Terra took another swig from the punch bowl and poured it into his cup. 'I have work tomorrow damn it, why am up so late?' he thought, looking into the more than likely spiked drink.
'I guess I know damn why.' the slightly drunken, very angered part of his mind replied. He downed the fruity beverage in a second and stared at the center of his problems in the corner of the massive Pinkie party.
The most beautiful mare in all of Equestria (At least in his opinion) stood in the farthest reaches of the house, talking with her quite drunken coltfriend. Her Lavender coat contrasted in an almost ethereal beauty with her jet-black hair, and her voice, whatever he could pick up over the din of the music, was as melodious as a songbird's. In all the times he had met his next door neighbor, she had seemed like an loving, caring pony who got along with everybody. Indeed, Twilight Sparkle was one of the dwindling examples of a pony with a heart of gold.
Her Coltfriend, however, was nowhere near.
Terra hadn't liked Sour Grapes since the moment he had met him. He and Twilight had started dating a few months back, and in almost all of the times Terra had seen him, he was either drunk or in a bad mood, and in many instances, both. Terra's house didn't have much room between Twilight's, so he could hear some of the arguments that went over there. Sour was a horrible Coltfriend, mainly using Twilight for money or as a verbal punching bag. Terra hated him to the core, more than anything, he would love to beat the living crap out of the guy and throw the rest in a volcano.
He took another sip of the punch and uttered a low growl as he saw Sour Grapes, for the third time tonight, started yelling at Twilight. Something seemed different about him this time though, he seemed even more agitated than usual, almost screaming at Twilight about whatever he was so worked up about. Terra didn't like the way he was suddenly backing Twilight into the corner, so he set down his glass and moved through the teeming throngs of drunken partiers towards the 'couple'.
And that's when he hit her, a full right hook that sent Twilight to the ground.
In public.
In front of everybody.
In front of HIM DAMMIT!
Everypony's got a breaking point. Some have a stress related breaking point, others have a pain related breaking point. He however, had an injustice breaking point.
And right there, right then, it snapped like a dry twig.
He started sprinting through the crowd, his mind only having one goal, one unified thought through his slightly drunken head...
'Kill, maim, flatten, destroy, pulverize, ANNIHILATE!'
Before he got near Sour Grapes, he shouted over the din of the party, "Oy!"
Sour Grapes swiveled his head towards the sound just in time to see him bolt out from the crowd at top speed, eyes filled with fire and brimstone. His eyes widened as he tried to run for an exit...
Too late.
He barreled into him at what felt like 100 miles per hour, sending Him and Sour Grapes through a window into the hard dirt outside the house.
Slowly, Terra stood on his hind legs, barring his fore-hooves like a MMA fighter. "Get up you Son of a bitch!" he shouted.
Sour stood and got his first glimpse of his attacker, tan coat, black mane, piercing green eyes, Hacksaw cutting wood for a cutie mark...
Sour smiled, "Oh, if it isn't the neighbor, come to be the night in shining armor."
Terra gave a little chuckle, "Chivalry ain't quite dead, y'know." he made a show of cracking his hooves, "Now are you gonna stand there like an ass or die like a stallion?"
Sour Grapes had him by around a foot, and he was built like the Pony Hulk himself. He was also about as angry, leading to him charging like a insane bull at Terra.
Although that was nothing compared to a drunken and enraged former Royal Guard.
At the last second, Terra sidestepped and swung his right foreleg in a haymaker, which connected squarely with Sour's muzzle, a quiet snap signaling it's fracture. The effect was instant, flipping Sour onto his back and sending him skidding feet first into the side of the building.
As Terra turned and walked towards where he had slammed into the wall, he said, "Y'know what I can't stand?" he made it to the injured earth pony, who was moaning and cursing In pain. Terra picked him up by the collarbone and made him stare straight into his eyes, "I can't stand people like YOU." he put as much hate and rage into that word as possible, almost growling it out. A Bipolar Timberwolf couldn't have pulled off that murderous of a voice.
Then he sank his left hoof into Sour's stomach. Sour screamed again, then tried to hit him with his right foreleg. Terra caught the weakened punch, and with a great twist, dislocated the shoulder-plate. Another scream shattered the night, and Terra slammed him against the wall, further aggravating his injury.
"You have the most Beautiful, most intelligent, most caring mare on the planet, and what do you do? YOU. TREAT. HER. LIKE. SHIT!" with every word, he slammed his hoof into Sour's Solar Plexus.
Sour's screams and curses dropped to cries and pleading, upon which Terra screamed, "MERCY?! You think you deserve MERCY after all you've done?! You pathetic Jackass!" Terra aimed his next punch for his windpipe, ready to end his miserable life with a hard strike, A wave of White Noise subduing any form of compassionate thought, "Why, I oughta..."
"STOOOOOOPP!"
The cracked feminine voice pulled him back to reality immediately. He turned his head to see that the entire party had come outside to watch. And Twilight Sparkle was at their forefront, tears rolling down her face like twin waterfalls.
Terra looked back at Sour Grapes. The bruised, mangled pony was crying and with a hoarse voice begging for his life. He looked at his free foreleg, still cocked back, waiting to fly forward and crush the stallion's windpipe.
Horror overwhelmed the anger as he realized what he had just about done. He dropped the mangled stallion and backed up, eyes wide as saucers. He looked back to the disturbed mare, eyes looking into his with hurt and confusion.
"I-I-I'm sorry..." Terra said, continuing to back up. "I'm so, so sorry..."
Then he turned around and ran through an alleyway, disappearing just as an ambulance arrived.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Terra sat on his modest couch, a half-empty bottle of Stalliongrad Vodka in his hoof, and waited for the inevitable. He didn't have to wait long.
A knock on the door announced his expected company, probably a couple police officers with rapid-fire crossbows. He laughed, 'With my luck, Discord himself will be waiting to personally send me to hell...'
He set down the bottle, trotted to the door, and opened it with a flick of his hoof. Terra held out his hooves, eyes closed, to his guests.
"Slap on the irons boys, I know my rights." he said, defeat lacing his words.
"I'm not here to arrest you Terra."
His eyes shot open, revealing a very red-eyed Twilight standing before him alone. No police, no SWAT team, definitely not Discord, just a shaken mare at his door.
He would've preferred Discord.
In a very confused and shocked voice, Terra mumbled, "Come on in, I guess..."
She walked into the Spartan-style living room and sat down across from Terra on a reclining chair. Terra sat down on the couch, head hung low, shoving the Vodka bottle away. If he was going to do this, he was going to do it sober.
They sat in silence for a minute, the only real sounds were of their breathing and the crickets outside. Then he asked, "How's Spike liking the bed I built for him?"
"He loves it, it really helped him get over the insomnia." she said, trying to look him in the eye. Every time she tried though, Terra would shift his eyes away, refusing to make the connection. In all the years Twilight had known the carpenter, Terra had always been a shy person. It had taken months for her to start up conversations with him without him scampering back inside his house. He would always keep his head low, eyes averted...
Just like he was doing now.
He started, "Look... I'm real sorry, 'bout what I did back there. It was real selfish, I was only thinking 'bout myself. I shouldn't've gone and done that, and I definitely shouldn't've let it go that far. I would understand if you wanted to sue me for all I got, or just kill me right now." he looked back at the bottle on the table. It sure was looking rather tempting right about now...
"Like I said before, I'm not here to arrest you, and I'm certainly not going to kill you." she said, her voice ringing with concern. That got his attention, he looked up and finally locked his eyes with hers, Emerald eyes full of newfound confusion, "Why then? I just about killed your Coltfriend, I doubt you want to sit down for coffee and doughnuts."
She twitched a little bit when he said 'Coltfriend', but lowered her head, "I'm actually here to thank you."
Terra's eyes widened, "Beg pardon?" Twilight didn't respond, her mane had drooped down to cover her face like a veil. "Twilight?"
Twilight surprised him when she jumped out of the chair and into his hooves. She put her face into the crook of his neck...
And cried.
He was in shock. The situation was completely different from the one he had imagined. He had imagined crying, but he had thought it would be from him when she started pelting him with Fireballs.
Twilight sobbed, "When the police got there, I was about ready to lead them right to your door, I was so mad." she sniffed, another of her tears plopping down on my shoulder, "Then one of the officers recognized him. They relocated his shoulder on the spot, and then hoof-cuffed him."
Terra just held the sobbing mare, and murmured, "Why?"
She sniffed again, "They said he was a major drug dealer whose MO is dating rich mares to leech their money."
He tried to lighten her mood, "I didn't realize rich mares lived in trees!"
She stopped crying, but kept her head buried in his shoulder, "I live with a dragon whose menu consists of fine jewels. He was probably after the stash."
It was silent for a moment, before she said, "I was such a foal for letting him dupe me like that." she lifted her head, gazing deep into his eyes, "Thank you so much!"
He was stunned. His brain had simply shut off when she looked at him, so he spoke the truth, "I-I don't know what to say..."
She smiled, "Then don't say anything." she put her head forward and, without any warning, kissed him. He was so shocked, he didn't react to it at first. Twilight broke the kiss, thinking that him not reacting was the purest form of rejection. She started crying again, no sobbing, just tears, "I should've known... You never really liked me..." she closed her eyes, "Nobody ever likes the nerdy librar..."
He shut her up right there with a kiss of his own. His tongue wormed it's way into her open mouth, and Twilight moaned as his hooves moved to her back. His tongue met hers, an instant battle for dominance ensuing for control.
She groaned when he broke the lip lock and looked her straight in her beautiful violet eyes. "Twilight, you may be the 'nerdy librarian', but I, for one, Find that kind of cute." he craned his head to nuzzle her neck, "And I just have one thing to say to you, Miss Sparkle..." he planted a kiss right on her cheek...
"I love you. Always have, always will."
Their lips locked, and Terra picked Twilight up off the couch, and carried her upstairs. He awkwardly walked into his bedroom, lips never leaving hers. With a final kick from his leg, the door slammed shut.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Terra awoke to the find a lavender head snuggled up next to his. They were wrapped in a tight embrace, and he could feel her soft breath on his chest.
Terra smiled. It had all happened. It wasn't some figment of his imagination, some wild dream of a heavy heart.
It had been real.
His gaze lowered to the raven-maned mare, sleeping as peacefully as an angel. She looked beautiful. He laid there for a while, just taking it all in.
The peaceful silence was broken when Twilight yawned, her amethyst eyes fluttering open slowly.
He gave her a kiss on the forehead, "Morning beautiful."
Her cheeks turned beet red, "... G-good morning." she snuggled up closer to him, "So does this... Does this make us...?"
"I would like it to." he said, rubbing his hoof gently up and down Twilight's back. "Would you?"
She gave him a kiss, her lips connecting with almost electric force. They held the kiss for a few seconds, then reluctantly broke it.
"Does that answer your question?" she said seductively. Terra gasped as she slid onto his stallionhood, the lavender mare letting out a sigh of pleasure. He pulled her lips to his and kissed her, tongues dancing in their mouths.
Suffice to say, they spent the rest of the day in bed.
~~~~~~4 months later~~~~~~~
Terra adjusted his tie again. As a Royal Guard, he'd come against many disturbing and evil creatures. He'd always met his foes with courage and discipline. Fear wasn't in his dictionary.
But right now, 'Scared Shitless' was.
Twilight came up behind him, quickly pecking him on the cheek, "Stop worrying so much! I'm sure you'll do fine."
He nodded weakly, looking around the library again, still amazed that one could live in a tree. His head was filled with questions, but he kept them in his head for later.
Someone knocked on their door, and Twilight walked out of the kitchen, "I'll go get it!"
Terra wondered what her brother would be like. Would he like him? Would he be like Twilight, a unicorn gifted in the sense of magic? He kept thinking to himself as Twilight walked back in with their guest.
He nearly jumped out of his skin when he saw who it was.
His old instincts kicked in, and he snapped off a quick salute, "Shining Armor, Sir!"
Both ponies looked confused, until Armor grinned, "At ease Terra. What brings you here?"
Terra slowly dropped the salute, "I could ask you the same question sir."
Twilight interrupted, "Allow me to introduce you two. Terra, this is my brother, Shining Armor. Armor, this is my Coltfriend, Terra."
Both heads swiveled in unison to her, and both jaws dropped.
Terra said slowly, "You mean my old Guard captain is your brother?"
Armor was just as confused, "Your boyfriend is Terra?"
She smiled awkwardly, "... So you two know each other?"
Terra reacted first, "You bet I do! This guy made sure I personally excelled while I was in the Royal Guards QRF. Helped me out of a couple tight spots too." he ran over and bear hugged him, "How are you doing you big lug?"
Armor responded by flipping Terra over his back and onto the floor. He stepped over the slightly dizzy stallion, "Pretty good. You?"
Terra grinned as he spun on the ground, kicking Armor's legs out from under him. Then he stood over him, hoof extended, "Same."
Armor laughed, grabbing the hoof and pull himself up, "You still got it." he looked to Twilight, who was smiling meekly, "Could you give us a moment to be reacquainted? I need to see how my old pal's been doing."
She nodded slowly, curiosity flecked in her violet eyes, then walked out into the living room.
Terra walked over to the table and sat down with Armor. "Heard you got yourself hitched" he said.
Armor's face became stoic, the face he had pulled on guard duty, "Heard you got in quite the brawl a couple months ago."
Terra felt the color drain from his face, "...The guy deserved it."
Armor chuckled, "Heard that too." Armor playfully punched him in the foreleg, "Don't worry! In your situation, I would have done the same thing." He paused, "I didn't really expect you to be the new coltfriend she keeps writing home about."
Terra subconsciously straightened his tie again, "So why'd you call me in here then?"
"I did have a whole interrogation session lined up for the poor SOB who tried to date my sister without my approval..." he chuckled, "But I already know too much about you."
"So?" Terra asked, twiddling his hooves under the table.
"What?"
"Do you approve?"
"Of you dating my sister?" he gave a mischievous smile, "...Yes, but on one condition."
"Name it."
Armor dropped his voice to barely above a whisper, "Break her heart, I break your spine."
Terra nodded, knowing full well he meant it too. "Alright, we should grab Twi and head out. Our reservation's at 6:00."
Both stallions walked into the living room and got Twilight, trotting out the door with lightened hearts.
~~~~~~~8 Months Later~~~~~~
Terra sat on a large picnic blanket with Twilight and her friends. It was their anniversary, and Rarity had planned the stargazing picnic for it. A chorus of 'oohs' and 'ahs' resounded from the group on top of the hill when shooting stars lit up Luna's night sky.
Suddenly Rainbow Dash shouted, "Hey, look over there!"
All attending stood up, looking toward the horizon, where the moon was just cresting the horizon. "It's just the moon Dash. What about it?" asked Rarity.
Rainbow winked at him, "Oh, I just thought it looked especially pretty tonight."
Terra dropped the miniature box he had been carefully hiding between his hooves the entire night on the ground in between him and Twi. "Oops. Dropped something. I'll get it." he dropped to a kneeling position and picked up the box. "Hey Twi?"
"Yes?" she asked turning her head away from the heavens to see quite a sight.
Terra was kneeling down in front of her, holding out a small wooden box, and grinning like an idiot. "Look, I ain't much for words, and I certainly have never done this before..." by now, every member of the group was staring slack-jawed at him, "...So here goes..."
"You're the best thing that's ever happened to me. I love you more than anything in this whole wide world. You're the greatest mare a stallion could dream of... but I was, wondering if we could be something... more. What I'm trying to say is..." he flipped the top off the box, "Would you marry me?"
Twilight stood there, tears of joy running down her cheeks. She whispered, "...Yes." she embraced him, holding tight to her new fiancée.
The group let out a cheer, and the party continued, the two lovebirds never leaving each-others side.
~~~~~~~2 months later~~~~~~
Terra stood, barely able to restrain himself from adjusting his tie, at the altar of the massive cathedral of Canterlot. The whole building was full; After all, it's not everyday Celestia herself marries a couple. And it doesn't help that one of the couple is an Element of Harmony either.
He saw all of Twilight's friends in the front row, and right beside them was the imposing figure of Shining Armor. His soon-to-be-brother-in-law gave him a wink, a slight grin appearing on his lips. Terra nodded back. 'No spine snapping for me today!' he thought to himself.
The organ began playing, and everyone in the audience stood. Terra's gaze panned to the aisle where...
Holy Celestia...
Twilight trotted down the isle, wearing the most beautiful dress he had ever seen. It matched her body perfectly, and he couldn't help but grin at her wonderful smile, her eyes wide at the decorations put in place.
She stepped onto the altar, and the ceremony began, Celestia beginning the rites. Most of it flew way over his head, but he did understand one thing:
"Terra, do you take Twilight Sparkle as your lawfully wedded mare?"
Without hesitation, "I do."
"And do you, Twilight Sparkle, take Terra as your lawfully wedded stallion?"
"I do."
Celestia smiled, "Then by the powers invested in me, I pronounce you Stallion and Mare! You may kiss the bride!"
They kissed, and the audience exploded in cheers. They walked down the isle, side by side, outside to the carriage, which would take them back home.
"Ready?" he asked.
"I can't wait to be home!" she said. They got into the carriage, and Twilight gave him the most mischievous look, and said in the most enticing voice ever, "What do you think we should do at home?"
He grinned, taking her in an embrace, "...Well, we still need to try out the new bed-frame... See how durable it is..."
"I couldn't agree more." she whispered.
~~~~~~~9 months later~~~~~~
"Push! Push!" said Nurse Redheart, who was holding her hooves out near the edge of the bed.
Twilight let out a scream, and she almost squeezed the life out of her husband's hoof. "Come on Twi! It's almost out!" he wheezed, barely repressing a scream of his own.
She wailed once more, before she gasped. A few seconds later, newborn squealing filled the room, and everyone smiled. "It's a Girl!" said Nurse Redheart, bringing over a little bundle of cloth. She gave it very gently to Twilight, and the room was silent.
Wrapped up in the cloth was a purple foal, with a mane as black as the night sky. She had a small stub of a horn, and she had brilliant green eyes. Twilight looked over to Terra, who's eyes were weeping tears of joy. She kissed him on the cheek. "You alright Honey?"
Terra wiped some of the tears from his eyes and sniffled, "...She's so beautiful..."
Nurse Redheart smiled, "So if you don't mind me asking, what's her name?"
They looked down at the baby foal, who was resting in the blankets, innocent of anything. They both said in unison;
"Midnight Rain."
THE END