Parents' Night Out

What could you have possibly done to deserve this?

You stare at the ceiling of your bedroom, eyes tracing lines between the bumps in the textured ceiling. You make imaginary pictures in your mind about the different creatures, images, and designs the ceiling contained, but it's all a way of simply trying to clear your mind. Each design has been inspected, carefully chosen after a week of staying in your room, laying in bed, trying to stay quiet.

It's Friday night. And one of your parents is out.

Mom hasn't came back in almost a week. Every day is a sullen, bleak neutrality that leaves an emptiness in the day to day. Whether it's the lack of a gentle, kind hum throughout the house, the smell of home-cooked food, or even a hug after a long day, the four walls that you retire to after a day at school is anything but home.

Your home doesn't have cider bottles resting by the armchair. Your home isn't supposed to smell like burnt pizza and instant noodles. Your home tucks you in gently at night, and plants a gentle kiss on your forehead. Now your only lullaby is the muffled sobbing of your father in the night.

Trying to interact with him never seems to help. Half of the time you can’t tell if he’s angry, or sad, or sad about being angry. He’d scream sometimes, be silent at others, but most of the time, he wouldn't even be here. He’s here. He’s not here. He’s both here, but also far away and out of reach from your desperate hooves.

And all you want to hear, is that it isn't your fault.

You close your eyes, realizing your thoughts have strayed away from trying to re-draw the kitty in the ceiling that's playing with the weirdly shaped banana.

A knock at your door catches you off guard. You look across your bedroom to the door that seems so far away from where you are lying.

"Hey kiddo," says Dad from the other side. "Can I come in?"

A lump catches in your throat. 'Now he tries to talk,' you think to yourself as you roll away from the entrance to your room. A guilt settles in your gut for feeling angry, but you can't help yourself. After a full week of being ignored and shouted at, why would he choose now to talk?

No. This isn't about talking. This is about something else. The door cracks open, and a pause fills the air, as you choose to stare at the wall, refusing to acknowledge him.

One step, Two steps. The creak of the door. Three steps. Four steps.

"Are you asleep, bud?" he asks.

"No," you sputter.

He remains silent as you refuse to move, like you would if a large dog approached you from nowhere. With some luck, the creature would become bored with you and decide that finding somepony else to pick on would be a better way of spending their time.

You let out a long breath as you find yourself unlucky. He sits on the corner of your bed.

"I. Uhm," he says, starting off. "It's Friday. I was going to go and check on Mom over at Grandma's house. I was... wondering if you wanted to come along."

You can feel your father reaching out his hoof in your mind, trying to beg and plead in the best ways he knows how. As much as you want to close the rift that keeps the two of your parents apart, you know you can't fix it. You've tried walking in on their arguments, but they just stop so they don't have to 'fight in front of you.' There has to be a reason why he would be trying to take you to see Mom.

Turning over in bed, you look to your dad and study him. He looks like he’s finally taken a shower. He’s combed his mane. He has a sorrowful look in his eyes, and his breath doesn’t smell like that pungent, burning liquid that’s in the bottles on the high shelves. Maybe... he's really trying to make amends. But, what if Mom isn't willing to make amends? Not yet, anyway. Hurting takes time to heal.

And you hurt. The dull apathy of the everyday has left your tone of voice soulless. To the point that you are shocked when you hear your own voice.

"Are you and Mom going to fight?" you ask.

Your father opens his mouth, then closes it, looking away.

"Were you going to take me, hoping that she wouldn't fight in front of me?" you ask.

He looks to the floor, refusing to make eye contact.

"Yeah. I guess so," he says quietly.

You roll away from Cypress.

"No. Can't you call Cadance or something?" you ask, letting hope seep into your voice.

"No," your father instantly replies. "No, Princess Cadance won't be coming back."

The words ring in your ears like a gunshot was fired inches from your face. Cadance won't be coming back? No. No. That's not fair. He can't do this to you.

You turn back to him rising to your hooves.

"What?!"

"She can't come back. Not if I'm going to make things... better, with Mom," he says.

"That's not fair! She was my friend, Dad!" you say aloud, listening to yourself. Should you have said 'special somepony'? Or should you keep that from Dad? You’ve never kept secrets from them before...

Then again, Dad has been keeping secrets from you and Mom. Maybe keeping secrets is okay.

"I know. I know, buddy," he says. You shudder at his endearment. "But she can't come back. Dad made a lot of mistakes. And now I'm just-"

But his words might as well be gibberish. You aren't listening. He took Mom away. He took home away. And now, he takes away your only friend. The one pony you've been hoping to see all weekend.

"Why?!" you scream at him, letting your words spill in only the way angry colts can. "Why did you do those things then?! You always say you mess up but you never try to ever get better! Sometimes you don't even say you're sorry and now Mom is gone! Why?"

Tears flow from your eyes as you sit up in bed, holding yourself defensively from him. He watches you in shock as you let loose the pent up pain that you've whispered to your pillows every night, practicing yourself for this very moment.

"It's like you don't even love us," you say. "You hurt Mom. You take away my best friend, and now I don't even want to come home anymore. I just want to be with Mom. I just want Mom to be happy, and you keep making her sad! Why are you doing this?!"

You sniffle, taking quick, shallow raspy breaths. Your mind spins words to say faster than your mouth can move. You close your eyes and bury your face to the mattress that you lay in.

"Why?" you ask, letting the hurt finally show. Your father remains silent.

"Why?" you ask, your sobs echoing through the house that you live in, all alone.

"Why are you doing this to me?"

A hoof presses against your back as you push it away. You hear your father sniffle, and it brings you a sort of sick feeling of satisfaction. Now maybe he'll feel the same hurt that you've been feeling. Now he'll be sorry.

"I don't know anymore," he whispers.

One step, Two steps. The creak of the door. Three steps. Four steps.

The covers dampen further as the mask hiding your hurt becomes irreparable. The door to your home opens. Then closes. And now you're all alone in this empty house.

The wind is strong and the night is cold. However, these are small in the grand scheme of things. That is not tonight's mission.

You sit perched atop the roof of Anon's home. Waiting.

There’s no guarantee tonight will be the night, but your studies of failing couples are consistent. The offender will eventually go to grovel at the victim's hooves. They'll claim this is the last time. They'll swear they'll change.

With some luck, and with their lack of a babysitter, there’s only one thing that can happen.

Anon will be left home alone.

It's time to set the plan in motion, Cadance.

The door opens, then closes. You keep yourself clothed in the darkness, hiding in the shadow of the chimney from the moon. Cypress trots away from the home, then down the street. He pauses, then looks back. You hold your breath as he studies the house for a moment.

Did he see you?

He pauses, then sets back on his journey. Once he's out of sight, you spread your wings and set to action.

You had considered tossing stones to get his attention, like some sort of cliché movie that Shining would take you to. However, you have terrible aim, and it is way too windy tonight to consider it. No, tonight will have to be done the old fashioned way.

Lifting into the air, you flap your wings to position yourself by Anon's window. Desperately trying to keep yourself hovering, you knock at the window three times with a hoof.

You spy inside, trying to see anything in the dimly lit room.

A moment passes. Then his familiar face, muzzle, and ears poke into view, his expression curious and concerned. You give a gentle wave and a warm smile.

Anon takes a deep, excited breath, then fumbles with the locks on the window. The panes of glass swing open and you swoop inside.

"You know, you really shouldn't open the door when nopony is home, Anon," you say in a gentle tone. "You never know who might be outside."

But, instead of a laugh, he nearly tackles your front legs. Anon wraps his hooves around you and a dampness from his face transfers to your fur.

"I... I missed you," he chokes.

You sit down, taking a hoof away from his grasp to pull him in closer. You rest your head on top of his as you feel his warm body press against yours, chilled from the cold.

"I missed you too. I'm sorry I took so long."

He sniffles and squeezes as you make gentle shushes.

"Hey there," you whisper. "What's wrong, my love? What's wrong?"

He shakes his head and pulls you in closer.

"I thought... I thought you wouldn't come back," he says. "Dad said you couldn't come here anymore. So, I thought..."

You let out a long, quiet shush as you pull him tightly to you.

"I promised I wouldn't let you go, Nonny. I won't let you go."

"Please don't go," he pleads.

You close your eyes, knowing your time here is not eternal, even if you put all of your strength to willing it.

"I'll be here as long as you need me," you whisper.

A silent moment passes between you and the desperate child clutched to your torso. His shaking slows and breathing returns to normal. He takes a deep breath, then finally lets go, without letting go.

"Do you want to talk about it?" you ask.

He nods slightly, unwrapping his hooves around you, and settling to sit in your lap. You haven't unwrapped your hooves from him. You need to make sure he feels safe in your forelegs. Secure. He needs to crave that stability. That way there's only one choice when it's taken away.

"It's just... nothing's been the same since Mom left," he says. "Dad is either really sad, or really angry. Sometimes at me. I can't leave the house to see Mom. Except for school, I can't leave at all."

Anon sighs and rests his head against the tuft on your chest.

"It... feels like they don't want me anymore. Like I should go back to the orphanage. I don't know... I don't know how to explain it."

You smile, seeing your golden opportunity finally come to fruition.

"Did you know I was adopted too?" you ask him.

He looks up at you, wide eyed and curious.

"Really?" he asks.

"Yeah. When I was just a baby, I was found in a forest outside of a tiny village. I never had the chance to know my real parents."

Anon stares at you as if he feels he could have known you his entire life.

"And... sometimes I wondered if my parents-- well, adoptive parents, really wanted me sometimes. I mean, it was a very small town. Bits were tight and they were already in a bad situation."

His mouth opens slightly, then he closes it, looking to the floor.

"What did you do then?" he asks.

Every good story has some truth baked in it somewhere. It's how it creates credibility. Everything, so far, has been true. But, for this to work--

"I ran away," you say.

He looks up at you in shock.

"You ran away from home?"

"Yes. And, by helping the ponies that I met along the way, I discovered the power that exists in love. I traveled the land, trying to help ponies learn to love, and be loved in return. That's how I became a Princess. If I never ran away, I would have never discovered who I really was. After that, Princess Celestia took me in to be her prized pupil, and helped me learn proper love magic, and even some of the old magics that are hidden away from the world. I began to learn about the beautiful land that we live in and the marvels that are contained within it."

Anon looks around his room, clearly considering your words. The seed is planted. Now for the careful tilling. The seed needs to be watered. Cultivated. Fertilized.

"But, isn't running away bad?" he asks.

"Well," you say. "Running away was the best decision I could have ever made, but it's dangerous. That is, if you don't have somepony to protect you."

He looks up at you, his eyes full of hope. You give him a wink.

"And you have a Princess to protect you," you say, driving home the point. "Don't you think your Parents would be proud if you became a Prince?"

"A prince," he says, as if the words were a wistful fantasy. "Yeah, they would."

"Then, Mom and Dad can have their time to heal and be happy too," you say.

He smiles, deep in thought in the way that only a young colt can be, and you realize you nearly have him. With a whisper of sweet nothings, he will be yours.

You push your muzzle towards his ear and nuzzle yourself against him.

"I love you, my Prince. Together, we could teach Equestria about the power of love. We could be together, forever. Just like this."

His face goes flush as he looks back up to you.

"I-I love you too, my Princess."

You smile to him, ready to reward him for connecting the dots so well. If you asked, you could have him run away with you tonight. But you can't do that. It must be his choice. It must be his initiative. And for that, you must push the envelope one last time.

Leaning in towards him, you bring your face inches from his, and wait.

Cadance leans in towards you, her enchanting velvet eyes holding you in place, like a blanket that would warm you in the bitter cold. A blanket that gives you life. You lean in, closing your eyes and plant your lips on hers. The sweet, fruity, familiar taste of her kiss sends rippling waves of tingles from the tips of your ears, down to the very tips of your hooves.

A shuddered breath is passed between the two of you as you replant your lips on hers once more. You feel her tongue part your lips and ask yours to have this dance. You pause, nervous, thinking of your two left hooves, but accept. You press your tongue to hers in your mouth, rolling, diving, and caressing the other in turn. You fear pressing back too hard into her mouth, should you make some form of faux-pas that would surely spell the end of this primal moment.

You reach a hoof up and press it behind her mane, in the way that she has done to you before, and now it's her turn to stall. She hums in approval as she moves her own hoof to the back of your mane. In turn, the two of you press into the other's kiss, breathe each other's scent, and explore each strand of hair in the other's mane. As if each strand is its own sweet nothing that you two share in hushed tones.

She breaks the kiss, a single bead of drool connecting your tongues as you can't help but lean towards her, unprepared for the bliss to be taken away. She giggles at your reaction, and her focus narrows on you. Her eyelids lower as an edge of her lip curls. Her gaze traces down to where your body has been preparing itself. And this time, you don’t think about covering it.

You've grown hard, and it's barely trying to conceal itself. It throbs with desire as you look between her and yourself, pleading without saying a single word. Her hoof reaches down, and you feel her press against the base and graze her way up to the tip. You gasp for air. Waves of tingly pleasure surge through your body and numb your thoughts as she watches your eyes close and your muscles contort. Her hoof then moves back down to the base of your shaft, slowly, painfully. Your body begs for more. Your hips shake with desire as you push into her hoof.

"Are you okay, Nonny?" she asks you. "Is there something you want?"

You open your mouth to speak and you feel her hoof move back upward, torturing you. You let a quiet yelp, then steel yourself.

"Y-yes."

"Oh?" she replies. "Are you sure?"

Her pace increases, and you let out a quiet moan. Your eyes close as you feel your breathing quicken.

"Y-yes."

"What do you want?" she murmurs.

She moves another hoof to your rod and rubs up and down, as waves would wash upon the shore. Your breathing follows her rhythm as you bite your lip. Your body grows warmer, the heat of a thousand blankets surging through you as your muscles tighten. It feels like her love spreading over you.

"I want... your special massage," you mumble.

"I can't hear you, Nonny," she says with a smile. "Speak up."

"I want you to... put your mouth on it."

Cadance smiles and plants a gentle kiss on your lips.

"Good boy," she whispers.

Then her lips move to your chin. Then your neck. Then your chest. Then your underbelly.

Her cheek brushes against your length and she makes a gentle coo. You wince, her softness catching you off guard. Cadance's lips plant themselves at the underside of the base, then move up, one inch at a time, until she reaches the tip. With a gentle sound, she plants a kiss right on your most sensitive spot. You moan, leaning your head back at the sudden jolt of pleasure.

Then, a warm, wet pressure starts from the top, and slides its way down. Your mouth opens, and a gasp of pleasure escapes your lips. Cadance plays you like an instrument, sucking, licking, tracing, teasing her way up and down you. She uses you well. She is a model, and you are her catwalk.

She brings her lips closed at the tip, then plants a gentle kiss. Cadance looks up at you with proud eyes and a mischievous smile.

"Happy?" she asks.

Not at all. How could she ask this? Your body is shaking with desire. You want to release. You want to give her everything that she could possibly desire. You want to make her proud. You want to be hers.

You shake your head.

"Use your words," she says with a smile.

"N-no."

"Good boy... I was hoping you wouldn't be done just yet."

Cadance rises to her hooves, then moves to your bed as you sit in place. She runs a hoof along the edge of your bed, raising her tail and revealing to you her sex.

With one step, then another, she climbs atop your bed. Her gaze returns to you as she pats the side of the mattress. The moon from outside shines in and illuminates the spot where she lies, sprawling out in a pose worthy of a cover for a magazine.

She’s beautiful.

Automatically, mechanically, you rise to your hooves and move to your bed. Normally climbing into bed isn't something you think about, but this feels different. A lump sits in your throat, but a sense of eagerness makes you scramble awkwardly, as if you’d just learned what the concept of a bed was merely an hour ago.

You sit, just like you sat on the floor, looking up into her gaze. She raises a hoof to your chin and pulls you towards her an inch. You reach up to kiss her, but nearly an inch away, she pulls back, just slightly. You lean forward to close the distance, but again she leans back.

"You'll have to try a little harder, Nonny," she whispers.

You move one hoof forward, leaning in closer, but she pulls back further in this game of give and take. She lies all the way back on the bed, her head resting on your pillow. You place your front hooves over her shoulders, on either side of her head. By the way she’s looking at you, you know you’ve done the right thing.

She lies underneath you, your gaze focused completely on her.

"Oh my," she feigns. "What now, Nonny?"

You ache with an unnameable want, and you bite your lip trying to find the words. As if sensing your hesitance, Cadance's left hoof suddenly grabs you and guides you down. You scoot backward until you line up with her flower.

She rubs your tip against the entrance, her juices lubricate you. You close your eyes to relish the feeling, but your body has other plans. Your hips move unconsciously, trying to move ahead to the next step.

"An eager one, are we?" Cadance says gently.

She lines you up and you push, plunging yourself into the soft and inviting flesh of your love. The two of you gasp in unison as her front hooves wrap around your shoulders, and her back hooves wrap around your hips. You pause, feeling yourself become one with the mare you’ve dreamt about so many times. But this feels so much better than any dream.

"Are you okay?" you ask.

"Mhm," she hums. "Go ahead, you won't hurt me."

You push yourself deeper inside of her. She holds you tightly as you move yourself in and out. Each motion comes with its own mixture of grunts, gasps, and moans.

"Oh, Anon," she groans. "It's so good."

You pant for breath, your primal instincts kicking in and using what strength your young body possesses to its absolute. You place your head on the tuft of her chest as you thrust your hind quarters again and again. You would lean up to kiss her, but the height difference makes that difficult, so you instead place kiss after kiss into the soft warm fur of her collarbone. Her hooves wrap around you tighter as you push yourself in deeper, harder. You feel yourself tremble as new and delightful sensations overwhelm you.

Moans come naturally with each flick of your hips. She bucks back against you in perfect rhythm.

"I love you, Cadance," you moan.

"I love you too, Anon."

The words hold you tightly in your chest, even more tightly than she clings to you. Your muscles clench as you plunge yourself to the base, making Cadance yelp with each individual thrust. She looks deep into your eyes as you look back down at her.

A strong pressure builds up at the base of your member as you gasp again.

"I think... I think I'm going to..." you grunt, but the right word doesn't come to mind.

"Give it to me, Anon," she pleads. "Please. Let's be one. Together. Just like this."

You push yourself harder, and the pressure builds and builds. Your forelegs wrap around her as you pull yourself close to her. Then you plunge yourself to the hilt and, like an eruption, the buildup shoots from your staff and plants itself deep inside Cadance's body. She twitches, yelping in delight and pulls herself even tighter around you. Her sex clenches its walls and her body pulsates, massaging every last drop of your white fluid out of you and into her.

She gasps, rolling pleasure racking her body as you collapse in her grasp. Your body is spent and your fur is damp from exertion. After a moment, Cadance relaxes, holding you gently in her hooves. Your ear presses against the tuft of her chest, and you listen.

Through the silence, you listen to the slow, gentle beating of her heart as the two of you float in space. The two of you drift far away from the rest of the world, as if on a cloud, to a place where the two of you would never age. Where nothing would change. Where the two of you would never be found, and you wouldn't want to be if it meant staying like this for forever.

She rubs a hoof through your mane as you listen to the sound of her beating heart, catching your breath.

"It's like a lullaby," you whisper.

Cadance looks down at you, curious.

"Your heart," you add, "It beats like a lullaby."

She smiles, holding you tightly, and keeping the two of you connected. She lays back, her eyes closed, obviously enjoying the feeling of isolation and bliss like you are.

"I love you, Anon," she whispers.

"I love you too, Cadance."

Silence fills the room as you feel yourself shrink and exit her, but you listen to the sound of her beating heart, cuddle into her warmth for a bit longer. Your aromas mix and fill the room, making your love known to the toys and clothes that litter the floor.

Cadance releases a happy sigh, then looks down at you, studying your serenity. If you laid like this, just long enough, you would probably fall asleep. Being here is the most peaceful you've felt in weeks.

If life could always be like this, maybe you'd be happy.

Maybe... Maybe you really should run away with Cadance.

The slam of the downstairs door cuts through the silence.

"Shit," she curses quietly.

Cadance leaps out of bed, and plants a gentle kiss on your lips.

"I have to go," she says in a panic.

"Please... don't go," you plead.

"I don't want to... but if we get caught," she says, filled with indecision.

You hear hoofsteps move to the stairs. Panic flows through your veins. You have to make a split decision. Cadance isn't moving. You're boxed into a corner. You could get in trouble if Dad finds Cadance here.

There's only one option left. You can't talk to your Dad. Not yet. The anger is still too fresh. Too real. You aren't ready to forgive him.

"If things are really bad, I'll go to the castle," you say.

Cadance's eyes light up and she smiles.

"Promise?" she asks.

"I promise," you say. "I'll be there as soon as I can't stand it here anymore."

The princess nods, and gives you a smile.

"I'll be waiting," she says. "I love you, Nonny."

With a light pop, and a flash of blue, she's gone. You're alone in the empty house once more.

You hear your father stop outside your room. He pauses for a moment.

Then, something inside of you changes. The nonsense of the situation overwhelms you. Why can't everypony just be happy? Why can't Mom and Dad love each other anymore? You and Cadance can. Why is it so hard for them?

He steps away from your door to his bedroom, refusing to speak to you.

Maybe he really doesn't love you.

Maybe your Dad is actually the bad guy.

You close your eyes as you realize there's only one option. Mom and Dad need to work things out on their own. They can't do that if you're here. You can't even look at your Dad, and with Cadance as your special somepony, it’s just a matter of time.

You can't stay here anymore. There’s no sense packing. It would just slow you down.

Galloping to the door, you break out of your room. Your father whips around, surprised you’ve finally broken your solitary confinement.

"Hey, Anon," he says.

But you refuse to look at him. Instead, you put your hooves into motion. You barrel down the stairs, leaving your father dumbfounded and confused. You run to the front door, where you let Cadance enter so many times, and whip it open to step to the other side.

The night is chilly as you trot to the sidewalk and look both ways. Taking in your surroundings, you look immediately to the east, where the glowing landmark of Canterlot Castle lies higher up on the mountain.

"I'm coming, Cadance," you whisper to yourself.

And now it's your turn to go to her.