Summer Collab - Stallions in Stalbank
Author's Note: This is Blue Breeze here. This chapter was written by myself and Zephyr. Keep in mind it was written all in roleplaying, so that's why certain things may seem off at times. Also, this story is like s side story to my stories revolving around Blue Breeze, so if you haven't read those, you won't get a good chunk of this. Anyway, on with the story.
Zeph's patience was almost nonexistent as he waited and waited for Blue, the golden maned pegasus was packing his stuff like an hour now. To his amusement Zeph started to balance his bag on the tip of his wings but got bored with it and with a sigh he collapsed on the rugged floor.
"Oh come ooon Blue, will you EVER finish it? You are worse than Tavi!" He said with annoyance.
Blue stood up in his room and sighed to himself at hearing Zephyr's wining. "Just hold your flank! I'll be done in a minute!"
"You said this 17 minutes earlier!" Zeph growled and stood up. "Come oon dude, I want to finally go!" He looked at the half closed door. "And for your information, I heard both of our marefriends whispering behind the door."
"Yep, mares tend to do that a lot!" he replied. Sick of hearing Zephyr, he quickly grabbed his things and hurried down the stairs, tripping at the bottom one. "Ow."
"Not so fast, Bluey!" Zeph said as he reached the top of the staircase. Then he unfolded his wings and with an elegant manoveur, he glided down. "You always rush. That's my job. Don't even try."
Blue rubbed his head as he stood up and grabbed his saddlebags. He put the bags back on as he looked at Zephyr, annoyed as Zeph smiled at him.
"Shall we go finally?" Zeph asked, the annoying smile still present on his face.
Blue rolled his eyes before smirking back. "Sure."
"Oh wait, I forgot my bag in your room. A sec and I'll be back." Zeph said then turned around and using his wings he flew up to the top of the stairs where he landed, then keeping his speed he galopped in Blue's room. Meanwhile the two forementioned mares were peeping through the tiny gap between Zeph's door and its frame, they were in the room, still talking about something.
Blue tapped his hoof as he waited at the bottom of the stairs. "And you say I'm slow? What happened to all that speed, Mr. Pushy?"
Right in the second Blue finished his sentence Zeph appeared next to him in a blue blur, the wind what followed him almost knocked Blue to the floor.
"You said something?"
Blue just gave him the evil eye. "Shut up."
"Hm." Zeph looked back at the stairs and saw a multicolored piece of mane disappearing. "These mares are planning something." He looked back at Blue. "Let us go now."
Before the stallions could leave, their roommates, Drax and Ice, stepped out from the living room.
"Hey, again, sorry about not being able to go with you guys, but Spitfire really wanted me to go to the training camp with her." Drax said.
"Have fun you two!" Said Ice then looked at the clock. "Oh my... if I don't get in work within 3 minutes I'll be dead!" He rushed out of the living room, slamming the door behind him.
"Well, that was weird..." Said Zeph as he looked at the now closed door.
"Nothing is weird anymore, Zeph." Blue joked.
"Oh, don't even say a thing like that..." He looked at Drax. "Drax, I'm sorry you couldn't come but it's fine. Maybe next time." He sighed.
"Yeah, but you two just try and enjoy yourselves without me." The black pegasus said before walking to the door and opening it. "I gotta meet Fire in five minutes, so I'll see ya guys when you get back." He then left, closing the door behind him.
"Well, what are we waiting for?" Zeph flared his wings and took a big breath, what he regretted immediately, he breathed in a piece of dust - he started to sneeze. "Oh for- *sneeze* the love of- *sneeze* Luna! Aaaaargh!" *sneeze*
Blue covered himself as Zeph sneezed. "Sheesh, say it, don't spray it."
With a last sneeze Zeph stopped and gave Blue an angry look. But his attention was grabbed off of Blue as he heard giggling from the direction of the stairs. "Hey," He whispered. "we should ask the girls what are they planning."
"If they're whispering, then that obviously means they don't want us to know." He whispered back.
"Okay, we ask them." Zeph turned his head to the the direction of the stairs. "HEY! I know you are there, come here and tell us what you two are up to!"
Blue facehoofed. "Why do I even bother?"
"What? This is the easier and faster way, we should be on our way like an hour before!"
"*sigh* They're not gonna tell us. Just wait."
"If you say so..." Putting his bag down Zeph headed upstairs, ignoring Blue.
Blue sighed again. "Might as well give it a shot." he went up the stairs, following behind Zephyr.
As Zeph reached the top of the stairs (looks like not in the last time today) he have seen his room's door closing and heard muffled speaking.
"Giiirls, seriously?" He shouted to them.
"Told you so." Blue said.
The door was locked. Zeph knocked four times and spoke up. "Tavi? Dash? What are you planning? Tell us please!" He listened but heard nothing. "Looks like you were right, Blue..."
"Am I ever not right?" He asked smugly.
"You have no idea."
Zeph sighed and headed back to the living room. Blue shrugged before turning to the door. "Well, if you're not gonna talk, we're just gonna go. See ya when we get back." He then followed Zephyr down again. There was still no answer from behind the door.
As Zeph reached the top of the stars /again/ he noticed that his bag changed its place like if it was moved by somepony.
"Hmmm.. suspicious, are we?.." He whispered to himself.
"What is it, Zeph?" Blue asked as he reached the bottom and saw Zephyr looking over at something.
"It might be just me but I think somepony touched my bag... better check it, I have valueable stuff in it." He trotted to the bag and proceeded to pick it up and open it.
"Well, anything?"
Zeph looked inside the bag and...
*pfffffth*
Something sprayed on his face, he inhaled the dust like matter.
"AH! WHAT ON LUNA'S MANE?!"
"The buck?!"
The thing what sprayed Zeph's face was like a farting-pillow with the exception it activated when the the bag opened up. Zeph picked it up and inspected it. A simple sack with a little mechanism, nothing interesting. He sniffed the mysterious dust again and smelled something resembling a flowery scent.
"Dunno..."
"Why do I feel somepony, mainly a tall, green mare we know, is responsible for this?"
"...you read my mind..." He sniffed then throw the sack away, checking his bag: everything in place. "Okay, we can go. Wait." He took a big breath. "THIS WASN'T FUNNY!"
"What do you mean?" Blue asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I have the feeling this was Rainbow's prank Check the window, it's open. She could easily fly around and place that thing in my bag while we were upstairs."
"Hmm... That would be like her, but that doesn't necessarily mean it was."
"Well whatever. We go. Now."
"You sounded like Photo Finish right there." Blue chuckled.
"Just... get your stuff and move your sorry flank before I kick it. I planned to go in a fastfood restaurant before the train go but we have no time for that and we'll miss the train too if we stay any longer."
Blue shook his head. "Kick my flank? Yeah right. But yeah, we should get going." He checked his saddlebags one more time. "Okay, I'm all set."
"Onwards and upwards!" Zeph said and a grin crawled on his face. "ALLONS-Y!" He dashed to the door, opened it up and with an incredible speed he took off and flew right to the train station, living a royal-blue streak behind him.
Blue shook his head. "Over zealous as usual. He does realize I can't fly that fast, right?" Sighing, Blue started galloping to the train station.
*Five minutes later, at the station.*
Zeph was sitting on a bench, licking an icecream, when Blue arrived.
"It was about time!" He licked the frozen goodnes. "Want a lick?" He asked.
"No way! Besides, you know I can't move as fast as you. It's your fault that you had to wait."
"You sure?" He tilted his head.
"I don't want anything your tongue touched. I've heard what you and Octavia do at night."
"Hmmm, good times. But this icecream is brand new, I only licked this side." He pointed to the side what was closer to him.
"Can we just go, please?"
"....Right." He picked up two tickets next to him. "The train should be here any seconds now."
Just as he said that, the train came up and came to a screeching hault. "Geez, you weren't kidding."
"You know me, I'm the serious type." He smiled. "Let's get onboard, I was on a train like a year before!"
"Didn't we just go on a train a few months ago with the whole Graze thing?"
"...." Zeph stopped in his moves. "I have a bad memory."
Blue chuckled. "This I know. Now come on, we better get on."
The two stallion get onboard the train, and a few minutes later the steam powered beast was on its way. The town the two headed to is the last stop so it'll take more than a day to reach it. Fortunately Zeph bought the tickets for a sleeping coupe with two beds. He was slowly dozing off as the train monotonously clattered.
Blue himself also started dozing off, not really having anything better to do.
"H-hey Blue..." Zeph said, lifting his head from the fairly comfortable pillow. Blue ignored him as he slept.
"Mmm, chimicherrychongas." He started drooling.
"Blue.... Blue.... Blue...." Zeph repeated, never giving up.
Blue started blinking as he woke up. He rubbed his eyes before groaning. "What is it?"
"Have nice dreams..." He said and hid behind the blanket.
Blue growled angrily before trying to get back to sleep. "Flankhole. I already was."
As the train travelled, the time just flew, soon it was night-time. Thanks to the little amount of food Zeph ate before (the icecream was NOTHING) he woke up to the sound of his own stomach.
*growwwlll*
"Uh-huh, what?... Oh goddess I'm hungry..." He said quietly.
He tried to look around but it was too dark to see anything, so he tried to find the way out of the coupe by touching everything, like a blind would.
"Is this coupe grow in size or what?..." He said to himslef, whispering. "Ah, the door."
He opened it and went outside, searching for the restaurant part of the train, but before he went on, he closed the door so Blue can sleep.
Little time later Zeph found the restaurant part. While he was on his way he passed a mirror and he've seen that something was off with his reflection, maybe he had a bed-mane? He really didn't cared.
Opening the door he found a nice, fake restaurant with a waiter. He greeted him.
"Good evening!" And this was the moment when Zeph fell in confusion and got frightened.
The waiter that was standing behind the counter smiled at him. "Good evening to you, young lady."
Zeph just looked at him, mouth agape.
"Is something the matter, miss?"
'His' right eye twitched as 'he' looked at the waiter.
"Um... miss?"
"Uhm-I.. I.. " Zeph took a big breath "I want something very strong."
"One Skittles coming right up." the waiter grabbed several bottles and poured them in a shaker. He closed it off before shaking furiously. When done, he poured the rainbow liquid into a cup and set it on the table. "There you are."
Zeph grabbed the cup and drank the liquid at once. "Another!"
The waiter looked at her wide-eyed before simply making another and sliding it to her.
Zeph looked at the waiter, blinked twice, then put a pursue of bits on the table.
"Take the price of the drinks... I think I'll faint." And so she did.
The waiter looked at Zeph's unconscious body and shook his head. "So sad when the pretty ones are such drunks." he picked her up and set her on a nearby bench, not feeling like searching for her cabin.
Seven hours later...
Blue slowly blinked as he woke up. As he got up, he stretched his limbs, making them pop. He yawned. "Man, I could've slept better. What about you, Zeph?" he now took notice that the tan pegasus was no longer with him. "Hmm, must have gotten up in the middle of the night and passed out. Knowing Zeph, he probably went to get a bite."
He got up from the bench he was laying on and opened the door. With the sun now up, he was easily able to find the food car.
He looked around, the only pony there being a waiter. "Hey, have you seen my friend?" he asked.
"What did they look like, sir?" the waiter asked.
"He's a tan pegasus with a royal blue mane and tail."
"He? Well, there weren't any 'hes' like that, but there is mare sleeping over there." he motioned over to a bench.
Blue's eyes widened as he looked st the mare on the bench. "Oh my bucking princesses!"
Blue rushed over to the bench and stopped as he got a closer look. Yep, she was definitely Zephyr. He grabbed her and shook her. "Zephyr! Wake up!"
"Uh-huh whaaaa?..." She opened her eyes and tried to focus on Blue's face. "Blue?.. Is that you?..."
"Of course it's me! But are you you?!"
"Wh-why wouldn't I?... Oh, my head is killing me... I..." She stared in empty space for a few seconds then continued. "I had a dream.. I was a mare in that dream.. it was horrible..."
"That was no dream, Zeph. Just look at yourself."
"...." She looked in Blue's eyes and saw her reflection. Long locks of the familiar royal-blue mane, styled similar to Rainbow's, pretty eyes, full of emotions, feminine lines.... She started to scream.
Blue held his ears. "Geez, why do girls always scream so loud?"
As suddenly as she started Zeph stopped the screaming. She tilted her head in an almost unnatural angle, then her right eye twitched and she was out like a lamp.
"Zeph? Zeph?!" Blue grabbed her and started slapping her awake. "Wake up!"
"Hhhhhahh!" Thankfully she wakes up with a big breath. "Blue... tell me this isn't happening!" Her expression is as worried as it can be, tears start to gather in the corner of her eyes.
"Oh, it's happening alright, but don't start freaking out, I need you to focus!"
"Focus... focus.... right, staying... calm..." She took big breaths.
"There we go. Now, how could this have happened?"
"I have no idea....wait..."
"It couldn't have been..." Blue continued where Zeph stopped.
"That dust stuff I got in my face?"
"Must have had that stupid Hood Swap junk in it!"
"...Rainboooooow!...." Her worried expression changed to an angry one. "She will PAY for this!"
"Hey, that's my marefriend you're talking about there."
She looked in his eyes, her eyes narrowed. This expression could be called 'I will kill you if you say one more thing'.
"Please, Zeph. Mare or no mare, you can't beat me."
She raised her right eyebrow then with a very simple move, she kicked Blue in his family jewels. Blue grabbed at his sack as he lay on the floor.
"Grr, motherbucker, I will get you back for this."
"How, Bluey, I don't have that parts anymore." She smiled at the lying Blue, a smug expression on her face. "But this is serious, I need to change back."
"You don't need those for pay back, but that's beside the point. The point is you're stuck like that until we can get back to Vine for some help."
Her expression fell when she heard the last part.
"Oh my.. sweet... Luna..."
Blue picked himself off the floor. "Just calm down. It's not that big a deal."
"Aaaah, nooo, it really isn't, it even have benefits!" She said sarcastically as she got off of the bench. "Now I can do things what I was never dared to do!" She whipped her tail in Blue's face and swayed her flank.
Blue rolled his eyes. "Don't think you can mess with me, Zeph. I'm loyal to Dash, and you're still you."
"I. Was. Sarcastic." She closed her eyes and took a big breath. "We should go back to our coupe, I'm sure the other passangers will freak out if they hear us speaking." She looked at the waiter who was standing there, looking at them with eyes big as saucers.
The waiter just turned away. "I didn't hear a thing."
"..." Zeph was wordless for a moment. "Let's move..."
"Yeah..."
In the cabin...
The door opened and the two friend walked in.
"You know, even if I feel distressed, we could enjoy our vacation."
"Exactly my point. Being a mare doesn't really make a difference here." Blue said.
"Hm. We should arrive.. two hours later, what will we do until it?"
"I don't know. More sleep?"
"Works for me, that bench was a bad place to sleep on..."
"Well, these ones aren't that great either, but whatever."
"Better than that..." She get in her bed and took a comfortable position. "Seeya later."
Blue hopped in his own bed and quickly dozed off.
What Blue didn't notice was that Zeph wasn't sleeping. She waited for Blue to fall asleep, then she carefully changed her position and using her right hoof she started to....
Hearing a strange noise, Blue started opening his eyes. They shot open when he looked at Zeph. "Uh... Zeph?"
Stopping abruptly she looked at him, then down at herself, then back at Blue.
"This is... exactly what it looks like."
"...Can't say I blame you."
"...." She was silent for a moment. "I want to finish. You saw and heard nothing."
Blue looked at Zeph quizzically before turning around. "Riiight. You do that."
Zeph stared at Blue for a half minute then she spoke. "Mood killer." She turned around and a few minutes later she was asleep.
Two hours later...
The train reached its final destination(no pun intended) and with a loud creek it stopped.
*yawn* "We are here!.." Said Zeph as she opened her eyes.
Blue stretched his limbs out as he sat up. "You don't say?"
"Very funny Bluey." She sighed as she rubbed her eyes. "Anyway... now as we arrived to Stalbank, we can finally go and find that cave... remember when we were those lil' guys? That was an adventure!"
"What? Going to hell and back not enough for ya?" Blue joked.
"Uh, yes, we can call that an 'adventure', but I want to find that cave because that was the best part of my foalhood when we were here and was on anadventure for it!" She got out of the crude bed as she said these.
Blue followed her lead and got up to. "I see your point."
"See? Told ya. Now, let's get offboard." She took the lead and with her small bag on her back Zeph left the coupe.
Blue grabbed his own bags and followed her off the train.
(Town theme)
The town was small and tidy, smiling ponies were everywhere, doing their everyday business. As Zeph got off the train her lips immediately curled up, the good memories of the past flushed her thoughts. She flared her wings and flew up.
"Heeey Bluey, come on!" She shouted happily.
Blue smiled and shook his head before flying up to join her. "I see you're happy."
"Happy? Are you kidding? I didn't feel this good in YEARS!"
"Really? You forget everything that's happened since you moved in?"
"Uh, you know what I mean!"
"Hehe, yeah, just messin' with ya."
"Why am I not surprised?.."
"Because you know me."
Zeph's smile renewed and with a friendly punch on Blue's shoulder she flew away.
"Come on Bluey, I think that shop is still in business!"
"Sweet, let's get a move on!"
Five minutes of flying and smiling later they arrived to a small house. There was a sign above the door, it read: 'Tricks and Treasures'.
"Remember when that stallion told about the cave? I hope he still works here."
"Yeah I remember. But we're gonna have some explaining to do about your... looks."
"Oh." Zeph's ears went down as she stopped in her thoughts and moves. "Hmmm... I think it would be better if we evade that whole situation... snd that means we will need a story..." She started to think. "And a new name for me of course."
"Right." Blue put a hoof to his chin as he thought.
"Uhhhh... I think.... no no no..." She shook her head.
Blue took a good look at Zeph to try and help. "Hmm..."
"Oh, I think I got it!" She said and her ears perked up.
"Okay, so?"
"Azure Rush! What do you think?"
"Hmm, I like it. I think it suits you."
"I created it after my name afterall, it should suit me!" She started to grin.
"Okay, so shall we go in, madam?" Blue asked with a sly grin.
"Madam? Bluey, seriously? I'm the same Zeph."
"Doesn't mean that's gonna stop me from making the most I can out of this. Just wait til the guys at home hear about this." Blue chuckled to himself.
"You know you are threating your balls right now?" Azure's expression was dead serious.
"Um... shall we go in?" Blue asked, this time more nervously.
"Yes!" Azure took the lead again.
The shop was similar to the town itself: small and tidy. The shelves were filled with pranking equipment or comic books, there were even treasure maps. A glistening white stallion with peanut-brown and leaf-grean mane and with dark green eyes greeted them.
"Welcome to the Tricks and Treasures, what can I help you?"
Blue walked up to the front counter. "Hey there, Mr. Firecracker. Remember me?"
"Hmm... is that you, Blue Breeze? The one who almost blew up my shop? How could I forget you?" A wide smile appeared on his face.
"Oh, come on. That was years ago. You're still on me about that? I said I was sorry."
Firewcracker started to chuckle. "I'm not mad at you Blue, do I look like angry?" He let out another burst of laughing.
"I suppose not." Blue chuckled again.
"Uhm, hello!" Said Azure nervously.
"Oh, hello there, miss. Is this a new friend of yours, Blue?" Firecracker asked.
Blue started getting nervous. "Uh, yeah, this is Azure Rush. Azure, this is Firecracker, an old friend of mine."
Firecracker stuck out a hoof. "Very nice to meet you, Azure."
Azure responded to the risen hoof and shook it. "Nice to meet you too!" She smiled nervously.
Firecracker gave Blue a sly look. "You and her known each other for a while, Blue?"
Blue facehoofed. "It's not like that."
Firecracker bursts into laughter again. "I'm just pulling your leg, Blue. Now, what brings you two all the way out to Stalbank?"
"Uhm, yes, Blue told me that you told him about a cave when he was here in the first time, so we decided to find it. Can you help us?"
"Ah, yes. I remember that. Hold on, let me go find that old map I had." Firecracker started rumaging through an old barrel full of even older maps that were each individually rolled up. He found the map they were looking for and put it on the countertop. "Here we are."
"Ah, thank you!" Azure looked at the map then at Firecracker's face and smiled at him. "Do we have to buy it or we can take it? We'll return it after we found the cave."
"Oh, be my guest. Anything for Blue." a thought popped into his head. "By the way, Blue, where are Zephyr and Drax? I remember them being with you last time."
Hearing her real name a nervous expression crawled on Azure's face. Blue nudged Azure.
"Play it cool, dude."
"...Easy talking.." She whispered.
Blue rubbed the back of his head as he tried to think up an answer. "Oh, they had some business back in Ponyville. They couldn't make it."
"Ah, I see." Firecracker said. He took a close look at Azure. "You know, you look an awful lot like Blue's old friend Zephyr."
"Really? A lot of ponies say this!" Ever seen Applejack lying? Imagine her expression.
Blue quickly grabbed the map and started pushing Azure to the door. "Well, it was great seeing you again, Mr. Firecracker. Thanks for the map!"
The two quickly left the building, leaving Firecracker in a state of confusion. "That boy, I swear. I hope he keeps out of trouble."
Out of the store...
"Bluey, this was close, too close."
"Don't look at me. You're the one who nearly blew it."
"Sorry, looks like I wasn't prepared for a confrontation. Can we go on and find that cave?.." She sighed yet again.
Blue took the map. "Sure, the map's right here. Should be easy to find."
Following the map's instruction they started the 'adventure to that old cave.
"You know.. we should look around in town before."
"Good idea. I'm hungry."
"Me too. Hm, I can't remember where are the restaurants, should we find one?"
"Yes! Oh, I hope they have chimicherrychongas."
Azure facehoofed. "Oh Bluey.."
"Blame Pinkie. She's the one who got me started."
"Uh, don't even talk about that pink ball of energy, I still can't accept that she can brake the rule of physics." She shook her head.
"And what's this thing she calls 'the fourth-wall'?"
"Heh, once I caught her while talking to it and she said that we are in a TV-show and she speaks to the audience. The next time I've seen her doing this she told me that now she speaks to the readers of the story we are in! I couldn't sleep for a day after it!"
"...My head hurts."
"You have no idea what I felt that time. Anyway, do you smell that?" She sniffed in the air.
Blue sniffed at the air too. "Food!"
"Take off the plane captain!" She smiled and with a few flaps of her wings she was in the air. "I can see it from here!"
"Don't just talk, lead the way!"
Azure nodded and flew off in a direction. "Follow meee!"
Blue ran down the streets as he followed Azure from below. Weirdly, he blushed a bit. He could see... things.
Azure reached the place where the smell come from and hovered in midair while she waited for Blue.
Blue caught up with her shortly. "Well, what is it?" he asked excitedly.
"You'll not like it.. it's a mid-high class restaurant." She slowly descended and landed next to Blue. "Uhm, why are you blushing Bluey?" She asked innocently and tilted her head.
Blue covered his cheeks. "Um... that's not blushing, my face is just red from running."
"Uh-huh. Hm, looks like we need to reserve a table..."
"Reserve? That's lame."
"Tell me about it." She blow a lock of mane before her eyes and a bored expression appeared on her face.
"Well, now what?"
"Just... uh, they'll think we are a couple!" She looked down to the ground, hiding behind her mane.
"Okay, no way are we eating here then." Blue said sternly.
"Then where? I'm actually pretty hungry." To verify her, Azure's belly let out a loud growl.
"I can tell." Blue's own stomach grumbled a bit. "*sigh* fine, we can eat here. But we still need to reserve, don't we?"
"Y-yeah.." She hid behind her mane even more.
Blue facehoofed. "What is wrong with you?"
"...." She gave no answer to Blue.
"Ugh, whatever. I guess we can't eat here then if we don't have a reservation."
"Actually... we /might/ get a table here. But I'll need your help to that."
Blue raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
"See that waiter? He looks like the kind we can convince." She pointed to a waiter pony who was bored like hell.
"How so?"
"This is the part I don't like.. He is a pegasus like us. I'm sure he likes air shows too. I think a little performance could convince him, but... uh... maybe we should just ask him."
"I say ask. I'm not into doing tricks."
"A'right..." Azure walked to the bored waiter and asked him. "Excuse me sir, can we.." She pointed to Blue. "...get a table here? I'll pay right now if needed!"
The waiter gave her a questioning look.
"Of course you can! Why did you think that you need to reserve?... I'll have a talk with the manager, it's enough.." he trotted inside the restaurant, quite pissed.
"Huh, well... that was certainly easy."
"Looks like this town isn't as happy as it seems..." Azure said and walked inside then she looked around for a free table.
Blue followed after her. "See anywhere good?"
"Yeah, there." She pointed to a two-seats table.
"Looks good. After you."
Azure walked to the table and started to teak a seat.
Blue took a seat on the opposite side from her.
The pissed off waiter returned, now looking calmer. He had two menus with him what he gave to them.
"Tell me when you habe chosen." He said and went behind a mixing table, preparing some drinks.
"Hmm, what looks good to you, Ze-I mean, Azure?" Blue asked, catching himself.
"Hmmm... maybe a salad?..." She blinked in shock. "Oh my sweet Luna I started to like the things the mares like!"
"Calm down, bro. You're gonna get us unwanted attention." Blue whispered, looking around the room.
"Uh, right."
"I think I'll just get a hayburger."
Azure nodded then turned to the waiter.
"Uhm, waiter!" She shouted.
The waiter walked to them, a bored expression on him face again."Yes, what are your orders?"
"Hayburger for me."
"And a salad for me."
He nodded as he wrote it in his notepad.
"Hayburger and salad. Should be ready twenty minutes later."
"Twenty minutes for that?"
"You can always leave." He turned away and went into the kitchen.
Blue grumbled to himself. "Stupid, uptight flankhole. Why is it you like this place so much again?"
"I never said I like this place. I'm just hungry and I don't want to search for another place if we are already here."
"I meant the town. I don't remember much besides the cave."
"...." She looked in his eyes. "You got me there..."
"Whatever. Let's just eat then head to the cave."
"Yeah... eat and.. stuff.. " Azure looked away and stared in empty space for a little. Then she looked at Blue, hiding her eyes behind her mane.
Blue noticed how Azure was looking at him. "Um... are you all right?"
"What?!?" She blinked furiously and a blush appeared on her face.
"Now, don't go getting weird on me, dude. You're still you, remember?"
"Y-yes, I'm sorry..."
Blue sighed. "It's fine. Just try to focus on something to occupy your mind."
"Uhhh...." She started to think, and after a minute an even redder blush appeared on her face.
"I meant something else!"
"You know it's very hard... oh Luna, why did I say that.." Her wings started to unfurl themselves.
"Zeph..."
"What?" She looked up, in Blue's eyes.
"You're getting a wingboner." he whispered.
"I... know..." A pained expression spread on her face.
"Just go to the restroom or something. Ponies are starting to look."
"Right, to the restroom." She stood up and walked to the toilets and almost went in the wrong one.
Blue facehoofed. "Rainbow Dash, we are gonna have a serious talk when I get back."
Few minutes later a refreshed loking Azure returned, a smile on her face. She sat down on her seat and started to speak.
"Did I miss anything?"
"Only me wishing things weren't so hard all the time."
She gave him an angry look. "I hate you."
"Oh, I should've mentioned that pun wasn't intended."
"Stop, dude."
The waiter appeared in the kitchen door, carrying a plate. He walked to them and placed it on the table.
"Bon apetite." He said and gave Blue and Azure their respective meals.
Blue rubbed his hooves together eagerly. "About time." he grabbed the burger and took a bite.
Azure took the fork what was gaven to her with the salad and picked up a few leaves and vegetables with it.
"Is it good?" She asked as she put the fork in her mouth.
Blue swallowed. "Yeah, it is pretty good. How's the salad?" he teased.
"Good! I wonder why didn't I eat more before."
"Maybe because you weren't selfconscious about your weight before."
"Uhhh, what are you talking about? I'm skinny. Or slim in this case."
"Then why did you get the salad if you don't need to watch your weight?"
"...Dunno." She gave him big eyes. "I really change into a mare.." She whispered.
"I'd recommend we get you back then before your time of the month."
"...I think... that is a good idea.." She looked down at the table, a worried expression on her face.
"Hey, don't worry about it. Let's just try and enjoy ourselves, alright?"
"Yeah, alright.." She silently continued the eating.
The two went on to finish their food without much talking. After they were done, they paid for their meal and left quickly.
In the streets, few minutes after they left the resaurant...
"You know, this wasn't half bad. We should go to restaurants more often." She said, wondering.
"Now I think you're just thinking outloud."
"Why would you think that? Wait.." Her expression fell again.
"I really think this mare thing is warping your mind, Zeph."
"You might be right..." She started to think for a moment. "...hmm, as every mare likes to be in relationship and feel love, I should know now why is that... but I can't feel anything." She stopped for a second, then continued. "To be honest, I think love is overrated." She started to hum a tune.
Blue stood there with a blank expression for a moment. "Octavia is gonna be pissed if you say that to her."
She smiled at him, then started to sing.
(New music)
Blue facehoofed. "Okay, maybe we should skip the cave and go back home."
Azure continued the singing and flew up in the air, singing even louder: ponies started to listen her and surprisingly some of them singed along.
"Zeph! Are you even listening to me?!" Blue shouted, getting impatient.
She continued the singing, paying no attention to Blue. A few mares started to sing the background vocals, giving the song a better sounding. It became pretty good after the first minute passed.
"Ugh, I give up." Blue walked under a shady tree and leaned against it, lying on the ground. "You do what you want. I'm gonna take a nap."
When he did that, Azure flew down, still singing.
(Time of this part in the song: around 1:42)
She wore an evil smile as she singed.
Blue looked at her with one open eye for a minute, but closed it as he tried to rest again.
The song was over soon, the little crowd what gathered around them started to get back to do their own business.
"What is it Bluey, you didn't like the song? Was my voice bad?" She teased.
"I'm not in the mood, Zeph."
"Not in the mood for what?"
"For your junk."
"...." Her expression quickly turned into an angry one. "You know what? Buck you." She unfurled her wings but before she took off, she turned back her head to Blue once again. "And my name is Azure." And she flew away as fast as bullet, leaving a royal-blue streak behind her.
Blue just shrugged it off. "Mares..." Some time later he started to think over his decision to just ignore her. He sighed as he got up. "I better go find him... her... whatever. I can't just leave him hangig." he unfirled his wings and flew up to get a bird's eye view of the area.
While Blue decided to find her, Azure got pretty far away, she flew to the beach of the town to be exact, what was not just on the other side of the town, but like a mile away from it.
"Now, if I were Zephyr, where would I go." he sighed. "That's not gonna help me much here. Even Zeph doesn't know where he'd go right now." He descended to the ground. "Guess I'll just have to ask around for some help here." he noticed a mare down. "Hey! Excuse me!"
The mare looked over at him. "Yes?"
Blue went over to the mare. "Yeah, did you see a tan pegasus mare with a blue mane fly by?"
"Why, yes I did. She flew off that way, towards the beach." she said, pointing behind her.
"Thanks." Blue said before taking to the sky again. He started flying off in the direction given. "Hopefully Zeph's willing to talk."
After a good bit of flying, Blue started feeling tired. "Geez, how far away is this stupid beach." now getting near the beach, he easily spotted a royal blue mane down below. "Bingo!"
Azure was lying on a large, flat stone, looking at the ocean before her, by the looks, deep in her thoughts. The wind gently blowed her mane.
Azure not noticing him, Blue slowly walked up behind her and stopped by the side of the stone. "Hey..."
She looked at him, sniffing and rubbing her teary eyes. "Hey.."
Blue sighed. "Look... I'm sorry."
"...Apology accepted... and I think I should say sorry too." She let out a sigh herself.
Blue smiled and stuck a hoof out. "Brohoof?"
"Brohoof." She weakly connected her right forehoof with Blue's.
"So, you ready for the cave now?"
"I... think..." She looked down at her hooves. "Blue, do I really turn into mare and not just for body?"
"I don't know. When Vine became a stallion she didn't act differently, but she was already attracted to mares and acted a lot like a guy."
"Guess that's why she didn't change... so this whole gender switching afflects me completly. Great. Just great." She closed her eyes and a single tear formed in her eye. It slowly rolled down on her cheek and fell to the rock below, making a wet spot on it.
Blue brought a hoof up to her face and wiped her eye. "Hey hey. No tears now. You're stronger than that."
She smiled at him and brought his hoof closer, making Blue hug her.
"This is just so.. unfair..."
"I know it, but it isn't permanent. We just need to get through these next few days."
"I want to go home..." She started to cry again.
"Well, we can if you want. We can always try the cave again later."
"N-no, I waited for this too much.. I think I'll be fine... to the cave?" She let him go and smiled at him.
Blue smiled brightly. "Ready when you are."
"Normally I would race you. But I don't want to do it now... lead the way Bluey."
Blue took out the map and started examining it. "Hmm... Well, ain't lucky a break?"
"Hmm?"
"Turns out the cave entrance is just on the left end of this beach. It's not far from here at all."
"Really? Let's go then, I wanna see that thing finally!"
She get on all four and grinned.
Blue motioned for her to follow and they started trotting down to the end of the beach.
After walking through a lot of sand, seaweed, and hermit crabs, the two eventually made it to a cave entrance that was on the side of a rocky mountain.
"Wooow... this is enormous!" Azure said in awe as she looked up to the ceiling of the cave. "How could we missed that back then?"
"Because we were dumb kids probably."
"Well, I know I wasn't dumb but I'm not going to say anything about you." She giggled after she said that.
"I take no offense to that." Blue joked with a goofy smile.
"Are ya? Other times you'ld punch me at least!"
"After what happened earlier, I think we could both use a break."
"A break. Right in the entrance of the cave. No, we should at least go inside and have the first real looks!" She trotted in the cave.
"I meant a break in another sense, not a physical break. I'm ready to go!"
"Oh, so that break!" She whistled. "This place is amazing! I wonder if.." She flew up and touched one of the stalactites hanging down.
"Wonder what?" Blue said, looking up. He tried not looking at 'that' spot again.
Suddenly a loud crack could be heard.
"Uh-oh."
"What did you do?"
A large crack on the ceiling, what spread very fast, answered Blue's question.
"Zeph, run!" Blue shouted.
A large chunk of the ceiling started to fell down. Azure evaded it but unfortuntately it blocked the entrance of the cave and as the ceiling fell into pieces, less and less place remain to get out of the cave.
Soon enough, all the openings were closed off, leaving the two stuck.
When everything gone quiet Azure landed next to Blue. Only a tiny spot was uncovered by the rocks, a little ray of sun came through it, giving enough light to them to see.
"This was the stupidest thing I have ever done in my entire life." She said and slowly facehoofed.
"...Forget what I said about giving you a break." Blue said in a bored voice. He smacked her upside the head.
"Heeeey oww, that hurts!" She tried to give back the punch.
"You deserve it! You've bucked us!"
"But that doesn't mean you have to hit me!" She rubbed her head. "Besides, I'm sure there must be another way out of here."
"I doubt it. Even with my powers I can't break rocks."
"I said another way out. Not that here." She pointed to the freshly closed one. "We better start searching."
"If you say so."
"Just my luck... I packed in a flashlight!" She grabbed her bag(that was strapped on her left side all along) and pulled a flashlight out of it.
"Why do we bring bags again when Pinkie showed us how to do that one thing?"
"I like the old fashioned way."
"Seems legit."
"Because it is. And I look cooler if I have something on me, let it be a bag or shades or anything."
"Riiight."
"Now what?" She looked at him, tilting her head.
"You said we should search, so search."
"Right." Turning the flashlight on they started to wander in the cave.
As they searched, Blue started getting a feeling. "I'm having a bad feeling about all of this. We may be stuck, but this whole situation seems too easy for us."
"What do ya mean?..." She kept looking around, even if it was dark, the cave was still interesting for Azure.
"Like, doesn't something usually jump out and attack us in a place like this?"
"Don't you even think about that."
"I'm just saying. With our normal luck, this place seems pretty tame."
"Hm. Well... I hope we won't find anything because if we find and we can't fight it... then we are doomed."
"Speak for yourself. Do you remember who you're talking to?" Blue said smugly.
Azure just rolled her eyes.
"Don't worry, Zeph. We can handle anything that comes our way."
"If you say so... by the way, even if this makes me feel uneasy, can you call me Azure? I don't want to remember this as I did, but as my alterego."
"Sure, whatever."
"A'right... keep going..." She spotted something. "Hey Bluey, can you hold the light while I check that out?" She said and pointed at something on the wall above them.
Blue grabbed the flashlight and pointed. "Sure thing."
Azure flew up and checked the wall out: there was some kind of carving in it.
"What's up, Azure? I mean, besides you?"
"I don't know... a... carving? It looks ancient..." She touched it. "Hmmm..." Nothing happened.
"It's not a button, Azure. It's not going to do anything if you push it."
"Very funny. Okay, let's move."
Blue gave her back the flashlight as she flew down before they continued.
After they left the part of the cave with the carving, it started to move: it circled around and made a clacking sound.
The sound wasn't too loud and the natural sounds of the cave made it unnoticeable. Azure and Blue continued the exploring of the cave.
"Like I said, this seems too easy. It's boring actually." Blue said as they walked.
"Do you want to get out of here in one piece, still alive?" She flared her wings as she said these.
"I've gotten out of much worse situations alive. Even after my wings were torn off I lived."
"Right... But this is a cave and we don't know if we can get out. Wait." She stopped in her tracks, her wings still flared.
"Why are your wings up again?"
"Don't you sense it?.. The air is moving... and it wasn't a minute before..." She licked one of her forehooves, probing the air.
"Yeah, now that you mention it, you're right." he facehoofed. "And I'm supposed to be the wind expert."
"Nah, if my wings weren't unfurled I wouldn't notice it either. So, time to mov-" A sudden blow of wind stopped her.
"What was that?"
"I don't know... but it can't be good, the air can't blow in a cave!" She looked at him worriedly.
"I say we move it, FAST!"
"But where?!?"
"Anywhere!"
She looked up. "Come on!" She grabbed Blue and started to fly up. "What is it?!" Blue asked as they flew.
A deep rumble came as answer, similar to...
"WATER!!!"
"What the buck?!"
"The cave is being flooded!" The way we came isn't useable, I say we should move in as fast as possible!" She grabbed Blue yet again and dragged him in the deeper parts of the cave.
As the two raced deeper into the cave, they could hear the rapids rapidly approach from behind.
The roaring was closer and closer by the second, when...
"I see something!"
"Really?!"
"No, I'm bucking kidding! Of course I see something! There!" She pointed forward.
Blue smiled as he saw it. "LIGHT!"
They entered some kind of a hall, it was big enough to build a two stories tall house inside. The light come from the ceiling.
"An exit?!"
"I hope!"
In the next moment the flood reached them.
"Fly! Fly! Fly!"
"You! Don't! Say!?!" They flew up, higher and higher.
"Yes! I do say! Fly, damn you!"
"Urgh, I'll kick you! But first we get away from here!"
Soon they reached the ceiling, and just in time: the water's level was higher and higher as the seconds passed.
The two flew through the hole just before the water reached them. As they flew out, they quickly landed and started breathing hard.
"*pant pant* Give me manticores and ursas anyday over this."
"Huh....huh... if this is an adventure... then I want to stay at home..." She looked at Blue.
"Almost forgot." She walked to him and kicked him in the balls. "Don't you dare to insult me again!"
Blue grabbed his balls for the second time this day. "I swear I'll get you back when we get home."
"Just try it, Bluey! You can't even beat me in wrestling without your powers!" She quickly got on top of him, pinning him down to the ground.
Blue started blushing with Azure on top of him. "Um... Azure, you do realize you're on top of me, right?"
She looked in his eyes for a few seconds, then she started to blush furiously and got off of him.
"I'm sorry, I-I... uh, maybe this whole change thing didn't affect me completly. But I'm sorry... and sorry for hitting you in the balls.... three times. Can I do something to you Bluey?" She sat down next to Blue.
"To me?" Blue asked, slightly worried.
"Uh, for you... " She blushed even harder.
"Um... Well, I can't think of anything."
"Okay... I don't want to get vengeance from you so tell me if you found something, I'll do anything." She sighed. "Buck my life..."
"Hmm.." Blue tapped his chin as he tried to think. "How about you buy lunch for not just me, but also the rest of the guys for the next week?"
"Just that?" Her eyebrows run up and disappeared behind her locks of mane. "I thought you'll..."
"I already said none of that. I'm loyal to Dash."
"Why do you think that I meant that? I thought you'd make me clean the attic or something..."
"What? Why? Who even uses the attic?"
"Uh, doesn't matters."
"Ugh, whatever. I say we go find an inn to stay at."
"Yeah... but first we should find out where in the buck are we..." She looked around: nothing familiar.
Blue put a foreleg over his eyes as he surveyed the area. "I'm guessing we're somewhere on top of that cliff side the cave was on."
"Well, we should get in air then. Oh, I can't believe how much I love to be pegasus!"
"I think you're getting worked up again."
"Oh, shut up!" Azure flew up and hovered in place, waiting for Blue.
Blue sighed and flew up. "Seee anything?"
"Hmmmm... yeah... there..." She pointed ahead of them: something shiny was in the distance.
Blue squinted his eyes to the direction. "What is that?"
"It looks like.. like a window, it might be a house!" She tapped her chin. "I have a sense of direction and this house is not part of the town. If it is a house."
"Whatever. At least it's a start. Let's go see if anyone can tell us how far we are from town."
"Okay, let's move!" She signed to Blue to follow her.
Blue followed her as the two came up to find it was indeed a house.
The house looked old and deserted but it had no damage by the looks. Azure, after both of them landed, went to the door and knocked.
*knock-knock-knock*
No answer.
"Hmm, doesn't seem like anyone lives here, or has lived here in a long time." Blue said.
"Yeah.. hm, maybe the previous owner left something valueable here, we should check it out!" Azure said and her eyes shined up in the hope of a treasure, let it be anything.
"You would think of robbing the place."
"You could say that, but I don't see a sign says 'keep out' so I'll go in, with you or without." She pushed the doorknob and the door opened.
"That's like saying to break something just because there isn't a written rule against it."
"Whateveeer~!" Azure walked inside the house.
Blue facehoofed and followed behind. "I know I'm gonna regret this."
The interior of the house was similar to the exterior: old wooden floor, some old chairs and a table, a half-rotten bed, a rusty hearth with some surprisingly dry firewood next to it. The only interesting thing was a table with a lock on it.
"Hey... do you think you can open it?" Azure asked as she examined the rusty lock.
Blue shrugged. "Sure, seems easy enough, if illegal at the same time." His wings glowed their trademark white as he charged energy in them. He took one wing and easily used it to slice through the rusty lock. "Piece of cake."
"Thank you!" Azure smiled at him then opened the shelf of the table. "...Seriously?" She asked in disbelief.
"What?"
"This..." She grabbed something from the shelf and showed it to Blue. It was a map to the freshly flooded cave.
"Is that it? We've already got one of those."
"Exactly." She sighed and put back the old map in the shelf. Then she groaned and quickly turned around, she wanted to leave this place, but she accidently collided with Blue, who fell on the floor, Azure on top of him. But this wasn't enough, they accidentally...
"BLEH!" Blue screamed. "I can taste Zephyr!"
Azure just looked at Blue, eyes wide as saucers.
Blue quickly got up, pushing Azure off of him. He started scraping his tongue with a hoof.
Azure remain on the spot Blue pushed her, still loking at him.
Blue spit a bit. "Bleck! Geez, remind me to watch it around you."
"It wasn't that bad..." She whispered.
Blue looked at her in shock. "W... What did you say?"
"I said.. it wasn't that bad.." She whispered and hid behind her mane just like Fluttershy would, the faint redness of a blush appearing on her face.
Blue just stood there for a moment. "We need to get back to Ponyville. This mare thing is getting out of hoof."
Azure didn't responded just kept staring Blue.
Blue grabbed one of Azure's hooves and pulled her up.
After getting on all four Azure blinked and looked down at the floor, thinking. "You know... " She started but said nothin after.
"Know what?" Blue asked.
Azure looked up, in his eyes. "We were always friends... I remember the first day we met... you know how lonely I was, I told you about my past a million times..." She sighed. "And I had a big secret all along..." She closed her eyes and lowered her head. "I know we both have family now, and things just can't get easy, but I have to tell you this..."
"Zeph... Don't say anything you might regret when you're back to normal."
"Look. It was eating me from the very first day we met. I can't just keep it anymore. And because of the circumstances it's not even that wierd." Azure looked up again, in Blue's eyes.
Blue breathed a heavy sigh. "Okay, go ahead. I'm ready for whatever it is you need to get off your chest."
"Yes.. I think you already guessed it... huh?" She rised her right eyebrow.
"What?"
"No?... Right... well... I called you Bluey for a reason back then and here either.. and it's because I always felt you more than a friend... please don't hate me.." She turned away from him.
"I don't hate you, Azure." Blue reassured her. he rested a hoof on her shoulder.
She looked at the hoof on her shoulder. "Then please don't hate me for this too!" And with a very quick move she pulled Blue closer and gave him a deep kiss.
As they broke the kiss, Blue just stood there, looking wide-eyed at Azure. "Um... So... Yeah." he rubbed the back of his neck, not really knowing what to say.
Azure blinked and started to blush furiously. She looked to the left, like if she was looking at something interesting, then she looked back at Blue.
"If it's all the same to you, I think it'd be best if we never told this to anyone... ever."
"Y-yeah..." She blinked. "But if we don't speak about this, then..." Her expression turned into a teasing one, the worse kind: bedroom eyes.
"I don't like that look." Blue said, backing away a bit.
Azure closed the distance between them, a wild smile appearing on her face. She fluttered her eyelashes. "What happens in this house.. stays in this house.." She whispered.
Blue's eyes went so wide they were nearly popping out of his head. "No! No no no! NO!"
"Don't resist, I know you are curious..."
"NO! I already told you a million times I'm loyal to Dash! This is NOT happening in a million years!"
"Nopony have to know! I'll change back anyway! Just give it a.. chance..." She practically pinned Blue to the wall behind him, he retrieved to it while Azure tried to close the distance between them.
"That's the problem! You'll be back to normal! I'll never be able to look at you again!"
"I know we can forget the things here... and what would change, just think about it.."
Not being able to take it anymore, Blue pushed her and quickly ran out of the house.
"Wha..?" Azure just looked after him and after a few seconds she started to chase Blue. "Come back!" She shouted.
"Never!" Blue shouted back. He just kept running, just trying to get away.
Azure unfurled her wings and got in air within a second. Thanks to her way better skill in flying and aerial experience she was above Blue a few moments later.
Blue looked up to see her. "Don't you try it, Zeph! I'm not afriad to hurt you!"
"My name now is Azure! And you'll not hurt me, how would you do that?" She quickly descended, a few seconds later she was so close she could almost touch Blue.
"Grr, like this!" Blue quickly turned up and shot a powerful wind that pushed her back.
"Whoa!" Azure almost lost her balance but it was merely a delay for her to catch Blue.
"This is rape, you know!"
"It isn't as long as you enjoy it!" With a powerful flap she caught Blue. "Gotcha!"
"GAH!" in a desperate attempt to shake her loose, Blue tried doing a front flip. "Get off already!" Blue shouted. He tried turning around and falling on his back, Azure hitting first.
"Heh.. ouch.. " She tried to grab Blue. "Don't resist!"
"I wouldn't resist if you didn't go bucking psycho!"
Azure stopped. "That means you'll buck me if I act normal?" she tilted her head cutely.
"NO!"
"Oh come on!.. Well, we go the hard way then!" She finally got a good grab of Blue, forcing him to lay on his back.
"Zeph, don't do this! You'll regret doing this later!" Blue said as he struggled.
"To quote from someone earlier: no!" She pinned Blue down and started to check out what she 'got' down there.
"You will if you lose me as a friend." Blue said, deadpanned.
"...." Azure froze in place. "I... can't let that..."
"Zeph, if you do this, I don't care if I have to tell everyone about it, but I will never want to see you again."
She got off of Blue, feeling more ashamed than even before."I'm sorry...I.. I don't know what happened to me.. I'm sorry sorry sorry sorry..."
Blue got up and sighed again. "It's... fine, I guess. Look, it's getting late. We really oughtta find some place to stay for the night."
"You can go.. I think I'll stay here and think about this... madness I did..."
"Are you sure?"
"It's better if you aren't around me." She laid on the grassy ground, putting her forelegs on the top of her head.
"Well... if you're really sure then. It's a bit late to go all the way back to town, so I think I'll just stay in the house, decreped as it may be."
"You do that... I stay here...I might go back later..." She rubbed her eyes with a hoof.
"Well, good night, Ze-I mean, Azure." Blue then walked off, having nothing more to say.
Five hours later...
The moon was on its way up on the star spotted night sky, giving a good lighting to Azure. She could see a tiny orange light in the distance, probably the house, Blue made a fire by the looks. She stood up. A chilling wind blowed he mane, making her shudder.
"How could I be this... stupid?.." She said to herself. After gazing the stars for a few more minutes she started to walk, to the house.
Blue was inside the house, heating himself by the fireplace, unable to sleep.
Azure reached the house a few minutes later. She almost opened the door but changed her mind in the last second. Instead, she went to a window and looked inside.
Blue just sat there, deep in thought. "I really hope she comes around." he silently said.
Azure seen enough, she walked back to the door and opened it. "B-Bluey?.."
Blue looked at the door and saw her, her face soaked from tears. He gave a smile. "About time you showed up. Come on in and get warmed up."
"I don't know if I should.. I might get.. psycho again..." She looked down in shame.
"Well, that's just a risk I'm willing to take."
"O-okay..." She walked in, closing the door behind her.
Blue patted the floor beside him. "Take a seat. The fire's nice and warm."
Azure obeyed and sat next to Blue.
"This has been one crazy trip, eh?"
"Kinda.." Azure stared in the fire, almost obliviously.
"Heh, even for us this was crazy. I'm just looking forward to going back to Ponyville tomorrow."
"Yeah... hey, can you do me a favor when we got back?" She slowly looked at him.
"Sure, what is it?"
"Make.. Rainbow... pay for this..."
"Hehehe, you bet. After we get Vine to turn you back, how's about asking her if she has anything good?"
"Mmmmaybe we could ask for the same gender-swapping dust, let's see how will taste her own medicine for her!"
"I think I can put up with Dash as a stallion for a bit. She deserves it."
"Thank you, Bluey." she leaned at him, placing her head on his shoulder.
Blue smiled at seeing his friend happy again. "No problem... Azure."
"Uhhhhmhhh..." Azure was on the edge of falling asleep.
"Sounds like somepony could use some sleep." Blue joked.
Azure snuggled Blue and a peaceful smile appeared on her face.
"Here." Blue said as he pushed her off. He laid back on the floor. "Now we can be a bit for comfortable."
"Hmmmmhh..." Azure tried to get back on the postion where she was and in the end she was practically hugging Blue. She was almsot completly asleep this time, her actions only driven by the half-conscious sleeping moves.
"Good night, Azure." Blue said as he closed his eyes.
"Hshnght..." She mumbled.
Soon both of them were asleep. The night passed without anything significant, Azure was mumbling a few times, but nothing happened.
In the morning...
Blue slowly opened his eyes as the sun hit his face. "Meh. Morning already?" he tried to get up, but felt a weight on top of him. He looked to see Azure sleeping soundly on top of him... with her wings popped out. Blue blushed a bit before shaking it off. He nudged her in an attempt to wake her up. "Hey, Azure. Wake up."
"Huh, wha..?" She opened her eyes and rubbed them, then yawned, don't have to say, cutely.
"It's morning, and you're lying on top of me... and you have morning wing."
"What?" She loooked at her wings: indeed a wingboner. "Oh, sorry..." She got off of Blue, blushing.
Blue shook his head. "Whatever. It's fine."
"Yeah... after yesterday I thought you'll freak out.."
"I'm getting over it. I'm just glad we're going back home today so we can get you fixed."
"Talking about going home, I don't care if I have to fly there by myself, but we must go now!" She stretched and hearing the familiar popping sounds from her limbs, Azure smiled. "Ready to go home?"
"Sure thing. But we should go return the map we borrowed first."
"Is it with you?"
"Yeah, I've got it right-" Blue felt around himself, but didn't feel the map. "Uh oh."
"You lost it, right?"
Blue gave a nervous grin. "Hehehe, yeah, I did."
"Hm. We could call ourselves lucky, remember the shelf of the table?"
"My thoughts exactly."
"Okay, grab it and let's go." Azure flared her wings and walked to the door, opening it.
Blue went over to the table and picked up the dusty, old map. He went to the door to meet Azure. "Okay, I'm ready."
"Good!" With a powerful flap of her wings she was in the air. "Do I have to wait for you?" She joked.
Blue brought out his own wings. "You kidding? With these new wings Celestia gave me, keeping up should be no sweat."
"Well, I would say it's a challenge for a race, but I don't feel like racing, especially after yesterday..."
"Yeah, a nice, casual fly would be best."
"Okay! Hm, the map works 'backwads', is the house on it?" She asked. "We could find the way back more easily."
Blue took out the map. "Actually, yeah, it is. Only problem is it was hoof-drawn on. Think Firecracker will notice?"
"Well, even if he notice it, we gave back the map, so I don't really care!" She grinned at Blue.
He shrugged. "Works for me. He never said it had to go back as is."
"Just what I thought. Lead the way, Captain Bluey!" She started to giggle.
"Ay ay!" he took to the air and started going back to the direction of the town.
Azure followed him and accidentaly looked at his 'parts'.. it made her blush. She thought: 'I think Bluey did this too when I was leading...'
"How you doin' back there, Azure?"
"I enjoy the scenery!" She replied, giving Blue a weak grin.
"Oh? Like what?"
"Uhm...." She quickly looked around. "Oh hey, I see the town from here!"
Blue looked ahead. "Oh hey, I do too!"
Soon they arrived to the town. After retrieving the map to Firecracker and apologizing for losing the original one, they went to the train station to buy the tickets for the train back.
"So," Azure started. "what will we tell to the others about this whole thing behind us?"
"That you got pranked, turned into a mare, and we just went on our business as planned. Nothing out of the ordinary happened here, go it?"
"Yes, I hope they'll believe it."
"I think the only one who'll give us grief is Dark."
"Hmm... can I kick his balls while I'm still a mare?"
"Sure, go ahead, but don't expect him to go easy on you."
"Hah, I already figured out how will I do it."
A whistling could be heard in the distance: the train was near.
"Well, sounds like it's time to go."
Minutes passed and the train slowly reached them.
"Oh hey, ice cream!" Azure said and trotted to a stand, buying herself some frosted goodness.
"Again with the ice cream?" Blue said, raising an eyebrow.
"I like it, is there something with it?" She stopped for a second, thinking. "Hmm, wanna have a lick?"
Blue thought about it for a moment before shrugging. "Eh, sure. Guess I can let that... other thought go."
Azure trotted back to him, and rised the icecream up. But in the last moment, she withdraw it and licked Blue's face. She broke out in laughter.
"Gah! I could feel where it's been!" Blue shouted as he backed up.
"Something's wrong, Bluey?" She asked between two giggling then she licked the icecream, grinning.
"Maybe my face was touched by the same tongue used for... GAH! I don't wanna think about it!"
"What are you talking about? Did you already forget what happened back in that house?... "
"Doesn't change what you did upstairs back at my house."
"You mean... with Tavi?..."
"Duh! You know, your fiancee?"
"Yes of course. But that was at least three days ago last time. And I brushed my teth a few hours later. I don't see what is the problem."
As they talked the train has arrived to the station.
"I just don't like it. Now come on, we need to catch the train."
"Right. On we go!" The train stopped and Azure opened the closest door and climbed in.
Blue hopped on right behind her as he got on too.
"If I knew this will happen..." Azure started as she searched for an empty coupe. "...I would've think twice to go or not."
"Eh, it was fun, if almost illegal and heartbreaking. Try not to dwell on it."
"Meh. If I'll remember anything, then it'll be my confession.. about my true feelings.. I still feel ashamed..."
"Those are your feelings as a mare. Just wait til you're a guy again."
"You don't get it." She sighed.
"No, I don't. And I'm not gonna act like I do. I'll just be here to help if you need it." Blue said with a smile.
"Thank you, Bluey." Azure found an empty coupe and walked in it." So as I said, I feel ashamed because of it.. because those feelings were in me in the past YEARS!" She closed her eyes. "This whole mare accident was just the spark what started the chain-reaction."
"Well, why didn't you tell me sooner? I would've accepted you back then too."
"I... I thought you'd hate me and we will never be friends again. I can't lose a friend, especially you." She looked at him, giving him a weak smile.
"Never, Azure. I wouldn't leave a friend like you. I'm loyal to all my friends. Hey, just look at Dark. Dude tried to kill me."
"You are... right. Thank you, Bluey." She hopped on one of the beds and rolled on her back, making a wondering expression.
"No problem. Now try to rest. We've got a few good hours til we're back in Ponyville."
"Yeah-yeah... Ya kno', I'm wonder, how it feels like..." She made a frowny smirk.
"Like what?"
"Being on the.. other side... oh you know what I'm talking about!" She pointed below her belly.
Blue blushed a bit. "Oh... Well, you don't have to immediately change back. You could try to find a stallion."
"...." Azure looked at him wide-eyedly.
"I can tell what you're thinking. We've been over this."
She looked back at the ceiling. "I wasn't thinking that, I was just surprised because you said that I should find a stallion."
"Well, with Octavia's permission of course."
"Wait, Tavi, that's it!" An evil smile spread on her face.
"Oh no. You're gonna turn her into a stalion, aren't you?"
"You bet it!" She started to grin. "Afterall, I heard her voice too, not just Rainbow's. Heeey, I got another idea..." She looked at Blue, still grinning evilly.
"I'm not liking where this is going, but continue."
"You are going to change Rainbow into a stallion, right?... What would be if you switch genders too?..."
"Uh... Sorry, but I'm not curious enough to become the receiver."
"Well, your choice... but I still say that if Rainbow is on the other side you should use the situation."
"The answer is no. Look, can we just rest now? I didn't get enough sleep last night."
"Sure.. have nice dreams!"
And in the second she said that, the train's whistle sounded up and the train started to move.
"Yeah, you too." Blue said as he turned over on his bed.
The train moved, the journey back to Ponyvile was long and soon Azure fell asleep, dreaming about... yeah, that.
The train ride back, unlike the first train ride, is pretty uneventful.
Hours passed and the train finally arrived to Ponyville and stopped with a loud screech.
"Oh my ears..." Azure said as she woke up thanks to the unpleasant noise. She looked at Blue while rubbing her eyes.
Blue smacked his lips and grumbled as he woke up. "We there yet?"
"Yes... can you feel it?" Azure looked through the window.
"Feel what?"
She banged her chest twice then burped. "Thisss... oh it pushed me for real.. I feel much better now!"
Blue facehoofed. "Even as a mare."
"What did you expect?" She giggled and got out of the bed.
"From how you've acted, I don't know what to expect from you right now." he said as he stood up too.
Azure stopped. "Please, don't remind me.." She whispered.
"Let's just go so we can get you back to normal already."
"Yeah.."
As they left the train Azure remained silent.
As the two walked, Blue looked at Azure "So, where you wanna go first, home or Vine's?"
"Dunno.. home, maybe?" Azure just hanged her head like if she was about to cry.
"Um, okay then, home it is."
The two walked down the streets of Ponyville as they did everyday, only this time they were getting odd looks from ponies they passed by. Blue took notice of this. "Nothing to look at here, folks. Just passing through."
"Thank you for making us more visible.." Azure whispered.
"They were already looking at us. I'm pretty sure any pony with a pair of eyes can already tell it's you."
"...." She kept looking down in shame.
Blue sighed. "Look, just hold on for a few more minutes. We'll be home soon."
Azure didn't answer, just followed Blue.
The two continued walking before they arrived at their home. Blue, knowing full well nopony ever locked the door besides him, opened the door. "Hey, we're home!" he called out.
"Yay.." Come the cheer quietly from Azure.
Suddenly, Blue's pet lupis, Lyall, came rushing in. Blue knelt down to meet him. He started petting his head. "Hey, Lyall How you been holding up, buddy?"
The lupis gave a look saying "Eh, same old same old".
Azure looked at the puppy and smiled. 'Was Lyall this cute before?' She thought.
"So, doesn't seem like anyone else is here. Guess Drax is still gone and Ice is at work."
"I wonder where could they be... I have a talk with Dash.." Azure said quietly.
"Just make sure to control yourself, Azure."
Lyall looked at Azure, now noticing her. He gave another look saying "Um... what happened?"
"Long story. I'll tell you later." Blue said to him.
"Blue, I'll keep my composure. But what I'll tell to her.. she will not like it. I hope she will suffer as much as I do." Azure's expression changed into a rightfully angry one.
"Remember that this is just as much Octavia's idea as it is Dash's."
Azure looked at Blue. "You are right. I'll have my talk with her either."
"Good. Now, if I know Dash, she's probably hanging out at the weather office right now. And Octavia is probably at Club Pon3 with Vinyl."
The sudden rush of determination flooded Azure. "You get Rainbow, I'll get Tavi and we meet here. You have ten minutes." She said then trotted to the door, opened it and left the house.
"Heh, I'll do it in ten seconds." Blue said before speeding out the door. After saying hello to Sunny and having a welcome back from Dash, he grabbed her, saying he needed to have an imortant talk back at the house.
Azure reached the Clup Pon3 literally ten seconds flat. She practically charged the door, almost making it falling out of its frame as she entered. She looked around and found Octavia at one of the tables, talking with Vinyl. She trotted to her, grabbed Tavi by a hoof and without a word she dragged her out of the club.
A minute later they were back at Blue's house.
Blue and Dash stood in the living room as they walked in. "Good to see you made. Now we can begin."
Rainbow was nearly tearing up from seeing Zephyr as a mare. Blue glared at her, making her stop.
Azure looked at Dash, if she could kill with her eyes, Rainbow would be a nice pile of ash now.
"You... you think this is funny?.. Huh?" She started, her voice was dripping of malice, anger and revenge. "You think not just ruining a trip wasn't enough?..." She continued, and took a step in Dash's direction. "You know what I had to go through?..." She took a big breath. "Do you have any idea... any idea what have you done?..."
Azure looked like if she could burst up in flames in any second.
"Azure, remind yourself this wasn't all her fault." Blue said, on the verge of getting angry with her.
"Right... Octavia..." She looked at her. Octavia was frightened, confused and shocked. When Azure looked in her eyes, she started to cry.
"I'm sorry Zeph, I'm sorry, it was Rainbow's idea, I said it's harsh I swear I tried to stop her!.." She was crying completly when she finished.
Blue looked at Dash angrily. "We are going to have a long talk later."
She looked down with her ears drooping. "I know." she sighed before looking at Azure. "Zephyr, I'm really sorry. I never meant to hurt you or Blue like that."
Azure looked at Dash and took a BIG breath. "You are lucky I can hold myself back. But I hope you'll remember this for a good time." She walked to Dash and slapped her face. "You desrved it." Azure then turned to Blue. "Don't even try to defend her or hit me, I'm so angry now I'll only stop fighting if I die." She sounded dead serious.
Blue growled angrily. He took a deep breath. "Happy thoughts, Blue. Don't make it any worse than it is."
Azure walked back to Octavia and grabbed her hoof. "You. With me. Come." She commanded. Tavi obeyed without a sound, and Azure lead her up to their room. Before they entered the room She shouted back to Blue.
"Tell her everything, every little detail!" Then she went inside.
Blue sighed. "Okay, Dash. So the full story is that.." he went on to explain the entire story of what happened while they were in Stalbank. During this time, Rainbow's guilt started growing and growing. By the end, she was nearly in tears. "And that's it." Blue finished.
Dash looked at the floor for a minute before pulling Blue into a tight hug. "Blue, I'm so sorry. You know I'd never do something that bad on purpose."
Blue remained silent for a moment. "I know, Dash. I know..."
In Zeph's and Tavi's room...
"..so you named yourself Azure Rush? Sounds fitting if you ask me!" Said Octavia and continued combing Azure's mane.
"Yeah, it should fit me, my mane is a royal azure and I'm rushing everywhere, you know me!" She said and giggled, turning to Octavia, quickly planting a kiss on her lips.
And then they did it.
THE END
Author's Note: ...Everything here was Zephyr's idea, not mine. Anyone is welcome to write for the Summer Collab just pm Ian_Element_Balance so he knows you're participating.