The Broken One

I sat by the window and stared off into the clear blue sky. It was a rather warm day for the middle of Final Fall and I smiled as the sun beamed on me. I heard the rhythmic thunking of Umbra’s cast behind me and turned to smile at her. Only two days had passed but a couple of feedings had done wonders for her complexion. The bruises had all faded in just two days but her ribs and wing were still bandaged.

“Good morning, master”, she bowed as she made her way over to me. “Do you need anything?”

“A hug would be nice”, I smiled.

“Master, I’m not… I’m not Shadow”, she replied quietly.

“I know that, Umbra”, I said as I continued to smile and opened my arms to her. “Everypony needs a hug every now and then.”

She returned the smile and clunked over to slip into my embrace. I sighed and kissed her forelock as the memories of just a few days ago flooded back. I felt her stiffen in my embrace before she spoke.

“Stop thinking about it, master.”

“What”, I asked.

“Your scent just changed”, she murmured.

“Damned vampony noses”, I laughed.

“It is only a vampony that knows a vampony”, she replied as she pulled away from me. “Master, you need to eat.”

“I fed less than a week ago”, I chuckled.

“I was referring to actual protein, master”, she deadpanned. “Allow me to fix you something to eat.”

“We have kitchen staff for that”, I smiled until I saw the look of determination on her face. “Okay, I’ll tell them to let you cook me something.”

“I will return as quickly as possible”, she smiled and thunked out of the room.

After she had left I turned my attention back out the window and watched as Cindra happily buzzed around the castle. I was tempted to join her but I didn’t feel like moving. I was honestly content to sit by the window and soak up the sunshine.

Prince Jackson, there is a Pinkamena Pie requesting entry to the castle.

“Let her in”, I smiled. “Hey, Audrey?”

Yes Prince Jackson?

“Do you think you could make three more of those clones that I used to revive Umbra?”

I can. Shall I begin now?

“Yes, please”, I answered.

Two seconds later a pink blur burst through the door and slammed into me. My chair rocked dangerously as she planted a big wet kiss on my cheek. I laughed and pushed her away gently.

“Hiya, Prince Jackson”, she grinned.

“Hey yourself”, I smiled. “How did you get up here so fast?”

“Like you say, Pinkie’s gonna Pinkie”, she quipped. “Hey do you ever get the feeling like our lives are on display for the whole universe to see?”

“Fuck I hope not”, I chuckled. “Can I have my lap back now?”

“I was just keeping it nice and toasty for you”, she smiled as she hopped down.

We sat and talked for a bit until the all too familiar halting steps of Umbra and the lightly squeaking wheels of a cart came from the antechamber. The pink pony turned her head toward the noise and let out the longest gasp before bolting into Umbra and wrapping her in a hug.

“Oh my Celestia I can’t believe you’re alive”, she squealed. “Jackson said he would do it and he did! Oh Shadow, I’m so glad to see you again!”

“That isn’t Shadow”, I smiled.

“It looks like her”, Pinkie said as she used her hoof to poke Umbra in the nose. “Feels like her too!”

“Please forgive the confusion”, Umbra smiled. “I am Umbra, Shadow Bloom’s clone.

“A NEW FRIEND”, Pinkie screamed as confetti exploded out of thin air.

I couldn’t help but laugh as Umbra jumped back in surprise. The smell of food drifted to my nose and my mouth started watering. Umbra noticed this and pushed the cart toward me.

“You don’t have to bring it all the way to me”, I sighed as she lifter the lid from my tray of food and passed it to me.

“I wanted to”, she smiled.

“I noticed there was only one tray here”, I replied. “I’m not eating until you do.”

“But master-“

“No arguments”, I said firmly. “Either we both eat or neither of us eats.”

“Yes master”, she sighed.

She plodded from the room and I turned my attention back to the window just as Cindra landed on the balcony. As soon as the changeling spotted Pinkie she rushed into the room and tackled the pink pony in a hug. The two chattered so fast I couldn’t keep up and was lost.

“Good morning”, Cindra smiled as she kissed my cheek.

“I see you enjoyed your flight”, I smiled back.

“The best part is coming back and getting a nice warm hug”, she giggled before wrapping her forelegs around my shoulders and squeezing me.

“You give great hugs”, I laughed as I returned the hug.

“Not as great as yours”, Cindra smiled warmly.

“I want a Jackson hug”, Pinkie exclaimed as she held her forelegs out.

I opened my arms and welcomed the energetic pony into a tight embrace. She squealed happily and hugged me before pulling a cupcake out of her mane and offering it to me. I smiled and tried to take the cupcake from her but she slapped my hand away and insisted on feeding it to me so I let her. As usual it was delicious and tasted just like apple cider.

“That was fantastic”, I smiled. “Thank you very much.”

“You’re welcome”, she giggled. “You have some icing in your mustache.”

I went to wipe my face but she stopped my hand and slowly licked my mustache and lips. She shivered slightly and let out the quietest moan ever as her eyes slid closed. I jerked my head back in surprise and found myself staring into her cerulean eyes.

“Pinkie, what was that”, I asked slowly.

“I just wanted to see how you tasted”, she replied with a wide smile and a wink. “Next time I’ll try it without the frosting.”

I shook my head and gently nudged her off of my lap. Her forelegs waved in the air comically as she tried to keep her balance but she wound up falling to the floor just as Umbra came trotting in with a paper bag clamped in her teeth.

“Mashter, wha ish goig od”, the vampony mumbled around the bag.

“I assume you asked why Pinkie is on the floor”, I replied, chuckling when she nodded. “She just licked icing from my face.”

The vampony stared at Pinkie with an unreadable expression before she set her bag on the cart and crouched down over Pinkie.

“Neque eo invito”, she said coolly.

“Common Ponish, please”, I reminded Umbra who blinked at me before turning back to the party animal.

“Never without his permission”, she reiterated as her eyes began to glow.

“Umbra”, I said sternly. “Back away.”

The vampony did as she was told, albeit reluctantly, and stepped back to stand at my side. I rested a hand on her back as I nibbled on a piece of bacon. She tensed up as I scratched her left ear but instantly relaxed and leaned into my touch. Before long her eyes began to droop closed and I laughed, startling her.

“My turn”, Cindra grinned as she pranced in place.

I motioned her over with a chuckle and used my other hand to scratch behind her ear. Her tongue lolled out of her mouth and her hind leg began thumping on the floor. I laughed yet again and looked into her eyes.

“If you think an ear scratch is awesome, you should try a belly rub”, I grinned.

“Ooh, can I have a belly rub”, Pinkie asked.

“Not right now”, I replied as I picked up my glass of juice. “I’m gonna eat first.”

I quickly ate my meal and settled the tray on the cart as Umbra finished her little baggy of oats or whatever she was eating and she began to wheel the cart out.

“Hurry back”, I called. “I plan on giving all three of you a belly rub.”

“Maybe I could rub your belly”, Cindra smiled suggestively.

“You would rub something else”, I laughed.

“You know me too well”, Cindra winked.

“Hey Jackson”, Pinkie asked with a cocked head. “I still don’t know if you have a sheath or not and I really am curious but I promise I’ll look but not touch I’m just dying to know!”

“He doesn’t”, Cindra replied evenly.

“I still want to see what one looks like”, she smiled undeterred.

“Tell ya what”, Cindra smirked. “If you can beat me in a wrestling match you can see.”

“Cindra”, I shouted.

A flash of pink zipped past me and pinned the changeling to the floor. I blinked as I watched Cindra struggle for a few seconds before admitting defeat and Pinkie turned her hopeful gaze to me.

“Well, fuck.”