The Lost Princess

Thunder was the first pony to leave the castle. The others were talking, trying to get to know their partners, but Thunder didn’t really want to talk at the moment. He just wanted to go home and forget about all of this.

“This is just stupid… I don’t even want to help… Why me? I expected to get something or whatever… I’m just gonna go home… Although...” He chuckles, blushing a bit. “My partner’s kinda c-cute, I guess… Maybe I could g--”

Before he could finish his statement, somepony tugged on his tail and giggled. Thunder yelped and nearly fell forward, turning around. It was Rushing Sky, his partner in the adventure, and he goes wide-eyed, blushing.

She giggles and looks at him. “You think I’m cute, huh?” She smiles and lifts his muzzle with a wing to meet his gaze. “Well, maybe the feeling’s mutual.”

Thunder just blinks, blushing bright red, unable to say anything as he stares up at her. “Y-you… I… Uh…”

She rolls her eyes, giggling. “Cat got your tongue, Thunder? It’s okay… You’re a little shy, I understand.” Beaming, she wraps a wing over him, hugging him a bit, and Thunder just stands there, his cheeks as pink as they could go.

A few moments later, Firestorm, followed shortly by Heat Flame, stepped out of the castle.

“Hey, Thunder, don’t get too comfortable!” He snickers and rolls his eyes upon seeing the hug.

Heat Flame elbows him in the side. “Hey, cut it out, okay? Just because he’s a little shy doesn’t mean you gotta pick on him!” She glared daggers at Fire.

Fire gulped, stepping back. “W-well, he knows I’m just messing with him, right, Volt?” He looks over at Thunder, who was no longer under Rushing Sky’s wing.

Thunder just sighed. “Just shut up, dude, okay? Not everyone can stand your hotheadedness as much as the others, okay? Geesh…”

Heat Flame laughed, flying up into the sky, looking around the town, clearly bored. She soon looks at the forest and sighs. “Alright, I don’t want to wait around. Come on, Fireboy… Let’s go.” She then flies off into the forest.

“Fireboy? Oh no… that’s not happening ever!” He takes off, running straight into the forest, closing the gap between the two of them.

Thunder rolls his eyes. “I need to go get something from my place, so do you wanna meet back up with the others in the forest?”

Rushing Sky shakes her head. “I’ll fly out there, but not until you’re back. I’m coming with you, and that’s final. There’s no talking me out of it, Thunder Volt.” She giggles and trots off.

“Urr, Rushing Sky? My place is this way?” He points off in the other direction, shaking his head. “I live behind SugarCube Corner.” He laughs as the pegasus turns and trots past him, Thunder following, as they head to his home.

* * *

Buck sheepishly heads for the door, but Light Grace stops him. “Hey, Buck? Can I ask you something?”

“Hmm?” He turns around and looks at her. “Y-yeah, of course! Wh-what is it?”

She smiles. “I was just wondering… You don’t talk to ponies much, do you?”

He looks down at the ground, shaking his head. “I’ve lived in the forest almost my whole life… I’ve grown fond of the animals… Unlike the ponies at my school before I ran away, they don’t make fun of you… They like me the way I am…”

Light Grace lifts his head up with a hoof. “I think those horns are wonderful, Buck. Just forget about those other ponies that picked on you, okay? Besides, it seems like you have a few friends around here that like you for who you are, right?”

He looks up at her, his cheeks heating up. He glances at Astro Wolf and Frostbite behind Light, but nods. “Y-yea…. I guess you’re right. I never thought about it.”

Light Grave smiles warmly. “And if you didn’t have them, you wouldn’t be the pony you are, would you? Just look at them as a gift, not as a curse, okay, Buck? I want you to be happy and content, not living in fear of rejection.”

Buck blinks, surprised by the sudden comments. “Well, I… I just… I’m naturally shy as is… But… I can try to work on it, I promise, Miss Grace…”

“Please, call me Light or just Grace… Besides, we’re partners in this thing, okay?” She smiles, giggling before trotting outside, Buck close behind her.

* * *

Astro, upon seeing these two leave, sighs. “Frostbite, are you ready to go now?”

Frostbite, after flying around the room for several minutes, inspecting the room, she flies back down, landing next to him, pressed up against him, and she smirks. “Maybe I am, and maybe I’m not, Mr. Wolf. All that matters is that I’m right here with you.”

Astro blinks, looking at her. “Okay, I get it. Come on. The others have already headed off to the forest. I wanna get out there with them before they get too far into the forest.” He steps forward and turns around to face her.

Smirking, she steps close so that she’s inches from him. “But I want to spend some alone time with you, Astro. Ever since we’ve met, there hasn’t been a night that I hadn’t thought of you. I missed you so much, Wolf… ever since flight academy, I just… I don’t know..”

Astro blushes darkly, going silent. After a few moments, he smiles a tad. “Frostbite, stop… I underst-stand… It’s not my fault being a Royal Guard is time consuming. I mean, sure, I understand that it was my choice, but I felt obligated to join it ever since my parents were murdered. I just wanted a chance to protect others from horrible actions and events like that, and I--”

Before he had a chance to finish, Frostbite leans forward and places her muzzle against his, closing her eyes. Astro Wolf goes wide-eyed, his ears perking up, and his cheeks going bright red. He just stands there, not sure what to do. After a few moments, Frostbite pulls back, smiling.

“Hey, Astro?” She says, giggling.

“Y-yeah?”

“You gotta learn to stop talking sometimes… You ruin the situation… But anyways… Hehe…” She rubs the back of her neck, looking at the floor.

Astro just blinks, watching her. “Hey, th-thank you… I… Just…”

“Hmm?” She looks up at him, giggling. “You’re cheeks are red, Astro… You liked it didn’t you?” She paused, then smirked. “You’re adorable when you’re flustered, ya know…”

He blushes darker, turning away. “Well, I…”

She places a hoof on his muzzle, pulling his gaze back to her, but also silencing him. “Hey. Of course you did. You’re bad at hiding feelings. Always have been. Even way back at the academy... But I love you, Astro Wolf… No matter what you say or do, I always will…”

He goes wide-eyed from the confession and stares. He slowly takes a hoof and pushes hers away. “I l-love you too…”

Frostbite goes wide-eyed, gasping in surprise. “W-wait, y-you… you do?!” Happily, she pounces at him, tackling him in a big hug.

Astro yelps in surprise, falling to the floor beneath her weight. “Fr-Frostbite!! You know I don’t like that!!”

Frostbite giggles and looks down at him. “Yea, I know. But I do.” She nuzzles his neck before getting up, flying in the air. “Okay!! I’m ready to go, Wolfie!”

Blinking and blushing bright red, Astro slowly gets up. “Wow… The situation just changed real fast.” He sighs. “Okay, c-come on Frostbite, let’s go catch up to the others… And please don’t call me Wolfie…”

She looks down at him, smirking. “Why not? You don’t like it? I think it’s cute!”

He shakes his head, flying up next to her. “I’ll start calling you Frosty.”

She growls. “Fine. I won’t call you Wolfie. Most of the time.” Smirking, she takes off outside, flying for the forest.

Rolling his eyes, Astro flies after her, catching up to her, chuckling, as they head off to find this lost princess, both of their cheeks a light pink as they flew together towards Everfree.