//-------------------------------------------------------// Paws of Sorrow: Hoof in Hoof -by Mareofkindness- //-------------------------------------------------------// //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 1 – And Reason, Is Treason //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 1 – And Reason, Is Treason Celestia awoke as she would, and prepared for the morning. The first priority when she got out of bed was to have her coffee. So with that, she put on her slippers and trotted out to the kitchen, turning on the coffee pot. It was a rather old model, that Celestia’s budgeting coordinator kept insisting she replace with this new machine called a Curerig. Celestia insisted that she keep the current machine, despite her coordinator’s pleads. “The C-Cups are not biodegradable, and you can’t pour as much as you want. Luna and I both agree that we keep our BrewMaster until it’s no good, but we will not buy a Curerig.” After watching a minuscule amount of TV, the coffee pot beeped, and the lucious scent of Colombian coffee filled the air. Celestia got up and pulled out a coffee cup that said “Best Teacher Ever,’ obviously a gift from Twilight. Celestia took the coffee pot out with her magic and poured herself a hot cup of joe, as she heard a familiar voice behind her. “I’ll have a cup as well, sis.” Celestia put her coffee down before turning and seeing Luna, looking as if she was either having a hangover or sleep deprived for four days. Celestia laughed a little and Luna pouted. “My goodness, Luna. You look like hammered shit.” Luna flipped up her hair and groaned. “Just get me some coffee…” Celestia took out another mug labeled “Best Sister Ever,” obviously a gift from herself to Luna. Celestia was always amazed that Luna can have a few cups of coffee before she goes to bed, and sleep as peacefully as possible. She poured Luna her coffee anyways, and handed it to Luna; no cream, no sugar, black. Luna took a sip of the hot brew and perked up instantly. Celestia smiled seeing her sister perk up like that. “Rough night?” Celestia asked with a grin. Luna rolled her eyes, replying “there was an older pony who was having nightmares, woke up several other ponies. He kept shouting ‘I don’t know what the numbers mean!’ I eventually calmed him down, but hecking Hearthswarming that took a while… I don’t want to remember the past wars of Equestria, I honestly don’t.” Celestia simply nodded. “Well, we can at least say that’s in the past, and we can move on from it.” As Celestia finished, the two both heard growling coming from each other. Celestia giggled and Luna blushed a little. “I think we should eat.” Luna noted, as Celestia nodded with a big smile. Luna sat at the table drinking her coffee as Celestia made them both crispy hay breakfast sandwiches. Luna frowned a little and asked “where are the puncakes?” Celestia smiled and brought Luna and herself some puncakes on a plate, most of which were shaped like a crescent moon, and the others like Celestia’s cutie mark. Luna plopped three on her plate, and added a small amount of butter; but not long after she added a figurative ton of syrup. Luna took a huge mouthful as Celestia laughed. “They’re so good!!!” Luna shouted with a mouthful of puncake. Ever since Luna was chosen to raise the moon, she usually ate her dinner with Celestia, to which it was her breakfast. Though Luna didn’t mind, as she loved breakfast with all her heart. “Sister, we must try this new recipe I found on my laptop!” Celestia took a bite of honeydew and looked up. “Is that so?” She answered as Luna nodded, taking a drink of orange juice. “It’s where you mix hay and potato into patties, then you fry or bake them until they’re golden.” Celestia did like that idea, she thought she had to try it sometime. Meanwhile, the sun was just rising upon a village outside Equestria’s borders. There in his bed lay a gray and white wolf, yawning and stretching. He hasn’t been getting the best night’s sleep the past week, so he’s finally glad he can sleep in and get some well-needed rest… …though not for long… There was a knocking on the door, and the wolf in bed moaned. “Mona, for fuck’s sake can we wait until at least ten in the morning to-” Another wolf came in, carrying a hot plate of eggs and toast. The female wolf who brought his breakfast is Mona; a selfless yet shy wolf, who was the sister to the grumpy wolf in bed, BloodStripe. Mona smiled at Stripe as he sat up, looking at the breakfast that his sister made him. He looked at Mona, who was eager for him to try a piece. It turns out, Mona has been trying for the past three consecutive months to make the same thing: eggs, toast, or both. “I felt extra proud of myself so I also made you a glass of orange juice!” Mona said excitedly, jumping up and down a little. Stripe laughed a little. “Alright, Mona, I’ll have a bite.” Stripe took a piece of cheesy egg and put some toast with it, and he took a bite. The flavor was amazing. Just the right amount of spice, consistency, and as he told Mona, “these are by far some of the best eggs I’ve had ever!” Mona jumped so high she landed on the bed. Before she could, however, Stripe used his magic and quickly took the tray off the bed to prevent spillage. Mona simply giggled as did Stripe. While Stripe was easily considered one of the more quiet wolves of the pack, he was one of the youngest and one of the wisest. “So Stripey!” Mona said to Stripe, to which he replied “yes, Mona?” “Did you decide on your wolf partner yet?” Stripe immediately sealed his mouth. According to the magic the wolves studied, it was against the rules, not to mention one of the highest offenses, to have a partner. In that pack, only the dominant wolves were allowed to reproduce. Once the dominant wolves passed on, the ones who were heir to that position would take over. Stripe whispered “Mona! Fucks sake you know that’s against the rules!” Mona tilted her head. “But it’ll be fun! I already set you up on a blind date with another wolf, she’s from that one clan…” Mona had to think about it for a wholeminute and then remembered. “Oh yeah, the Shi-Ban clan!” Stripe took a massive gulp. “Mona, did you get knocked upside the head?!” Mona tilted her head again. “No… why?” “We’re rivals with the Shi-Ban clan! If our leaders find out we have anything to do with them we’ll be dead!” Mona frowned. “It was gonna be so much fun too…” Stripe heard noises coming from outside their house, and then there was knocking on the front door. “I’ll get it, probably the mail wolf or something…” Stripe opened the door to see four wolf guards burst in and barge through the house. Stripe was beginning to panic, picking up his breathing. The guards eventually brought Mona to the commander, as he looked at her mischievously. “What’s the meaning of all this?” Stripe shouted, his breathing still picking up. A guard knocked Stripe down, causing him to become dizzy. “Well, BloodStripe, your sister has committed acts of treason by setting up a ‘blind date’ with a female wolf from our rivaling pack!” The commander ordered the guards. “Bring Mona and BloodStripe to the execution stand. They will be tested for treason.” With that, the other two guards grabbed Stripe as they walked towards the execution platform, but who knows what their fate will be.