Heroes travels

“Grey! Will you just stop for a sec!?”” Callum called out the fleeing mare whose tears flowed down her cheeks as she started to fly away. If she was running then Callum would have a better chance of catching her since she doesn’t really seem very athletic like Rainbow Dash.

He spent the past ten minutes trying to catch the mare, jumping on building rooftops to try and bring her to the ground but every time he missed, he got back up instantly. He was not going to fail Ashley. He knew that if it was Ashley in his position then he would travel across the world just to make him feel better, seeing not only his best friend in pain from accidently ripping apart Grey’s heart, the fact that her sobs were all that he could hear. They overcame his  breathing as well as his own thoughts too.

Ponies nearby would wonder why the human was jumping rooftop to rooftop, sometimes smashing into the ground but shrugging it of like it was nothing. The CMC watched as he made a leap for Grey Ink, his fingers ran through her tail before he plummeted towards the ground.

Hope I’m not sore in the morning after this. Callum struggled to stand back up from his latest attempt to catch the fleeing mare. His chest was finally starting to fall victim to the impacts but he’s been through worse. The CMC curiosity peaked as they watched him start to climb upon some nearby crates to access another rooftop.

“Callum. What are you doing?” Sweetie Belle asked.

“Yeah.” Scootaloo said with slight amusement “If you’re trying to fly, you’re going to need wings first.”

“Not trying to fly. Trying to catch Grey.” Callum called back to them as he lifted himself onto a rooftop. Looking around the landscape, he saw the mare on a rooftop herself but she quickly darted off down into the busy streets. Callum lost sight of her instantly.

“Dang it.” Callum muttered as he climbed off the roof the same way he got up there.

***

“Do you think he’ll be alright?” Rarity asked the group who were all still inside Sugarcube Corner after the fiasco. Prince Celestia was constantly being laughed at by Luna now that she found the funny side of the joke.

“I’m sure unless Grey Ink has other plans for him.” Rainbow Dash answered. The moment she finished her answer, she began to worry not only for the mare herself but Ashley as well. She hoped that he could manage to repair the damage he had done. She knew that the prank war was a big deal to the human but the way he acted after he was declared victor...She knew that he knew that he went too far.

“Maybe we should help them?” Fluttershy asked, everyone turned to her not in anger but in agreement, all but Rainbow Dash.

“I think it’s best if we stay out of this.” The cyan mare spoke, getting looks of concern at her “Let them sort it out themselves you know?”

“Maybe we should help them out...” Twilight said in a curious tone “Maybe we should wait a while until we do anything.” All the mares nodded in agreement. Shockwave however was more concerned of Grey Ink’s wellbeing. Seeing her hurt like that was not the first time it has happened since they met. He didn’t see the mare as a receptionist, more of a friend. He cared deeply for the Pegasus like a sister.

“You better fix this Ash…” He grumbled to himself.

***

“W-why...” Grey Ink flew herself into an alleyway. No ponies walked by or through the alleyway which was the perfect place to consult herself “W-why d-did you d-do this to m-me?” Her heartfelt sobs had managed to make her struggle to even speak a clear sentence.

You see, Grey Ink was never one for rejection. It was and still is one of her biggest fears and it didn’t help that the pony she loved was nothing but a shamble, a lie, a gimmick to get back the princess for a stupid, foolish prank war for what? To declare whose better at being a jerk? For a title that practically meant nothing? That’s what it looked like to her. A stupid title must be more important to Ashley than her emotions.

In the back of her mind, she knew that she got attached too fast. She didn’t even know his full name at the time for crying out loud! As the tears of being betrayal and deceived slowly crept down the mares faces, she curled up into a ball, resting her head in her hooves.

***

“Grey?!” Ashley called out as he searched the town. He went as far as bursting into ponies homes, asking its occupants if they had seen the mare. Since they didn’t know who he was, they immediately shut the door on his face but now wasn’t the time to get back at those ponies. Now was the time to try and destroy the guilt that plagued his soul.

“Grey Ink!?” He cried out once more. “WHERE ARE YOU?!” The pain from the guilt could be heard in his voice. The image of the mare crying...Alone...Hurt...Betrayed...It was the only thing his mind would let him see. He saw the mares face everywhere; the sounds of her crying as she ran out of Sugarcube Corner were all he could hear. It tore his heart more and more, knowing that he done something so terrible all because he let some competition get the best of him.

He came to a stop in front of a restaurant called The Four Leaf Clover but he paid no attention to it. He was on a mission to fix the damage he had done to the poor mare’s heart.

***

“You’re stupid...Y’know that Grey?” The mare was speaking to herself but she had no idea what she was saying. The feeling of her crushed heart was unbearable and it didn’t help ease the pain now that she was not only judging herself but also contradicting herself too.

“You never thought it was too good to be true? You make me sick...” Every word she spoke to herself with was laced with acid. She felt like she couldn’t muster any more tears but they would still flow. “You were doomed from the start...To actually think that you had a chance with him? Pfft...You deserve everything that has happened to you...”

***

“Come on...Come on...” Ashley was continuing his search for redemption. He cared none for those who got in his way to find the heart broken grey Pegasus. Since nopony knew who he really was, they didn’t like the fact that he would barge right past them…

“Watch where you’re going jerk!” A female voice called out, turning out to be Ashley’s latest victim from his search.

“Don’t care! Trying to fix broken heart!” He called out as he started to search alleyways, behind crates. Everywhere he could get to, he would search.

Come on Grey…Where are you!?

***

Callum returned to Sugarcube Corner. He wasn’t looking forward to telling Ashley that he failed. He took in a breath and opened the door into the store. Everypony quickly glanced over to the where the human stood. Judging by his face, they knew that he didn’t find her.

“Where’s Ash?” Callum asked with disappointment.

“He’s gone to find Grey.” Shockwave said nonchalantly from the corner of the room which he was sitting in. “He’s been gone what…Twenty minutes now?”

“Hopefully he’ll find her.” Callum said as he sat down next to the captain.

“Trust me. If he doesn’t fix this, he’s in a heap of trouble.”

“Lemme guess, you love Grey?” Callum said bluntly.

“Yes…But more like a sister.” Callum nodded. He pretty much knew that feeling since he felt that Ashley was a brother to him. He too would have to sort Ashley out if he didn’t fix this but he doubted he would have to. He hoped that his friend could fix this problem fast.

***

As the time started to eat away, it had been already forty minutes since Ashley left Sugarcube Corner to find the heartbroken Pegasus. There was no way he was going to give up if he did then it would show Grey Ink that he doesn’t care for her. If he could cheer her up by any means, he would do his best to do so.

He knew that the wound he made on her would grow over time to the point where she wouldn’t care for him…or worse.

“Grey Ink!” He called out once more, the sadness was obviously lingering in his voice as he became more and more worried.

He entered a nearby alleyway, immediately trying to lift crates of whatever was inside them. He would try getting a better viewpoint if he wasn’t still a pony and could easily get on rooftops in his human form.

His efforts became unanswered after another twenty minutes of searching and not finding the mare he strived for. Determination still edged him on to find her, he would travel all over Equestria just to apologise to her for what he had done…

I should…I should have paid her attention... I’m a monster…

You’ve probably lost a friend just…just for a FUCKING TITLE?!

No…No this isn’t over…It’s not too late…I will find her…

No you won’t. You’re a monster. You’re a killer of both bodies and emotions…You should be locked away…with the key thrown away…

No…NO I’M NOT. I WILL FIX THIS!

Are you sure? Do you think she will even want to even see you again? You tore her heart like paper. You saw the way she was around you and you just thrown her away like trash…

SHE’S NOT TRASH!...She’s…N-not trash…She’s better than that…A million times better…

IF she is…Then why did you do what you did? Do you like torturing the feelings of others for your sick, twisted ways? Hmm? He who has no friends?

No friends? NO FRIENDS!? LAST TIME I CHECKED, I HAD PLENTY OF FRIENDS AND I STILL DO!

Whatever you say…Just face it…You’re lost without her…How does it feel?

How does what feel?

Knowing what you did…Knowing that you’re responsible for how saddened she is…Knowing that if you paid attention…You could have meant more to her…Maybe even she could have meant more to you…

What the fuck are you saying? Wait a sec…WHY THE FUCK ARE YOU SAYING ALL THIS SHIT?!

…Because I’m obviously your conscience. You’re having a mental conflict right now dipshit.

Fuck you brain.

You wish you could…Now, Find her…Find her and comfort her…Don’t let her leave you…Make sure that you comfort her...

…Alright…I will…Is…Is there anything else conscience?

Yes…Pull her close to you…And hold her. Don’t let go. She’ll need to let it all out…Maybe then…You can begin the path of redemption…

I’ll try my best…Thanks conscience…

…

Great…

“I must be going insane…” Ashley groaned. During his mental lapse, he sat on his haunches as he stared at the ground. “I wonder if James will show up…”

…

…

“Nope. Not insane.” Ashley chuckled to himself as he stood back up. He looked at the ground once more and noticed a wet substance on the floor beneath him…

The substance was also on his face…It…He...Cried for the mare…

“I will find you.” He mumbled to himself as he wiped the remnants of the tear of his cheek, immediately restarting his search for Grey Ink.

***

Grey Ink remained curled up in her protective ball, her head buried in her hooves as the cries of a broken heart filled the silence of the alleyway. She was at the point where her crying made it harder for her to breathe, her eyes reddened by the amount of shed tears of the past hour.

Ashley finally reached the last alleyway he hadn’t searched. He could hear crying…Crying that he heard before.

He slowly approached the source, finding a heap of grey fur with a brown mane that was wet from not only from the tears of the crying grey Pegasus but dirt from the floor mixed in both mane and her coat.

She looked a mess…Her feathers were ruffled as her crying continued. Ashley had no idea what to do now. Should he just sit next to her and wait? Or maybe nudge her softly…Then again that might not end well…Maybe he could hold her like his conscience told him to do. He needed to get on the path of redemption…Fast.

“W-why G-Grey I-Ink? W-why d-do y-you d-do this t-to your…yourself?” The crying mare was sending stakes into her own heart, causing more pain than what was necessary “H-he d-doesn’t c-care for y-you…H-he n-never w-will.” She let out another heartfelt sob.

Ashley was already reaching breaking point, seeing this mare in front of him confess her love for him…the love she had for him. Her voice could barely even speak a single word without struggling. As more tears flown his cheeks, he edged himself closer to Grey Ink. Lowering his muzzle next to her ears…

“Sssshhh…” Ashley whispered softly into her drooped ears “Don’t you ever say stuff like that…”

Grey Ink recognised the soft sounding voice that flown into her ears. As much as she didn’t want to look, thinking that her mind was playing tricks on her…She did anyway.

***

Ashley had been gone for a good hour when he left to find Grey Ink. The room of Sugarcube Corner was filled with an akward silence which was only broken once by Pinkie bursting into the room with Zecora’s cure for Ashley. She looked around the room and saw nothing but faces of sadness and worry. Both Celestia and Luna had to return to Canterlot with Night Wind and Solar in tow. Lyra had to go back home for whatever reason, it was obvious that she didn’t really want to be at the confectionary while it was riddled with the sadness of others.

Shockwave decided to go to guard station to see if Grey Ink was hiding out there while Callum, Spike, Twilight, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Applejack and Fluttershy all remained in the store as well as their new addition of Pinkie.

She knew immediately that Ashley must not have found Grey Ink otherwise he would of surely brought her back here…Right?

“Ah think we should go look for them now.” Applejack spoke up, immediately grabbing everyone’s attention “Ah think that Ash could use some extra help tryin’ to find her.”

“And how do you know that Ashley isn’t trying to fix it right now?” Callum spat back with hostility. Everyone else was shocked at his tone “It’s best to let them work it out. BY THEMSELVES. Trust me, Ashley knows what he’s doing.”

“Really?” Rarity asked “How so? How does he know how to comfort a mare in distress?”

“I’d rather not say…”

“Well then he obviously doesn’t know and he needs our help.” Rarity stood up but the way she was talking about Ashley was getting on Callum’s last nerve. He wasn’t in the mood for bullshit and blocked the door with himself.

“NOBODY IS HELPING.” As the words left his mouth, Rarity immediately shot back to her seat, Fluttershy had immediately hid herself away behind Rainbow Dash and Applejack. Least to say, everyone was surprised by the amount of rage Callum was showing. His eyes flared with the burning passion. “You want to know how I know that he knows what he’s doing!?” He walked up to Rarity and poked her in the chest hard “He watched his FUCKING FAMILY GET KILLED IN FRONT OF HIM. Do you know what his mother felt like when she walked in on the most of her children brutally murdered!?”

Rarity shook her head. Everyone else had backed away from the severely pissed off human since they didn’t want to get caught in the crossfire.

“He was all that she had! HE was the only thing she lived for. HE was the one that comforted her after her loss. THAT’S WHY HE TRIES EVERYTHING HE CAN TO CHEER OTHERS UP!” Callum yelled through clenched teeth. The white unicorn felt like fainting but the fear decided to prevent her from doing so. Callum immediately walked out of the room, slamming the door which shook the entire building.

The room was completely silent. None of the ponies nor Spike were prepared for…well that. Callum started to walk to Neon’s. He had work there later that night so he though that a drink could calm him down a bit. After the stressful week, he finally blew his fuse at his friends. He immediately regretted it but he didn’t care. He was defending Ashley and that’s all he cared about.

***

“W-what?” Grey Ink stuttered, she still thought that her mind was playing tricks on her as she stared into the green stallion’s ocean blue eyes, how the tears had crept out from them and dropped to the floor in front of her.

“Just…Don’t say things like that…Don’t…Just don’t think I don’t care for you…” Ashley laid himself down next to the mare who shifted away from him slightly, her muscles tensed from being uneasy around him “If I didn’t care…Why did I immediately try to find you? Why am I crying? Why…”

“W-why w-what?” Grey stuttered confusingly.

“Why did I act like I did?” Grey Ink could see that she was not the only one who was heart broken. She still hated him for his actions but part of that was her fault too, she couldn’t blame it all on him.

Ashley awaited an answer but he only got the saddened look of Grey Ink staring into his eyes. “I lost one of my friends for what? A pathetic title that held no real value…A friend that had feelings for me but I had to just blow it and make her hate me.” Another couple of tears had escaped through Ashley’s eyes as he spoke.

Grey Ink was staying silent Does he really mean that?

“To know how your heart is crushed…I’ve been there. I’ve witnessed it for several years and maybe now…maybe now I’m finally coming to terms with it.” He looked at Grey’s hoofs, the fur was moist from her tears and several pieces of dirt from the ground were in there too. “My conscience…It started to eat away at me…It told me to do something…”

“W-what…What did it say?” Her voice was still shaken from her sobbing but at least she edged closer to the crying stallion, not by much but it was still noticeable.

“It told me…To hold you…To never let go…” He sat up as Grey Ink just stared at him “If you don’t want to see me again…That’s fine. Just know that if there’s anything I can do to cheer you up…Just say now.”

Grey Ink was awestruck. His mind told him to comfort her…He actually cared…He cared…for her. She started to feel better, knowing that she meant a lot to him. She watched as he started to walk off.

Do you still love him?

What?

Do you still love him? Will you let him redeem himself?

I…I don’t know...

That’s what your mind says…

Wha-

Listen to your heart. Does it still beat fast for him? Do you still wish for him to be your special somepony even if he isn’t a pony? Is his heart in the right place? Do you still love being in his presence? Do you…Love him?

…I…Don’t know…

You do know. There are only two answers. Yes or no.

I don’t kn-

Yes or no.

N-n…

You can’t say it, can you? You still love him. Do you see that he cares greatly for you?

I-I don’t kn-

You do know. This is your chance. YES OR NO?

…Y-yes…

Is that the truth?

Y-yes…

Are you sure?

YES! I LOVE HIM STILL OKAY?! He obviously cares for me! I may hate him a bit for what he did but I forgive him now! He didn't mean to do what he did and he's apologising...He's pouring his heart out...I...I still love him...Even if he isn't the stallion I fell for...I want to be with him...

…Go get him tiger. Show him that you do…You have a better shot…Let him hold you…Feel and hear his heartbeat…Feel his warmth…And one for thing…

W-what?

Take him up on his offer to cheer you up…You deserve it after all…

Grey Ink snapped out of her conscience, seeing Ashley starting to trot away. Go get him tiger… The words still lingered in her mind. She groaned as she struggled to stand, grabbing Ashley’s attention. He rushed to her side and immediately went to work to help her stand only for her to fall on him purposely, bringing his back to the ground. Her head lay on his chest as she wrapped her hooves around his upper body.

Two single words escaped Grey Ink’s lips in a saddened whisper…

“Hold me…” She heard his heart beating fast against his chest.

Ashley smiled warmly, wrapping his hooves around her as he tied her into an embrace, letting his warmth on her since it was a vast improvement from the cold, hard floor for Grey Ink.

“I’ll always be here for you…I’ll never let you go…” He kissed the top of her head, stroking the back of her mane.

***

Callum was still pissed but curious to what happened to his friend. As he walked to Neon’s, he noticed two ponies inside an alleyway. He recognised one of the voices that was speaking the most.

“My conscience…It started to eat away at me…It told me to do something…” He recognised the voice as Ashley’s but the tone…It was broken…Sad…Unhappy. He was about to go comfort his friend but remained around the corner.

“W-what…What did it say?” The voice sounded like Grey Inks but it too shared a disheartened tone.

Callum grew curious, eagerly awaiting Ashley’s answer.

“It told me…To hold you…To never let go…” The shuffling of a pair of hooves filled the air, Callum quickly looked around the corner to see his friend starting to sit up “If you don’t want to see me again…That’s fine. Just know that if there’s anything I can do to cheer you up…Just say now.”

Come on Grey…Please forgive him… Callum slowly peeked around the corner, seeing Ashley starting to approach his direction. He immediately started to ditch the scene but he heard a groan followed by the sound of hooves desperately hitting the concrete floor. He stood still...

“Hold me...” The voice was barely audible but it still recognised as Grey Ink’s.

“I’ll always be here for you…I’ll never let you go…” Ashley spoke. Peeking around the corner once more, Callum smiled, seeing his best friend embracing the pegasus. He decided went back to Sugarcube corner, not only to apologise but to let the others know what happened.

Way to go Ash...

***

It took him fifteen minutes to get back to the confectionary. He sighed as he walked back in, Shockwave had returned and all the others still remained. They all looked towards him.

Callum coughed once, clearing his throat “Girls...And Spike. I’m truly sorry that I unleashed my anger on you all. It was severely uncalled for and It’s just been a stressful week so far and I guess I just bottled up all my emotions and...Y’know...Flipped my lid so to speak.” He bowed down “So I ask of you all. Do you forgive me?”

All the ponies shot looks at each other. Spike was the first to approach Callum. He was a bit angry about the way Callum spoke of Rarity and held out his fist. The human raised his head, greeted by the baby dragons fist right in front of him.

“We’re cool.” Spike said nonchalantly with a smile “Just don’t let it happen again, okay?”

Callum grinned weakly, filling his side of the bro-fist with the baby dragon “I promise. I won’t let that happen again.”

Spike moved away from the human, looking back at the girls “He’s all yours.”

...

SLAM

Callum quickly recovered from his head injury which he got from smashing on his back onto the floor. He looked down onto his chest and saw Rarity and Applejack hugging his upper body, the white unicorn on his right, Applejack obviously on his left. The other four mares merely walked up to him with smiles.

“We forgive you Callum.” Twilight spoke softly.

“I’m terribly sorry for my actions!” Rarity’s voice was muffled by her head being buried in Callum’s upper body.

“Can we just forgive and forget what happened before?” Callum asked, getting a nod from everypony. “Excellant.” He smiled.

Applejack and Rarity got off the human, the orange mare held out a hoof to Callum to help him rise to his feet but he waved his hand in disapproval.

“Yer like family to us Callum, like ya’ said, ya were bottling up yer emotions. We’ve all gotta let off steam once in a while.”

“Thanks girls.” Callum went round and hugged each one of the mares. Applejack first, followed by Rarity then Twilight then Fluttershy then Rainbow Dash and finally Pinkie Pie who decided to tackle hug him instead.

As soon as the pink mare retreated from Callum, Shockwave walked up to the human.

“I couldn’t find Grey at the station. You can help me look for her.”

“Best leave them Shock.” Callum said as he dusted himself off. Strange that some of the dust was in fact confetti from Pinkie’s assault. “I found her and Ash making up. From what I heard...They’re getting along fine.

“Really?” Rarity’s ears perked up “you MUST tell us the details!”

“Might as well.” Callum took a seat as did Spike and the ponies. “I didn’t hear much but have what I got.”

Callum began to tell the short story of how he came across his friend and Grey Ink, telling those in his presence of what happened and seeing that both of them hugging out their problems. All the mares d’aww as they pictured the two of them in each other’s embrace. Rarity said something about it being romantic but Callum wasn’t paying much attention

***

Both Ashley and Grey Ink remained in the same position for thirty minutes, showing no signs of discomfort. Grey Ink was solely listening to Ashley’s breathing and heart beat, it managed to calm down about a couple minutes ago. Ashley was still stroking her brown mane with his hoof, the smile never leaving his face.

“D-did your mind say anything else?” Grey’s voice was a bit shaken but she was doing well on the road to recovery. Her soft, gently voice remained barely above a whisper.

“It...It told that maybe if I didn’t do what I did...I might have meant more to you...” Ashley felt his cheeks warm up a bit, Grey Ink looked up to him to find his slight blush. She found it adorable and prodded his nose with her own.

“Your mind was right...” She smiled weakly to him.

“But...” Grey Ink’s ears perked up slightly “It also said...You could mean more to me.”

It was now Grey’s turn to blush. Ashley mimicked her gesture by prodding her nose with his own.

“Do...Do you mean that?” Grey Ink’s slightly pink eyes look up into his own.

Ashley pondered for a moment, getting his answer...

“Yes...I mean it with all my heart.”

It was then that Grey Ink squeezed harder against Ashley with a weak smile, the blush remained on both ponies faces.

“Would you still love me...When I’m human again?”

Silence...That all there was. Every second of it ached at Ashley’s heart and mind.

Well...Until Grey Ink pecked him on the cheek. Both ponies blush intensified.

“Yes...With all my heart too.” As the soft spoken words left her lips, Ashley squeezed her slightly harder than before but his soft touch still remained.

"Sooo..." Ashley began "What was it you were going to ask me before...Well you know..."

"Oh! Um..." Ashley watched as Grey Ink's cheeks became a shade of rose again, "I was uh...G-going to ask you..."

"On a date?" Ashley interrupted.

Grey Ink nodded slightly, rubbing her head against Ashley's fur on his chest. She liked the way it felt. It was soft like a pillow.

"Well...We'll just have to wait and see now won't we?" Ashley kissed Grey's head once more. She loved how gentle Ashley was underneath his tough exterior.

"Yeah..." Grey Ink started to drift off, the sound of Ashley's slow heartbeat caressed her to sleep. Ashley looked over at the mares now shut eyes and smiled.

Ah, screw it. I deserve a nap. He slowly shut his eyes, keeping his hooves around the grey pegasus as he followed in her slumber.

Location: Ashley's dream state

"Well well well...Little Ashley has found himself someone to love..." The mysterious voiced echoed. Ashley stood alone inside a white void, the origin of the voice was everywhere.

"Great...Another crazy dream..." Ashley sighed.

"Oh shut up will you? Just be happy that you patched things up..."

"Oh so you care about me, whoever you are?" Ashley replied teasingly.

"...Quiet you...Oh and time to wake up."

"Wait what!?" The white void disappeared, Ashley was greeted by several ponies looking over him.

*** Time: 7pm ***

"Well...Looks like you two made up nicely." One of the ponies spoke, it sounded like Shockwave.

"Huh? Wha-?" Ashley was still a bit groggy from his recent awakening. He looked down on his body to see Grey Ink, still sound asleep with a faint smile on her face, accompanied with a small pink tint on her cheeks. He had to admit, it's something good to awake to.

"Aaaawwwwww." Several mares spoke as they stumbled across the two ponies hugging each other. Ashley knew that it was Twilight and the gang although he couldn't twist his neck to see them.

Grey Ink mumbled something but no one, not even Ashley could hear it. The pegasus stretched a bit as she let out a small yawn. She slowly opened her eyes half way, both Ashley and Grey's eyes locked onto each other, both smiled towards each other.

"Oooooh~ Maybe we'll get to see a kiss!" Pinkie was obviously teasing. As much as Grey wanted to try and dignify herself from her current situation, she realised that she slept with a caring stallion that promised not to let her go.

"Shush girls." Ashley whispered as he continued to stare into Grey's beautiful light brown eyes with his smile. "Should we get going?"

"Hmmm..." Grey Ink lifted her head of Ashley's chest and rose a hoof to her chin with a grin "Nah..." She plopped her head back to where it rested and rubbed against his fur "I like this more."

Ashley decided not to object and started to run his hoof through the back of her soft, delicate brown mane. "Alright..." He gave her a peck on the head "I like this too..."

"Well sorry to interrupt your snuggle moment Ash but you've got work in a bit." Callum spoke up.

"Awww...Do I have to?" The former human moaned like a child, Grey giggled a bit and rubbed his chest affectionately.

"Yes." Callum answered bluntly "The faster we get money, the faster we can get our own place...Then you two can do whatever you want in your privacy..."

*pomf*

Grey Ink's wings went off again but Ashley didn't mind. He heard snickering from the others but he raised a hoof to them.

"If I had fingers, I'd be showing you one!" He said sternly but was obviously playing. He put his hoof back down and started to stroke Grey's erect wings. "I have no idea what I'm doing..."

Grey Ink was thoroughly enjoying Ashley's gentle stroking, she wasn't even phased by her wings unlike she used to. When she was near Ashley, she didn't have a care in the world...

"So you don't want to be human again?" Pinkie questioned, revealing the small potion that would cure him.

His eyes shot open but he looked down at Grey Ink. She was staring into his eyes with her gentle smile again, Ashley found futile to even resist smiling back.

"Go ahead..." Grey Ink started to stand up but not before she gave Ashley a peck on the tip of his nose, her wings folded back into position. "I want you to see you use those fingers of yours." She said lustfully with a wink. "Maybe I'll come to your work tonight and after wards we can talk some more?"

"Sounds like brilliant plan Grey..." Ashley replied happily as he stood himself up. His back was covered in dirt from the floor and seeing how dirty Grey was, he still found her beautiful to say the least...

"We're a bit dirty..." Ashley leaned closer to the mare "Maybe we should..." He put his lips next to mare and whispered...

"Bathe together..." He kissed the back of her ear, hearing a satisfying *pomf* from her again, she even had a small blush this time.

"Maybe I'll take you up on that." She countered.

Ashley just smiled as he gestured for Grey to move ahead first, they both completely forgot about Callum and the others in the presence, nor did they really care.

Dang... Ashley thought to himself as he followed Grey Ink out of the alleyway. She's getting good...

*** Around fifteen minutes later ***

"So all I do is just have a bath with this stuff and I'm cured?" Ashley asked, the bath tub in Twilight's house seemed to be the closest nearby so they all agreed that it would be the best to use. The only ponies present in the bathroom were Twilight, who had the cure for Ashley in her magics grasp and Grey Ink since she did say that she would take up on Ashley's offer to get cleaned up.

Twilight was a bit uncomfortable with two ponies sharing her bathtub to be quite honest but seeing how happy they seemed to be now, she didn't want to ruin it.

"Maybe the potion can wait after me and Grey have some cleaning time for ourselves..."

"Well if you say so." Twilight turned to leave the room "Just call out if you need anything." She locked the door with her magic. Grey Ink immediately shot a look of which had a mischievous smile. She looked to the bath and back at the stallion, wiggling her eyebrows.

"Clean time now." Ashley chuckled but leaned towards the pegasus and kissed her on the cheek "But that thing can wait after a couple dates."

"Fine by me." Grey Ink nuzzled against his neck before hopping into the bath slowly. The warm water felt amazing against her fur as she slid the rest of her body in slowly. She looked towards Ashley with half open eyes and a smirk "Care to join me?"

Ashley grinned as he made his way to share a bath with the pegasus.

***  forty five minutes later ***

They didn't come out for almost a while but were clean, a vast improvement for both ponies as they walked down the stairs. Twilight looked towards them as did everyone else. Ashley nodded and told Twilight to meet him back upstairs, he nudged Grey with the tip of his hoof, motioning her to join him up there once more. She couldn't object since she whispered to him that she wouldn't mind seeing a naked human.

Ashley was blushing furiously from this. It wasn't long before the cure was ready, Ashley stepped back into the tub and held his head under the water. He felt his bones shifting, his fur dissolving but there was no pain. Only darkness.

As he rose his head out of the water, both Twilight and Grey witnessed the human back in his normal form. He quickly kissed his hands.

"Oh god how I missed these..."

Both ponies in his presence rolled their eyes and laughed a bit themselves.

Well happy days! Ashley was able to not only get Grey Ink to forgive him but he also managed to win her heart back and fell for her as well! Not to mention he's finally human again (Thank god.) Hope this made you feel a bit warm inside. Next chapter will be working at the night club.