Author's Note

In the same spirit as the Valentine chapter, this one is optional and mainly for a lift in mood from the serious story before the fight goes down. Wish me luck in the last few chapters and let us pray I don't make these last pages bad ones.

Here we go.

A Night on Mane

As the sun set over the horizon and the lights came on in town, Manehattan went from gorgeous concrete city to beautiful light show central. Landing just on the outer moast road, Allen's shirtless body was immediately attracting attention and he used his physical abilities in a controlled state to cover it but the damage was done. "We better get you some manner of top." Mikael suggested as he held his nose to not let it bleed. Allen just smirked at him and the incubus took his hand and led him from the crowd. "So what top do you want?"

"For my abilities, best to get a cloak for range of motion and room for my alterations. Not sense ripping up a dozen shirts." He joked at the end which got Mikael a hot fantasy before the pony disguised incubus felt a firm hand on his flank. "Later, sexy Lexi." Mikael held a laugh but he still had a blush as they entered a small, well planned shop. The two looked around for long pre-made cloaks with a nice fabric pattern. They found cloaks that were one piece or clipped to the side but none of the patterns fit and the black fabric spoke to him more but the size was an issue.

Feel frustrated with Allen, and hiding it well, Mikael looked around but both were started by "Hello." a cream white mare sneaking up on them. "Can I help you two?"

Mikael caught his breath and spoke. "We're looking for a cloak for my boyfriend here since his body can... expand is the best word I can think of to not freak you out." The pony looked to Allen and saw exactly what he meant and nooded.

"The only measurements I'll need is his neck and shoulder. The cloak length can be negotiated." The two nodded and when the covering withdrew, the mare looked a bit entranced. She quickly took and noted the measurements and the margin of error allowed. "How soon do you need one?"

"I'll pay for a plain white cloak to have myself covered now and pay in advance for one with a black flame pattern over a tiger orange base." The mare smirked at Mikael and gave him a thumbs up, confusing them both as she went into the back and came back with a simple white cloak and hood that clipped over the right collar with silver buttons. Once the price was negotiated and cloaks paid for, the couple walked up and Allen drew up his hood which covered his head to the face and came to a tapper point in front. "Much better."

"Does this mean you're only getting long cloaks from now on?" Mikael pouted as he looked a bit offended before Allen took hold of Mikael by the waist and pulled him close.

"I'll get full, heavy cloaks for winter, hip long cloaks for spring and fall and short, light cloaks for summer," He leaned into Mikael's ear and whispered, "and home." Mikael's wings stood on end with his tail swishing excitedly as he looked excited. "For now, lets enjoy the city. And let's try finding a griffon owned food stall or building." Mikael could already guess that Allen wanted a burger and he was hungry for one too after days of a vegetarian diet. So they walked the streets closely and took in the sights, making comments and compliments about the buildings as they went until coming up to a vendor run by a griffon. "You see beef patties?"

The griffon looked stunned then ready to cry. "Oh thank the spirits!" The two smiled for him as he looked so depressed. "What would you like?"

Mikael held up his hand with a smile and began. "Triple smash patty on thick toast, thin tomatoes, lettuce, caramelized onions if you have 'em, pepper jack and whatever your secret sauce is today." The griffon had a huge and glowing smile as he began to put the burgers in shape. "Oh, and salt and paprika on the patties." He nodded and applied the salt on one side and paprika on the other, topping two with cheese before putting a bit of water on the grill and covering, melting the cheese and cooking the burgers in the steam before piling on thick cut toast to order. "Mmmm, thank you."

"No, thank you. I've had almost nothing but hay burgers served today. I was actually about to pack up tomorrow from lacking sales." The griffon explain.

"Trust us, you're better off serving meat substitutes or vegetarian foods." Allen suggested with Mikael nodding. "Before I place my order, you do fries?" The griffon nodded before looking struck. "You can do potato wedges while doing my order. Triple smash on thick toast, salt and paprika spicing, sharp cheddar, lettuce and sauce." The griffon nodded and got some potato wedges going as the three talked about simple things from differing dress code to different tastes in food as the meat was cooking. The few ponies that were on the street saw another pony eating meat and repulsed before seeing a hooded Allen eat meat and felt disgusted. Allen used a tail to balance the potato wedges and the two sat on a nearby bench as ponies approached them. "Can we help you?" Asked Allen after swallowing his food.

They said nothing and Mikael finished his meal just in time to sucker punch a stallion in the gut as a knife dropped from his hands. The force from the punch reverberated in the pony's body, forcing him to pass out as the other stallion backed away before being slapped up the head by a stone tail. "Before you ask, I'm not joining the war. Primarily because my abilities would be worthless." Mikael started as Allen chuckled.

"I already knew that sugar. I'm not forcing you to make a decision for my betterment." Mikael smiled wholesomely and sat back next to Allen as the monk finished his meal and the two start feeding each other the potato wedges. The griffon near by just hauled up the ponies and set them on a different bench before reaching back to his stall and the couple paid for their meal as the two flew up to the sky line and sat on the tallest building in town to feel the breeze and admire the lights.

"I can recall through Alexie a night like this." Mikael said in adiration.

"Yeah. A thick burger in hand as we watch the city below, watching the night night sky and ending the date with a kiss and snuggle." Allen and Mikael lean into each other and wrap an arm around the other's waist as the breeze makes their hair dance, black and red overlapping one another as they lost themselves to the peace of the night.

"Allen, if you do make it back, I'll have cloaks made for you by Rarity, so we can break them in and get you set." Allen just kissed his incubus' forehead and Mikael blushed, having slowly gotten used to the romance that came with the sex. "And thank you, for everything you've given me."

"I will give you everything I can without hurting us. So don't worry, I'm here to stay." The two enjoyed the night for a few minutes before Mikael sneezed and Allen draped his cloak over him. "No sense catching cold." Mikael snuggled into it. It was light, but enough to fight the breeze as Allen picked them up. "Ready to head home?" Mikael nodded and exhaust ports emerged from Allen's back as they flew home, small fins forming on his body to keep them straightened up.

Within minutes, they landed in Ponyville in their yard and Allen walked them in, like a newly wed couple and set Mikael in bed before the ports withdrew and he joined him, cuddling up to his boyfriend. "You head out there tomorrow and kick some ass alright."

"I will. I love you." Allen answered sweetly, kissing Mikael on the cheek.

"I love you too." Mikael snuggled into Allen and before long, the two fell asleep.