in confusion as the mares nuzzled the two fillies before turning to the stallion and giving him a kiss. I wasn’t really sure what to make of that since I thought most relationships in Equestria were monogamous. I put away the thought for later asking with either the princesses or the mares. I could only shrug my shoulders as I continued onwards for Razor’s stand. I walked for a few more minutes before arriving at the market district and easily spotting Razor’s stand. The griffoness seemed to notice me from afar as she waved me over.

Chuckling to myself at how energetic she was, I made my way towards her stand. As I neared Razor, she was just finishing wiping down the counter before flipping her sign. I stopped in front of the stand and waited as Razor came from around back. Razor immediately gave me a hug once she reached me and I was happy to return it. Even as awkward as it was to get hugs from people that were still slight strangers, I found it be common as it helped to establish some bond. Pulling away from me, Razor continued to smile as she gave one final glance at her shop before giving me her full attention.

“So, what can I do for you, Mark?” Razor asked as she gestured for us to walk.

I followed closely to the griffoness, returning her smile with one of my own. “Nothing, just thought I would come by and say hi. I’ve gotten to know your sister better and I wish to get to know you more as well.”

Razor giggled lightly as she slightly pushed against me. “Thank Celestia. I was kind of getting bored without seeing you for so long. My sister, though, was kind enough to keep me up to date with everything that has happened to you.”

I gave a nervous laugh, worried about what exactly Steel had told her. “What exactly has Steel told you?”

Razor gave a small shrug as she faced forward. “Just that you, Spitfire, and Fleetfoot finally had a talk with each other. She also mentioned that you ended up asking out both of the mares on a date.” Razor turned back to me, giggling as I shook my head.

I lifted my head to look at Razor. “You have no idea how much I was freaking out because of that. Thankfully, Steel came clean about what I actually did and I was able to calm down.”

Razor nodded her head as she smiled. “Yeah, that usually happens when she’s around Surprise. Those two really don’t know when to tell a joke at a proper time, but they really do care about others.”

I nodded my head in agreement as we continued to walk. As we walked down a sidewalk, I took notice of Razor’s body. The griffoness had the same build as her sister and I was curious about something.

“Hey, Razor, can I ask you something?” I asked, getting Razor’s attention once again.

“As long as it isn’t something sexually crude like Surprise likes to ask, then you may,” Razor said as she gave a slight shudder.

My own body shuddered as I remembered how her sister acted as well. “If Steel was anything to go by, then I get where you’re coming from. Also, my question doesn’t have anything to do with anything sexually crude. How come you aren’t a Wonderbolt?”

Razor gave a slight shrug as she turned around and headed back to the market. “I just didn’t much care for being in an aerobatics show. Nothing against my sister, but I just couldn’t see myself doing it. Plus, I enjoy cooking a little more.”

This perked my interest as I tried to keep up with the griffoness. “You actually like to cook?”

Razor nodded her head as she continued her explanation. “Being from the Griffon Empire, I kind of had to make a few of my own meals so I could have something decent to eat. I also find it very relaxing for me, and the few that have tried my cooking said it was really good. I’m actually thinking about opening a restaurant once I have enough bits.”

I smiled at Razor as I gave her a little nudge. “Let me know if you ever get that to happen. I would love to try some of your cooking!”

Razor smiled up at me as we started to near her stand. We reached the stand and Razor entered from the back, flipping the sign again and taking quick stock. I leaned against the stand, watching the ponies mill about the market. Compared to the few areas that I visited, the middle section of Canterlot was very friendly towards me. None of the ponies gave me any weird looks and they treated me like I was any regular pony in their community. The foals were the most adorable as they would watch me with wide eyes, whispering to each other about me.

The foals’ whispers didn’t seem to do anything to cause fear as they would sometimes come up to me and just stare. I would wave to them and they would happily wave back. A couple hours went by as I left Razor to her work. I looked around at the other stands and took note of what they were all selling. Compared to Ponyville’s market district, there wasn’t really much of a difference. All the vendors sold some type of flowers, hay, fruits, or vegetables. Taking note of the things I could possibly buy for a meal that I would like to make, I headed back to Razor.

I watched as a pair of griffons grabbed a bag and left as Razor waved back to them. As I neared Razor, I remembered there was something I would like to get. “Hey, Razor, do you have any bubble wrap that I could use?”

Razor looked at me with a confused expression before looking around her stand. “What exactly do you need bubble wrap for?”

“I need it for a prank that I have planned,” I answered calmly with a smirk as Razor pulled out a few rolls of bubble wrap.

“Please don’t tell me you’re going to prank Spitfire and Fleetfoot. All three of you are now just starting on a good hoof and you already plan on ruining that?” Razor fixed me with a flat stare.

I raised my hands defensively as I tried to explain myself. “The bubble wrap isn’t meant for them!” Razor visibly relaxed a little as she started bagging the bubble wrap. “It’s actually meant to prank Luna.”

This seemed to cause Razor to do a double take as she dropped the bag on the ground. “Are you insane?! Who in their right mind would prank a princess?” Razor looked at me with a slight scowl, mixed with a little bit of concern and fear.

“No, I’m not insane, but Luna brought this upon herself,” I explained as I grabbed at the bag of bubble wrap.

Razor looked at me, her brow raised as she shook her head slowly. “I guess you’re the one to get away with this since you’re friends with the princesses.”

I gave a slight shrug as I looked at back at Razor, giving her a few bits to pay for the bubble wrap. “Contrary to what most people think, the princesses actually like to have fun like anyone else. They wish to be able to interact with everyone normally, and they sometimes get that through a few people, but it’s not that often.”

“Aren’t you the same pony that punched one of those princesses in the face?” Razor asked as she gave me an incredulous look.

I looked at the griffoness surprised at how she knew this. “How exactly do you know this?”

Razor shrugged as she put away the bits I gave her. “Rumors spread like wildfire in Equestria. Almost everypony knows about the stuff you’ve done.” Razor looked at me, giving a concerned frown. “You may also want to explain some of those things with Spitfire and Fleetfoot so they don’t get the wrong idea.”

I actually had to give it to Razor’s subtlety. I knew what she was saying and she was kind of right. Looking up at the griffoness, I did have something on my mind. “How come your sister never said anything?”

Razor gave me a serious expression as she stood on her hind legs, leaning on the stand’s counter. “Steel likes to be the sexually crude, fun, and a loving sister, while I like to be the calm, forward, and helpful sister.”

I nodded my head as the griffoness fell back to all fours. “I guess that’s why you both are the best sisters there are.”

Razor smiled as she let a little giggle escape her beak. “Despite our stark contrasts, we really wouldn’t trade each other for anything.”

I nodded to the griffoness as I slung the bag over my shoulder. “Hey, do you know what time it is?”

Razor looked to the side and I could only assume there was a clock she was looking at before turning to me. “It’s three right now.”

“Thanks. That gives me enough time to drop this off at the house and head over to the new bar.” I smiled to Razor as I waved her goodbye.

Razor gave a little gasp as she called out to me. “That’s a really nice place! It has a great selection of drinks and really good food.”

I gave a thumbs up to the griffoness as thanks for the information. If Razor thought that the new bar was a good place, then I might have a good time. I walked back to the house, waving to a few ponies that were out and about. I reached the house and entered it. I walked up the stairs and placed the bag in my room. I walked out of my room and looked at Spitfire’s closed door. Steel’s words echoed in my mind as I placed my hand on the door. I was supposed be a friend to those two mares and be someone they could open up to, but I just couldn’t see it.

Letting my hand slide off the door, I turned around and headed down the stairs. Looking around, I didn’t see either mare anywhere. I assumed they would stop at the house to eat something or even clean themselves, but I guess they went straight for the bar. Exiting the house, I locked the door behind me and headed for the bar. It wasn’t hard to find the bar as there were ponies gathered around a building. The entire building was black and there was a sign hanging off the top. On the sign in big, neon flashing green letters was “Clover’s Bar”.

I easily spotted Spitfire and Fleetfoot amongst the crowd and they waved me over. I pushed my way past a few ponies, who all seemed to ignore my presence as I tried to reach the mares. After a few tries of getting around the ponies, I gave up and steam rolled them out of the way. This seemed to get the ponies’ attention as they finally moved out of my way. Spitfire and Fleetfoot greeted me with a curt nod before turning around and trotting into the bar. I followed closely behind the mares, continuing to steamroll the ponies in my way.

Once we were inside, we were greeted by a pony hostess. The hostess was a pink pegasus mare. Her mane and tail was a swirl of blue and lavender and her mane was pulled back in a ponytail. The mare had a cutie mark that was a bell over a platter of food. The hostess gave a beaming smile before her eyes fell on me. She seemed a little nervous about me, so I could only assume that she was new around here.

Thankfully, her attention was pulled away from me when Spitfire spoke up. “Hello there, I have a reservation for three under the name Spitfire.”

The pink mare looked away from me as she pulled out a clipboard. She scanned the paper quickly before looking up at Spitfire. “Please, if you’ll follow me, I’ll show you to your table.”

The mare grabbed three menus before hopping out of her stool and floating in the air. The three of us followed her to the back of the bar, where a table was separated from most of the other patrons. The pegasus placed the menus on the table before floating to the side and letting us take our seats. The mare pulled out a notebook and pencil as she gave us a smile.

“My name is Cinnamon Spice and I’ll be your waitress today. What can I start you out with to drink?” Cinnamon Spice looked at Spitfire first.

“I’ll take a spicy piña colada,” Spitfire answered as she opened her menu.

Fleetfoot looked away from her menu to look at the mare with a smile. “I’ll take a sea breeze.”

The pink mare wrote down the two drinks and turned towards me, her smile faltering for a little before she was able to recover it. “What about you, sir?”

There was a chance that Spitfire was probably going to poke fun at me for this, but it would be worth it. “I’ll just take a water.” I made sure to speak in a calm voice, hoping to help ease the mare.

My calm voice seemed to help a little as she nodded at my order. Cinnamon Spice was about to leave when Spitfire stopped her. “Hey, tell Clover that I’m here. I’m sure that she would like to say hello.”

The pegasus nodded before flying away. Once the mare was gone, I picked up my menu to see what they were offering. I was actually surprised to see the wide assortment of food. The bar apparently catered to every species in Equestria and it was getting hard to decide what I wanted to get. Continuing to look over the menu, Cinnamon Spice returned with our drinks. Taking a few seconds as the mare floated next to us, I decided on what I was going to eat.

“Have you decided on what you would like, or would you like a few more minutes?” Cinnamon Spice asked as she looked at us.

Spitfire and Fleetfoot placed their menus in the center of the table as the former answered, “I would like a daisy parmesan noodle salad.”

The pegasus nodded as she turned towards Fleetfoot. “I’ll take a hay noodle salad with marinara sauce.”

Cinnamon Spice turned towards me, seeming calmer than before as she waited for my order. “I’ll take a strawberry and watermelon salad.”

The pegasus nodded as she wrote down my order and ripped the paper off. “I also let Clover know that you’re here. She said she’ll be here in a few minutes.”

Spitfire nodded as Cinnamon Spice retreated towards the kitchen. I took a couple of sips of my drink while the two mares easily downed half their drinks. A part of me worried that this was going to end in disaster, but at the same time, I kind of believed they wouldn’t overdo it. Neither of us said anything as we looked around the bar, noting things about the place. There was a sit-in bar near Clover’s door. All the lights were covered in a black glass that kept the lights in a nice dull glow. The subtle illumination was kind of nice for anyone that would possibly be nearing their drunken stupor and avoid getting a pounding headache.

The dull light also gave a nice darkness to the bar that made it feel calm. Booths ran along walls while tables were evenly spaced apart. The tables could seat at least four ponies and each table had a flower vase in the center. The flowers in the vases were varied and added a little class to the building. I was pulled from looking around the building when I saw a dark green unicorn mare walk toward our table.

The mare had a messy mane and tail like Rainbow Dash had as they were a lighter shade of green compared to her coat. Her eyes were a subtle ocean blue color as she walked with a little sway in her hips. I looked at her flank to see that her cutie mark was a four leaf clover. I was kind of hoping to see it not related to her name somehow, but I guess it’s just a hapless dream. The mare, that I guessed was probably Clover, was carrying our food as well. I noticed Spitfire and Fleetfoot finish off their drinks as the former waved enthusiastically to the mare.

Spitfire spoke in a loud, happy tone. “Clover, it’s so great to see you after such a long time!” Clover gave a nonchalant wave as she reached our table. “It’s good to see that you were able to get your bar running as well.”

Clover only shook her head as her mint green magic grabbed our food and set it on our table. “Then I guess that means you’re here to ruin it,” Clover playfully teased as she refilled the mares’ drinks as well.

Fleetfoot downed her entire drink again before looking at Clover. “Please, we’re just here to add a little spice to this establishment. If ponies hear about us being here, then you’ll get more business.”

“Plus, you’ve asked us to come here when you got it up and running so we can see how well you did,” Spitfire added as she downed her second drink.

I was apparently wrong in my assumption that the mares wouldn’t get themselves drunk. They’ve already downed two of their drinks and Clover was more than happy to fill them up again. I was tempted to try and get them to ease off before this went south, but at the same time, I kind of wanted this to happen. Them being drunk would give me an excuse to completely mess with them in the morning as they suffered from their massive hangovers.

I started eating my salad when Clover directed the conversation to me. “So who’s this lovely stallion that you brought with you? Are you all on a date?” Clover gave a playful grin as I choked on my salad.

Spitfire gave a small frown at Clover as she spoke. “This is Mark. He’s our assistant and we’re just getting to know each other as friends.”

Clover rolled her eyes playfully. “Sure, and I’m the luckiest unicorn in the world because I have a four leaf clover as my cutie mark.”
Fleetfoot downed her third drink as she turned towards Clover, a bit of her salad hanging out the side of her mouth. “It’s true. We had a few problems in the beginning, but now we’re trying to fix them.”

Clover turned to Fleetfoot, a playful smirk adorning her muzzle. “If I choose to believe that, and I don’t, I think you both got yourselves a good stallion. I mean, if he has been able to handle the both of you at the same time, then he’s a keeper.” Clover gave a slight waggle of her eyebrows that caused me to cough harshly.

Clover was kind enough to pat my back as I took sips from my water. Clover refilled my water as well when I finally got my coughing under control. Spitfire and Fleetfoot looked at Clover, bits of their food falling from their mouths or continuing to stick to their muzzles. Clover gave a quick glance at me to see if I was okay, and seeing that I was, turned around and headed back to her office.

Clover stopped a couple of inches away from our table, looking over her shoulder as she grinned at us. “Word of advice, Mark, they both have really sensitive wings that will make them melt if you hit the right spot.”

My mouth dropped as Clover faced forward again and disappeared into the crowd of ponies near her office. I looked back at the two mares who had heavy blushes on their faces. I was busy trying to process what had just happened there.

“Why is it that most of your closest friends act like this?” I asked as I prodded my salad with my fork.

Fleetfoot shook her head before answering my question. “Actually, that’s the first time that she has ever been that way. She’s usually a very calm mare.”

The three of continued to stare at the area the mare disappeared at before returning to our food. We didn’t say anything as we let the awkward silence comfort us. It didn’t seem like either of us could really say anything to help this situation. Spitfire and Fleetfoot were already done with their fifth glass and were already succumbing to the alcohol’s effects. Both mares had a bright crimson blush on their faces as they swayed from side to side. The two mares were also giggling uncontrollably, but thankfully they finished their food before reaching this point.

I kept eating my own food as I let the mares enjoy their drunken shenanigans. It wasn’t long before Cinnamon Spice returned to gather our plates. The pegasus noticed the slight buzz the two pegasi had and removed their glasses from the table. The mares didn’t seem to notice as they were busy trying to figure out how to get out of their chairs. I couldn’t control my laughter as I watched the mares try in vain to lower themselves to the ground. The mares slowly grew frustrated at not being able to reach the ground and started flapping their wings.

I already knew this was going to be a bad idea, thanks to Rainbow Dash, and I wasn’t going to let them try and fly. I reached Fleetfoot first since she was the closest to me and wrapped my arm around her barrel. Fleetfoot gave out a giddy laugh as I held her against my side, the mare probably believing that she was flying. I reached for Spitfire next, who swatted my hand away as she continued to try and fly. I tried to reach for her again when she gave a small growl like a lioness would.

Continuing to watch the mare attempt to fly while drunk, I softly bounced in place. This didn’t seem to help Fleetfoot as she grew a slight shade of green. Stopping my bouncing, I was struck with an idea. This idea was terrible from the beginning, but hopefully Spitfire wouldn’t remember when she woke up. I waited for Spitfire to look at the ground again, and when she did, I pressed the area Steel told me about. The reaction I got was expected, but I was really hoping for that lucky chance of at least pulling it off on the first try before having to practice it.

Spitfire let out a loud moan, causing the other patrons to look at us. My face burned intensely as I grabbed Spitfire around the barrel. I felt something wet press against my arm, along with a certain spicy musk. I knew right then what I was feeling and accepted my fate. I knew exactly what I was getting into and needed to man up to the consequences. Carrying a mare in each arm, which probably didn’t look that great since all the ponies were staring at me, I grabbed at my bit pouch and paid whatever I thought our total was.

I assumed if it wasn’t enough, Clover would be kind enough to probably let it slide since she knew Spitfire. With our meals paid and the mares lost in their drunken thoughts, I moved towards the front of the bar. Thankfully, the ponies moved out of my way so I could get the drunk mares home. I took a deep breath as I surveyed the town in Luna’s moonlight. Adjusting the mares as I turned towards the direction of home and started walking. I wasn’t far from the bar when I heard a pony call out my name.

“Mark, wait up a second.” I turned around to see Lyra galloping towards me, Bon Bon following close behind.

“Hey, Lyra, Bon Bon. How are you two doing?” I asked as Lyra stopped in front of me, giving me a big smile.

“We’re doing great, Mark. We’re actually here to celebrate,” Bon Bon said as she smiled up at me.

I adjusted the mares again as they squirmed in my grip a little. “What’re you celebrating?”

“Bon Bon said yes to my proposal,” Lyra said giddily, clopping her hooves together.

I smiled at the unicorn. “That’s great to hear!” I looked back at Bon Bon to congratulate her, until I saw a white spider on her back. “Bon Bon, you know there’s a spider on your back, right?”

Bon Bon raised a brow at this before realization struck her. Giving a little shake of her body, the spider crawled up to her mane, burrowing a little to make itself comfortable. “Yes, this is Scary. He’s our pet.”

I raised a brow as I looked at the spider. “I thought that you were afraid of spiders?”

Bon Bon went to answer, but Lyra beat her to it. “She was, but after I locked the two of us in my parents’ cabin to gain the courage to ask her, she was able to deal with her fear.”

I shook my head from what Lyra said. “I’m sorry, did you just say that you locked yourself and Bon Bon in a cabin?”

Bon Bon rubbed the bridge of her muzzle as she let out a deep sigh. “Yes, my lovely little unicorn thought it would be a good idea to lock the two of us away in a cabin for two weeks. She’s lucky that she’s adorable, or that would have really ruined her entire plan.”

I shook my head since that sounded like something Lyra would do. “I want to ask more about this, but I feel like I might regret asking.” The mares gave a slight side to side with their hooves. I was about to continue the conversation when I felt Spitfire and Fleetfoot stir again in my arms. “Listen, I would like to continue this conversation, but I need to get these two home.”

The two mares nodded in understanding as they each gave me a smile. Bon Bon trotted towards the bar while Lyra stayed back to tell me something. “We’ll stop by the castle later where we can catch up then.”

I nodded my head to the unicorn. “That sounds like a plan.”

Lyra gave a bright smile as she trotted after her marefriend. I gave a small chuckle at how those two acted. Lyra was so childish while Bon Bon acted like a grown adult, but it seemed to work out for their relationship. I watched the two mares disappear into the crowd before I decided to continue on for the house. The sidewalk was void of any ponies, and I could only assume they were trying out the new bar. It was actually kind of nice to walk in the darkness, or it would have been if I wasn’t listening to two mares dry heaving the entire walk to the house.

I was able to return home with both mares. Spitfire and Fleetfoot fell asleep in my arms about halfway to the house and were sleeping peacefully. Adjusting the two mares in my arms, I was able to unlock the door and walk in without disturbing them. I silently closed the door behind me before carefully ascending the stairs. Spitfire gave a soft stir and mumble, and I feared that I may have woken her up. I gave a sigh of relief as she buried her muzzle deeper into my neck, the mare giving a soft sigh.

I reached the top of the stairs and looked at Spitfire’s closed door. I actually thought about putting them in my room and I take the couch, but it seemed like a bad idea. Going into Spitfire’s room was a bad idea as well, but at least there wouldn’t be any confusion as to why they woke up in my bed. Taking a deep breath, I hefted Fleetfoot onto my left shoulder and opened Spitfire’s door. Once the door opened, I was greeted with utter darkness. Adjusting Spitfire on my right shoulder, I searched the wall for a light switch.

I found the switch after several seconds of searching and flipped the lights on. I was actually surprised to see how much more furnished the room was. I saw a bed, desk, and bookshelf from before, but there were a few other things. There was a closet that was next to the bookshelf, and there were a few articles of clothing. I saw their flight suits, a few exercise clothes, and dresses. The dresses threw me off and as I tried to imagine the mares wearing a dress, it just didn’t seem right. There was something else in the closet, though I couldn’t make out.

Setting the mares on the bed, who quickly cuddled close to each other, I went closer to the closet. I knew that I should have left the room after placing the mares in bed, but my curiosity to know a little more about the mares was getting the better of me. Looking back at the mares, I saw they were still asleep before reaching deep into the closet. I felt around for a few seconds before feeling something against my hand. Whatever I was touching was smooth to the touch and was separated into two distinct pieces.

Grabbing the hangers, I pulled out whatever was hidden. I really wished I hadn’t as I blushed profusely. In my hands I held two separate sets of lingerie. Not wanting to even trail down any thoughts about this, I quickly hung them back where I found them. I closed the closet door and looked back to the two mares. My blush was still heavy on my face, but I couldn’t help but smile at the mares from how peaceful they looked. Finding a spare blanket on the lower shelf of the bookshelf, I threw it over the mares.

As I tucked the two mares in, I glanced at the desk to see a piece of paper on top. The top of the paper had my name and it was clearly in Spitfire’s handwriting. Looking at Spitfire, I finished tucking the mares in before heading for the door. I could have read that note, but I had already invaded enough of their privacy and decided to leave. I was about to turn out the lights when I saw the shattered picture frame from before. The picture had Spitfire and Fleetfoot together, smiling brightly.

I smiled at the picture since it seemed like they were really happy. As I looked at the picture, I saw there were two frames face down. Against my better judgement, I grabbed the two frames and lifted them slightly. My eyes widened a little at what I saw before placing them face down. I looked back at the mares as I gave a small frown, wondering how long they had to deal with that kind of problem. Turning out the light, I returned to my room to process what I saw exactly in those two pictures.

The Orphanage

Fleeting Flames
By: Duelist96
Chapter 8: The Orphanage

My alarm went off at eight in the morning, and I groaned as I turned it off. I rolled to my feet, rubbing my eyes as I tried to stay awake. I tried to sleep during the night, but with everything that was going on with Fleetfoot, I found it hard to fall asleep. Looking out my window, I grabbed my clothes and headed for the shower. I saw the bathroom door closed, along with Spitfire’s door, and gave a gentle knock. I waited several seconds before giving another knock, slightly louder than before. After receiving no response, I opened the door to see no one was occupying it.

Taking a deep breath, I turned on the hot water and stood under the shower head. The hot water felt great against my skin as I leaned against the bathroom wall, letting the steam help clear my head. I was expecting Fleetfoot to be up when I was, but I guessed she was probably preparing for the trip we were about to set out on. I gave a small smile, even with my nerves wracking my entire body, at the prospect of getting to know Fleetfoot more. With at least some pleasant thoughts filling my mind, I reached for my shampoo and began my slow shower. As I lathered the shampoo into my hair, I let my mind wander to the picture I saw two nights ago.

On the second picture had been the building of the orphanage, something that looked like the place that Spitfire and Fleetfoot had sent a donation to. The sign on the building read ‘Madame Ever Ring’s Foal House’, but that wasn’t what had captured my attention. What really got my attention were the three foals that were standing in front of the orphanage. Spitfire and Fleetfoot were easy to pick out, but there was a unicorn filly in between them, giving a very proud grin. I could only assume the filly was a close friend to Spitfire and Fleetfoot, as they had their wings draped over the filly’s back.

The filly had a cream colored coat and her eyes were a light lavender. Her mane and tail were pink with dark violet streaks running through them. Her mane was styled similar to Twilight’s, but there was a little extra length to put it into a ponytail. As I thought about it, I don’t think I ever heard any of the mares’ friends or the mares themselves talk about their unicorn friend. Realizing this, my smile turned to a frown as I wondered what happened to the filly. I guessed that the filly probably went on to live her life, but it seemed unlikely since ponies were very close with their friends.

I continued to think about the young filly, until a light knock resounded around the room. I looked towards the door, waiting to see if I was hearing things again. Silence filled the bathroom, the sound of falling water the only noise I could hear as I waited. A few seconds passed before another knock came from the door, followed by the sound of Fleetfoot’s voice.

“Mark, are you in there?” Fleetfoot said in calm tone.

Shaking my head from my thoughts, I cleared my throat so the mare could hear me. “Yeah, I’ll be out in a couple of minutes.”

“Okay,” Fleetfoot said.

With no time left to think in the shower, I washed off the soap and turned off the water. I grabbed a towel from the linen closet and dried off everything below my waist. With my lower half dried, I pulled on my boxers, then followed with my pants. I grabbed my shirt as I finished drying off my top half, opening the door to allow the mare to enter. When the door opened, Fleetfoot stared at me. She was ready to say something when she quickly closed her mouth, a light blush adorning her face. I was pretty sure it was a blush, but I couldn’t tell because of how light it was.

I moved around Fleetfoot as she gave a single nod and entered the bathroom. The mare turned around, and for a quick second, I saw her look me up and down before closing the door. Not really sure what that was all about, I shrugged as I finished toweling off. Once I was dry, I threw my towel in my dirty pile that I created next to my dresser as I slipped on my shirt. Going to my closet, I opened the door and grabbed the first pair of shoes that I saw. Seeing as how Fleetfoot had told me that I should be prepared for lots of walking, I made sure that my clothes were appropriate for such a task.

I wore a simple white t-shirt, Rarity’s three diamond insignia on the sleeve with the top button undone so I could breathe a little easier. I wore a pair of light gray cargo shorts and I made sure that I was wearing my hiking shoes. Happy with my attire, I grabbed my small backpack and headed for the kitchen. As I neared the stairs, I saw the bathroom door was still closed. I lingered near the door for a few seconds before heading down the stairs. I entered the kitchen and turned towards the clock to see that it was only nine o’clock. With an hour left until we leave, I made a quick breakfast for the three of us and packed my backpack with a few snacks and water.

Getting everything packed only took a couple of minutes, so I sat at the dining table to wait for Fleetfoot’s arrival. As I sat at the table, I spread out the small assortment of fruit so that Spitfire and Fleetfoot had a different variety to eat for their breakfast. With the food organized, I leaned back in my chair, trying to see how long I could balance on two legs before setting myself down. I was starting to get the hang of balancing on the chair again after a few failed attempts, and I was now attempting to see if I could break my record.

Everything was working out well as I neared my current record time. “Mark, what are you doing?” Fleetfoot’s voice pulled me out of my concentration, causing me to fall back down.

I looked back to see Fleetfoot, but she seemed a little off. The pegasus seemed a little more sluggish in her morning and her eyes were a little red and puffy, clearly signs that she had been crying. Fleetfoot saw the food on the table and lazily floated over to eat the decent breakfast. It didn’t seem that Fleetfoot noticed my staring as I took in her entire appearance. Along with her sluggish movements, her coat color wasn’t as vibrant, and she seemed ready to break down into a sobbing mess.

Tapping my fingers on the table, I shook my head as I addressed the elephant in the room. “You doing okay, Fleetfoot? You don’t seem to be holding up so well.”

Worry was laced in my tone, and Fleetfoot winced a little from my concerned question. The mare continued to eat, refusing to look me in the eyes. Silence filled the space between us as I watched her eat slowly. Moving closer to the table, I reached out to the mare. My hand slowly moved towards the mare before finally resting on her shoulder. Fleetfoot didn’t move as I held my hand there, slowly moving towards her cheek to have her look at me. The mare resisted a little, but it wasn’t much as she easily moved along with my hands. The mare’s eyes refused to look at me still, but I held her there, waiting for a response.

Fleetfoot continued to look around for several seconds before letting out a shuddering sigh. “Can it wait until we get into the carriage?” She gave me quick eye contact to see me nod my head. “I’ll also need you to wear this, and carry this with you.” Fleetfoot produced a necklace and a piece of paper.

I grabbed the offered items and inspected them closely before turning to the mare. I wanted to see what these items were for, but it was something that could wait until later since we had a carriage ride we needed to make. Looking back at the clock, I saw that it was nearing ten and I gestured for the mare to get up. Fleetfoot looked at the clock, nodding her head as she jumped out of her chair, heading for the living room. I grabbed my backpack and slung it over my shoulder as I joined the mare in the living room, the pegasus putting on her own saddlebags.

Fleetfoot looked around the living and at me before nodding her head in satisfaction. Fleetfoot trotted up to the door and opened it, gesturing for me to leave first. I still really disliked having the door held open for me, but it was something I was able to accept in their culture. I walked outside, followed by the pegasus as she closed the door behind us. Fleetfoot lifted herself into the air, floating next to me as we headed for the carriage station. Our walk was filled with a little more silence than I was used to with the mare, and it wasn’t helped with how few ponies were out and about.

This whole day looked ready to take the turn for the worst, especially as we passed a weather report bulletin and I got a look at today’s weather. A heavy thunderstorm was planned for today and tomorrow, making me a little more curious about where Fleetfoot was taking me. I looked on ahead as we passed Clover’s bar, Clover herself waving to us as we passed, and we happily waved back. Fleetfoot would take quick glances back at me, before quickly turning forward, probably thinking I didn’t catch her. Something told me that I should give the mare a hug, or even a pat on the back to help cheer her up, but I felt that it would be better if I could see what was wrong.

A few ponies greeted us as we neared the carriage station, Fleetfoot quickly flying towards the ticket booth. There were a few carriages still around with pegasi strapped to them, each ready for take-off to some location. I turned my attention back to Fleetfoot as she continued to talk with the stallion behind the glass. The stallion smiled at her as he handed her two tickets, and I caught a glimpse of their color to know our destination. She was having me travel to Cloudsdale, and I could feel a lead brick fall to the pit of my stomach, my nerves working overtime at what she was doing.

Pushing down some of my fear, I jogged towards the mare, avoiding the need to sprint so I wouldn’t cause a scene in front of all the ponies. I was hoping to catch Fleetfoot before she entered a carriage, but I didn’t make it as she flew inside of one, gesturing for me to join her. Running my hand through my hair while letting out a heavy sigh, I sulked my way to the carriage. I stepped inside the carriage, taking a seat across from Fleetfoot as the door closed behind me. Hearing the door lock, I felt the carriage lurch forward as we were lifted into the air. I took a quick look at the retreating sight of Canterlot, knowing I would be back very quickly after I explained my situation to Fleetfoot.

Sighing heavily, I looked at the mare as she pulled out a magazine, her attention pulled from it when I addressed her. “Fleetfoot, after we land in Cloudsdale, I need to head back to Canterlot immediately.”

Fleetfoot put the magazine down, and raised a curious brow at me. “Why do you need to come back? I thought you were okay with coming with me?” Her tone sounded a little hurt and worried about what I was saying, and I shook my head, knowing full well I would have to explain my situation.

I rubbed the back of my neck, taking interest in the ceiling as I explained myself. “I’m not entirely welcomed to visit Cloudsdale. I made a slightly poor choice, but at the same time, I find that I was justified.”

Fleetfoot’s expression remained neutral as she leaned back, making me avert my eyes away from her. “Are you talking about the small ban that you have because of punching the mayor?” I nodded my head. “You don’t have to worry about that. The paper I gave you allows you to enter the city as long as you do what you’re saying you’re visiting for.”

Raising my brow in confusion, I felt around in my pockets, pulling out the paper Fleetfoot gave me. I presented the paper towards her. “Are you talking about this paper?” Fleetfoot nodded her head.

“Give it a read and you’ll understand what I’m getting at.” Fleetfoot grabbed her magazine, and I just now noticed that it was a fashion magazine.

Ignoring the fact that Fleetfoot was reading a fashion magazine, I started to unfold the paper. Smoothing out some of the edges, I read what was on it.

This document entitles ‘Mark’ to visit Cloudsdale with ‘Fleetfoot’ on yearly visit to the local orphanage ‘Madame Ever Ring’s Foal House’ for a day or two, depending on how long ‘Fleetfoot’ needs to stay. ‘Mark’ will accompany ‘Fleetfoot’ wherever she goes, and ‘Mark’ will follow all laws regarding ‘Cloudsdale’. If ‘Mark’ is seen anywhere he is not supposed to be at without his guide, ‘Mark’ will be removed from ‘Cloudsdale’ immediately and sent for proper punishment at ‘Canterlot’.

Signed,

Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, Princess Twilight, and Princess Cadence

I read the paper a couple of times over before looking at Fleetfoot. The pegasus gave a curt nod before looking through her magazine again. Taking a final glance at the paper, I put it in my pocket for safe keeping. I looked out the window again to see that we were high in the air, clouds passing the carriage and a cool breeze brushing against my skin. I pulled my eyes away from the calm sight of nothingness as I turned back to Fleetfoot.

“Hey, Fleetfoot, are you doing any better than you were this morning?” I asked with slight concern.

I saw the small wince she gave before letting the magazine fall between her legs, thankfully blocking off what I was avoiding to see. I looked her in her light purple eyes. I could see a hint of worry, but there was a bit of relief as well. Silence filled the space between us for a few seconds before Fleetfoot finally spoke up.

“I’m doing better than before. Thanks for the concern, Mark.” Fleetfoot gave a small smile as she adjusted herself in her seat.

I nodded my head, but I could see there was still something bothering her. “Do you want to talk about it?”

Fleetfoot swayed a little as she closed her eyes. She seemed deep in thought as she took careful breaths. After several seconds of listening to her calm breathing, she opened her eyes and looked at me.

“This trip has always been emotional for me. I’ve done this for at least twenty years, and it just gets harder every year,” Fleetfoot said as she scooted towards the window, turning to look outside.

Standing up, I moved to the seat Fleetfoot was in and slowly ran my hand up and down her back. I was expecting to have her swat my hand away, but the soft coos she gave showed that she liked the attention. I made sure to avoid any unnecessary spots that Cadence taught me so I could avoid any real awkward moments.

I continued to stroke her back as I spoke in a soft tone. “If it hurts so much to go there, then why do you keep going?”

Fleetfoot placed a hoof on the window, a small sniffle escaping her before she composed herself. “I keep going because of the promise that I made. As long as I’m alive, I’ll keep going until I can’t anymore.”

I wanted to keep pressing for more answers, but something told me that during this trip, I would get a lot of answers. I kept stroking Fleetfoot’s back, the mare continuing to look out the window. Wanting to help cheer her up, I grabbed at the paper she gave me, and presented it to her. Fleetfoot looked at the paper before looking back at me over her shoulder, her confusion evident on her features.

“I was wondering how you were able to get all four princesses to sign this,” I said as I offered her a comforting smile.

Fleetfoot ran her foreleg across her eyes, probably trying to get rid of the tears that were building up, but she wouldn’t admit that. She looked at me as she gave a cheeky grin. “You’re not the only one that’s close to the princesses. I was actually honestly surprised that Celestia got the other three to sign it. They seemed really eager to sign it when they saw that you were going with me. Why is that?”

I gave a shrug as I moved my hand from her back and to her mane, ruffling it a bit and getting the mare to giggle. “Honestly, I’m not even sure. It might be because I’m one of their few closest friends, or maybe they just want me to punch the mayor again.” This earned a good giggle from Fleetfoot as she rubbed her head against my hand.

“If you’re going to do that, then can you at least wait until I show you around? I would like to end on a high note like I always do,” Fleetfoot said as she leaned in closer to me, my hand continuing to stroke her mane.

The two of us sat closely together, Fleetfoot giving a soft hum as my fingers ran through her mane. I was actually surprised by how soft it felt. I figured that in order to keep it in her regular messy look, she would have to put some kind of intense care into it. As I continued to run my fingers through her soft mane, there was no feeling of any kind of mane product. It was like her mane was naturally like this, and I started to wonder if Spitfire’s was the same way. I looked out my window as Fleetfoot closed her eyes to get a few more minutes of sleep.

There still wasn’t much to see out the window, and I didn’t really bring anything to keep me entertained during the trip. There was the occasional bird that we passed, or a cloud that was shaped like some kind of animal or object, but that was the only thing I could really enjoy. I was growing restless in my seat as well, but I refused to move to avoid disturbing Fleetfoot, who was resting peacefully. I was sure that she wouldn’t mind if I tried to make myself comfortable, but the genuine smile that she gave in her sleep allowed me to handle the slight discomfort.

Not really sure how much longer we had in our travel, I went back to running my fingers through Fleetfoot’s mane. Fleetfoot gave a soft coo as she leaned more into me, her wings stretching over my legs and giving me a little warmth. The sight was oddly strange, but it was very welcomed. I gave a small smile as I thought about the subtle differences the two mares had when they were awake and when they were asleep.

Spitfire was a very authoritative mare, but I think I can understand where that attitude comes from. Spitfire tries to make sure that everyone understands what they do, and even with the slightly harsh tone, I could sometimes catch a hint of kindness. When Spitfire was asleep, she would give a wonderful smile that was very rare to see when she was awake. That smile of hers really defined her as a different mare. Spitfire seemed so content without the stress of others and her job weighing her down. Fleetfoot was different compared to Spitfire.

Fleetfoot was a very intelligent mare, if the few interactions I had with her were any indication. She could usually read how a pony would react in a certain situation, and act accordingly. The shower incident I had with her was a good example since she took the opportunity to get me all flustered. Fleetfoot wouldn’t yell at others, but there was always a subtle hint of some kind of punishment if someone would argue with her. When Fleetfoot slept, her mind would calm down and allow herself a chance to relax. She never looked it, but her job was really stressful on her, but it seemed she kept it hidden to avoid putting stress on Spitfire.

I gave a small smile as I looked back out the window. The two mares were so different from each other, but at the same time, they were exactly like sisters. Shaking my head a little, I felt the carriage lurch a little. Angling myself a little in my seat, I could make out the landing area on Cloudsdale. Looking back at Fleetfoot, she was still asleep. I nudged the pegasus lightly, trying to wake her up. Fleetfoot seemed to be a little stubborn about getting up, but after a few more nudges, she finally woke up. Fleetfoot blinked her eyes a few times, a large yawn escaping her as she took in her surroundings.

Fleetfoot looked up to see me looking down at her. Shaking her head, Fleetfoot settled herself again, getting ready to sleep again, before her eyes shot wide open. I haven’t seen Spitfire and Fleetfoot move at their fastest speeds they could travel, but if anything from the way she jumped away from me, it would be impressive to see them fly that fast. Fleetfoot clutched at her chest, amazing me that she was able to do that with her hoof as she stared at me. I took this as my chance to stretch a little in the cramped space of the carriage.

As I worked out a few kinks in my back, Fleetfoot spoke in a hushed tone. “I’m sorry for falling asleep on you like that.” Fleetfoot gave a nervous laugh as she packed away her magazine. “I guess I was a little more tired than I thought.”

I waved off the mare’s concern, giving her a reassuring smile as I spoke calmly. “Don’t worry about. You didn’t miss anything during the trip, and you looked like you could really use it. This trip seemed to be weighing heavily on your mind, so I didn’t mind being your pillow.” I gave a warm chuckle as the mare gave a small smile.

“It has been weighing heavily on my mind. I’m always nervous when coming here, and those nerves don’t die down until I get to the orphanage.” Fleetfoot put her saddlebags back on as she stood by the door.

“Well, I’m with you the whole way. Let’s just hope that nobody gives me any trouble during my stay here.” I made sure my backpack was closed before leaning back in my chair, waiting for the door to open. “Hey, before I forget, how long are we staying here?”

Fleetfoot looked back at me as she placed a hoof on her chin. “It depends, really. Sometimes I stay for only one day, but because of the rain that comes, and I don’t leave early enough, I stay for two days. It always rains around this time.”

Fleetfoot whispered that last part, but I was able to hear it because of the small space. I wanted to see what she meant by that, but I didn’t say anything, wanting to see if it would be answered during our trip. We waited for a couple of minutes before we felt the carriage bounce a little, signaling that we had landed. Fleetfoot made sure her saddlebags were secured before turning to me.

“You might want to put on that necklace. Twilight was kind enough to enchant it with her cloud walking spell. She gave it enough power to last a week since we don’t know how it will entirely affect you.” Fleetfoot turned back to the door, waiting for it to open before turning back to me, realization spread across her features. “You do know how this spell works, correct?”

I nodded my head as I pulled out the necklace and put it on. I kind of wished that I could have picked out the design, but I guess I was stuck with the little flame as the design for now. “Yeah, Twilight had me try it out before to see how well it worked. Everything seemed to work fine during the trials, but you may want to keep an eye on me in case it doesn’t last long.”

Fleetfoot nodded her head, her tone confident as she placed a hoof on her chest. “You won’t have to worry about that. You have one of the fastest fliers in Equestria by your side.”

I couldn’t help the slight chuckle from how confident Fleetfoot sounded, but it was reassuring to know that she would help me. We felt the carriage give one final lurch as we finally came to a stop. I could hear the clopping of hooves from outside, signaling that the door was about to be opened. A few seconds passed before the door was opened and Fleetfoot and I were greeted by a group of guards. All the guards were pegasi, and they seemed ready to pull out their spears. I gave a small frown as the mayor that I punched came trotting forward, a scowl very prominent on his features.

The pegasus stallion extended his hoof, his voice gruff and full of hate. “Your paper, please.”

I kept my eyes on the stallion as I fished the paper out of my pocket. I handed the paper to Fleetfoot to avoid any problems. Fleetfoot handed the paper to the mayor, who almost smacked her muzzle, as he grabbed at it harshly. His eyes skimmed the paper for a few seconds before giving it to one of the guards.

He dismissed the guards, and as he turned to trot away, he turned back to me, pointing a hoof at me. “I have my eyes on you. You slip up once you damned hairless ape, and I will have you kicked off this cloud faster than you can say ‘Luna’.”

Every fiber in my being demanded I run up to the stallion and slug him across the face again, but Fleetfoot’s presence kept me from doing so. Fleetfoot and I watched as the stallion took the sky, and we exited the carriage. I gave a tip to the two pegasi that had flown us up. I was glad that the part of Cloudsdale I was standing on was solid ground, giving me assurance that I was somewhere safe at the moment. Fleetfoot stood by the exit to Cloudsdale, and I sighed heavily as I walked over to her.

I reached Fleetfoot, and before we left, she stopped me with a hoof. “Thanks for keeping your cool.”

I nodded to Fleetfoot, keeping my voice at a somewhat calm level. “No problem. I don’t wish to add to your stress, but it’s going to take a lot of willpower not to deck him in the schnoz.”

This got Fleetfoot to cover her muzzle with a hoof as she suppressed her giggles. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard anypony say something like that. I might have to try that sometime.”

I gave a light chuckle as Fleetfoot took to the air, floating next to me as I prepared to walk on Cloudsdale. We stepped out of the gates leading to the carriage station, and I was amazed by everything that I saw around me. Like the name suggests, Cloudsdale was made entirely of clouds. What really got my attention was the architecture of the buildings. I wasn’t much of an architect myself, but I could make out that the columns that supported the buildings were at least of Greek design.

Another amazing feature of the city was the multiple rainbow falls that flowed around every building. I remembered Pinkie telling me a story about when she tried some of the rainbow in liquid form, and how spicy it was. I followed some of the rainbow falls to a building that was hovering higher in the air, and I could only guess that was the Rainbow Factory. I continued to look around, getting a brief look at Fleetfoot as she let me continue to look around. Pegasi were flying all around, and I could see some stairs that led to the upper and lower levels of Cloudsdale. I could only assume those were for the foals that haven’t learned to fly yet, and tourists that couldn’t fly.

Taking in a final look of the city, the cold wind causing me to shiver a little, I looked at the edge of solid ground I was standing on. It was one thing stepping on trial clouds since I wasn’t hundreds of feet up in the air, and I had a trusty alicorn princess that triple checked everything before I would attempt to walk on the cloud. Taking a deep breath, I reached out with my left foot and slowly placed it on the cloud. I could feel as the spongy feeling of the cloud gave under my weight, stopping when my ankle was buried into it. I put a little more pressure on my left foot and the cloud seemed to continue its hold.

Looking to Fleetfoot, she offered a hoof for me to take so I could place my other foot on the cloud. As much as it pained me to do this, I grabbed the mare’s hoof. Fleetfoot flew to my front, leading my other foot to stand on the cloud. My nerves reached a higher peak as I sunk a little more into the cloud. Thankfully, I stopped sinking when the cloud was a couple inches above my ankle. Looking around, Fleetfoot smiled at me as I gave a few test bounces. The cloud continued to hold, and I looked at the necklace to see it giving off a very dull lavender glow. Seeing that nothing was about to go wrong, I let go of Fleetfoot’s hoof and started to follow her.

“So, how far is it to the orphanage?” I asked as I stumbled a little on the cloud.

“It’s about a thirty minute walk from here.” Fleetfoot looked back at me and gave a small grin. “Maybe longer if you can’t learn to walk straight.”

I gave a small frown at the mare as I tried to make sure I didn’t fall face first onto the cloud. “Hey, this is my first time actually walking on a cloud that isn’t about the size of a small raincloud. I also don’t have the ability to fly like you do.”

Fleetfoot shook her head at me as she stuck her tongue out at me. “Sounds to me like somepony is just whining.”

I chuckled a little as I slowly grew used to walking on the cloud. To other ponies around, Fleetfoot would have seemed kind of mean, but I knew she was joking. I knew where to draw the line with her teasing, and it seemed she did as well to avoid being mean. Once I got my laughter under control, silence fell between Fleetfoot and I. The silence, though, wasn’t unwelcomed as we both smiled happily. There was a slight feeling of unease as I looked at Fleetfoot’s smile. I had this strange feeling that when we got to the orphanage, her smile would falter. I wasn’t really sure if there would be anything I could do to fix that when it comes, but I was going to make sure her smile stayed long enough until we crossed that bridge.

Fleetfoot continued to lead me through the middle district of Cloudsdale. She explained that the entire city was broken into different districts to help keep everything organized. There were three residential districts, separated similarly to Canterlot’s residential districts. Fleetfoot and I landed at the carriage station in the middle district. We passed the stairs leading to the upper district back at the carriage station. The stairs leading to the lower district was at the other end of the middle district, but apparently we weren’t heading that way. The rest of the stairs that we passed led to either markets, social areas, or government buildings.

As we continued to walk, I really started to wish that I had pressed further about where Fleetfoot was taking me last night. Cloudsdale wasn’t that high in the sky, usually staying about the same height Canterlot castle stood, but it was very cold. I rubbed my arms to warm up my body, the chill air making the hairs on my arms stand on end. Thankfully, Fleetfoot pulled out a scarf from her saddlebags and handed it to me. I gave a slight nod as I wrapped the scarf around my neck, wrapping my arms a little in the extra slack.

The pegasi flew higher above us, not even looking at the weird creature that was visiting their city. I thanked the fact that they didn’t notice me, since I didn’t want to waste Fleetfoot’s time by having to introduce myself to every pegasus that would ask what I was. I continued to look around the cloud city, trying to find anything to pique my interest, but that was becoming more impossible as we headed deeper into the middle district. We were walking for possibly twenty minutes before I noticed dark clouds starting to form overhead.

I stopped walking, looking to the sky as I called out to Fleetfoot. “Hey, how come there are rain clouds here? Isn’t it kind of useless having rain since you don’t have any crops to grow?”

Fleetfoot stopped her gentle glide as she looked up for a few seconds before turning to me. “There are a few things that we can grow here, but they are usually a pegasus delicacy. Other ponies have tried it, but they usually don’t like it. We also have it rain because it helps keep Cloudsdale healthy. There’s a small amount of moisture in the clouds that make up the city, and it’s good to replace it with new water.”
I raised a brow as I looked at the mare. “How’s it good for the city?”

Fleetfoot placed a hoof to her chin, probably thinking of the best way to explain this to me. “Since the entire city is made of cloud, water still evaporates over time. We replace that water with fresh rainwater to keep the clouds full of life and to keep the structures of the buildings strong. There’s a bunch of other things, but the ponies at the weather factory can explain it better.”

I gave a slight nod as Fleetfoot turned around and started leading me again. It didn’t take long for the entire city to become cast in a light shadow. I could still see everything around me, but the eerie grayness of everything around me made it a little unsettling. As we continued to walk, I felt a few drops of rain land on my face. I couldn’t help but shiver at the feeling of the rain, the height of the clouds making the water colder. Fleetfoot looked back to see me giving small shivers. She gestured with her hoof to show that she was going to pick up the pace to get to the orphanage.

I jumped on the chance to get out of the freezing rain faster. I love rain, but I don’t wish to die from hypothermia. We continued to walk for fifteen more minutes before finally reaching the orphanage. Fleetfoot and I stood under the doorway, the pegasus offering me a towel to dry off with. I gladly took the offered towel, drying off as much as I could until I could change my clothes. I got most of the water off, only to get soaked again when Fleetfoot shook off the water dripping from her coat. Once the mare was finished shaking, she looked back at me, giving a sheepish smile as I gave her a deadpanned look.

Letting out a small sigh, I wiped off my face and arms, again. Getting dry for a second time, I offered the towel back to Fleetfoot. Fleetfoot took the towel, giving a small apologetic look as she put it back in her saddle. With us both decently dried off, Fleetfoot trotted up to the door, giving it a few hard knocks. As we waited for someone to answer the door, I looked around at the building. The stairs leading up to the door were shielded from the rain by the overhead stone arch. The building itself was made of cloud, but it wasn’t as artistic as the others. The clouds were smoothed out, giving the building an almost flat look.

The eerie grayness didn’t help to make the building look approachable. The orphanage looked like something out of a horror movie where I would probably run into a pair of twins, asking me to play with them. I knew I was being silly, but the bland look of the building didn’t help to cease those thoughts. I was also surprised at how tall the building was. I was used to the smaller buildings in Canterlot, but the orphanage seemed big enough to accommodate me. I was pulled from my musings when I heard the door creak open.

I turned towards the door, surprised to see a light pink unicorn mare. The mare had a rose colored mane and tail, a blue and white streak running through both. Her eyes were a light amber and she had a pair of glasses at the end of her muzzle. I could barely make out her cutie mark of two gold bands interlaced together. The unicorn had a neutral expression as she seemed to ignore me and look at Fleetfoot. I looked over at Fleetfoot to see her shift a little in place, a nervous smile on her face.

“H-Hey there, Ever Ring,” Fleetfoot nervously said.

“Fleetfoot, I see it’s that time of the year again,” Ever Ring replied, her tone uncaring.

Fleetfoot nodded her head as she fiddled with her saddlebags. Ever Ring looked over at me, then back at Fleetfoot before stepping aside. Fleetfoot gave a nervous wave as she walked into the building. I followed behind Fleetfoot, avoiding Ever Ring as I stood behind Fleetfoot. Ever Ring closed the door and locked it before facing us again.

Fleetfoot continued to shift nervously as she removed her saddlebags. “So, are the foals up or are they already asleep?”

Ever Ring grabbed a cloth from a nearby table, her dark pink aura encasing her horn and the cloth as she cleaned her glasses. “They’re currently upstairs playing.” Ever Ring finished cleaning her glasses and put the cloth back on the table before looking at me and pointing a hoof. “Who’s this?”

Fleetfoot shook her head, seeming to gain a little confidence as she jumped into the air and wrapped a foreleg around my neck. “This is my friend Mark. He wanted to stop by and entertain the foals with me.”

I looked at Fleetfoot as Ever Ring looked at me with a raised brow. The lie was obvious to me, but it seemed to go over the other mare’s head as she gave a single curt nod. “Very well, but make sure he doesn’t scare the foals. I don’t need to be interrupted during the night because they had a nightmare of a giant creature chasing after them.”

Looking away from Fleetfoot, I gave a small smile as I tried to reassure the mare I wasn’t going to be a problem. “I’ll try not to look intimidating to them.”

Ever Ring seemed to give me a quick look up and down before turning around and trotting away. Once the unicorn was out of sight, I let out a small breath as the tension in the room finally relaxed. I wasn’t sure where it came from, but being around that mare made things really uncomfortable. I felt Fleetfoot’s leg unwrap from my neck, the sound of her hooves landing on the oak floor drawing my attention. I looked at Fleetfoot to see her lowering her head, her wings sagging a little with her ears splayed back. Reaching out to Fleetfoot, I rubbed my hand along her back, getting her to look at me with a small smile.

Fleetfoot placed her saddlebags on a nearby rack, and I placed my backpack underneath her saddlebags. Fleetfoot tapped my leg and gestured for me to follow her upstairs. I gave a small nod as I followed her, taking this chance to look at some of the building. The inside was pretty dull like the outside, but it seemed to be filled with the necessities a pony might need to live up here. Along the stairwell there were some pictures. The pictures were, as far as I could tell, of the foals living here.

We reached the top of the stairs, and I noticed one picture at the top. The picture had Fleetfoot standing in with the group of foals, the unicorn from the other picture standing next to her. Spitfire wasn’t in the picture, which made me give a small frown as I looked back at the retreating Fleetfoot. I leaned closer to the picture, noticing Fleetfoot’s small smile, but there seemed to be something else that I couldn’t put my hand on. I looked at the picture a few more seconds before turning around and walking towards Fleetfoot.

Fleetfoot was standing outside a door, a nervous smile on her face as she looked back at me. “Hey, do you mind waiting out here? I want to get the foals a little prepared for your entrance.”

I gave a quick nod as I stood to the side. Fleetfoot gave a quick smile before turning back to the door. She grabbed the handle with her hoof and opened the door. As soon as the door opened my ears were assaulted by many foals shouting the pegasus’ name. Fleetfoot greeted the foals before trotting inside and closing the door behind her. While I waited for my cue to enter, I tested my hearing a little to see if I had any damage done to my ears. Seeing that everything was fine, as far as I could tell, I leaned against the wall, humming to myself.

I waited for a couple of minutes before I heard Fleetfoot’s muffled voice. “Mark, you can come in now.”

I was a little surprised at how fast she was able to get the foals prepared. It seemed like it would have taken a lot longer since the foals were really excited to see her. Taking a deep breath, I grabbed the handle and opened the door. I walked into the room, closing the door behind me. I looked at the center of the room where Fleetfoot was sitting down, a swarm of foals crowded around her and a few hanging on her forelegs. The foals all looked at me with wide eyes, a couple of them whispering under their breath.

I didn’t say or do anything as I let the foals adjust to my presence. While the foals continued to converse, I took a few seconds to see who was in attendance. A quick count showed there were twenty foals in the room. Eleven of those foals were pegasi. Two of them were earth ponies. Five of them were unicorns. The last two were thestrals. I wasn’t really thinking about it much, but after running into Ever Ring and these non-pegasi foals, I was wondering how they were able to live up in Cloudsdale.

I was too distracted in my own thoughts that I didn’t see a unicorn filly slowly trot up to me. I felt something touching my shin and I looked down to see the unicorn filly. She looked up at me, her body shivering in nervous anticipation. Looking around, the foals all seemed nervous, and I think I knew why. Moving slowly, I gently lowered myself to the floor. I sat with my legs crossed on the cloud floor, leaning a little lower so I wasn’t so tall. This seemed to work a little as the unicorn filly climbed on top of my leg and started to touch my arm with her hoof.

I let the filly poke at my arm as I spoke in a gentle, calm tone. “Hey there, little one. What’s your name?”

The filly stopped poking my arm as she looked at me, her ears flicking back and forth. “S-Sweetheart.”

I gave a warm smile, making sure to hide my canines to avoid scaring her. I lifted my hand and brought it towards her. The filly watched with wide eyes as I reached out to her. I placed my hand gently on her head, and gently ran my hand over her light yellow mane. The filly rubbed her head against my hand, apparently enjoying the feeling of its motions. This seemed to get the attention of a few other foals as they trotted up to me. I smiled at them as well as they went about inspecting me. A few of them pressed against my ribs, getting me to chuckle a few times as they tried to comprehend exactly what I was.

While the other foals were busy inspecting me, a thestral that was laying on top of Fleetfoot’s head walked over. I looked at her as she shuffled nervously in place, her tone soft and uncertain. “A-Are you r-really a friend o-of Fleetfoot’s?”

I smiled at the filly as I reached at her with a free hand. The filly stood her ground as I petted her mane, smiling as I spoke. “If she considers me a friend, then yes.”

This seemed to make the filly smile as she jumped in place. I chuckled at the filly as she happily bounced in place, before a searing pain shot through my hand. I looked at the source to see the filly biting my hand. I let out a muffled groan as I felt the filly’s tongue licking the area she bit. Thankfully, Fleetfoot was quick to act as she gently removed the filly from my hand. The filly’s smile instantly vanished as she saw my damaged hand. Her ears splayed back as she tried to curl into herself. Fleetfoot grabbed my hand as looked it over, mumbling to herself as the other foals got off of me. Fear was evident in their faces as they looked between the filly and me.

An earth colt trotted in front of me, his voice showing a hint of fear. “Please don’t tell on Everglade to Madame Ever Ring. If Madame Ever Ring hears that Everglade bit somepony, then she won’t be able to get dinner.”

I looked between the colt and filly, Fleetfoot bandaging my hand with stuff from a first aid kit that was in the room. I looked at the colt, my expression neutral as I spoke in a calm tone. “How old is Everglade?”

I heard a few sniffles from behind the colt as the filly moved to the front, her eyes red and puffy. “F-five, sir.”

I was a little disturbed after hearing that. Out of all the different races of ponies, thestrals were the only ones that I didn’t learn a lot about. Luna helped to fill in some of the blanks, but I haven’t had a chance to talk with her more about thestrals. One thing that I did learn was that it was normal for thestral foals to bite things. Biting things allowed them to get used to their fangs, and it showed that they trusted someone. Hearing that Ever Ring punishes Everglade for something not in her control really made me upset. Pushing down my anger, I reached out towards the filly.

I noticed the filly’s eyes go wide with terror as I reached for her. I didn’t like that reaction, but it seemed expected if that small bit of information about Ever Ring’s punishment was anything to go by. Thankfully, the filly didn’t move as I lifted her by her barrel and pulled her in for a gentle hug. Everglade was breathing heavily, her heart pounding strong against her chest that I could feel it. I held Everglade securely against my chest, whispering soft coos into her as she slowly started to relax. I held Everglade against my chest for several minutes before she finally calmed down, her breathing slowing down as it turned into a gentle snore.

I wasn’t really trying to lull the filly to sleep, but from the look of the other foals, it seemed that they were starting to get tired. Looking to Fleetfoot, she nodded in understanding as she grabbed a few of the foals and started to place them in their beds. The beds had plaques on them that had the names of the various foals. Fleetfoot was finished putting the foals away for bed as I placed the earth colt that stood up for Everglade to bed. I ruffled his mane a little, getting the colt to laugh as he playfully swatted my hand away with a hoof.

Smiling down to the colt, I tucked him in as I spoke in a hushed tone to avoid waking some of the foals. “So, what’s your name?”

“Torchlight, sir,” the colt said with a small smile.

I chuckled as I finished tucking in the colt. “Please, just call me Mark. You were very brave to stand up for you friend there.”

Torchlight continued to smile, but there was something about it that felt off. “She’s one of my best friends. She stood up for me when I accidently broke a vase. She’s very kind and a lot of fun to be around as well.” Torchlight snuggled into his pillow a little more, turning to his side as he prepared for sleep. As I walked away, I almost missed his last sentence. “We all have to stick together if we don’t want to end up like Pyro.”

I looked at the colt, a small frown on my face as I looked at the other foals. Even with some of them asleep, they all seemed nervous, possibly even scared for the next day. My look wasn’t lost on Fleetfoot as she tapped my leg. I looked down as she gestured for me to follow her out into the hallway. Nodding my head, I opened the door and let Fleetfoot through before following her out and quietly closing the door behind us. Fleetfoot stood out in the hall, the mare turning around and looking at me with a hurt look.

I went to say something, but she cut me off with a raised hoof. “I know you have lots of questions, but do you mind holding onto them?”

I looked at the mare, a hurt look on my face evident as I crouched to look Fleetfoot in the eyes. “I can, but how come you want me to wait?”

Fleetfoot turned around and started trotting away. When she was a few paces ahead of me, she turned around and gestured for me to follow. I quickly caught up with her as I heard her let out a heavy sigh. “I actually have one more place I want to stop by, and I could use somepony that can offer a shoulder to cry on.”

This caused me to trip a little as I looked at the mare. I knew there was some small amount of hurt, but I didn’t think it was this much that she needed someone to vent to. I wanted to decline, but it seemed she really needed to get a few things off of her chest. Nodding to the mare, I gave a gentle stroke through her mane before speaking calmly. “If you need a shoulder to cry on, then I’m happy to offer it. I take it, though, that you just want to talk and for me to listen?”

Fleetfoot nodded her head as we descended the stairs. The rain had picked up in its intensity, the drops hitting the glass hard enough for me to hear. Fleetfoot stopped by her saddlebags and pulled out two umbrellas. Fleetfoot offered me one, and I took it as she looked out the window for a quick second, speaking in a hushed tone. “If you don’t mind listening to an old mare and her problems.”

I walked next to the mare, chuckling a little at her attempt of a joke to ease the tension between us. “Hey, first off, I’m you friend, and I’ll gladly listen to you, and even Spitfire if you have something you want to say. Secondly, you’re not that old, and even if you are, you’re really doing something right if you’re able to look so youthful.”

This got Fleetfoot to giggle a little as she gently slugged my arm. I feigned getting hurt as I rubbed my arm, getting Fleetfoot to giggle a little louder. “Hey, flattery can get you some places, but it doesn’t work that well against me or Spitfire.”

I shook my head playfully as Fleetfoot headed for the front door. Once we exited the building, we opened our umbrellas and Fleetfoot led the way. I could feel my feet getting wet because of the cloud absorbing the water, but thankfully it wasn’t soaking through my shoes. We walked in silence for a few minutes before we left the orphanage a good distance behind us.

I heard Fleetfoot give a heavy sigh as she started talking in a somber tone. “I guess the best place to start is at the beginning.” She looked back at me, waiting to see if I was going to interrupt her. Seeing that I was keeping true to my word, she continued on. “Madame Ever Ring’s Foal House. I was a newborn foal when I was left here. Fleetfoot isn’t even my real name, but it’s what Ever Ring named me.

“It was tough growing up here, but it was nice since I got to make a few friends during my stay there. The orphanage was also built by Princess Celestia and enchanted to allow other ponies to live there in case their parents were a pegasus and living in Cloudsdale. Moving on from that, though, I still had a hard time following the strict rules that Ever Ring had in place. She’s a very mean mare and only cares about getting money from the foals that are adopted.”

“She has hurt many foals because of her demand for obedience and proper behavior. About when I was five, a new pony arrived, a unicorn filly that you saw in the picture back home. Her name was Fireheart, but she liked to be called Pyro. She was a very troublesome filly, but the only pony that I knew that would stand up to Ever Ring. She was also the main reason why I became a Wonderbolt.

“By the time I was seven, I met Spitfire, and the three of us really clicked. Spitfire wasn’t part of the orphanage, but she didn’t like to be around her family that much. I would like to tell you more why, but that’s for her to explain. When Spitfire showed up, that was when the three of us really brought Tartarus to Ever Ring. We would do anything to ruffle her up, but she would only ever punish one of us.”

“I think you know which one she would punish after our little stunts. By the time we were eight, a Wonderbolts show was appearing in Cloudsdale, and Pyro wanted to see them perform. The three of us snuck away to the show, using the bits we saved up from what we found or earned doing little jobs. The show was so spectacular that not even words could describe how we felt, but out of us all, Pyro was the most inspired.”

“Pyro dreamt of joining the Wonderbolts, even though she couldn’t fly. She just wanted to be on the team any way she could and help them perform. Our antics went from causing Ever Ring headaches to getting Pyro as prepared for the Wonderbolts as we could. We weren’t really sure if they could offer her anything when she got older, but we were determined to help her see her dream.”

I heard Fleetfoot give a strong sniffle as she rubbed at her eyes. Even with the rain that was able to get through the umbrellas, I could see the tears that were staining her cheeks. I walked a little closer to her, running my hand through her mane as she tried to get herself under control. It was obvious that Pyro meant a lot for her, and possibly Spitfire, so wherever this story was going, it was only going to cause more tears. Fleetfoot gave a few shuddering breaths before continuing on in her story.

“A year and a half later, about this time, she was ready to see what she could do. Pyro earned her cutie mark in pyrotechnics during her practices, and we tried to use that talent to help enhance the Wonderbolts. Spitfire and I hadn’t earned ours yet, but we were happy to see Pyro so energetic to use her talent to help the Wonderbolts. We had everything set up, and we planned to show the Wonderbolts what she could do.”

“Spitfire decided to stay over for the night so she could avoid talking to her parents about what she had been doing. As the night grew darker, thunder and lightning started to go off. Pyro woke up because of the noise, and she worried that all the supplies that we had stored away in a shed was in danger of being hit. Spitfire and I tried to reassure her that everything was fine, but she was determined to check on them.”

“We offered to go with Pyro, but she told us that she should only be gone for a few minutes. I still remember that uneasy look Spitfire gave me as we looked at each other. In the end, we let her go and headed back to bed. The storm got worse, and those few minutes turned into an hour. Spitfire and I had an unsettling feeling in our stomachs and we left to check on Pyro. It was during that night Spitfire and I earned our cutie marks. We still wish we could have earned ours in a better way.”

“As we flew towards the shed, a bolt of lightning shot down from the sky. We thought nothing of it, but as soon as the thunder went off, a loud explosion came from the direction of the shed. Spitfire and I flapped our wings as hard as we could, praying to Celestia that everything was alright. Sadly, it didn’t turn out that way. The entire shed had caught fire, debris from the building everywhere, showing that Pyro’s supplies had blown up.”

“Spitfire was quick to act as she tried to put out the flames. Spitfire tried everything that she could to put out the flames, but nothing seemed to work. She was about to give up when a thought actually occurred to her. Using everything she had, she flew around the flames in a circle. I could hear Spitfire let off a small scream every time one of the flames burned her. Still, she continued on and started flying fast enough that she was able to pull the flames away.”

“Spitfire pulled away from the shed and the flames followed her. She carried them away into the sky, and thankfully was able to put them out. Spitfire landed next to me, breathing heavily and a few serious burns on her body. She went to help find Pyro, but I stopped her and went to look for our friend. I started looking all over the place for her, even moving pieces of debris to see if she was pinned under one of them.”

“Several minutes went by and I couldn’t find her anywhere. Tears started falling from my face as I continued to frantically search for her anywhere. My mind started jumping to the worst case scenario, but then I finally spotted her. I found her buried underneath one of the walls of the shed. I could see her blood staining the clouds, and her eyes were barely open as I landed in front of her. She seemed aware of my presence, but she was too weak to do anything.”

“I tried to remove the debris off of her, but it was too heavy. I thought about getting somepony to help, but I didn’t want to leave her alone. I shook away my fear at that time, and tried to remove the debris from her again. I flapped my wings as hard as I could, and I finally able to remove the piece of wall. My wings gave me enough strength as I tried to save somepony that I care for. Once I had the wall removed, I saw how serious the damage was.”

“Her entire lower half was crushed, blood soaking into the clouds. Pyro couldn’t even move as I tried to keep her awake. Spitfire joined me after regaining her strength, and I could see the shock on her face as she looked at our friend. We didn’t know what to do, but apparently somepony had called the Cloudsdale weather team. The weather team got the three of us out of the storm and carried Pyro off to the hospital.”

“Spitfire and I visited Pyro at the hospital, but she wasn’t getting any better. I blamed Ever Ring for everything that happened. She was awake when Pyro left, but she didn’t do anything to stop her from leaving. Spitfire and I asked if there was anything they could do to help Pyro, but there was nothing. We immediately knew what was going to happen next, but Spitfire and I refused to accept it. We stopped by again one afternoon to see Pyro just barely holding it together.”

“Pyro beckoned us over, and asked for one favor from the two of us. We told her that we would do whatever she asked. Pyro asked for us to keep each other safe from our own problems, and live our lives the best we could. We promised that we follow that through till the day we died. After Spitfire and I left the hospital, we promised each other that we would keep her dream alive as well. The next day we visited, it was the last time we saw her.”

Fleetfoot stopped flying and landed on the ground. I was confused as to why until I looked around. I was apparently so focused on learning about her past that I didn’t even notice we had walked into a graveyard. I looked at Fleetfoot to see that she was staring at a tombstone. I looked at the tombstone, and saw why she had finally stopped. We were standing in front of Pyro’s tombstone.

“She passed away during the night. The funeral just consisted of Spitfire, myself, a few other foals from the orphanage, and the mayor. After the funeral, Spitfire and I headed to the next Wonderbolts show and found out when tryouts were. We trained until that day came, and our hard work paid off. We were both on the team, and we’ve been doing our best to live Pyro’s dream.”

“Sometimes we think she’s watching over us, keeping us safe during our practices and performances as we make her proud. It’s funny as well since Spitfire and I never planned on being Wonderbolts. Now that we’re a part of them, we actually happy that we joined. We’ve made great friends during our time on the team. The only thing I hope for is that Pyro is truly happy with wherever she is.”

I didn’t say anything as I looked at the tombstone. I could see Fleetfoot out of my peripherals, shuddering as she fought back her tears. It didn’t last long as a loud bang from the thunder finally broke her resolve. Fleetfoot cried loudly through the rain, hitting the cloud with her hoof as tears streamed down her face. I couldn’t help the few tears that escaped my eyes as well as I thought back to some of my own past. Some things were different from Fleetfoot’s, but they were close enough that I could understand how she was feeling. I moved closer to Fleetfoot, being careful not to make any noise as she cried.

I stood next to Fleetfoot, looking at the tombstone. Fleetfoot sat on her haunches, letting the umbrella fall to her side as she placed a hoof on the tombstone. I crouched down, and picking up the umbrella, I held it over her as she leaned against my side. I could hear her sniffling as she buried her head into my shirt. I didn’t say anything as I let the mare cry, refusing to leave her side until she was ready to leave.

Pyro's Wishes

Fleeting Flames
By: Duelist96
Chapter 9: Pyro’s Wishes

I wasn’t sure how long Fleetfoot was leaning against me, the two of us standing in front of Pyro’s tombstone, but I didn’t really care. The rain and lightning refused to lighten up, and I continued to comfort the distraught mare. I probably wouldn’t have realized that she had stopped crying if it wasn’t for her shaking finally coming to a stall. I looked down at the mare, a few whimpers escaping her lips, but her eyes were closed. Continuing to stroke her mane, I looked back at the tombstone, giving a slight nod before looking back at the mare.

I closed up Fleetfoot’s umbrella and tied the strap around one of my belt loops. Adjusting the umbrella I was holding, I wrapped an arm around the mare and lifted her off the ground. Fleetfoot squirmed a little as I lifted her, but after I was able to place her head over my shoulder, she settled down. The two of us were soaked because of how long we were out in the rain, and I could feel the mare shiver from the cold. Sure, pegasi could withstand cold temperatures since they live high in the sky, but they could only handle so much when there is intense rain and strong winds.

I’ve already lost feeling in both my arms, my skin prickling at how cold I was, and decided to make my way back to the orphanage. Even in the dark cloud streets, I made note of how many turns we made, along with which direction we returned, and was able to easily make the trip back. I could still feel Fleetfoot shivering against me, and I felt bad that I couldn’t do anything to help stave off the cold until we got back. I picked up my pace, going at a brisk jog as I tried to return back to the orphanage. I jogged for a few minutes before finally making it back to the dreaded building that does more harm than good.

I got underneath the stone arch and shook out my umbrella. Water dripped from both Fleetfoot and myself, and I tried to shake as much as I could off without waking the mare. Sighing heavily at the fact that I was able to only get rid of the top layer of water, I grabbed the handle, only for the front door to be thrown open in a dark pink aura. I froze as Ever Ring fixed me with a look that could probably kill a manticore. The unicorn said nothing as she brought out a couple of towels and handed them to us. I took the offered towels and wrapped Fleetfoot in them to soak up the water that coated her fur. Ever Ring stepped aside, gesturing for me to enter quickly with her hoof. I briskly walked into the building, rubbing the towels against Fleetfoot to get more water off of her.

I didn’t even bother addressing Ever Ring, or even bother giving her thanks as I started to climb the stairs. I paused momentarily when Ever Ring spoke up.

“Your room is across from the foals’ room. Make sure you dry yourself up and get that worthless mare into bed.” I could just feel the hatred in the mare’s tone.

I didn’t move from the middle step, fighting down my emotions as I contemplated setting Fleetfoot on the staircase, and then kicking Ever Ring in the face. Thankfully, Ever Ring made my decision for me as I heard her trot off, a door closing behind her. I assumed she went back to her office, and took this chance to take a few breaths. Shaking my head clear of any thoughts, I climbed back up the stairs, reminding myself that this was for Fleetfoot. I made my way back to the foals’ room and opened the door to see all of them asleep. I left the door slightly ajar as I opened the room across from them, leaving a slight crack as I turned on the light.

The room was about what I expected it to be. There was a single bed in the middle of the room, a nightstand to the left, and a small dresser on the right. The bed was obviously for ponies, since it was too small for me to sleep in normally. It probably could have fit both Fleetfoot and myself, but I thought against it. Sliding my feet along the floor to make as little noise as possible, I made for the bed. Giving a few more rubs to Fleetfoot’s body, I pulled the covers back and placed her on her belly. I unwrapped the towels from her and threw them to the other side of the room as I moved her head onto the pillow. Fleetfoot gave a small hum of pleasure as she wrapped her forelegs around the pillow, burying her muzzle deep into it.

I pulled the covers over the mare’s body, allowing a little excess in case her wings adjusted during her sleep. Once Fleetfoot was tucked in bed, I moved towards a side of the room and slid down the wall. I saw the trail of water that followed me to the bedroom, and there was a nice streak mark of where I slid against the wall. I grabbed my shirt and peeled it off my body, shivering as the cool air hit my wet skin. I leaned my head down, giving a heavy sigh as I remembered that my backpack was downstairs. I really didn’t want to go downstairs, wanting to avoid Ever Ring as much as possible to avoid any kind of incident. I buried my head in my hands as I debated with either getting a cold from my soaked clothes, or heading downstairs to deal with that awful unicorn.

As my mind slowly settled on just sleeping in my soaked clothes, I heard the door creak slightly. I looked up to see a pair of glowing yellow eyes staring at me. The filly moved from behind the door, and I recognized her as Everglade. The thestral’s eyes moved between myself, and the other room she was sleeping in. The poor foal looked torn between coming into the room, possibly being a bother to either myself or Fleetfoot, or just heading back to her bed. I watched as she turned around, but stopped when I called out to her.

“Everglade, it’s okay. You can come in if you want to. That’s why I left the door open.” I made sure to speak in a hushed tone to avoid waking Fleetfoot.

Everglade looked back at me, waiting to see if what I said was true. I gave a gentle smile, gesturing with my hand for her to come closer. The thestral shuffled on the tips of her hooves for a few seconds before coming into the room. Everglade closed the door behind her, leaving the little crack like I had left it. The filly trotted up to me and gestured with her hoof if she could sit in my lap. Holding up my hand, I got to my feet and went over to the tossed towels. I lifted them both and checked to see how damp they were. The towel that I had first wrapped around Fleetfoot was pretty soaked, and the second one was just as wet, but still dry enough for the filly to sit on.

I walked back over to my original spot and sat down, placing the towel on my lap. I picked up Everglade and sat her in the middle as I gently stroked her mane. Everglade gave a small sigh of contentment as she rubbed her head into my hand. I never let up on my strokes, but Everglade was able to pull herself out of my gentle pets. The thestral turned towards me, her eyes slightly watery as she continued to rub her head against my hand.

“What’s wrong, Everglade? Has Ever Ring done something to you?” This caused the filly to wince a little, making me worried that something had happen.

My worry was pushed aside when Everglade pulled away from my hand and shook her head. “It’s not that. I was worried for Ms. Fleetfoot. I’m fairly new here, but the one time I remembered her visit, it turned out just like this.” This caused me to raise a brow at the little filly as I took a quick glance at Fleetfoot. “A few of the others said that during her visits, she would sometimes not come back until morning.”

I nodded my head as I looked down at the filly, gently scratching behind her ears. “Do you know what she does when she comes for visits here?”

The filly gave a frown as she moved to lay down in the blanket. “We all do. Madame Ever Ring takes us to the tombstone to remind us what happens to foals that don’t listen to her rules.” I could feel my rage boiling deep inside, my hands shaking as I tried to suppress it.

I could faintly hear Everglade talking, but my rage tuned out everything she was saying. I’ve only been in Cloudsdale for not even a day, and I could already feel the urge to never return again. Every time I spoke with Fleetfoot or one of the foals, I learned something new about Ever Ring that made her even more of a monster than I thought before. My mind started to wander about what I could do to get the foals out of this orphanage. My thoughts were stopped when I felt a small, searing pain in my hand. I looked down to see Everglade biting my hand, her eyes looking up at me with concern. Seeing the filly’s concerned look helped to ease my building rage. I didn’t even notice my heart rate increase until it started to slow down as I relaxed under the filly’s look.

Rubbing my head with a hand, I spoke to Everglade in a soft tone. “Sorry, Everglade. My mind was off on its own tangent.”

Everglade pressed a hoof against my arm, causing me to look at her as she looked at me with caring eyes. “I know what you’re feeling, Mark, it’s understandable. Ignoring her for now, I was curious to know if Fleetfoot was doing any better after her visit.”

I looked back at Fleetfoot’s sleeping form, the gentle rise and fall of her body showing that she was calmer than before. Looking at the mare, I thought back to my own past life, and I considered telling her about that part of my life. Fleetfoot was brave enough to share a piece of her own life, giving a few details about Spitfire, that I thought it would only be fair to share a piece of very personal information myself. Shaking my head slightly, I put the thought away for later, contemplating as I turned back to the filly.

I went back to petting the thestral’s mane as I smiled at her. “Fleetfoot is doing better. I think she really needed a shoulder to cry on after all those years.” Everglade gave me a small smile as she hugged my arm.

“Thank you for being there for her, and being such a great friend to her,” Everglade said as she wrapped her tail around my wrist.

I started to pet the filly’s mane when a thought crossed my mind. “Hey, I have an idea on something fun that we can all do tomorrow morning. Want to hear what it is?”

This seemed to perk the filly’s attention as she pulled away from my arm, raising a brow as she curled her lip curiously. “What do you have in mind?”

I smiled at the filly as I leaned down, whispering my idea to her as I let my excitement show through my words. “How about we go to a park? Just you, me, Fleetfoot, and the other foals. Does that sound like fun?”

The thestral gave a huge smile before it quickly turned into a deep frown. “It sounds like fun, but I don’t think Madame-”

I placed a finger on Everglade’s muzzle, silencing her before she could even utter that unicorn’s name. “I don’t care what or how she feels about all of you going to the park. If you’re interested in going, along with the others, then we’re going.”

The filly grew hesitant as she avoided looking at me. I could feel her shift uncomfortably as I held her close. I brought a hand to her chin, gently lifting it up so she could look at me. I gave her a smile that promised everything would be fine, and that nothing would happen to any of them if Ever Ring decided to throw a tantrum. Everglade stared at my promising smile, slowly nodding her head as a smile tugged at her lips. Nodding to the filly, I gave her a few pats to the head before carrying her back to the other bedroom.

I entered the bedroom and took a look around to see the foals asleep, except a few that were trying to fake being asleep. I didn’t pay it much mind as I assumed they were waiting for Everglade’s return to probably tell them how Fleetfoot was feeling. I shook my head slightly as I gave a small smile at the few foals. Continuing to cradle Everglade, I headed towards her bed, making sure to move quietly to avoid waking all the other foals. I made it to the filly’s bed, and placed her on the slightly soft mattress. The thestral smiled up at me as I tucked her in, smiling as I ruffled her mane a little.

Once Everglade was tucked in her bed, and she was comfortable enough to get some sleep, I moved out of the room. As I stepped out of the foals’ room, I finally decided to go get my backpack. Thankfully, the water had finally stopped dripping from my body, and now I only suffered cold chills as I briskly walked down the stairs. At the bottom of the stairs, I easily spotted my backpack near Fleetfoot’s saddlebags. I opened my backpack, and grabbed a clean pair of clothes. Zipping up my backpack, I threw it over my shoulder and headed back upstairs. I looked to my left to see Fleetfoot’s and the foals’ bedrooms, but there wasn’t a bathroom on their side.

I looked to the right to see a door by itself. With no other options, I walked to the door and opened it. I found the light switch on the wall, and flicked it on. The light blinded me for a few seconds, but once my eyes adjusted, I saw that I was in a bathroom. I closed the door behind me, and started to remove the remainder of my wet clothes. The bathroom wasn’t anything fancy or eye catching. It was a simple bathroom, sharing the design of what most people would find in a shopping mall. The sink was a simple white porcelain, and the toilet was a little dirty. I looked towards the shower to see that it was the only nice thing in the bathroom.

The tub was a well-polished marble, but there was a slight problem. The shower had no shower head, but a cloud. I stared at the cloud, packing away my wet clothes as I tried to understand how this would work. Putting my backpack to the side, I grabbed a towel and placed it with my clothes on the sink. I looked around the cloud, trying to see if there was anything I could use to activate it. Not finding anything that I could use to turn on the water, I took a random gamble. Fluttershy talked about her cloud shower that she had in her cottage, especially how the water from the cloud helped to wash her animals’ fur.

Not really sure if this could work since I didn’t have any pegasus magic, I tapped the cloud. Surprisingly, the cloud let loose drops of water after the initial contact. I gave a slight frown as I stared at the cloud. The water started pouring out of the cloud a few seconds later, and it didn’t seem to be losing any of its mass. Rubbing my temples to avoid the growing headache, I pushed aside all thoughts about how this worked. I was about to step into the shower when I decided to take extra precaution. I moved towards the bathroom door and locked it. Nodding my head in approval, I moved back to the shower, and stepped inside.

The water was cold against my skin, causing me to give a harsh shiver, but I could feel the water starting to slowly warm. Not really sure how long the water would last, I moved through the shower quickly. I couldn’t do much since I had forgotten my shampoo and body wash at the house, and the other cleaning products were out of the question since I didn’t want to smell like some fruit basket. I was in the shower for five minutes, getting rid most of the grime that was on me, and turned the cloud off. Once the cloud had stopped pouring water, I moved out of the tub quickly and grabbed my towel.

I vigorously rubbed at my body, trying to get some heat from my arctic shower. I rubbed a little too hard as a few areas got a slight towel burn from my intense drying. After I finished drying off, I threw the towel to the side where a few other towels were gathered. I got dressed in my dry clothes, and exited the bathroom. I walked back down the hall, looking down the stairs to see Ever Ring’s shadow. The unicorn moved from wherever she was standing as her shadow disappeared. Shaking my head, I moved back to the foals’ room, and took a look inside. I gave a small smile as I saw the foals peacefully asleep. A few of them had moved from their beds to join Everglade in her bed.

I closed the door, leaving a slight crack so a little light could get in. I moved towards Fleetfoot’s room, and as I entered, I saw a pair of light purple eyes staring at me. I didn’t say anything as I entered the room, closing the door behind me while leaving a small crack. Fleetfoot’s eyes followed me as I moved back to where I was sitting before. I took a seat as I stared back at Fleetfoot, the mare just watching me.

I leaned back against the wall, trying to find a comfortable position so I could get some sleep. “You should go back to sleep. You really need your rest.”

Fleetfoot lifted herself from her bed, grabbing the blanket in her mouth as she moved off. I could hear the gentle flap of the mare’s wings, and before I could say anything, I felt her blanket thrown on top of me. I looked at the mare as she gave a stern expression, before finally giving a slight shake of her head.

“I heard you talking to Everglade about going to the park,” Fleetfoot said as she landed on the floor. “Since when do you make the decisions?” Fleetfoot gave a playful smile as she moved a part of the blanket, and laid on top of it.

“Since I think those foals deserve to have a fun memory,” I said as I looked down at Fleetfoot with a raised brow. “Any reason why you’re sleeping on the floor now?” I asked as I gestured to her comfy bed.

“I agree, Mark, they do deserve a fun memory. This place is already depressing enough with Ever Ring.” Fleetfoot was about to say more, but shook her head as she looked back at me. “As to why I’m sleeping on the floor, I don’t want to see you uncomfortable. It’s bad enough that there’s only one bed, but you can’t even fit. It also doesn’t help that I’m the only one that gets a blanket.” I couldn’t help but laugh at this, causing the mare to give me a harsh glare. “What’s so funny about that?”

It took me a few seconds before I could finally get my laughter under control. “Nothing, just a memory from my past. But you really don’t have to sleep down here with me. I’m just a guest here, and Ever Ring is just a poor host.”

Fleetfoot didn’t seem to find this funny as she stood on her hooves, and moved in my direction. I watched the mare as she moved closer towards me, and before I could say anything, she wrapped her forelegs around my neck.

I went to say something, but Fleetfoot cut me off. “You said you wanted to try being friends, and I want to be your friend. I don’t know what it’s like having friends on your planet, but here, friends stick together.” Fleetfoot pulled back, looking at me with a caring expression as she wiped her hoof along my cheek. “So please don’t cry. You’re supposed to be my shoulder for the day, not the other way around.”

I was confused by what Fleetfoot said when she mentioned I was ‘crying’. Not believing that I had been crying, I moved a hand towards my other cheek, and I froze as I felt a wet spot. I pulled my hand back to see a little moisture on my hand. I had no idea I was crying, and I quickly wiped away the few tears that had apparently escaped. Fleetfoot continued to hold me close, rubbing my back up and down with her hoof as I reeled in my emotions. Fleetfoot held me for a few more seconds before letting go, and moving back to her spot.

Fleetfoot sat on her haunches, moving her hoof along the blanket as she spoke in a careful, caring tone. “Do you… want to talk about it?”

I didn’t say anything as I looked at the mare. After Fleetfoot had mentioned that I was crying, I knew what had caused it. It was something that I have long kept to myself, but after seeing everything Fleetfoot has gone through, while learning a little bit about Spitfire, I thought it was fair to maybe share some of my own past.

After a few more seconds of thinking it over, I gave a small smile at Fleetfoot. “Sure, but do you mind if we wait until we get back home?” Fleetfoot raised a questioning brow at my request. “I would like to share with Spitfire as well so I don’t have to tell this story twice. It’s going to be painful enough the first time.”

Fleetfoot stared at me with a concerned expression for several seconds before giving a soft smile. Nodding her head in understanding, Fleetfoot stood up from her blanket, giving me a quick hug before moving towards the light switch and turning off the lights. I could feel Fleetfoot move the blanket around as she tried to get comfortable on the cloud floor, preparing to suffer a painful night’s rest with me. I could only shake my head as I thought about how weird a pony’s friendship in this world could be. I wouldn’t say that Fleetfoot and I were friends just yet, but it seemed like she was willing to try and be one.

Once Fleetfoot had settled into the blanket, I leaned forward and stroked her mane. I was expecting to have her swat my hand away, or even tell me not to touch her, but she just gave a happy sigh. “Good night, Fleetfoot.”

“Good night, Mark.” Fleetfoot gave a few pats to my hand before she fell to sleep’s embrace.

Letting out a deep sigh, I closed my eyes, and tried to get as much sleep as I could so I could play with the foals at the park.

Morning

“Mark, time to get up,” Fleetfoot said as she pushed against my side.

I gave a small groan as I tried to push away my assailant. “Just five more minutes.”

Fleetfoot didn’t seem to like this as she gripped the blanket in her mouth and ripped it away from my body. Once the blanket was removed, Fleetfoot put a little more pressure behind her pushing. I fell to the floor, grateful that it was still cloud and not a hardwood floor. I cracked an eye open to see Fleetfoot looking down at me, a playful grin on her face as I stretched on the floor. A few pops escaped my arms and back as I tried to wake myself up. Fleetfoot offered me a hoof, and I gladly accepted it as she helped me to my feet.

“Sorry about pushing you to the ground,” Fleetfoot said with an apologetic grin as she stretched out her wings.

“Don’t worry about it. I know you didn’t mean it, and at least I landed on a cloud floor,” I said as I gave one final yawn.

“So, you ready to head out to the park after I get all the foals together?” Fleetfoot asked as she hopped to the air.

“I’ll grab my backpack and your saddlebags and meet you downstairs,” I said as I grabbed my backpack.

Fleetfoot nodded as she flew out of the bedroom and headed for the foals’ room. I exited the bedroom not long after her and I could hear her faintly whisper to the foals, gently rousing them from their slumber. As I headed down the stairs, I spotted Fleetfoot’s saddlebags on a nearby table by the front door. As I went to pick up the saddlebags, I heard Ever Ring’s voice from behind me.

“It seems you plan on taking the foals somewhere.” I turned to face the mare as she gave a slight glare towards me. “Mind telling me where you’re taking them?”

I took a glance towards the stairs to see if I could gauge how far away Fleetfoot and the foals were. Not hearing them anywhere near the stairs, I turned back to Ever Ring with a neutral expression on my face. “Fleetfoot and I are taking them to the park.”

Ever Ring took a few steps closer towards me as she stared directly into my eyes. “What makes you think that I’ll allow this?”

I set my backpack and Fleetfoot’s saddlebags on the ground, and kneeled in front of the unicorn, keeping my eyes locked on hers. “I don’t give two shits if you’re going to allow this.” Ever Ring raised a brow at my slightly harsh tone. “You already treat these foals horribly and I plan on giving them something to smile about, whether you like it or not.”

Ever Ring gave a sharp scowl as she pressed a hoof against my chest, her voice dripping with pure hate and anger. “You better watch what you say, or else I will have the mayor here and have your sorry ass thrown out of this damn city. I raise respectful foals at this orphanage, and only punish those that need to be taught a valuable lesson.”

I let some of my anger slip as I gripped the mare’s hoof, giving a harsh grip, and causing her to give off a quiet whimper. “You keep ponies from acting on their biological instinct! You’re traumatizing foals so much that they would probably need years of therapy to get rid of their nightmares of you. You even let a foal go out in a harsh storm, and she died because of you, you fucking bitch.” I let go of the mare’s hoof, pushing her away from me.

Once I had some space from Ever Ring, I stood to my full height, and spoke to her in a threatening tone. “Go ahead and call the mayor if you want to. I don’t care! I’m just going to make sure that the princesses know exactly what has been going on around here.”

Ever Ring gave a small giggle as she looked up at me, her features giving a sadistic grin. “You think the princesses would be able to do anything.” I raised a brow as the mare’s horn glowed, gripping at the collar of my shirt, and pulling me down so her muzzle was pressing against my nose. “Many other ponies have complained to the princesses, but without any proof, they weren’t able to do a thing.”

Ever Ring let go my shirt’s collar, and trotted off back to her office. I heard her give an evil laughter before closing the door behind her. My right eye gave a slight twitch as I slammed my fist on the table. I heard the wood groan under the impact of my fist, and I bit my lower lip as I stifled my own scream of pain. My hand shook violently as Ever Ring’s words weighed heavily on my mind. The unicorn seemed so confident that she could get away with everything that she had done, and I honestly couldn’t find a way to doubt her claims. Ever Ring had the foals easily silenced under her iron hoof, and it seemed that she was prepared for anything.

I was pulled from my thoughts when I felt a gentle hoof again my leg. Looking down, I saw Everglade looking up at me, her eyes starting to fill with worry. I looked away from the filly, grabbing my hand as I looked at the other ponies that had gathered. Fleetfoot was looking at me with a concerned expression, but she gave a gentle hoof shake, showing we could talk about it later. Looking at the worried foals, I was able to push away some of my anger as I crouched in front of the filly.

“Is everything alright, Mark?” Everglade asked as she wrapped her forelegs around my leg.

I gave a gentle smile as I stroked the filly’s mane, speaking in a calmer tone. “Everything is fine.” I pulled the filly away from my leg so I could carry her as I addressed the other ponies in the room. “Now who wants to go to the park?”

There was an ear splitting cheer as all the foals scampered outside, stopping near the stairs as they looked back at Fleetfoot and myself. Everglade buried her muzzle into my arms as I stepped outside with the foals. Thankfully, the skies had cleared up, and the sun was shining down on the city. Fleetfoot jumped in front of the group, her wings spread wide as she took to the air, and started to lead the group towards a park. The foals were full of energy as they ran around each other, jumping through the air, and playfully rolling around on the clouds.

I made sure to hang back, keeping an eye on the foals to make sure none of them got hurt, and also to make sure that they don’t get separated from the group. Our little tour group seemed to gather a lot of attention as the pegasi that were flying around the sky looked down at us. Many of the pegasi looked at the group of foals before looking back at me, only to stop in their tracks when their brains finally registered what they were looking at. I received many stares from the pegasi, and there were a few flashes that I was sure had come from cameras. I could only assume these pictures were to be used as proof to show the assailant of the current mayor of Cloudsdale visiting their city, or to show that Princess Luna’s concubine was with another mare.

If it wasn’t for Everglade in my arms, and the mass of foals in front of me, I was certain that I would have screamed at every pegasus that stopped and stared at me. The walk was thankfully short as we arrived at a park. There weren’t many pegasi around, and I was generally surprised with what I saw. The park in Cloudsdale was similar to the ones that were around Canterlot, but modified because of its location. There weren’t any trees around, but instead clouds in the formation of trees to give some shade from the sun. There was a walkway that a pony could walk on, and there was even a little picnic area that we could sit at.

There was a little jungle gym near the picnic area, and a cloud box for foals to play in. It was interesting to see a cloud box since pegasi could physically manipulate clouds. The clouds in the cloud box, though, were a different variation of cloud that acted like sand in some sort of way. That cloud was still a cloud, but was specifically designed to be molded into anything a foal desired without causing a small storm. Fleetfoot and I took a seat at the picnic table as the rest of the foals ran towards the playground.

I looked down at Everglade, who beamed up at me. I returned the filly’s smile as I set her on the ground. She then quickly took off towards the other foals. I watched as the foals ran around, playing a game of tag as Everglade and Torch went for the cloud box. Watching the foals play around without a care in the world put a huge smile on my face as I thought back to my youthful years. I was so occupied watching the foals play that I didn’t even notice Fleetfoot scoot next to me. When she finally spoke, I jumped a little from her presence.

“I saw your confrontation with Ever Ring.” Fleetfoot looked up at me as her ears splayed back. “What happened?”

I clasped my hands together, placing them under my chin as I let out a heavy sigh. “Ever Ring wasn’t entirely too enthralled about us taking the foals to the park. She threatened to call the mayor for this and have me thrown out of Cloudsdale, but…”

Fleetfoot placed a hoof on my shoulder as she looked at me with worried eyes. “But what?”

I rubbed the bridge of my nose as I let out a deep exhale. “I opened my big mouth to call her out on everything she has done to the foals.” Fleetfoot didn’t say anything, rubbing my arm with her hoof as I continued talking. “She had no fear from my threat, already prepared for anything that I could throw at her. Do you have anything that could possibly convict her of her actions?”

Fleetfoot removed her hoof from my arm, the feeling of the soft underside of her hoof gone made me want to feel it again. “I tried to talk to the princesses about everything Ever Ring had done, but I didn’t have anything on her. The foals won’t even talk against her for fear that if she doesn’t get convicted, then she will severely punish them.” Fleetfoot let out a heavy sigh as she looked out at the foals. “I don’t blame them since I would never want them to suffer the worst punishment that she could give.”

I looked at Fleetfoot with a raised brow, my lips curling into a small frown. “What the hell did she exactly do to you?”

I saw a small tear form at Fleetfoot’s eyes before she quickly wiped it away. “After Pyro’s passing… I confronted Ever Ring. I just let my anger control me… and I just attacked her. She easily stopped me because of her magic, and after that, she gave me her worst punishment.”

Fleetfoot was trembling as a few whinnies escaped her maw. I did the only thing I could think of at the moment, and that was to wrap the mare in a tight embrace. Fleetfoot wrapped her hooves around me, pulling me closer to her as I felt a few tears stain my shirt. The foals were still busy playing with each other, giving us the alone time that we needed.

I stroked my hand through Fleetfoot’s mane, speaking softly into her ear. “It’s okay, Fleety. Just take a few breaths and we can continue on from there.”

Fleetfoot let out a small giggle at me using her nickname, before finally taking my advice. Fleetfoot took deep breaths, collecting her riled up emotions before looking up at me. “I think it’s better if I show you.”

I didn’t know what she meant, but I was answered quickly when she lifted her left wing, and moved closer so I could see a line of missing fur. A scar was clear as day where her fur was missing, and I moved around the mare’s wing to look at her. “What did she do to you?”

Fleetfoot folded her wings against her side, looking at the foals as she spoke in a quiet, hurt tone. “After Ever Ring had me held in her magic, she grabbed a knife, and threatened to cut my wing off. She was about to, but she seemed to second guess herself as she placed the blade against the base of my wing.”

I easily saw Fleetfoot shiver at the memory of the cold steel against her wing, her hooves moving towards it to cradle it caringly. “She thought that it would be too easy to show that she had harmed you. So instead, she decided to cut you below the base, and then come up with a bullshit story about how you got hurt.”

Fleetfoot nodded as she stared off to the side. Even with my short interaction with Ever Ring, it was easy to see that the mare was as smart as she is crazy. I wouldn’t be surprised if Fleetfoot told me that she tried to use her scar as evidence against the awful caretaker, but Ever Ring was apparently one step ahead of everyone. I was pulled from my thoughts when I felt something wet sliding down my fingers. I looked down at my right hand to see that I had balled it into a fist. I was clenching tightly enough that my nails dug into the skin, and caused me to bleed. I took a few deep breaths as I uncurled my fingers, looking at the four nail marks that were dripping blood.

Fleetfoot turned around to see a few drops of my blood fall from my hand. The mare surprised me when she grabbed my hand and licked at my small wounds. I saw her face scrunch up as she spat a little after giving a few licks to my wound. Fleetfoot licked at my hand for a few more seconds before spitting out the last of my blood, and turning back to me with a concerned expression.

I looked between the mare and my hand a few times before speaking in a soft voice. “What was that about?”

Fleetfoot grabbed my hand with her hooves, holding it between her soft pads as she spoke in a caring tone. “I didn’t bring a first aid kit with me, so I improvised. Ponies do the same thing with foals when they get a little cut to help it heal if they can’t find anything else to use.”

I nodded my head in understanding as I removed my hand from her grip. I wiped her saliva on my pants as I chuckled internally at that small similarity. Animals from Earth would do the same thing to keep their young from getting any sort of infection, and it wasn’t uncommon for humans to do the same since our saliva helped to speed up our healing. I turned away from Fleetfoot as I watched all the foals running around, playing a game of tag. Watching the foals play, I noticed how happy they were, and started wondering if there was anything I could do to help them.

“Hey, Fleet?” Fleetfoot looked at me as I continued to watch the foals. “Are you sure there isn’t anything we can do to convict Ever Ring?”

Fleetfoot let out a heavy sigh as she looked back out at the foals with me. “Pyro was trying to gather anything she could use to convict Ever Ring. She did find a few things, but I don’t know where she hid them.” Fleetfoot gave a soft shake of her head as she turned back to me, placing a hoof on my shoulder. “I’ve tried looking for where she could have possibly hidden it during my travels here, but I’ve had no luck in finding it.”

I let a deep breath escape my mouth as I rubbed the bridge of my nose. If Fleetfoot had been looking for Pyro’s ‘evidence’, and had no luck in finding it, then there might not be anything that I could do. The feeling made me sick to my stomach. I refuse to think that there was nothing I could do to help these foals out. A slight growl escaped my lips as I looked at the foals, determination burning inside me to help them. I looked back at Fleetfoot, who shied back a little from my gaze. I took a few calming breaths, stretching my arms like Twilight had shown me to ease my anger.

“I’m not going to let this continue anymore. We’re going to find wherever Pyro hid her evidence, and we’re going to get these foals a better life.” I stood up from the picnic bench as I gave a confident smile.

Fleetfoot gave a small smile and nod and she hopped into the air, patting my back with a hoof. “I’m glad to hear you say that, Mark. I want to see these foals grow up into wonderful ponies without fear of having to deal with Ever Ring ever again.”

I gave a curt nod to the pegasus as we both went over to join the foals. The foals were excited to have us join them in their little games. I joined Everglade and Torch in the cloud box, building a small cloud castle. Fleetfoot showed off a few tricks from her shows, making sure to use her more simple ones to avoid straining herself. Everglade seemed to enjoy my castle as she started to dig a moat around the building. Torch started building miniature catapults, placing them along the outer walls and towers of the castle.

Fleetfoot and I continued to play with the foals for another hour before finally deciding to go out and get something to eat. The foals were disappointed to hear that we were leaving, but a promise to go the park again during our next visit made them smile brightly. The only thing I hoped for was that during our next visit, Ever Ring would have nothing to do with them. Fleetfoot led us to a little restaurant a few blocks away from the park. When I went up to see what they had to offer, I was surprised to see what they had. A lot of the food on the list isn’t something I have seen at Canterlot.

Fleetfoot ordered cloud meals for the foals, and a cloud sandwich for herself. Not really familiar with anything on the menu, I just took a gamble with a cloud sandwich. We all walked out of the building, and took seats at the tables. The foals happily ate their meals, and by eat, I really mean that they made a mess of everything around and on them. I was about to take a bite of my sandwich when Everglade touched my arm. I looked down at the filly to see that she had food all over her face. I looked at the other foals to see they were in the same state, or even worse than Everglade.

I sighed as I got up from my seat, and entered the building to grab a ton of napkins. I walked back out, taking my chair again as I had the foals line up. I went one by one on each foal, cleaning their faces, manes, and coats. A few of the foals squirmed as I cleaned them, upset with a few harsh rubs I had to give to make sure I got everything off of them. While I was busy cleaning them, I glanced up to see Fleetfoot giving me a small smile. I could only assume that it warmed her heart to see me care for these foals like they should be. Giving the mare a smile in return, I passed her a few napkins, and gestured for her to help out cleaning the foals.

I laughed a little as her smiled turned into a bemused look as she gestured for one of the foals to come towards her. After several minutes of cleaning the foals, they were all presentable, and I was given a chance to try out my new meal. I picked up the cloud sandwich, and took a large bite. After I chomped down on the sandwich, I lost the rest of my meal on my shirt. Fleetfoot was busy laughing at my surprised face as I finished the bit of lettuce, tomato, and pickle from my sandwich. Apparently, cloud sandwiches could only be eaten by pegasi because of their affinity with clouds, but if anyone else tried to eat them, the cloud would just pop.

Shrugging at the mess on my shirt, I grabbed one of the many napkins I brought out, and did my best to clean up. I was able to get most of the food off of my shirt, but I would have to toss the shirt later. Not really up to making a fool of myself again, I stood up from the table, and gestured for us to head back to the orphanage. The foals all nodded as I grabbed my backpack, and slung it over my shoulder. Everglade and Torch jumped on the table, extending their forelegs out to me. I looked at them with a raised brow as they gave huge smiles and adorable puppy eyes. I chuckled a little as I picked up the two foals, and cradled them in my arms.

A couple of foals trotted up to Fleetfoot, begging for a ride on her back. Fleetfoot happily agreed to give them a ride, but now she didn’t know what to do with her saddlebags. Moving Torch over to Everglade for a few seconds, I grabbed Fleetfoot’s saddlebags, and slung them over my shoulder. Fleetfoot looked at me with a worried expression as she turned to look at me fully.

“I can carry that, you know.” Fleetfoot gestured to the saddlebags.

I gave the mare a smile as I shrugged my shoulders. “I don’t mind carrying it. Plus, I think you could go without having to deal with adjusting while you carry the foals.”

Fleetfoot looked away as she mumbled under her breath. “It’s usually the mare that would offer to carry something.”

“What was that?” I asked as I leaned in closer to hear what she had to say.

Fleetfoot took a few steps back quickly as she looked at me with a slight blush. “I said as long as you’re okay with it.”

I nodded my head as I moved Torch to my other arm, and gestured for Fleetfoot to take us back. Fleetfoot hovered in the air, but made sure to stick close to the ground in case one of the foals slipped off her back. The foals didn’t jump around as much as they did this morning. A few gave large yawns as they fought to stay awake. I wasn’t surprised to see how tired they were since they were going at full energy when we left the building. Torch had fallen asleep in my arms, but Everglade was fighting against her sleep by chewing on my arm.

We made it back to the orphanage, and thankfully, Ever Ring was nowhere to be seen. Fleetfoot started to lead the foals back to their bedroom, getting them in bed to get some sleep. I placed Torch in his bed while I continued to let Everglade happily chew on my arm. Since after our first encounter, she was able to avoid biting through my skin, and instead made it tickle. I moved towards Everglade’s bed, glancing up at Fleetfoot as she put the last foals away in their bed.

“Hey, why don’t you go take a shower? I can take care of everything from here,” I offered as I smiled at the mare.

Fleetfoot smiled back as she spoke in a delighted tone. “Thanks, Mark. I’ll be in the bedroom after I shower.” Fleetfoot started to head for the door, but stopped as she turned around to address me. “Also, we’re taking the first carriage back to Canterlot. Make sure to get to bed early.”

I nodded to the mare as I waved her off with a hand. I watched as the mare left, waiting a few seconds before looking down at Everglade. “Hey, Everglade, do you think you can help me with something?”

Everglade stopped chewing on my arm as she looked up at me with her bright yellow eyes. “I can try.”

I nodded my head as I placed the filly in bed, leaning in close so the others don’t hear me. “Do you know where either Fleetfoot’s or Pyro’s beds used to be when they stayed here?”

Everglade looked at me, her head bobbing side to side as she thought. It seemed like she wasn’t coming up with anything, but could I really blame her? I was asking a five year old to tell me the location of something that was many years old. A couple minutes passed, and it seemed like I wasn’t going to get an answer. I was about to kiss the filly on the head, and move to Fleetfoot’s room before Everglade placed a hoof on my hand.

“My bed used to belong to Fleetfoot. Pyro’s is…” Everglade hesitated as her eyes shifted from side to side. She gestured for me to move closer, and I did so. “Pyro’s room is the door next to Madame Ever Ring’s office.”

I nodded my head as I stroked the filly’s mane. “Thank you for that. Do you mind if I searched your bed for something?”

Everglade shook her head, and moved so I could look around it. I lifted the mattress, looked under the bed, and pulled it out some to see if anything was missing, but nothing was out of place. I gave a small frown at this setback, but I still had two more places to look. Kissing Everglade on the head, I tucked her into her bed, and wished her a good night’s rest. I moved out of the foals’ room, turning out the light as I left the door slightly ajar. I looked towards where the bathroom was, and I saw the door was still closed. I moved over to the bathroom, and pressed my ear against the door. I could hear the water still running, and made to move fast with what I was doing.

I moved towards the stairs, but stopped at the picture that had Fleetfoot, Spitfire, Pyro, and all the other foals. Giving the picture a curious look, I moved the picture to the side to see a regular cloud wall. I put the picture back where it belonged, and moved down the stairs. I looked towards Ever Ring’s office, and made sure that she wasn’t anywhere near. Taking a deep breath, I moved towards the office, and saw a door next to it. There were no other doors, and I could only take the guess that this was Pyro’s room. I grabbed the handle of the door, and as I turned it… it was locked. I cursed under my breath as I threw my hands in the air in exasperation.

I looked at Ever Ring’s office as I bounded on the tips of my toes. I moved towards the stairway, and took a quick look around. Fleetfoot was nowhere to be seen, and neither was Ever Ring. I moved back to Ever Ring’s office, placing my hand on the doorknob. I knew I would get in a lot of trouble for what I was going to do, but from everything I’ve heard about Pyro as of late, I had a good idea where she might have hidden everything. I turned the doorknob to the office, and the door opened. I looked around the office to see a mahogany desk in the middle, three bookshelves filled to the brim in the back, and two chairs in front of the desk.

I moved towards the desk and started sifting through all the papers. I found nothing on the desk, so I moved on for the drawers. Many of the drawers had books, papers, a flask, whiskey, and a collection of very adult magazines. The drawer with the magazines I quickly shut before opening it again. I looked through the magazines, yelling at myself to stop going through all this, but I couldn’t take my eyes away from Ever Ring’s vast collection. I probably would have spent hours looking through her magazines if I wasn’t stopped by a certain one. I looked at the cover of the magazine to see Spitfire and Fleetfoot on the front cover. I quickly pocketed that magazine in my backpack, and closed the drawer.

There was only one drawer left to look through, and I took a deep breath as I prepared for whatever horrors I might find in the drawer. I opened the middle drawer, and immediately closed it. I found the key I was looking for, and apparently a large assortment of sex toys. I couldn’t help but pound my head on the desk at my terrible luck. I started laughing hysterically, making sure not to be too loud as I gripped the drawer again. Mentally preparing myself, I pulled the drawer open, and grabbed the key. After grabbing the key, I slammed the drawer close, wincing at how loud it was as I moved out of the office.

I closed the door to Ever Ring’s office, and moved towards Pyro’s bedroom. I realized I didn’t even take the time to look if there were other keys in the office, but I really didn’t want to go back in that nightmare room. Putting the key in the lock, I prayed that this key would work. Turning the key, I heard the door unlock, and started mentally cheering. Happy with my luck so far, I opened the door as quickly as I could. As the door opened, I noticed something fall from above. Looking at the ground, I raised a brow to see a spider on the floor.

The hairs on the spider were white, and it gave it a very fluffy look. There was a blue ring on the top of the spider’s abdomen, indicating it was female. Taking a closer look, she was the size of at least a tarantula. The spider looked up at me for a few seconds, before gesturing towards the stairs. I nodded my head as the spider scurried downstairs. I stood at the top step for a few seconds, trying to make sure that I understood what I saw.

“Huh, a female version of Scary. What a small world,” I mumbled to myself as I flipped the light switch.

The light was a dull yellow, barely illuminating the room, but I could make out the few things in the room. I saw a bed against the back wall in a corner, a bookshelf next to the end of the stairs, and a small desk against the left wall. With little to work with, and probably not a lot of time to spare, I started my search. I began with Pyro’s bed, moving the mattress around, and looking under it. I found nothing around the bed, so I moved towards the desk. Papers were littered across the top, and I saw there were even a few pictures of Pyro, Fleetfoot, and Spitfire. They were very well drawn, and I couldn’t help but smile at the picture.

I grabbed all the pictures that Pyro had made, and stuffed them into my backpack. With the pictures collected, I began searching through the desk’s drawers. During my search through the drawers, I started slamming each one that I searched through. There was nothing in any of the drawers, and I was starting to worry that I wouldn’t find anything. Slamming my fist on the desk, I stood up, and moved towards my only hope. I looked at the scarce amount of books and folders on the bookshelf. Grabbing the first book, I flipped through the pages to see if anything was out of place.

I searched through all the books and folders for ten minutes, and I started to worry that Fleetfoot would come looking for me. Searching through the last book, I threw it against the wall. All my time was wasted as I came up with absolutely nothing. Moving towards the bed, I sat on the edge as I placed my face in my hands. Taking a few breaths, I stood up from the bed, and started for the stairs. As I neared the stairs, I tripped on something, and hit the cloud floor. I groaned as I rolled to my side, and saw a piece of cloud sticking up. Moving towards the cloud piece, I grabbed it, and tried lifting it.

I removed the cloud piece to see a key underneath. I removed the key, but I found nothing for it to go to. I stared at the key intently as I looked over at the bookshelf. Giving the bookshelf a curious look, I grabbed it, and moved it to the side. With the bookshelf out of the way, I saw another piece of cloud sticking out. I grabbed the cloud piece, and removed it from the wall. I looked inside the hold to see a small safe. I grabbed the safe, and pulled it out. I placed the safe on the ground, and put the key inside. The door to the safe unlocked, and I opened the door.

Inside the safe was a folder, and a smaller picture of Spitfire, Fleetfoot, and Pyro. I placed the picture inside my backpack, and pulled out the folder. The folder was decently filled, but I wasn’t sure what was inside. Not working with much anymore, I put the folder away in my backpack, and closed up the safe. I returned everything I had moved to its rightful place, and went back up the stairs. I ran into female Scary at the top step, who gave me a gentle nod. Even after those animal lessons with Fluttershy, seeing this much intelligence from a spider was kind of frightening. The only thing that could make the spider even scarier would be if it was working for some mob where the boss had an obvious name that went over everyone’s head.

Shaking my head from those silly thoughts, and filing them away to talk to Vinyl about later, I closed the door, and locked it. I moved towards Ever Ring’s office to see that she was still gone. I moved into her office, and walked towards her desk. I looked at the middle drawer of doom, which I’m now naming Mordor, and prepared to open it. I grabbed the handles of the drawer, and pulled it open. I threw the key inside, and closed the drawer. I briskly walked out of the office, and headed up the stairs. At the top step, I grabbed the picture that had all the foals that knew Pyro, and placed it in my backpack.

I walked over to the bathroom, and didn’t hear the water running. I moved over towards Fleetfoot’s bedroom, and looked inside to see the mare asleep. I could assume that she was very tired from everything that has gone on during these two days. Quietly stepping inside, I left the door ajar as I walked over to the mare. I gave Fleetfoot a small frown as I stroked her mane. I heard the mare give a delighted sigh as I moved away from her. I sat against the wall I slept on and opened my backpack. I pulled out the folder, and looked over at Fleetfoot to make sure she was still asleep. Seeing that she was still out cold, I looked back at the folder. Taking a deep breath, I cracked the folder open, and my eyes widened at what I was seeing.

I’d finally found what I was looking for. All the hard work that Fleetfoot had put in to help the foals was finally going to play off. Fleetfoot was still asleep, so I decided to take a small peak at what was inside. I opened the folder and dropped it immediately after what I had seen. Picking up the folder, I looked out the door to make sure that Ever Ring was nowhere near the bedroom. Moving away from the door, I grabbed my backpack, and placed the folder inside. If the few sentences were anything to go by, then there was no chance for Ever Ring to talk her way out of everything she had done.

Author's Note

Everyone, please give a warm welcome to Zooman Stan (his profile is linked in the description), who has taken Izanagi's position as my editor until his return. Also, writing emotional scenes is hard when you have a disability that makes you pretty emotionless.

Pyro's Peace

Fleeting Flames
By: Duelist96
Chapter 10: Pyro’s Peace

I was startled awake by Fleetfoot harshly shaking my body. My entire body went into overdrive as I jumped to my feet. The blanket that I had on at some point fell to the ground. Fleetfoot fixed me with a worried look as I tried to wake up the rest of my body. My back ached as I stretched to the side, Fleetfoot’s gaze never leaving me as I tried to work out the kinks. After doing a few twists and turns, I grabbed the blanket and proceeded to fold it.

I was pulled from folding the blanket when Fleetfoot spoke, her voice holding a hint of worry and hesitation. “Is… is everything… alright, Mark?”

I smiled at Fleetfoot, the mare relaxing a little from my chipper look, but she still showed slight signs of worry. “Yeah, everything’s fine.”

Outside I was fine, but I wasn’t doing so well on the inside. After looking inside that folder, my dreams were haunted with awful nightmares. I could understand that Ever Ring was cruel, but I couldn’t believe how much of a demented bitch she was. Everything that Pyro had written down - even the pictures that she had taken - was more than I could handle at the time. I took a quick glance at my backpack as I thought about what to do with the information that I had found. I knew that if they read it, they wouldn’t be able to stop themselves from lashing out. I was half tempted to just take it to the princesses without telling either mare about what I had learned.

As I looked towards Fleetfoot, that idea was shut down immediately. Fleetfoot had spent years looking for something to use against Ever Ring, and the more I thought about it, Spitfire had just as much of a right to know as she did. I was glad that my smile never faded as I looked at Fleetfoot, my mind finally deciding what to do. I was going to share the information with the mares, and then we will go see the princesses and enlist their help to end this once and for all. Nodding to Fleetfoot, the mare finally stopped staring as she fixed her bed. While Fleetfoot was distracted, I grabbed my backpack and unzipped it. I cracked the folder open, grabbing a piece of paper and quickly zipping my backpack up.

I folded the paper and put it away in my pocket. I was going to let the mares see everything I had found, but this one piece of paper needed to wait until I could speak alone with Fleetfoot. Once Fleetfoot smoothed out the covers, I placed my blanket back on the bed. Fleetfoot turned around with a small smile that quickly disappeared as she stared at me with curiosity. I raised a brow at the mare as I tried to see what she was staring at exactly. Fleetfoot seemed to have read my mind as she lifted a hoof, pointing towards my left shoulder. I looked at where she was pointing, and on my shoulder was the spider from before.

“What are you doing here?” I asked as the spider gave a shrug.

I was pulled away from looking at the spider as Fleetfoot spoke up. “Mark, why is there a spider on your shoulder?”

I gave a gentle shrug of my shoulders as I lifted my hand to the spider. The spider walked onto my hand as I looked at her, answering Fleetfoot’s question as I petted the spider. “I found her when I was downstairs grabbing my backpack.” I stopped petting the spider as I moved her towards Fleetfoot. “Would you like to hold her? She’s very friendly.”

Fleetfoot gave a gentle giggle as she shook her head. “Thanks for the offer, Mark, but I think I’ll pass.” Fleetfoot gave one final look to the spider before looking back at me with a raised brow. “How do you know that it’s a she?”

I moved the spider around in my hand so she could see her abdomen. “Fluttershy taught me about this particular spider.” I gestured towards the blue ring. “Males have a red ring while females have a blue one.”

Fleetfoot nodded in understanding as she turned her attention towards me again. “So what are you going to name her?”

I scratched my chin in thought as I stared at the spider. “I’m not really sure. Are we keeping her as a pet?”

Fleetfoot laughed a little before shaking her hoof. “I’m all for pets, but Spitfire and I want something a little more… Umm, how do I put it…? Exotic.”

I gave a soft frown as I stared back at the spider. I looked at the spider before speaking to her, seeing how much she could understand. “Hey, little one, would you like to be with another spider of the same species?” The spider gave what I assumed was an energetic nod as it clapped its front legs together.

Fleetfoot gave the spider a curious look as she turned towards me, pointing a hoof towards the spider. “Does she actually understand what we’re saying?”

“From what Fluttershy has taught me, these types of spiders are very intelligent. She even mentioned them being very good pets.” I looked back at the spider, thinking of a name before one finally clicked with me. “Ah ha! Frightening, that’s her name. I’ll drop you off with a couple of friends of mine that have a spider named Scary, and before you ask, yes, Scary is a male.”

This seemed to get Frightening’s attention as I swore I saw her blush a little. I couldn’t help but laugh at seeing the spider blush as I placed her back on my shoulder. Fleetfoot took to the air as she looked at the spider, giving her an apologetic smile as she extended a hoof towards Frightening.

“Sorry that we couldn’t keep you as a pet. I hope there’s no hard feelings between us.” Fleetfoot smiled warmly, hoping Frightening would accept her apology.

Frightening looked between Fleetfoot and her hoof before taking it in one of her small legs and giving it a shake while another leg gave a dismissive wave.

After Frightening released Fleetfoot’s hoof, the pegasus turned towards me, her brow raised. “So who exactly is this friend that you’re going to give Frightening to?”

I couldn’t help the slightly evil grin that appeared on my face. “I’m going to give Frightening to Bon Bon and her marefriend Lyra.”
Fleetfoot backed away a little from seeing my grin. “Why do I have a bad feeling about this?”

I looked towards Fleetfoot, getting rid of my grin and replacing it with a reassuring smile. “That’s because there’s a good chance that Bon Bon will be upset with me. She might also not find it amusing that I’m giving her another spider friend.”

Fleetfoot gave a gentle nod before her ears perked up. “When you say Lyra, do you mean Lyra Heartstrings?”

I nodded my head. “Yeah, mint green coat with a dual colored mane of light green and white. Has golden eyes and a cutie mark of a lyre.”

Fleetfoot’s eyes widened at the realization of who I was talking about. “The same mare that plays the lyre for the Canterlot Symphony?” I gave her a nod and she couldn’t help herself as she shook her head while laughing. “How are you still here and not attached to her at the waist?”

I gave a slight shrug as I headed for the door. “She used to pester me a lot about myself and my world, but we were able to work out a compromise where I could answer all her questions, and I don’t end up having my hand taken away from me.”

Fleetfoot bursted out with laughter as we headed downstairs. “I’m sorry, but that’s just too funny! I don’t care what some ponies say about her, she seems like a nice mare. She has heart to believe in things against all odds, and that’s something I can respect.”

I nodded my head in agreement as I let out a few chuckles myself. “She is a really great mare. Probably one of the quickest friends that I ever made beside Twilight and her friends.”

The two of us reached the bottom of the stairs and were standing in front of the door. I wanted to say goodbye to the foals, but it just didn’t seem appropriate. Some people thought it was weird that I never said goodbye, but that’s because of what I believed. Saying goodbye is almost like acknowledging that we won’t ever see each other again, and I plan on seeing these foals again very soon, hopefully later today if I can get with one of the princesses. Taking a quick glance up the stairs, I looked towards Fleetfoot as she placed her saddlebags on her back. Fleetfoot gave me a curt nod and I opened the door.

We were about to step outside, but were immediately stopped when five guards blocked our path. All five guards were clearly pegasi, and as I looked them over, I spotted the two ponies that I didn’t wish to see. The mayor of Cloudsdale stepped forward, a huge grin spread across his face as Ever Ring trotted up next to him. The mayor stopped in front of me while Ever Ring pushed past Fleetfoot. Fleetfoot seemed ready to pounce the unicorn, but I stopped her as I raised a hand in front of her.

I took a deep breath as I looked towards the mayor, making sure that my voice was collected. “Can I help you?”

The mayor waved a dismissive hoof as he smiled at me. “I just thought that you and your little whorse marefriend would like an escort back to the carriage station since your two days are up.”

I think the guards noticed my eye twitch as they prepared for some kind of attack. Taking a breath, I crouched down so I could look the mayor in the face. “Thank you very much for the escort.” The mayor raised a brow in confusion as I smiled at him. “Also, I hope you’ve enjoyed your time as a mayor, since your time is up.”

My smile turned into a serious look as I stared straight into his eyes. The mayor trembled under my stare before shaking himself free of the fear. Standing back up, I looked down at Fleetfoot as she gave me concerned look. I gave her a gentle nod as I turned back towards the building and looked up to where the foals’ room was. I felt something poke my leg, and looking down revealed Fleetfoot gesturing for us to follow the escort.

“Give me a second,” I whispered as I looked back up at the window. “Everglade, Torch, everyone!” I screamed. The window opened a few seconds later, the foals sticking their heads out and looking at me as Ever Ring opened the front door and glared at me. Ignoring the mare’s death gaze, I looked back at the foals. “I’ll be back very soon to get you out of this hell!” I could barely make out the smiles the foals gave me as I turned back to Ever Ring.

I walked towards Ever Ring, the sound of clanking armor behind me giving away that the guards were following my step. I crouched down when I was a few inches away from Ever Ring, my expression serious as I let hatred lace every work. “If I return to find out that so much as a single hair has been harmed on their head, you better be praying to Celestia that someone is holding me back.”

Ever Ring gave a smirk as she leaned in closer, her tone confident as she spoke with pride. “I have gotten away with this for years. There is nothing you can do to stop me. So why don’t you stop playing the hero and just go back to your two whorses?”

I continued to stare at Ever Ring as I gave her a big grin. “We’ll see about that.” I stood back up as I turned my back to the mare, beginning to walk back to the carriage station. I stopped as I glanced over my shoulder to look at Ever Ring. “Just remember that you started this fight against someone that you know nothing about. Also, Pyro wants you to know that she always despised you. So have fun while you can, bitch.”

I could feel the mare trying to bore through the back of my skull with her heated gaze as I walked away. Fleetfoot took to the air, hovering next to me as we were escorted back to the carriage station. Frightening looked at me with a worried look, but didn’t do anything as she climbed to the top of my head. As we walked back to the carriage station, I noticed the mayor stumble a bit during his trot. The mayor took to the air, trying to collect himself. I smiled internally that I was able to cause his frazzled state. It took a lot of willpower to not cheer in joy that his time here in Cloudsdale was limited.

Fleetfoot and I were escorted back to the carriage station and the mayor handed us our tickets. Well, he handed Fleetfoot her ticket, he just dropped mine on the ground and retreated behind the guards. I picked up my ticket, smiling at the mare as I followed Fleetfoot to our carriage. Fleetfoot allowed me to enter first, the mare quickly following behind me as she closed the door. It wasn’t long before the carriage took to the air as the two of us reclined back to relax from that tense encounter.

During the trip back, I saw that Fleetfoot would look towards me, but quickly avert her eyes when I turned to face her. Fleetfoot kept at this for a few minutes before I finally spoke up. “What’s wrong, Fleety?”

Thankfully, my little nickname for Fleetfoot was able to get her to giggle as she sat up. Sadly, her laughter stopped as she gave me a soft frown. “Mark, how come you got those foals’ hopes up after we left?”

I gave Fleetfoot a frown of my own as I moved to sit next to her. Fleetfoot didn’t seem to mind as she made enough room so the two of us could sit comfortably. I let out a deep sigh as I rubbed at my head, trying to push away what the mayor and Ever Ring had called her and Spitfire. “I did that because I meant it.”

Fleetfoot looked up at me with a disbelieving expression. “How could you have meant that? It would take weeks if not months to get you another admittance into Cloudsdale, and even then, you don’t have enough time to take days off yet.”

I could clearly see the concern that Fleetfoot had as I grabbed at my backpack. Fleetfoot watched as I reached inside of my backpack before turning towards me as I spoke. “Do you know if Spitfire is at the house or the castle?”

Fleetfoot raised a brow in confusion as she ignored me digging through my backpack. “She should be at the castle practicing with everypony for the upcoming celebration. Why do you need to know that?”

I felt the folder in my hand, but I was hesitant to pull it out. I looked back at Fleetfoot as I gave her a small smile. “What if I told you I found a way to finally get rid of Ever Ring and the mayor?”

Fleetfoot gave me a bemused expression as she turned to face me fully. “First off, I would be surprised that you would have found something when I couldn’t find anything for years. Secondly, no matter how much I trust you, Mark, I don’t believe-”

I cut off Fleetfoot as I showed her the folder. Fleetfoot grabbed the folder in her hooves, looking at Pyro’s name that was on the front cover. Tears welled up in Fleetfoot’s eyes as she looked back at me, her voice cracking a little. “W-what is… what is this?”

I placed a finger on the folder, tapping it gently as I spoke. “This is stuff that Pyro gathered to convict Ever Ring. She even got a few things to convict the mayor as well.”

Fleetfoot opened the folder harshly as she started looking through all the documents. She made sure to keep everything in order as she turned back to me, confusion evident on her face. “How did you find this? I’ve been looking for years, but you found it in only two days.”

I gave a small frown as I looked back at my vacant seat, tears threatening to form in my eyes. “I just know a few things. I’ll explain it to you later since it goes with what I want to explain to both you and Spitfire.”

Fleetfoot closed the folder as she looked at me. She handed me the folder, and I quickly packed it away. The rest of the ride back was quiet, tense, but Fleetfoot wrapped one of her wings around my side to help ease the slight pain that I was feeling. I closed my eyes as I buried my face in my hands, leaning against Fleetfoot as she rubbed my back gently with her wing. One of her hooves was placed on my shoulder as she leaned close to my ear, humming softly as I tried to leave my thoughts of the past.

The carriage finally arrived at Canterlot, and as the two pegasi that were pulling the carriage opened the door, I felt Fleetfoot shift a little as she gestured for the two ponies to move away. It seemed they took to her request as I heard them fly away from the carriage. Rubbing the bridge of my nose, I slung my backpack over my shoulders and grabbed Fleetfoot’s saddlebags. Fleetfoot exited the carriage first while I took a quick look around to see where Frightening might have gone. A gentle tap to my cheek alerted me that the spider was still on my shoulder. With everything gathered, I stepped out of the carriage.

Popping my neck a few times, I headed off in the direction away from the castle. “Come on Fleetfoot, I want to see if Lyra and Bon Bon are still in town before heading for the castle.”

Fleetfoot quickly flew up to my side as she followed me. “I thought you wanted to get this over with?”

I nodded as I lifted my hands towards Frightening, letting the spider get a better view of the city. “I do, and I plan on getting it done today. I really don’t care if I have to interrupt a meeting to get it done. I just want to make sure this is taken care of before we forget.”

Fleetfoot nodded her head as she floated next to me. I had a rough idea of where Lyra and Bon Bon were staying, so hopefully it wouldn’t take too long. The walk was pretty quiet between Fleetfoot and I, but Frightening seemed to be enjoying the sights. I couldn’t help but chuckle as the spider turned around in my hand, her soft hairs tickling my skin. While Frightening was busy spinning in my hand, I took a glance at Fleetfoot to see how she was doing. When I looked at her, I had to shake my head to make sure I wasn’t seeing anything.

Before, I used to see Fleetfoot as just a regular mare, just like every other pony, especially my friends. My knowledge about relationships in this world has been very minimal, but I have learned a few things as I’ve stayed with the two Wonderbolts. It probably didn’t help that some of my friends were very lax with being open about what happens in their relations, then that gets added on to that I haven’t really had a relationship in a while, so now I’ve been dealing with these strange feelings. I never really thought about dating in this world, but then again, I’ve also had my mind set that I would be returning back to Earth.

Now that I’ve been stuck here for a while, I kind of accepted that some things were going to need some change. With everything that I’ve been through with Fleetfoot, I saw her in a different light. After sharing that folder with her, she seemed to positively glow with joy. Her wings were lovely as they beat gently to keep her aloft, her mane and tail gently moving as the wind blew past us. Her light purple eyes were lovely as the sun made them shine a little more. It was at this moment that I had no words to describe the beauty that I was seeing. Fleetfoot turned to look at me and I had to quickly avert my gaze.

Fleetfoot didn’t say anything as I silently chastised myself for staring at her like some kind of creep. I kept my eyes to the ground for a few minutes before looking up to see where we were. Taking a look at a few of the buildings, I knew we weren’t far from where the two mares were staying at. Picking up the pace as I held Frightening close to my chest, I rounded the last corner to see the small house Lyra and Bon Bon were staying at. Fleetfoot landed next to me, trotting along as I walked up the cobblestone path to the door. I didn’t pay attention to the details of the house since I wasn’t going to be coming here that often.

Reaching the door, I gave a few knocks and waited for an answer. Seconds went by after my first knock. With no answer, I gave another one, putting on a little more force than before. An uneasy silence started to settle as I began to worry that neither of the mares were home. A few more seconds passed before I finally decided that Fleetfoot and I should head back. As soon as I turned to leave, I heard the door click, signaling that someone had started to unlock it. I turned around to see Bon Bon standing in the doorway with a warm smile adorning her face.

“Hello there, Mark. What can I do for you?” Bon Bon asked as she stepped to the side, allowing us entrance.

Fleetfoot trotted into the house with me following close behind. I kept Frightening hidden from Bon Bon as I wanted the spider to be a little surprise. Fleetfoot took a seat on the couch as I saw Scary’s aquarium in the corner. I raised a brow as I didn’t see the spider anywhere, not even in the sand. I joined Fleetfoot on the couch as Bon Bon closed the door, joining us in her living room.

Bon Bon took a seat in the chair across from us. “Hey, Bon Bon, where’s Scary?”

Bon Bon looked confused for a moment before she realized what I asked. Holding up a hoof, she used her other hoof to reach into her mane. I watched with slight interest as she pulled Scary out of her mane. “I was cleaning up in the kitchen and he wanted to join me.”

I nodded my head as I mumbled under my breath. “That spider is so weird.”

I was pulled from my thoughts when Bon Bon spoke up again. “So was there anything you needed, Mark, or were you just wanting to visit a little?”

Looking up at the mare, I moved my hand away from my chest. “I actually have a surprise for you.”

Bon Bon looked at my hand with interest before giving me a deadpan expression. “If it’s anything like the other surprises you’ve given me, then I’m not amused.”

I leaned next to Fleetfoot to whisper in her ear. “Told you.”

My actions didn’t seem go unnoticed by the candy mare. “What did you tell her?”

I sighed as I kept my hand closed, waiting for the perfect moment to reveal Frightening. “That you wouldn’t be very amused with my surprise.”

Bon Bon rolled her eyes as she began to pet Scary. “That’s because you have poor sense in what a surprise is.”

I waved my other hand dismissively as I moved on with the topic. “Either way, do you mind bringing Scary closer?”

Bon Bon looked at me with a skeptical brow before getting off of her chair and bringing Scary closer. Once Scary was in front of my hand, I uncurled my fingers, and I’m pretty sure that I saw Scary blush. Bon Bon was busy staring with wide eyes at the spider in my hand. Frightening took tentative steps closer to Scary, a small blush appearing all over their bodies. The two spiders met where there was a gap between my hand and Bon Bon’s hoof. The two spiders touched their two front legs together as they did something I assumed was some kind of dance.

I was pulled away from the spiders as Bon Bon spoke. “Mark, where did you get that spider?”

I shrugged my shoulders, making sure to not interrupt the dance between the two spiders as I answered. “I found her during my trip to Cloudsdale. I was wondering if you would be willing to take her in since Fleetfoot and Spitfire don’t want to have her around.”

Scary and Frightening let go of each other as they made their ways to the floor. Bon Bon watched as the two spiders walked across the carpet, heading for the aquarium. She watched them for a few more seconds before turning around to face me. “I don’t know, Mark. Scary already requires a lot of my attention, let alone Lyra taking up a lot of that time as well.”

“Yet you still love them,” I said as I pointed at her.

Bon Bon rolled her eyes as she gave a small sigh. “Yes, I do love them, but I still don’t think having another spider around is a good idea. I mean, I would love to watch after… what’s her name?”

“Her name’s Frightening,” I answered.

Bon Bon gave me a deadpan look as she gestured towards the aquarium, then back to me. “Really?” I gave a slight shrug of my shoulders as Bon Bon shook her head. “I would love to watch after Frightening, but I don’t think it’s such-”

“Oh, sweet Celestia! Scary, what are you doing?!” Lyra screamed, cutting off Bon Bon.

I looked towards Lyra as I could barely make out sand being thrown around. I scrunched my eyes in concentration as I tried to figure out what exactly could be going on. It’s obviously something embarrassing since Lyra was blushing profusely, but I couldn’t figure out what it was. Scary and Frightening seemed to hit it off very well, and they seemed to enjoy that… dance. At that moment I just realized what was going on. Bon Bon got up from her couch to see what Lyra was looking at, and I leaned close to Fleetfoot.

I looked towards Bon Bon and the door before speaking to Fleetfoot in a hushed tone. “Let’s get out of here before this gets out of hand.”

Fleetfoot gave a curious look at me before looking back to the aquarium. I could see the gears turning in her head before a small blush formed on her cheeks, her wings giving a slight twitch. She looked back at me and made gestures with her hooves to symbolize what the spiders were doing. I gave a slow nod, and Fleetfoot immediately got off the couch. The two of us briskly walking towards the door as we watched Bon Bon near the aquarium. As Fleetfoot and I neared the door, we saw Bon Bon freeze in front of the aquarium. Not leaving anything to chance, I opened the door and the two of us bolted out as we heard Bon Bon scream.

“MARK, I’LL GET YOU FOR THIS!” Bon Bon appeared in front of the door, her face red from anger and embarrassment.

“Take good care of Frightening!” I yelled as I hopped a tiny bush and sprinted down the sidewalk, Fleetfoot following suit.

After running for a good two minutes, I slowed down to a walk to get my breath back. Fleetfoot continued to float in the air, her breathing still normal after booking it from the house. Taking a few deep breaths, my lungs began to burn as I tried to get air in them. Once I was done heaving, we started towards the castle.

“Looks like somepony needs to get in shape,” Fleetfoot said as she nudged my side.

“I’ve actually been thinking about going to a gym again, but I really don’t want to spend the bits for that,” I said as I wiped some sweat off from my forehead.

Fleetfoot placed a hoof on my shoulder as she smiled at me. “If you don’t want to pay for a gym membership, you can just use mine and Spitfire’s personal gym at the castle.”

“Are you willing to be my spotter if I do?” I asked as I smiled back at the mare.

Fleetfoot nodded as she started to float circles around me. “As long as you take your training seriously, then I’m willing to help you.”

As the mare started to make another pass in front of me, I stuck out my hand. Fleetfoot stopped her movements to extend her own hoof and grasped my hand. “Deal,” I said as we shook on it.

The two of us continued on our walk back to the castle, neither of us saying anything as we tried to think about how to approach Spitfire with the news. I wasn’t really sure what Fleetfoot had in mind, but I was thinking of going with just a more direct approach. After a couple of minutes of thinking about what to do, a random thought just crossed my mind. I just gave Scary a spider I had found, named Frightening, who was female. It didn’t take long for those two to get intimate in the aquarium. Both Scary and Frightening were very intelligent spiders, and that caused me to wonder what their children would be like.

As I continued to think about the future little baby spiders, I came to the conclusion that I probably just doomed Equestria to a swarm of miniature Scaries and Frightenings. I couldn’t help but chuckle at the thought as the two spiders swarmed all over Canterlot, their children helping them conquer the kingdom. Well, it was fun while it lasted. I probably just doomed Equestria, but it was still pretty funny no matter how I looked at it. Maybe if I was lucky, Frightening would be kind enough to spare Fleetfoot, Spitfire, and I.

Shaking away my silly thoughts, I saw the castle coming into view and picked up the pace. As Fleetfoot and I neared the gates, the two guards nodded to us as they allowed us to enter. A few maids and guards were out and about in the castle, doing their regular duties. Fleetfoot and I greeted them as they greeted us in return. Thankfully, the halls to Spitfire’s office were clear of any ponies, and we were able to get there without any distractions. We were about to enter the office when I had a strange feeling about mine. I handed Fleetfoot my backpack and her saddlebags as I walked over to my office door.

Fleetfoot watched me with a raised brow as I inspected the door. Everything seemed perfectly fine from what I could remember, and my key to the door was still where I left it. Still, I couldn’t shake this weird feeling that someone had been inside and did something. Grabbing my key from the plastic bin, I unlocked my door and opened it slightly. I left enough space to squeeze my arm through and flipped on the light. Seeing that there was nothing on the walls, and that nothing grabbed at my arm, I took a peek inside. My face burned slightly at all the pictures that were strewn about my office.

There were very lewd pictures of mares strewn about my room. Each mare was in an almost exposing pose, but thankfully everything was still covered up. The problem was that a few of the pictures were ponies that I easily recognized. There was a picture of Spitfire with her flank high in the air. A picture of Fleetfoot lying on her back, her tail covering her intimate area as she gave bedroom eyes. Another picture had Echo and Moon cuddling together, their tails entwined as they looked to the side, their eyes burning with desire. A picture of Surprise and Steel Wing hung behind my desk. Surprise was on Steel Wing’s back, the pegasus preening the griffoness’ wings while Steel Wing was running her talons along Surprise’s side. The final picture had Shield, Strongheart, and Razor Wing all lying on a bed together, each of them wearing some very fuzzy socks while their eyes held lustful intentions. I was slightly surprised to see a picture of Clover and Cinnamon Spice together, both mares holding each other as they gave each other a deep, passionate kiss.

I quickly slammed my door, probably causing many ponies to look towards the sound of the disturbance as I tried to banish all those pictures from my thoughts. I locked my door and threw the key into the plastic bin as I planned my next prank on Luna. I knew there was a chance that Luna had possibly gotten someone else to help her put up those pictures, but I wasn’t entirely sure who it could be. This left me with only one option, and that was to make sure that Luna understood that she had brought this upon herself. I continued to stare at my door as I tried to figure out how I was going to deal with those pictures, when a sudden thought occurred to me.

I looked back at Spitfire’s office to see that Fleetfoot wasn’t there. I assumed that she had probably already entered the office and was already talking with Spitfire. Giving a few nods and deep breaths, I took a step towards the office, when a sudden thought returned in full force. My eyes widened as I remembered I had the revealing magazine with both Spitfire and Fleetfoot on the cover. Taking one of my hands, I started to slap myself against the forehead, repeatedly, until a red mark started to form. I took a few seconds to collect my scattered thoughts, assuming that maybe Fleetfoot only grabbed the folder and didn’t happen on the magazine. Taking a few deep breaths, I headed for Spitfire’s office.

I let out a heavy sigh as I opened the door, a smile spread across my face as I prepared to greet Spitfire. I opened the door, and much to my chagrin, Spitfire was looking at me. Spitfire held the dirty magazine in one hoof for me to see. Spitfire’s expression was devoid of all emotion as she gave me a blank stare. I looked over at Fleetfoot to see her staring at me with wide eyes before looking back at the magazine, then only to look back at me. My hand was still on the doorknob, and I took this chance to make this a ‘nope’ moment for me.

As soon as I turned to leave, I was stopped by Spitfire’s voice. Oddly enough, her voice was calm and collected. “Would you care to explain why you have an issue of Playpony in your possession?”

I slowly turned around, sweat starting to form on my brow as I swallowed a lump in my throat. “I promise that isn’t mine.” Spitfire raised a brow at me as I raised my hands to defend myself. “There’s a perfectly good reason why I have that.”

Spitfire looked at me for a few seconds before setting the magazine down and gesturing towards a chair for me to sit on. I nodded as I closed the door behind me and took the offered seat. “I promised to try and be a friend, so I’ll let you explain yourself.”

Nodding my head, I shifted in my seat nervously as I licked at my dry lips. “I was in Ever Ring’s office.” Both mares stared at me with wide eyes before Fleetfoot gestured for me to continue. “I entered her office to find anything I could use against her, and as I looked around, I stumbled upon her stash of magazines. She has many issues, but seeing that one, I had to take it away from her. I don’t really know why you’re both on it, but I felt like that bitch didn’t deserve to have it, and I wanted to maybe protect you both.”

I rubbed the back of my neck nervously as the two mares looked at each other. An uncomfortable silence settled between us before Spitfire finally spoke? “What did you plan on doing with this later?” There was no anger in Spitfire’s voice. If I had to guess what her tone sounded like, I would have to say curious would be the very best way to describe it.

I gave a shrug of my shoulders as I leaned back in the chair. “Honestly, I was either going to throw it in the trash or just burn it.”

The two mares shared a quick look before nodding their heads. Spitfire tossed the magazine towards me as Fleetfoot spoke. “Thanks for you honesty, Mark. You’re free to do whatever you want with the magazine. You may even keep it if you want.”

I looked towards Fleetfoot with a raised brow. “Why do I feel like this is a trap?”

The two mares laughed for a few seconds before Spitfire composed herself to answer. “Thankfully, this issue was just a swimsuit issue. Also, none of these should have been in public hooves since the photographer didn’t say anything about making any of our photos public. A few still got out, but most of them were collected and destroyed. You pretty much have a collector’s item there. Then again, like Fleetfoot said, do whatever you want with it.”

Looking at the magazine in my hands, I rolled it up as I stuffed it into my backpack. More than likely I was going to destroy it, but if I was, I wanted to make sure I made some kind of showing for it. Zipping up my backpack, I moved on to the next subject that was at hand. I took the folder that was next to Fleetfoot and dropped it in front of Spitfire. Spitfire ran her hoof over the folder as she gave a small smile. It was really adorable to see her smile like that. I shook my head clear of that thought as Spitfire pushed the folder towards me.

I took the folder as Spitfire jumped out of her chair and flew towards the door. She stopped when her hoof was on the doorknob, turning back to look at me. “Fleetfoot told me about some of the things the two of you did while you were in Cloudsdale.” I raised a brow as I looked at Fleetfoot before turning back to Spitfire. “I just wanted to say thanks for looking out for her. It really means a lot to me.’

I nodded to Spitfire as I stood up from my chair, Fleetfoot taking to the air and floating next to me as we headed towards Spitfire. “No problem. I was glad to be there for her, and I’m glad that I was able to learn something about Pyro.”

The next thing surprised me as I didn’t expect it from this one pony. Spitfire wrapped her legs around my neck, giving me a friendly hug for the first time. I returned the embrace, petting the mare’s head as I got a feel of how smooth it was. Just like Fleetfoot, Spitfire’s mane was smooth and taken care of. I couldn’t help the small chuckle that escaped my lips at that similarity.

Spitfire broke the hug off and gave me a curious look. “What’s so funny?”

I gave a few more chuckles before regaining my composure. “I just find it different that both of your manes are taken care of so well, and yet they look like you both just got out of bed.”

Spitfire gave a slight smirk as she gave a soft punch to my arm. “Hey, a lady needs to be presentable, no matter their lifestyle.”

I raised my brow at Spitfire as I crossed my arms. “Since when was Captain Spitfire ever a lady?”

Spitfire gave another punch to my arm before wrapping it around my neck and did something that I thought I would never expect. Spitfire gave a small nuzzle to my cheek, something that ponies only do to either family, close friends, or loved ones. After two seconds of Spitfire nuzzling me, she pulled back as she gave me a bigger smile.

“You really are something, aren’t you, Mark?” Spitfire asked as she opened the door.

Spitfire was the first to leave her office, and I stood frozen in place, looking between Fleetfoot and the open door. Fleetfoot gave me a gentle pat on the back as she gave me a reassuring smile. I wasn’t really sure what has brought on all these emotions for Spitfire, but it was nice to see her in this kind of mood. I actually enjoyed seeing her smile, and she even seemed to take my joking in great stride. This was a side of Spitfire I didn’t mind seeing, and it seemed like I would be one of the lucky few to ever see that side of her. Even Fleetfoot’s attitude had changed after everything we’ve been through, and it was something I would like to see more of as well.

As I followed the two mares through the halls, I kind of wished we weren’t having to deal with convicting Ever Ring at the moment. I really wanted to see the two mares smile even more after seeing Fleetfoot give a bright smile back in Cloudsadle, then followed with Spitfire smiling brightly in her office, but everything that comes up must go down. Ever Ring was something that needed to be dealt with first, and maybe if I was lucky, I would get to see them be happy for the very first time. The walk to the throne room was silent as we prepared to show whichever princess was present the evidence we had found. We reached the throne room, and the two guards standing outside blocked our path.

“We’re sorry, but Princess Celestia is currently in a meeting,” the earth pony guard on the left said.

“Well, whoever she’s seeing at the moment can take a raincheck. We have something that the princess needs to see immediately,” I said as I stepped closer to the door.

“Whatever it is, it can wait until the princess is finished with her meeting,” the pegasus guard on the right said.

Not really wanting to deal with this much longer, I crouched down so I could look the guards in the eyes. I leaned in close, the guards following suit as I kept eye contact with them. Fleetfoot and Spitfire watched me with curious expressions as the guards and myself leaned closer. Once I felt the guards were close enough, I took a deep breath as I screamed in sudden surprise. “Holy crap, what’s that over there?!”

The guards easily took the bait as I pointed to the right, and they quickly turned to see what was going on. I moved quickly as they were distracted with nothing down the hall, and opened the door to the throne room. I didn’t catch what Princess Celestia was saying as she stopped her conversation and stared at me with a curious expression. The pony that was talking with Celestia was one I recognized, and who I would consider probably the more respectable noble of the ponies in Canterlot. I couldn’t help but smile at the familiar white unicorn with a blue mane and tail. He had a monocle over his eyes and his tux looked as clean pressed as always. The unicorn’s blue eyes lit up in recognition as I called out to him.

“Fancy Pants, it has been too long since we’ve last met,” I said as I waved to the unicorn.

Fancy smiled as he trotted up to me, extending me a hoof to shake that I gladly accepted. “A pleasure to see you as well, Mark. I’m sorry that I haven’t been around to converse with you, what with all the charities that I have to attend.”

I gave a dismissive wave to Fancy. “Don’t worry about it. I’ve had my own things to deal with as well. Anyway, enough about me. How’s your wife?”

Fancy smiled at me as he spoke in a cheerful tone. “She has been talking about you nonstop since you two met. She really wants to see you again, and she even wants to meet Rarity again so they can talk about future fashion shows.” I gave a slight nod to Fancy as he moved on to the next subject I knew was coming. “May I ask what you’re doing here, though? I hope you haven’t gotten yourself in any kind of trouble.” Fancy gave me a worried expression that made me laugh a little.

I shook my head as I explained my situation using as little detail as possible. “I’m just trying to solve a problem that has existed for too long now. I’m sorry to interrupt your meeting with Celestia. If it was anyone else, I wouldn’t have cared, but I feel kind of bad for walking in on your meeting.”

Fancy Pants gave a hearty laugh as he waved a hoof dismissively. “Don’t worry about it, old sport. You know that my meetings are just me trying to prepare for future events planned a few years down the road. If I’m not here for that, then it’s just to make sure that everything is going along smoothly for the upcoming events. This is something I can easily reschedule for a later date.” Fancy looked at the two mares behind me before looking back at me, a huge smile adorning his face. “Plus, it looks like whatever you have to talk about is more important than what this old stallion has to say.”

I laughed at Fancy as I gave a few pats to his back, the unicorn laughing along with me. “Dude, if you consider yourself old, and are able to get someone like Fleur to marry you, then I have to say that I’m some type of fossil. You’re still in your youth just as much as me, and I wish the best for everything for both Fleur and yourself.”

Fancy’s laughter increased in volume as he gave a few strong pats to my back, causing me to cough a little. “You really know what to say to somepony to make them feel better. How you’re still single with no mares chasing after you amazes me.”

I let my own laughter grow in volume to help hide the small pain that I felt inside from the truth of his words. I knew he would never mean any harm by them, but it just hurts to be reminded sometimes. “Maybe it’s because some mares, especially stallions, are a little intimated by the giant bipedal human.”

Fancy Pants continued to laugh a few more seconds before getting himself under control, his cheerful voice still present, but a hint of seriousness was laced within. “Then those ponies don’t know what they’re missing. You’re a wonderful human, and if they can’t see you for how great you are, then they aren’t worth your time.” Fancy’s horn glowed for a few seconds as he made himself and myself presentable. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I must return home to my wife. You have a nice meeting with the princess.”

I smiled at Fancy Pants as I gave him a quick hug. Fancy returned the hug before letting go and trotting through the throne room doors. The two guards looked between me and Celestia before the princess waved them off. The guards gave each other a quick look before closing the door behind them. Celestia gestured for Fleetfoot, Spitfire, and myself to the front. The two Wonderbolts bowed to their princess while I gave a small wave. Neither of the mares seemed to mind my slight ‘disrespect’ since it’s very well known that I haven’t treated any of the princesses like ‘true royalty’.

Celestia smiled as she spoke in her motherly tone. “It seems that you still like to barge in on meetings that I hold.”

Fleetfoot and Spitfire stood up, looking between Celestia and myself with raised brows as I chuckled. “Hey, if it’s important, then I’m not waiting around for you to listen to a noble drone on about pointless matters that waste your time.”

Celestia raised a hoof, giggling as the two mares stared at their princess with wide eyes. “Never a dull moment with you around, is it, Mark?” Celestia then looked at the two mares and smiled at them as she kept her motherly tone. “You both can relax now. Mark is a dear friend that is open to speak his mind however he wants.”

Fleetfoot and Spitfire took Celestia’s advice as they shook off their wide-eyed stare. Clearing her throat, Celestia got our attention as she tried to get to the point of our visit. “So what may I help you with?”

Not even hesitating, I brought the folder up to Celestia, and she took it up in her golden aura. “I wish to convict Ever Ring and the mayor of Cloudsdale for child abuse, mental scarring of children, and the death of Pyro.”

Celestia looked at me, her expression turning serious as she spoke in an authoritative tone. “You understand that this matter has been brought to my attention a few times before, right?” Celestia looked towards Fleetfoot with a concerned expression before looking back at me. “What makes you think that you can finally convict them?”

I couldn’t blame Celestia for her doubt in what I was doing. “This is a folder created by Pyro during her time at the orphanage up until her passing. Everything in there was collected by the young mare to convict the both of them.”

Celestia held her gaze with mine for a second before opening the folder. Spitfire, Fleetfoot, and myself remained silent as Celestia looked through the papers. Her brow scrunched as she focused on reading every detail that was in the folder. Silence filled the throne room. Eventually, the sound of papers being shuffled and reorganized drowned out the silence. After several minutes of looking through the folder, Celestia closed the folder. The mares shuffled in place nervously as Celestia placed the folder to her side.

Celestia looked at me, her expression hardened as I gave my own. Celestia gave a single nod, the mares releasing their held breaths as I smiled. “Thank you for this, Mark.” Celestia stood from her throne, walking down the stairs. “I shall return shortly.”

Spitfire and Fleetfoot bowed to Celestia as I gave a curt nod. Celestia’s golden aura surrounded the door as she opened them, her wings spread wide as she took an authoritative stance. Celestia began speaking to her two guards, but I couldn’t hear the rest of what she was saying as the doors closed behind her. Once the doors were closed, I let out a heavy breath that I didn’t even know I was holding. Spitfire and Fleetfoot joined me at my sides as I slumped to the floor, laughing as the tension eased out of my body.

I was broken from my laughter when Spitfire spoke up. “Seeing that we have some time alone at the moment.” I couldn’t help but give a cheeky grin at the mare, who in response slugged me in my arm. “I don’t mean anything along those lines.” Taking a few breaths, Spitfire continued with what she wanted to say. “Fleetfoot mentioned that you had something to share.”

I nodded my head as I looked up at the ceiling, my laughter quickly coming under control. “I do, but I think it’s better if I talk about it over some cold ones. Do you think Clover could possibly give the three of us a private booth?” I looked over at Spitfire, who nodded her head.

I was pulled away from looking at Spitfire as the throne room doors opened. The three of us watched as Luna walked into the throne room, a large yawn escaping her muzzle. “Hey there, sleepy head.”

Luna blinked her bleary eyes before giving a huge smile. “Mark, so you’re the reason why my sister has woken me from my slumber. Is this to get me back for what I did to your office?”

Luna gave a suggestive wink as I laughed. “Not really. I have something else in mind for that. Although, do you mind removing them from my office so I don’t have to explain that to anyone who walks in?”

Luna nodded as her horn gave a brief flash of dark blue. I gave Luna a warm smile as she shuffled over to her throne. I looked back at Spitfire to see her staring at me with a raised brow. “What?”

Spitfire gestured towards Luna as she spoke. “What kind of pictures were in your office?”

After what happened with the magazine, I felt that Spitfire would be understanding of what exactly I found in my office. “They were suggestive pictures of you, Fleetfoot, Razor Wing, Steel Wing, Surprise, Clover, Cinnamon Spice, Shield, Strongheart, Echo, and Moon.” Fleetfoot was next to Spitfire, looking at me with a raised brow. “I can assure you there was nothing too revealing in those pictures. They were just very provocative.” I found it hard to look the two mares in the eyes as the memory of their pictures flashed in my mind.

I was pulled from my awkward thoughts when Fleetfoot spoke. “What did you think about them?”

I raised a brow at Fleetfoot as I rubbed my chin in thought. “Honestly, they weren’t half bad.” I could have sworn that at that moment, both mares had noticeable blushes. “Granted, it wasn’t something I was really expecting to see.”

The blushes on the mares’ faces disappeared as they looked at me. They seemed saddened at this response, and as I was about to ask them what was wrong, the throne room doors opened. The three of us looked towards the large golden doors as Celestia walked in, an aura of power radiating off of her as her wings were spread wide. I have seen Celestia when she was serious, but it paled in comparison when she was using her full authoritative power. As Celestia walked towards her throne, Luna quickly taking her regal pose as her wings spread wide, I saw Ever Ring and the mayor trot in. The two ponies had eight guards, leaving them in the middle of the small circle.

This didn’t seem to stop the mayor as he saw me standing to the side with the two mares at my sides. “YOU!”

The mayor took to the air and charged straight at me. Thankfully, I was friends with Rainbow Dash, and getting to know the two mares, the mayor paled in comparison to their speed. The stallion barely went fast enough for me to not follow his movements. No longer taking anymore shit from him, and not wanting to let him get away with what he called Spitfire and Fleetfoot, I steeled my stance. I pulled back my left arm, and as soon as he was close enough, I brought my fist down. The sound of the stallion’s body slamming against the marble floor could be heard through the throne room.

All the ponies in attendance stared at me with wide eyes as a few drops of blood dripped from my knuckles. A small trail of blood traveled down the stallion’s head. I got on one knee as I leaned in close to the stallion, my voice laced with anger as I spoke in a harsh whisper. “That is for thinking you could assault me.” I stood back to my full height, my voice raising in volume as I brought back my left leg. “And this is for insulting my friends!” I slammed my foot into his gut, sending him sliding across the floor.

The guards quickly shook themselves from their wide-eyed stare and quickly ran towards the fallen stallion. Four of the guards broke off and came towards me. I put my arms in the air as I got on my knees. As the guards prepared to cuff me with magic, Luna stood up from her throne and trotted up to the guards.

“Return to your stations with the other two ponies. Mark defended himself from an attack by Cumulonimbus.” The guards bowed to Luna before backing away from me, joining the other four guards that were standing to one side of Ever Ring and Cumulonimbus.

As Luna returned to her throne, I rose to my feet. I was about to join Luna’s side when I felt something grab my hand. I looked back to see Spitfire holding my hand as she looked it over. Fleetfoot brought over a cloth and wiped away the blood from my knuckles, only to see I had a few minor cuts. Fleetfoot gave them a quick lick before discarding the cloth, and allowing Spitfire to release my hand. I nodded to the two mares as we made our way towards the princesses. As we neared the princesses, Spitfire’s voice cut into my thoughts as she spoke in a hushed tone.

“What exactly did he say to earn that second hit?” Spitfire looked at me with a slight frown. What exactly the frown was about, I don’t really know.

Scratching my head, I answered her like it was no big deal. “He just insulted you and Fleetfoot by calling the both of you whorses. I’m not really sure how insulting works here in Equestria, but if it has any equivalent to what I think it does, then I wasn’t going to let him get away calling either of you that.”

Spitfire turned her gaze to the ground as we walked to the thrones. As we neared the thrones, she looked up with a huge smile as a tear threatened to escape her eyes. “Thanks for that.”

I nodded to the mare as we stood next to Luna, watching the two ponies in front of us slightly tremble in fear. A heavy silence filled the throne room as Celestia passed Luna the folder. Luna took the folder in her dark blue aura and started to look through the pages. Taking a glance out of my peripherals, I could see Luna using her years of experience of being a princess to keep a straight face. Being around Luna for several months allowed me to see that she cared deeply for all of her subjects, and she hated to hear when any of them were harmed in some way. There was actually one time where she screamed using her Royal Canterlot voice when she heard that a foal was hurt in a carriage crash.

I was fairly certain that if Celestia and her guards weren’t here at this very moment, then Luna would really let Ever Ring and Cumulonimbus have it. Looking back to the two ponies, I heard Luna heave a heavy sigh as she placed the folder on the arm of her throne. The two ponies winced from what I could assume was Luna giving them an icy stare. The silence lasted for a couple more minutes before Celestia’s stern voice finally broke it.

“Ever Ring, Cumulonimbus, you are brought before the Royal Sisters under multiple charges of mistreating foals at the orphanage.” Ever Ring made to say something but was stopped by a harsh glare from Celestia. “The evidence in this folder is enough to convict and have you locked away in Tartarus for years to come.” The two ponies winced slightly at the thought of having to go to that prison.

Luna spoke up next, her magic being used to amplify her voice a little. “Instead, we have decided to work out a different punishment.” Ever Ring and Cumulonimbus seemed to relax at hearing that, but I glanced over at Luna as she gave a cheeky grin. “The two of you will serve fifteen years in the crystal mines at the Crystal Empire.”

It took much of my willpower not to laugh at that. Tartarus was still a very harsh punishment, but out of everything else that was used as a sentence in Equestria, the crystal mines at the Crystal Empire was the second worst place anyone could go to. If I also had to pick between the four princesses on who loved foals the most, I would have to go with Cadence. Then add in the over protective brother of Twilight Sparkle, and Ever Ring and Cumulonimbus are going to have one hell of a time there.

I looked over at Ever Ring and Cumulonimbus to see them staring at the princesses, their mouths agape. Ever Ring stepped forwards to say something, but was silenced when a magic suppressor was placed on her horn and wing binds were placed on Cumulonimbus. I knew Celestia wouldn’t let those items stay on either of them for long since she detested them, but she did to make sure they understood that her decision was final. As the guards moved to take away the two convicted ponies, they looked in my direction. I gave both of them a huge smile as I raised both of my hands and flipped them off.

Both ponies looked at me with pure hatred in their eyes as they were taken away. Ever Ring struggled against the guards, but they easily subdued her and were able to take the two ponies away. The throne room doors slammed shut, the noise echoing in the room as the five of us waited for the silence.

After letting my ears ring for a few more seconds from the slam, I turned towards the princesses, a curious expression on my face. “So who’s going to take care of the foals now?”

Neither of the princesses answered me as Luna pointed a hoof towards the door. I looked at the door to see it open and two ponies trot inside. The ponies that walked in were both unicorns and mares if I was judging right from what I could make out. The pony on the left had a pink mane and tail with yellow streaks running through them. Her eyes were a bright amethyst and her coat was white as snow. Her cutie mark was a shield with a heart in the middle. My eyes widened as I jumped to who exactly these mares might be. Wanting to be sure, I looked to the mare on the right. The other mare had a snow white coat and her eyes were a deep sapphire. Her mane and tail were an electric orange, which was still odd to see from a member of the guard. Her cutie mark was three shields with the end points on the bottom pointing inward and meeting each other.

I smiled as I recognized the two mares. “Shield, Strongheart, how are you two doing?”

The two mares galloped towards me and tackled me to the ground as they each gave me a hug. I hugged to two mares back as they both sighed happily. I looked at Fleetfoot and Spitfire, and I think I saw them looking at the two mares with slightly jealous looks. Not really sure what they could possibly be jealous about, I ignored their looks as the two mares gave me a quick nuzzle and I stroked their manes.

“It’s so great to see you, Mark,” Shield said as she dropped back to the floor.

“Really great, Mark,” Strongheart said as she smiled at me. “Have you been avoiding us?” Strongheart teased as she poked my shin.

I shook my head as I laughed at Strongheart’s antics. “I don’t think I could avoid you two even if I tried. You two are always determined to find me when you wish to tease me.” The two mares laughed as some of the tension left my body. As I got some of my laughter under control, I looked towards the two mares. “So you two are going to take care of the foals? Isn’t that going to cut in your time as guards?”

The two mares gave each other a quick look before Shield spoke up. “Actually, we both have resigned from our positions so we can dedicate full time to watching over them.”

I raised a brow at the two of them as I looked back at Celestia. “Guards can do that?”

Celestia nodded her head as Luna spoke up. “Mark, guards are free to join and leave as they see fit. Not all ponies were destined to be guards, but if they show the determination and fortitude, we are glad to have them. Many guards have actually resigned from their posts to do something else that they enjoy.”

I nodded my head as I turned back to the two mares. “So you two really want to take care of the foals?”

The two mares nodded as Strongheart stepped forward. “Don’t get us wrong, Mark. We’ve actually enjoyed our time as members of the guard, but we were more inclined to actually take care of foals. Celestia actually came to us about the offer before she brought those two despicable ponies in.”

I nodded as I smiled at the two mares. “At least I know they’re in safe hands.”

Shield gave me a flat look as she let out a heavy sigh, her hoof meeting her forehead. “Mark, for the last time, we have hooves.”

I smiled at the mare as I just gave a shrug of my shoulders. “That’s just a little detail. Besides, you know what I meant.”

The two mares could only shake their heads as a small laugh escaped their lips. Celestia cleared her throat which caused us to face her. “Glad to see that the three of you are getting along so well. Anyways, the foals will be relocated to the Crystal Empire so they can receive therapy from Cadence. They will also be sent to the hospital to see if there are any physical ailments that we need to be aware of.”

I nodded to Celestia as I smiled warmly. I was able to help the foals get away from Ever Ring, and now they were going to receive the help they need. I looked back to Shield, a serious expression on my face as I crouched down to the mare. “Hey, Shield, can you do me a favor?”

Shield seemed a little surprised at my sudden shift to seriousness, but nodded nonetheless. “What do you need, Mark?”

I placed a hand on her shoulder, giving a quick look to Strongheart so she understood that I wanted to be part of the favor as well. “There’s a thestral named Everglade.” I heard Luna give a sharp gasp from behind me. “Please watch over her as it seems Ever Ring was especially harsh with her.”

The two mares nodded before I felt a wing against my back. I looked over my shoulder to see Luna giving me a concerned expression. “I’ll have Echo and Moon check up on her as well. It sounds like Everglade could use some interaction with her own kind.”

I nodded while moving my hand to pet Luna’s neck, getting the mare to relax a little. Celestia had dismissed us from the throne room, wanting to discuss with Luna about moving the foals and getting a letter sent to Cadence for her services. I followed the four mares out of the throne room where we went our separate ways.

I was following after Spitfire and Fleetfoot before I stopped and looked over my shoulder, calling out to the two unicorn mares. “Shield, Strongheart.” The two mares looked back at me. “Let me know when you’re both settled in at the new orphanage so I can visit at some point.
The two mares smiled as they waved back at me. “Don’t worry, Mark. You’ll be the first to know when we’re ready!”

I waved goodbye to the mares as I resumed following Spitfire and Fleetfoot. The three of us walked out of the castle to see the sun starting to set. I rubbed the bridge of my nose as I let out a heavy sigh. I’ve been going through so much since I started staying with the mares, that I didn’t even see how fast time has been flying by. I felt something poke my leg, and looking down, I saw that it was Fleetfoot giving me a concerned expression. She seemed very worried about how I looked at the moment. I leaned down and scratched behind the mare’s ears, something I learned that ponies really liked, especially if you have fingers.

I gave a small smile as I looked at the mare. “I’ll be fine, Fleety. It has just been a very long day, and we still have a few things that need to be settled.”

Fleetfoot nodded her head, smiling a little as she took to the air. Spitfire was already in the air and floated towards me with a raised brow. “Since when did you start calling Fleetfoot ‘Fleety’?”

I gave a shrug of my shoulders as we followed Fleetfoot towards Clover’s bar. “It started during our stay in Cloudsdale. She hasn’t said anything about not liking it, so I assumed she didn’t mind. Would you like for me to give you one, too?”

I could barely make out the red tint on Spitfire’s muzzle before she turned around quickly, picking up her speed so she could float next to her friend. “You would have to think for a long time to come up with a good one, and even then, I would have to buy you dinner first.”

I shook my head as I started to laugh at Spitfire’s antics. The chance of her buying me dinner would be as likely as me getting both of them to go out with me. The two of us walked in silence, watching as the setting sun set about beautiful colors to the city. We passed through the marketplace, Razor Wing waving to us as she packed up her stall. She could probably tell we weren’t in such an entirely great mood, so she avoided coming to talk with us. I made a note to make that up to her at a later point.

The three of us finally made it to Clover’s bar, and it was pretty dead compared to when we went to its grand opening. We walked inside to see Cinnamon Spice at the front, and she smiled at us as we walked in. She didn’t even bother asking if we were going to stay to eat as she grabbed three menus and led us to a vacant table.

Cinnamon started to place the menus on the table when Spitfire spoke up. “Do you mind seating us at a private booth where nopony can see or hear us?”

Cinnamon looked at Spitfire with a raised brow before beaming a bright smile and nodding her head. “Of course I can, Spitfire. Clover told me that you both sometimes like a little privacy from everything and asked that I make sure a private booth will always be available for the two of you.”

Spitfire nodded her head as we followed Cinnamon Spice further back into the bar. “Thank you. Also, we’ll have our regulars while we’re here. Can you also let Clover know that we’re here so we can say hi?”

Cinnamon nodded her head as we reached a private booth that had a plaque that said it was reserved for ‘Spitfire and Friends’. Cinnamon placed the menus on the table as we took our seats. Spitfire and Fleetfoot sat on one side of the booth as I took the opposite side for myself. I placed my menu in the middle of the table, the mares following suit as we relaxed in the dimly lit booth. Cinnamon wrote down the mares’ orders quickly, and I guessed mine as well since she didn’t really ask what I wanted.

Cinnamon took the menus from the table as she spoke cheerfully. “I’ll have your orders out for you soon, and Clover should be here in a couple of minutes after I let her know of your arrival.”

Once Cinnamon Spice was gone, the three of us let out a deep breath as we relaxed in the soft cushioned seats. We remained quiet as we waited for our orders and for Clover to arrive. Both mares look exhausted after going through everything and there was a small throb in my knuckles from when I hit Cumulonimbus. I looked at my knuckles to see that no blood has seeped through from my small cuts, and I was thankful for what Fleetfoot did. The two mares relaxed in their seats, breathing lightly as whatever heavy weight was on their shoulders disappeared.

A few minutes passed before I looked out at the bar and saw Clover trotting towards us, our food wrapped in her dark green aura. Clover placed our food in front us and handed us our respective drinks. Clover even handed me a cider as well in case I wanted to drink a little something. I nodded to the mare as I started to eat my food. Spitfire and Fleetfoot took their own bites of food before looking at Clover and nodding their approval.

Clover smiled at us as she hopped up next to me. “So, how have my favorite ponies and human been?”

I gave a slight shrug as Fleetfoot answered for us. “Things have been hectic for the past few days. Good news though, we finally got Ever Ring locked away for abusing all those foals.”

Clover seemed to smile even more as she patted my back. “Great job, Fleetfoot. That’s wonderful news.”

As Clover was overjoyed at hearing one of her friends was able to lift something off their shoulders from their past, Spitfire cut in with even more great news. “We even got the current mayor of Cloudsdale convicted as well.” Clover stared wide-eyed at Spitfire as she gestured for her to continue. “Apparently, he had been releasing a lot of his anger on the foals. He even paid Ever Ring to abuse them and paid a few of the guards to keep their mouths shut.”

Clover was speechless as she looked between the three of us. We took this chance to eat more of our food. A couple minutes passed, and we finished our food in that small time period before Clover found her voice again. “How did you even find enough evidence to convict them both?”

Fleetfoot seemed to let out a huge smile as she pointed a hoof towards me. “You can thank Mark for that. I don’t know how he did it, but he found what I spent years looking for in just two days.”

Clover looked at me, her mouth agape as she tried to process this. Shaking herself from her million yard stare, she looked at the three of us with a raised brow. “If this is all great news, then why are you celebrating in a private booth?”

Spitfire thankfully answered for us as she took a drink from her piña colada. “We’re here because Mark is going to explain exactly how he was able to do it, but it’s a very private matter.”

Clover nodded her head in understanding as she stood up from her seat and jumped to the floor. She looked over her shoulder as me as she gave a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry, Mark. I won’t listen in on your conversation, and you don’t have to worry about other ponies overhearing you.” Clover’s horn flashed a dark green before it died out. “I placed a sound bubble around your booth, it has extra protection so nopony can hear what you have to say.”

I smiled at the mare as I gave her a quick nod. Clover nodded back, took our empty plates in her magic, and trotted away from our table. The three of us sat in silence again, taking sips from our drinks as I tried to work up the nerve to talk about my past. I drank from my water, but it wasn’t really helping me in wanting to talk about this. Sighing heavily, I popped the cap off my cider and took a deep pull from it. I shook my head from the slight burn it gave to my throat as I looked back at the mares.

The two mares waved their hooves, letting me know that I could take this at my own pace. I nodded my head to them as I already felt a tear starting to form. I hadn’t even started talking about it, but the memories brought back a lot of buried feelings.

I took a few deep breaths and a few more pulls from my cider, which was thankfully being magically refilled. “The reason why I was able to find the evidence was because of luck, but my step brother actually helped play a big part in that as well.”

Fleetfoot took a small sip from her sea breeze before she spoke in a quiet tone. “What was your step brother’s name?”

Looking at the mares, I felt a tear slide down my cheek. “His name was Jackson, and step brother wouldn’t be the proper term to use to describe our relation, but I felt it was better than the other since we were so close together.” Spitfire looked at me with concern as I continued on. “He was actually my adopted brother.” Both mares looked at me with wide eyes as they slowly nodded their heads.

“My parents adopted him when he was seven. I was two at the time, so I was the little brother. We actually got along pretty well, despite the few arguments and fights that we would get into.” I took another pull from my cider. “The sad part was that the orphanage we adopted him from was put under investigation for child abuse. The police found evidence to support these claims, and they were actually gathered by Jackson.”

The mares looked at me with surprise as I shifted the bottle from hand to hand. “He did the same thing Pyro did when she was in the orphanage. He gathered as much as he could to completely convict those that were guilty, and after we had adopted him, along with a few more years to grow up, he gave the cops an anonymous tip.”

“He actually told me this story one night, and I asked him how he knew to hide it so well. He explained that the best place to hide it was somewhere close to one’s heart. I never understood exactly what that meant until Fleetfoot took me to the orphanage. After seeing how miserable all the foals were, and hearing the story about Pyro, I finally understood what he meant.” I looked at the mares as I smiled at them.

“So taking my brother’s advice to heart, I looked in the few places that would have meant a lot to Pyro. I actually had no success in finding it until I tripped on where she hid the key to her safe that actually held that folder.” I gave a small smile as I gave a gentle pull to my drink. “So if there’s anyone to really thank for all of this, then it would have to be Jackson. I don’t think if I ever had him in my life, I would have never thought of looking for Pyro’s evidence where I did.”

I took a deep breath as I placed my hands on the table, closing my eyes as I collected myself. I felt something touch my hands, and when I opened my eyes, I saw each mare holding a hand in their hoof. Both of them smiled at me as they patted my hands, showing that they were very happy for everything I had done.

Fleetfoot broke our silence as she spoke up. “Jackson sounds like he is a great brother.”

I nodded to the mare, but I couldn’t help the heavy frown that I gave. Spitfire seemed to notice as she leaned closer, her tone taking on a hint of concern. “Are you alright, Mark?”

I shook my head as I looked up at the mares. “Jackson was a really great brother. He would have loved to hear you say that.”

Fleetfoot’s expression became one of concern as she leaned closer. “What do you mean ‘was’?”

My expression turned somber as my hands slid back to my lap. Several tears bean to fall down my cheek as I remembered that horrid night. “He passed away when I was sixteen.”

Both mares gasped as they looked at each other. Silence filled the space between us for a few seconds before Fleetfoot spoke up. “How did he pass… if you don’t mind me asking?”

I wiped away my tears as I looked at both mares. “He was killed in an accident. The person driving their car was drunk and smashed right into the side of my brother’s car. I was there when it happened as I was sitting in the passenger seat.” I gave a small hiccup as I fought back my tears. I heard the two mares move as they gathered on either side of me, wrapping me in their wings. “He took most of the crash, protecting me from any harm. I got away with a few cuts, but I saw my brother in his seat, covered in blood, not even moving an inch.”

I could see the slight confusion the mares had, probably because of me mentioning a car, but they seemed to ignore that fact for now as they tried to comfort me. Spitfire rubbed my back with her wings as she spoke in a caring tone. “I’m sorry to hear that, Mark. Is that why you went through so much trouble to help those foals and Fleetfoot?”

I nodded my head as I wiped at my eyes. “I promised Jackson that I would try to do as much good as I could, no matter how difficult. Sure, there was a few things that I couldn’t do, but I still tried. I actually became a recluse by the time I turned eighteen.”

Fleetfoot gave a small nuzzle to my chin as she spoke in a soft tone. “What happened to make you like that?”

I let out a heavy sigh as I stared at my drink. “I think everything Jackson did, and then his death finally hit me. I just couldn’t stand being around others as they laughed together while I was busy feeling miserable. I probably would have stayed that way if it wasn’t for three friends that I made.”

Spitfire pulled back as she placed a hoof on my shoulder, a small smile gracing her features as she spoke. “Is that when you met Maurice, Chris, and Will?”

I nodded my head as I allowed a small smile to appear on my face. “I did, and they were probably three of the greatest friends that I’ve ever made. I actually think about what it would be like for them to move here, and I think it’s kind of funny in a way.”

Fleetfoot pulled away from my chin as she looked up at me with a confused expression. “How would it be funny?”

I grabbed my water and took a large gulp before setting it back down on the table. “Maurice is a pretty fun guy to be around, but he somehow ends up in the weirdest situations you think he could have easily avoided. I actually thought it would be interesting if he ended up staying with Vinyl and Octavia. Then I feel like at some point he would get kidnapped in a situation that should have easily been avoided if he took two seconds to listen to the little voice in his head.”

“Chris is a very good cook, actually knows a lot about cooking. If it wasn’t for him, I probably would have been living a very unhealthy lifestyle. Chris has one problem though, and that is he sometimes attracts the weird people. I think that’s how all four of us became really good friends. Bon Bon and Lyra would actually be a pretty good match for him since Bon Bon is a candy maker and Lyra is just weird enough to help balance each other out.”

“Will sometimes likes to keep to himself a lot. He’s about as stubborn as Rainbow Dash, but I feel there would be a second pony that he could get along with very well. He and Rainbow Dash could probably be together as well if they both didn’t beat around a bush every time they would meet, but that’s just my opinion.”

Spitfire playfully punched me in my shoulder. “So what’s your special quirk?”

I shrugged my shoulders as I rubbed the spot that Spitfire hit. “Maybe because I can understand how people feel sometimes, or I just know when they never mean any harm. I’m not really sure since all three of them were a few years my senior, but I usually got along with people a few years older than me a little better.”

Fleetfoot leaned against me as she laughed gently. “That explains why you’ve been able to handle these two old mares so well.”

Spitfire gave Fleetfoot a bemused expression as I raised a brow at her. “Come on, you two can’t possibly be that old.”

Fleetfoot laughed as she waved a hoof lazily in the air. “Please, I’m twenty-seven years old and Spitfire is twenty-eight. I practically feel like an old mare already.”

I sometimes hated being in these situations. It was easy enough to joke with Fancy about our ages since we could take it in stride, but I remember when Fleur and Rarity freaked about how they were reaching twenty-five, and the next thing that happened was the two mares stuffing their faces with ice cream. I don’t know what it was like for Fancy to comfort his own wife, but trying to comfort Rarity was like trying to tame a manticore. Actually, now that I think about, I think taming a manticore still would have been easier than trying to comfort Rarity. It was still weird in its own way since it seemed a lot of the mares in Equestria really took their age into account, and that’s if someone was lucky to even know how old they are.

I ask one time how old Twilight is, and the next thing I realize, I’m sitting through a six hour lecture about not addressing a mare’s age. It was made even worse because she even brought in Rarity, who really let me have it as she tried to teach me proper etiquette. I asked Princess Celestia, and it might be because she has lived for a couple of millennia, but she proudly stated her age. I was surprised to know that Celestia was only two thousand and two hundred years old, while Luna was only one thousand and nine hundred. In the end, I came to the decision that out of everything that could possibly happen, the complications of some of these mares have will be the end of me.

“You could have fooled me.” Fleetfoot and Spitfire looked at me with raised brows as I silently chastised myself for opening my mouth. “You both look like you’re about to hit twenty-two.”

The two mares looked at each for a few seconds, probably sharing secret messages that I wouldn’t understand no matter how hard I tried. Spitfire looked back at me as she leaned against my form, her tone becoming neutral as she tested me. “Is that so, Mark?” I did the only thing I could in this situation and that was nod my head as I looked at my water.

Fleetfoot leaned against the other side of my form as her eyes became half-lidded, looking almost the same as the picture that Luna had hung in my office. I was really going to get her back for that. “Would you be willing to have the Element of Honesty stand next to you to see if you’re lying about what you’re saying?” If it wasn’t for the fact that the two mares were leaning against my shoulder, one of them giving me bedroom eyes while the other gave a sly grin, I would be slamming my head on the table.

Spitfire leaned in close, her warm breathing blowing across my ear as she spoke in a sultry tone. “Thank you for the compliment, Mark.”

The tension that I was feeling was immediately broken when the glass in my hands broke. This was really not the way I expected the night to go, but it was slightly nice. All three of us had been glum for the entire day, and it seemed the mares finally relaxed after teasing me to such an extent - if Fleetfoot holding my hand tenderly was anything to go by - so I allowed it to slide for now. I rubbed my temples as Spitfire cleaned up the mess while Fleetfoot checked to see if I added anymore wounds to my hand.

I couldn’t help the small chuckle that escaped my lips as I looked at each mare. “You’re both just so terrible.”

The two mares giggled as Spitfire finished cleaning the table and Fleetfoot allowed me the use of my hand. Fleetfoot turned my head towards her as she spoke in a cheerful tone. “You just make it too easy sometimes, Mark. Being able to handle our combined teasing is truly amazing. You should really get out more, though, and try to find some mare to make you happy.”

I don’t know what it was, but hearing Fleetfoot say that I should find another mare to be around to make me happy really felt unsettling. I pushed the feeling deep down as I leaned back in the booth. “So you do this to everyone you meet?”

Spitfire let out a hearty laugh as she looked back at me, her wings flapping gently as she floated in front of me. “Only to the ones that make it easy, or just really close friends.”

I laughed at the last part Spitfire said, causing the mare to raise a brow in confusion. “You’re now considering me a friend?”

Spitfire gave a small smile as she shrugged her shoulders. “You’ve done a lot in two days, Mark. You’ve done more than I’ve seen other ponies do, and it’s nice to see you do it without really expecting anything. Most ponies would want some sort of compensation for their help.”

I waved my hand defensively as I grabbed my cider, taking a small pull from it. “I don’t expect anything because hardly anything works for humans.”

The two mares gave me a flat look before laughing themselves. Hearing the mares laugh so openly was wonderful to hear. It was weird to see how different the mares could act between their work and their social lives. Being close to them like I have been so far has even been more eye-opening as I’ve seen a side that probably most other ponies haven’t seen. All three of us raised our glasses into the air, cheering at a wonderful day tomorrow and wishing the foals a better life now that Ever Ring was gone.

Once the three of us had a few more sips of our drinks, we made our way out of the bar. I went to Clover to pay for my stuff, but she declined my payment. She said that it was on the house since I made the mares’ lives better after everything they’ve been through. I nodded to the mare as I headed for the exit, but stopped at her office before leaving. I looked back over my shoulder to see the green unicorn taking a few orders from ponies, and I placed a few bits into her office bin. The mare could decline all she wanted to, but I was going to pay her back for her understanding and helpful nature. Catching up with the two mares, I looked up at the sky to see the beautiful moon and stars that Luna had pulled out tonight.

Spitfire and Fleetfoot were about to leave, and I felt in my pocket for the one paper that I had taken out of the folder. Taking a deep breath, I decided to see how she would feel about this. “Hey, Spitfire?” Spitfire then turned towards me as I addressed her. “Do you mind if I speak with Fleetfoot alone for a few minutes before returning home?”

Fleetfoot raised a brow at me before looking at Spitfire. Spitfire just shrugged her shoulders and just shooed the mare towards me. “I’ll leave the front door unlocked. Just try and not make too much noise when you get back.”

I waved to Spitfire as she flew down the street, a small fire trail following behind. Fleetfoot trotted next to me, shuffling nervously like she had something to say. “What’s up, Fleetfoot? Is something the matter?”

Fleetfoot looked at me with hesitant eyes, her tone portraying her nervousness. “Would you mind… letting me… ride your back?”

I was glad that there was no pony that could match Fluttershy’s whisper voice as I crouched down to the mare. “Sure, but what brought this on?”

I turned around as I allowed the mare to climb my back, her front legs carefully wrapping around my neck as she nuzzled the top of my head. “The foals seemed to enjoy you carrying them, and I wanted to see what was so great about it. I must say, even though I can fly high into the air, being this high is a really different experience.”

I laughed a little at Fleetfoot’s antics, and a little from feeling her muzzle against my head as she nuzzled against me. Making sure that I had a good hold on Fleetfoot, while also trying to avoid touching anything too intimate, I started to make my way towards a little park that I knew about. I walked with moonlight guiding me, the mare on my back humming happily to herself as she moved in closer against my body. Her wings would give a gentle twitch that I felt against my arm, tickling me and threatening me to lose my hold on the mare. I walked in silence with the mare against my back for a few minutes before finally making it to the park.

I felt Fleetfoot move against my back as she looked at the park that we had arrived at. It wasn’t anything like the ones in the castle, but it was still nice to walk around as it offered its own form of comfort. I walked into the park, heading for a cherry blossom tree that was on a little hill, looking over a little pond at the bottom. Fleetfoot’s wings started to flap a little as I assumed the mare took in the sights. Seeing the park in the morning was nice, but it paled in comparison to the night. When the moon was high in the sky, the leaves of the trees would give a subtle pink glow while the stars sparkled against the surface of the pond’s water.

I reached the tree that was on the top of the hill and moved to let Fleetfoot down. The mare was hesitant at first to release her hold on me, but a small smile towards her finally got her to let go. Once the mare was off of my back, I pulled out the paper in my pocket, making sure to keep it hidden from the mare. I sat with my back against the tree as Fleetfoot sat at the edge of the hill, staring at the pond and the stars that were reflecting off of it. Fleetfoot’s tail swished gently against the grass as she stared into the pond for several minutes. I let the mare enjoy the calm feeling the park gave before she finally trotted next to me.

Fleetfoot laid down in the grass, putting her head on my lap as she let out a happy sigh. I smiled down at the mare as I ran my hand through her mane and down her neck. This got the mare to smile brightly as she hummed in pleasure. I continued to pet the mare, letting my fingers run along her neck and mane to elicit happier sighs from her. I stared in front of me, the subtle pink glow moving across the open air as I gave a small smile of my own.

Looking down at the paper in my hand, I looked back at Fleetfoot before letting my gaze look out into the pond. “Hey, Fleety, can I ask you something?”

Fleetfoot let out a small yawn that looked really cute on her as she buried her head deeper into my lap. Thankfully, her head was nowhere near another part of me that I didn’t want to have to explain. “You’re free to ask me anything you want, Mark. I’ll gladly answer any question that you may have after everything you’ve done.”

Pulling my hand up, I looked at the paper hesitantly before letting out a deep sigh. “If you could figure out what your actual name was, would you ever want to find out, or even take it?”

Fleetfoot lifted her head from my lap, her face contorted in confusion as she looked at me. “What do you mean?”

I lifted my hand up for Fleetfoot to see, presenting the paper that was in my palm. “I think while Pyro was in the hospital, she may have done a little searching to help you.”

Fleetfoot eyed the paper suspiciously before turning her gaze on me. Her eyes held a mix of emotions, but two were very prominent. The first was worry and the second was confusion. “What exactly is on that paper?”

Lifting a hand to pet Fleetfoot’s mane, which the mare thankfully allowed me to do, I spoke in a calm tone to avoid giving her any stress. “Pyro found out what your actual birth name was, along with who your parents are.”

Fleetfoot’s eyes widened as she jumped to her hooves, looking between the paper and myself with confusion. “Where did you get something like that?”

Scooting closer to the mare, I pulled her into a gentle hug as she started to shake harshly. “It was in the folder with all the evidence to convict Ever Ring and Cumulonimbus. I know it was wrong of me to hide it from you, but I didn’t want to see you get hurt from finding out while we dealt with Ever Ring. I can accept you being angry at me, but I leave the choice to you if you want to know.”

Fleetfoot took the paper from my hands, her hooves shaking as she looked at the one thing that could change her life. She looked back at me, understanding that I already knew what was on there since I was the first to see it, before looking back at the paper. I watched with patience as the mare started to unfold the paper. I said nothing as she undid the first fold, but she stopped after that. I raised a brow at the mare as she smiled back at me, adjusting her hooves to each side of the paper. I was surprised to see the mare tear the paper in half, then continue to tear it until it was just tiny scraps. After she finished tearing the paper apart, she threw it into the air, the gentle breeze taking away the pieces of paper.

Fleetfoot turned towards me, the ripped up pieces of paper flying away as she gave me a warm smile. “Fleetfoot is who I am now, and nopony is going to take that away from me. I made that name mean something after I was given it, and if my parents didn’t want me, then I have no need to ever know who they are. I have a new family that cares for me and I’m proud to know them.” I sat next to Fleetfoot as we stared up into the sky. The both of us smiled as we held each other close, the heavy feeling on our shoulders lifted as we enjoyed each other’s company.

Author's Note

Here's the end to "The Orphanage and Pyro" arc. Let me know what you think, and I hoped that you enjoyed it.

Ponyville Trip

Fleeting Flames
By: Duelist96
Chapter 11: Ponyville Trip

A week had passed since the trial against Ever Ring and everything seemed so much brighter. Spitfire and Fleetfoot were more energetic and even seemed to be a little livelier than before. Cadence had stopped by Canterlot to talk with Celestia and Luna about the foals and their current health. And then there’s me, relieved to hear that they were doing well up in the Crystal Empire. I was even happier to hear that Everglade had enjoyed the company of both Echo and Moon. The castle, though, was a little lonely since Shield and Strongheart moved out. Though I did receive a letter from them saying they were making a trip up to the Crystal Empire to get everything in order for the orphanage they were going to run.

Cloudsdale didn’t see much change, but I read that there were going to be some projects with the new mayor in charge. There wasn’t a good picture of who the new mayor was, but from the small article I read, she was a pegasus mare whose name is Amber Waves. Fleetfoot seemed to think the new mayor was a fine choice, so I didn’t really bother worrying about what she was going to do. I was surprised to learn from Luna that Amber Waves had visited Canterlot to talk about allowing me passage in and out of Cloudsdale. Spitfire seemed to have mixed emotions about me being able to go to Cloudsdale without any trouble, but she seemed happy enough that I had one of my problems solved.

There was one slight problem though, as the week went by. With Fleetfoot’s newfound happiness, she seemed to get nervous around me on occasion. There were a few times that she either came to my bedroom, or even my office, and knocked on the door. After I would answer it, she would stare at me, her wings twitching nervously as she scraped at the floor with her hoof. I would try to ask her what was wrong, but as soon as I spoke a word, she would gallop away. Seeing her act this way worried me, but Spitfire assured me that there was nothing to worry about. I asked Spitfire how she knew and her best answer was just a knowing smile before patting my leg and trotting away.

Not really wanting to try and get an answer out of Spitfire, and seeing that Fleetfoot has been fine, even with her weird antics, I let things be. It also didn’t take long before I started working out in Fleetfoot and Spitfire’s gym. We had to go out and buy a few things since most of their weights were a little light for me. Given Spitfire’s tough nature, I kind of expected her to be my drill sergeant, but apparently she treated me like a workout buddy. I never exercised for long since I never really admired the whole muscle-bound look, but I made sure to keep some of the muscles that I had.

Everything has been really great with the mares and it seems their rehearsal for the upcoming celebration has been going well. I also finally learned that the celebration that they were preparing for was the Summer Sun Celebration. I was excited for this celebration since it was going to be held in Canterlot this time around. I would have practically been spending my time getting prepared for the celebration if I wasn’t stuck dealing with finances for the Wonderbolts.

I let out a heavy sigh as I threw my quill across the office, gripping my hair as I stared at my notebook and the financial sheet. I was silently trying to get the paper to combust into flames before a knock came from my door.

“Come in,” I said tiredly as I scratched my scalp.

I heard laughter from the doorway, easily recognizing it as Spitfire’s without having to look up at her. “I remember having to do this myself for the last few Summer Sun Celebrations. These were such a headache that I usually had to sit with Clover at her old bar and have her help me with all of this.” Spitfire flew to my desk and grabbed the financial paper, giving it a quick look before letting out a low whistle. “This is pretty impressive, Mark. You’re just as good as Clover.”

I gave a small chuckle as I leaned back in my chair, closing my eyes as I tried to relax my tense body. “Thanks for the praise, Spitfire, but is there something you need?” I looked down to see the mare shuffling nervously, probably contemplating leaving the room and coming back another time. Taking a deep breath, I leaned forward, lifting a hand to scratch behind Spitfire’s ears, earning a purr that I had never heard from any of the ponies before. “It’s not that I don’t enjoy your company, Spitfire, but I have until the end of the month to get this done. I also have to have Twilight to look it over as well, since I know she would find something I probably would have missed.”

Spitfire smiled warmly as she leaned her head against my hand, getting my fingers to scratch with a little more force. “I was talking with Fleetfoot and we thought about maybe getting a pet or two. I was going to head to Ponyville to visit Fluttershy since she has lots of animals and I thought you would like to come.”

I looked up at the ceiling as I thought about her offer. I looked back at the paper, trying another time to get it to burst into flames before finally giving up. “Anything to get me away from this damn paperwork.” Spitfire smiled, her tail wagging excitedly as she grabbed my arm.

Spitfire gave a quick nuzzle to my arm before letting go and going back to the floor. “Then get changed into something more comfortable. The train leaves in four hours and we don’t have all day to spend down there.”

I nodded to Spitfire as I stood from my chair, popping my back in multiple places to finally get some feeling. “Sure thing. I’ll meet you at the castle gates in a few minutes.” Spitfire nodded, heading for the door before I stopped her. “Before you go, I have a question.” Spitfire turned around, her ears flicking forward to show I had her attention. “Your mane, is it just the color, or can I set this paper on fire if I place it there?”

Spitfire gave me a deadpan expression before shaking her head. Spitfire said nothing as she turned back for the door, walking out of my office and disappearing from view. I only shrugged my shoulders as I opened the bottom drawer to my desk. I kept at least a few work clothes and casual wear in my office if I ever needed to change into anything. I actually ordered a new set of casual wear from Rarity through a letter. After I received her letter that she would make my new clothes, I think she may have been a little confused. I wasn’t really sure since it’s hard to read emotions through a piece of paper, but I could hazard a guess thanks to the few scratched out words on the letter.

I went back to my old style of where I wear a short-sleeved shirt with a button-up shirt over it, but I leave it open so everyone can see my undershirt. I also went back to wearing cargo shorts since they were really comfortable to walk and run in. On my shirts, though, I have a little design on them. I asked for Rarity to put Spitfire’s cutie mark on a few of the shirts by itself, Fleetfoot’s cutie mark by itself on the other, and at least two pairs that share their cutie marks. It seems this request is what had her flustered, but she still agreed to do it. Even though she made them out of her generous nature and decline any sort of payment, I had Twilight take my payment to her.

Sometimes I felt that mare was too generous for her own good, and I felt that she deserved a little something for having to make clothes on such short notice. Laughing at myself at the few times I tried to pay for my clothes, I changed into my casual wear. My undershirt had Fleetfoot’s cutie mark on the front and my over-shirt had Spitfire’s cutie mark on each shoulder. Rolling my shoulders to get out a few kinks, I walked out of my office and stopped by Spitfire’s office. I looked in to see Fleetfoot floating lazily on a cloud above her desk. It seemed Fleetfoot was deep in thought about something as she didn’t even notice me enter the office until I was standing over her.

Fleetfoot’s eyes widened as she rolled to her hooves, a tinge of pink painting her cheeks as she took notice of my shirts. “M-Mark, what can I do for you?”

I smiled at Fleetfoot, chuckling silently as I found her slight awkwardness adorable. “I just stopped by to let you know that I’m heading out with Spitfire to Ponyville. We’re going to stop by Fluttershy’s to see about getting a pet.”

I was pretty sure that I was seeing things, but I was certain that Fleetfoot’s left eye twitched a little before she took a few breaths to speak to me. “That’s great to hear, Mark. I hope that you and Spitfire find a pet that we can all enjoy.”
I reached out a hand, scratching behind Fleetfoot’s ears as I spoke in a cheerful tone. “I think I know what to get. It all depends on how Spitfire feels about the animal.”

I pulled my hand away from Fleetfoot, the mare giving a small frown as I placed my hand by my side. Fleetfoot jumped off her cloud, giving me a quick hug before laying back down and staring back up at the ceiling. Nodding to Fleetfoot, I turned around and walked out of her office. I walked through the halls, greeting a few of the maids that I passed. I reached the front gates to the castle and saw Spitfire hovering in the air, looking at me with a bright smile. As we waved to each other, Spitfire’s face turned pink like Fleetfoot’s back in their office. I was tempted to say something, but she just turned around and starting flying for the train station. I followed her to the train station, chalking up her reaction as nothing to worry about.

The two of us boarded the train, Spitfire having already bought our tickets and taking a seat in one of the empty cars. I leaned back in my seat, waiting for the train to get moving so I could get some rest. I was slightly startled when I felt Spitfire lay her head on my lap, her hooves curling into her body as her tail moved to her front. I wasn’t surprised that she was already getting some sleep since this entire week has been hectic for her with preparing the upcoming show. The only thing that really surprised me was that she was using me as her pillow. I wasn’t sure if she was really aware of where she was sleeping, and I wanted to wake her so I could get her a pillow to sleep on, but the way she looked made me not want to wake her.

Deciding not to wake up Spitfire, I leaned back against my seat again, closing my eyes as the train finally started to move. It wasn’t long before I reached up and put my hand on Spitfire’s back, the mare letting out a pleased sigh as she moved closer to me. Soon after, I was out like a light.

A Few Hours Later

I was startled awake when the train’s whistle blew shrilly. I blinked my eyes rapidly as I tried to get myself standing, finding it rather hard for some reason. Something was weighing me down, and when I was finally able to see, I looked down to see Spitfire had moved to lay across my entire lap. I shrugged, assuming that she probably moved in her sleep and started to prod her awake. Spitfire tried to swat my hand away with a hoof, but I easily moved around it and continued to poke her side. I continued this for a couple of minutes before Spitfire finally relented.

Spitfire opened her eyes, blinking them slowly as she gave a cute yawn and stretched her wings out. “A-Are… we there?” Spitfire asked between yawns.

I grabbed Spitfire, getting a surprised ‘eep’ from her as I stood. “We’re about a couple minutes from the train station.”

Spitfire’s cheeks were scarlet red as she looked between me and the floor. She continued to avert her gaze for a few more seconds before speaking quietly, surprising me that she could even sound so quiet. “Mark, can I ask for a favor?”

I smiled at Spitfire as I nodded my head. “Sure thing, Spitfire. What do you need?”

Spitfire looked at the ground, refusing to look at me as she pressed her hooves together. “Fleetfoot told me about the piggyback rides you gave to the foals and then the one you gave to her.” Spitfire looked up at me, a slightly hopeful look glinting in eyes. “I was wondering if you would give me one as well?”

I smiled at Spitfire, running my hand through her mane. “I don’t mind giving you one. Just let me know if you start feeling uncomfortable with it and I’ll let you down.”

Spitfire nodded as I set her on the ground. I looked out the nearby window as I hunched down, seeing that we were nearing our destination. I felt Spitfire climb onto my back, her weightlessness still surprising just like Fleetfoot’s. If I wanted to, I could probably carry them both on my back without any worries. Sure, I carried them once from Clover’s bar after they got drunk, but maybe this time I wouldn’t be left in such an awkward position. Spitfire’s front hooves wrapped gently around my front, the whistle giving one final shrill blow as the brakes on the train screeched.

As the train came to a slow stop, I turned back to see Spitfire smiling happily, her tail swishing as she placed her chin on my shoulder. I cleared my throat to get Spitfire’s attention. “Before we get off, I know that we’re getting along more as friends, but are you sure that you want to have this piggyback ride? There’s a lot of ponies that really hold you as their idol, so they might be a little confused about this. Rainbow Dash on the other hand might not care since she knows that I’ve been rooming with you and Fleetfoot.”

Spitfire looked at me in the eyes as she gave a low hum in thought. As the train finally stopped in front of the station, Spitfire spoke in a confident tone. “I fine with that. I’m always putting work first so I haven’t really had time to just let loose. They can think what they want because as long as I’m with you, then I know most of them won’t care.”

The doors opened, ponies entering and leaving the train as I gave Spitfire a bemused look. “How much did Luna tell you about my visits to Ponyville?”

Spitfire gave a cheeky grin as she looked forward again. “Just enough to know that many of the ponies here like you, barring a few that you got into arguments with, and your first time seeing Lyra.”

I walked out of the train, seeing many familiar faces in the small town as I shook my head at Spitfire. “Lyra is a really nice mare, but she really has a hard time making good first impressions.”

Spitfire laughed lightly as she gave a small nuzzle to my neck. I couldn’t help but laugh as well since even with my first horrible experience with Lyra, I took the chance to get to know her. Now I’m great friends with the human-interested mare and her marefriend. Shifting my hands to make sure I have a good hold on Spitfire, while also making sure that I’m nowhere near her intimate parts, I walked off the station, many of the residents taking a quick look at me and waving at me. I nodded to those that waved as I made my way for Fluttershy’s cottage. As I walked through the town, I stared at the giant crystal castle that stood near its center.

How Twilight was able to live in such a place was beyond me, but she seemed happy to have a bigger place to store more books. As I reached city hall, I was surprised that a certain trio of fillies, or even a prismatic pegasus haven’t made themselves known, but I knew it would be only a matter of time before I ran into either one of them.

I was starting to pass city hall when I heard a mare call out to me, her voice easily recognized with her playful tone. “Well, if it isn’t my favorite human.”

I gave a heavy sigh as I turned around. True enough, the unicorn mare who I thought was calling to me stood a few paces away from me. The sun easily made her snow white coat stand out, along with her electric blue mane and her signature purple shades. Next to her was a gray earth pony mare who stood out with her raven black mane and tail. Her purple eyes shone brightly as she gave me a friendly smile.

Nodding to Octavia, I looked back at Vinyl with a bemused expression. “For the last time, Vinyl, it’s ‘hoo-man’ not ‘human’.”

Vinyl stood in front of me, her tail wagging excitedly as she held a hoof up to her muzzle. Octavia was trying her best to stifle her laughter, but she was doing a very poor job of it. I looked at the two mares with a raised brow, trying to figure out what was so funny. After running through only a few scenarios that could have caused them to laugh, I finally realized my mistake.

“God damn it. I can’t believe I walked into that one,” I said as I looked at the ground, chastising myself for walking into Vinyl’s trap.

Vinyl let her laughter break free as she fell onto her back. She was laughing so hard that I swear I saw a few tears falling from her eyes. Thankfully, Octavia was able to keep her laughter in a controlled state as she took a jab at my mistake. The two mares continued to laugh before finally getting under control, Vinyl taking a few more seconds so she could get some of the dirt out of her coat. Spitfire didn’t seem to want to stop her laughter anytime soon, but I didn’t mind as I liked hearing her laugh.

After Vinyl finished picking the dirt out of her coat, I looked back at Octavia with a serious expression. “Hey, Octavia, can you do me a favor?”

Octavia smiled at me as she spoke in a warm tone. “Sure, Mark. What do you need?”

I looked back at Vinyl, giving her a small smirk before turning back to her marefriend. I heard Vinyl give a small gasp. “Can you please find Wubz and make him disappear for a couple of days?”

Vinyl let out a loud gasp as she looked between Octavia and myself. “You wouldn’t dare, would you, Tavi?” Vinyl asked as she held Octavia in her hooves.

Octavia gave Vinyl a loving nuzzle before prying the mare off of her and giving her a soft frown. “I’m sorry, Vinyl, but I do kind of owe Mark after having him pick up Marchello for me.”

Vinyl looked a little crestfallen at hearing this, but quickly shook out of it as she turned back to me, pointing a threatening hoof at me. “Mark my words, Mark. I will have my vengeance!”

Nodding towards Vinyl, I decided to move the conversation along. “So how has everything been here in Ponyville since my last visit?”

Vinyl and Octavia gave small frowns as they looked at the ground. Before a silence could settle between us, Octavia spoke up. “Apparently one of our judges has been taking bribes and is now being sent to jail.”

I gave a small frown at hearing this news. A lot of the ponies in Ponyville were so close that there was a sense of closeness that not a lot of other places shared. “I’m sorry to hear that. Who was taking bribes?”

Vinyl decided to speak up. “It was Judge Takes Bribes.” My frown turned to into a bemused expression as I stared at the mare. I went to say something, but was cut off as Vinyl continued. “He was such a good stallion. It’s sad to know that he had been taking bribes since he took the judge position. I don’t think anypony really saw that coming.”

“You’re kidding me, right?” I asked, causing the two mares to look at me with raised brows. “His name is literally Takes Bribes. How did anyone not see this coming?”

“What do you mean?” Octavia asked.

“I mean it’s clearly obvious that he was going to be taking bribes. He stood out, pretty much saying that he was going to be doing something illegal,” I explained as I looked between the two mares.

“I don’t understand,” Vinyl said as she looked up at me. “What exactly does his name have to do with this?”

I looked at the mare like she was crazy. “He was pretty much saying that he would take any bribes. How is this so hard to understand? It’s like having a pony named Killing Spree and five of his friends turn up dead.”

Octavia gave an audible gasp as she placed a hoof over her mouth. “Who killed all of Killing Spree’s friends?”

“Oh come on. You can’t honestly tell me that it isn’t obvious who did it,” I said, hoping that the two mares were just messing with me.

“We’re sorry, Mark, but we really don’t see where you’re going with this,” Vinyl said with a small frown.

I wanted to continue this conversation, but I finally convinced myself to stop. I don’t know how these ponies couldn’t understand what I’m saying, but if I continue, I’m just going to give myself a headache.

Shaking my head, I let out a deep sigh before looking back at the mares. “Just forget it. I’m sorry to hear that one of your trusted judges has been caught doing such a crime.”

Both mares nodded as they smiled back at me, giving me a quick hug. I heard a low growl and I was certain that it was Spitfire, but looking at her showed that she was staring across town. Ignoring the growl, I gave the two mares a quick hug before they let go.

“We would love to stay and continue to chat, but Vinyl and I have places to go,” Octavia said, giving me a small smile.

“It’s fine. I’m only here to see about getting a pet for Spitfire and Fleetfoot, then I’ll be heading back to Canterlot. It was nice seeing you again, though,” I said as I smiled at the two mares.

“Hope you find a nice pet for all of you. Who are you going to see to get one?” Vinyl asked.

“We’re heading over to Fluttershy’s to get one,” I said.

The two mares nodded before turning around and leaving for wherever their destination was. I watched the two mares trot off before turning around and continuing for Fluttershy’s cottage. The walk from City Hall to Fluttershy’s place took about several minutes, but it seemed to make Spitfire really happy. I only knew of a few times that Spitfire had visited Ponyville, and most of those visits were mainly work related. Now that she was away from work, she seemed to really take the town in. I didn’t say anything as I neared the quaint little cottage, the small river sparkling in the sunlight.

All the animals around the cottage noticed my arrival and were courteous enough to retrieve Fluttershy without having to ask them. As I waited for Fluttershy to show up, I crouched down to let Spitfire off of my back. Spitfire seemed confused at first, a hurt look showing on her face before quickly disappearing as she got to the ground. I felt a little bad about having to let her walk around, but she wouldn’t have been able to see the animals as well if she was on my back. It wasn’t long before Fluttershy came around her cottage. The mare gave a loud gasp, flying directly at me and tackling me to the ground in a hug.

“Mark, it’s so great to see that you’re doing okay,” Fluttershy said as she buried her face into my shirt, a few tears staining the front.

I quickly pulled Fluttershy into a hug, petting her mane as I tried to coax her out of what was wrong. “Fluttershy, why are you crying?”

Fluttershy pulled away from my shirt, one of her hooves rubbing at where her tear stains were. She quietly whispered ‘sorry’ as she composed herself. “I-I heard about w-what you did up at Cloudsdale. I was so worried that you got hurt during your trip there.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at Fluttershy’s concern. Fluttershy looked at me with confusion as I petted her mane. “Trust me, Fluttershy. I don’t think anyone can compare to when Spitfire tackled me at her house.”

Fluttershy continued to look at me with a concerned look before taking a deep breath, collecting her nerves as she finally smiled at me. “As long as you’re okay, Mark, then I’ll stop worrying about it.”

I smiled at Fluttershy as I got to my feet, giving her a quick scratch behind her ear as I moved towards the reason I was visiting. “Anyways, I’m here with Spitfire because we’re looking for a pet.”

Fluttershy moved her mane out her face, her smile nearly blinding me as she grabbed my arm, pulling me towards her cottage. “Oh, that’s wonderful. I have so many animals that would be perfect for you three.” Fluttershy let go of my arm, Spitfire floating to my side as Fluttershy gave various whistles. Many animals started to arrive and get in some form of line so we could see them all. While the animals were busy gathering together, Fluttershy turned towards us, her voice barely able to hold back her excitement. “So what kind of animal are you looking for?”

I gestured for Spitfire to explain. “We’re looking for something exotic… if you have something like that.”

Fluttershy nodded as she started separating the animals. “Do you know what kind of size you want the animal to be?”

Spitfire moved next to Fluttershy, staring at the animals as Fluttershy sorted them. “Well, we need one that isn’t too big since our house isn’t that big, but nothing too small so we can’t lose them easily.”

Fluttershy nodded as she continued to sort through the animals, moving them across the lawn with practiced ease. “So we’re going with something exotic of medium size. I do have a few, so let me know what you think.”

Fluttershy stepped away, letting Spitfire look over the remaining animals. I looked away from the animals as I turned towards an animal that was swimming through the river. The animal was similar to that of a ferret from what I could tell. The animal had red fur covering its entire body. The underside was snow white, along with its face. The tail had two rings near the end that were brown in color. I ignored the two mares as they talked between themselves about the animals, a little more interested in this new animal I haven’t seen before. I neared the river and the animal looked at me, its nose twitching with its head cocked to the side.

I crouched down to look less intimidating to the animal. The animal continued to watch me as I extended a hand forward, trying to see if it would come to me. The animal started to lean forward, but stopped as another one of its kind show up. The other animal was similar to the first, but its entire body was covered in snow white fur. The underside was red, along with its face. The tail had two rings that were purple in color. The other animal looked at me curiously for a few seconds before leaning forward, the red one mirroring its actions. The two animals sniffed at my fingers for several seconds before moving closer to me, nuzzling my legs.

Laughing at the animals as they inspected me, I moved to lift them up. The animals happily allowed me to grab them and place them on my shoulders. I was surprised to see how well they could hold on and move freely across my shoulders as I made my way back to the mares. As I neared the two mares, Spitfire was rubbing her head with a hoof while Fluttershy was giving a heavy frown. I could barely make out the little apologies that Fluttershy was making as I saw that there were no animals left.

“Again, I’m sorry that I couldn’t find you one that interested you,” Fluttershy said, her voice heavy with disappointment.

Spitfire stopped rubbing her head as she wrapped a foreleg around Fluttershy. “It’s okay, Fluttershy, you tried your best. I’m probably just too picky about the pet that I want.”

A little disappointed that Spitfire couldn’t find a pet to bring back home, I decided to see what she thought about the two new additions that I brought with me. “Hey, Spitfire. What do you think about these animals?”

Spitfire looked up at me and her eyes went wide. Fluttershy’s eyes went wide as well, a hoof covering her mouth as she stared at the two animals. I went to see what was wrong when Spitfire tackled me to the ground, grabbing the two animals in her hooves.

“Oh, my, Celestia. They’re so adorable,” Spitfire said as she nuzzled the two animals.

I coughed a few times, groaning as I slightly sat up. “Couldn’t you have just… asked to hold them?” I was certain that one of my ribs was broken, but there was a chance I was probably just in a massive amount of pain.

“Sorry,” Spitfire said as her cheeks became a little pink.

Fluttershy moved next to me, looking me over with a critical eye before turning back to the animals. “Mark, where did you get these two?”

Moving to sit up, I let out a slight groan of discomfort. “I found them… by the river.”

“Do you have any idea what these are?” Fluttershy asked, her eyes still looking at the animals with wonder.

“Not really. You never went over this type of animal,” I said, starting to feel slightly better.

Fluttershy looked back at me, her expression calming down as she explained. “That’s because I never thought I would see them. These are very rare animals and they hardly ever let anypony see them. These are a very rare kind of ferret species called elemental ferrets.” Fluttershy moved towards Spitfire, gently picking up the red one as she showed it to me. “This one is known as a fire ferret,” Fluttershy said before switching it out with the white one. “And this one is known as an ice ferret.” Fluttershy returned the ice ferret back to Spitfire.

I nodded my head as I looked at the two ferrets nuzzling Spitfire. “Do they make good pets?”

Fluttershy nodded before giving a little information about them. “They’re usually pretty tame compared to regular ferrets. They’re very loyal like dogs, but they can take care of themselves pretty well. As long as food and water is out for them, or in an easily accessible place, then they shouldn’t be a problem.”

I nodded as I turned back to Spitfire, smiling as I watched her play with the ferrets. “So what do you think, Spitfire? Would you like these as pets?”

Spitfire stopped playing with the ferrets as she turned towards Fluttershy. “Where do I sign for them?”

Fluttershy gestured towards her cottage and Spitfire trotted towards the door. Fluttershy looked back at me to see if I was going to follow. I gestured for her to head on up and get everything settled. Fluttershy gave a small nod as she flew back to her cottage. Letting out a deep sigh, I laid back in the grass, looking up at the sky. I probably stared at the sky for maybe five minutes before Spitfire came flying out of the house, the two ferrets on her back.

“Mark, I would like you to meet Blaze and Tundra.” The two ferrets looked at me, nodding a little before getting comfortable on Spitfire’s back again.

“Those are very lovely names. Did you figure out what gender they are?” I asked as I moved to stand up.

“Fluttershy was able to determine that they are female and that they are sisters.” Spitfire smiled brightly as we walked back to the train station.

I smiled back at Spitfire. “That’s good to hear. I think Fleetfoot will like these two a lot.”

Spitfire nodded her head excitedly as she went back to playing with the two ferrets. It was adorable to see the ferrets and Spitfire nuzzle each other lovingly. We passed City Hall and I saw Vinyl on her knees, probably begging for something from Octavia. I couldn’t help but smile at how fast Octavia was able to make Wubz disappear. Seeing her do this only pushed me further to the fact that Octavia had some connections with certain ponies. The two of us neared the train station, only to stop and stare wide-eyed at the slight destruction. The station was thankfully safe, but there was about forty feet of track missing.

“Well, looks like we’re stuck here,” I said as I knew exactly the culprits that probably caused this. I really wondered how those three were able to get away with all the destruction they cause.

“What do you mean we’re stuck here? We can’t stay overnight. We have to be back in Canterlot to run the performance a few more times,” Spitfire said as she started to pace back and forth.

I let the mare do several paces in front of me before finally placing a hand on her back. Spitfire looked up at me, worry evident in her eyes as I spoke in a calm tone. “If it’s that important to get back to Canterlot, then fly back. I can stay here for the night and I’ll catch the earliest train that will be able to leave.”

Spitfire looked at me, then at the mountains before settling on me again. “No, if you’re stuck here, then I’m stuck here with you. I refuse to ditch my friend after coming all this way to get two pets. Fleetfoot can handle the practice runs until our return.”

I looked at Spitfire, my brow raised in confusion. “Are you sure? I really don’t mind if you head back to Canterlot. I have a few friends that would be more than willing to let me crash at their place until the tracks are repaired.”

Spitfire nodded her head as she gave a determined look. “Of course I’m sure. Plus, I think this would be a great time to get to know one another. I mean it can’t possibly get worse, can it?”

I looked at the mare with a deadpan expression. “First, never say anything can’t get worse because then something worse will happen. Secondly, I would like to make this a fond memory that we can look back at to see how much closer we have gotten as friends. Finally, the only way it could get worse is if ponies enslaved humans, and I was a half-blind human who was stuck being mute and my name ended up being Max.”

Spitfire looked at me with a raised brow for a few seconds before nodding her head. “Yeah, that last part sounds like it could be worse. Thankfully, that could never happen.”

The two of us laughed as we turned away from the train station. As the two of us walked through the town, the sun started to lower. I could feel myself starting to get hungry, and it seemed the same for Spitfire as she looked around at the restaurants. The ferrets seemed to have fallen asleep, Spitfire’s wings covering them a little as they slept soundly.

I nudged Spitfire a little to get her attention and she looked up at me. “Hey, it’s getting a little late. Want to find a place to get a quick bite to eat and then go find a hotel to stay at for the night?”

Spitfire nodded her head as she stopped walking, pointing her hoof at a nearby restaurant. “Sure, that’s sounds like a good plan. Want to eat here?”

I shrugged my shoulders as I gestured for Spitfire to lead us in. The two of us entered the little restaurant and took a seat at a table. A stallion came by our table and I ordered some fries and a sundae while Spitfire ordered a salad and a milkshake. The two of us sat in silence together, Spitfire placing the two ferrets on the table as she smiled at them. I smiled as well as I looked at the peaceful creatures sleeping.

I was pulled from staring at the ferrets when I heard Spitfire call my name. “Mark, do you mind if I ask you something personal?”

I looked at Spitfire, who fidgeted slightly in her chair. Whatever question she had seemed to make her nervous, and I spoke in calm tone to ease her tension. “You can ask me whatever you want, and I’ll gladly answer whatever question you may have.”

Spitfire nodded as she took a couple of breaths. “Okay, just know that you really don’t have to answer it if it’s too personal for you.”

Spitfire was about to ask her question when the waiter appeared again and dropped off our food. I gave the stallion some bits as a tip before he left. Spitfire took this chance to ignore whatever question she was going to ask and start stuffing her face with her salad. I had a feeling that she would probably ask it later, so I didn’t continue where she was cut off. I ate my food happily as Spitfire seemed to enjoy her milkshake. The two of us finished off our meals quickly, just in time as the sun started to set. Spitfire paid for our meal, grabbing the ferrets and placing them on her back. I couldn’t help but grin as we walked away from the table.

We were heading for a nearby hotel before I nudged Spitfire. Spitfire looked up at me, her eyes wide as she saw my grin. “You realize what you just did earlier, right?”

Spitfire quirked an eyebrow as she looked at me. “What do you mean? All I did was pay for our dinner…” Spitfire’s eyes went wide as she realized what she did. Spitfire let out a deep sigh as she shook her head. “I can’t believe I did that without remembering what I said. Go ahead and give me a nickname, but it only stays if it’s good. Also, the only ponies that get to know it are Fleetfoot, you, myself, and possibly a few friends that I know that won’t tell others.”

I nodded my head as I thought about what kind of nickname I would give Spitfire. It took me a few seconds before I finally settled on one. “Fire. That’s your nickname.”

I didn’t think it was possible, but Spitfire’s cheek exploded into a deep red that threatened to take over her entire face. “I wasn’t expecting that.”

Spitfire refused to look at me, her strides increasing as she tried to get to the hotel faster. Spitfire was already through the door and ordering a room by the time I walked through. The mare at the front desk handed Spitfire a key to the room before waving her goodbye. Spitfire gestured with a wing for me to follow her as I waved to the mare at the front desk who happily waved back. Our room was thankfully on the first floor and near the lobby so we could make to the train station as quickly as we needed to.

As Spitfire opened the door to the room, we both noticed how cozy it looked. There was a bed against the side wall and a couch in the middle. I took the couch as Spitfire hopped onto the bed. It wasn’t long before Spitfire fell asleep in her bed as I bordered on my own sleep. Staring at the ceiling, I smiled as I remembered the blush that Spitfire had after I gave her a nickname. Since she didn’t complain about it, I was safe to say that she liked it. My smile soon turned into a frown as I leaned up from the couch. Spitfire was sleeping peacefully, but I kind of wished that we could have done more together.

Looking around the room, I found a small notepad next to an inkwell and a quill. Grabbing the quill, I dabbed into the ink and made a note to get together with Spitfire again so we could have our own alone time. There was still much I need to learn about Spitfire, and I wanted to show her that I was willing to take the time to get to her know her. My time with Fleetfoot went well, even considering some of the stuff that we went through, so I was more than happy to try and get closer to Spitfire. Finishing off my note, I set the quill down and let the ink dry on the note. I moved back to the couch and closed my eyes as I let sleep finally take me over, a happy sigh escaping my lips as I thought of a few things that Spitfire and I could do.

Dual Surprises

Fleeting Flames
By: Duelist96
Chapter 12: Dual Surprises

I awoke to a strange sensation on my chest. There was a slight weight pressing down, but it wasn’t too heavy to hinder my breathing. Letting out a small groan, I rubbed my eyes as I looked down. I couldn’t see very clearly since it was still early in the morning, if the little amount of light coming through the window was anything to go by. Through my hazy eyes, I could make out a few colors. There was a large golden blob on my chest with a red and orange color that I could guess was the front and back. Which one was in either direction, I wasn’t really sure. Blinking a few times, I gave a large yawn as my vision finally came back to me.

Looking at my chest again, my entire body tensed as I looked at what the golden blob was. Spitfire had moved from her bed and laid herself down on my chest at some point during the night. She was curled into a little ball, her head very close to my neck while her tail twitched lightly. There was a smile on her face as she gave a quiet giggle. I couldn’t help but smile along with her, as she looked adorable with how peaceful she was. Her presence helped to wake me up further and her golden fur acted as a miniature sun. Spitfire gave off an aura of warmth as she buried herself deeper into my chest.

Her entire being radiated a sense of beauty and calm as she continued to sleep peacefully. Carefully moving my hand, I slowly stroked my fingers through her mane, getting Spitfire to smile even brighter. As I looked down at her, I could see there was a difference between her and Fleetfoot. Fleetfoot had a wonderful radiance when she was out in the sun, while Spitfire’s golden coat itself gave off her radiance. The sun didn’t have to hit Spitfire’s coat to make her stand out in my eyes. Her coat shimmered of its own accord, a slight warmth permeating off of her and causing me to feel at ease. I gave a small smile as my mind wandered at the prospect of the sun hitting Spitfire’s eyes, causing them to shine just like Fleetfoot’s did.

My eyes widened as I realized where my thoughts were heading. I shook my head clear of all my thoughts, deciding that it would be best to get up and check the train station. Giving a quick stretch, I looked over at the bed to see the elemental ferrets still asleep. Looking down at Spitfire, I thought of the best way that I could go about this. Spitfire’s tail continued to twitch, showing that she was still asleep. The only problem was that I didn’t know how deeply she was asleep. Taking a deep breath, I carefully moved my hands towards Spitfire’s sides. I froze when my hands made contact with her, the mare stirring a little.

I waited with baited breath to see if Spitfire would wake up. Several tense seconds passed before Spitfire stopped stirring and I grasped her sides. Taking a few seconds to enjoy the feeling of her soft fur, I gently lifted her off of me. I was taken by surprise when Spitfire’s wings flared out, giving a few strong flaps before gently falling limp. I had barely moved my body and I could feel sweat pouring down my head. Making slow movements, I sat up, holding Spitfire out in front to make sure she stayed asleep. Once I was sitting up, I couldn’t help but chuckle at the way Spitfire looked. She was hanging limp in my hands, her body entirely relaxed like a sleeping puppy.

Smiling to myself, I placed Spitfire at the end of the couch, carefully standing up as I gave a few more stretches. Looking closely, I saw she was still asleep. I moved over to the bed, grabbing the small blanket that was at the end. I unfolded the blanket and threw it over Spitfire, tucking it in slightly so she was comfortable. I heard Spitfire mumbling to herself, but I couldn’t make out what she was saying. Shrugging, I went to exit the room. After I closed the door quietly, my stomach gave a low grumble, letting me know that it was hungry. Knowing that it was still early in the morning, there was only one place that would be open.

I made to exit the hotel when I heard a mare calling to me. “Excuse me, sir?” I turned to see the same mare from last night. “Fluttershy dropped off two bags of food for your pets, along with the documents to show ownership and notes on how to take care of them.”

“Thank you,” I said as I gave the mare a smile. “Do you mind holding onto those until I get back?”

The mare smiled back at me as she nodded her head. “Of course, Mark. Also, I know you’re staying up at Canterlot and I wanted to let you know the train should be ready for its eight o’clock departure.”

“Thanks for that. I was going to check on that while I went to get something to eat, so now I have one less stop to make,” I said as I gave the mare a few bits.

She nodded her thanks before turning and trotting back to the front desk. Turning around, I walked out of the hotel, greeted by the cool dawn air. Giving a large yawn, I moved away from the hotel and headed for the one stall that would be open this early. I walked through town, a few ponies leaving their homes to get their businesses prepared or to get the foals ready for school. I waved to a few of the early ponies as I headed for the marketplace. I looked towards where the sun was rising and figured that I should run into either Applejack or Big Mac setting up their stall.

As I made my way to the market, I saw Berry Punch leaving her house with Berry Pinch following close behind. I’d heard a few ponies mention that Berry Punch wasn’t good enough to be taking care of a foal, but I could easily say they were wrong. I clearly saw the love that Berry Punch had for her daughter, even with the weird teasing that she used, and I would say she knew exactly how to take care of her. Many of the ponies even said that she was a heavy drinker. I wouldn’t say they were wrong, but with Berry Punch, I don’t think it’s really possible. Out of all the ponies I’d ever seen drink till they pass out, Berry Punch could beat them by a hundred miles and still retain some sobriety.

I even spoke with Berry Pinch and she had nothing but nice things to say about her mother. During a few of my stays in Ponyville the young filly would regale to me of tales about her mother and how she was the nicest mother of all. I believe that could easily be challenged by another mare that I knew, but I didn’t have the heart to argue with such a happy filly. Smiling at the old memories of the two ponies, I continued on my way.

I entered the marketplace and found Big Mac setting up his stall. It’s pretty hard to not notice Big Mac since he’s the tallest pony in town and was the color of a fire truck. As I neared, Big Mac noticed me and waved. I waved back to the stallion as I made my strides longer, the stallion quickly flipping over a sign as he pulled out a bucket of apples. I stopped in front of the stall, looking at the various apple treats that he had for the day as he gave a small smile.

Grabbing a few apples, I decided to start a little conversation with him. “You having a good morning, Big Mac?”

“Eeyup,” Big Mac answered like he always did.

I couldn’t help but chuckle at him. Big Mac was a very kind stallion of few words. Even then, it wasn’t hard to learn his mannerisms were never meant to offend.

Grabbing a few apple fritters, I moved onto another topic I needed to know about. “Are the Crusaders up and about looking for me yet?”

“Eeyup,” Big Mac answered, his eyes giving me a slight apology.

I gave a deep sigh as I shook my head. “You have nothing to apologize for, Big Mac. I don’t know how they do it sometimes, but they always seem to know when I’m in town.” Taking a final look at his stand, I handed him the bits for what I grabbed and started to munch on an apple. “Well, I better head out and get everything packed before I get tackled by those three.”

This got a small chuckle from the stallion before I gave him a slight punch in the shoulder. Big Mac just shrugged off my little attack as he gave me a warm smile, nodding his head as I turned to leave. My pace back to the hotel was increased with the fear of the three fillies finding me. I never disliked the Crusaders, but they could sometimes be a little over the top about what they did to get their cutie marks. I still didn’t understand how syrup, a tree, and hungry timberwolves were a good idea at the time, but it was hard to say no when all three of them gave me puppy dog eyes.

Shaking my head clear of that and a few other horrifying attempts at getting their cutie marks, I kept my eyes peeled for any sign of them. I reached the hotel in record time, the mare at the front desk looking at me with a raised brow before going back to whatever she was doing before. Taking a look around the lobby, I found no sign of the fillies and made my way over to the front desk. Once I reached it, the mare closed up the magazine she was looking at as she smiled at me. I gave her a small smile in return as she started to pull out the things Fluttershy left for me.

As the mare piled my items together, I grabbed a note she had laid to the side and began reading it. The note was just a quick list of things I needed to know for taking care of the ferrets. They each required at least a half cup of food each and we had to make sure they had a lot of space to run around. There were also a few grooming tips, but when I remembered how Fluttershy reacted when she saw them, I didn’t think she would mind coming up to give them regular check-ups.

Folding up the note, I looked back at the items and grabbed the documents of ownership. I skimmed through the papers, a brow raising in interest as I learned the two ferrets were only three years old. Nodding my head after seeing Spitfire and Fluttershy’s signatures, I folded up the two documents and put them in my pocket. After the mare finished grabbing everything, she kindly stacked them and wrapped them so I could easily carry them.

I nodded to her as I gave her a few extra bits for helping me with things. Taking the items, I headed back to the room. As I neared the door, I could barely make out some noise from inside. Stopping in front of the door, I pressed an ear up to it, listening intently for anything. I could hear the clopping of hooves and they seemed to be moving at a fast pace. I could only assume that Spitfire was probably messing around with the ferrets since they were probably up and hungry.

I slid in my key, turning the doorknob and taking a step inside. I only stepped one foot into the room when I felt something wrap around my chest, pinning my arms to my side as it suddenly became hard to breathe. Ignoring the fact there was something slowly crushing the life out of me, I took the time to look around the room. Spitfire’s blanket was on the floor in a balled up heap, a few tables were pushed to the side, and the mattress was on its side. Slowly nodding my head, I looked down to what was crushing me to see Spitfire shuddering, something wet staining my shirt as she buried her muzzle in my chest.

“What’s… wrong… Spitfire?” I asked, trying to keep enough oxygen in my body to avoid passing out.

“I had a very… bad dream and when I woke up, you weren’t here. I worried that… something bad happened to you when I couldn’t find you,” Spitfire said, her voice cracking a little as she held back her tears.

Dropping what I had in my hands to the floor, I did the best I could to comfort the mare. I lowered my head until my chin was resting in her mane. Moving my head from side to side, I tried to simulate my fingers running through her mane. I wasn’t sure what could have caused her nightmare and why she was worried for me specifically, but these were questions I pushed away for later. There was a mare crying into my shirt that needed my attention and I would be damned if I didn’t do anything to comfort her.

Her grip on my body loosened, thankfully, and I moved back towards the couch. I continued to nuzzle into Spitfire’s mane as she let out small whimpers, but there was a slight smile on her lips. Once seated on the couch, I took off my shoes and grabbed at the balled up blanket with my feet. It took me a few tries, but when I was able to get the blanket close enough, I grabbed it with my hand and laid it on the couch. Spitfire had finally allowed her body to relax and I was able to move my arms out of her grasp.

This action caused her to squeeze me again, but with my arms now free, I was able to wrap her into a hug as I laid us on our sides. I used one hand to stroke her mane as my other hand grabbed the other end of the blanket and threw it over us. Once the blanket had the two of us covered, I moved my free hand to her barrel and gently ran my fingers along her side. Spitfire let out a happy coo as her shuddering slowly came to a halt, her hooves gently rubbing my back as I let our closeness calm her.

I held the pony close to my chest for several more minutes before leaning close to her ear, my voice calm as I spoke. “Are you feeling better?”

A nod was my response as I pulled away from Spitfire. She looked up at me with a small smile as she wiped at her eyes with a hoof. “Do you want to talk about it?” I asked.

Spitfire shook her head as she gave a few flaps of her wings. I gave a small frown at her refusal, but I didn’t press the issue. I scratched behind her ear, getting another little purr from her. “Okay. Just remember that I’m here if you want to talk about anything.”

Spitfire smiled as she placed a hoof on my arm. “I will, Mark. Thank you for this, though.”

I smiled as I gave Spitfire a warm hug. “Not a problem, my little Fire.”

As I pulled back from the hug, I could see the small signs of a blush on her face. I couldn’t help the huge grin that took over my face, causing Spitfire to give a playful punch to my arm. “I better not hear the others calling me that. I still have an image to uphold.”

I laughed as I moved off the couch, Spitfire following me as the ferrets came out of the bathroom. “Don’t worry. I won’t let the all-powerful Spitfire fall victim to her friends knowing that she has a lovely nickname.”

Spitfire shook her head as she trotted up to the ferrets, lowering a wing so they could climb onto her back. “I’m serious, Mark. You can call me ‘your little Fire’ all you want, but that’s only in private. Fleetfoot can know though since I know your little nickname for her.”

I shook my head as the ferrets moved into Spitfire’s mane, poking their heads out as they took in their surroundings from a higher vantage point. “Good, because I was going to tell her anyways no matter what.”

Spitfire smiled warmly at me; all traces of her fear and pain that she had were gone. With Spitfire back to her bright, warm, and sometimes friendly self, I went back to the door and grabbed the food that I had bought for breakfast. I set the food on a table and allowed Spitfire to eat as I cleaned up the room. Spitfire tried to voice that she would help before eating, but I convinced her that since I had eaten before arriving back, I could handle cleaning up. Besides, the mess wasn’t that bad compared to a few that I’d made back at the castle as a prank against Luna. I could still hear her mumbling to herself about not being able to help, or even pick up after herself, but she remained at the table to eat her breakfast.

Thankfully, there was no real damage to the room and everything was easy to put back into place. I had to stop cleaning a few times to get Spitfire to continue eating, but at least she went back every time I asked her to. After several minutes, I was able to finish cleaning and Spitfire finished off her breakfast. I looked out the window to see the sun was higher in the air, nearing the time that the train should be able to leave.

I looked back over at Spitfire to see her doing one final sweep of the room to make sure everything was cleaned up. “We should head out to the train station. The front desk mare said that it should be ready for its eight o’clock departure.”

Spitfire turned around to face me, her eyes still looking around the room. “That’s good. The sooner we get back to Canterlot, the sooner we can drop off Blaze and Tundra at home. After that, we can catch up with Fleetfoot at the castle and finish up some paperwork.”

I gave a loud groan as I looked up at the ceiling. “Is that all you two ever do at the castle?”

Spitfire looked at me with raised brow. “What do you mean?”

I looked back at Spitfire, gesturing for her to follow as we made to leave the hotel. “I’ve only seen the two of you relax just a few times. Sure it has slightly increased when Ever Ring was finally dealt with, but you both still only focus on work.”

Spitfire trotted next to me, her expression showing confusion and a little anger. “It’s part of the job. Did you expect us to spend only a couple hours preparing for a show and then just laze about the rest of the day?”

I put up my hands and waved them defensively, seeing where I went wrong in this conversation. “That’s not what I meant. I understand all the work that you, Fleetfoot, and all the other Wonderbolts put into your shows. It just kind of seems that you let your work consume you. I’m not trying to say stop what you’re doing, but try to make more time hanging with your friends.”

Spitfire didn’t say anything as she looked at the ground. She was biting her lower lip nervously as one of her wings twitched slightly. “You know what? You’re right.” Spitfire looked up at me as she smiled. “You, me, and Fleetfoot should walk around Canterlot in the next couple of days.”

I smiled at Spitfire as I nodded my head. “That sounds like a great idea. Do you mind if we stop by Echo and Moon’s place? They should be back in town and I would like to see how they’re doing.”

Spitfire nodded her head as we reached the station. “Sure thing. I actually would like to know how they’re doing as well, since they’ve been helping Everglade understand thestral habits.”

I couldn’t help but smile at hearing that there was a chance to know how Everglade was doing. That filly had a lot of heart and I respected her for that. The two of us bought our tickets, and as we were about to board, I felt a rope tighten around my wrist. My mind jumped to the cause and I sighed heavily as I waited for the impending pain. It came quick as I was tackled to the floor of the train, three fillies cheering as they danced on my back. Next was the sound of disappointment from not earning their cutie marks before they finally got off of me. I groaned as I rose to my feet, Spitfire looking at me with a raised brow as she gestured to the three fillies.

Dusting off my pants, I turned to see the three terrors of Ponyville that I also considered very close friends. Sweetie Belle was Rarity’s little sister and Rarity had really rubbed off on her. Sweetie Belle always made sure that her coat was a shining white before ever leaving her house and the curls in her mulberry and rose mane and tail were brushed to perfection. Her emerald eyes shimmered as she looked at me, a huge smile on her face as she waved enthusiastically. Apple Bloom, Applejack and Big Mac’s little sister, was next to her and she still wore her signature pink bow. Her red mane and tail were a mess and her olive coat had a few dried spots of dirt, showing that she had probably finished her chores. She looked at me with her gamboge eyes, a smile gracing her features.

The final member of their group was an interesting little filly. Scootaloo, who was Rainbow Dash’s biggest fan and self-proclaimed little sister of the cyan mare, stood behind her two friends. Her purple eyes were locked onto Spitfire as she tried to smooth out her orange coat to impress the Wonderbolt. She didn’t even bother with her windswept mane and tail, trying to be like Dash as much as possible. With herself as presentable as she was willing to make herself, Scootaloo walked up to Spitfire.

Spitfire looked at Scootaloo with a raised brow. “Can I help you?”

Scootaloo went to say something, but her words seemed stuck as she found it hard to answer Spitfire. I watched with amusement as Scootaloo tried to speak, her mouth opening and closing a few times with a few cute squeaks escaping her. In a way, she was very similar to Dash, if the latter acted the same way she had when she was younger.

With Scootaloo busy looking like a fool in front of Spitfire, I turned to the other two fillies to see what today’s adventure was. “So what kind of cutie mark were you going for today?”

Sweetie grew an embarrassed blush as she rubbed the back of her head with a hoof. “Scootaloo thought it would be a good idea to get our human capturing cutie marks.” Apple Bloom joined her friend in chuckling nervously as she rubbed the back of her neck.

“I’m pretty sure you tried this before and it didn’t work,” I said, chuckling at the three fillies.

This seemed to get Scootaloo’s attention as she looked away from Spitfire, pointing a hoof at me. “Hey, we used a cage last time. This time we used rope to see if maybe that would work.”

I continued to chuckle at them before settling down enough to smile at the three of them. “Sorry that it didn’t work out.”
The three fillies became crestfallen as Sweetie scuffed at the ground with her hoof. “This is just getting annoying. We’ve tried hundreds of different things to get our cutie marks, but haven’t even come close to getting them.”

I crouched down, petting Sweetie’s mane as I gestured for the other two to come closer. “Then that just means you get to try more things.” The three fillies looked at me with confused expressions as I tried to explain myself. “A lot of ponies here probably figured out their cutie marks without any sense of adventure. You three get to make a list of everything you’re tried that didn’t work to allow future foals to attempt to see if they are related to their cutie marks. Plus, your club was a great idea because now foals can all work together to achieve their future, and possibly make good friends while doing so.”

The three fillies smiled at me, quickly hugging me as they gave me their thanks. It really was kind of adorable to watch the three fillies try their hardest to get their marks. I even believed that in the long run it would help other foals if they were having trouble finding their special talent. Granted, I did try to tell the three what they could do to earn their cutie marks, but Twilight and her friends made sure I kept my mouth shut. I still have phantom pains from when Applejack kicked me in the shin. She did apologize since there was a decent bruise on my leg, but I waved it off since sometimes she really didn’t know her own strength.

The three fillies let me go as I ruffled up their manes. The three of them giggled joyfully, their happiness bringing a smile to my face as I reminisced about my past. If there was one thing that I could say about the noticeable difference between my home and Equestria, it was that the ponies here usually seemed to retain some of their traits from when they were foals. Sure, there were a few people on Earth that liked to let their inner child out, while a few mares and stallions acted cocky here in Equestria, but the ponies easily outdid the many humans on Earth. I sometimes missed the days of my youth, running around outside in the rain, playing on the swings, and even staying up late and watching scary movies that my mother told me not to watch.

Still, the way I had grown up wasn’t all bad. I was pretty happy with my life back on Earth and I tried to keep some kind fun in my life so I could avoid being a stiff, and I would like to think I’d done pretty well. I smiled back down at the fillies as I hoof-bumped each of them before joining Spitfire on the train. We took one of the empty cars as the train’s whistle blew, signaling our departure. As the train started its slow chug forward, I turned back around to see the town slowly pass by. I placed my hand on the glass as I continued to smile, glad to have met some of the ponies that I did during my visits to Ponyville.

I was pulled from staring out the window when Spitfire moved off of her seat and joined me in looking out the window. She placed a hoof on the glass as she spoke openly, not seeming to really focus on me. “You have some very interesting friends, Mark. It’s good to see that you’ve been able to connect with enough ponies to create a friendship that’s very strong.”

I wasn’t sure, since it disappeared as fast it showed, but I was certain that I saw a tear fall from Spitfire’s eyes. “I’m glad to call a lot of those ponies in Ponyville my friend. Most of them didn’t even bat an eye that I was a different creature from them. I mean I still ran into a few that refused to associate with me, but there isn’t much anyone can do about that. Also, if I had to say anything, I think I’m very proud of my friendship with both you and Fleetfoot.”

Spitfire released her hoof from the window and the two elemental ferrets that she was carrying jumped to the ground as they ran around. Spitfire looked at me with hesitant eyes, unsure how to process what I said. She didn’t say anything as she turned around, sitting in the seat as she looked out the other window. I took a quick glance out the window to see nothing but open fields and turned so I could stare straight ahead, wishing that the train would move faster because I hated long train rides.

Silence easily filled the room as Spitfire continued to stare straight. I began to worry that I may have said something that caused her to feel uneasy. As I opened my mouth to speak, she interrupted me, her eyes taking a quick glance at me before looking away. “Mark, you remember I had something to ask you at the restaurant, but I didn’t after the food arrived?”

I nodded my head, only to realize that she couldn’t see me so I answered her. “I remember. Are you going to ask me the question now?”

Spitfire tapped her hooves together nervously as she turned towards me. She looked at me, her bright orange eyes that were usually filled with confidence were now faltering. She continued to tap her hooves as she looked at me worriedly. “Like I said before, you’re free to not answer it if it’s too personal, but I would like to know something.” I nodded my head, moving my hand to her mane, which she thankfully leaned into. Spitfire let out a content sigh as she nuzzled my hand. “Fleetfoot will probably ask this later at some point, but have you ever asked the princesses to send you back, and if you did, then would you go back?”

I took a deep breath as I pondered Spitfire’s words. This was a question that most ponies assumed I was asked, but in actuality, it was the least asked one of all. I looked at Spitfire, continuing to let her nuzzle my hand as I thought of an answer. I wanted to lie to her, saying that I wouldn’t because I enjoyed the friendship, but if she found out another way, then everything I had done would mean nothing because she would believe it all a lie. I looked back at Spitfire, realizing that she stopped nuzzling my hand because of how long I was silent.

I could see the fear in her eyes as she probably thought she stepped into an area she shouldn’t have, and as she opened her mouth, I stopped her when I finally answered. “I have spoken to the princesses about sending me home.” Spitfire looked at me with slight confusion as I continued my answer. “I asked for their help in finding me a way home, but I also told them to take their time. Sure, I would like to go home and see my old friends and family, but this is probably a one-time experience to learn a different culture. I mean, you and Fleetfoot have even made this an interesting experience, including the rough patches.”

This seemed to make Spitfire smile a little before quickly turning to a frown. “But you would still go back to your world, wouldn’t you?” Spitfire looked down at the ground, not wanting to look at me for the expected answer.

I couldn’t really blame her, but this was something I hadn’t given much thought to. I moved a hand to Spitfire’s cheek and turned her head so she was staring into my eyes. I was lost for a few seconds in her enticing orange orbs before I finally found my voice to answer her. “I would go back because it’s my home.” Spitfire’s ears flattened and she tried to remove her head from my grasp, but I held her still because I wasn’t finished. “Although, I haven’t really decided on anything, yet.” Spitfire stared at me, her eyes filled with a slight hope, but confusion outweighed it. “I have enjoyed my time here and it would be hard for me to leave the new friends I made. Depending on how things go, I might be able to ask Twilight if it might be possible to create a two-way portal so I could come and visit.”

This seemed to cheer Spitfire up as she grabbed my arm with her leg, nuzzling her cheek as she gave me a heartfelt smile. “Would you be willing to do all of that just to see everypony again?”

I smiled at Spitfire as I ran my thumb along her cheek, the feeling of her soft fur giving me a little comfort as well. “Of course I would. I mean, who else am I going to get into yelling matches with?”

Spitfire giggled as she gave a playful punch to my arm. Blaze and Tundra returned to us, jumping up on the seat as Spitfire’s eyes started to drift closed. I grabbed Spitfire around her barrel, the mare not caring about me moving her. I laid her down on my lap, the pegasus curling into a little ball as she used her tail slightly as a makeshift blanket. I scratched behind her ear as the two ferrets went underneath her tail, going to sleep as well. I smiled as I thought how good this trip had been for the two of us. I may not fully understand where her worry was coming from, but it was nice to know that she cared to make enough memories before I left. Whenever that would be.

A Few Hours Later

The train had arrived at Canterlot, and I made sure to wake up Spitfire at least fifteen minutes before our arrival so she would be ready to go. After the train came to a complete stop, the two of us exited the train, the ferrets hanging onto my back as they looked around the large city. A stallion came over, carrying our luggage that I assumed Spitfire had put aside to be put away when I was busy talking with the CMC. Spitfire handed the stallion a few bits as I picked up our luggage. The two of us headed back for the castle, Spitfire giddy to show off the two pets to Fleetfoot.

The trip back to the castle was pretty quick; many of the nobles around Canterlot were missing for the afternoon. I nodded to the two guards at the front gate, a unicorn and pegasus who I weren’t familiar with, but were the replacements for Strongheart and Shield. The two guards seemed to shy away a little from my presence, making me assume that they were probably fresh members of the guard. I wasn’t bothered by it much since I believed many of the other guards would give comfort to the two new members that I wasn’t something to be entirely worried about.

As we entered the castle, I learned why there were so many missing nobles in the afternoon. There were four long lines of ponies that were leading to the throne room. I wasn’t really sure what was going on, but I ignored it for now as Spitfire and I took another route to Spitfire’s office. The two of us had to be careful walking through the halls as many of the castle staff were rushing around, many of them either carrying food or papers to one place or another.

After another set of ponies passed us, I decided to inquire about what was going on. “Hey, any idea why there are so many nobles here today? I know there’s usually a long line during some days, but this is more than I’ve seen.”

Spitfire looked back at me as she stepped around a maid that was carrying a platter. “The princesses hold an open court two times a year. Anypony can show up to court and speak about whatever they want, within reason of course.” Spitfire gave a little laugh before shaking her head as a small smile appeared. “It actually didn’t used to be this bad. Most of the time it was Celestia before Luna’s return. Then Luna came back and this increased attendance. Cadence’s arrival increased it even further before Twilight’s ascendency pretty much made it to where this castle is jammed pack with a bunch of nobles.”

I shook my head, not even feeling a bit envious of all the attention the princesses were getting. I actually considered taking back my revenge plot on Luna for those pictures that she hung in my office. The key word being considered, but not actually going through with it. Luna did admit to there being another pony that helped her, and that sealed her fate for me to get my revenge.

My slight smile turned to a small frown as a thought occurred to me. “I do feel bad for Twilight, though. She’s still new to being a princess and I think she’s dealing with a lot of stress right now with all these nobles.”

Spitfire nodded her head in agreement as we made a few turns, finally nearing where Fleetfoot was at. “She has worked hard for her accomplishments. She has done so much that it’s kind of sad to see all these nobles try and use her slight naivety about being a princess to fulfill their selfish desires. I do have hope for her, though, because she has Princess Celestia to help tutor her.”

I nodded my head in agreement as we finally reached the office. The two ferrets stared at the door with interest, their whiskers twitching as they tried to figure out what was behind the door. I put the luggage by the door as Spitfire opened it. She walked into the office, her voice a echoing around the room slightly as she spoke to her friend. I followed and was immediately tackled to the ground.

I let out a pained groan as Fleetfoot snatched the ferrets, squealing in delight as she hugged them close to her chest. “Oh, my, Celestia! They’re so cute! These are the most adorable animals I’ve ever seen! What are their names?!”

I slowly sat up, feeling my back pop in multiple areas as I slowly recovered from the tackle. “The red one is Blaze, while the white one is Tundra. They’re elemental ferrets and apparently sisters from what Fluttershy found out. Also, can I make a rule?”
Spitfire looked at me with an arched brow. “That depends. What kind of rule are you wanting to make?”

I got to my feet, leaning back and listening as my spine popped back into place. “No one is allowed to tackle the human anymore. If that continues, then I might end up back in the hospital.”

Fleetfoot giggled as the ferrets nuzzled against her chest. “I thought you liked hanging out with Nurse Redheart. I heard that she has a new nurse that helps her out here in Canterlot. I can’t remember her name, but she’s foreign. Her names begins with an ‘F’ and rhymes with heron. I haven’t met her, but some ponies say that she’s very kind while others say that she’s very strict.”

I gave Fleetfoot a deadpan expression as I cheered in a sarcastic tone. “Yay, another nurse that gets to poke and prod me. It’s not like I have it rough enough with Redheart being so personal about everything I do here. Thankfully, I was able to reduce that questioning by just telling her that most of those things would never change in answers.”

Spitfire hovered next to Fleetfoot, taking Blaze from her hooves so she could hold her. “What exactly won’t change?”

I gave a shrug, not really minding telling them since I didn’t find it too personal to keep private. “The main things that never change are my height, diet, certain measurements of my body, and my sexual history.”

This seemed to get Fleetfoot’s attention as she placed Tundra on the floor. She looked back at me, her eyes holding a slight bit of worry before she was able to turn it to neutral. “How many mares are you sleeping with that your sexual history doesn’t change?”

I couldn’t help the loud laughter that escaped my lips. I pounded on Fleetfoot’s desk, tears streaming from my face as I found it hard to breathe. I continued to laugh before slowly settling down. I looked back at Fleetfoot to answer her question, only to burst out laughing again.

Spitfire placed Blaze on the floor as she hovered next to me. “Are you almost done yet?”

I laughed for several more seconds, my face red from how hard I was laughing. I wiped away a few tears that were still present as I rubbed my sides. “I haven’t had sex for the past seven months that I’ve been here. I actually haven’t even relieved myself because I feel that I don’t actually have any privacy. Redheart is to thank for that second part because of her little quip about unicorns and a spell that allows them to see through objects.”

Both Spitfire and Fleetfoot had visible blushes as they stared at me with wide eyes. Fleetfoot landed on the ground, looking at me intently, which made me feel uncomfortable. It was almost like she was undressing me with her eyes. I quickly pushed that thought out since I knew that neither of these two saw me in that kind of way. We were just very good friends and that was fine by me.

I was pulled from repressing my thoughts as Fleetfoot spoke. “Do you not find any of the ponies here attractive?”

I could hear the hurt that was in her tone, making me give a sad smile as I leaned back in her chair. “I honestly haven’t had much time to think about it. I’ve never really thought it would be possible to find a relationship, especially since I’m taller than most ponies, easily scaring them with my height alone. I don’t think there’s even a pony that would be interested in dating me.”

I looked up at the ceiling as Blaze and Tundra jumped up on my lap, curling into little balls as they tried to get some sleep. I could hear Spitfire’s wings beating in the air as Fleetfoot’s hooves shuffled on the ground. Silence filled the room as I moved to pet the ferrets.

Spitfire’s voice cut through the slowly building tension before it got any worse. “Would you date a pony now after seeing how relationships kind of work?”

I let out a deep sigh as I pondered those words. I’d never really thought that a pony could be sexy enough to arouse me, and this was true for a while as I never really felt anything. Now that I’ve been here for a while, especially those weird moments where Fleetfoot and Spitfire seemed to stand out a little more, I really didn’t know what to think.

I leaned forward in the chair, being careful not to knock off or disturb the ferrets as I answered. “I probably would now since I understand relationships slightly better, but it probably would be awkward. The pony would have to at least be okay being seen with the freak, while I should at least know the pony a little. I’m not saying I need to know everything about them before dating them, but knowing what they’re like would help to see if I would be interested.”

Spitfire landed on the ground, moving towards her desk as she grabbed a folder. “Well, I hope that you can find somepony to have that connection with. Everypony deserves a little fun time and happiness when they can find it.”

I couldn’t quite place it, but it sounded like Spitfire wasn’t really telling me what she wanted. It sounded slightly forced, like she was hiding something, but then again, she was a hard pony to gauge sometimes. The only thing that was odd was that she had her muzzle buried in the folder that she pulled out, but I decided not to question it. A yawn escaped me as I carefully picked up the ferrets, placing them on Fleetfoot’s desk as I got out of her chair.

I headed for the door before turning around to the mares. “I’m going to put the ferrets’ supplies in my office for the night. I’m also going to get some work done before heading back to the house.”

Spitfire waved a hoof, keeping her muzzle buried in the folder in front of her. Fleetfoot gave a weak wave as I left their office. I looked to where I placed the supplies for the ferrets before seeing a note. I picked it up, easily picking up on Celestia’s calligraphy. It was quick to its point, mentioning that she had one of the staff take it back to Spitfire and Fleetfoot’s home. I pocketed the note as I entered my office. I took a seat in my chair, opening one of the drawers and pulling out some papers. As I closed the drawer, I saw Fleetfoot in front of my desk, hovering in the air with her forehooves behind her back. I raised a curious brow at her presence, taking note of the slight buildup of sweat on her forehead. I went to ask her what she wanted, when she quickly flew in front of me.

Fleetfoot held out her hoof, one of her feathers being presented to me. I looked at the feather with interest as it shimmered a little in the moonlight. I would have asked what this was about, if her next words didn’t halt all functioning of my brain. “Mark, would you like to go out with me tomorrow night?”

Author's Note

Eppie Genetic was kind enough to edit this chapter so it could come out quicker. Depending on the next couple of chapters, I may have her become part of the editing team with the other two. If this happens, I will link her name in the description so you can find her amazing stories that aren't shit like mine.

Also, if you know the pony that I'm referring to, and at least one should recognize it pretty easily since it's from their story, they won't be making an appearance.

Date Preparation

Fleeting Flames
By: Duelist96
Chapter 13: Date Preparation

I looked at Fleetfoot’s outstretched hoof. The feather was clearly one of her primaries, something that Cadence taught me was important for pegasus flight. It seemed to not hinder Fleetfoot’s hovering as her wings beat gently in the air. Looking up at Fleetfoot, her expression went from nervous to fearful. I was confused as to why she was getting like that, before realizing that I had been silent for a long time. I was too lost in her question and the sudden presence of her offering a feather that I hadn’t even acknowledged what was happening.
Shaking my head, I looked at Fleetfoot. “Uhh… sure.”

Fleetfoot’s fear turned to joy as she gave a bright smile, her purple eyes glinting in her excitement. She put the feather down on my desk as she wrapped her forehooves around my neck, but thankfully not tight enough to cut off my air as she squealed happily. “Thank you so much, Mark.”

Not really sure what to do in this situation and trying to get my hearing back, I did the first thing that came to mind. I lifted one of my arms and patted Fleetfoot’s back as she sighed contently. “No problem, Fleetfoot. So what should I do to prepare for the date?”

Fleetfoot pulled away from me, her eyes wide as she looked at me. “I forgot that I need to make sure my dress fits,” she said more to herself than to me. Fleetfoot flew towards the door, stopping as she looked at me again. “Just dress up nicely. It doesn’t have to be a suit or tux, but something a little cleaner than what you regularly wear.”

Fleetfoot flew through the door, leaving me to continue standing at my desk in confusion. The feather was still in my hand, glittering a little in the soft light, but still marvelous as though it was still attached to her. I turned the feather in my fingers, letting my brain process everything that had just transpired. Letting out a deep sigh, I plopped back into my chair and stared up at the ceiling. A small smile crept its way onto my face, a sense of joy in knowing that I was going on some kind of date. My smile slowly faltered as my eyes went wide, my brain finally catching onto what I just agreed to.

“What the hell have I done?” I asked no one in particular, hoping that I had just imagined everything.

I sat up quickly from my chair, and I honestly had no idea what I was going to do, especially what to expect. I wasn’t entirely surprised to have Fleetfoot ask me out since in Equestria it was more common for the mares to initiate a date, but I really didn’t know what would happen next. There were two different cultures clashing between us and I didn’t know which one to follow. My heart rate increased, my breathing becoming heavy as I was started to feel sick to my stomach as I leaned over a trashcan.

Sweat was beading off of me and it felt hot in my office. I grabbed a bottle of water that I kept near the desk, chugging it down as I tried to get my nerves back under control. Thankfully, the feather in my hand was still undamaged after I moved for the trashcan. I closed my eyes, taking deep breaths as I tried to figure out the best course of action. Nothing really good came to mind before I remembered what I saw when Spitfire and I returned from out trip.

I tucked the feather away in my pocket, making sure that it wasn’t going to get damaged before leaving my office. Closing the door behind me, I looked inside Spitfire’s office to see no sign of Fleetfoot. Spitfire looked up from her paperwork, probably waiting to see if I had anything to say. I just gave a dismissive wave as I left and took the quickest path for the throne room. Spitfire told me about today being an open court, so there should be one princess that could help me.

Part of me really didn’t want to go see Cadence because she could be a little intrusive about my relations with some ponies. She apparently had it in her head at one time that I was trying to court Celestia, but thankfully with Celestia’s help, we were able to explain my situation about relationships to Cadence. This still didn’t entirely stop her from trying to get me to connect to ponies on a more intimate level, but it wasn’t anywhere near as bad as it once was. Even with this, I still owed her much since she took time out of her days to help me learn everything I needed to adjust to Equestria.

As I continued to walk through the halls, I saw many of the maids sitting around, probably on a break. Many of them looked tired and ready to blow their stacks if they were pushed even an inch further. Thankfully, they at least smiled at me as I passed, knowing very well that I wouldn’t bother them with anything at the moment. Actually, the only time I ever had a maid do anything for me was either to know where either of the princesses were or they were sent personally by the princesses. I reached the throne room where two guards were standing at attention. I gave a nervous chuckle, as they were the same two guards from the last time.

As I approached, the two stallions gave me a hard glare. “Hey there,” I greeted with a nervous smile.

“Can we help you, Mark?” the guard on the left asked.

I hadn’t felt this nervous in a long time, unless counting my near panic attack in my office, but I tried to remain calm as I answered. “I was hoping to know if Princess Cadence is in right now.”

The two guards looked at each other before the guard on the right spoke up. “She’s currently seeing somepony at the moment, but I guess that doesn’t matter since you’re just going to barge in there.”

“I deserve that,” I said, dejected, as I rubbed the back of my head. “I can actually wait till she’s done.” I headed for one of the chairs to the side, taking some time to figure out how I would talk about my situation with Cadence. “Do you know how long she has until she’s done?”

“She should be done in the next couple of minutes. She doesn’t have anypony else waiting to see her, so you’re up next when the pony comes out,” the left guard answered.

Nodding my head, I looked up at the ceiling before closing my eyes. I was really hoping for an easy conversation with Cadence, but I highly doubted that since this was now entering her realm of expertise, and she could sometimes get a little out of hand. Letting out a heavy sigh and not able to find a way to avoid any of Cadence’s overbearing eccentrics, I resigned myself to her fate. I was pulled out of my thoughts when I heard the doors to the throne room open. A well-dressed stallion trotted out, doing a quick turn to look back inside and give a formal bow.

The stallion started past me, but stopped to look at me with a raised brow. I watched his expression, waiting to see what he was going to say or do, then act accordingly. Several seconds passed before the stallion seemed to lose interest and continued on to wherever he was heading now. I looked over at the two and the one on the right waved me through. I gave a small nod as I entered the throne room, hearing the doors close behind me. Looking ahead, I spied Cadence on her own throne, the three next to her vacant of the other princesses.

Cadence had noticed my arrival, as she waved a hoof enthusiastically, getting off of her throne and trotting towards me as I walked to meet her halfway. The two of us met and she gave me a tight hug, partially crushing my spine as she gave a happy hum. Most ponies are very touchy to show their feelings, but with Cadence, she took it a little further so she could also get a better read on someone’s feelings. I awkwardly returned the hug, knowing full well that Cadence’s magic was checking to make sure I was still in good health. Surprisingly, she was actually a licensed psychiatrist along with being a princess.

Cadence pulled her head back, her legs still holding me in place as she beamed up at me. “Mark, it’s lovely to see you.” Cadence finally let me go, ushering me forward with a wing as we went to a side table. I took a seat in one of the chairs she pulled out, the mare pulling a chair next to me and sitting down. “So what do I owe the pleasure of seeing you here? I thought you didn’t prefer my company,” Cadence said with a mock hurt expression.

I couldn’t help but chuckle at Cadence, her expression turning into a pout as she teased. “I never said I didn’t prefer you company. You’re just easier to handle in small interactions. As for why I’m here?” I looked at her, Cadence’s face turning serious. “I believe you already know after that hug.”

Cadence nodded her head as her horn ignited, a kettle and two teacups appearing on the table, her cornflower blue aura lifting the kettle and filling the two cups. She handed me one before taking a relaxed posture, lifting the cup to her lips and taking a dainty sip. I sipped at my own tea, relaxing a little as the warm liquid settled in my middle. The two of us sat in silence, which I felt was intentional on Cadence’s part. She probably wanted the environment more relaxed as she helped me with my problem.

A few minutes went by before Cadence set her cup down, refilling it as she looked back at me. “Your emotions were quite sporadic from what I could tell. Fear, anxiety, happiness, uncertainty; it’s like you don’t know what to feel at the moment.” Cadence gave me a worried look as she placed a hoof on my arm. “Is something going on between you, Spitfire, and Fleetfoot? Or is it something else?”

I sighed heavily, trying to figure out the best way to explain this. Not really finding a better way to explain it, I looked at Cadence with a neutral expression and decided to just be blunt. “Honestly, I don’t see anything wrong between myself and the mares.” I looked back into my empty teacup, Fleetfoot’s face appearing with a smile in the brown liquid. “I think I might actually be experiencing some sort of shock.”

Cadence raised a confused brow as she lifted my head to look at her. “I don’t think I understand. How exactly are you experiencing shock? What happened?”

I set my elbows on the table, laying my head on my palms as I thought back to only a few minutes ago. “After Spitfire and I returned from our trip in Ponyville, we went back to her office to introduce our new pets to Fleetfoot. We talked a bit more about a few other things, but then I kind of just started talking about a few personal things.”

Cadence started to rub my arm. It was comforting as I tried to shake myself out of my funk. “For some reason I decided to open my big mouth and mention that I’ve pretty much not pursued any kind of relationship. I go back to my office, then as I’m about to start my work, Fleetfoot shows up. I didn’t think much of it at the moment, but she did something I didn’t expect.”

“What did she do?” Cadence asked, her other hoof being placed on my hand.

I reached with my other hand into my pocket and pulled out the feather. Thankfully, it was still in perfect condition from when Fleetfoot had given it to me. Cadence’s eyes went wide as she looked at it before turning back to me. I was about to say something, but she cut me off. “Do you know what this is?” Cadence gestured to the feather, her horn igniting to probably take it. I wasn’t sure what caused it, but I withdrew my hand to my chest, giving a slight glare.

Cadence’s horn went out, the alicorn putting up her hooves to show that she wouldn’t try it again. “I don’t know what it means. The only thing I know is that she gave this to me and asked me out on a date tomorrow night.”

Cadence seemed to freeze in place before turning her head away. “Looks like all your feelings are true for each other,” Cadence said in a whisper.

Her body went tense after I placed a hand on her shoulder. She turned back to look at me, realizing what she said. It seemed like she was hoping that I didn’t hear anything, but unfortunately, I did. “What do you mean that our feelings are true for another?”

Cadence’s eyes scoured the room, possibly looking for a way out of the conversation. Her eyes landed back on me, her worry turning to defeat as she let out a deep sigh. “Mark, please understand that I remained within the realms of my powers as the Princess of Love.”

I looked at Cadence, keeping any emotion out of my tone, but she could probably sense the slight anger I was emitting. “What did you do?”

Cadence became downtrodden as she placed a hoof on my hand. “After your ‘confrontation’ with Spitfire during your first visit, I placed an enhancement spell on all three of you.” My brow raised, but I remained silent as I waited for her full explanation. “The spell was to help all of you use emotions that you’ve kept repressed for some time, and it was to help you see that love was possible for you in this world.”

I released Cadence from my grasp, the alicorn turning towards her tea as she lifted the cup and started to swirl its contents. “The spell, though, was designed to go away after you had your first realization that there’s beauty in the mares around you if you took a few seconds to look. It’s obvious it worked, since the spell is no longer on you or either of them.” Cadence looked back at me, a small, hopeful smile present on her face. “Do you mind sharing when you realized something about a mare’s beauty?”

I gave a small frown before leaning back in my chair. “First off, what you did was a little out of line in my view.” Cadence gave a hurt expression, her ears going flat until perking up again as I continued. “Although, if it wasn’t for that, then maybe I wouldn’t have reached this point. So I guess you kind of cancelled both the good and bad out.”

I grabbed my teacup and finished off the rest of its contents before leaning back again and giving the short version. “I realized it when I was with Fleetfoot during our trip to Cloudsdale. It was actually a little jarring to see her stand out so much. It probably didn’t help, though, when all those pictures were put up in my office by Luna and her accomplice. Also, not too long ago, I just had the same kind of realization with Spitfire.” I looked back at Cadence as she smiled at me, but her wings twitched a little, showing that she was trying to hold back giggles. “I’m not sure if Spitfire will do the same as Fleetfoot, but I can’t deny that she really does have a radiant beauty about her.”

Cadence gave a gentle pat to my shoulder, her giggles still contained but threatening to spill out. “If it doesn’t happen, Mark, it doesn’t happen. Like I said before, the spell was removed from all three of you, though surprisingly at the same time. I do, however, want to congratulate you on having a date.” Cadence then gave a sly smirk as she leaned close, her voice going sultry as she spoke. “So, you going to give it to her good after the date? Take her for a ride that probably not many mares will get to experience?”

I knew this was coming after mentioning the date, but I was hoping for a few more minutes before it got this far. I knew I should be mad at her, even yell at her for what she did, but I couldn’t. After my first meeting with Cadence after my arrival, the other princesses assured me that even though I would find her methods a little unorthodox, her magic could never force anything. Her magic only gives a gentle push on a person’s feelings so they can realize what they could possibly be missing out on.

I gave a few chuckles before looking at Cadence. “Really? You couldn’t have waited at least a few more minutes before pushing that on me?”

Cadence offered a few giggles of her own as she sipped at her tea. “Mark, I think we both know the answer to that question.” Cadence set her teacup on the table before turning towards me and giving me a hug. “Although, I’m very excited to hear this. I am a little surprised to see it turn out this way, though.”

I looked at Cadence with a raised brow. “Why are you surprised?”

Cadence gave a nervous laugh as she rubbed the back of her head. “I just wasn’t expecting Fleetfoot to push for a date.” Cadence’s eyes went wide at realizing what her implication could be taken as. “Not that I’m saying it’s such a bad thing. I’m very happy for the two of you. The most I was expecting was just a closer friendship between the three of you, but this is a wonderful outcome as well.”

I smiled as I scratched behind Cadence’s ear, getting a happy hum from the mare. “Thank you, Cadence, but I still need help.”

Cadence gave me a confused expression. “Help with what, exactly? It’s now just a simple courting ritual by pegasus standards.” I raised a brow at the mare, Cadence still looking at me with confusion for a few seconds before it finally dawned on her. “You don’t know what to do, do you?”

I simply shook my head as I looked back at the feather. “No, I don’t know what to do. So far, Fleetfoot has initiated the courting by asking me on a date, but I still don’t know what’s important about this feather. I feel a slight need to keep it safe, but I can’t comprehend why,” I exclaimed, my voice beginning to raise in pitch and volume. “I also don’t know how to act on this date, since you’re so culturally different from where I’m from. Let’s also add in the fact that I’m in Canterlot and that dating me is probably going to do something to her image. I mean what could she…”

I was cut off as Cadence placed a hoof on my lips, her other hoof on my shoulder as she leaned her head close and placed the tip of her horn against my forehead. I could feel her magic spread throughout my body, relaxing it from the shocks the panic attack that I was having. Cadence held me caringly, much like Celestia had when I would enter an attack in the past. I rubbed at Cadence’s leg, letting her soft fur relax me further. We stayed like that for several minutes before the alicorn pulled away from me, a motherly smile just like Celestia’s on her face.

“Okay, let’s start with the simple answers.” I looked at Cadence with interest, gesturing for her to continue. “The feather is related to old pegasi traditions. A pegasus presents a primary feather, like the one you have, to somepony that has caught their interest. It’s a way for them to give something personal to show how deeply they feel.”

I looked at the feather, turning it over a few times before placing down on the table. “So Fleetfoot really is interested in doing this date?”

Cadence nodded her head as she smiled down at the feather. “It would seem so. Though, usually a pegasus waits to give a feather until they’re certain about their special somepony. It seems like she wants to put everything on the line to see if she truly cares for you.” I gave a small frown as my gaze returned to the feather, but Cadence caught onto my worry as she turned my head toward her again.

I looked into Cadence’s shimmering, light purple eyes as she refused to break eye contact. “This leads to answering your other concerns.” I tried to pull myself free from Cadence’s hooves, but she held me firmly. “For how you should act on this date… just be yourself. That has been the biggest problem between ponies because they try to act like somepony they’re not. Fleetfoot likes you for you, so there’s no reason to try and change yourself. Finally, don’t worry about what other ponies think about the two of you dating.”

I gave Cadence a flat look as she finally allowed me freedom to move. “I’m in Canterlot, and she’s the wingpony of the Captain of the Wonderbolts. I don’t need a bunch of ponies ruining her life because she starts to date the giant freak.” Cadence was about to say something, but I cut her off as my voice raised in volume again. “Also, don’t tell me that it will be okay! I can live just fine with the snide remarks, hateful comments, and the evil glares, but neither of those two need that! Fleetfoot’s interest is actually nice to see, but I really think this is a bad-”

I was cut off by a harsh smack to my cheek from Cadence. She gave me a serious glare, one on a different terrifying magnitude when compared to Celestia’s. I placed a hand on my cheek, trying to process the fact that the Princess of Love had just struck me. Cadence’s wings were slightly flared, twitching a little as she took calming breaths. As Cadence continued to calm herself, I pulled my hand back to see a drop of blood on my finger. Seeing as there wasn’t much and it wasn’t dripping anywhere, the cut wasn’t that bad.

Cadence finally got herself under control as she looked at me. She winced slightly at seeing the tiny cut from her hoof and offered me a tissue. I nodded as I took it and cleaned up the little amount of blood. I balled the tissue up and put it into my empty teacup.

“I’m sorry about that, Mark, but you were getting hysterical again,” Cadence said as she looked at my cheek closely.

I let Cadence look at my cheek as I gave a few weak chuckles. “That makes three,” I said to no one in particular.

Cadence stopped looking at my cheek as she gave me a confused expression. “Three what?”

I just shrugged as I pulled away from Cadence, not needing her to baby the tiny cut. “This makes you the third princess to slap me out of hysteria.” I looked up at the ceiling, thinking about those three times. “Actually, if I were to organize the slaps, only one of them was by accident.”

Cadence raised a curious brow at this, ignoring my current problem to inquire more about my previous slaps. “What exactly led to those?”

I smiled a little as I chuckled. “Luna slapped me in a dream once because I was dreaming about her having fat flanks from eating a lot of junk food.” Cadence gave me a deadpan expression to show that she wasn’t amused. I ignored her as I continued on to the next incident. “Celestia’s slap was by accident because I was standing behind her when she was having her morning tea. Philomena seemed to fly down from somewhere and as Celestia went to hug her phoenix, I ended up getting a hoof to the cheek.”

Cadence placed a hoof on her head, shaking it slowly as she let out a soft sigh. “You must be one unlucky stallion, aren’t you?”
I gave a shrug as I leaned back in the chair. “I blame Discord for that, but I’m not that unlucky. So far these past seven months, I’ve had a pretty fairly lucky life. It just seems like I’m unlucky since I don’t talk much about the good things.”

Cadence nodded her head in agreement as she got rid of the kettle and tea cups. “I guess that’s true.” Cadence hopped off her chair, ruffling her wings a little before gesturing with one for me to follow her. “Let’s continue this conversation as we walk. I want to stop by somewhere and hopefully by the time that we get there, we should have your problems solved.”

I nodded as I stood up from my chair, popping my back as I closely followed her. The two of us exited the throne room, the guards giving a sharp bow before being relieved of their stations. I could only assume that neither of the princesses would be returning since the guards were leaving. I looked forward again, seeing Cadence trot with a little more skip in her step, giddy about something. A feeling in my gut told me that I should be worried about her happiness, but I pushed it aside as my fears of the date with Fleetfoot clouded my judgement.

As we continued down the hall, I saw many of the maids returning to work or switching out for the night. I wasn’t really sure where in the castle we were, since I didn’t recognize any of the paintings or pottery. If anything, I probably went this way only a couple of times and didn’t find any reason to keep it to memory.

The two of us continued to walk in silence before Cadence finally spoke up. “Going back to what we were talking about before you went hysterical, you shouldn’t worry.” Cadence cast me a quick glance before looking forward again. “Fleetfoot is free to make her own choices, and she is probably very well aware of the consequences of her upcoming actions. She’s willing to live with any kind of ridicule to see if this will work between the two of you.” Cadence then looked at me, still trotting like she knew the path from memory to where we were going. “Do you think my marriage to Shining Armor didn’t have any consequences?”

I raised a brow at Cadence. “Probably not that many. I know this world doesn’t have a problem with interspecies dating, Steel Wing and Surprise are a very prominent example, but he’s at least from this world while I’m an alien. The only problem I see is that you’re royalty and he’s the Captain of the Guard.”

Cadence shook her head softly as she let out a small sigh. “Mark, there was a lot more to it than just that. Twilight’s family are very influential ponies, but compared to most of the nobles here, they aren’t a big name. To all the other nobles, I was just marrying some commoner that didn’t deserve to walk next to me. There was a lot of hate towards our wedding. So much, in fact, that a few ponies even attempted to disrupt, minus the changeling invasion that happened.” Cadence’s gaze returned to mine, her eyes showing a little bit of hope. “Mark, I’m not going to force you on this date, but I really believe this will do you some good.”

I continued to stare at Cadence as I gave her a confused expression. “Then what should I do? I’m at an impasse here and could use some real guidance.”

Cadence gave a curt nod as she stared forward again. “All you need to do is listen to your own feelings. Push aside any doubt that you have and give it a chance. Forget about what other ponies have to think about what Fleetfoot is doing since she’s doing this to be closer to you.” The two of us reached a large brown oaken door as Cadence gave one last glance towards me. “You’re feelings for each other have grown since the beginning and I think if you actually give this a shot, something good will come out of it for both of you.”

The two of us stood for a moment, my mind thinking over everything that was said. I looked at the door, something eerily familiar about it, but I couldn’t remember what it was. Cadence seemed to watch me intently, not moving from place as she waited for me to say something. I let my mind wander over the days I spent with Fleetfoot. As I thought back over everything we’d done together, I couldn’t help but smile. Cadence gave a small smile at my happiness as I looked at her.

I gave a stiff nod at Cadence as my smile widened. “I’ll give it a shot. Fleetfoot and I have been through a lot together and I really do want to see where this goes.”

Cadence jumped on the tips of her hooves in excitement as she smiled back at me. “I’m so glad to hear that, Mark. Now, let’s get you something for that date.”

I looked at Cadence in confusion as I tried to figure out how I was going to prepare for this. Cadence gestured toward the door and I looked back at it, trying to figure out what could be in there that would help. I looked around the hallway, many fabrics hanging from shelves along with some clothes that I’d seen the princesses wear a few times. My eyes widened when I finally realized where I was.

I looked at Cadence, shaking my head as I tried to back away. “Nope. No way. Not going to happen.” I waved my hands in front of me in protest. “I have nothing against that mare, but she’s way too touchy.”

Cadence gave a slight smirk as her horn ignited and froze me in place. Her aura then encompassed the door before she opened it and trotted inside, carrying my still body along with her. She slammed the door closed to alert the other pony in the room that she had guests. “That’s something you’re going to have to learn to live with, Mark. Do you expect Fleetfoot not to get a little touchy during the date?” Cadence then pulled me closer, her voice going into a husky whisper. “Plus, who do you think made the clothes those mares were wearing? You know, the mares that Luna and I took pictures of to hang in your office?”

I looked at Cadence, shocked, but not entirely surprised that she had helped Luna. I had a sneaking suspicion that it was her, but I couldn’t claim that until I had some proof. “I’m seriously going to get you and Luna back for that.”

Cadence only giggled as she set me down, her magic cutting off and allowing me to move. “I wish you luck in that, Mark.” Cadence trotted back to the door, cracking open before turning around, a sly grin on her lips. “Silk, make sure Mark has the appropriate clothing for his date tomorrow night.”

I looked at Cadence with wide eyes as she exited the room, slamming the door again. My anger was reaching its breaking point as I was about ready to yell for her when the sound of clopping hooves drew my attention back to the room. I watched as a familiar pegasus trotted into view, her amber eyes glittering with giddiness and her joyful smile was wider than I would have preferred. The sunlight coming from the window hit her light strawberry coat, making it shine a little. Her mane - which was pulled back in a ponytail - and tail were a swirl of yellow and black, an odd combination of colors for a pony from what I’d seen. Her cutie mark was a pair of black, opaque, silk stockings, making me wonder how she’d gotten a job here.

“Mark, it’s so great to see you again!” Silk quickly jumped at me, her wings giving her enough push to wrap her legs around me and give me a tight hug. I could feel her nuzzle my cheek as her tail playfully swatted against me. “I heard that you’re having a date and need something presentable?”

I put my hands on Silk’s barrel, pulling her away as I set her down on the ground. I took a few steps back, watching her closely to avoid any unnecessary touching. “You hear correctly. I need something a little nicer than what I have, and Cadence seemed to believe you’re the pony for the job.”

Silk took a few steps forward, grabbing my hand in her wing and starting to pull me to her fitting room. “I believe that I can get something made in this short amount of time.” She moved me to stand on top of a stage, moving over to separate fabrics as she mused to herself on what colors to use. “To help narrow my choices, can you tell me who you got a date with?” I went to answer, but she cut me off. “If not a name, then a coat color will work as well. Also, do you know where you’re going?”

Again, I went to answer before a loud pop sounded near her. I saw Fleetfoot’s feather levitating in front of her, making me chastise myself for forgetting it back at the throne room.

I was pulled from my thoughts when Silk spoke. “You’re a very impressive stallion if you were able to get a date with Fleetfoot. I have the perfect design just for you.” Silk turned around, her expression a little calmer than what I’m used to seeing. She placed the feather on her work station, grabbing an arctic blue and gold fabric.

Silk’s expression seemed a little uneasy as she grabbed a tape measure and flew up to me. “Hey, is everything alright?” I asked, seeing there was a hint of tears in her eyes.

Silk waved a dismissive hoof as she set to work, her hooves not touching me in certain areas like she used to. “I’m fine, just a few fond memories passing through.” I saw her mumbling to herself, whispering out my measurements, but there was something else that I couldn’t hear.

Even with the fact that she could be very touchy, I didn’t like seeing her this way. “Do you want to talk about it? I know we don’t talk much since I kind of avoid this place, but you seem really out of it. I mean, you’re not even trying to feel me up like you usually do.”

Silk wiped a leg across her eyes before landing on the ground. She grabbed my hand in her wings, letting the feathers tickle my skin as she relaxed. “I remember my old mates who I gave a feather to.” I looked at her with a raised brow, confused about she meant by ‘mates’. She seemed to notice my slight confusion and she clarified. “A unicorn mare and earth pony stallion were my mates. We were a small herd.” Silk shook her head as she gripped my hand tighter. “Skipping all the details of everything, I’ll get to the main point.”

I could see that this was making her uncomfortable, so I crouched down and scratched behind her ear. “If you don’t want to talk about it, then you don’t have to.”

Silk hummed pleasantly at my scratching as she gave a small, content smile. “I do want to talk about. I don’t share this with many ponies and it feels good to talk about it.” Silk pressed her head further into my fingers as she let the calming scratches ease her worries. “We were happily herded for several years, but bad things happened. My mates were out on their vacation while I was busy working. They were several days late on their arrival and Celestia came to see me personally. I didn’t need to be told what happened because her sad look told me everything.”

Silk ran a hoof along my arm as she looked up at me. “My two mates’ carriage apparently got caught in a storm as they tried to find some shelter. They were on a mountain when this happened and a rockslide occurred, hitting the carriage and knocking it off the mountainside.”

I ran a hand through Silk’s mane, bringing her in for a hug as I tried to comfort her. Silk nuzzled my cheek as I held her close, her wings even embracing me as she found a little more peace. I pulled away from Silk, smiling at her as I placed her on the ground.

Silk smiled at me as she moved off the stage and headed for her drawing table. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

She nodded as she grabbed a pencil and started sketching a few different designs. “I’ve moved on from it, Mark, but your sentiment is truly appreciated. I miss them dearly, but I know they would want me to move on and I have.” Silk turned back to me, a genuine smile on her face as she spoke cheerily. “I’ve actually found a new herd that have found interest in me and I might be joining their family.”

I petted Silk’s mane as I continued to smile at her. “I’m glad to hear that. I hope that it works well for you in the future.”

Silk nodded as she went back to sketching her designs. “Thank you, Mark, and I hope that it goes well for you, too.” I nodded as I moved towards her work table. I was about to grab the feather, when Silk’s voice called out to me. “Actually, can you leave that here? I think I might have something it could work with. If not, I’ll return it back in its same pristine condition that you left it.”

I gave a curt nod as I handed her the feather. “Sure thing. I don’t think I’ll have to worry about in your care.”

Silk gave me a small wing salute as she picked up the feather and studied it intently. “You don’t have to worry. It will be entirely safe here. Just make sure that you come back before your date so you can pick up your new attire.”

I nodded before raising a brow in confusion. “But you haven’t even asked me what I was looking to wear.”

Silk shooed me away with a wing as she grabbed a pair of green-framed glasses similar to Rarity’s and went back to work. “Don’t worry about that, Mark. I have a decent idea what the date is going to be like, and it will be appropriate.”

I gave Silk a skeptical look before heading for the door. “If you say so. Take care, Silk, and I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Silk absently waved a hoof as she went back to looking at the feather. I took notice of the smile that graced her lips as she looked at the feather with intense care. I swore I saw a small tear escape from her eyes, but I couldn’t be sure. I lingered for a few seconds longer, waiting to see if she would say anything or to possibly comfort her if she broke down. I watched as the mare took a deep breath before setting the feather down and going back to work. Seeing that she was at least somewhat fine, I left her workplace. I let out a deep breath as I looked around the halls, not really sure how to get out.

Giving a blank look, I grabbed a bit from my pocket and flipped it. It came up tails, so I went left. I began walking down the hall, letting what Cadence had said run through my mind. Those thoughts were quickly interrupted by Silk’s actions tonight and it caused me to frown slightly. I really did hope the best for her because even with her antics, she really deserved happiness again. Glancing over my shoulder, I could barely make out the door before giving a small smile.

Turning back around, I saw that I was lost and let out a deep groan. With nothing to really go by, I started walking, hoping to reach one of the castle staff or guards. It didn’t take me long to find a maid, and she kindly showed me out. Once out of the castle, I headed back for the house, thinking about different scenarios regarding how the date would go. When I arrived, I went to the kitchen and saw a container of food on the table with my name on it. I wasn’t feeling particularly hungry, so I put it in the fridge and headed straight upstairs. I moved over to Spitfire’s bedroom and looked in to see Fleetfoot and Spitfire quietly asleep.

Smiling at the two mares, I moved to my room, the two ferrets sleeping at the foot of my bed. I removed my clothes and went under my covers, smiling a little and hoping that the date would go well tomorrow night as I drifted off to sleep.

Author's Note

I was actually thinking in the beginning not to have Silk, but I decided to keep her because of her importance to the story. So expect more of her later on.

The Date with a Surprise

Fleeting Flames
By: Duelist96
Chapter 14: The Date with a Surprise

I woke up to the sun glaring at me through the window. A low groan emanated from my throat as I rolled over, trying to get a few more precious minutes of sleep. Sadly, I wasn’t given that chance as the mirror that was placed on the other side of my bed reflected the sun back into my eyes. I growled angrily and threw the sheets off of my body, rubbing the sand out of my eyes as I moved to sit on the edge of my bed. Massaging the back of my neck, I glanced over at my clock to see that it was only noon.

Sighing heavily, I moved off of my bed and headed for the shower. I closed the bathroom door, locking it as well so I wouldn’t have any walk-ins. It wasn’t that I was expecting Fleetfoot to walk in without knocking, but I did it as a precaution so I could think to myself. I turned on the hot water, stepping inside and not even testing how warm it was before letting it wash over my body. I suppressed a small yelp as I stepped back and turned down the temperature a little.

I leaned my head against the wall, closing my eyes as the warm water relaxed my muscles. Many thoughts and feelings ran through my mind, but one seemed to make its presence more well known than the others. Joy squashed down my emotions, getting a huge smile to spread across my face. I never realized it before, since I never really had an interest, but I was more alone than I led myself to believe. Sure, I enjoyed hanging with the friends that I made and talking with them about this and that, but in the end, it was just me once they left.

Thanks to Fleetfoot’s interest, I actually found something that was missing from my life. I actually had a chance to enjoy my life a little more, albeit with a pony, but who gives a fuck. I liked Fleetfoot, and she liked me. I was going to cherish this date, enjoying every second I got to spend with such a kind mare that actually isn’t afraid of what others might think of her. My eyes opened as I stared up at the showerhead, imagining how much my life would be different if it wasn’t for Cadence’s help. Granted, I was still going to get her and Luna back for the pictures, but that wouldn’t be for a bit until I could get some help.

Shaking my head to focus on my day, I proceeded to wash my body. As I was gradually covered in suds, I remembered that I still had one more stop to make before being prepared for my date. Realizing what I had to do, I slowly banged my head against the wall as I let out a small groan. I had to head back to the castle and see Silk about my clothes. Deciding to just rip this off like a band-aid, I cleaned off my suds and turned off the water. I then wrapped a towel around my waist while unlocking the bathroom door. As I took one step out of the door, I froze. Standing on the other side was Fleetfoot, and she was frozen in the air.

Silence filled the space between us, my heart racing as I worried about what would happen. I barely caught it, but I saw Fleetfoot’s eyes roam over my body, stopping somewhere at my waist before she looked me in the eyes.

“Spitfire isn’t around, is she?” I asked as I tried to act as though I wasn’t half naked and dripping slightly with water in front of my date.

“Um… she…” Fleetfoot stuttered, shaking her head before collecting her thoughts. “She’s actually gone for the next two days. She needed to head to Manehattan to make sure the other Wonderbolts still have their show premiering scheduled.”

“Awesome,” I said, tapping the wall with my fingers for a few seconds before walking away. I wasn’t really sure what else to say. “I’m just going to change into some clothes and go see Silk at the castle.” I turned around to look at Fleetfoot. “So what time is the date?”

Fleetfoot landed on the ground, her gaze moving away from my eyes as she scraped at the floor with a hoof. “We’ll head out at seven,” Fleetfoot said, her wings seeming to tremble slightly as a blush formed on her cheeks.

“Then I’ll see you at seven,” I said as I turned back around and closed the door to my room.

My breathing was heavy as my heart hammered in my chest. I felt flustered because this was the most a pony had ever seen me naked, besides my regular check-ups with Nurse Redheart and a few with Twilight. Taking a few breaths to ease my tensions, I unwrapped the towel around my waist and finished drying off my body as I grabbed a change of clothes. Dressed like normal, I threw the towel into a corner as I debated going through the door or just jumping out my window. I quickly shook that thought out of my head because of how silly it was. Fleetfoot and I are two perfectly healthy adults, at least by pony standards I guess she would be, so it didn’t matter.

I practically saw ponies naked every day, so why should I feel worked up about her seeing at least my body in partial nudity? My mind quickly went to what Fleetfoot could possibly do with the mental image I had given her, and it went further than I wished for it to. Slapping myself in the face, I quickly got rid of a very vivid image of Fleetfoot on a bed with her hoof between her legs. I started to laugh a little at how easily my mind went to something so lewd now that I was accepting how beautiful of a mare Fleetfoot really was.

As I was ready to step out of my room, I started to wonder exactly why I had such a thought about Fleetfoot. Sure, she was an outstanding mare that was beyond beautiful compared to other mares, but there wasn’t any chance of us of going that far. Was there? I hesitated at my door, actually pondering if Fleetfoot would ever want to be intimate with me. Shaking my head, I pushed the thought to the back of my memory to figure out later. I swung my door open, looking around for any sight of her. Fleetfoot was nowhere to be seen, so I guessed she either went out to do something or went to her room.

Shrugging my shoulders, I exited my room and left the house via the front door rather than a window. Stepping outside, the sun seemed to be a bit brighter today. I could feel the warmth radiating off my clothes as it heated the fabric, giving me a pleasant feeling. I headed down the road, smiling to myself as a bit of excitement started to fill me. My walk to the castle was faster than usual, the guards at the front waving to me as I waved back. They stepped aside as I walked through the gates, entering the castle to see a few maids trotting about. Everything seemed a bit brighter now that I was finally going out with someone, albeit a talking pastel-colored pony.

I could just imagine how people would react if this was back on my planet, but I honestly couldn’t find a reason why it would be so bad. The ponies were sapient like normal humans, but I could only guess that the problem would be that they were equine. Honestly, as I thought about it more, from everything I’ve learned and seen, I couldn’t find a reason to find them unattractive. Hell, if I had to be honest with myself, the princesses weren’t bad looking either, but I understood that our love was more platonic. My friendship with them was great enough and I wouldn’t ask for anything different from them.

I was pulled out of my cultural thoughts when I ran into a door. Letting out a loud groan of pain, I rubbed at my face as I looked at my surroundings. Apparently, I was so deep enough in thought that I did not register the fact that I had reached Silk’s room. Looking at the door, I felt a pang of worry about how Silk was doing. From all my time that I’d spent with her, yesterday was the first time I ever saw her actually be more open with her feelings. She seemed okay when I left, but from what she told me, there were a lot of memories that were running through her mind.

I also couldn’t really be upset with her because even with her very teasing antics, she wasn’t a bad mare to be around. She was someone that I could call a friend who would probably help me if I ever had a problem. Then again, she’s actually helping me right now with making me a set of clothes for tonight. I smiled a little, happy that Silk, even with her very lewd behavior, could always be counted on. I opened the door, stepping inside to see Silk hard at work at her station. I knocked on the hardwood, getting her attention as her ears swiveled back.

Silk spoke in a calm tone, none of her playfulness layered on as I closed the door. “Good morning, Mark.” Silk turned towards me, a content smile on her muzzle as she put down her pencils. “If you’ll follow me, I have your clothes finished and just need you to try them on so I can make adjustments.”

“Ladies first,” I said as I gestured for her to lead, her body going a little tense. There was something obviously on her mind, but I couldn’t quite figure it out. I also didn’t want to pry because I didn’t want to open anymore personal wounds.

Silk trotted ahead, her wings flapping a little in excitement as she spoke. “I hope you like what I designed,” Silk said as she gave a quick look back at me, her smile still present. “I had to go through at least twenty different designs before finally deciding on one that I thought would be perfect.”

“Silk, I know that I’ve never said this before, but you make amazing clothes. I’m pretty sure I would be permanently naked if it wasn’t for both you and Rarity,” I said as I ruffled her mane.

Silk playfully batted my hand away before fixing her mane slightly. “Please, I should be thanking you for giving me a chance to create something different for once.” Silk looked up at me, beaming a grateful smile at me.

I raised a curious brow at her. “Don’t you get to create whatever you want, though?”

“Sometimes I do, but that’s when I’m making it for ponies that actually want a bit of different style,” Silk said as she gave a small frown. “Most of the nobles here pretty much want the same type of clothes, but in different colors. If it wasn’t for the princesses and a lot of the castle staff, I probably would have retired and moved away.”

I was saddened to hear how underappreciated Silk was here in Canterlot. Rarity at least had a diverse community of ponies in Ponyville to create clothes for, but Silk was just limited to mainly those at the castle. I gave her a nudge, getting her attention and a small smile from her as I smiled in kind. “If you want, I could possibly get Rarity to have you come help her in Ponyville. I can’t say much about what you’ll be paid, but you’ll at least get to meet more ponies that would probably enjoy your works.”

Silk gave a slightly lecherous grin as she bumped me with her flank, swaying her hips in an enticing manner as her tone took on a slight seductive edge. “If I were to do that, then who would give you such a lovely view.” Silk punctuated her statement by giving a sharp smack to her right flank. My face was burning slightly at seeing her do that, thinking about how Fleetfoot’s flank would feel under my palm.

“You really love to be a tease, don’t you?” I said as I smiled at her playfulness, slightly shaking my head.

“You know that you love it,” Silk said, returning my smile. “Although, thank you for the offer. I’ll talk to her about it when I get the chance.”

“Good, because I don’t need to lose a friend who does amazing things for someone she hardly knows,” I said as I scratched behind her ear.

Silk let out a small coo as she pressed further into my fingers. “Believe me, Mark, I wasn’t entirely sure about you at first, but I could see there was something different about you.” I raised my brow at her, Silk waving a hoof lazily while I continued to scratch. “Besides the obvious. I also want to thank you for listening about my little past. It really means a lot to me, even though we don’t see each other that much.”

“Listen, Silk,” I said, moving in front of her and crouching so she could look into my eyes. “It’s true that we don’t see each other much, and most of the time it’s just you teasing me. If there’s one thing that I can say for certain, you’ve been a very good friend.” Silk gave me a smile as I rose to my feet, giving her a quick scratch behind her ear before gesturing for her to continue leading.

It was nice to see Silk in such a better mood. It seemed to take a lot from her to talk about her past, especially if what she said was true and that she never really told anyone about it. I was being honest with her, though. Despite her very provocative behavior, she was a kind mare that had been more than willing to help me if I needed it. I don’t really expect that part of her to change, but with everything as it is, I don’t think I would say she would need to change anything. The two of us reached the dressing room, and I easily spotted my clothes on a hanger in the far back.

I watched as Silk quickly sprang into the air and pulled my clothes off the rack. She then disappeared behind the curtain, leaving me to wait for her return. Thankfully, she wasn’t gone long as she came back out and opened the curtain for me.

I looked at her with a raised brow as I refused to move. “Are you going to stay out here this time and not try and get a peek?” I asked, looking at her intently.

“I think we both know the answer to that,” Silk said, a mischievous smile on her face.

I could only shake my head at her as I moved towards the changing room, looking down at her before grabbing the curtain and closing it. Even with that smile, I knew she wouldn’t ever really look inside. She would always attempt to look inside, something that seemed to never stop, but I learned that she enjoyed the mystery. She seemed to enjoy trying to get a peek, but she would never succeed because I would either stop her or she would stop herself. This antic of hers took a bit of time to get used to, but seeing there was never any real harm, I learned to relax about it.

With the curtain closed, I took my time looking at the clothes that Silk had laid out for me. I was actually very impressed with how well they looked. The shirt was a button-up and white in color, but there was a bit of arctic blue along the seams and edges that matched Fleetfoot’s coat color. My pants were cargo designed, but were made to be a little nicer looking so I could get into most restaurants with them. I honestly didn’t mind not being able to go to the high end restaurants, since it was never about how expensive the place was. What really got me, though, was their color. The pants were a dark shade of artic blue, but what really pulled my attention was the golden seams and edges. I wasn’t really an expert with fashion and I thought they looked great, but I did notice that one thing was missing.

“Hey, Silk?” I called out as I started disrobing.

“Yes?” Silk called back, probably watching my silhouetted form.

“I like what you did with the clothes, but I don’t see the feather anywhere.” I looked into the nearby mirror as I slipped on the shirt. “Were you able to find something to do with it?”

“Sadly, I was unable to work it into the designs the way I wanted to at first,” Silk answered, her wings flapping, indicating that she was in the air. “So I redesigned it to be used in one of two ways. I’ll let you decide on which you would like after you finish getting dressed.”

I grabbed my pants and slipped them, taking a quick peek at the mirror to see if anything was wrong with them. With my full ensemble, I had to admit that I didn’t look half bad. The colors were a good contrast with each other, and really made me stand out a bit more than what I would usually wear. One final look into the mirror to see if anything was out of place or still needing work, I walked out of the changing room. I had to stop before almost colliding with Silk as she hovered at eye level.

“So what do you think?” Silk asked as she flew around, giving my outfit a critical look.

“I love it, Silk,” I said as I smiled at the outfit. “This is probably the best thing I’ve ever worn for any kind of date.”

This got Silk to beam brighter as she did one final pass. “Thank you, Mark. I won’t lie, I had to rethink it a few times because of who is courting you, but I think she’ll like it just as much as you do,” Silk said happily, flying towards a stand and grabbing something. She flew back towards me, her hooves behind her back as she spoke. “Like I said, I can make this in one of two ways, depending on what you prefer.”

“Let’s see what you have to offer,” I said, excited to see what she might have planned for the feather.

Silk moved her hooves to her front, the feather glimmering slightly in the little amount of sun that was in the room. “The first option is to create a sort of clip that you can use to clip onto your shirts. The second option is I have it made into a necklace,” Silk offered, but I felt there was something she wasn’t telling me.

I put a hand to my chin, going deep into thought about which I wanted, but my curiosity for the necklace got the better of me. “There’s something more about the necklace, isn’t there?” I asked, looking at her with a curious expression.

“Very good, Mark. Looks like you’re finally starting to catch on to a few things,” Silk said, giving a knowing smirk. “While it’s an old tradition and most ponies don’t do it that often, a necklace is a little more intimate,” Silk started to explain, already making my choice for me. “You could use a clip to state that your relationship is casual, but with a necklace, you’re showing that you’re wanting a very intimate one.” Silk finished tying a couple of strings together before giving me the necklace. “It also helps to show that you’re serious about being with her.”

I looked at the necklace, seeing there were a few spots surrounded by various jewels that were open, making it look like something could be put in there. “What’s with the open spots?” I asked as I tried on the necklace, liking the way the feather felt against me.

“Those are for if you end up turning your relationship into a herd,” Silk said, flying next to me and looking at the necklace to make sure it looked nice. “If you don’t end up having one, you can just close them off by moving these closer together.” Silk demonstrated this by grabbing one of the gems and sliding it close to the feather before moving it back into place.

“Thanks, Silk,” I said, a small smile on my face as I played with the feather between my fingers.

“Although,” Silk spoke up, pulling my attention away from the feather. “If you don’t want something like this, I’ll change it to the clip. Though if you want my honest opinion, I think it looks better this way, Mark,” Silk said, running a hoof over the feather before looking at me.

I stayed silent, looking down at the feather. Thoughts of doubt were starting to form, but before they could even manifest into something more, I shoved them down. Looking at Silk, I gave her a determined smile. “I promised myself that I would take this seriously, so I’ll keep it as a necklace.

Silk started clopping her hooves together in excitement as her smile grew. “I’m so happy to hear that, Mark. I know she’ll appreciate you doing this,” Silk said as she grabbed a nearby bag from where she made my necklace. “Now, I bet you want to keep your clothes a surprise until the date?” I nodded my head. “Then get changed back into your regular clothes and put your date clothes in the bag.”

I did as she said and disappeared behind the curtain. I took off my new outfit, carefully folding the items before putting them away in the bag. Changing into my regular clothes, I ran my fingers across the necklace. I was debating if I should leave it on or take if off to keep it a surprise for Fleetfoot. Looking at the necklace, it didn’t seem right to take it off now. Grabbing the base of the feather, I tucked it underneath my shirt so I could feel that odd warmth coming from it, keeping it hidden from view.

Placing a hand over my chest where the necklace was hidden, I looked into the mirror before giving a sharp nod. I grabbed the bag that held my new clothes and exited the changing room, only to notice that Silk wasn’t here this time. Confused, I walked towards her workroom to see her sitting at her worktable. She still had that bright smile as her tail swished in excitement. It was really nice to see her this happy, then again, most ponies looked nice when they were happy. I made to leave, but was stopped when she collided with my body and embraced me in a tight hug.

“Good luck on your date tonight, Mark. I’m hoping for the best for the two of you,” Silk said in a soft voice, her head nuzzling my back.

“Thank you, Silk. For everything I mean,” I said, grabbing a foreleg and giving it a gentle squeeze to show my appreciation. “Also, thank you for the kind words. I hope the date goes well too.”

Silk held onto me for a while, her head nuzzling my back as I patted her foreleg. I was certain there was more to this closeness than just her happiness for my date, but I wasn’t going to question it. We stayed together for a few minutes before she finally released me. I turned around and gave her a quick hug before giving her a reassuring smile. Silk gave me a nod as she gestured with a wing that I could leave. I rustled her mane a little before heading for the door again.

I reached for the door, but was stopped when Silk spoke up again. “Mark, I know we’re friends, but you better treat Fleetfoot right, or else you’ll have somepony else to worry about other than Spitfire,” Silk said in a serious tone.

I was surprised to see how serious she was, but at the same time it was nice to see how caring she was for Fleetfoot. “Don’t worry, I will,” I called over my shoulder. Chuckling a little to myself, I decided to pay Celestia a visit. I knew that I should probably be worried about what Silk said, but honestly, it was actually nice to hear. Seeing Fleetfoot only interact with ponies that she mainly works with gave me the impression that she didn’t really know anyone else. Thanks to Silk’s concern, it was nice to know that Fleetfoot had friends beyond the workplace. Although, as I thought about it some more, I could be wrong about my assumption, but either way, I had nothing to fear. I was going to see this date through the end and see where Fleetfoot wanted this to go.

I waved at a few guards and maids that weren’t busy doing anything. Most of them were just wandering around, talking amongst each other. Many of them were happy to see me like always, and I guess it was nice to see them as well. It didn’t take long before I reached the dining room. Most days were usually like this for Celestia. Her day court was open once the sun has risen into the sky above, but it took a few hours before any ponies showed up to talk with her. There was a single guard that was sitting next to the dining room’s doors. She had a plate in front of her and her helmet was off, showing off her electric red mane that parted around her horn, her coat an interesting shade of indigo.

The guard looked up at me, her piercing left orange and right blue eyes staring at me intently before she smiled and waved at me. My lips pursed as I tried to put a name to her, but I was drawing a blank. I knew most of the ponies that were always at the castle, and the fact that I didn’t know who she was must have meant that she was new. Reaching the dining room doors, I stopped next her and looked at her curiously.

She looked up at me, her smile still present as she finished off her toast. “Hey there,” she greeted as she extended a hoof. “You must be Mark?”

I reached out for the offered hoof and shook it. “That would be me,” I answered, letting go of her hoof as I shook my head slightly. “I’m sorry, but I don’t think I’ve seen you before. If I had, then I would definitely remember because of your interesting mane color.”

This seemed to draw her attention as she ran a hoof through her mane, only making it look messy as she laughed nervously. “If you think that’s something, then you should see my tail color,” she said, but her eyes widened as she remembered something. “By the way, my name’s Starburst.”

I smiled as I greeted her properly.

“Pleasure to meet you, Starburst,” I said, getting her to return the smile. “Anyways, how exactly is your tail any different?”

Starburst gave a quick nod as she got off of her chair, allowing me to finally see her tail. Her tail was a dark blue, a yellow streak going along the side like a shooting star. She turned around to allow me to see the other side had the same streak. Looking at her tail, I took notice that her cutie mark was a white star that was exploding like a firework with several small red-orange stars surrounding it.

She turned back around and took her seat again as she rubbed the back of her head in embarrassment. “Yeah, kind of overplaying my name a bit with that,” Starburst said, giving a small laugh.

“I personally think it just makes you stand out more,” I said, getting Starburst to raise a brow at me. “I mean, I know it’s normal to have swirls in stripes in most manes and tails, but seeing an actual design that you are born with adds a little more personality.”

Starburst giggled behind a hoof before lightly shaking her head. “Celestia said you were a fun person to talk with, but she didn’t say anything about how bold you are in complimenting a mare.”

I shrugged as I smiled at her. “I think I could thank a few ponies for that kind of confidence, but if you don’t mind, I have a question,” I said, and Starburst gestured for me to continue. “Shouldn’t there be another guard here?”

“Yeah, she should be back in a few moments. She went to get her own meal,” Starburst explained as she went back to her food.

True to her word, a pegasus mare showed up with a brown paper sack on her back. Her coat was beige with her eyes being a deep indigo. Her mane was a mint green and shaven completely on the right side with her left being long enough to hang over and cover her left eye. Her tail was a dark green and her cutie mark was an emerald shield. I was very certain that if many of the upper nobility of Canterlot saw some of these guards, they would try to have one of the princesses try and get them to look uniform.

She seemed to notice me quickly as she stopped her trot forward and stared at me with wide eyes. I looked at her, not moving out of fear that I might somehow scare her off. She seemed to get over her initial shock as she peered around me and glowered at Starburst.

“Starburst, why didn’t you get me when Mark showed up?” she asked, her glower only becoming heavier as Starburst continued to eat.

Starburst finished off her toast before swallowing and answering her. “Because, Emerald, I was busy introducing myself to the nice human.”

“Then would you care to explain why you’re acting so unprofessional? I mean seriously, you took off your armor and we’re not even on a true break,” Emerald said as she trotted past me and took a seat at another table.

Before Starburst could say anything, I stepped in with a question of my own. “So you’re both new to being guards for Celestia?”

Both of them nodded. “Just got positioned with Princess Celestia yesterday. We’re the replacements for Shield and Strongheart after they moved, sir,” Emerald answered as she opened her bag lunch and began to organize its contents.

“Listen, I know that you’re taught to have all these rules and procedures, but can you do me a favor?” I asked, getting their attention. “Drop the sir part and just relax around me. Starburst at least has the right idea,” I said as I pointed to Starburst.

“Obviously you don’t know Starburst, sir,” Emerald said, giving a flat look to Starburst.

“Emerald, if I told you once, then I’ve told you every time since boot camp. You really need to loosen up if you want to connect with anypony,” Starburst said, finishing off her breakfast.

“Then why did you agree to be partnered with me for this post?” Emerald asked with a raised brow.

Starburst got off her chair, dressing in her armor and making sure it was on properly before turning towards Emerald. “That’s because I enjoy your company. You may be a real rule stickler, but I know there’s a fun side to you,” Starburst said happily, giving her a big smile.

“I sometimes wonder how you made it this far with that laid back attitude of yours,” Emerald retorted, taking her first bite into a rose sandwich.

“You’ve seen how well I did in basic. I’ve just learned to unwind a bit more than you have,” Starburst said jokingly, setting her chair to the side and standing at attention.

I could see that Emerald was about to say something, but I cut her off so I could get on with what I wanted to do. “We’ll work on the ‘sir’ thing later. I just want to see Celestia for a few minutes before I head out,” I said, massaging the bridge of my nose.

Starburst gave me a curt nod as she pushed the door open and gestured for me to go through. I returned her nod with one of my own and gave a small salute to Emerald before entering the dining hall. The door closed behind me with a soft bang as I looked at the end of the dining table. I saw Celestia with the morning paper floating in front of her along with her cup of coffee. There was a slice of banana cake on the table, half of it already eaten. My attention was pulled to another guest at the table, and I was surprised to see her here.

“MARK!!!” Surprise yelled, waving her foreleg frantically and startling Celestia.

I waved to Surprise as Celestia placed down her newspaper and took a bite of her cake. I joined the two of them at the table, placing the bag on the ground as Surprise bounced excitedly in her seat and Celestia ate delicately. Surprise seemed eager to say something, if the way her smile was reaching her ears was any indication. Looking over at Celestia, it seemed that she wasn’t going to say anything soon, so I gestured towards Surprise for her to speak.

“Congratulations, Mark!” Surprise said, jumping from her seat and zooming right in front of my face. “So how long until your date?!”

My eyes widened in surprise as I heard Celestia drop her fork. Ignoring Surprise’s comment at the moment, I looked at Celestia with a neutral expression. “Really? After the many things I’ve done and that you’ve heard, this catches you by surprise?” I asked, getting Celestia to blush a little in embarrassment.

“I just… wasn’t expecting this so… soon,” Celestia explained, picking up her dropped fork and setting it on the plate.

“Is there something that you don’t like about this?” I asked, feeling Surprise press against my face, but I ignored it for now.

Celestia’s eyes went wide at what I was saying, and she quickly lifted her hooves as she shook them in a defensive gesture. “That’s not what I meant. I was just hoping for a few more weeks for your feelings to develop before going out with somepony,” Celestia explained, her eyes showing a bit of worry that she may have offended me.

“Sorry about that,” I said, reaching for Celestia and rubbing along her neck to help ease her tension. “I guess I still have a few jitters for the upcoming date. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

Celestia smiled as she moved her head to my hand, nuzzling it warmly. It was actually nice to see her like this. It wasn’t often she was able to let loose unless she was with her sister or Cadence, but after my arrival, I was glad that she trusted me enough to let her guard down. Now that I actually thought about it, it was getting close to our appointment. It wasn’t anything big, but she would just stop by and talk about the day’s past events. I would listen to her, but it was more of a one-sided conversation since it was a chance for her to vent as opposed to really having a conversation.

The appointment was more for her to vent away her troubles. It probably helped that I also allowed her to lay on my lap and I would pet along her neck and body to help soothe her. I was pulled from my musings when a sudden pressure around my chest started to tighten. It was starting to get hard to breathe and I looked down to see a pair of white legs wrapped around me. I looked over my shoulder to see Surprise hugging me from behind, her poofy mane hitting me in the face as she tried to get my attention.

“Can I help you?” I asked, spitting out a few hairs.

“I asked when your date was and you haven’t answered me,” Surprised whined, looking up at me with tear filled eyes.

Surprise was lifted off of me in a golden aura, being placed in front of me again. “Sorry about that,” Celestia said, releasing her hold on Surprise after setting her down. “Her hormones are making her a little more emotional.”

“That would explain this,” I said, gesturing to Surprise, who was already nuzzling my chest.

Celestia could only offer a sheepish smile as she shrugged. “Anyway, is there anything you want to talk about?” Celestia asked, offering a way to ignore Surprise’s antics.

“Let me settle this first, and I’ll see if there’s anything,” I said, getting a nod from Celestia as she summoned another fork and began eating her cake again.

Grabbing Surprise’s head, I pulled her away from my chest, earning a whimper from her. She flailed her hooves out, grabbing the neck of my shirt and trying to pull me closer to her. I had to give it to her, she was stronger than she looked. Thankfully, I was able to get her to let go, my curiosity about how their hooves could grab things being pushed deep down into the area where I should never question things about this world. Sadly, she was able to pull out the necklace I was hiding underneath my shirt.

Surprise’s eyes went wide, her eyes darting between the necklace and me for a few seconds. I saw something twinkle in her eye, something I noticed only once in Fleur, but many times in Rarity, and knew what was coming. I quickly plugged my ears as Surprise took a deep breath.

“AHHHHHHH!” Surprise screamed, startling Celestia for the second time this day and getting the guards to barge through the doors. I couldn’t hear anything, Surprise’s scream somehow still audible and causing my ears to ring. Celestia moved away from the table, probably going to tell her guards that everything was fine, while I tried to get rid of the irritable ringing that persisted in my ears.

“Ow,” I said, trying to fight off a possible headache that might come in the future.

“This is so exciting! Fleetfoot is so going to love that you did this!” Surprise cheered joyfully before realizing something. “I need to tell everypony the good news!” she yelled as she took to the air.

This easily got my attention as I reached out for her and grabbed her hind leg. She looked over her shoulder to see that I was pleading with my eyes that she not leave. She quickly settled onto the table, sitting on her haunches as she folded her wings back in. Taking a few seconds, I collected my thoughts, breath, and my hearing before looking back at the dining hall doors. Celestia had closed them, her horn giving a quick flash before she joined the two of us at the table again. She didn’t say anything, but I could see that she still gave a few glances to the necklace that I was wearing. I ignored her for now and focused my attention on Surprise.

“Surprise, please keep this a secret until after my first date?” I asked, hoping that she would have enough sense to do that.

“How come? I thought you liked Fleetfoot?” Surprised asked, a confused expression on her face.

“That’s just it, though. I’m not sure exactly what I’m feeling. This date is just to see if there’s anything that could work between us,” I explained, hoping this was enough to convince her.

Surprise crossed her forelegs, shutting her eyes as she hummed in thought. Silence settled between the three us before she spoke again. “Fiiiiiiine. I’ll keep this a secret until you know what you’re feeling.” Surprise gave me a smile as she trotted forward. She pulled me into a hug, moving the necklace back into my shirt as she nuzzled my cheek. “Also, good luck with her and I wish the best for the both of you,” Surprise said, patting my back a few times before letting go and flying out of the dining hall.

Looking over at Celestia, I could see that she was giving me a questioning look. What made it a little scary was that the look was one of those silent ones that required no words. I didn’t want to give in so easily, so I matched her with a neutral expression, waiting to hear her question. Sadly, she had more experience than I did, and I was slowly beginning to crack. It didn’t take long before I slumped over and let out a deep sigh. A wing was soon draped over my back and I looked up to see Celestia offering a small supportive smile.

“Do you know what it means to wear that necklace?” Celestia asked as she kept her wing draped over my back.

“Silk explained it to me,” I answered, smiling a little as I felt the feather tickle my chest.

“Are you sure about this, though?” Celestia asked, giving a worried look.

“I want to try,” I said, meeting Celestia’s eyes. “She went this far to ask me out, and it probably took a lot of willpower to do this. I thought I should show the same amount of conviction.”

“Then I hope for the best for the both of you,” Celestia said, placing a hoof on my shoulder as she smiled at me encouragingly.

“The good thing is that I have several hours until the date to hopefully prepare myself for anything,” I said jokingly.

This earned a laugh from Celestia as she shook her head slightly. I couldn’t help but join in her laughter as well, as it helped to ease some of my tensions. As our laughter died down, the room became silent, Celestia still offering me some comfort with her wing.

“Is there still something troubling you?” Celestia asked, worry evident in her tone.

“Nothing too big that I can’t handle myself,” I answered, scratching behind Celestia’s ear to show that everything was fine.

I received a small hum of contentment from Celestia before she pulled her head back. “Then take care, Mark. Let me know how your date goes the next time we meet.”

“Sure thing, Celestia. You have a good morning,” I said, grabbing my bag and heading for the door. I stopped short and looked back over my shoulder at Celestia. “Also, I think your two new guards are a nice addition to your ranks,” I said, smiling at what my interactions with Emerald and Starburst will be like as time goes on.

“Thank you, Mark. I think they’ll be a nice addition as well,” Celestia said, smiling as she cleaned off her table and headed for the door.

Starburst and Emerald opened the doors, Celestia exiting first with me following close behind. Celestia and I shared a quick hug before we parted ways. I easily caught Emerald staring at me with a confused expression, but Starburst gained her attention back as they caught up with Celestia. Shrugging at Emerald’s antics, I headed out to leave the castle. I wasn’t really worried that Emerald would do anything since she’d probably learn that it was normal for Celestia to act affectionate around me whenever we spoke. I did have to give it to her, though. She was really committed to her job, and that wasn’t something I hadn’t seen in a while after getting acquainted with most of the guards.

Exiting the castle, I walked back to the house, wondering if Fleetfoot was home or not. I made a quick stop at the market district to see if Razor was around, but sadly, she wasn’t. Her stand was closed for the next couple of days, so I continued home. I waved to a few ponies that I passed, a few foals running around my feet joyously as they played some game. A few feet from my house, the following foals ran back to wherever their parents were and left me to my own thoughts.

I entered the house to see the lights were off and no noise coming from anywhere. I walked up the stairs, placing the bag on the floor of my room and flopping out onto my bed. Staring at the ceiling, I let my mind relax as my eyes closed. The soft mattress helped to relax my body as I decided to get a few more hours of sleep before having to go anywhere. Opening my eyes, I grabbed the clock off the shelf and set it for at least an hour before the date started. Turning on the alarm, I set it back on the shelf and let myself drift off into sleep.

Several Hours Later

I awoke well before my alarm went off, but I was still alone in the house. I went about doing little tasks that consisted of cleaning the house and making at least a meal for Spitfire if she got back from Manehattan later tonight. Thankfully, time went by quickly as I did these few chores, and I was able to fill in the last bit of time with a shower. Oddly enough, Fleetfoot hadn’t been by the entire time I was busy with the house. I ignored this for now as I continued to wash myself, only to be disturbed by a knock at the door.

“Mark, are you in there?” Fleetfoot asked, her voice higher so I could hear her over the water.

“Yeah, I’m just washing up so I’m presentable,” I replied, going back to washing my body.

“Okay. I’ll be downstairs in the living room when you finish,” Fleetfoot said, a hint of worry just barely heard in her voice.

I couldn’t help but chuckle at hearing her slight worry. Fleetfoot, from what I always saw, was caring, strong, and determined whenever she set her heart to something. There were those few times where I saw her at her most vulnerable, but she still saw things through. Actually hearing that she was worried was a good thing since it helped to let me know that I wasn’t the only one worried about the date. Quickly finishing up my shower, but making sure that I was still clean, I turned off the water and grabbed my towel.

I dried off my body, throwing the towel into a corner, and started getting dressed. Once I was fully dressed, I looked into the mirror to make sure that everything was in order. I looked closely at my face to see some stubble starting to form. Sighing a bit, I grabbed my razor and started to groom myself. There wasn’t much to shave off, but I went over everywhere my hair usually grew to make sure it was gone. There probably wasn’t much need to actually shave, especially since it made a lot of these ponies think I had fur, but I never really much cared for it.

Finishing my shave, I washed off my face and did a quick dry. I spotted no cuts along my face and smiled at how nice I looked. Looking at the necklace on the sink counter, I debated whether I should wear it or not. I know I told Celestia that I was committed to meeting Fleetfoot’s determination in this, but I felt like I would be bringing her hopes up too much. Then again, I wasn’t very sure about her past relationships, but if any of those ponies weren’t willing to be with her, then it’s their loss. Picking up the necklace, I held it in front of my neck as I thought about what to do.

I pulled the necklace away from my neck, only to frown to see how empty it made my ensemble. Gripping the necklace tightly, I slipped it around my neck and made sure that the feather was still in place. The feather glinted softly in the light of the bathroom, getting me to smile as I ran my fingers across it. Happy with my choice, I moved towards the door, exiting the bathroom and heading for the living room. Reaching the bottom of the stairs, I turned towards the couch, only to freeze in place.

I still didn’t know what it was about this world, but even with ponies walking around naked all the time, clothes really had an effect on them. Fleetfoot was already very beautiful, but the dress she wore made her truly stand out. The dress was a darker purple of her eyes, and covered her entire body, even her hind legs. I assumed there were holes in the dress as her tail and wings were sticking out. The dress had short sleeves for her forelegs, but the rest was covered in silk stockings that were shear. On her hooves were arctic blue slippers that sparkled a little.

I wasn’t really sure what she could possibly be wearing underneath her dress, except for the same stockings and slippers, but I couldn’t control one thing that popped into my mind. I only have Echo to thank for this coming to mind since she brought it up not long after my arrival to Equestria, but I started to wonder what kind of panties she was wearing, if any. Pushing those thoughts deep into the recesses of my mind, I took a look at Fleetfoot’s face. Surprisingly enough, she wore a dark orange eyeliner, her lips a lovely shade of dark blue, and to tie it all off was her mane. Instead of its regular windswept look, she had it straightened out and tied back into a ponytail.

I found it very hard not to drool or even pass out from how beautiful Fleetfoot looked. I probably would have continued to stare if it wasn’t for the nervous look she was giving. Quickly shaking my head clear, I cleared my throat as I offered her a smile.

“You look lovely tonight, Fleetfoot,” I said, my smile never leaving.

“T-Thank…” Fleetfoot started, but stopped as her eyes went wide. “Are you wearing my… feather?” Fleetfoot asked, a hoof placed against her lips.

“Yes, I am,” I answered, moving closer to her. “Do you want me to take it off?”

“No!” Fleetfoot exclaimed quickly, her eyes wide.

I was startled by her outburst, but I quickly regained my composure as I knelt in front of her. Fleetfoot shuffled nervously in place as I reached out with hand, gently cupping her cheek as I tried to make her meet my eyes. She did so a little reluctantly, but her slight shaking stopped as she looked at my smiling face. She wrapped a hoof around my wrist as she nuzzled into my palm, letting out a small sigh of comfort. Happy to see that she was starting to calm a little, I let her continue to nuzzle my hand until she was feeling better. Fleetfoot finally pulled away after a few minutes, but not before giving a small frown at having to do so.

“You feeling better?” I asked, getting a nod as my response. “Then are you ready to go?”

“Yes, let’s head out and have some fun,” Fleetfoot answered, her smile returning as she trotted for the door.

I smiled at her retreating form, following closely behind in case she wanted to start any conversation. She held the door open for me, something I still didn’t like having done for me, but was able to push aside to see how things worked out. Once I was through, she exited the house, making sure that she had her purse with her before closing the door and locking it. My mind jumped to how Spitfire would get inside, but I just assumed that there was either a spare key that they kept hidden or she had one herself.

Fleetfoot stood next to me, smiling before beginning to trot off. I followed by her side, enjoying the cool night breeze and savoring the look of the night sky. Looking over at Fleetfoot, I took notice of the moonlight hitting her dress, causing her to shine a little. The light of the moon even made her makeup shimmer, giving her a very sexy look that I didn’t think was truly possible. Fleetfoot turned her head in my direction, and I was pulled from my staring when she spoke.

“See something that you like?” Fleetfoot asked in a slightly teasing tone.

“Yes! I mean no!” I let out a deep sigh as I rubbed my temples. “I’m sorry,” I apologized, trying to keep my eyes off of Fleetfoot.

Fleetfoot bumped me with her side, getting my attention as she smiled at me. “You don’t need to apologize, Mark,” Fleetfoot said, her smile never wavering. “It’s actually kind of nice to know that I can still get that kind of reaction.”

I looked around to see if there were any ponies out and about before turning towards Fleetfoot. “Are you not able to have nights like this?” I asked, hoping to not get too personal.

Fleetfoot slowed her trot a little, and I was about to apologize before she spoke up. “Not as much as before,” Fleetfoot said, her smile still showing. “I just kind of stopped dating after a while.”

“What made you stop?” I asked, wondering if there was something more to why she asked me out.

“A culmination of things, really,” Fleetfoot answered, moving closer to me as she continued to smile. “It was either just a bad relationship or we just wanted different things. I mean Spitfire and I even gave each other a shot, but it just didn’t work out.”

I think I might have startled Fleetfoot when I nearly tripped over myself. “Sorry, that last bit just really took me by surprise,” I apologized, regaining my footing so Fleetfoot could continue to lean against me. “After all of that, then why did you decide now to begin dating again?”

Fleetfoot went to answer, but silenced herself after we arrived at our destination. The restaurant was three stories and was obviously Cloudsdale-themed with all the clouds that were around it. There were marble columns on the first and second level of the restaurant, while the third level had more cloud-related themes. Looking over at the raised sign, I read the name of the restaurant. It was called Three Tribes and had a pony of each race on the sign. There were alicorns positioned at the top of the sign and had their horns touching with a wave of magic coming down on the other three races.

I was pulled from my musings when I felt something tug on my pants. Looking down, I noticed a white tail wrapped my leg, and following it, I saw Fleetfoot giving me a smile as she gave another tug. Laughing a little to myself, I followed her inside. My ears were hit with a soft melody as I stepped through the door. I looked passed the greeter to see a stage at the far back, and I was surprised to see who was there. Octavia and Lyra were up on stage, their signature instruments in their grasp. The song that they were playing was obviously romantic as my eyes moved to the table in front of the stage.

Sitting at the table was Bon Bon and Vinyl, both of whom were watching their marefriends playing. My eyes continued to scan the front of the room, where I saw a stallion watching Octavia. It seemed that he didn’t have any ill intent towards her, but something about him said that I shouldn’t get involved with him. If anything, it would be something that Maurice would get in trouble with if he was here. Ignoring the stallion, I moved along the front for another surprising sight.

I honestly couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Sitting in a corner table were Rainbow Dash and Rarity. I was literally at a loss for words as Dash sat close to Rarity, the latter leaning against the former. Even more surprising was how Dash was dressed. Rainbow was in an actual dress, something from many past conversations that I learned she didn’t like. Not really sure how she was in one, but assuming Rarity had something to do with it, I couldn’t help but smile at them. I didn’t try to draw any attention to myself so I wouldn’t disturb any of them, since they all looked happy at the moment.

Returning my attention to Fleetfoot, she had spoken with a pegasus mare that I assumed was the hostess and was grabbing menus before directing us to follow her. Our hostess had a pink coat with a coiffured mane and tail that was dark pink. A quick glimpse at her eyes showed that they were a deep blue and her cutie mark was a bunch of rose petals. Fleetfoot continued to lean against me as we followed our hostess up to the second level. I gave a small frown, knowing that my inability to walk on clouds was the only reason we were not being seated on the third floor. Unfortunately, it was something that I just had to deal with in Equestria. Had I known that we were coming to someplace like this, I would have grabbed that other necklace that allowed me to walk on clouds.

As we reached the second floor, I took notice of the few ponies that were around. I could only assume that most of them were on the first floor so they could watch the performance, but I could still hear it. The hostess led us to the middle of the room and set our menus on the center table. I was about to pull out a chair for Fleetfoot before she pulled one out and gestured for me to take a seat. Accepting this as it is, I took the offer and waited for Fleetfoot to take her own seat. Fleetfoot grabbed her chair, but instead of instantly sitting down, she handed her menu to the hostess and pulled her chair next to mine.

She sat down, her tail resting against my leg as she leaned against my side. I had to keep from laughing at how affectionate she was being as she hummed a little to herself. She seemed so peaceful as she leaned against me, her eyes glinting in happiness as she gave a slow look at the menu.

The hostess cleared her throat as she set straws on the table before speaking. “My name is Evening Rose and if you have anything to ask, don’t hesitate to let me know. Your waitress should be with you shortly to take your orders. Before I go, can I start you off with anything to drink?”

“May I have a Sea Breeze and a water?” Fleetfoot asked.

“Of course, and what about you, sir?” Evening Rose asked.

“I’ll take an apple cider and a water as well, please,” I said, smiling.

Evening Rose nodded her head before trotting off to the first floor. Once she was gone, Fleetfoot opened up the menu and held it up so we could look through it together. Feeling a little bold, I moved one of my arms around her side, eliciting a surprised gasp from her. I was about to pull my arm away, thinking that I may have done something wrong, but her hoof on my hand told me that everything was fine. Taking a few breaths, I returned my attention to the menu and scanned the available options. Surprisingly, a lot of the food items catered to many species, so I easily spotted a few things I thought I might enjoy. The only problem that I had was if Fleetfoot was okay being around me if I ate it.

“Hey, Fleetfoot…” I was about to continue before she cut me off.

“I’m fine with whatever you order. You forget sometimes that we have griffons on our team, so we just kind of got used to it,” Fleetfoot said, giving me a playful jab to the side.

Rubbing at the spot she had hit, I gave a kiss to her head as I settled on my choice of a meal. Fleetfoot looked up to me, and with a single nod, she closed the menu and leaned closer into me. I gently ran my hand along her barrel, getting her to sigh some more as she gave tiny nuzzles. We were silent together for a couple of minutes before the sound of hoofsteps gained our attention. Turning to the side, we were greeted with an old friend.

“Hey there, Cinnamon Spice,” I greeted with a smile.

“Mark, Fleetfoot, it’s so great to see you two!” Cinnamon greeted joyfully.

“What are you doing here? Did Clover already run you out of her bar?” Fleetfoot teased with a small smirk.

Cinnamon giggled behind a hoof before shaking her head. “Please, it would take a lot for me to quit that place. Clover’s a really nice boss to be around,” Cinnamon said, smiling happily. “As for why I’m here, my herd sister needed some help tonight and asked for my assistance. You actually met her already.”

“Herd sister? What is that?” I asked, not really familiar with the term.

“Oh! I forgot you probably didn’t know,” Cinnamon said, her ears drooping a little before she perked up. “We have the same father, but different mothers. Our mothers are in a herd with our father and they each had us,” Cinnamon explained.

“Ah, so you’re half-sisters,” I said, hoping that was correct.

“Exactly,” Cinnamon said, her smile never wavering. “Anyway, what exactly can I get the lovely couple tonight?” Cinnamon asked with a knowing grin.

“What makes you think we’re a couple?” Fleetfoot continued to tease, looking away from Cinnamon as she crossed her hooves.

I think Cinnamon’s laugh was infectious, because I couldn’t help but laugh myself as she chortled at Fleetfoot’s attitude. “I don’t know, but maybe it’s because you’re dressed up nicely and practically nuzzling him like crazy. There’s also the fact that he’s wearing a necklace with your feather on it, and I don’t think this is some kind of joke you’re pulling on him since I understand how personal something like that is,” Cinnamon said, smirking at her small victory.

Fleetfoot uncrossed her hooves as she shook her head slightly. “Looks like you got me there,” Fleetfoot said with a little laugh, a smile spreading across her face.

“Both of you look really cute together, and it seems like you’ll want some alone time. What can the kitchen get started for you?” Cinnamon asked, pulling out a notepad and pen.

“I’ll take the fettucine alfredo and a side salad,” Fleetfoot said, continuing to lean against me.

“Very good choice. I have that every time I stop by this place. So what about you, Mark?” Cinnamon asked, turning her attention towards me.

I rubbed the back of my head nervously, not really sure how often Cinnamon received an order like this. A hoof to my other hand helped to calm me as Fleetfoot smiled up to me. “I’ll take the salisbury steak with some corn and a small salad,” I said, smiling to Cinnamon.

“Very good choice for tonight. Our head griffon chef is here tonight, so it will turn out very well for you,” Cinnamon said, tucking away her notepad and turning around. A tray with our drinks had been balanced on her back the entire time without me noticing. Fleetfoot and I grabbed our respective drinks, thanking Cinnamon for her service before she finally left.

I watched as Cinnamon went down the stairs, and once I couldn’t see her, I turned back around to see Fleetfoot had already finished off half her drink. It seemed that she was still slightly nervous if her half-missing drink was anything to go by, but it probably could have been worse. The soft melody that Octavia and Lyra were still playing seemed to ease some of Fleetfoot’s tensions.

We probably could have had a conversation as we waited for our food, but just being next to each other was enough for now. We had the entire night together to talk, and decided to enjoy the calming silence with the music playing in the background. I closed my eyes, letting the music seep into my body and relax me. I could feel Fleetfoot’s breathing lighten as she probably did the same, her hoof still on my hand as she gave small nuzzles. My hand ran along her mane, enjoying the feel of her silken strands. She gave a contented hum as she rubbed my arm with a hoof.

Our musings were short-lived as the sound of approaching hoofsteps disturbed our moment. I cracked an eye open to see that it was Cinnamon and Evening with our food. Both of them smiled at us, doing their best to keep silent as they placed the food on the table. Both of them gave a small curtsy before turning to head out. Before the two of them left, I called out to them.

“Hey, Cinnamon, Evening, can I ask you to do me a favor?” I asked, keeping a close hold on Fleetfoot.

“Sure thing. What do you need, Mark?” Evening asked with a smile.

“Can you get Rainbow Dash and Rarity a nice bouquet of roses?” I asked, reaching for my money.

“Of course we can,” Cinnamon answered, but held a hoof as she saw me reaching for my money. “You can wait to pay us for that after you finish your meal.”

“Thanks,” I said, smiling at the two of them as they left.

Once they were gone, Fleetfoot and I adjusted ourselves so we could eat. Fleetfoot grabbed her fork, stabbing into her pasta and taking a bite. I could hear her hum in satisfaction as I looked at my food. Grabbing my own fork and knife, I cut off a piece of my steak and ate it. I couldn’t help the slight hum that escaped my lips as the juices filled my mouth.

“Looks like somepony is enjoying themselves, and here I thought I had your affection,” Fleetfoot teased as her tail brushed against my legs.

“You did have my attention, but then another love came into my life,” I teased back, scratching behind her ear.

“Then maybe I should up my game a little,” Fleetfoot said, her voice going slightly sultry.

I almost choked on my food as it became stuck in my throat for a few seconds from what I heard. “W-What?” I asked, my face giving off a slight blush.

Fleetfoot didn’t say anything as she moved off of her seat and sat down on my lap. Her tail wrapped around my arm, leaving me only one to work with, which was very difficult. Fleetfoot didn’t seem to mind as she ground her crotch against my leg for a few seconds, giggling at the reaction she was getting. I was worried that she was going to go a little far, but she stopped her actions, leaving me panting as I tried to understand what just happened. While I was busy in my own world, I felt one of my silverware go missing.

Looking down, I saw that she had taken my knife. She placed the knife on my plate, moving my salad forward as she dug back into her own food. I really didn’t mind since the steak would still be warm after I finished my salad, and went ahead eating. As I brought my first bite of salad to my mouth, Fleetfoot stopped my hand with a wing. I raised my brow in confusion as she giggled at me, leading my hand with her wing to her mouth. She opened her maw, taking in my salad bite and eating it. I gave a playful frown to which she laughed at. She took her own fork, stabbing it into her salad, and offering it to me.

I gave a small shrug as I opened my mouth and allowed her to put the salad inside. I closed my mouth around the myriad of vegetables and fruit, humming at the freshness of the food. We continued our actions, feeding each other and smiling all the same. It was a nice little affair, even with the awkward beginning to this. It was beautiful to see Fleetfoot smiling so brightly. As we ate, we drank large portions of our drinks as well. If it wasn’t for the quick glimpses, I would have thought I was crazy with how often our drinks were being replaced. I actually had to hand it to Cinnamon and Evening, they were able to do their job and leave us to our own musings.

We finished off our salads, leaving our main meals for us. Fleetfoot seemed content with staying on my lap, but she happily gave me the freedom of my arm so I could eat. I did lift my leg, which she easily took advantage of and wrapped her tail around. I made sure that I could have my leg rest against the seat and avoid hurting Fleetfoot before turning back to my meal. We both ate happily, going easier on our drinks, but we already had a light buzz. Fleetfoot’s cheeks were a noticeable red, and mine were probably the same, but it didn’t matter since we were in good company.

“Hey, Mark?” Fleetfoot called, her attention still on her food.

“Yes, Fleety?” I asked, leaning down and giving her a nuzzle.

This brought a smile to her face as she nuzzled me back. “How much do you miss from your world?” Fleetfoot asked, setting her fork down as her ears drooped a little.

“That’s a pretty tough question, Fleety,” I said, scratching behind her ears to help brighten her up. “I miss my friends and family probably the most,” I answered, a frown spreading across my lips.

I think Fleetfoot seemed to notice the slight change in my attitude and she turned around. She looked up at me with saddened eyes, her lower lip trembling. It hurt to see her like that, a date that was supposed to be fun for us being brought down because of this fact. I cupped her cheek with my hand, getting her to nuzzle it as I pushed down my sadness and brought a smile to my face.

“Although, just because I miss them doesn’t mean I haven’t enjoyed my time here. There may have been some rough patches between a lot of us, but it has been a fun ride,” I said, getting a small smile from Fleetfoot.

“So you’ve been happy at least with all of this? Especially us?” Fleetfoot asked hopefully.

“Of course I have. I’ve made great friends, and now I’m actually having a date with a wonderful mare,” I said, moving my other hand to her side and rubbing her gently.

Fleetfoot’s face exploded in a large blush as she tried to cover her face with a wing. “Please, I’m not so different from any other mare,” Fleetfoot said with a slight whine.

“True, but you’re the mare that has my attention. You’re strong, confident, and extremely beautiful,” I said, laying my head on top of her.

“Stop, you’re going to make my face entirely red if you keep that up,” Fleetfoot whined playfully, trying to push me away.

“But you’re just cute when you get like that. Granted, you’re already cute just the way you are as well,” I said, giving a kiss to her head.

“Do you really think so?” Fleetfoot asked, looking up at me with wide eyes.

“Yes, but what’s wrong with that?” I asked with a raised brow.

Fleetfoot looked to the side as she bit her bottom lip. Cinnamon and Evening appeared next to the table and quickly grabbed our empty plates and trotted for the other set of stairs to leave. Fleetfoot seemed deep in thought as she refused to look at me. Giving a small frown, I pulled her head so she was looking me in the eyes. She tried to pull away from my grasp, but I refused to let her go. She sighed heavily as she gave in.

“Not a lot of ponies thought I was beautiful,” Fleetfoot said, her voice low.

“Now why would they believe that?” I asked with determined eyes.

“I wasn’t much of a frou-frou mare, and because of that, I intimidated most ponies,” Fleetfoot explained.

“Is that why you’ve been so nervous during this date?” I asked, petting her head and scratching behind her ear.

“Well why have you been so nervous?!” Fleetfoot asked, her voice getting slightly loud. Her ears lowered after realizing her actions. “Sorry,” Fleetfoot apologized, her eyes looking towards the ground.

“It’s okay,” I consoled, giving her a small smile before it turned into a frown. “As for why I’ve been nervous, it’s because I don’t think I’m good enough for you,” I said, turning my own gaze to the ground.

“What do you mean that you’re not good enough for me?” Fleetfoot asked, ducking her head so she could meet my eyes.

“I’m just an average person,” I answered, looking into her purple eyes. “I don’t have a lot going for me besides being acquainted with you, Spitfire, and the other Wonderbolts. I’m not even some famous person except being known as that weird hairless monkey bastard that’s stuck here!” The last part came out stronger than I intended, and as I went to apologize for my outburst, Fleetfoot spoke up.

“I don’t see you that way.” Fleetfoot put her head under my chin, nuzzling it affectionately.

“Then what is that made you want to do this? Is this some sort of pity after our conversation last night?” I asked, causing Fleetfoot to jerk her head back.

“No!” Fleetfoot exclaimed, shaking her head vigorously. “I wanted this because I care for you. Sure it was disheartening to hear that nopony has ever approached you, but I wanted this for a different reason.”

“What reason would that be?” I asked with my brow still raised.

“I actually want to be with you for just you. I think that you’re a wonderful stallion with everything that you’ve done. You’re kind, strong-willed, and understanding of others. I never saw it that way at first, but as we got to know each other, I actually started to like you. You’ve made me happy beyond belief by just being with me here today,” Fleetfoot said, smiling widely.

I smiled at Fleetfoot as I pulled her in for a hug, getting her to giggle in joy. As we embraced each other, I thought about how I could answer Fleetfoot’s question. Octavia and Lyra were still playing their music, and I’d lost track of how many songs they’d played, but it was still nice to listen to. Looking over the railing, I could see Rainbow Dash and Rarity still at their table, a half-missing bouquet of roses missing in the middle. Giving a few seconds of thought, I stood up from the chair, eliciting a surprised eep from Fleetfoot as I held her.

“Fleetfoot, look out at that table over there,” I said, pointing at the table.

Fleetfoot followed to where I was pointing as I continued to speak. “Do you see that table with Rainbow Dash and Rarity sitting there?” I received a nod as my response. “You say that ponies are intimidated by you because you aren’t frou-frou enough,” I said, getting a small frown from Fleetfoot. “Well, Rainbow is the same way, but she’s here on a date as well.”

“What does that have to do with me, though?” Fleetfoot asked, keeping her eyes locked on Rainbow and Rarity.

“It has to do with you because Rarity is what you would call a frou-frou mare,” I said, getting a raised brow from her. “Rarity is the most ladylike mare I’ve met, barring a few others, and she’s here with someone that’s her complete opposite. This might not mean much from me since I’m not even a pony, but those two are on completely different poles, and yet they seem happy together. Do you see the dress Rainbow is wearing?” I asked, getting Fleetfoot to look close at them.

“Yeah, and it’s actually a very nice dress. Probably even better than mine,” Fleetfoot said.

“It is a nice dress,” I started, getting Fleetfoot to whip her head my way with her mouth agape. I held up a finger so I can continue to explain myself. “The thing with her, though, is that she hates wearing dresses. She does whatever she can to stay out of them, but she’s willing to be out of that comfort zone to impress Rarity.”

“So you think that even though I’m in a dress, I’m still just as beautiful without it?” Fleetfoot asked, keeping her eyes on my two friends.

“Absolutely. If someone doesn’t think you look beautiful without doing yourself up like this, then they aren’t worth your time. You can dress this way if you want to, or you can stay yourself, and I’ll see you as the same beautiful mare like always,” I said confidently.

Continuing to hold Fleetfoot in my arms, I grabbed her drink and handed it to her. She drank the entire glass, myself doing the same with my cider as I glance around the second floor. The second floor was completely barren of any ponies, and I could see Cinnamon and Evening at the far end. I waved to the two of them and they gave me a quick curtsy before disappearing back down at the stairs. Listening to Octavia and Lyra, I assumed that they were nearing the end of their song, and I decided to do something special with Fleetfoot.

Placing Fleetfoot on the ground, she looked up at me curiously as I held out my hand. “Would the gorgeous mare like a dance?” I asked as I kept my hand out.

Fleetfoot looked at my offered hand with a raised brow before directing her attention towards me. “How is this going to work?” Fleetfoot asked with slight confusion.

“Give me your hoof and I can show you,” I said, smiling at her.

Fleetfoot gave my hand a quizzical look for a few more seconds before placing a hoof into my palm. I grasped her hoof carefully, giving it a quick kiss and earning a blush from her. Smiling, I moved to stand at my full height, pulling her up to her hind legs gently. She wobbled a little, not used to being on only two legs as much as Lyra was. I took her other hoof in my other hand and brought her close to me. She continued to struggle to stand on her back hooves, getting me to chuckle.

Fleetfoot pouted cutely at me as she tried to find her balance. “Hey, this is harder than it looks,” Fleetfoot said, keeping up her pout as she looked at her hooves. “I don’t understand how you can even stand on your two feet, and Lyra is able to do it herself without any problem.”

I held Fleetfoot close, letting her use me as support as she tried to figure out her footing. “That’s just because humans are born this way,” I ran a hand through her mane, playing with the smooth strands as her stumbling calmed a little. “Lyra has it mastered because it’s something she has always practiced. The only thing that still amazes me is how she sits on those benches like a human would.”

Fleetfoot still continued to fight with her hooves, unable to find her footing. “Can you put me down? I don’t think I can continue to do this without falling over,” Fleetfoot said with a small frown.

“Then why don’t you try using your wings?” I asked with a raised brow.

Fleetfoot’s face bloomed a cherry red from embarrassment as her wings nervously twitched. “Right, I forgot about that,” Fleetfoot said, muttering something to herself that I couldn’t quite catch.

Fleetfoot spread her wings a few inches away from her barrel, finally finding stability for her hooves. She gave a little squee at her victory, which was quickly cut-off as she looked up at me with her red-tinted face. I grinned at her as I lifted my hand away from her back and booped her on the nose. Her muzzle scrunched up in a cute fashion as she tried to give me an irritated look. Her look calmed down as she smiled, allowing me to lead her away from the table so we would have some room to ourselves.

A quick glance back at the table showed that our drinks had been replaced, and given my slight history with dancing, I decided to have at least one more bottle. Fleetfoot frowned when I put her on the ground, but followed me to the table after she saw what I was going for. I wasn’t really sure what she was getting a drink for, but I wasn’t going to question her. I took careful gulps of my drink while Fleetfoot just slammed hers back. After finishing her drink, she placed the glass down, swaying slightly and causing me to worry a little. My fears were slightly alleviated when she grabbed her water and drank all of it.

Sure, she was probably still going to suffer some kind of hangover in the morning, but at least she wouldn’t feel like shit when she woke up because of dehydration. With her water glass set aside, she looked up at me, tapping her hoof a little as she waited. Shrugging to her, I slammed back the last of my drink, feeling a little dizzy myself. I grabbed my water and downed the entire glass before setting it aside. Fleetfoot grabbed my pants leg with her teeth and pulled me away into an open space. She didn’t hesitate to jump up on her hind hooves and lean against me with her wings spread slightly.

I wrapped my arms around her, waiting for a new song to start up as we just held each other. I could barely hear her gentle breaths, but she sounded content with tonight. A couple of minutes rolled by before a new song finally started up and we started dancing. It seemed like Fleetfoot had the same idea as me as we just danced in a square pattern. I wasn’t one for dancing, never really having any coordination when I danced. Even if I did dance, I only ended up looking like a fool. I had expected Fleetfoot to probably know how to dance, but that didn’t seem to be the case as she seemed confused on what to do.

Even so, the moment was nice because it was just the two of us, and no one could take that away from us. I could hear a low purr emanate from Fleetfoot as she dug her head deeper into my gut. I ran a hand along her back, getting a small coo of appreciation as I kept her close. Cinnamon quickly stopped by, using her wings to glide past us and not disturb the moment. She left a piece of paper on the table, along with two more glasses of water before taking our dirty ones and flying away. I let my eyes drift closed, letting the music guide me with Fleetfoot’s movements, matching each step as we continued our square. I was pulled from my musings when Fleetfoot’s voice reached my ears.

“I didn’t get to say this earlier after you saw me, but you look very handsome,” Fleetfoot said, giving a joyful sigh.

“Compared to you, I feel slightly underdressed,” I said, giving a slightly nervous chuckle.

“Actually, by our cultural standards, you’re dressed just enough,” Fleetfoot said, pulling her head back a little so she could look up at me. “I’m the one courting you, so I need to make sure that I stand out enough that I have your attention. Granted, a lot of this is also pegasus culture rather than regular pony culture,” Fleetfoot explained, a smile on her face.

I laughed a little as I ran my fingers through her mane. “Well, you have my full attention for the rest of the night. Possibly more if you want after this night is over?” I asked with a little hope.

“I think I would like that very much,” Fleetfoot said, smiling brightly as she nuzzled my gut again.

We continue our dance, both of us lost in its melody again as we enjoyed each other’s warmth. I’d only noticed it a few times during my interactions with the princesses, but if a pony is really happy, they give off a comforting warmth that spreads to another to make them feel comfortable. I looked off into the distance, seeing a few stars in the sky from a nearby window as a thought came to me.

“Hey, Fleety?” I asked, not breaking step.

“Yes, Mark?” Fleetfoot replied, keeping her head against my gut.

“You mentioned before that you had a relationship with Spitfire. How exactly did that come about?” I asked, stroking her mane to keep her at ease.

I heard Fleetfoot release a deep sigh as she gave me a small nuzzle. “Would you believe me if I said that she was the first pony that I actually dated?” Fleetfoot asked, looking up at me as I started to move us around the second floor.

“I’m not really sure,” I answered, holding her head close.

Fleetfoot let out a soft giggle as she closed her eyes again. “We were both still young at the time when we dated each other,” Fleetfoot started, and I kept quiet as I listened to her story. “Our relationship was actually pretty steady with the occasional date, but I guess we got ahead of ourselves. I still care for Spitfire, but I’m unsure of how far it goes. I actually entertained the idea of going on another date with her after our failed attempt, but I guess it just became a little weird with our jobs.”

I felt Fleetfoot shudder a little in my grasp, making me hold her tighter against me. “You were at least still able to maintain your friendship with her, so that’s at least a positive,” I said, hoping to encourage her.

“I have been thankful for that. I do hope that she can find somepony that makes her happy,” Fleetfoot said in a hopeful tone.

“I believe that she will. She’s a smart, strong, and free-spirited mare that will find her special someone,” I said, giving Fleetfoot a smile.

“Thank you, Mark,” Fleetfoot said in a happy tone.

The song slowly came to an end, and as it did, I decided to do one final thing that I’d seen other dancers do. As we reached our table, I grabbed Fleetfoot’s hoof and pulled her off of me. This caused her eyes to open wide as I let momentum take her away, my hand still holding onto her hoof. After my arm was fully stretched, I pulled her back, making her spin a little and having her back land against me. Her wings were spread wider than before, almost reaching their full length as I could feel her heart hammer in her chest. The final note played off, echoing in the restaurant as I held Fleetfoot close.

After the note died off, I gently set Fleetfoot to her hooves. She turned around to look at me with wide eyes, her face a very dark shade of red. Her eyes darted around the area, allowing me a chance to step away and look at the bill. Seeing the price, I shrugged as I pulled out my bits, making sure to grab extra as a tip for Cinnamon Spice’s and Evening Rose’s services. Grabbing the glasses of water, I walked back to Fleetfoot and offered her a glass that she gladly accepted. We drank from our refreshing, cool liquid before letting out a satisfied sigh. We placed our glasses on out table, Fleetfoot standing next to me as we left the restaurant.

As we reached the first floor, Cinnamon and Evening were at the door with huge smiles. “Thank you for stopping by. Please come again,” Evening said as she opened the door.

“Yes, please stop by again, and also stop by Clover’s Bar again whenever you get the chance,” Cinnamon said happily.

“We’ll make sure to stop by,” Fleetfoot said, stumbling a little, but was able to catch herself against my leg.

The two of us walked out of the restaurant, leaning against each other for support. We took a slow walk back to the house, the moonlight and stars lighting up the entire area. Even after seeing it for seven months, it still amazed me to see Luna’s night sky. Fleetfoot seemed entranced by the stars as she pawed at my leg. I chuckled to myself as I lifted her up and placed her on my back. Her forelegs gently wrapped around my neck as she placed her head on my shoulder. I could get a glance of her shimmering purple eyes as she stared at the night sky.

The cool breeze that Fleetfoot created by gently flapping her wings to keep us cool felt good against my skin. I wasn’t sure what led me to my next action, but as I carried her under the moonlight, I gave her a nuzzle to the cheek, feeling her shudder slightly. We finally reached the house, and I let her get off before she pulled out a key. She unlocked the door and we walked inside. I closed the door behind us, and I looked around to see that Spitfire still hadn’t returned home. I was worried a little about her still being gone, but I relaxed myself, knowing full well that Spitfire was able to take care of herself.

The two of us walked for the stairs, both of us dizzy from how much we drank. I hadn’t kept track of how many drinks I had, and I just hoped my hangover wouldn’t be bad in the morning. Fleetfoot was leaning against my leg again as we climbed the stairs. She was giggling to herself, making me smile at how happy she was. I couldn’t help but laugh myself, her infectious, joyful attitude making me feel giddyy. Fleetfoot’s tail was swishing happily, but as we reached the top, I couldn’t help but smell something in the air. I wasn’t really sure what the smell was, but I ignored it. Looking around the hallway, there was still no sign of Spitfire, fully confirming that she wasn’t home.

“I’m glad I did this,” I said, looking down at Fleetfoot and making sure I didn’t stumble on my way to my room.

“I’m glad as well,” Fleetfoot responded, leaning against me for support.

We reached the top of the stairs, both of us still kind of leaning against each other for some form of support. It was saddening to see that the date was over now, and it was clear that it bothered Fleetfoot slightly as well. I smiled as I put a hand on her head and started to stroke her mane a little, getting her to nuzzle my palm.

“I guess I’ll see you in the morning?” I asked, stopping in front of my room and kneeling so I could look into her beautiful eyes.

Fleetfoot’s eyes shifted back and forth, never looking at me as her wings twitched nervously and her body shuddered. I was starting to grow worried that something might be wrong as silence settled between us. I was about to ask if she was okay, but I was cut off by something warm, wet, and soft pressing against my lips. My brain was having a hard time registering what was going on. It took a few seconds before Fleetfoot pulled away from me, her cheeks a nice shade of red as she refused to look at me.

Processing what was going on, it took my brain a few tries before finally realizing what just happened. Fleetfoot had just kissed me! Oddly, though, I wasn’t disgusted by it. She felt so soft against my lips, and I could only guess what I felt prodding my lips was her tongue before she pulled away. I was quick to notice that she tried to leave, probably from complete embarrassment over what she had done. I caught her foreleg, getting her to jump a little before I pressed my lips against hers again.

I wasn’t really sure what was coming over me, but the small moans coming from Fleetfoot, and her tongue pressing against my closed lips only brought more desire. My lips parted for her tongue, her wet appendage quickly fighting mine for dominance. A small part of my mind said that I should stop, that I wasn’t thinking right because we were both a little drunk after our date, but I didn’t care. Along with that voice was one that said I should stop entirely because she wasn’t human. Honestly, I couldn’t care less that she wasn’t human. Fleetfoot was an attractive mare, and I wanted to show her that she was.

I deepened the kiss, grabbing the back of her head as I continued to battle her tongue. She moaned openly in my mouth, her wings stretching out to the sides as she wrapped her forelegs around my neck. Wrapping an arm around her barrel, I continued to hold her head as I stood up. I removed my hand that was holding the back of her head so I could open the door to my room. When the door opened a crack, I grabbed the back of her head and kicked the door the rest of the way open. I carried Fleetfoot into my room, continuing to battle her tongue and nearly pinning it to the roof of her mouth.

Her hooves pawed at my shirt in a needy attempt to rid me of the article of clothing. I couldn’t say I wasn’t doing the same as my fingers worked at her dress, digging firmly into the fur that was covered beneath. Our kiss had to sadly end as we parted, breathing heavily on each other’s faces as we tried to recover the oxygen we were depriving our bodies of. Reaching the foot of the bed, I was able to get Fleetfoot to release her hold on me, getting a whimper out of her as I laid her on her back. I made sure to be careful of her erect wings as she tried to reach me for another kiss.

I happily gave her another, her enticing eyes bringing me closer and falling into her trap. I felt her hooves wrap around me as her tongue invaded my mouth. Even though her tongue was broader than a human’s, it was still a pleasure to feel. Her body shuddered as her wet appendage passed over my canines. I playfully bit her tongue, getting her to release a moan into my mouth. My hands moved to her barrel, rubbing along her sides as I tried to find a way to get rid of the accursed dress that she was wearing. As I continued to search for whatever was holding it together, Fleetfoot placed a hoof on my chest and I backed away.

“Mark, please, no more teasing,” Fleetfoot said in a husky, demanding tone.

“If you show me how to get this dress off of you, then I’ll stop,” I teased, moving close to her ear and giving it a gentle nip.

I was rewarded with a moan for my action, Fleetfoot arching her back as her wings strained to their full length. As I continued to tease her, I wasn’t prepared for what happened next. The only thing that I understood was that I was hovering above Fleetfoot, my size alone dwarfing hers, but the next thing I found was that I was on my back. Fleetfoot loomed over me, giving me a predatory smirk as she kept me pinned to the bed. This was the first time where I had experienced a woman, or I guess in this case a mare, take such control. Her tail brushed against my aching member that was trapped in my pants.

“Looks like somepony is getting very excited,” Fleetfoot said sultrily, her warm breath hitting my face.

“I think there would be many others that would agree if they had such a beautiful mare on top of them,” I said, moving my hands towards her flanks, giving a firm squeeze.

“Ahhhn!” Fleetfoot moaned, slumping over as she panted heavily. “Why don’t you get that shirt off while I deal with this dress?” Fleetfoot said, running a hoof in a circle on my chest.

I nodded my head in a dumb fashion as I grabbed the hem of my shirt and started to pull it up. I had blocked my own vision, but I could hear the sound of a zipper unzipping. Fleetfoot’s tail continued to tease my clothed member, making me groan at the slight pain. With my shirt removed, I threw it to the side, my eyes widening when they landed on Fleetfoot. She had removed her entire dress, but my eyes were drawn to what she was wearing underneath it all. My assumptions had been right about her wearing the same stockings that were on her forelegs, but her panties were what had my full attention.

They were as white as her mane, little frills adorning the hem. Her tail was pulled through a hole that raised it a little higher, almost like she was presenting herself. The thing that set these panties apart was that they didn’t cover her moist slit. There was an opening that put her marehood on full view for anyone that was lucky to see it. Apparently I was the lucky person, as I couldn’t have seen it through the dress that she was wearing during the date.

Fleetfoot giggled, gaining my attention as her tail wrapped around my leg. “See something you like, big guy?” Fleetfoot said huskily, grinding herself against my stomach.

“Maybe I do,” I started, rubbing her flanks and getting another moan as I leaned up so my hot breath hit her ear. “Then again, I’ve been seeing something I’ve enjoyed even more,” I said, finishing my statement with a nip to her ear.

“Would you like to show me your little friend?” Fleetfoot asked, continuing to grind against me. “He seems pent up, aching to come out of his little prison,” Fleetfoot said, giving me a quick kiss on the lips.

Out of everything that had been happening up to this point, I was starting to become a little self-conscious. I wasn’t hung like a pony, but I wasn’t tiny either. I had a good size for myself, but at this point, I didn’t think I could possibly stand up to anything that Fleetfoot had taken before. I quickly shook my head of these thoughts, knowing better than to think that my friend, possibly even marefriend, would insult me so badly. It seemed that my silence concerned Fleetfoot as she stopped her grinding against me and placed a hoof on my cheek.

“Mark, is everything okay? Should we stop?” Fleetfoot asked, concern in her voice even with the heavy mix of alcohol in her blood.

“Sorry,” I said, my thumbs lightly brushing the fur on her flank as I looked to the side. “I guess I’m starting to feel a little self-conscious about myself.” I started chuckling a little at how awkward I was making this.

“Does this have to do with you being human?” Fleetfoot asked, laying down on my chest as she rubbed my arms comfortingly.

“Pretty much,” I admitted as I turned to face her. “I guess all those biology lessons kind of made their way into my thinking that I won’t be good enough for this. I mean I’m not even anatomically the same as a stallion.” I moved a hand off one of her flanks and caressed her cheek.

“Well I don’t think you have anything to worry about,” Fleetfoot said confidently, holding my hand with her hoof.

“What makes you say that?” I ask skeptically.

“From what I’ve felt, it seems like you have a very good size going for you,” Fleetfoot leaned back up, looking down at me with a sultry smile. “Also, most of the stallions that I have slept with haven’t been that big either. There was one, but it hurt more than it was pleasurable,” Fleetfoot said, looking away at that last part.

“So why don’t you let me be the judge?” Fleetfoot offered, her juices still dripping on my exposed stomach as her tail began brushing against my groin.

I smiled at her, letting some of my worries go as I reached for my pants button. As I moved to remove them, Fleetfoot stopped me with her hooves. She gave me a predatory grin as she slid down my body, spreading more of her juices along my body and pants before reaching the end of the bed. I moved along with her, reaching the end myself so she could do whatever she was going to do. Her teeth clamped on the hem of my jeans, pulling them down to my ankles.

“Are you bucking kidding me?! Why do you humans wear so many clothes?!” Fleetfoot exclaimed as she tried to burn off my boxers with her intense glare.

“That’s because we prefer being fully clothed as opposed to walking around nude for everyone to see our junk,” I answered as I chuckled a little.

Fleetfoot surprised me as she gripped at my boxers with her teeth, pulling them down harshly to join my pants. She pressed against my legs and I raised them so she could remove both of them. She threw them haphazardly as she jumped on her hind hooves, staring at her prize. Silence filled the room between us, my cock throbbing in front of her, but I wasn’t sure of her expression as I refused to look down. I closed my eyes tightly, hoping that nothing had ruined this moment. I was so lost in my own world that I released a pleasure-filled groan as I felt one of her stocking-clad hooves rub along my shaft.

“So this is what a human’s penis looks like,” Fleetfoot said, some astonishment in her voice.

“Yeah, I said it was very different from a stallion’s,” I said, taking deep breaths as she continued to rub against my shaft with the frog of her hoof. “What do you think?” I asked, gaining the courage to look down at her.

Her eyes were locked onto my cock, inspecting every inch of it as she continued to rub it. “I think it’s kind of cute. Especially with the head having this cute little pink helmet. You’re also a bit bigger than those other stallions, with a decent girth as well,” Fleetfoot said, giggling a little as she leaned closer.

I could feel the breaths she took from her nose, tickling me and causing my length to throb. Fleetfoot gave an interested hum as she leaned closer to me. I had to shut my eyes tight as I laid back on the bed, the combination of her hoof and her hot breath making it hard to concentrate.

“Ahhhh,” I groaned out, feeling something press against my balls.

“Your musk, it’s so different from a stallion’s,” Fleetfoot said in a slight moan as she continued to sniff the entirety of my cock. “Oh, Luna, I don’t think I’ll be able to control myself with how strong you smell,” Fleetfoot said, her hoof now wrapping around my erect length.

I gripped the bed sheets tighter as I panted heavily. Her hoof began making slow stroking motions, causing me to groan again. I could feel Fleetfoot continue to sniff away at my musk as she drove me crazy with her slow strokes. I was pulled back from my pleasure cruise as I heard her moan. I leaned up with what strength that I could to see her wings twitching and her other hoof moving frantically. My eyes widened a little at seeing Fleetfoot touch herself to get off to my scent.

She pulled away from my cock, taking in a deep breath as her hoof continued to stroke. “I can’t take this anymore,” Fleetfoot said, removing her hoof from her pussy and jumping on top of the bed. “I need to taste you,” Fleetfoot said hungrily.

I watched as she opened her maw, her tongue hanging out as she licked my entire length. I could hear her moan from just the first lick, and with all her teasing, she got a bit of my pre as well. “Hm, a little salty and bitter, but not at all undesirable,” Fleetfoot said, smacking her lips a few times before staring back at my cock.

She looked up at me, her eyes asking if it was okay to continue. I wasn’t really sure why she was asking, but I gestured for her to go ahead, and she did with gusto. Instead of taking another long, sensual lick of my cock, she opened her maw and took the head inside. Her drawn out moan caused me to fall back on the bed, clenching the sheets as the vibrations traveled through my length and up my spine. Her tongue swirled around the head of my cock, collecting more of my pre that she drew out with her stroking hoof.

Her mouth was warm, wet, and inviting as she slowly descended down my length. Her tongue continued to lick at every inch of flesh that she could as she went deeper. Her hoof stroked away at the length that she hasn’t consumed yet as her other hoof moved towards my balls. My hands shot from the sheets and grabbed her flanks firmly, getting her to moan as my nails dug into her firm flanks. She massaged my balls with expert motion that I didn’t think was possible with hooves, but then again, this world had many aspects that I should stop trying to figure out.

Her sucks became needy as she took my cock halfway, saliva dripping onto my groin as I heard her breathe heavily. One of my hands stayed firmly planted to one of her flanks while the other traveled to her exposed marehood. I could feel the heat radiating off of her, and that slight smell from before was coming back with even greater strength. Fleetfoot started to pull back from my cock, letting it slip out of her maw with a slight pop as she looked at me lustfully. She was about to go back again before I stopped her. She gave an irritated huff, but kept control as she looked at me.

“Can you turn around so I can give you the same pleasure that you’re giving me?” I asked with a small smile.

This got an interesting reaction out of her as she looked back at her flank before looking back at me with widened eyes. “You actually want to lick me there?” Fleetfoot asked, dumbfounded.

“Of course. It just seems fair since you’re doing this,” I said as I gestured towards my throbbing cock.

“It’s just that most stallions don’t like to go down there. Plus, it’s embarrassing to show you,” Fleetfoot said, trying to play it off.

“Then those stallions don’t know what they’re missing out on. Come on, though. I only wish to return the same pleasure that you’re giving me,” I said, giving her a supporting smile.

“Well, if you insist,” Fleetfoot said, giving one last glance to her flank before turning around.

When she turned around, I was greeted by a beautiful sight. Fleetfoot’s outer lips were puffy, winking with a need to be satisfied. I licked my suddenly dry lips as I moved my hands to her pussy. My thumbs touched her labia, getting her to moan as she fell forward and her tail rose higher. I spread apart her lips and I could see her pink tunnel inside. It was interesting to see it go from her artic blue color to a bright pink, but the sight alone was heavenly. I leaned forward, inhaling her scent deeply and finally figuring out what I’d been smelling. Curious, I saw a helping of her juices getting ready to drip down. Not wanting to let it go to waste, I leaned forward and gave it a quick lick.

“Oh, Luna, yes!” Fleetfoot screamed, her back arching as she tried to press back further.

I licked my lips, finding it hard to place what I was tasting. If anything, I would have to say that it was a mystery flavor. Her juices were an abundance of different flavors where none remained dominant. An inclining would enter my mind, but before I could grasp it, the flavors would change into something entirely different. Raising a brow, I went back in, collecting more of her juices on my tongue and getting her to moan louder. True to what I was thinking before, the flavor kept on changing no matter how much I collected.

“You’re disgusted, aren’t you? That’s why you won’t say anything,” Fleetfoot said, her voice carrying a bit of disappointment.

I wasn’t aware of it, but I was lost in my own thoughts about her taste that I had remained silent for a long time. Grinning a little, I moved a hand towards her clit that was out, and brushed over it. Fleetfoot’s back arched high in the air as her body gave a heavy shudder. Her mouth was wide open, her tongue hanging out as she tried to collect herself. Stopping my ministrations for now, I decided to put her worries at ease.

“Actually, Fleetfoot, I like your taste,” I said, getting her to turn quickly in my direction with a raised brow.

“What?” Fleetfoot asked, her tone carrying her disbelief.

“You heard me,” I said, running a finger along her dripping slit and getting her to moan. “I enjoy your taste, and I would like some more.”

Fleetfoot continued to stare at me with widened eyes for several seconds before relaxing. She gave a soft smile as she leaned down, giving my stomach a kiss before her attention returned to my cock. She spread her legs apart on each side of my head, her tail flicking to the side as I was greeted once again by her pink slit. I traced along her, getting her to shudder as I felt her stocking-clad leg wrap around me. She began stroking, sighing happily as she listened to me groan in pleasure. I waited as I felt her hot breath hit my tip, teasing me as she tried to rile me up. It was working as I found it hard to keep myself in control.

It didn’t take long before I planted my lips against her pussy, my tongue taking long licks from bottom to top. I heard Fleetfoot give a moan of approval before my length was enveloped in her warm, moist maw. She quickly took half my length, bobbing her head as she hungrily lapped at my shaft with her tongue. Her clit was winking out of its hood, and I started to tease it with my thumb. Fleetfoot seemed to take this as a sign of competition as she removed her hoof and started taking in more of my length. I groaned in a pleasured haze as I squeezed her toned flank. I could feel her continue to take my length slowly, her tongue taking time to enjoy my taste.

She stopped as I felt my tip press against the back of her throat, a quick gag coming from her as I continued to lick at her dripping pussy. I couldn’t get enough of her juices, desiring more to come forth. I was expecting her to pull away, but her next action caused me to freeze up. I could hear her breathe deeply before she shoved herself all the way down. I felt my cock slip into her throat, her muscle massaging my length as it constricted around me. I was lost in a new world of pleasure as Fleetfoot kept her snout buried in my groin. She held herself there for several seconds before pulling back, letting go with a small pop as she panted heavily.

“Jesus, Fleetfoot. That felt amazing,” I said, panting heavily from that euphoric sensation.

“Then you should put those fingers and tongue of yours to good use,” Fleetfoot said, looking over her shoulder at me with sultry eyes.

I nodded as looked back at her begging marehood, pressing my lips against them and prodding it with my tongue. I could feel her body shudder before feeling her warm maw take in my length. She started off with slow bobs, slowly gaining speed. Not wanting to be outdone, I pressed my tongue between her lips, getting her to moan around my cock as I licked at her insides. Her pussy clenched around my tongue, trying to keep it inside of her as more of her juices came pouring forth. After she found her rhythm, she started taking me all the way again. She twirled her head along with her tongue, slathering me in her saliva as she tried to get at my seed.

Her insides were soft and warm as I licked away, my hands moving to her teats and grasping them. Fleetfoot’s moan probably could have been heard if she wasn’t busy taking my cock. Her moan though sent a powerful vibration through me as I felt myself nearing my climax. Her inner walls were grasping at my tongue with more force, signaling that she was nearing her end as well. I continued to fondle her teats, her erect nipple brushing against my hand. I grasped each nipple with my finger and thumb, pinching them as I moved away from her marehood and sucked at her clit. The flow of juices from Fleetfoot’s passage increased as she sucked harder at my cock.

I felt one of her hooves move back to my balls, massaging them as she tried anything to get at my seed. I began thrusting into her mouth when she brought her head down, trying anything to bring about my climax. I continued to suck at her clit, alternating between little bites and twirls with my tongue to bring her to her end. I continued to thrust, feeling my balls contract as I was finally ready to release my pent up energy. I removed one of my hands from her teats, moving it to her hot pussy and pushed a finger inside. Fleetfoot arched her back a little as I rubbed at her insides with as much energy as I could.

I could feel myself about to cum, and as I tried to pull away to warn her, she would press against my face. Not able to hold back anymore, I released into her mouth, grunting as months of hold back finally released. Fleetfoot gave an appreciative hum as I heard her swallow my heavy spurts. The feeling of my hot, sticky cum was enough to finally set her off. Her juices sprayed against my hand, making me pull away from her clit and plant my lips against her marehood. I let my mouth be filled by her delicious arousal, swallowing what I could before it started to overflow and leak out of my mouth and down my chin to create a small puddle underneath.

I could feel my own cum slide down my length, probably overflowing in her own mouth. The two of us didn’t move from out positions as we waited for our climaxes to subside. I released a few more heavy strands into her mouth before she finally started to pull away. I let my head fall back, her rear following my head and smothering me in her enticing scent. It was hard to breathe with her sitting on my face, but I honestly couldn’t care at this moment. Thankfully, my lungs were filled with air when she removed herself from my face, turning around as she gaze down at me with her shimmering purple eyes.

She opened her mouth, showing a bit of cum that she had collected. I watched with rapt attention to see what she would do next. Making sure I saw how full her mouth was, she closed her maw and swallowed audibly. I saw a lump in her throat, showing my cum traveling down her esophagus and to her stomach. After giving a few more small swallows, she opened her mouth again to show no trace of my cum anywhere. It was probably one of the few hottest things that I’d seen, and I quickly pulled her in for a kiss. I didn’t care that I could still taste a bit of myself on her tongue, since her own mystery flavor was still present all over me.

We broke apart a few seconds later, laying down on the bed as we basked in our afterglow. Fleetfoot’s wings were still erect as she nuzzled into my chest. I held her close, rubbing my hand against her barrel as I panted. I gave gentle kisses to Fleetfoot’s cheek as I waited for her to regain her senses.

A couple of minutes passed by before she lifted her head, a bright smile plastered on her face. “That… was wonderful, Mark,” Fleetfoot said between pants.

“You… were wonderful, Fleety,” I said, giving her a quick kiss to the lips.

“Tomorrow morning, I want to see what you feel like inside me,” Fleetfoot said hungrily, grinning at me with a predatory look.

“Why wait till tomorrow? I’m good to go again if you’re able to go,” I asked with a raised brow.

“What? Most stallions can only last for at least one round before they need time to rest,” Fleetfoot said with widened eyes.

“Then it’s a good thing that I’m not a stallion,” I said as I caressed her cheek.

Fleetfoot gave me a hungry grin as she kissed my cheek. She pulled away, sliding down my body before she pressed her hot, moist entrance against my half erect cock. She lifted her hips up, placing her slit on my shaft and started to grind on me. I closed my eyes tightly as she teased me, her giggles making me chuckle a little as she still kept control. I heard her coo as my length hardened beneath her, becoming fully erect in several seconds during her teasing. She looked down at my cock, her wings twitching in excitement as she pressed her entrance against my tip. She held herself there as she looked back up at me.

“Make sure to warn me when you’re about to cum. I’m not ready to be a mother yet,” Fleetfoot said in a slightly serious tone.

“Well that’s something you don’t have to worry about,” I said, moving my hands to her wings.

“What do you mean? Ahhhhn,” Fleetfoot asked, moaning as I started to massage the base of her wings.

“I’m not compatible with ponies, and without any magic, I’m not able to get a mare pregnant,” I said, pinching the bases of her wings.

“I’m sorry to hear that,” Fleetfoot said, her tone slightly disheartened.

I cupped her cheek as I smiled at her. “It is what it is. I came to terms with it when I was told, but then again, I wasn’t really interested in dating at the time either,” I said, continuing to smile at her. “Although, I’m still glad that I’m doing this with you,” I said truthfully, leaning up and kissing her cheek.

Fleetfoot placed a hoof on her cheek as she gave a small smile. Her smile soon turned sultry as she stared at me with half-lidded eyes. “Then you better make sure to fill me up good,” Fleetfoot said huskily.

I grinned at her as I grabbed her flanks firmly. She cooed lovingly as I massaged her flanks, teasing her entrance with the tip of my cock. As I continued to tease, I was greeted by a new sight as Fleetfoot loomed over me, her wings spread wide as she held me down with her hooves. She looked like a giant predator that found her prey and had it where she wanted it. My heart raced in my chest, threatening to break out as I was entranced by her look. Fleetfoot gave one final rub to my hard length before slowly pressing against the head. I grunted while she moaned as her lower lips were parted.

“Ahhhhhn,” Fleetfoot moaned out, getting the tip inside of her.

I could feel the intense heat of her insides warming my cock. Her svelte walls were massaging the tiny bit that was inside of her, already trying to milk me for more of my seed. Her hooves were still firmly planted on my chest as she slowly lowered herself. I gripped her wings, getting her walls to contract harder against my length as she slowly slid down. Her juices were leaking out of her passage, collecting with my cum that had pooled beneath me. I decided to help her on her descent as I gave a thrust upwards.

“Damn, you’re so tight,” I said between gritted teeth, getting half of my cock inside of her.

Fleetfoot was panting heavily as she kept her hooves on my chest. She looked down before looking back up at me with widened eyes. “You’re only halfway inside of me and I already feel so full,” Fleetfoot said happily, her hooves circling my chest.

I was lost in the warmth of her insides, massaging her wings as I slowly thrusted in and out of her. I could make out her whimpers as I would retreat, only to be replaced by a moan of appreciation when I returned. Our pace was slow as I tried to get her adjusted to my length, helping her to loosen a little as I ran my hands across her wings. Her wings twitched as I touched her feathers, noticing that a few of them were out of place after everything we’d done so far. It was going to be an awkward morning when she woke up with messed up feathers, but I don’t think she cared at the moment, if her moans were anything to go by.

“Come on, Mark! Shove your cock deep inside of me!” Fleetfoot demanded through clenched teeth.

I moved my hands from her wings for the time being, getting a whimper from her as I grabbed her flanks firmly. Gritting my teeth, I thrusted up, getting the last half of my cock deep inside of her. Fleetfoot screamed as I filled her hungry pussy, her walls acting like a vice to keep me inside of her. I didn’t move, waiting for her to get used to the full feeling she was experiencing. She gyrated her hips, releasing little pleasured coos as my cock hit the right spots. I release her flanks from my hands, and I looked at them with interest. I was curious as to whether she had any fat back there or if it was all muscle. Seeing her still dazed look, I pulled back one of my hands and slapped it against her flank.

“Oh, Luna, that’s amazing!” Fleetfoot exclaimed, her walls tightening around my cock even more.

Surprisingly enough, there was just a bit of fat that allowed for a little jiggle. Looking away from her perfect ass, I saw her looking down at me, nodding her head. I took the signal and started to pull out. Thankfully, with all of her juices coating my member and to the amount that was still dripping out of her, I was able to slide out with ease. I listened to her whimpers as I retreated, her walls trying their hardest to keep me inside. I pulled back until only the tip was left inside. I teased her by not moving, pulling down as she tried to lower herself. This was a mistake, as she let out a feral growl that only seemed to excite me.

“Enough teasing, Mark!” Fleetfoot said, staring at me with a serious gaze.

Listening to her, I slammed back in, getting her to moan out to the world as her back arched. I was sweating heavily as I thrusted into her. I could feel the sweat on her coat as I played with her wings. Heat emanated from our bodies, causing the room to be very warm as the scent of our combined climaxes and sweat filled our nostrils. Fleetfoot bounced on my erection, her walls massaging every part of my cock as I entered and left her tight passage. Her moans were music to my ears as I continued to please her.

Fleetfoot soon leaned down, her heated breath hitting my ear as she continued to bounce. Leaning close to her, I opened my mouth and bit down on her neck, getting her to gasp in pleasure. I bit hard enough that she could feel my canines, possibly leaving a slight mark if possible, but not hard enough to break the skin. She reacted the same way, biting against my flesh and sucking harshly. There was no way I wasn’t walking away without something appearing on my neck from how rough she was being.

Her tail wrapped around my leg, refusing to let her fully pull away until she had what she wanted. Her warm insides were inviting, begging to have their thirst quenched with my seed. I was sensitive from the blowjob that she gave me, but I held out for as long as I could. I didn’t plan on walking with two orgasms and leaving her with only one. Plus, knowing how she was, she probably wouldn’t let that happen until she got another orgasm, and then some if I came more than her. We soon pulled away from each other’s necks, staring into each other’s eyes. We met for a deep, passionate kiss as the smacking of our sexes echoed around the room.

I could feel myself getting close, and judging by how fast Fleetfoot’s breathing and bouncing increased, it seemed she was getting close as well. I was ready to release inside of her before her tail let of my leg and she jumped off my member. I groaned in frustration at being cut-off. I was about to voice myself, when I saw that she had her face planted into a pillow, her flank raised high in the air with her tail up and pushed to the side. I could glimpse her pleading eyes through the pillow and quickly moved to my knees. I was tempted to tease her by slowly pulling off the panties that she still wore, but that thought was quickly pushed to the side as I was reminded her by needy look.

Her tail swished in the air, pushing the scent of her sex into my nostrils and fogging up my mind. Plus, the panties kind of looked cute on her, and this probably wasn’t going to be our only time having sex if this relationship continued. I was pulled from my own thoughts as I heard her give a low growl. Before she could say anything, I gripped her dock and gave a slight tug. She gave a low moan as I pressed my tip against her winking pussy. I easily slid inside, hilting myself all the way. Once our groins met, Fleetfoot’s tail wrapped around my waist. This was to show that I wasn’t going anywhere until we were both satisfied.

Chuckling internally, I leaned down and began nibbling at the base of her wings. This got the desired result as she shuddered beneath me. Her wings flapped, giving off a cool breeze as I resumed thrusting inside of her. I let go of her tail, placing my hands on either side of her as I rammed inside of her, continuing to nibble along the entirety of her wing. It seemed like her whole wing was an erogenous zone as every little nip and lick seemed to get her to moan. It made sense since they flew around and they would need to be sensitive to sense changes in the air currents. I slammed into her with everything I had, both of us reaching the end of our limit.

“Mark! Please, fill me with your cum! I want to feel that warmth inside of me like I did in my stomach!” Fleetfoot screamed, her hoof rubbing between her legs.

I lost it at hearing that, shoving myself all the way in as spurt after heavy spurt of cum shot forth. Fleetfoot followed my climax with her own after feeling my first hot strand hit her walls. Her juices gushed forth as she arched her back, her mouth hanging open in a silent scream. Her walls clamped on my cock, milking me for every drop that I had to offer. I continued to fill her with everything I had. My cum soon overflowed out of her marehood, running down her thigh and pooling beneath her. My groin felt warm from her spray of juices as she shuddered.

I held myself inside of her, letting the last few trickles of my cum dribble out before finally pulling out of her. A lewd pop was heard as I slipped out, our combined juices leaking out her. Fleetfoot quickly placed a hoof over her pussy, humming contently as she basked in her afterglow combined with the warmth of my cum inside of her. I fell down next to her, sweat pouring off my body as I pulled her close. Fleetfoot nuzzled my chest as we basked in our final afterglow. We were both panting heavily, exhausted to the point where we were ready to pass out. I didn’t bother to grab the blanket, our combined warmth keeping us comfortable as it became hard to keep our eyes open. Several minutes went by, the only sound in the room our heavy breathing as we collected ourselves.

Fleetfoot was the first to recover as she pulled herself up and gave me a kiss on the lips. “Thank you, Mark. Thank you for this wonderful night,” Fleetfoot said, her eyes shimmering with joy.

I gave her a kiss back, running a hand through her mane. “Thank you for giving me this chance, Fleetfoot,” I said, smiling as I pulled her in for a hug.

“When we get up in the morning, you’re hopping in the shower with me to preen my wings after what you did to them,” Fleetfoot said lovingly, giggling a little to herself.

“I’ll gladly help you with that,” I said lovingly, chuckling along with her.

Our breathing slowly settled down as our eyes drifted close. Fleetfoot’s tail wrapped itself around my leg as she wrapped her hooves around my chest. Her face was buried in my chest, her cheek resting on the necklace as I held her close. Our heartbeats soon combined into one, and we used that to lull ourselves into sleep’s embrace.

Author's Note

I hope you all enjoyed. Really, though, a hand of applause to my editors, one of whom was sick and still did this. I wouldn't be able to make it this far without their help, so please give the love, respect, and recognition that both Word Worthy and Eppie Genetic deserve. So give these two some love, especially Eppie since she deserves it for being able to put up with my crazy antics sometimes.

Redheart's Check-Up

Fleeting Flames
By: Duelist96
Chapter 15: Redheart’s Check-Up

My morning was pleasant as I felt something warm pressed against my chest. A contentful sigh escaped my lips as I wrapped my arms around whatever was emanating that delightful, soothing warmth. Who or whatever it was, snuggled against me and released a happy purr, the object nuzzling deeper into my chest. Much to my chagrin, I was awoken from my peaceful slumber as the sun’s rays shone on my eyes. Groaning in frustration, I rolled onto my back as I rubbed the last bit of sleep from my eyes.

Not able to see myself going to sleep again, I glanced down to see exactly what was pressed against me. A smile spread across my lips as I gazed upon Fleetfoot’s sleeping form. She looked so adorable, yet peaceful in her slumber, a leg twitching every so often along with a wing. Looking over her unconscious form, I could easily make out her displaced feathers, many of them protruding out at odd angles. She apparently, at some point during the night, had removed the last bit of clothing she had fallen asleep in.

Giving a quick peck behind her right ear, causing it to twitch and tickle my nose, I moved to the side of my bed. Unfortunately, I was halted yet again when I couldn’t move my left arm. Looking over, I spotted my arm trapped beneath Fleetfoot’s barrel. I honestly have no idea how ponies were able to pull this off whenever they fell asleep, it was getting a bit annoying. Tolerable, but still annoying. The only ponies that fell asleep and effectively trapped either of my arms were the four princesses when either of us stayed up late doing stuff. However, it was thanks to Twilight sometimes falling asleep was a chance to get some reprieve from our extensive study sessions, but I also can’t lie and say that I didn’t enjoy them.

Focusing on Fleetfoot, I gently slid my free hand under her barrel, easing her up a few inches. Feeling there was sufficient room, I slid out my arm. I paused as Fleetfoot stirred a little, but thankfully she never woke up. Sighing, I removed my arm before gently setting her down. Thank God, she only stirred a bit. I’d have hated to wake her up. After stretching my arm a few times, I slowly rolled myself off the bed and gave Fleetfoot another kiss on her cheek as I pulled the blanket over her. I noticed her body give a small shudder as she let out a small whimper but then buried herself in the blanket. Waiting a few seconds to see if she would follow up on that curious action, she never revealed herself.

Shrugging my shoulders, I grabbed a clean set of work clothes and made my way to the shower. The house was still quiet during my short walk to the bathroom, and Spitfire’s door was still closed. If anything, I assumed that she was probably already outside doing whatever she needed to before heading off to the castle. Closing the bathroom door, I walked over to the shower and turned on the water. I waited several seconds for the water to warm up before stepping inside.

The hot water felt heavenly against my body, the remnants of last night’s activities washing away. I let the water cascade over me as I thought about my past actions. Even with my slight, yet not so slight, inebriation, I still had adequate sense of mind that I could have stopped if I didn’t want to go through with what I did with Fleetfoot. I harbored no regrets with my actions, and if the smile that I saw before was any indication, neither did she. Leaning my head against the wall, I continued to let the water wash away the morning drowsiness as I closed my eyes and smiled.

I was so preoccupied with my own thoughts that I didn’t hear someone – or rather somepony, enter the bathroom. I felt something rubbing up against my leg, and I looked down to see a soaked, silver tail carefully swathe its way around my body. I ran my eyes from the end of the silvery tail and was met with two beautiful violet eyes that gazed at me with such warmth that I couldn’t help but grin widely. Fleetfoot stood in front of me, leaning her forelegs against my chest, the water matted down her mane and coat as she let out a relaxed sigh. She hummed to herself for a few seconds, allowing the warm water to wash over her before finally speaking.

“So, mister, you thought you could skip out on your promise of preening my wings?” Fleetfoot said, smirking playfully.

I nudged her jokingly as I grabbed my soap and began to lather up my body. “Of course I didn’t, but your sheer cuteness and common courtesy kept me from disturbing you.” I chuckled, petting her mane.

“You mind lending me a hoof- er, hand since we’re in the shower together?” Fleetfoot asked, already spreading her wings as if she answered for me.

“Not at all,” I said, squatting down to sit on the floor of the shower.

Fleetfoot sat on her haunches, grabbing her own shampoo and lathering it into her mane as I checked out her wings. I was relieved that the shower was long enough for me and another person – or pony to be in, otherwise this would’ve been more difficult and uncomfortable than it had to be. Taking a closer look at her wings, I effortlessly spotted the protruding feathers and got to work. As I fixed up her wings, I moved one hand to the necklace that I hadn’t removed, playing with the personal feather I was given. Pulling on the most apparent misplaced feathers, I received a sigh of contentedness from Fleetfoot.

Finishing my first lap, I moved on to checking for hidden feathers. Fleetfoot shuddered under my touch, but had enough self-control not to jump me as I touched her. This didn’t stop her from pushing herself back into my lap, her tail coyly flicking against my abdomen as she continued to clean herself. Her lower backside was covered with suds that were dripping off me after I used my own soap, cleaning her a little as I found a hidden feather. Fleetfoot gasped as I pulled at the feather, making me worry that I might have hurt her. Hearing nothing from her, I continued searching as she rinsed off her mane and grabbed my soap.

As she began lathering up her coat, I found two more broken feathers and removed them easily. I gave one final pass over her wings to make sure I got them all, and when I found none, she handed me my soap and shampoo. Smiling softly at her, I moved to finish cleaning myself as she finished rinsing off. Covered in soap, I moved under the water and rinsed myself off, leaving me refreshed and clean. Turning off the water, I grabbed my towel and wrapped it around Fleetfoot. She yelped as I picked her up and carried her out of the shower, drying her with my towel in the process.

She showed no resistance, eliciting small coos as I grabbed another towel. I dried her a little more and, sadly, I had to set her down so I could tend to my own wet body. Fleetfoot finished drying herself off, flapping her wings a few times to rid herself of excess water. Some of it was flung in my direction and she giggled while grinning at me. I only chuckled as I finished drying off, making sure to get the extra water she sprinkled on me. Grabbing my clothes, I got dressed as Fleetfoot threw the towels into a hamper.

After checking myself in the mirror, Fleetfoot grabbed her toothbrush, and I moved towards the door. Upon opening it, I was greeted by Tundra, who looked up at me. She was squeaking and moving her front paws, but I couldn’t understand a single thing that she was trying to tell me. Assuming that she was hungry, I picked her up and placed her on my shoulder. Tundra continued to squeak, the noise a little more grating with her being closer to my ear, and I glanced curiously at her. Her attention wasn’t directed at me, but towards my room.

Confused, I glanced harmlessly at my room. I immediately froze in place, holding my breath and hoping that I wouldn’t be spotted by the one standing in front of my door. Spitfire was sitting on her rear, mouth agape as she covered her nose. I observed her for a moment and it seemed that she didn’t know I was lurking about. Stealth was my only option. I silently made my way towards the door, only to freeze when I saw Blaze pop out of Spitfire’s mane. The little ferret saw me instantly and squawked loudly into Spitfire’s ear, ruining my attempt at sneaking past her and evading the earful I was going to receive. That little traitor.

A split second passed as she zoomed in front of my face, a plethora of emotions on her face. Her expression ranged from raging fury, to confusion, to astonishment, and strangely: hurt. I couldn’t quite interpret the last one since it only showed for a second before she composed herself. I could feel her warm breath on my face as she lowered herself to the ground, her wings folding to her sides as her hooves touched the wood floor. I felt a paw smack the side of my neck, and I scowled at Tundra, who only shook her little head. I had honestly given up understanding many of the animals in Equestria, since they never really held any consistency in their actions.

Tundra slid down my shirt, letting go after reaching my waist. Blaze quickly joined her and the two scurried down the stairs, leaving me helplessly alone with a volatile Spitfire. I kept my mouth shut, watching as Spitfire shuddered in place as she continued to breathe deeply. It wasn’t long before Fleetfoot lazily floated out of the bathroom, her smile still present. It quickly fell when she noticed me and Spitfire having a classic Mexican standoff. Landing, she carefully trotted closer to us, keeping her eyes on Spitfire.

I slowly allowed myself to breathe, watching as Spitfire’s nostrils flared every few seconds. I had high hopes that she wouldn’t catch the scent of last night’s activities, but if her expression was any indication, she already knew exactly what went down. Feeling something brush up against my leg, I peered down at Fleetfoot, who sat on her haunches, joining me on waiting for Spitfire to do something else other than stare at us. Almost as if she was ready to spit… fire. I was prepared to try and make a run for it if she tried to jump me, but part of me kept me planted in my spot.

“You… did, didn’t you?” Spitfire asked, quickly rubbing her eye. It seemed like she was wiping something away, but I couldn’t tell for certain.

“Did what, exactly?” I asked, smiling innocently. I immediately began chastising myself for asking such a stupid question.
Spitfire glared violently at me, raising a hoof in preparation to raise hell, but was stopped when Fleetfoot spoke up.

“Yes, we had sex last night,” Fleetfoot said, her expression neutral.

Spitfire’s mouth went agape again, her eyes looking between the two of us. I honestly couldn’t tell what she was feeling at the moment, but it seemed like hitting me was nowhere on that list. A tense silence filled the air as Spitfire’s expression calmed down a little, turning into one of neutrality, or rather indifference. She trotted past me, heading down the stairs while her wings twitched sharply.

“I’ll see you both at the office,” Spitfire said, her voice almost monotone, before walking out and shutting the door.

“Uh…” I couldn’t find anything else to say. My brain was still trying to process what transpired.

“Come on. We should get going as well,” Fleetfoot said, trotting down the stairs, but not before smacking me on my rear with her tail.

“What about Spitfire?” I asked, quickly following in step beside her as we exited the building. “She just left without really saying anything,” I said, closing and locking the door behind us.

“It’s probably best that way,” Fleetfoot said, earning a raised brow from me. “She most likely would have given you an earful, but she seems to have gone off somewhere to relax a little before talking with you,” She explained, her wings expanding and taking her off the ground.

“I honestly thought she was going to annihilate me,” I said, watching as Fleetfoot flew behind me and wrapped her forelegs around my neck.

“She probably would have, but since you both agreed to a new slate, she’s going to give you a chance to explain what happened,” Fleetfoot said. Her head popped up next to mine, nuzzling me before resting on my shoulder.

Her hind legs wrapped around my stomach, her tail swishing and creating a pleasant air current on my arms. I scratched behind her ear and she cooed at me as we approached the castle. The two guards at the front gate waved at me, but seemed to have broken their expressionless code as they eyed me curiously. They seemed to have caught their mistake as they shook their heads and stood back at attention. I didn’t know what caused the stumble in their line of duty, but if I had to take a guess, I’d say it was either Fleetfoot or the necklace with her feather. The playful mare couldn’t help but give me several small nuzzles whenever she thought she could get away with it, and the feather was quite the fashion statement to say the least.

Either way, I just nodded slightly before walking past them and entering the castle. The castle seemed a little dead this morning, actually making me glad for once because I wanted time to think a little without being distracted by greeting the ponies. I felt Fleetfoot unwrap herself from my body, her hooves landing on the ground and creating a singular clop sound.

“I’m going to head off for the office. You going to be okay?” Fleetfoot asked, a little worry showing in her eyes.

“Still a little jarred from this morning, but I’ll be fine in a few minutes,” I said, smiling to assure her I would be fine.

“Then I’ll see you later, big guy.” Fleetfoot smiled as she floated up to my face and kissed me on the cheek before turning around and heading down the hallway.

Watching Fleetfoot leave, I waited until she was out of sight before turning to the opposite hallway and walking to my first stop. I hummed a little to myself, not really trying to recreate any particular tune or song, but just something to pass the time. I was so lost to my own little tune that I didn’t hear a certain somepony come up behind me. Feeling something tap my shoulder, I stopped and turned around. I stopped my turn midway through, when I was staring into a pair of magenta eyes that were burning with irritation and slight embarrassment.

“How much did you see?” Rainbow Dash asked, keeping her face far closer than I would have liked.

“I’ve seen lots of things,” I smirked, carefully taking a few steps away so I could see all of Rainbow Dash.

“You know what I mean,” Rainbow continued, her hoof pointing at me accusingly.

“I honestly don’t,” I said, shrugging my shoulders. I knew what she was referring to, but I wanted to hear her admit it first.

“Rarity saw you at the restaurant. Evening Rose even told us that you bought us that bouquet of roses,” Rainbow said, a small scowl on her face. “And that’s not all. Rarity said that Fleetfoot was with you!” she exclaimed, her hooves raised in the air.

“Well, you’re not wrong about either of those accusations.” I chuckled, scratching at the back of my neck.

“What were you two doing?” Rainbow asked, lowering her hooves as she tilted her head to the side.

“Isn’t it obvious, darling?” Rarity asked, who suddenly appeared out of thin air beside me, causing me to jump.

“No, it’s not,” Rainbow said, looking down at Rarity before looking back at me.

“Mark and Fleetfoot were there on a date!” Rarity said excitedly, smiling widely at me.

I really wished Rarity hadn’t said that. Dash finding out that I was dating someone was one thing, but then her finding out that I was dating one of her idols was a shit storm waiting to happen. I was a tad bit worried about my sanity. Rainbow stared slack-jawed at me, her eyes unblinking as they shifted from Rarity to myself. It wasn’t long before Dash’s eyes finally landed on the necklace that I was wearing, a hoof pointing at it. Rarity looked in the direction Dash was pointing and gasped.

“Oh my! Darling, I had no idea that she was going to go that far,” Rarity said, her eyes locked on the feather.

“What else is going on between you and…” Rainbow Dash started, but she trailed off as she sniffed a few times.

I could see Rarity give a few sniffs as well before she smirked knowingly at me. I wasn’t worried about Rarity doing anything rash, her love for the romance and dramatics probably being my saving grace. Rainbow was another story, because she was a pegasus, she understood the symbolic gesture a little more than any of us here. Dash floated down to the ground, landing next to Rarity and whispering to her. Rarity seemed to intently listen to whatever Dash was telling her before both were looking at me.

“Do you understand what that means?” Rainbow asked, her expression neutral. I nodded in response. Rarity stood next to Dash, giving me a worried look. I could only assume she understood what the feather meant as her eyes glanced between me and the necklace.

“Are you going to put everything you have into trying to get your relationship to work?” Rarity asked, her brow raised. Again, I nodded. I was beginning to feel like I was being interrogated like last time.

“Then make sure you do right by her, Mark. I know you’ve probably heard it a million times already, but that feather holds more meaning than you could possibly understand,” Rainbow said, giving me a confident smile.

“She’s right, though. Just like pegasi, unicorns have their own special way of showing their love to another. It’s easier to understand these traditions if you’re raised by them, but seeing as neither of us have really lived under the same traditions, we have to try our best to at least understand what we’re getting into,” Rarity offered, her smile comforting as she patted my leg.

“Thanks, you guys,” I said, smiling to each of them.

“I wish I could chat with you more, but I best be off. I have orders to fill, and I would like to get them finished early,” Rarity said, giving a small curtsy to me before her attention turned towards Dash. “I expect you’ll be by later tonight after you finish your business here, Dash?” Rarity asked, a small grin barely noticeable from where I was standing.

“You know it, Rares,” Rainbow said confidently, placing a hoof on her chest as she straightened out.

I caught a glimpse of Rarity’s sly smirk, her horn started glowing blue and then her aura suddenly appeared around Rainbow. Dash yelped in surprise as she was pulled from the air, a yelp that was silenced when her lips connected with Rarity’s. Dash’s body tensed up and her eyes went wide as Rarity kissed her, but after the momentary surprise she soon relaxed and lost herself in the kiss before they broke away. After a quick flutter of her eyes, Rarity ceased her magic hold and sauntered away from us. I looked at Rainbow and took in the small smile that touched her features as she watched Rarity leave, her eyes glued upon Rarity’s Flank. Once she was gone Dash quickly recollected herself and turned back to me.

“You tell nopony about what you saw, understand?” Rainbow said with a small growl.

“Fine, but to throw in my two cents,” I started, putting my hands up defensively. “You two make a cute couple,” I said, smiling at Dash.

“Good. I don’t need my awesomeness ruined because you blabbed about this to everypony,” Dash said, folding her legs together as her attention went back to where Rarity left.

“Is it you that you’re worried about, or are you more worried about Rarity?” I asked, getting Rainbow to turn towards me.

“Dash, I’m your friend. True that I hang around Canterlot more than anything else, but we’re tight,” I said, getting Rainbow to raise a brow at me. “So I’d like to think that I can see when you’re acting strangely because you’re worried for someone else,” I said, giving a small shrug.

“Can I show you something?” Rainbow asked, moving closer to me.

“What is it?” I asked, looking around to see if there were any ponies around. It seemed like Dash wanted to keep this private if she moved this close to me, so I wanted to make sure it stayed that way.

“Rarity gave this to me on our anniversary,” Rainbow said.

I watched as she reached behind her ear, pulling out a small glass jar that was filled with something. She presented the jar to me, a huge smile on her face as she took extra care to make sure she didn’t lose her grip.

“What is it? Also, you said this was for your one year anniversary. How long have you been seeing each other?” I asked, keeping my eyes on the jar.

“Rarity and I have been seeing each other for three years now, and before you ask, I wasn’t the one that asked her out,” Rainbow said, causing me to stare at her with an arched brow. “A very long and embarrassing story made short, I could never work up the courage to ask her out. After probably my failed hundredth attempt, she seemed to understand what I was trying to do and beat me to it,” Rainbow explained, her eyes closed as she remembered that day.

“So I guess you both went on a lot of secret dates because it didn’t seem like you two were dating at all since I’ve been here,” I stated, looking back at the jar and taking a quick note of the blue aura pulsing around it.

“We did go on a lot of secret dates. My family on my mom’s side is very traditional. They believe in only dating and marrying other pegasi,” Rainbow explained, a frown touching her lips. “I don’t want Rarity to have to deal with any ridicule because of my family. She’s a great marefriend and I don’t want to lose her because of them,” Rainbow said, her voice tense as she looked strongly at the jar.

“So was meeting you at the restaurant the first time you two actually did anything public?” I asked.

“I guess you could say that. Our friends think we’re on a trip here for supplies, which we kinda are, but it would only take a few hours. We’ve been here for a few days enjoying our time together,” Rainbow explained, her expression softening as she put the jar back behind her ear.

“So what’s the jar, then?” I asked.

“Rarity just said that every race of pony has their own traditions with courting. Pegasi do the feathers while unicorns give a bit of their magic essence,” Rainbow explained, moving away from me as she smiled.

“So I take it that it’s just as personal as a feather?” I asked, pretty sure of the answer.

“Yep! Just as personal!” Rainbow confirmed with a sharp nod.

“Then I wish you the best in your relationship,” I said, giving a small salute. Rainbow returned it with one of her own as we turned to head our separate ways. Before I was even two steps away from her, a plan came to mind on how I could get back at Luna and Cadence. “Hey, Dash. Do you think you can do me a favor?” I asked, a mischievous smile spreading across my face.

“Maybe. What do you need?” Rainbow asked with a raised brow.

“I need your help pranking someone,” I said, chuckling to myself a little at what I had planned.

“Who are we pranking?” Rainbow asked, a grin spreading across her muzzle.

“Luna and Cadence,” I said without hesitation.

Rainbow gave me a wide-eyed look before smirking deviously. “I think I can help you with that. What do you need me to get?” she asked, rubbing her hooves together.

“I need you to get me Vinyl’s equipment,” I said.

“I can do that. She’s going to be here for a couple more days, so I’ll see her before finishing up here and heading back to Ponyville,” Rainbow said with a single nod.

I returned her nod as she turned around and flew down the corridors. As soon as I turned around, I heard a crash from far away, and Rainbow’s apology echoing down the hallways. Shaking my head, I headed for my appointment. The walk to the medical wing was pretty quiet, running into only a few ponies that stopped by for a quick check-up. I would think some of the ponies that I’ve seen before would be here more often, Rainbow Dash being a prime example. Then again, a lot of these ponies could take a lot of punishment before suffering any real harm.

“Hey, human. Can I speak with you for a minute?” a strange, but feminine, voice called out.

Turning around to see who was addressing me, I quickly realized it was two thestrals I haven’t seen before. The one on the left had a copper mane and her tail was a swirl of darker copper and cyan. She had gold eyes and her wings were a dark purple. Her coat was grey and her cutie mark was a syringe with a blue fluid inside of it. She had a very bright smile as she trotted with a slight spring in her step. The one to her right was a mare as well, her expression a little cheerful as she waved at me. The bat pony on the right had a pink mane and tail that each had a purple streak through it. Her wings were copper and her eyes were orange. Her coat was the same signature grey color and her cutie mark was three fluffy white clouds.

“Can I help you two?” I asked as the two bat ponies stopped in front of me.

“Hi there! My name is Amber Heart!” the thestral on the left said, a giddy grin on her muzzle

“I’m… Dreamer,” the thestral on the right said in a quiet voice, but at least it was louder than Fluttershy’s.

“Hello, Amber Heart, Dreamer. My name is Mark,” I greeted, extending my hand.

“Oh, we already knew that,” Amber Heart said, taking my hand and shaking it excitedly before Dreamer took it and gave it a gentle few shakes. After Dreamer released my hand, Amber Heart continued with what she was saying. “We actually wanted to introduce ourselves in a more familiar way,” she said, sitting on her haunches as she continued to smile up at me.

“Well, it’s nice to meet you two,” I said, smiling at both of them. “I assume I’ll be seeing you two around the castle more often?” I asked.

“Of course, but mainly during the night,” Amber said, her smile never faltering.

“We’re Luna’s… replacement guards… for Echo and Moon,” Dreamer explained, rubbing her left foreleg.

“Ah, I was wondering when I would possibly meet Luna’s new guards. I’ve already met Celestia’s, so it’s wonderful to meet you two,” I said, nodding at the both of them.

“It’s also wonderful to finally meet you. Do you mind if we continue walking and talking? We don’t wish to hold you up because it looked like you were heading somewhere,” Amber said, gesturing for me to continue.

“Sure, let’s go,” I said, turning back around and heading down for Redheart’s office.

“What did you think of Moon and Echo?” Amber asked as we walked down the hallway.

“They were very nice. Although they loved to tease me a lot, but overall they were very entertaining to be around. It’s kind of lonely now since they aren’t here,” I said.

“They were… very nice,” Dreamer agreed, surprisingly floating next to me.

“Did you two know them?” I asked.

“We did. They were our instructors for the last part of our training,” Amber answered, bouncing a little.

“What did the last part entail, if you don’t mind me asking?” I asked with a raised brow.

“The last part was on the best ways to deal with you,” Amber replied.

“I hope it wasn’t anything too far out there,” I joked, imagining what Echo and Moon could have possibly taught these two.

“Nothing much. They… just said it would… be best to be… friendly. They also taught us how to best get you flustered,” Dreamer said, and I glanced at her.

I could see the hidden smirk she was giving me. Obviously she intended for me to hear that last part of her sentence. She had that whole shy thing going for her, but it seemed to be just one face that is shown. I wasn’t sure exactly what I had in store for myself with the way she was looking at me, but I could only assume it wasn’t going to be good. Dreamer seemed to be friendly, so I don’t think any real harm would come to me, however it would be best if I stayed on guard. I was pulled from looking at Dreamer as I heard Amber laugh heartily.

“I see that you heard that last part,” Amber said, her laughter strong as she kept pace with me. “She may come off as shy, but believe me when I say that underneath that is a mare you want to be careful being around,” she warned, patting my leg.

“I swear, Luna and Celestia do this on purpose,” I said, grumbling a little to myself.

“They might,” Amber said with a casual shrug. “But we’re still good at our jobs and won’t do anything to ruin these positions,” she said confidently.

“Actually, Echo and Moon mentioned that you had a story about another human named ‘Jimmy’?” Dreamer asked, continuing to float by me.

“Ah, I know who you’re talking about. Would you like to hear that story?” I asked, seeing that we were nearing Redheart’s office.

“If you wouldn’t mind,” Amber said, giving me big puppy eyes that pleaded for me to share the story.

“You ponies should not be allowed to do that. It makes all of you too cute to say no to,” I said with a small chuckle.

“Echo did say that it was the best way to get something out of you,” Dreamer said, giving a small giggle.

“Anyways, Jimmy was a soldier back in the military. He was transferred to the coldest outpost because there was suspicious activity going on there. He gets there, and everything seems fine on his end. Days go by before something strange happens,” I say, getting both Dreamer’s and Amber’s attention.

“What happened?” Amber asked, her ears perked in interest.

“Well, it was just the same routine patrol, but this time it went wrong. Jimmy and his squad were attacked.” This earned a gasp from Dreamer. “Jimmy finds many of his comrades on the ground, and the next thing he knows, his skull is ripped out of his head and he’s beaten to death with it,” I said, trying my hardest to keep myself from laughing out loud.

“Wait, that doesn’t make any sense,” Amber spoke up, her muzzle scrunched up in confusion. “How is that physically possible?” she asked.

“That’s what Jimmy said. He kept asking how it was physically possible, but we never found out,” I said, giving a small shrug.

“Well, that’s just horrible. That poor human. I hope they found the pony responsible for that,” Dreamer said with a slight glare.

“It took a few years and many side adventures, but we finally caught her,” I assured her.

As Amber and Dreamer whispered amongst themselves, I smiled internally at having got away with that story again. It was true that I missed technology, but it has become my greatest strength when trying to do something entertaining with my friends. Probably the only pony that would be able to spoil the jokes would be Twilight, but that was after using them on her and explaining their origins. I guess I could also call it my little comfort area since I was pretty much allowed to get some good laughs and memories out of it.

“Well, I’m glad they were able to capture her,” Dreamer said, giving me a small smile and gaining my attention.

“It has been fun, Mark, but Dreamer and I have to get going. We need to get in a quick nap if we want to be ready for our first night of duty,” Amber said, giving me a hoof-bump before turning to leave.

Looking at Dreamer, she seemed to hesitate a little. It wasn’t often I saw many shy ponies, my experience mainly lying with meeting Fluttershy, now also including Dreamer. Even with their shyness, they had some kind of outgoing attitude, and it shared the same interest that all the other ponies had. Chuckling a little to myself, I spread my arms open and gestured for her that it was okay. I already knew what she was asking for. She squeed excitedly, zooming into my open arms and wrapping her legs around my chest. I patted her mane a few times before she let go, her smile bright and shining as I got a good look at her fangs.

Waving a hoof, she flew after Amber, leaving me alone again. Taking a quick survey of my surroundings, I could tell I was only a couple of minutes away from Redheart’s office. Cringing a little at how the appointment would go, I took a deep breath before heading to either a fine day or my possible doom.

True to my assumption, I arrived at Redheart’s office, and her door was left ajar. Knocking on the door to let her know someone was at her door, I entered the spacious room. Same as all my visits before, the room still smelled of antiseptic. The medical bed was in the middle of the room, paper covering it so it could be ripped away after a patient was done with their visit. Sighing a little, I moved towards the bed, sitting on the edge as I kicked my feet back and forth, waiting for Redheart’s arrival.

“It seems somepony forgot when their appointment was,” Redheart teased, walking into the room from one of the side doors.

“I left my house early. There is no way I’m late this time,” I said defensively.

“Hm, then I guess the timer that I have set here must have been set wrong,” Redheart said casually, pulling out the timer from her nurse’s coat.

She showed me the timer, five minutes and twenty-three seconds having already gone by when my appointment was scheduled. Grumbling to myself, I handed her the bits that I owed her for my tardiness. Redheart wasn’t a horrible pony, but one that was actually fun to be around. Despite what some of the ponies would say about her, she’s actually a very talkative and kind mare that likes to get to know her patients. Granted, her cutie mark has her destined to be a nurse, but compared to a few of the Canterlot nurses and doctors I’ve seen around here, she would actually have a normal conversation with me or her other patients.

“I think you know the procedure by now. So I’ll just go ahead and get my things as you settle in,” Redheart said, smiling at me as she placed my bits on the counter by the sink.

The bet I had with her wasn’t anything too big. The bet itself happened more as an incentive to try and arrive on time so others wouldn’t be held up by me. This I found weird because there’s hardly any ponies that ever come here, so I think she just does it to just mess with me. Leaning back a bit as I let my feet sway freely, I waited for Redheart to come back with the supplies. It didn’t take her long before she came back with a small tray on her back. She deposited the tray and grabbed the syringe and arm band.

Redheart was probably the only medical professional that liked being anywhere near me, and since she was an earth pony, I kind of gave her a hand. Not literally. Grabbing the armband, I fastened it around my arm and tightened it so she could find a vein. Pressing against my arm with her soft hoof, she found a viable target and pushed the syringe inside. The vial at the end quickly filled with blood, and she removed the needle from my arm after it was full. I loosened the armband as she returned with some alcohol and a cotton ball for the small wound.

Covering the small puncture, Redheart trotted back to her tray and grabbed the clipboard off of it. Her eyes scanned over the papers, probably making sure everything was in order from my last appointment before inputting new changes, if any. Sadly, there were some new changes, and I don’t think she was going to be very happy about them.

“So, is there anything bothering you at the moment?” Redheart asked, flipping back and forth between pages as she glanced up every once in a while.

“Nope. My bones are still okay, and I haven’t really felt the onset of any sickness,” I answered, wondering the best way to tell her the news.

“That’s good to hear. I’ll take a look at your blood later and let you know if there’s anything you should know about. You seem to be in slightly better shape than before. Have you recently started exercising?” Redheart commented, taking a few notes before looking up at me.

“Yeah, Fleetfoot and Spitfire have been my exercise partners for the past while and helped to put me in better shape,” I answered.

“Excellent! Now I will need a sperm sample from you in the next two months, but I wouldn’t worry about us finding anything since you haven’t really been sexually active during your time here. It’s just procedure still,” Redheart said, setting a cup to the side for me. Sighing heavily, I prepared myself for her reaction.

“Actually… Redheart?” I started, giving a sheepish smile.

“Yes?” Redheart asked, looking at me with a raised brow.

“About me… not being sexually active,” I said, pausing at the end, hoping she would figure it out.

“It’s nothing to be worried about, Mark. You’ve stated before that you held no interest in dating. I would have thought after spending seven months here…” Redheart trailed off as she took notice of me scratching the back of my neck, a nervous smile on my face.

“Well, the thing is-” I started, but was interrupted by a gasp from Redheart. Her eyes were wide, and I could see them looking down at the feather, then up at me before going back down to the feather. This continued for several seconds before she added the pieces together and found her voice.

“No! You’re not going to sit there and tell me that you just recently did the bad deed!” Redheart exclaimed, giving me a slight glare.

This was what I was worried about. The main problem was that there was a lot of paperwork that had to be shuffled around to get proper medical sessions, since of views that I held before the events of last night. It was a nightmare of a process to go through, arguing with many ponies from different areas of the medical wing and companies to get this approved. Now because of last night, Redheart was going to have to order those forms that we spent so long trying to rid of, just so she can have everything on file and can keep a record in case something came up.

“Heh, guilty as charged. I did. Last night to be exact. Fleetfoot was the one I had sex with as well,” I said, getting straight to the point.

“Ugh, you have got to be joking!” Redheart exclaimed, throwing her clipboard against the wall. “We spent three weeks to get everything in order, and now you drop this on me. You couldn’t have at least given me a courtesy call a few days beforehand so I could get the forms?” Redheart asked, rubbing at her temple with her hooves.

A silence settled between us before Redheart spoke up again. “So is that really Fleetfoot’s feather on that necklace?” she asked, pointing a hoof at the aforementioned item.

“It is her feather. I know very well what I’m getting into, Redheart, or at least what I can comprehend,” I said. “I’m actually surprised that you took so long to say anything about it,” I commented with a raised brow.

“I had assumed that it was just something you were doing from your world. I remember you mentioning that your kind would collect feathers of various birds as a hobby,” Redheart said, waving a hoof around.

“Sorry,” I said, scratching my head a bit.

“It’s fine,” Redheart assured, laughing a little to herself. “You just cost me about five-hundred bits for that stunt, but I’m honestly happy for you,” she said with a small smile.

“Why?” I asked with a raised brow.

“Well, sometimes ponies can get very lonely and it can affect them in the long run. Ponies require companionship in some form, and I would guess the same could be said about humans, but even you said that wasn’t entirely true,” Redheart explained.

“True. Some humans are able to handle living a solitary lifestyle,” I said nodding my head. “So you were more worried that I would have some kind of mental breakdown if I didn’t find some kind of actual companionship, at least beyond the few friends I have?” I asked, trying to make sure I understood what she was getting at.

“Pretty much. I never saw a reason to really say anything because you didn’t show any symptoms, but I couldn’t help worrying. I’m glad that you were able to find somepony special for you,” Redheart said happily, moving closer to me and patting my leg. “Although, does Fleetfoot know about the princesses trying to find you a way home and what that could possibly do to your relationship with her?” Redheart asked, a small frown on her face.

“I would say we touched briefly on it. It was a wonderful night and I didn’t want to ruin it by saying that I could up and leave her at any moment if a portal to my world is found,” I said, patting her hoof as I looked at the door of the office.

“Well, you know what they say, don’t make a girl a promise, if you know you can’t keep it,” Redheart said, offering me a supportive smile.

“I’ll keep that in mind, and don’t worry, I’ll make sure to tell her later,” I said, scratching behind her ear.

“Good. Now then, we have everything in order so we should-” Redheart started, only to be cut-off by a loud voice that had a strong resemblance to a Scottish accent to it and was apparently female.

“Oi, what the buck do you think you’re doing?! Watch where you’re putting your bloody hooves! I’m still sensitive from last night!” the voice yelled.

“Luna diabhal é! Just hold still for a few seconds!” another voice yelled, also feminine, but the beginning of her yelling piquing my interest.

“I would if you would just stop touching me there!” the first voice yelled back

“Then maybe you shouldn’t masturbate with a swimsuit on! What?! Did your roommate seeing you in such scanty clothing get you so hot and bothered you had to release some tension?!” the second voice yelled in return.

“Hey! When you have a body this good-looking, especially with these flanks, then sometimes it’s hard to stop yourself!” the first voice quipped.

“I swear tú thestrals bhfuil nós aisteach de touching féin iomarca! Now just hold still so I can remove the bikini bottoms from your vagina!” the second voice commanded, the sounds of items hitting the floor clearly audible.

“I think we’re going to cut this session short today, Mark,” Redheart said, shaking her head a little.

“Sure. It seems like you know those two?” I said, continuing to stare in the direction of the voices.

“Sadly, I do. One of them is a very trusted guard of Luna’s. She is very foul-mouthed, but also dedicated to her duty. The other is a nurse that works here as well. Has the same temper, but none of us really understand what she says half the time,” Redheart said, moving over and grabbing the clipboard.

“I think it’s best that you don’t know what she says,” I said, hopping off the bed and heading over to the door.

“Wait, you can understand her?” Redheart asked with wide eyes.

“Yeah. Only took a few courses, but I can make out enough to know that you’re better off never knowing what she says,” I say.

“I’ll take your word for it. I’m pretty sure she’s going to be even more upset knowing that the sanguines and Imperials haven’t come for their supplies of blood and meat,” Redheart said offhandedly, causing me to raise my brow at her. “They’re two different species of thestrals, but you probably won’t meet any of them. They prefer the very late night shifts, and you’re usually asleep or out of the castle when they’re out and about,” she said.

“Very well, then. I guess I’ll see you at our next appointment?” I asked, hoping that she wasn’t as mad as before.

“Same place, same time. Just make sure to fill this cup and get it back to me in at least two months,” Redheart said, tossing me the cup.

“Sure thing. Take care, Redheart,” I said, catching the cup and leaving her office.

Looking around the hallway, I gave a final glance back at Redheart’s office. Overall, that situation could have gone a lot worse than it did. She wasn’t so much mad at me, but more so at the inconvenience I placed on her. I honestly didn’t think there would be any problems from any of those ponies that gave us trouble before, because Redheart can be pretty intimidating when she’s upset. Chuckling a little to myself at the poor soul who would try her patience, I headed for Silk’s workspace to thank her for her work on my clothes.

Author's Note

Thanks to these editors for their help. If I forget you, please PM so I can put you in the list. This list is subject to change as chapters come out, but people still deserve the recognition for helping in some form or another.

reprovedhawk
KG472
Jay The Stormtrooper
Word Worthy
Rumble
Scratchntavi

Early Meeting with Celestia

Fleeting Flames
By: Duelist96
Chapter 16: Early Meeting with Celestia

My walk towards Silk’s workspace was peaceful and steady. I didn’t pay attention ahead of me as I let my gaze wander towards my left. The sun shining through the prismatic stained glass windows depicted the major events of Equestrian history. These windows detailed the stories of the adventure Twilight shared with her friends after the return of Nightmare Moon. The windows began from after Twilight lost her treebary and got her crystal castle. Following that were the separate friendship adventures she and her friends went on around Equestria. I smiled a little at seeing these adventures.

Although, my smile was more for the fact that I didn’t have to be a part of a single one. I enjoy visiting Ponyville very much; getting to see Twilight and her friends was a relaxing experience whenever I had the chance, but it’s only enjoyable when there isn’t any danger. There might be a chance I would have grown used to it had I lived there since my arrival, but since I live in Canterlot, it doesn’t seem like I’ll be able to handle it.

Reaching the end of the stained glass windows that gave way to regular ones waiting to be used to tell the next tale, I focused back on my walk. Many of the maids and guards that were walking around gave me a quick wave as I passed, and I gladly returned their kind gestures. My walk came to an end as I reached Silk’s workshop. Lifting up my left hand, I knocked on her door before opening it.

I gently closed the door behind me until I heard it click in place. Walking through her showroom area, I headed towards her living space. Since it was still early enough, I hazard a guess that she would be just lounging around, doodling simple designs before she got to any of her commissions. Avoiding much of the mess that was scattered about her living space, I found her relaxing on the couch. Although, from what I could see, she seemed a bit haggard as her mane was a disheveled mess.

Getting closer I noticed the strands of hair that were sticking up along her coat and the heavy bags under her eyes. This hasn’t been the first time I’ve seen her in such a state, but it still caused me to worry what might be troubling her. I didn’t want to startle her by speaking up, so instead I moved towards a rack of clothing that held her practice attempts at making me clothes. Curling two fingers on my right hand, I raised my fist and hit the metal bars. The resonating clang that came forth was able to catch her attention as her left ear swiveled in my direction before turning her head towards me.

“Mark, it’s so great to see you,” Silk said, beaming at me. “You’re here very early. Had I known, I would have cleaned myself up a bit,” she said before gesturing for me to come closer.

“It’s wonderful to see you as well, Silk,” I said happily, smiling at her as I joined her on the couch.

“So, how was your date last night?” Silk asked, her attention on the table as she shuffled through a few papers that contained sketches of random clothing. I noticed how thoroughly she organized them before deciding to ignore it.

“It went well, actually,” I replied, casually reclining myself on the couch so I could stare up at the ceiling.

“I would hope, since I can smell her all over you,” Silk chided teasingly, her wings giving a few flaps to stretch her muscles.

“Is there anything I can do about the smell? I mean, I took a shower for Christ’s sake.” I let out a frustrated groan as I rubbed my eyes.

“A shower is probably the best option you’ve got, if you want to mask most of the scent, that is,” Silk explained.

I felt her lean against me, her legs wrapping around my right arm as she nuzzled against me. I didn’t dare try and remove my arm, letting her enjoy herself and maybe allow her to get some sort of rest. Continuing to stare at the ceiling, I reached over with my left hand and scratched behind her ear. A murmur of contentment escaped her lips as she tried to bury herself deeper into my arm.

“Are you sure there isn’t anything I can do to get rid of it completely? I could do without hearing ponies gossip about what I do at night,” I ask slightly hopeful for a practical solution.

“Sorry, dear, but there really isn’t,” she said, dashing my hopes. “She’s marked you to let other mares know that you’re taken and if they want to even get a chance at what you keep hidden under all this unnecessary fabric, they’ll need to talk to her.” Silk let out a cute little yawn as she slid down my arm, her body curling up as she made herself comfortable against my leg. “Then again, you probably haven’t even thought about herding yet, have you?” she asked.

“Not really,” I answered. I ran my hand along her back, relishing in the softness of her fur. “I don’t even know how I would feel about sharing myself or Fleetfoot with another pony. You spend so much of your life around a society where polygamy was frowned upon. You really can’t see making anything work with others coming into the mix,” I explained.

“I wouldn’t sell yourself too short there, Mark,” Silk said, her body moving closer to me so she could rest her head on my lap. “You were able to look past your views of not even dating a pony, so I think if you keep an open mind and talk with Fleetfoot, then you might be able to come around,” she explained calmly.

“You have a lot more confidence in me than I do for myself,” I said jokingly, chuckling as I petted her mane.

“I’ll always have confidence in you, Mark. I’ve read the stories about the other humans that have been here, and if they could make it work for themselves, then I know you can too,” Silk said encouragingly.

“You’re really some kind of mare, Silk, and I hope you never change,” I said happily, smiling gratefully as I stared up at the ceiling once again.

The room fell into a peaceful quiet as Silk relaxed on my lap. I moved my hand back to her barrel, feeling each rise and fall from her calm breathing. I wasn’t really expecting to visit her for long, but the image of what I saw earlier made me consider skipping my visit with Celestia so I could make sure she was okay. Looking down at her relaxed form, a small frown etched itself onto my features. Watching her lie there peacefully, a thought crossed my mind and I let out an irritated groan.

“What’s the matter?” Silk asked.

“I bumped into Rarity before reaching Redheart, and I completely forgot to ask about maybe seeing if she could offer you a position with her at Ponyville,” I said sullenly, rubbing my face in shame.

“You don’t need to worry about that,” Silk said, giggling softly

“Why’s that?” I asked with a quirked brow.

“I actually bumped into her last night when I was out enjoying the night to see if anything caught my interest that I could sketch for possible designs. She actually stopped me and complimented the scarf that I was wearing,” Silk explained, continuing to giggle to herself. “She actually did offer me a position to work for her, but I won’t be moving to Ponyville,” she said, her giggles coming to a stop.

“If you won’t be working in Ponyville, then where else did she have you set up?” I asked.

“I’ll actually still be working here in Canterlot. She apparently gets a lot of orders from the middle and lower districts that it was starting to overwhelm her. She actually saw me as a chance to continue her commissions and orders for ponies in Canterlot from a pony that currently understands the fashion trend up here,” Silk explained happily, a gentle smile working its way across her features.

“You just like to be here only so you can tease me,” I said jokingly.

“Maybe, but if I’m being honest, I can’t really see myself leaving Canterlot.” Silk let out a soft sigh as she started to pull herself more onto my lap.

“We would all miss you, Silk, but know that we always support whatever decision you make. You’ve been a great friend to me, and I know Celestia, Luna, and Cadence have really enjoyed your company as well,” I said, a smile tugging at my lips.

Silk placed herself fully on my lap, and I couldn’t help but start letting my hands run along her silken fur. I don’t know how she could keep the soft feeling of her coat with how she looked, but it was at least a good sign that she at least bathed. Letting silence settle between us, I helped smooth out the tufts of fur, earning contented sighs from her. It didn’t take long for me to smooth out her coat, and my only solution to her mane was just to at least brush it to the side, but at least she was more presentable than earlier. Happy with my handiwork, I took notice of her wings and started to fidget a little bit.

“Is everything alright, Mark?” Silk asked, lifting her head a little as she looked at me with tired eyes.

“I…” I stopped before my mind went blank.

I wasn’t really sure what to say, and even thinking about it brought about conflicting feelings inside of me. I understood that preening wings was done between lovers and very close friends, but even asking it was taboo if taken wrong.

“Mark, whatever it is, you’re free to ask or say anything. I’ll never be upset at you for a simple faux pas because of our differences,” Silk said soothingly, placing a hoof on my chest.

“I… was wondering… if maybe you would be fine… if I preened your wings?” I quickly averted my gaze, a small blush appearing on my face as I waited for either her outcry at such a question or the hit that would follow before the scolding.

“I would be grateful for the help,” Silk said soothingly.

She nuzzled my chest before unfurling her wings. I sat frozen with my mouth agape as she spread her wings, her nuzzling never stopping as she breathed softly.

“I take it you know how to preen wings, correct?” Silk asked, her wings giving a small twitch.

“My only knowledge is from books I read and the one time I preened Fleetfoot’s wings,” I answered truthfully, my hands fidgeting in place.

“Seems like she had a lot of trust in you to allow something like that. Especially after one date and a night in bed together,” Silk said teasingly, causing me to flush.

Shaking my head at her antics, she giggled to herself as she sat up and presented her wings again. Taking a deep breath, I scanned over her wings, noting the obvious out of place feathers. How she was even able to ignore the irritation of the misplaced feathers was beyond me. Looking her in her half-closed eyes, she gave a single, gentle nod that I could proceed. Popping my fingers to get some feeling and blood flowing, I started my task.

Once my hand made contact, a small gasp escaped her lips and I immediately retracted my hands. Looking at her to make sure everything was okay, she nodded at me to reassuringly. Staring at her for a moment, I returned my attention to her wings. I’m not really sure why I was startled by her sudden gasp. Maybe something about how Fleetfoot sounded when I did this for her was causing me to overreact. Nevertheless, it was going to be her natural reaction to this situation, so I better calm myself.

I made contact with her spread appendages, seeing her bite her lower lip to stifle any noise she might make. I nudged her to gain her attention, and when she looked at me, I shook my head. She stared at me with uncertain eyes before relenting. Her gasps and moans came out unbidden as I worked through her wings. Much of my willpower went into making sure I didn’t become aroused from her sounds. Part of me wanted to work quickly through her wing to maybe avoid any problems, but I quickly chastised myself for thinking that.

Sure, embarrassment would be avoided if I went through her wings quickly, but it would only leave a sloppy job done. So putting aside my own discomforts, I worked diligently on Silk’s wings. Her wings would twitch as I removed her loose feathers and let my fingers glide along to feel for any I might have missed. Several minutes went by as I looked over and went back through again on Silk’s wings to make sure they were cleaned up. Finding nothing was out of order and no glaring problems were present, I removed my hands from her wings and scratched behind her ears.

“Thank you, Mark. That was really kind of you,” Silk said happily, folding her wings against her side as she laid back down.

“It was no problem, Silk. I owe you for everything you’ve done and for putting up with me,” I said, petting her mane.

Silk relaxed into my lap once again, sighing in contentment. I continued petting her mane, enjoying the warmth that she brought me and making sure she relax some. Looking over my shoulder, I noticed the time nearing my appointment with Celestia. Frowning at having to leave her behind, I hooked my arms around her as I lifted her into the air. She let out a small yelp as I lifted her into the air, her wings expanding to keep her balance out of fear for falling. Chuckling a little to myself, she looked up at me through half-open eyes, a small yawn escaping her lips.

“Where are we going?” Silk asked as he laid her head against my chest.

“My appointment with Celestia is coming up so I need to head out,” I replied, carrying her to her bed.

“Then where are you taking me? I have things I need to finish,” Silk said, squirming a little in my grasp.

“I bet you do, but you’re going to bed,” I stated simply, refusing to let her go.

“I don’t need sleep, Mark. I can work with no sleep just fine,” Silk protested, ramping up her struggles.

“Silk, it’s clear that you can barely keep focus and I haven’t seen you keep your eyes open longer than ten seconds,” I retorted, holding her tighter as I finally reached her bed.

She continued to squirm in my grasp before I gently set her down on the bed. She moved to stand up, but a gentle prod to her side had her fall back down. Her wings flapped in irritation as she let out a small growl. Refusing to heed her warning, I pulled the blanket up and tucked her underneath it. Thankfully she folded her wings to her side to avoid any damage. Once I had her wrapped, I grabbed one of her pillows and placed the pillow under her head.

“You know, most mares usually get tucked in like this after a fun night,” Silk said, curling into herself more to make herself comfortable. “Do you plan on having a little fun with me before you head out now that you know what it’s like with a pony,” she said, giggling as her ears flicked. I panicked a little when I saw the look she was giving me. Even so, I kept my composure.

“I would like to keep my kidneys, Silk. Also, I would rather take you out to dinner before getting that far,” I said jokingly, hoping to give her some ease.

This seemed to help as she gave a contented smile, a soft hum escaping her lips. I was glad she took my joke well since I was never for going with her type of humor, but it seemed right to join her antics a little.

“Maybe some other time,” Silk said, her voice going softer as I moved off of her bed. “I bet you and Fleetfoot have an exquisite taste when combined together,” she continued, causing me to nearly stumble.

“Funny, Silk, very funny,” I said, shaking my head as I moved towards her blinds.

I closed her blinds and made sure there was no light shining through to disturb her. Seeing no other places for light to bother her, I moved back towards her bed. I reached out with a hand and gave a few scratches behind her ear. A yawn escaped as she tried to bat away my hand with her ear, but it was to no avail. Finishing my scratches, I turned for her door, leaving to make my appointment. Before I could leave, Silk’s voice carried over to me.

“Funny thing about last night before you go,” Silk said, her voice barely audible.

“What would that be?” I asked.

“Rarity’s marefriend is very receptive towards my advances. I probably could have had a spectacular night had Rarity not put a stop to my antics,” Silk said, giggling to herself a little.

“That’s because of how tight of a leash Rarity has on Rainbow, but I think those two would have been more accepting had you hung with them more often,” I said jokingly.

“Maybe, but it… would have… been… ni…” Silk didn’t get to finish as her light snores permeated the room.

I gave a gentle smile as I looked upon her sleeping form, shaking my head at where she was going to go with that sentence. Listening to make sure she was still asleep, I made way for the door. I had to be careful walking through her place, avoiding anything that could make a lot of noise and wake her up. Thankfully, I made it through her messy workspace and exited without any problem. Making sure the door was closed behind me, I turned in the direction for Celestia’s chambers.

As soon as I took one step, a blinding flash of light appeared before my eyes. At least, that’s what it was before I felt a jerking motion in my stomach. The next thing I knew was hearing a loud pop, making my ears ring as I landed on my hands and knees. A trashcan appeared below me and I happily emptied my stomach. I hacked and coughed several times before spitting out any leftover vomit.

“Not… cool,” I said between deep breaths, my eyes looking up at Celestia.

She held an apologetic face as she brought over a toothbrush, toothpaste, and some mouthwash. Glaring at her for a few seconds, I took the offered items and carefully made my way to the bathroom. I thoroughly cleaned out my mouth, using up half the mouthwash to make sure it didn’t reek of anything. I very much enjoyed kissing Fleetfoot and would like to do so more times without her trying to avoid me because of the smell.

Looking myself in the mirror, I gave a firm nod before returning back to Celestia. She was sitting on her plush sofa, a teacup wrapped in her magical aura as she glanced nervously over at me. I met her eyes and she quickly went back to staring forward. I walked towards her, heading for the plush chair in front of her before I felt something tug on my arm. I looked down to see a band of golden magic around my wrist.

Looking up, I see Celestia’s horn glowing as she continued to give me gentle tugs. Sighing internally, I followed her incessant tugging. I sat down on the soft sofa as she lowered the teacup back to the coffee table. As I sat down, I scanned my surroundings to notice that I wasn’t in Celestia’s personal chambers, but one of her spare rooms. As I looked around, noticing a few furnishings that at least made the room comfortable, I felt a weight on my legs.

I return my attention to the front to see Celestia laying down across my lap, her regalia removed from her body. Knowing what she wanted next, I raised a hand and started to pet along her lengthy neck. I scratched with my nails, a gentle sigh escaping her as she relaxed into my touch.

“I must apologize for the sudden teleportation, Mark,” Celestia said, peeking through her mane a little.

“Apology accepted,” I said calmly. “Any reason for the rushed arrival?” I asked, lifting my other hand and running it along her barrel.

“I was hoping we could have your appointment early this month since I would like to talk about a few things about your relationship,” Celestia said.

“What would that be, exactly?” I asked, ceasing my motions as I crossed my arms.

Celestia seemed to sense something as she bolted upright, waving her hooves in a placating fashion.

“I don’t mean it as something bad,” Celestia said reassuringly. “There’s just a few things I would like to mention that you never went over, and I don’t want you to be startled if you end up seeing any of what I’m about to mention,” she said with a sheepish smile.

I gestured for her to continue, and this seemed to help her calm down a little as she took a deep breath. Her horn glowed as she filled her teacup. She was about to fill a second one for me, but I waved her off for now. She nodded as she placed the teapot down and lifted the cup to her lips. She took a delicate sip of her drink before placing it back down onto the coffee table. Her attention returned to me as she seemed to be focusing on something. I raised a curious brow as she looked in my direction, but did not say anything.

I was ready to speak up when I noticed something about her chest. From what I’ve seen on the ponies their coats can be fluffy in certain areas or after a shower, but there seemed to be a concentrated area of fluff near Celestia’s chest. I watched with rapt attention as it slowly appeared, tempting me to rest my head on it so I could fall asleep. I was pulled from my musings when Celestia tapped my shoulder.

“What’s with the chest fluff?” I asked, pointing at the object of my curiosity.

“To the different races of my little ponies, it means many things,” Celestia explained.

I glanced up every few seconds to meet her eyes, but my attention remained solely focused on her chest. Unaware of my current actions, I reached out to touch the soft expanse of fur, only to have my hand pushed down by a golden clad hoof.

“Please, do not touch my fluff,” Celestia stated with a stern expression.

I looked into her magenta eyes that seemed to dare me to try and defy her. Not really able to help myself, I attempted to touch her chest fluff again, only for the same results. Many attempts were made to touch the forbidden fruit before me. Thankfully, she never really hit me, memories of how much those slippers hurt passing through my mind as she pushed my hand away. She seemed to have enough of my antics as she grabbed hold of both my hands in her golden aura and held them to my side.

With a derisive snort, she laid herself on my lap again, her hooves rubbing along her chest fluff before it disappeared from sight. My hands were freed from her magical confines and I set them back along her neck and barrel. A soft hum escaped her lips as her eyes closed in blissful contentment. I moved my hands along her soft fur, scratching at her skin underneath and earning a few giggles from her.

“Now as I was saying before you thought you could best me in a challenge,” Celestia stated with a small sigh. “Chest fluff between the different races of ponies has different meanings.

“First, pegasi actually have the most chest fluff, because of their ability to fly. They also require it in order to keep themselves warm and use as another sense for change in wind patterns. It doesn’t need to be apparent on their body for it to work. You would most likely see pegasi mares puff out their chest fluff when challenging another mare. It’s a show of power and who is the lead in the relationship.

“Unicorns have the second most chest fluff, mainly because of their connection with magic. Magic can be a fickle thing to control, so in times if they need it, it can be used to leak out excess magic. It can still be used as a show of power like the pegasi.

“Earth ponies have the least amount, mainly because their connection to magic is based around their hooves. If anything, their chest fluff is more of an insulator during the winter times and a way to cool off during summer. Once again, following the fact that it could be used as a show of power,” Celestia explained thoroughly, adjusting her position on my lap.

“So what was with you keeping me from touching your fluff?” I asked, petting along her neck.

“It… can be… a sensitive area… for some ponies,” Celestia admitted, her tail and wings twitching. “It’s also not meant to be touched unless done by close lovers. Although it does help foals sleep,” Celestia said, smiling as she breathed deeply.

“I take it you have some experience putting foals to sleep that way,” I said jokingly.

“Twilight was an excitable filly, and sometimes it helped her sleep when she was staying here at the castle.” Celestia gave a deep sigh as her mane fell limply over her face.

I stroked some of the ethereal mane away from one of her eyes as I continued to pet her. She felt entirely relaxed on my lap, her fur pleasant to the touch. I couldn’t help the grin that crossed my features at seeing her act like such a normal mare. I feel bad for her sometimes that she can’t let her mane down like many of her subjects that she watches over. Although, I could only assume that from her smile, she’s happy to see all her subjects happy.

“I take it Twilight wasn’t easy to handle in her earlier years?” I inquired.

“It was tough for her when she attended my school. I believe that I equated it to that of a private school from your world,” Celestia said thoughtfully.

“You did, but did she not see her family much or get visits from them while she was attending? She was the youngest at your school, so I thought she would have more interactions with family until she was ready to handle herself?” I asked, adjusting myself so I could lower myself into the couch a bit.

“Her family visited as much as they could, but she had at that point locked herself into her studies. The times I or even her family were able to pull away from her studies were the most important. During the times when she was left alone, I would comfort her the best I could so she could continue to succeed.

“Some nights I would find her crying, either from loneliness or having a terrible nightmare. So to help her relax, I would let her relax against my chest until she fell asleep,” Celestia explained, letting out a heavy breath.

“I still bet her mother and father were thankful that you watched over Twilight,” I said, giving her an encouraging scratch behind her ear.

“Twilight was very thankful that I could look after her filly as though she was one of my own,” Celestia said, laughing softly.

“So what else did you want to talk about?” I asked, getting her ear to flick in my direction.

“Yes, I wanted to give my congratulations on a successful date,” Celestia said. “I honestly didn’t think that Fleetfoot’s scent would be this fragrant,” she said as she gave a deep inhale.

“Arrhhgg.” I groaned as I rubbed at my eyes. “I’m honestly considering going home now and never leaving if I’m going to continually hear this,” I said exasperated.

“Maybe if you weren’t so easy to tease, then maybe not everypony would do this,” Celestia said, giggling as she stretched her legs out before curling them against herself.

“Thank you, though. I’m glad it went so well and I look forward to spending more time with her,” I said, taking a deep breath as a gentle smile came to my lips.

“I think she’ll find her experience with you quite enlightening. I for one found my time with the other humans that had appeared to be exhilarating,” Celestia said with a slight shiver.

“I take it that you had the other humans tend to you like I am now?” I asked jokingly, running my hand along her long neck.

“Many actually enjoyed my company and the conversations that we held, but two had been lucky enough to see more,” Celestia said, a sultry grin spread across her lips as she peered back to see my reaction.

“I… see,” I said, stuttering as I found it hard to continue moving.

“Yes. A man and woman to be exact, but not at the same time obviously. Experiencing different ways of pleasure from each was truly breathtaking. A lot more fantasies to try out during my time with the human female, but both hold a very special place in my heart,” Celestia said dreamily, leaning further back against me.

“They seemed… to have left… a lasting… impression,” I said nervously, slowly petting along her barrel again.

“They both did, much like my past lovers had as well. One of the pains of being immortal, I guess. I get to watch as my lovers grow old and try and assure me that everything is going to be fine. I have seen through that ruse as time went on, but to see them all comfort me when they’re lying on their deathbed, it hurts more than anything.

“Luna, Cadence, and even myself have felt this pain many times, but the memories and feelings that we’ve felt towards our past loves never leave us. Even though they are no longer here with us, we’re still connected in some way,” Celestia explained, her voice hitching a bit as a tear ran down her cheek.

I didn’t say anything, running a thumb along her cheek as she seemed lost in her old memories. Some people could say they at least partially understood where Celestia was coming from, but nowhere near to the full extent of her pain. I didn’t stop rubbing at her cheek as she nuzzled against my hand, a grateful smile gracing her features as I comforted her.

“So when I appeared here, what did you think of me?” I asked openly, smiling down at her.

“It was a surprise to actually see another human after such a long time. I had actually begun to think that nopony would ever see your kind again, and you would all just be names to a mythology book,” Celestia stated with a small laugh.

“I take it that even back then that most humans weren’t well liked?” I asked, tapping her on her side to get her to sit up.

She did as I silently asked, and once she was sitting up I reclined along the length of the couch. Celestia laid atop me, her mane covering half her face as I petted her along her neck. Given her size, she was a bit heavy, but not as much I had initially thought awhile back. She rested her head on my chest as a wing unfurled and covered us both. She was still awake despite her slow breathing and closed eyes, and I had my attention averted to the ceiling.

“They weren’t but that didn’t matter to me. I helped them through everything and made sure they were comfortable here. I regret never being able to succeed in getting them back home, but they were able to find a life that made them happy.” Celestia then opened one eye as she stared at me, a glint of determination apparent. “I promise to do everything I can with Luna, Cadence, and Twilight to get you back home,” she said with determination.

“Thanks, but neither of you should put that as your priority. Your people come first, and honestly, it will give me some time to enjoy my interactions with everyone,” I said, smiling as I ran a hand through her mane.

She stared at me intently with one eye, most likely judging what I just said. I didn’t let up my smile as I continued to pet her. Her stare lasted for a few moments longer before she let out a deep sigh. She pressed into my hand as I scratched behind her ear one final time. After the scratch, she moved closer to me and gave me a quick nuzzle before getting off of me. I lifted myself off the couch and stretched my tired bones as I got the blood flowing again.

“I do believe that I’ve used up enough of your time. We’ll talk again later and I hope you have a wonderful rest of the day,” Celestia said, smiling brightly as she made way for the door.

“No problem, Celestia. I enjoy our talks together and I like hearing the few things that humans have been able to do when they arrived here,” I said, following behind her. “Although, I could do less knowing about your more intimate details,” I grumbled under my breath.

Celestia opened the door with her magic, letting me exit first before closely following me out and closing the door behind her. I turned towards her and gave her a quick hug that she kindly returned before breaking apart. She turned in the opposite direction I was headed, more than likely to get herself cake before heading towards court. I wasn’t even three steps down the hallway before her voice caught my attention.

“Another piece of advice, Mark,” Celestia said over her shoulder.

“What’s that?” I asked as I turned to face her.

“If your relationship with Fleetfoot deepens, herd or not, she will have this small nesting habit that all pegasi share,” Celestia said.

“What do you mean ‘nesting habit’?” I asked with a raised brow.

“It’s a way for pegasi to make a comfortable home that they know they can always return to. It varies between each pegasus on how they will nest, but it’s not too hard to tell most of the time,” Celestia explained before trotting down the hallway, humming a tune to herself.

I stood in the hallway, staring in the general direction of where she went before shaking my head. I wasn’t certain what I was going to use with that information, but it was interesting to know. Shrugging my shoulders, I headed back down the hallway for my office. As I walked, I could hear a few drill instructors directing the new recruits to their positions and training them. A few acknowledged my presence, and thankfully their instructors didn’t hound them for waving to me.

It wasn’t long before I was out of earshot of the drill instructors that I was left alone in silence. Taking this time to myself, I started humming an old song from my childhood. I let my thoughts wander as I hummed, thinking about who I was before coming to Equestria to my current situation. There were some things I wished I could have gone back and changed, but at the same time it just seemed weird to not have this happen to me. I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn’t pay attention where I was going until I ran into my least favorite person here.

“Watch where you’re going, you hairless ape!” Blueblood said angrily.

I straightened out my pants as I stared down at Blueblood. He had a white coat with a blonde mane and tail. His eyes were a sky blue and his cutie mark was a golden four pointed star laying over a four pointed purple star. To me it resembled something similar of how a compass would look. Like most of the ponies in Canterlot, he was a unicorn, but apparently he was also the nephew of Celestia and Luna.

“I could say the same thing to you,” I shot back.

Blueblood glared up at me before taking a calming breath. He went about straightening his coat, mane, and tail before looking back at me. Most of my encounters with Blueblood, which have been very few, were never pleasant. More times than not he held a look of disgust whenever he saw me, but I was surprised to see what I could only assume was a wan smile on his face.

“Do you have a moment, Mark?” Blueblood asked, trying his hardest to seem caring.

“I… guess I can spare you some time,” I answered with a raised brow.

“I promise this won’t take long,” Blueblood said, taking another breath before lifting a hoof at me. “I know you and I don’t see eye to eye with each other, but I would like you to know that despite this, I’m glad that you’re finding some happiness here,” he stated, his hoof still held out.

“Thanks…” I took his hoof in my hand and gave it a firm shake before we quickly broke it off. “What brought this on? You usually prefer trying to get a rise out of me.” I asked as I stared down at him.

“This is true, and as much as I still expect an apology from when you hit me,” Blueblood started saying before I cut him off.

“I’m not apologizing for what I did,” I stated firmly.

“Which is what I still expect from you,” Blueblood said as he gave a deep sigh. “Even then, you are a citizen of Equestria and it’s still at least somewhat of my duty to make sure that you’re doing well. I sincerely with the best for you and your marefriend in the future,” he said with a single nod.

“Well… thanks for that, Blueblood. That really means a lot coming from you,” I sincerely said as I smiled at him.

“Trust me, Mark, I want the best for you despite our differences. So if you ever need anything, don’t hesitate to ask for my assistance. I have a lot of pull around Canterlot,” Blueblood said with a smug grin.

“I’ll keep that in mind,” I said, giving him and affirming nod. “Well, I better let you go and do your thing so I can get to my office,” I said as I waved goodbye.

I got a limp wave in return, but that was expected as much from him. That he actually came to me with an actual congratulations and an offer of assistance was mind blowing. He was right, though. Despite our negative feelings towards each other, there was at least some respect. Chuckling to myself, I continued on towards my office, glad that some things could at least change for the better.

Introductions

Fleeting Flames
By: Duelist96
Chapter 1: Introductions

My friends used to tell me that I should always be prepared for the unexpected. To me, it was pretty vague advice, but now, I kind of wished that I was more prepared. I’m not entirely sure what led to my current situation, but I can garner a few guesses. My name is Mark, and I’m in a hospital. Being in the hospital wouldn’t seem like such a bad thing, unless you were there for a serious surgery, or from having an accident. The thing that makes it bad is that I’m in a hospital on an entirely different planet.

I can only blame my friends for somehow getting me sent to this world. I’ve been here for at least seven months now, and I’ve grown used to speaking with the ponies of this world. Oh, did I not mention they were ponies? Either way, that’s not even the weird part. The weird part is that all the ponies here can talk like a regular human. They even come in a wide variety of colors that you would find in a crayon box. Besides the fact that they talk, and are brightly colored, they also have a few ponies that were just myths from fantasy novels back home. Earth ponies exist, but there also happens to be unicorns and even pegasi.

I didn’t get to meet these other pony types, until after I met Twilight Sparkle. She’s actually a very kind and caring mare that helped me when I arrived here. Twilight is an alicorn, and from what she taught me, they are a combination of all three races. She also happens to be a princess. When she told me that, I started to freak out. I arrived here, and I did the one thing anyone in my situation would. I punched the nearest creature that looked threatening, and cowered in a corner. The icing to that cake, though, was that I ended up punching the lavender princess herself.

I apologized for a week after learning about her title, even after she told me that everything was fine. She understood that I was probably having a mini freak-out, and that my reaction was understandable. I didn’t feel fine with getting away with punching her in the snout, and said that she was offered one free hit on me. Twilight didn’t take me up on that offer, but one of her other friends did. I really wasn’t expecting that punch, and I don’t really think there was a way I could have defended myself from it even if I saw it coming. The only thing I knew at the time was that I was walking next to Twilight, then I’m on the floor, clutching my left cheek in pain.

Shaking my head from all the stars, I looked up from the floor at a cyan mare with a rainbow mane and tail. Her magenta eyes stared down at me, as I took a quick peek to see her wings tucked against her side. I was pulled from my slight staring as a purple aura surrounded my body. I was placed back on my feet as Twilight cleaned some of the dust off my pants. While she did this, she turned to the other pony with a slight frown.

“Rainbow Dash, why did you hit Mark?”

“I heard that he was offering a free hit against him after hitting you, and you’re too nice to take him up on that offer. So I did it for you. Now you’re both even,” Rainbow said as she gave a warm smile.

Twilight turned around as she looked up at me with slight sadness. “I’m very sorry about that, Mark.”

“It’s fine, Twilight.” I assured her. “Rainbow is right, though. Granted, I wanted you to be the one to hit me, but I guess everything is even.”

Rainbow gave a quick nod before unfurling her wings, and lifting into the air. “Now let’s get going. The others are waiting for us in the throne room.”

Rainbow was soon long gone after that, and we both sighed as we walked towards the throne room. Twilight was a little upset with the way her friend acted, but I really found it hard to be mad at her. I met all the alicorn’s friends a few days after my appearance, and it went by pretty well. There were only two that were hard to get along with in the beginning, and they were a pink earth pony named Pinkie Pie, and a butterscotch pegasus named Fluttershy. Pinkie nearly gave me a heart attack when she appeared in front of me during our introduction, and speaking faster than most people could probably comprehend.

Fluttershy was extremely shy, as her named pretty much suggested, but after a few small conversations, she seemed to be a little more outspoken. Applejack is an orange earth mare that runs an apple farm down in Ponyville. Rarity is a white unicorn mare who does pretty well in terms of fashion. Granted, I don’t see many ponies wearing clothing, unless you’re in Canterlot, but Rarity was generous enough to make me a few articles of clothing. Rainbow Dash was pretty headstrong and stubborn, but she was a great friend to have.

Twilight and I walked in silence to the throne room. It was only my first two months of staying in Equestria, and Princess Celestia and Princess Luna asked to meet me. I wasn’t really sure what they wanted with me, but I could hazard a guess that they just wanted to meet the new alien creature. I personally didn’t give myself that title, but after arriving in Canterlot, a few ponies thought it was appropriate to call me that. I pushed aside their rude remarks, wanting to see what the princesses wanted. I also didn’t want to make a scene with hitting one of these stuck up snobs before meeting the two other alicorns.

Twilight had shared a bit of information on the alicorn sisters, and I was a little amazed at what they could do. Celestia, an alabaster white alicorn, could raise the sun. Luna, a midnight blue alicorn, could raise the moon. I was skeptical at first, but they were understanding of it. They promised to show me that they were capable of doing such a feat, and when night came, I really wanted to just go back to bed and hope this was all a bad dream. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve enjoyed my time here, but once you see that the moon and sun don’t orbit freely, you come to a few realizations.

I didn’t even know that I spaced off after seeing the sun set, and the moon rise, but a prodding hoof from Twilight pulled me back down. The small lavender mare giggled at my reaction and I couldn’t help but laugh as well. The princesses and I went back into the throne room, and conversed for probably about ten minutes. I learned from them that I wasn’t the first human to arrive, but I probably wouldn’t be the last. Most of their questions were centered around myself, and what I did. They wanted to make sure I was like the last few humans that have entered their world, and they seemed pleased that I was similar.

They offered me a place to stay at the castle until they could get someone to house me. Life at the castle wasn’t too boring, as I kept myself entertained with various activities. Through my stay at the castle, I learned about a fourth alicorn named Cadence. Her full name was Mi Amore Cadenza, and I really wanted to laugh because of how that translated, but a glare from her husband kept me from letting as much as a chuckle out. Her husband happened to be Twilight’s older brother, Shining Armor. He was the Captain of the Royal Guard, along with being prince of the Crystal Kingdom. Shining wasn’t that bad to get along with, and we actually became easy friends.

I later learned of Prince Blueblood, and I really wish that I never met that stallion. I know I mentioned that most of the ponies in Canterlot are really uptight, but after meeting Blueblood, he was the king of all assholes. It was actually through an incident with the pompous prince that I was given a further questioning by the princesses.

“So, Mark, you’ve already told us your name, place of origin, and what you eat.” Celestia said as she started flipping through her notes. “What kind of occupation did you have before arriving here?”

“My current occupation was a student,” I answered.

“What were you studying?” Luna asked with a warm smile.

“Well, I only turned twenty-one a few months back, and I was just kind of testing out what I can do.” I explained as I scratched my chin in thought.

“Anything that you were particularly fond of? It might help to find you a place to stay,” Celestia asked, genuinely intrigued

“I minored in photography, stunt coordination, and botany,” I answered.

Celestia and Luna nodded as they wrote down what I told them. A few seconds of silence lingered between us before the princesses dismissed me. I was confused as to why they were letting me go. I mean, I did punch their nephew in the face, but in my defense, he deserved it. The two sisters looked at each other, before bursting out in complete laughter. They explained that I was in the right, and that they would deal with the arrogant prince later. I gave a simple shrug to their response, and left them to their work. As I was now on my seventh month of staying here, I was interrupted from my peaceful sleep. I could hear a sharp rapping at the door across from me, and I knew it wouldn’t stop until I answered.

“It’s open!” I yelled out.

The sound of hooves lightly clopping on the tile floor could be heard before Twilight’s voice spoke out, blocking out any other noise. “Good morning, Mark. I bring great news.” Twilight was smiling brightly as I rubbed away the last of the sleep from my eyes.

“What makes this news so great?” I asked groggily, trying to sit up.

“We found somepony that will take you in,” Twilight said, her smile never wavering.

“Who are the brave ponies that want to take in, the freakishly tall alien?” I joked.

Twilight could only roll her eyes at my bad joke as she ushered me out of bed. “Spitfire and Fleetfoot came forward, offering to look after you.”

I nodded my head as I started getting dressed. The names sounded awfully familiar, but I wasn’t entirely sure why they were. I just gave a big yawn as I finished getting dressed. While I stumbled through the room in my half dazed sleep, Twilight went about packing my belongings. Once everything of mine was packed away, the lavender alicorn poofed my bag away. I was finished dressing, but I was still moving at a snail’s pace. Twilight only shook her head as she started pushing against the back of my legs, making me move towards the door.

“Let’s get going. I want to introduce you to the two ponies that are watching over you before they fly off for practice.”

I was soon packed away in the carriage and heading off to the middle area of Canterlot. It was weird to see such a prosperous city be divided into three sections. It was similar in the way Earth had lower, middle, and high class people. Even in the low class, though, it was still a nice place to be as the ponies over there were friendlier than the high class. I saw that the carriage was going at a steady pace, and decided to pass some time by conversing with Twilight about who I would be staying with.

“So, what can you tell me about these two ponies I’m going to be staying with? I heard you say something about them flying off to work, so I can safely assume that they’re pegasi, right?” I asked, easily getting the alicorn’s attention.

“You are correct, they are both pegasi. They’re both part of the aerobatics team that Rainbow has told you so much about,” Twilight said, giving a small giggle.

“It still amazes me on how much she knows about the Wonderbolts, and she isn’t even a part of them,” I replied.

“Well, I believe that she’ll make it one day, and then she can really talk your ear off,” Twilight joked.

“Like it wasn’t bad enough getting my ears talked off during your lectures, but if she joins, I’ll probably have to buy earplugs,” I joked back. Twilight gave a little shove for my ‘lecture’ statement, but she couldn’t help but laugh.

“Anyway, Spitfire is the Captain of the Wonderbolts, while Fleetfoot is her wingpony,” Twilight explained.

The names were starting to sound familiar, but I still couldn’t place a face with the name. “What do they look like?”

“Spitfire has a fiery red and orange mane and tail, with her coat being a golden color, and her eyes are a bright orange. Fleetfoot has a white mane and tail, with her coat being an arctic blue, and light purple eyes,” Twilight said as she tried to recall everything she could about the pegasi.

Things were now starting to get a little weird for me. The way Twilight described Spitfire seemed awfully familiar, while Fleetfoot seemed to be a new pony for me to meet. I could already feel a headache starting to form as I tried to figure out who these mares were exactly, but it seems I would get to find out soon. We were flying for several minutes before finally landing on the cobblestone path. Once we stopped, I noticed we were outside of a house, I opened the door and let Twilight out first. I exited right behind her, stretching my back from being hunched over for so long. Equestria wasn’t bad, but everything was made if you were the size of a pony.

I took in the features of the house while Twilight walked up the stone path. It wasn’t anything extravagant, but it did stand out somewhat in the middle district. There were a few open windows, and a few clouds lingered near the house. I assumed it was to add some kind of comfort for the pegasus mares that lived there. The house itself was a dark shade of blue, and appeared to be at least two stories tall. I gave a few final stretches, a few bones popping loudly as I groaned in delight, before I walked up to the house. Twilight was already knocking on the door as I looked at the few flower beds that were placed along with windows and base of the house.

Twilight waited patiently in front of the door, smiling in excitement. I stood next to the happy alicorn, listening to a set of hooves running around the house. Whoever was in there clearly heard the knocking, and we waited patiently for the door to open. Seeing I had a few seconds to pass the time, I went back to figuring out how I might know these mares. The only thing that really came to me though was that they were both part of the Wonderbolts, and that the Captain’s discerning features were familiar. I was pulled from my thoughts when the door opened, and I saw, who I assumed, was Fleetfoot.

“Good afternoon, Fleetfoot,” Twilight greeted warmly.

“Good afternoon to you as well, Princess Twilight Sparkle,” Fleetfoot greeted, giving a small bow.

“Please don’t do that, Fleetfoot. You know I don’t like other ponies bowing before me,” Twilight said as she rubbed the back of her head, blushing a little in embarrassment.

Fleetfoot glanced up at Twilight before bringing her head up. She was silent for a few seconds before giving a warm smile. “Very well, Twilight.”

The pegasus’ attention then went towards me, her eyes giving me a critical look. Her eyes wandered up and down my body a few times before her gaze finally softened. She gave a small smile as she greeted me.

“Hello. You must be Mark,” Fleetfoot said as she extended a hoof.

I looked at the hoof for a few seconds before reaching out for it. I grasped around her hoof and shook it, smiling back at her while doing so.

“You are correct,” I said as I let go of her hoof.

Fleetfoot stepped aside, allowing me to enter her house. I gave her a smile as I walked through the door. The inside of the house was pretty dull compared to a few others I’ve seen. I wasn’t surprised by the lack of furniture, since I knew that the Wonderbolts did travel a lot for their performances. The few things that were noticeable at least made the home a little more comfortable. There was a coffee table in the middle of the living room with a couch and two chairs surrounding it. The kitchen had a refrigerator and a table with four chairs. Fleetfoot was talking with Twilight about something, and I continued to scan around the lower level of the house.

I found the stairs that led to the second floor but didn’t go up until Fleetfoot was ready to show me more around the house. There were a few magazines laying on the table, and a few Daring Do books as well. I looked through the magazine pile to find one fashion magazine, and a couple of exercise and food magazines. I stopped my search around the house and started heading back to Fleetfoot. I was stopped when I heard another mare’s voice call out from upstairs.

“Hey, Fleet. Who’s at the door?” The voice was a little gruff sounding, but I could make it out to be female.

“Princess Twilight and our new roommate,” Fleetfoot called back up the stairs.

“Sweet, I’ll be down in a few seconds,” the gruff mare said.

Fleetfoot shook her head a little as she trotted up next to me. She gave a nervous smile as we waited for the other pony to come down. I could hear clopping of hooves upstairs, signaling that the mare was probably heading down. I rocked a little back and forth, letting my mind wander to thoughts about random things. The sound of clopping hooves grew louder as the mare finally neared the top of the stairs. I looked up, and my eyes widened as big as dinner plates at who else was living here. Everything came rushing back from before, and I remembered where I knew the mare from.

The mare had the same surprised look as I had. Her surprise, though, soon turned into a sharp scowl as her wings flared to her side. I knew exactly what she was angry about, but it was not my fault in the slightest. During my first month at the castle, I was hanging with Twilight and her dragon assistant, Spike. I left to find something to eat, and ended up getting lost. I walked around the castle for a couple hours, trying to find my way back to the lavender alicorn. I decided to take a gamble with one of the many doors, and I really wish I hadn’t.

I ended up walking into a small shower room, and there also happened to be one occupant in the room besides myself. I saw the golden mare, and when her orange eyes met my green eyes, I heard her give a low growl. I didn’t even wait around to see what she was going to do, and ran out of the room. I really didn’t care where I was going at the time, as long as I got as far away from the mare as I could. I was pulled from my thoughts when Spitfire shouted at me, her hoof pointing menacingly at me.

“You!”

Spitfire soon launched from the top step, flying straight towards me. I felt the mare collide with my body, sending me sliding across the floor. During my slide, my head slammed against the wall, and I was out cold.

“… and that’s why I’m in this hospital,” I said, taking a drink from a glass of water. There was a white mare with a red mane and nurse cap on her head looking at me with disinterest.

“That’s a riveting tale, Mark, but I asked how you were feeling and if you needed anything,” Redheart said with a small scowl.

“Oh, uh… I’m feeling fine, and I was just wondering if maybe you can keep her a few more feet away from me,” I answered, gesturing to Spitfire who was standing behind the door.

“You should really count yourself lucky. The last stallion that ended up walking in on Spitfire in the shower room had a few broken bones. You got away with a few minor cuts,” Redheart said happily as she signed off on a few papers.

“So, am I free to go, or do I need to stay here a little while longer?” I asked, noticing Spitfire pacing in front of the door.

“Everything seems to be in order. I’ll just need you to sign these papers, and you’re free to go,” Redheart smiled as she handed me the documents.

“Can I possibly get an escort back to the house?” I asked, a little frightened, looking to the side to make sure that Spitfire was still near the door.

“You don’t need an escort. If Spitfire wanted to cause you any real harm, then she would have done so now, or even before,” Redheart said, trying to be reassuring.

“Maybe the reason why she didn’t keep wailing on me was because I was unconscious. Let’s also add the fact that Twilight was kind enough to pull her off of me,” I said, gesturing to the alicorn sitting in a nearby chair.

Redheart frowned as she handed me a pen. “Stop being overdramatic and just sign the papers.”

I grumbled under my breath as I put my signature on the papers. Redheart took the signed paper, and trotted out of the room. I sighed heavily as I got out of the bed and grabbed a few of my items that Twilight brought. Fleetfoot waved at me, acting like nothing happened at all. Spitfire was making threatening gestures with her hooves, I didn’t need a pony to tell me that she was threatening to beat my ass into the ground again. What really surprised me was that none of the other ponies noticed her doing this. I took a few steps back towards Twilight, hoping to at least live a few minutes longer before the alicorn had to leave.

“Well, let’s head back to your house,” Twilight said cheerily.

Twilight hopped out of her chair as I followed right behind her. Spitfire seemed very aware of my plan, and she seemed ready to play this game. I was glad that I didn’t really have anything to give away in case of my death, but I was hoping to live a few years longer. I followed behind Twilight, Fleetfoot standing next to her, and Spitfire right behind me. I swear I could feel her eyes burn a hole in my back as we exited the hospital. Fleetfoot and Twilight were busy talking again, and I kept quiet, hoping to keep from angering the mare behind me.

Twilight glanced over her shoulder, speaking to me to break the small tension that was starting to form. “I guess introductions are finished. When we get back to the house, I’ll leave everything up to you, Mark.”

“Can you maybe stay for a bit longer?” I asked, my eyes pleading with the lavender mare to stay.

“You should really take Redheart’s advice and stop being overdramatic. I’ve seen Spitfire get in a few fights, and that you’re out of the hospital the same day you get put in shows that you’ll be fine,” Twilight said reassuringly.

“Maybe that’s because she wants a round two,” I said as I gestured to the mare behind me. I quickly regretted that when Spitfire spoke up.

“I’m ready whenever you are,” Spitfire said as she trotted closer to me.

“That wasn’t even my fault. I was just trying to get back to Twilight, and I just made a bad choice in what door to open,” I defended.

“That’s what they all say,” Spitfire shot back as she glared at me.

I decided to just drop the argument there. I hoped that if I gave the mare some space, then she might lighten up on me. After several minutes of walking, and a few glares pointed towards me, we finally made it back to the house. Spitfire went inside the house, and I assumed it was probably to head to her own room. Fleetfoot gave a nervous smile as she walked inside the house. I looked at Twilight, who was smiling brightly at me.

“Well, this is where I take my leave. Everything you had should already be in your room, and if you ever need anything, don’t hesitate to come by the castle,” Twilight said, her wings unfurling as she prepared for flight. “Please take care of yourself, and I’ll see you later.” Twilight took to the air, and flew towards the castle.

I watched as the lavender mare flew away, waving slowly as I prepared a mental will. I took a deep breath as I turned towards the open door, and walked inside. Once I was inside the house, I gently closed the door, trying anything to keep the fiery mare from being any more irritated. Fleetfoot trotted next to me, and gestured towards the couch.

“Please, have a seat, and we can talk about the ground rules,” Fleetfoot said as she gave a small smile.

I gave a slight nod as I walked towards the black couch. I took a seat in the middle, and the pegasus sat right next to me. I looked at her with a raised brow, before remembering that ponies had a different definition on personal space. I didn’t say anything so we could get through this discussion faster, and so I could head to bed quicker.

“The only thing that we really ask of you is that you at least help around the house. Make sure the house stays clean, cook every once in a while, and stay out of Spitfire’s room,” Fleetfoot said.

I looked at the pegasus with a raised brow as I asked a question that I knew I really didn’t want an answer to. “Why do I need to stay out of Spitfire’s room?”

Fleetfoot seemed to have lost her smile now as she looked up at the stairs, then back at me. I heard her give a heavy sigh as she spoke. “A few ponies here like to spread gossip, and one of the latest ones is that Spits and I are a couple.”

“So, you’re just best friends that room together?” I asked, leaning against the couch’s back.

“Pretty much.” Fleetfoot answered as she continued on with her explanation. “Once that gossip started getting around, the media became a big problem for us. I may sleep in the same bed with her, but we’ve known each other since our flight school days. Now, if anypony besides myself and a few of her friends enter her room, she believes that they are trying to find a way to enhance that bit of gossip.” Fleetfoot gave a small scowl as I nodded my head.

I was no stranger of how bad gossip could get, especially when it gets blown out of proportion to what is really going on. I never really planned on going into Spitfire’s room, but after hearing that, I made sure not to break that rule. Now that I actually thought about it, if the rumor was as bad as I assumed it was, it might slightly explain the golden mare’s behavior. I was pulled from my thoughts when I felt a hoof poking against my side. Fleetfoot was looking up at me with a neutral expression, trying to gauge my thoughts. I shook my head to clear it of my running thoughts before hearing the mare speak again.

“Do you think you can follow these rules?”

I nodded my head as I smiled at the pegasus. “Yeah, I can follow those.” The mare gave a quick nod before jumping off the couch. I watched as she started for the stairs, but stopped her before she stepped on the first one. “Hey, want me to make breakfast tomorrow?”

“Nah, I usually handle breakfast. Spits and I are early risers, and the princesses’ notes explained that you liked to sleep in a lot,” Fleetfoot said as she gave a light hearted chuckle.

“That’s only because I had nothing to do at the castle. Now that I’m living with two other people, I need to pull my share around here,” I said.

“Maybe next time. You can cook lunch for now, and after a couple of weeks, I’ll let you cook breakfast,” Fleetfoot said, still chuckling warmly as she ascended the stairs.

I remained seated on the couch, looking out the nearby window and up at the moon. My first day with a new pair of ponies, and I’m already starting on thin ice. It might take a bit of time before Spitfire calms down, plus there was something about Fleetfoot that I couldn’t place. The mare seemed interested in talking with me, but I had a feeling that it was more about appearances than anything. It seemed like she had a feeling of indifference towards me, but I couldn’t really say for sure. Letting out a deep sigh, I got from the couch and decided to get ready for bed.

I made a quick stop by the kitchen and grabbed an apple from the fruit basket. As I walked up the stairs, I looked at the few doors that were on the second floor. Most of the doors were closed, except for the bathroom, and another that I assumed to be my room. I walked towards the bedroom and saw my bag laying on top of my bed. A dresser was next to the bed, and a small nightstand was on the other side. It still wasn’t much from what I was used to at the castle, but it was enough. I continued to munch on my apple as I grabbed my sleeping clothes and threw them on the bed. I grabbed the bag, and started sorting through my clothes as I put them in the dresser. Once my clothes were sorted, I placed the bag on top of the dresser and grabbed my sleeping clothes.

I exited my room and headed for the shower. I stood next to the doorframe of the shower room, and gave a little knock. I did not want to repeat the incident with Spitfire, and I didn’t need another trip to the hospital. After waiting for a few seconds for a response, I was met with nothing. I let out a sigh of relief as I walked into the bathroom. There was a simple granite sink to my right, a toilet next to it, and a shower. I closed the door behind me as I started to take off my clothes. The shower was pretty basic like the rest of the house, but it was nice to see it could also be a bath if one wanted to have one.

I turned on the hot water, as I took care of business at the toilet. Once I was finished, I entered the shower, and started cleaning myself off. During my shower, I realized I forgot to grab my shampoo and body wash. I gave a low grumble at my forgetfulness as I started looking around the shower. I saw a few bottles of shampoo and body wash, but I assumed they belonged to the mares. Not really wanting to go to bed still smelling like a hospital, I grabbed a bottle of shampoo and body wash. I was living here, and if either of them were going to complain about me using their stuff, then I would offer to go out and buy them some more.

I lathered the soap on my body, and let it wash away under the warm water. Once I was finished cleaning, I turned the water off and stepped out. I grabbed one of the many towels that were hanging in the bathroom and started drying myself off. Once I was dry, I got dressed for the night and exited the bathroom. I saw Spitfire’s door slightly cracked open, but didn’t stop to check inside. I entered my own room, closing the door until there was a little crack between the door and doorframe, before throwing my dirty clothes into a corner. I crawled under the covers of my bed and started to feel my eyelids close. As I prepared for a peaceful slumber, I had a strange feeling that my morning was going to be a little hectic.

Flying Pranks

Fleeting Flames
By: Duelist96
Chapter 7: Flying Pranks

Morning came by again, and it was relatively peaceful. I got showered and dressed for the day as I went to check in on Spitfire and Fleetfoot. Their door was still closed, so I assumed they were still asleep. I headed for the kitchen, wanting to give a few more minutes to the sleeping mares. Heading down the stairs, I made sure that my footsteps were quiet to avoid waking them. I reached the kitchen after my slow descent and got started on cooking. I made sure to grab two bottles from their cupboards and filled them with water.

The mares were going to need the extra water to help with their hangovers. I looked through their pantry to see the small amount of food they had. Looking over the small selection, I was glad they had enough of what I was looking for to make them a decent breakfast. I grabbed the pancake batter, blueberries, strawberries, and chocolate chips before heading over to the stove. I was glad that Chris was able to teach me how to cook. I still couldn’t make anything big or extravagant like he probably could, but I learned enough to stop living off of that fast food crap.

One nice breakfast food that I learned to cook was muffins and I thought the mares would like to try some. I smiled as I started humming to myself. It wasn’t any particular song that anyone would know, since it was just me making my own melody. As I hummed and moved around the kitchen, making sure not to create a big mess, I let my mind wander to a particular cooking flop. I was learning how to cook a whole chicken and about halfway through cooking it, the entire oven caught fire.

At first we thought it was just a fluke and tried it again. The same results happened, but I believed that the third time was the charm. Chris kept me away from any chicken cooking after that attempt. The most fun part was explaining to the fire department how I could set an oven on fire every time. I honestly didn’t know what happened, but after that, I decided to stick to more simple stuff. Coming out of my thoughts, I heard the tell-tale sound of hooves clopping against the stairs. It took the mares a while to get to the kitchen, since they stopped every few steps, probably rubbing their heads from the loud noise.

I didn’t turn around, keeping my eyes on the batter that I was mixing instead. I heard the mares pull the chairs away from the table, a couple of groans escaping them as the chairs scratched the floor. I put the bowl down and grabbed the bottles. I placed a bottle in front of each mare and they gave a lazy wave of thanks as they placed their heads on the table. I moved back to the bowl and gave a few more stirs before grabbing for a muffin tray. I really wished that Twilight took up my idea of a muffin button, but she thought it was silly to have such a thing.

Once I put the muffin tray in the oven, I set the timer for twenty minutes and joined the mares at the table. Spitfire and Fleetfoot lazily drank from their bottles, rubbing their temples to stave off the headache. Silence settled between us, but thankfully it wasn’t uncomfortable. This silence was welcomed as it gave peace to the two mares and allowed me to think how I was going to use the bubble wrap to prank Luna. I had a few ideas, but I probably wouldn’t decide on one until I got to the castle.

Spitfire seemed to have slightly recover from her throbbing pain as her whispered voice pulled me out of my thoughts. “Mark, how did we end up in our room?”

I could have lied to her about how she got there, but I didn’t really see any point in trying. “After the two of you passed out while I was carrying you, I put you in your bedroom.”

Fleetfoot stopped mid-drink as she looked at me with wide eyes, while Spitfire’s gaze became angry. Spitfire was about to open her mouth and say something before being quickly cut off by Fleetfoot. “You didn’t see anything in there, did you?”

Now this was a question that I was willing to lie about. Granted, I would deserve a buck or two for snooping a little, and I already felt bad enough about it. “Nope. I entered Spitfire’s room, placed the two of you on the bed, and then covered you with a blanket before leaving your room and going to sleep in my own room.”

Fleetfoot nodded her head as her eyes showed a little relief. Spitfire on the other hand didn’t seem happy about it, still. “Why didn’t you just put us in your room?”

I raised my brow a little at her question, unsure if she realized how exactly that question could have actually been taken. I was about to answer her, when the timer went off. I cursed under my breath as I ran for the timer, muttering curses about not paying attention to the time to avoid this situation. Both mares let out loud groans as I fought with the timer to shut it off. After several agonizing seconds, I got the timer to stop ringing and pulled out the muffins. I took a deep breath as I looked back at the mares, who were currently holding their ears down with their hooves.

Letting out a slight cough, I grabbed a large plate and placed the muffins on it. Giving the muffins a couple of minutes to cool down, I cleaned up the dirty dishes. Once I had the dishes cleaned, I took the plate to the dining table and placed it in the middle. I apologized to the two mares as they lifted their heads from the table, rubbing their heads to fight off a strong headache. The mares each took a muffin after rubbing their heads for a few seconds. They each gave their muffin a cursory look before turning towards me.

“They have blueberries, strawberries, and chocolate chips mixed together,” I said as I reached for one myself.

The mares looked at their muffins a few seconds longer before each taking a bite. Their chewing was slow as they made sure it was filled with what I described. I smiled as their eyes widened before scarfing down the rest of their muffins. I enjoyed my own muffin as the two mares switched between eating a muffin and drinking their water. It still couldn’t cure them of their hangover, but it would be enough that they could probably get through the rest of the day without having too much discomfort.

As I ate my muffin, Spitfire spoke up between her bites. “You still didn’t answer my question.”

Spitfire looked at me, chewing at her muffin again as I finished off my second muffin. “I didn’t put you in my room because I thought it would be better if I put both of you in yours and you didn’t think I did something to either of you during the night.”

Spitfire looked at me with a raised brow before giving a small smile and nodding her head. My answer seemed to satisfy her as she didn’t question me about my actions any further. The three of us said nothing as we polished off the plate. Both mares were a little more lively than they were when they arrived, but the evidence of their headaches was still slightly present. Fleetfoot took the plate to the sink and started cleaning it as Spitfire grabbed their saddle bags. While Spitfire grabbed their bags, I headed upstairs and grabbed the bubble wrap. I walked down the stairs to see the mares grabbing their flight suits.

I’m not sure what really caused me to do this, maybe it was because of the pictures, but I grabbed the flight suits and pulled them away from the mares. “Not happening.”

Spitfire and Fleetfoot gave me small glares as the former trotted up to me. “We have practice to attend, and we need to wear those. Now hand them back to us.” Spitfire continued to speak in a whisper, but the authority in her voice still maintained as she held out a hoof.

I shook my head, holding my ground as I hung the suits on the back of the couch. “I’m not going to let two pegasi fly around as they suffer through splitting headaches. I don’t care if you’ve done this before, I’m not allowing it.” I made sure that my voice was kept at a whisper while being slightly rough to show my stance.

Spitfire didn’t seem to like this as she trotted up to me and poked my leg with her hoof. “Who do you think you are telling us what we can and can’t do?”

“Someone who isn’t going to let a friend hurt themselves because they can’t take it easy. I may be an assistant for the two of you, but if I have to, I’ll get one of the princesses to back me up on this.” I glared at Spitfire, demanding that she try to push back.

Spitfire and I glared at each for a few seconds, neither one of us backing down. I was still really unsure where this slightly protective side of me was coming from, but right now it didn’t matter. Fleetfoot trotted up as Spitfire and I continued to stare at each other and placed a hoof on her friend’s shoulder. Spitfire’s head shot around to look at Fleetfoot, her glare lasting for a few seconds before diminishing to one of understanding. Fleetfoot gestured for her friend to the door and she complied. When Spitfire passed Fleetfoot, the latter looked back at me and mouthed the words ‘thank you’.

My glare softened and was replaced with confusion at what Fleetfoot said. Shaking my head, I grabbed the bag of bubble wrap that I had dropped and followed the mares outside. The two mares didn’t hover, but stood to either side of me as we walked towards the castle. I noticed the two mares keeping their gazes towards the ground, trying to avoid any strong light from hitting them. We walked at a faster pace so they could get inside the castle. We arrived at the castle and the guards allowed us to pass. Once inside, Spitfire and Fleetfoot headed for their office while I left to find Luna’s room.

As I walked through the halls, I greeted a few maids and guards that I passed. A couple of them gave me a curious look from the bag I was holding. Some maids and guards knew about the few pranks that Luna and I pulled on each other, and thanks to Pinkie, I had learned to do some of them better. I knew my way to Luna’s bed chambers since I had some conversations with her there. Those visits really caused some scandals as the press went around saying that I was having ‘nightly adventures’ with the princess.

The thought of those lies made me feel slightly sick, but thanks to Celestia, it was handled before it got out of hand. Still, though, many ponies in Canterlot don’t like taking the sticks out of their butts and continue to spread some of those rumors about Luna and me. Before my thoughts were able to go any further into my fourth outburst, I reached Luna’s bed chambers. Echo and Moon were standing guard outside her door and waved as I approached them. The two thestrals left their positions and trotted up to me.

As the two mares neared me, Echo took quick notice of my bag before giving a sly grin. “Seems like somepony has something planned for Luna.”

I couldn’t help but smile at her as I spoke. “Indeed I do, Echo. Is Luna in her bed right now?”

Moon grinned cheekily as she gestured for me to follow her. “She’s sleeping right now. Had a long night at court and needs her rest.” We stopped in front of the door as the two mares opened them enough to allow me in. “Please try to not make such a big mess.”

I nodded to Moon as she and Echo closed the doors behind me. Once the doors were closed, I looked around to see that everything was the same like before. At least, I assumed everything was the same since it was incredibly dark in her bed chambers. I found the door to her luxurious bathroom that had a bath about half the size of a swimming pool. Her bed was big enough to fit ten ponies on it, more if they were closer, and had a starry see-through curtain closed around it.

She had soft black carpeting on the ground and to the sides of her bed were two nightstands. I continued to look around the room before finally making out Luna’s form in the bed. Setting the bag down, I grabbed the first roll of bubble wrap and headed for the sleeping princess. I pulled aside her curtains to see her sleeping peacefully. I climbed onto her bed, not even trying to be subtle since she was a very heavy sleeper. Grabbing her left forehoof, I set to work on wrapping it. I made sure to keep an eye on Luna to see if she would stir as I moved from hoof to hoof, wrapping them in three layers of bubble wrap.

When her hooves and her legs, up to where they bend, were securely wrapped, I moved on to her horn. I had to be careful touching her horn, Cadence’s biology lessons coming to mind again about the horn being an erogenous zone, as I slowly wrapped the bubble wrap around it. There were a few close calls as the alicorn turned in her bed, but she never fully awoke. Securing off the third layer, I tossed the used roll and grabbed another one. Now came the really hard part as I had to fight against her sleeping form.

Taking a deep breath, I grabbed at her side that was on the bed and lifted her. I carefully set her on my thighs as I held her wings in place. Being careful of another erogenous zone, I began to wrap her wings to her body. As I was about to finish the first wrap, Luna’s wing sprang out, nearly smacking me in the face. I felt my heartbeat against my chest as I worried that Luna was going to wake up. I think luck was on my side for today as Luna remained asleep and I gently placed her wing against her side. Taking a few calming breaths, I did two more passes before setting her down on the bed.

I climbed off the bed and went about the room, using the last bits of bubble wrap on whatever I felt like covering. Ten minutes later, I had finished my little prank. Luna was snug in her bubble wrap coverings, her toilet and faucet in her tub were wrapped, and I made sure to place a few strands in her slippers and crown. I gave a satisfied smile as I grabbed my bag and exited the bedchambers. Echo and Moon looked at me, their grins threatening to split their faces as they made a quick peek into the bedchambers.

Moon looked back at me as she tried to stifle her giggles. “This is going to be one interesting morning.”

Echo nodded her head in agreement as she closed the doors to Luna’s bedchambers. “It’s days like these that make me glad I’m part of Luna’s Guard. You’ve really helped liven things up when you arrived here.”

I gave a warm smile as I ruffled the bat pony’s mane. “Glad to make your day a little less boring. I wish some of the Day Guard would lighten up, though.”

Moon gave a small shrug as she moved back to her position. “We all do, but I guess they’re just going to have to miss all the fun then.”

I nodded my head in agreement as Echo moved back to her post. I turning to leave when I remembered something else that I wanted to do today. “Hey, do you know if Celestia is free at the moment?”

“Yeah, she’s currently at the dining hall. If you hurry over there you should be able to catch her before she leaves for the training fields,” Echo answered.

I nodded my head as I waved goodbye to the mares. Moon and Echo waved goodbye back as I jogged through the halls to meet Celestia. Making a few turns, while at the same time avoiding running into the maids, I reached the dining hall. Good thing too, since I saw Celestia exiting the dining hall. I jogged over to the princess, who saw me coming over and waved at me. I waved back as I caught up to her, panting a little as I tried to catch my breath. Celestia gave a light hearted giggle as she summoned a bottle of water and floated it over to me. I accepted the water and drank half of it down before taking a few deep breaths.

“What has you in such a hurry, Mark?” Celestia asked as she started trotting down the halls.

Walking next to her, I cleared my throat before speaking. “I actually wanted to ask you something. Do you mind if we were somewhere a little more private?” I rubbed the back of my neck in nervousness, hoping that Celestia wouldn’t see.

I was wrong as she took notice of my unease and gave an easy nod. We were silent during our walk as we reached a guest bedroom. Celestia’s golden aura wrapped around the handle of the door and opened it. The alicorn gestured for me to enter first, and I did. Walking into the room, I sat on the edge of the bed as Celestia closed the door behind her. Celestia grabbed a cushion from inside one of the closets and set in on the floor. Celestia sat on the cushion, being very close to me to show that all of her attention was focused on whatever I had to say. I know I could talk to the princesses about anything, but what I had to talk about really had me set to a state of unease.

I was slightly pulled from my nerves as Celestia spoke in a calm, motherly tone. “Take all the time you need, Mark. I have no appointments scheduled for the next couple of hours.”

I nodded to the princess as I thought about how I was going to word my question. This seemed so much easier in my head since I thought I was just going to get a few answers about Equestria I still didn’t know. Now that I was trying to ask the question, even with all the variations, neither seemed really easy to ask. I looked around the room, trying to keep my mind slightly distracted from any negative thoughts.

It seemed to work as I was able to get my mouth moving to form words. “How… how close… are families, usually?”

Celestia raised an eyebrow as she placed a hoof on her chin. “Most pony families are really close. Parents create such a strong bond with their foals that it’s very difficult to sever. Many ponies will go out to see family as often as they can because of that bond.” I nodded my head, but that wasn’t the answer I was looking for.

Taking a few seconds to think, I reworded my question. “Is it possible for pony families to disown a child for choices that they make?”

This seemed to get Celestia’s attention as she gave a soft frown. “As much as I would like to say that it doesn’t happen, I would be lying. They are very rare cases and there might be some that I don’t even know of.”

I raised a brow as I looked at Celestia. “How come you don’t know about them? Wouldn’t the parents have to go through some documents to show they are no longer responsible for that child?”

Celestia nodded her head as she looked out the nearby window. “There are, but when a parent does that, it causes a few problems. Cases like these are usually seen in more of the big cities. Small towns such as Ponyville rarely see them since they are a very tight-knit community.”

Looking out the same window Celestia was looking out of, I reached out and stroked along her neck to help ease the tension between us. “Does Cloudsdale and Canterlot have parents disowning their children?”

Celestia looked back at me, nodding her head. “They do, and they’re also two of the major cities that don’t report that they’ve disowned a foal. The nobles are too proud and don’t want to have their names run into the ground because of what they believe is a ‘failure’ foal. The foal usually ends up in an orphanage and by the time it reaches my ears, it’s out of my hooves. It pains me to see a foal, even a full grown mare or stallion, become disowned.”

A heavy silence settled between us as I continued to run my hand along Celestia’s neck. I saw that it clearly pained Celestia to think about this, and it hurt me to even think that ponies would do that to their children. Running my hand along Celestia’s neck a few more times, I gave a heavy sigh as I stood up from the bed. Celestia watched me as I walked towards the window, looking out into the skies. I looked out the window for several seconds before turning to Celestia and giving her a small smile.

“Thanks for that. I think you helped me figure out a few things.” I walked back to Celestia and gave her a hug.

Celestia returned the hug as she wrapped her wings around me. “Glad to help a friend. Is there anything else that you want to know?”

Even with the somber mood that was created during our last conversation, there was still one more thing I didn’t know. “Actually, there is one more thing I would like to know.”

Celestia pulled away from me as she levitated the pillow back into the closet, giving me a warm smile. “Ask away.”

“This was something I saw a couple of days ago. I was going to the market and I saw a stallion that had two mares with him,” I said as I thought back to that day.

Celestia seemed to understand where I was going as she perked her ears a little. “Oh, so you saw your first herd?”

I raised a brow to Celestia, confusion written all over my face. “What’s a herd?”

Celestia giggled softly behind a hoof as she spoke in a lecture type tone. “This was one of the things I wanted you to experience for yourself. Equestria has a stallion shortage. The ratio of mares to stallion is about five to one.” My eyes went wide as Celestia continued her explanation, holding up a hoof to hold off any questions. “To help combat this problem, stallions will court multiple mares to hopefully get a colt.”

I shook my head as I moved Celestia’s hoof out of the way so I could question her. “So it’s okay for a stallion to see multiple mares at one time?” Celestia nods her head in agreement. “Doesn’t that create problems between each mare that is involved?”

Celestia shook her head as she gave a reassuring smile. “Problems like that are not very common. Most of the mares give consent to joining a herd, and if they feel the need, they can leave if they want. There’s usually a lead mare in a herd that has at least six members so that everypony has at least some time with the stallion. Harems, though, are somewhat similar.” I nodded my head for her to continue.

Celestia gave a gentle cough before continuing. “Harems consist of seven or more mares. There isn’t a limit to how many mares a stallion can have, but a lead mare helps to keep it in check. Harems, though, will usually have more than one stallion and more than one lead mare. Harems are created by either bringing herds together or a stallion keeps adding mares as long as the lead mare is okay with it.”

“Still, couldn’t fights break out between either the stallion or mares?” I asked.

Celestia nodded her head. “There are fights between members, but they are relatively small at best. The point of the lead mare is to help avoid these types of situations. Everypony is free to speak their mind, and if they feel unloved, they can either tell the lead mare or leave the group.” Celestia’s eyes seemed to sparkle a little as she recalled something. “I believe that you mentioned once that your world has polygamy.”

I nodded my head. “Some countries practice it. It’s also not illegal, but no one really recognizes that you have more than one wife.”

Celestia nodded her head in understanding. “Some of the other kingdoms feel the same way, but it isn’t entirely unheard of that other species joined herds that are created here.”

“So you even have interspecies dating?” I asked with a raised brow.

Celestia nodded her head, her tone still in lecture mode. “Precisely. Granted, they are rare to see, but the process still works the same.”

I rubbed my chin in thought as I processed what she said. “Interesting. Thanks for clearing things up for me.”

Celestia smiled as we headed for the door. “Any time, Mark. If you have any more questions, don’t be afraid to ask me.”

Celestia opened the door and held it for me as I walked out. “I’ll make sure to come by if I have anything to ask. Again, thanks for answering all my questions. Also, sorry about the depressing subject from before.”

Celestia gave a gentle smile as she patted my back gently with her wing. “It’s quite alright, Mark. These are things that I want you to see for yourself before telling you anything. Do you finally see why I taught you what I did and left a few subjects off that list?”

“I do, and it has been an interesting learning experience. Did you do this with the other humans that appeared here before me?” I asked as I followed Celestia to the throne room.

Celestia shook her head as she led me through the hallways. “Not at first. You could say I had a few things to learn myself as humans appeared in Equestria. You’re the third human that I’ve done this form of learning with, and it seems to be working appropriately.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle at the thought of the humans that came before me. There must have been massive confusion between each human and the ponies as they tried to teach each other. My laughter seemed to be infectious as Celestia started giggling herself, probably thinking the same thing I was. The walk ended as we finally reached the throne room. Celestia gave me a final hug that I happily returned before she retreated into the throne room. I waved goodbye to the two guards as I headed for my office. There was a chance that I would probably be chewed out by Spitfire later for not getting straight to work, but it wasn’t like I had much to do.

Most of the paperwork was the same like all the others. It was also made easy since they haven’t gone to any big shows yet. As I neared my office, I stopped by Spitfire’s to see the two mares working on their own paperwork. The big stacks I saw before were whittled down to nothing. Spitfire and Fleetfoot gave me a lazy wave as I stepped into the office. I walked over to the small fridge that Spitfire had next to her and grabbed a bottle of water from it. I threw away the one that Celestia had given me and headed for my own office. I turned the knob to see that the door was locked for some reason.

I raised a brow in confusion as I reached for my key in the folder box. Unlocking my door, I opened it to a big surprise. I stared, wide eyed and mouth agape, at my entire office. The entire room was covered in bubble wrap. Going inside, I looked around to see that, yes, everything was covered in bubble wrap. The sound of popping bubbles filled the room as I traversed to my desk. I was pulled from my shock when I heard Luna laugh.

“Ha ha, the fun has been bubbled,” Luna said as she appeared in front of my door.

I looked at Luna to see that she was still wrapped in bubble wrap. Luna had a big grin as she trotted towards me, the alicorn stepping on fresh bubbles to pop as she neared me. She seemed to notice my shock as her grin widened even more.

“How?” I asked, my mind trying to process covered my whole office.

Luna gave a simple answer by lighting up her horn. I let out a heavy sigh as I sat in my chair, loud pops echoing around the room. If there was still one thing that I found unfair in this world, it would be magic. Rubbing my face with my hands, I looked back at Luna and asked the next question that was on my mind.

“Why do you have yourself still wrapped like that?” I asked as I gestured to the areas that were still covered.

“So I can do this.” Luna laid on the ground and started to roll around, popping the bubbles around her barrel and floor as she erupted into laughter.

Luna kept at this for a few more minutes before standing on her hooves again. She grinned at me, declaring victory before trotting out of my office. Once the alicorn was gone, Fleetfoot flew in and took notice of my office.

“What happened in here?” Fleetfoot asked as she looked around the entire room.

I sighed again as I leaned back into my chair, bubbles popping even more. “Luna got me back with my own prank.”

Fleetfoot nodded her head as she handed me a piece of paper. “I see. I need your signature here so we can finalize some of our finances.”

I grabbed the paper and as I went to sign, I froze. I looked over the finances to see that about five thousand bits were going to an orphanage. Going down the list, I saw the name of the orphanage and felt my heart start to race. The name was easily recognizable. I probably would have continued to stare at it, if Fleetfoot hadn’t cleared her throat to get my attention. Shaking my head, I signed at the bottom of the paper. Before I handed the paper back to Fleetfoot, I grabbed a journal and wrote down how much was being moved so I could subtract it later. I gave the paper back to Fleetfoot, who looked at my signature, before nodding her head and turning to fly out.

Fleetfoot was about to leave before turning back to me. “You understand that you’re going to have to clean this up, right?”

I nodded my head. “Yeah, I know. I’ll get started on it right away.”

Fleetfoot gave a curt nod as she left my office. Rubbing my head, I took a quick drink of water and got started on my desk. The first of the bubble wrap to be removed was the layer that was covering my drawers. Once I had my drawers freed from their bubbly prison, I opened the bottom drawer and grabbed the box cutter. Pushing out the blade, I moved around the office carefully cutting around the bubble wrap to avoid breaking anything. After a couple hours of back breaking work, I finally was able to remove all the bubble wrap.

Spitfire and Fleetfoot stopped by my office, giving me my lunch. I thanked the two mares as we headed to a nearby field. The three of us ate in the field, enjoying the warm feeling of the sun’s rays. Compared to Earth, Equestria never got unbearably hot when the sun was out. The temperature was quite pleasant during the summer, and even with the rain, the humidity never got that bad. Spitfire seemed to really enjoy the sun, because after she finished eating, she rolled onto her side and breathed softly. Fleetfoot followed her friend and I couldn’t help but chuckle at the two mares.

Spitfire didn’t bother lifting her head as she addressed me. “What’s so funny?”

I easily got my laughter under control as I addressed the mare. “Nothing, just seeing the two of you relax like that is entirely new. I actually didn’t think you knew how to take it easy.” This seemed to get Spitfire’s attention as she rolled onto her belly and looked at me with challenging eyes.

“Oh, really? I never relax at all?” Spitfire asked, her eyes looking directly at me.

“Yeah, I mean all the time I see you either yelling at someone, or you’re always in just some rush. I actually thought you were too involved into your work,” I said honestly in a joking tone to help bring out some laughter.

Sadly, it had the opposite effect as Spitfire’s challenging gaze turned somber. “Is that how you really see me? Am I just a mare that yells at everypony and is more dedicated to work than fun?” She spoke in a soft whisper, but I easily caught the entire thing.

I went to answer her, but before I could, she stood on her hooves and flew back to her office. I went to stand up and go see if everything was okay, but I was stopped by Fleetfoot. I looked at the pegasus as she placed a hoof on my shoulder. I was expecting to see anger in her eyes for making her friend feel bad, but I all saw was sympathy. It seemed that Fleetfoot understood that I wasn’t trying to be mean to her friend, but actually trying to have a little fun.

“I’ll go talk to her. Do you mind cleaning up?” Fleetfoot asked in a gentle tone.

I nodded my head as I picked up the trash. As I cleaned up the remnants of our small lunch, Fleetfoot flew back to the office, closing the door behind her. I mentally chastised myself for saying something stupid. I didn’t think her problems were that bad from what I saw in the picture, but I guess there’s a difference between an old picture and the current mare. I threw away the trash and headed back to my office. I was tempted to check on Spitfire, but the back of my mind told me that was a bad idea at the moment.

Once inside my office, I grabbed my journal that I left the deduction note on and made a few alterations. I added an extra five hundred bits that were being sent there. I left the name as anonymous so I wouldn’t get questioned for my actions. I didn’t personally know what that orphanage was like, but it seemed like it was good to send money there if it was getting such a large donation. After finalizing all payments for later, I put the journal away and rested my head in my hands. I honestly didn’t think it was going to be this hard to try and connect with the mares. The only thing that made it easy was that I shared a somewhat of a similar past with them.

I could only guess that was another reason why the princesses thought it would be a good idea to get closer to them. I got through my past, barely, but I did nonetheless. I never left my office for the rest of the time, except to go to the bathroom or deliver reports. Spitfire’s office door was still locked and I felt worried for the mare. I continued on with the work, my worry for Spitfire growing even more as the day seemed to drag on. I hated it when a day turned out like this. It was fun to be able to joke and hang out with friends as it helped pass the time, but when you end up causing a slight problem, time just slows down.

Thankfully, after a few agonizing slow hours, the day finally ended. I put away the last bits of paperwork that could be held off and organized all my journals. Leaving my office, I was greeted by a slightly more peppy Spitfire and Fleetfoot, but I could feel the tension between us. I didn’t say anything as I let the mares lead the way. Spitfire and Fleetfoot took to the air, but remained close to the ground in case they decided to walk. As we made for the exit, Luna was trotting around the castle, still wrapped in bubble wrap. Luna waved goodbye to us and I heard the two mares let out a few giggles at the sight of the princess.

We left the castle and I waved goodbye to the guards as they changed posts with the Night Guard. The walk home was silent as the moonlight illuminated our path. We reached the house and Fleetfoot allowed us to enter first. The mares retreated upstairs after Fleetfoot closed the door, and that left me to make dinner. I didn’t make anything big for dinner tonight. I wasn’t up to making something nice. I made a simple salad using lettuce, tomatoes, and carrots. I called Spitfire and Fleetfoot down, and thankfully they showed up.

Dinner was a silent affair as we slowly ate our salads. Spitfire finished off her dinner first and cleaned her plate. Once her plate was clean, she retreated upstairs. Fleetfoot finished her plate and cleaned it, but instead of following her friend, she sat back at the table. Fleetfoot regarded me with a serious expression, but didn’t say anything as she let me eat. Part of me wanted to eat as slowly as possible to avoid the possible conversation, but if I’ve learned anything these past few days, it was better to get it over with. Finishing off my salad, I cleaned my plate and joined Fleetfoot back at the table.

The two of us sat there in silence for a few minutes before Fleetfoot spoke in a calm, even tone. “Mark, I know you lied this morning.”

I think Fleetfoot saw my eyes go wide, but I couldn’t be sure as she remained neutral. Every part of my being demanded that I deny what she was saying. I actually opened my mouth, ready to deny the accusation before she stopped me with a raised hoof.

“Don’t try lying to me, Mark. Pegasi have a very good memory and keen eyesight. The pictures were not in their original place and the closet door was closed,” Fleetfoot said in a matter of fact tone.

My heart started pounding in my chest as I didn’t know what to expect. My mind ran with many scenarios of what could happen. I could be kicked out, bucked in the face, but the pegasus didn’t do anything. Fleetfoot just sat in her seat, probably waiting for my side of the story. I looked around the kitchen, hoping to find something to hopefully distract her with, but it was to no avail. Looking back at Fleetfoot, I let out a heavy sigh as I looked down at the table.

“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to invade your personal space,” I said, never looking up from the table.

“I would be very angry if anypony would go through our stuff, but with you, Mark, I feel like making an exception.” I looked up at the mare, confusion evident on my face.

“Why?” I could have asked any question, but this was the only word that would escape my mouth.

Fleetfoot remained neutral as she moved out of her chair. “I’m not really sure. Maybe it’s because you’re different from most ponies. Whatever the reason, I’ll explain everything tomorrow. Make sure you’re up by ten in the morning, and be prepared for a lot of walking.”

Fleetfoot started to trot out of the kitchen before I stopped her. “What about Spitfire? Isn’t she going to wonder where you’re at?”

Fleetfoot turned back to me, giving a small smile as she spoke calmly. “Spitfire knows that I go out around that time. She’s the only one that knows where I go and I’ll leave a note saying that I sent you on some errand.”

The last part caused me to frown. “You’re lying to your best friend? Why would you do that?”

Fleetfoot’s smile turned to a frown as she looked out into the living room. “Spitfire and I are the only ones that know the other’s past. She isn’t willing to talk about hers, but I’m willing to share mine. It might also help you understand a little more about Spitfire and her struggles.”

I nodded as Fleetfoot trotted off and headed for Spitfire’s bedroom. I gripped my shorts tightly as I thought about what Fleetfoot said. My mind raced with so many questions and concerns that were going to happen tomorrow. My running thoughts caused me to have a splitting headache and I decided to go for a walk. Quietly exiting the house, I breathed in the cool night air as I walked along the path. As I continued down the path, I saw Clover’s Bar was still open. Looking around, I headed for the bar and entered.

I was led to a single table and given a menu to look over. I ignored the menu as I ordered a hard cider. The mare brought me my drink and I started to chug it down. I felt the alcohol burn down my throat, as it helped to distract me from my current thoughts. I really wanted to get to know the mares more, but I wasn’t sure if I wanted to learn it like this. It felt like I was only being shown some of Fleetfoot’s past, but the mare seemed genuine in wanting to open up to me some. Shaking my head, I slammed back more of my drink, only to cause me to start a coughing fit.

I was so distracted in my thoughts and my drink, I didn’t see Clover trotting towards me. The mare didn’t say anything as she pulled a chair up to my table and sat down next to me. Clover gave a small smile as she let me stew in my thoughts and slam my drink back. I finished off my cider, and before I could ask my waitress for another, Clover filled it to the brim. Giving the mare a small nod, I continued drinking my cider.

“Seems like somepony is having a little trouble,” Clover said, giving me a knowing smile.

“Everything is just so complicated,” I said as I slowed down my drinking.

Clover nodded knowingly as she continued to smile. “Well, when you’re around Spitfire and Fleetfoot, then everything is going to be complicated.”

I gave a small growl at the mare. “If you’re trying to make me feel better, it’s not working.” I didn’t want to sound harsh, but I wasn’t in the mood for jokes at the moment.

Clover, though, seemed to ignore my harsh tone as she continued on. “I won’t lie and tell you that everything is going to be fine in the end. Spitfire and Fleetfoot are probably the most closed off mares I’ve ever met, and I’m one of the very few closest friends they have. There are things that I still don’t know, but I have learned a few things to help you with whatever you’re going through.”

I set my glass down as I looked at the mare, gesturing for her to continue. “Whenever they wish to show you something from their past, there are no strings attached. You’re free to decline their offer, but that wouldn’t be the best choice. Getting them to open up to you is a great feat, and should never be taken for granted. They only share things from their past to ones they feel are trustworthy. So, for your best interest, join them if they invite you somewhere. If you don’t, then you’re bound to regret it.” Clover gave a sharp nod before hopping off her chair and heading for her office.

I stopped her when she was a couple feet from my table. “Are you sure you’re a bar owner, and not some sort of mind reader?”

Clover looked over her shoulder, grinning at me. “I’m not a mind reader, but I can tell when somepony has a lot on their mind and what they need to hear.”

After that, Clover trotted back to her office. Looking at the mass of ponies on the dance floor, I thought about what Clover said. Swirling my drink a little, I thought about the positives of going with Fleetfoot. If I denied Fleetfoot’s offer, I probably would never get the chance again to know more about her. The two paths laid before me had their own sets of consequences, and it wouldn’t be easy to cross. Swirling my drink a few more times, I finished off the last of my cider and paid what I owed. I walked by Clover’s office and dropped off a tip in her jar before exiting the establishment.

It was going to be a long day tomorrow, but I was ready for whatever that day held. I was determined to learn more about these mares, and I will go through whatever hardship I would need to. I wanted to see the two of them smile more, and if having to learn the dark side of their past was the only way, then I would help them through it. I reached the house and entered it. I moved up the stairs, two steps at a time, and entered my room. I set my alarm for nine in the morning so I could prepare for my journey with Fleetfoot.