Love Bites

The day started out as any other day would, with the changeling known commonly as Cold Runner, waking up around six in the morning and taking an hour to get out of bed. Of course Cold Runner isn’t his real name, it’s the name of the pegasus he takes form of when around ponies or going to his job. After living in Equestria for quite some time he found himself quite distraught when Queen Chrysalis invaded Canterlot, due to the fact that every citizen was now weary of the changeling threat that nearly took their capital. This just made it that much harder to continue to blend in for him, he himself nearly having been caught once or twice now.

Groaning loudly and running a hoof along the top of his frill, he sighed softly, licking his fangs to rid the sour taste of gunk on his tongue. Laying there in bed, he wondered what the day would have instore for him, he wasn’t on the work schedule for the next three days and had found himself rather bored. “Need coffee…” He grumbled softly to himself, flicking off the comforter that was his blanket he rolled out of bed and walked to the bathroom, rubbing the sleep from his eyes and looking at himself in the mirror. The traditional blue changeling eyes looked back, lacking any pupils but instead a gentle white glow beneath the blue as the only indication as of where he was looking. The changeling looked at his body, a few small scars covered the carapace that protected his squishy insides.

Yawning softly and rubbing his eyes again, he grabbed the tooth brush and began brushing, his fangs requiring some special attention due to the position they were situated in. His other teeth requiring no such thing. After brushing he made his way down stairs of his two story home, and into the kitchen, setting some coffee on and checking his cupboard for coffee mugs. A single mug brought a small smile to his face. “Thank Celestia for the small things…” He levitated over the mug under the coffee maker, leaving it there as the coffee dribbled down into the cup, the pleasant smell of hazelnut filled his home.

When the coffee had finished he drank it down quickly, as the caffeine ran through his body he felt more alive and more aware, allowing more of a full smile to plaster itself on his face. Bringing up his disguise, a deep blue pegasus with icy blue eyes, a mane of black hair with white streaks situated in the middle on either side, ran through it, his tail remained its natural black color. Looking around his house once more before closing the door and leaving to get in a flight of exercise for the day. The day was still starting so he took off into the brisk air and got warmed up with a few lighty strenuous tricks and moves. After awhile he was flying towards the castle, waving to the royal guards that watched him, smiling as they returned the waves with warm smiles.

Soon a second pair of wing beats joined his and looked below to see a quickly approaching red and cream colored blur, rolling to avoid it he failed to do so quick enough and the blur clipped the edge of his wings, setting him off balance. As he got himself under control he came to a halt hovering as he awaited the pony to stop laughing in joy. “Oh man! I almost had you Cold!” The red and cream colored blur turned out to be none other than his coworker and best friend Rose Dawn, a red haired and cream colored pegasus female that was bubbly and focused. Her cutie mark was of a rose colored dawn, representing how she brought joy and light into most ponies lives. She approached Cold Runner and smiled a mockingly. “Getting slower in your reaction times Cold! I’ll have to push you further and harder than ever before! No athlete under my wings is going to be that slow!” She finished with a proud smile. Cold Runner chuckled softly and smiled warmly at her. “Well it’s not like I exactly need to be the quickest or fastest flyer in all of Equestria y’know, we work at a cafe Dawnie.” Rose narrowed her eyes at the nickname and grinned with predatory nature. “Dawnie huh? Now I know i’ve told you something about that before…” Cold widened his eyes at his mistake, she had indeed warned him that if he ever called her that again she would pummel him into submission, a joke obviously, but seeing the grin made him less certain of that.

Gulping he offered a small nervous laugh, “Ahaha hahaha...I should start flying huh?” and a sheepish grin as she kept her predatory look, nodding a short nod. Cold snapped his wings shut and fell from the skies quickly, a few guards raising eyebrows as they saw him, before their eyes switched to the red and cream colored pegasus flying after him. Cold snapped his wings out before he hit the ground and weaved back and forth between the buildings as Rose stayed behind him, following his movements with ease. An idea popped itself into his head as he thought of another friend, but he would have to lose Rose Dawn first.

As she stayed close to him, he looped around a building and inverted himself as he flew under a hollow rooftop, grabbing onto the inside support beams to hide himself, Rose Dawn shooting by a few seconds later. Breathing a sigh of relief, he let go of the support beam and flew quickly to the job site of his other friend who would likely be opening the cafe today.

Upon reaching the cafe, he saw his friend, a red unicorn with a brown mane and tail and gentle blue eyes. He had just opened up the cafe as Cold Runner landed beside him, panting. “H-Hey Storm! Can’t talk! Need inside!” He quickly said as he pushed past and made his way into the back of the cafe to hide. Storm trotted in behind him and smirked softly, speaking with a hint of amusement. “You called her ‘Dawnie’ again didn’t you?” He grinned as Cold nodded, peeking up from behind a metal table.

Storm Rider shook his head and yawned softly. “It’s….ahh, way too early for you guys to be going at it, I haven’t even gotten my double espresso shot yet.” A pair of hooves clip clopping against the clean tile made both their ears perk up and look towards the door expectantly. Rose Dawn trotted in and had a small smile on her face. Cold was still sitting behind the metal table as she spoke to Storm. “So Stormy...any mmm...Deep blue pegasi come in here? About this tall? Icy blue eyes? Has a silly cutie mark?” Cold shot up and pointed a hoof at her. “Hey! It’s not silly! Just different! And way cooler than your cutie mark too!” Dawn shook her head and grinned again. “Gotcha.” She taunted softly before sailing over the room and tackling Cold, flipping him over and restraining a hoof behind his back. “Who’s your mommy!?” She shouted as Cold cried out in discomfort as she pushed the hoof further behind him.

“Y-You are! Ah! Ow! Not so rough Dawn!” Cold shouted out, gritting his teeth in the discomfort and slight pain. She pushed it back more. “Who? Sorry I don’t know anyone named Dawn. Try Again.” Cold whimpered in defeat “Y-Your being too rough mommy!” He shouted out as Dawn released his hoof and got off him, grinning victoriously. “And that’s why you don’t call me ‘Dawnie’ Cold. Mommy gets rough when you do.” Cold pushed himself up and stretched out his shoulder and hoof. “Yeah, well, Dawn doesn’t have to be so mean about it.” He turned and saw Storm hiding his smirk behind a hoof, before bursting out in laughter. “Hahahaha! Dude she made you call her ‘mommy’!” As Storm continued to laugh Cold blushed with embarrassment as Dawn chuckled herself, grinning at Cold.

Looking over to the clock on the wall, Cold noted that, the whole thing had taken quite a while. It was now six forty-five, customers would be coming in soon. Grinning as he noticed, he turned back to the two ponies. “Well, I have today off, and tomorrow, and the day after that. You two have to work today.” He smirked at the groan and face hoof he received. Rose Dawn glared at him “Then you better get on somewhere before mommy makes you squeal again.” Cold took off without another word, fearing for his life as he flew back to his house.

Re-entering his home, he yawned loudly, a sudden wave of fatigue hitting him as he returned upstairs, flopping down on his bed and passing out.

When the changeling woke up again he smacked his lips and yawned as he flipped over, staring up at the ceiling as he laid there. A knock at his front door sounded and he groaned out loudly. “GGuhhhhhhh! I’m coming!” Rolling off his bed and landing on his hooves he went to the bathroom, huffing as he ran a hoof along his frill yawning softly. “I never go anywhere...wonder who could be at the door..?” Turning back into his disguise as he made his way down the stairs to the door. Opening it he raised an eyebrow at the pair before him. Both Rose and Storm were wearing glow sticks and had pale body paint on them, Rose having more of both in between the two. “Uuhh...Yes?” Rose grinned more and hooked a hoof around his neck pulling their faces close. “C’mon Cold! We’re going to Equinox! Come with us dude!” Storm had amusement etched into his features, nodding in agreement. “Yeah dude, you should totally come, it’ll be great! We can get plastered and…” Storm looked around before flashing a brown cylindrical object at him, wrapped so that its expanding toward the end, a large grin now on his face. Cold rubbed the back of his head with a hoof.

“I don’t know you guys, I don’t really go out that much a-and uhmm...I had something planned already..?” He offered weakly and a sheepish grin. The pair looked at each other before giving him dead panned looks. Rose spoke up, “Really? You have something planned? Our Cold Runner, the closed in pegasus who never does anything at all, has something planned?” She raised an eyebrow as she spoke. Cold Runner offered another nervous smile. “Uhhmm...Yes?”

Storm shook his head and sighed, “C’mon Rose, I told you he wouldn’t wanna come.” He turned and started trotting off down the street. Rose frowned softly and turned to follow him before Cold spoke up. “Wait! Fine, I’ll go! Let me grab my keys…” The grinned at each other as he disappeared into the house for a brief moment and then reappeared outside locking the door behind him. Together the trio trotted off down the street toward Equinox. Cold Runner looked at his two friends to his left and smiled. At least I have a safety net if anything goes wrong tonight. Rose spoke up breaking the silence, “So, Storm, who is DJing this week? And where are we smoking?” Storm gave a small grin. “Got word that Neon Lights and Vinyl Scratch will be DJing this week. And as for the second part, there’s a nice secluded spot in the park, not as safe as any of our places but still and okay place.” Rose and Cold nodded silently as they followed Storms lead into the local park.

Working their way to the secluded section of the park, Storm smiled and pulled out both lighter and blunt with his magic. Rose and Cold both smiled, having done this before they knew it would be at least be an hour before they would be done here at the park. Sparking the lighter and lighting the blunt Storm started the circle.

“Marco” He said after letting out his pull.

“Polo!” Cold called out quickly, gleefully taking the blunt in a wing and taking his own two puffs, before passing it off the Rose.

This went on till the blunt was too small for anyone except for Storm to hold, even then he had to do so with his magic, taking the last few puffs, he threw it own and stomped it out, smiling and passing out eyedrops for the trio. “Put ‘em in, and try not to act too stupid, just the right amount of stupid.” After placing the eyedrops in and giving them back to Storm, the trio set off again.

Arriving at the nightclub Equinox they got in line and waited, an hour had passed before they were let in, however. The doors opened up to them and they were immediately met with ponies mingling about, everyone was wearing light sticks of some sort, everyone except for Cold Runner that is, who timidly followed the other two party goers to the bar. After setting up at the bar they ordered drinks and all smiled at one another, the night so far going well. Cold Runner’s heart was pounding in his chest and ears, taking a deep breath he calmed himself, the weed having kicked up his slight paranoia about being found out by a fair margin.

The bartender came by with the shots of whiskey they had ordered to start the night after smoking, Cold Runner and Rose preferred it normal while Storm liked it on the rocks. Rose sighed softly after setting down the drink, spinning around to look out at the dance floor, she turned her head to Cold and spoke with consideration. “Will you be okay if Storm and I go into the crowd and party?” Cold nodded and smiled. “Yeah, heck I might even try and mingle with you guys or the crowd at least. Figure it’s time to become a little more sociable and outgoing, spice things up y’know?” Rose smiled and nodded, motioning for Storm to follow her as they both entered the chaos of the crowd.

Cold Runner sighed and signaled the bartender for another round, leaving the bits on the counter, the drink and bits were exchanged and Cold tossed it back. A fiery warmth that was familiar and encouraging him to get out on the dance floor and join the crowd. Looking up to the stage there they were, sure enough. Vinyl Scratch and Neon Lights, both at turntables of some sort or variation, computers were also set up on the tables, the two DJ making consistent head bobs with the beat and drops of the song currently being played.

If he were honest with himself, he would have left, but something about the DJ didn’t seem right, Cold Runner squinted his eyes and focused, and then he saw it. Cleverly hidden with all the healthy white teeth were two rather long canines, Cold Runner sat back and thought about what he had just seen, Nah it’s probably just the weed talking, I’ve seen weird shit before but that just doesn’t make any sense. Getting up and working his way to the dance floor, the tingling sensation the weed had been giving him felt amazing when mixed with the constant reverberation of the bass and constant thumping. Soon Cold was dancing, albeit timidly, he was still dancing with the ponies around him, a few mares had bumped his rump with theirs or had flicked their tails under his muzzle, drawing his attention before they sauntered away with swaying hips.

One mare however, had her V.I.P. Backstage pass clipped onto her tail. When she flicked her tail under his muzzle it became detached from the sudden motion, landing square at his hooves, bending down he picked it up in his teeth and looked around for the mare before shrugging, she had seemingly disappeared into the crowd. A thought hit him, Well...Since I do have one now...maybe checking out what I saw would be worth finding out if its fake or not? Heh, would be a wild story to bang a vampire and live though. Letting the good vibes continue to flow through him, he eventually found his way to the other side of the large crowd and found himself standing in front of the VIP backstage entrance.

He held up the pass and the bouncer, a tall strong looking earth pony grunted and nodded for him to go through, to which Cold Runner quickly obliged him and went in, the music was immediately dampened and the only sound that played was the steady thumping of his heart in his ears. Looking at the pass as he held it in his right wing, the instructions in small print told him that this was no cheap vip pass, it was premium, with access to the DJ’s own lounge.

Cold Runner walked down the hall and came to a stop before the door, emblazoned on it was ‘Vinyl Scratch and Neon Lights DJ Lounge’ Cold Runner took a deep breath and knocked on the door.