Chapter Eight - Her

Baltimare
Clover the Clever Public Library
Twenty-Four Years Ago

Was it necessary to learn all this crap he would never use? He graduated in the top five of his class for Mother's sake. . . ten years ago. . . He sighed as he walked down the aisle looking for 125.89 CK in the Psychology section of the library. As much as he enjoyed being a guard, he wanted to do more. He wanted to have and impact on society and change lives. What better way than that than becoming a teacher? With two nephews, who were the world to him, he found a new love for foals. Speaking of nephews, Priceless Defence's birthday wasbonk!

"Woah!"

Shaking his head from the crash, he saw a young, cerise unicorn mare sprawled out before him with books around her. "I am terribly sorry! My mind was in the clouds. Are you alright?" he apologized and began picking up the thick tomes that were on the floor.

"I-I'm fine," she stood to her feet and adjusted the red, square spectacles over her snout properly. She looked up at him with brilliant emerald gems and his heart stopped. "I should have been paying attention to where I was walking," she spoke angelically.

"It is entirely my fault. I'm just living in your world; I should've been more careful, Miss, and don't break my heart and tell me it's 'Misses'?"

"Razzle Dazzle Rose," she blushed slightly.

Grey chuckled and bowed politely, "My name is Grey Vulcan, Captain of Luna's Royal Guard."

"You're kind of far from Everfree," she commented as she moved the golden strands of her mane out of her face.

"I grew tired of dealing with recruits so now I'm becoming a teacher, I already have experience dealing with whiny foals," he joked.

Rose giggled, a sound Grey would love to get drunk off.

"What's the deal with all these books? A Compendium to Mathematics, The Complete Volume to the Sciences, The Comedy of Life, these are all high caliber reference books."

Rose shrugged, "It's the usual for my classes at UB."

"You working on your Masters in Science or Math?"

"For General Science and Astronomical Physics," she beamed.

Grey smiled, her smile was infectious, in a good way.

She dug a hoof into the carpet, "Um, can I have the books back?"

"On one condition?"

"Oh?" her ears perked up.

"I will release your books to you for your com number," Grey grinned.

Rose snickered, pulled out a pen and paper from her saddle bags, and wrote down her number, "On the count of three?"

"One. . ."

"Three!" Razzle Dazzle Rose launched the paper over the bookshelf with her neon green magic. Grey was distracted long enough to weaken his magical grip on the books which she snatched in her lime green aura and ran away in a titter.

Grey caught the paper with his magic; a giant grin plastered on his face. "That mare," he sighed contently. Now, for the moment of truth.

Brrrrring! Brrrring! Razzle Dazzle Rose pulled out her pink communicator and saw "unknown number" in black letters on the LED. "Hello?" she answered expectantly.

"Oh, hey," Grey replied, "I was totally not calling to see if you had given me a fake number or anything."

Rose rolled her eyes knowing that was the exact reason he was calling so soon.

"Well, you have my number now, which was the purpose of the call. Although, the primary reason is I was wondering if you wanted to go out tonight? There's a club I go to every-now-and-then it's not bad."

"Hmm," she pretended to think, "You are not just trying to get me drunk, are you?"

"N-No! I don't even drink. They have great kebabs and pool tables," he replied.

"Okay," she laughed sensing his anxiety.

"So. . . nine? By the Clever statue?"

"It's a date," she confirmed.

"Great! That's great! I'll see you then!" he ended enthusiastically.

"A 'date,' huh?" she squealed happily in the elevator.

"A 'date'!" he pumped his hoof victoriously.

"Is this your car?" Razzle Dazzle Rose questioned as she circled the black, older model vehicle. She wasn't much of a muscle car enthusiast, but she knew they were out of style.

"This reliable beauty has been in the family for three generations, now. It has never failed our family. I was practically born in the passenger seat!" Grey laughed.

"Is it safe?" she eyed the vehicle suspiciously.

Grey opened the passenger door for her with his magic, "Yes. Do you trust me?"

Rose stared into his bright golden eyes, "Yes. . ."

With his date safely in the car, Grey entered the vehicle. The Mustang roared to life which startled the young magenta mare. "So, what kind of music do you like?"

"Both kinds," she answered sweetly. She noticed Grey's quizzical look, "Rock and roll."

"Really? I thought you would be more of a galpop lover." He saw the sour expression she made and laughed, "I don't mind rock 'n roll. I prefer country or the classics, y'know, Beat Hooven and other great composers." He turned on the radio and tuned it to the local rock station.

Rose smiled widely.

"Is this what they call 'irony'?" Grey remarked.

"No. It is called great music," Rose tapped a hoof to the beat and bobbed her head to the song.

Fifteen minutes later, they are passing a building with a line of ponies wrapped around the corner.

"Are we going in there?"

Grey noticed the slight panic in her voice, "Don't worry, it's not as packed inside. Besides, the pool hall is separate, and you have to pay, so it usually has few ponies."

"Um. . . I probably should have told you this, but I'm not old enough to drink. . ." she said sheepishly.

"Don't worry. The club is for eighteen and up. Besides, I don't drink."

"Okay. . ."

Grey parked in an open parking spot after paying the sixty bits. He saw her fidgeting. "Hey, if you don't want to we can go some place else."

"But you already paid sixty bits. . ."

"Bits are just bits," he smiled, "I don't want you not to feel comfortable and not have a good time."

"I just. . . I don't get out much," Rose chuckled nervously.

"Want to go to the carnival?"

"What?" she looked up to see his eyes sparkling foalishly. "Yes," she nodded, "I think I would have more fun there. And since it doesn't seem like your a cheapskate, you can blow all your bits trying to win me all the prizes I want!"

Grey laughed, "At least try to pretend you aren't after my money."

She smiled impishly.

"To the Boardwalk!"

Going to the Boardwalk was the better option, even if it did cost more than the club. It did earn him high points with Razzle Dazzle Rose in the long run, which made every failed attempt that much sweeter when he won. Throughout the night, they walked closer and closer to one another. Razzle Dazzle Rose eyed him knowingly when he proposed to ride the Ferris wheel but had no reservations about riding himriding with him.

"Grey?" she spoke quietly beside him. He turned his gaze from the scenery and smiled down at her. "Um. . . can I tell you something?"

"What? Are you afraid of heights?" he asked concerned.

"No. I. . . I just wanted to confess that I," she drew in a deep breath, "I like you."

Grey grinned widely, finding her blushing face adorable, "I am a pretty likable stallion."

"You know what I mean!" she pouted and punched him softly.

"I don't know. . . With you hitting me all the time, I don't see this turning out to be a healthy relationship," he remarked.

Razzle Dazzle snorted and turned away from him.

"Dazzler," he spoke sweetly and wrapped his forehooves around her, embracing her lovingly, "I feel that bumping into you at the library was destiny. I have never been happier with any other mare than you."

Dazzler turned her head to look up at his sincere golden eyes, "I-I feel the same way. . ."

"You've been with other mares?" Grey quipped with a chuckle.

Dazzler pushed Grey back and suppressed his laughter with her lips. He held her intimately and reciprocated her feelings.

The operator rolled his eyes and shook his graying mane, "Kids," he thought.

A sharp "ahem" made them separate from each other. Razzle Dazzle Rose look behind her and saw the old donkey shaking his head. Her face instantly heated up with embarrassment. She ran out of the car, leaving Grey behind with a satisfied grin.

"Hey there, babe, you lookin' a little lonely," she heard a stallion call behind her.

"Well, I'm not, so please go away," she snapped without looking back.

"Aw, don't be like that," Grey laughed.

Dazzler turned to see Grey grinning from ear to ear.

"Does you walking to the exit mean you want to leave?"

"Yes," Dazzler stated.

"Have a big test tomorrow?" Grey asked walking close to her.

"I don't have anything planned tomorrow. . ." she divulged sheepishly.

Grey glanced at his watch, "Well, it is way past my bedtime. Gotta head back before the dorm head locks the doors."

On the drive back to the ole U, Grey couldn't help but notice how quiet Dazzler had gotten; even when her favorite songs played she did not change her melancholic demeanor. Grey pulled up into the senior parking area and put Black Thunder in park.

"Pondering the creation of the universe?" he inquired.

"Just thinking about how the conversation with my parents will go." she shared and sighed. "They'll probably think I'm naive. And my dad will want your head on a spike."

"Can't say he'd be the first father." Grey laughed. Her icy stare cut him off, "B-but, um, he'll, uh, d-definitely be the last."

Dazzler snorted in annoyance and stormed out of the car.

"Dazzler!" Grey called out to her and quickly caught up to her. She glared daggers up at him. "I had a great time, Razzle Dazzle Rose, thank you," he grinned dopily.

Dazzler rolled her eyes, "I bet you say that to all the mares."

"Ja," Grey admitted, "And I meant it every time. Especially now."

"I need to think about all this," she finally said after staring and nearly getting lost in his golden eyes.

He smiled sweetly, "Take as long as you need, Dazzler."

"Even if you have to wait fifty years?"

"The Vulcan's boast over a 300-year life span, doll," Grey grinned.

Dazzler snickered. One last lengthy gaze into his compassionate gems and she walked away before she drowned in his eyes.

Grey laid in his bed that night with only one thought running through his mind: She's the one.

Everfree
Everfree Museum District
Three Years Later

And he was right. He strutted proudly down the sidewalk with his mare at his side and one-year-old son in the stroller he pushed with his golden magic. The droning of the cars did not phase him, the singing of the birds did not matter, and he could care less about the other ponies around. Right now, he was in Dazzler's world, with their colt, walking down her streets. They had just left her parent's house after celebrating her nineteen birthday.

Grey heaved a strained sigh.

Dazzler noticed the change in Grey's mood, "Is everything alright?"

"Yes," he leaned over and kissed his beautiful wife, "I am just glad I did not turn myself over to the authorities all those years ago."

Dazzler giggled, "I wasn't going to report you."

"You still should have told me how old you were before the deed!" Grey defended.

"Well, it did not come up until after that memorable night of passion," Dazzler gibed playfully.

"The past is the past," he sighed defeated, "and the rest is history."

Air raid alarms blared in the air. Ponies ran frantically, and cars drove maniacally.

"This is not a drill! Everypony evacuate immediately! Unknown enemies have been sighted and are attacking the city! This is not a drill!"

Grey instantly filled with dread. Tanks, APC, and half-tracks were soon rolling down the road. Jets and gunships roared overhead. This could not be happening.

"Grey!" Dazzler's frightened voice brought him back to reality. She looked up at him expectantly.

"C'mon, we are going to the castle!"

They reached the inside of the castle via a secret tunnel. Once the three of them popped out of the basement, guards focused their rifles at them.

"Intruders!" one shouted.

Grey's horn flared, and he slammed all ten guards to the ground with his magic, "I am Captain Grey Vulcan, you morons! Now, where is Commander Bulwark?"

He relented his magic off them, and a corporal spoke up, "Sir, he is meeting with Princess Luna in the War Room."

Grey pulled the corporal up to him, "I don't care what you do, you find me a VTOL for my wife and son, you hear me, Corporal?"

"Y-Y-Loudly, sir!" the corporal quivered seeing the fire in Captian Vulcan's eyes.

Grey released him and ushered Dazzler after him.

"Let me through!" Princess Luna heard a familiar voice growl. The next second, five guards are sent flying at her through the War Room steel doors. She was never so happy to see him again. "Grey!" her heart filled with joy then deflated upon seeing the magenta mare behind him.

"What are you doing here?" Commander Bulwark asked, not bothering to check on his guards.

"I was here on vacation with my wife and son. Now, I am here to do my job," he answered sternly.

"'Wife'?" Luna switched her confused gaze from the red stallion to the mare. "'Son'?" her heart broke.

Dazzler noticed the sadness and heartbreak in the Princess' eyes and tone and suddenly felt awkward.

"With you here, the counter attack should push these bastards back," Commander Bulwark stated.

"I'm not going anywhere until my wife and son are safe aboard a VTOL," Grey replied.

"Our personal VTOL is available for use," Princess Luna spoke somberly after breaking her gaze away from the foal swaddled in a blue blanket. "We must make haste!"

Commander Bulwark went over the plan with Grey as the four of them sped down the hall to reach the VTOL pad. Within five minutes, they had reached the pad. Princess Luna said her farewell before teleporting to Canterlot to inform her sister.

Grey held his son in his arms, trying to comfort the crying colt, tears welled up in his eyes, too, "Be calm, my son. I will make sure to see you and you mother in Canterlot. Be a good boy for Papa, ja?" he kissed the top of Brilliant Vulcan's head and gave Dazzler a long kiss before she climbed into the VTOL with their son tightly in her hooves.

"I love you!" Dazzler shouted as the chopper took off.

"I love you, too!" Grey shouted back as he anxiously watched the VTOL gained altitude.

As he was about to turn away, the VTOL exploded. Grey's heart stopped; the world around him stopped; but the burning, crashing VTOL did not stop. His dreams, his love, his future, all gone, in the blink of an eye. That day 'Grey Vulcan' died. He can not recall what happened that day. The security cameras captured his rampage and bloodlust. The Changelings received the full force of his wrath. The world shook with his grief and rage.