Close Combat: The Love Life of Marybelle

As Guyrin watched the battle between the two athletes, he saw the remarkable way Marybelle could duck and dive during a brawl and then bring the pain back to her foe! He knew this is what made him curious about the fighter and he also knew about how much she had lost from reading her biography… From the way Marybelle acted tough though, Guyrin was also blatantly aware that he couldn’t talk about it, and yet, for some reason, this only fed the batpony’s empathy for her.… And then, she was pinned! The referee began his countdown… One… Two… Three… And then, it was all over…

Marybelle sat backstage and wiped the sweat from her brow as a lone dark figure approached her. As he trotted closer into the light, she sees that it’s Guyrin, her new batpony coltfriend. She smiles and says, “Hey Guy! What a fight huh?”

He scrawls out, “U lost! U okay?”

“Yeah I’ll be fine Guy! It was the opening bout anyway and you know those are never tournament rounds and so I won’t lose my standing in the trials anyway. Still, my ego actually stings worse than my cheek right now!”

“How is ur cheek?”

“Oh, it’s okay Guy! I took a brutal hoofing there, but it should be fine by the end of tomorrow!”

“Hugs?”

“Okay but please be careful! My spine is a little sore after that flying ax kick! Never could do one of those, but I’m trying!”

Guyrin slowly and tentatively hugs Marybelle. She feels his gentle embrace and counters by hugging him even tighter. The batpony’s eyes widen momentarily as he didn’t know she still has this much in her after what she just did.

Guyrin pulls back and writes out, “U wanna go?” on his chalkboard.

Marybelle starts and says, “But that was just the opening match! Don’t you wanna stay for the rest of the show Guy?”

“U matter more!”

“Okay well, that’s true I suppose? Um, since I didn’t win anything, I guess I could walk home now? Erm, with you…”

Guyrin extends his right forehoof to Marybelle to help her out of her seat and once she’s on all fours again, he writes out, “U OK?” on his board.

“For the last time Guyrin, yes I’m fine!”

Guyrin nods his head and motions towards the door with his right forehoof. Marybelle grimaces and starts trotting towards it as Guyrin trots forward and opens it for her. She trots outside with Guyrin just behind her.

He shuts the door behind him and stares at her as she looks onward and says, “Guess I’m not so tough now, huh?”

Guyrin slowly trots towards her and hugs her again before nuzzling her nose once more and smiling at her.

“Yeah I love you too Guy! Still…”

She can’t really tell his expression at this point, but he does nuzzle her. She can’t help but begin to crack a smile at this wonderful night creature that’s chosen her, but quickly regains composure and hopes he didn’t see. She says, “Well we’re not getting home with you being sweet like this Guy!”

Guyrin looks down while hugging her before nodding his head and releasing her from his embrace. He then starts towards her house slowly so his love will have no trouble catching up to him.

They walk in silence like this for the first few minutes across the empty market square once more. Marybelle finally says to Guyrin, “Okay so anyway, I think the real trick to beating this mare is reversals! If I can just counter her… Uh, what are you staring at Guy?”

Guyrin has stopped walking and is staring towards his left.

“What is it Guy?”

Guyrin points towards the left with his forehoof.

Marybelle frowns and says, “You want me to follow you that direction?”

Marybelle can only barely make out Guyrin nodding his head before he starts to walk in the direction he pointed.

She sighs and grumbles, “Okay Guy, but this better be good!”

They both silently trot in the direction Guyrin pointed when soon, Marybelle sees the lights of the same coffee shop from earlier. She says, “Okay so we’re going to the coffee shop again? Ugh! My batpony coffee addict!”

She hears that same screeching noise as they continue trotting.

They make it to the patio of the shop and Guyrin slowly marches off to the side and uses his mouth to pull out a chair for her.

Marybelle smiles and sits down on the chair.

Guyrin walks around the table and sits across from her.

Marybelle collects the menu from the center with her forehooves and says, “I suppose something to eat and a good smoothie isn’t a bad idea after a match anyway? Are you alright Guy? Did you enjoy the fight?”

Guyrin scrawls out, “U had good reversals!”

“I’m telling you Guy! Not good enough! That second time she had me pinned, I really should’ve been faster!”

“U got thrown off!”

“Yeah, it’s psychological huh? That would make sense!” Marybelle then looks up and sees a waiter coming.

This time, it’s a teal unicorn who uses her magic to float her notepad and pen in front of her as she says, “Good evening! I’m Bob! I’ll be your waiter tonight! What can I get for you?”

Marybelle smiles and says, “Well yes Bob! I’d like a cabbage and tomato sandwich with mustard and make me an orange and raspberry smoothie to wash that down with please!”

Guyrin looks at her bewildered as Bob jots all this down before looking at Guyrin and saying, “Yes and what would the handsome gentlepony like tonight?”

Guyrin starts before setting his menu down and pointing at something with his hoof.

Bob looks down and says, “Berry tarts! Excellent choice Guyrin! And would you like anything to drink?”

Guyrin flips the page and points to something there, and Bob says, “Ah! The caramel macchiato! Excellent choice! Would you like that single, double, or triple?”

He taps the menu again and Bob says, “Ah! The double it shall be then! I shall return with your drinks!” and then trots off while putting her things away in her saddlebags.

Marybelle snorts and asks Guyrin, “So you took me here after I lost. Why?”

Guyrin slowly writes out on his chalkboard, “U lost! Wanted make U feel better!”

Marybelle frowns and says, “So what then? You actually think a date with you would make me feel better?”

“Don’t U lov me?”

“Well yeah, but…” Marybelle looks down and giggles at herself while Guyrin looks on wide-eyed as his mouth gets smaller, “I guess it’s been so long that I forgot that a date is something I might actually enjoy?”

“Well don’t U?”

Marybelle looks at the batpony, “Yeah but…” she looks down, “I uh…”

“What?”

“I don’t know how to feel okay? I guess when you close your heart off like I did, you lose touch with the way a lot of things feel? I know you now, but you still feel distant?”

Guyrin looks down and sighs. He stays there for a few seconds before getting his chalkboard and writing out, “Time!”

“Yeah, maybe I just need more time?” Marybelle looks over to her side before saying, “You waiters have a bad habit of coming out of nowhere!”

Bob smiles while holding a small platter in her magic and says, “Sorry! You two seemed so into what you were discussing that I just didn’t want to interrupt! Here are your drinks!” and uses her magic to take each pony’s drink off and put it next to them on the table and says, “I’ll be right back with your cabbage sandwich and your berry tarts! Enjoy your coffee and smoothie!” before trotting off.

Guyrin looks at Marybelle for a brief, yet awkward silence before looking at down and writing out, “U order weird things!” on his chalkboard.

Marybelle starts and says, “What? It’s good!”

“I’m sure the funky smoothie is yummy!” As he shows the chalkboard to her with a cheesy grin on his face.

Marybelle starts, grimaces, and then regains composure as she says, “You’re silly Guy!”

“No U!”

Marybelle looks up as she feels the waiter beginning to approach again from behind her, this time levitating a platter. She approaches the table and says, “Told you it wouldn’t be long!” As she uses her magic to set down a sandwich on a plate for Marybelle and another plate with two pastries on it for Guyrin on his side. “Enjoy!” she says as he trots off.

Marybelle looks at Guyrin for a brief pause. She finally says, “Well this can get more awkward or we can just eat now?”

Guyrin immediately moves his face down to his plate and picks up one of his tarts with his mouth and starts eating it as he catches the rest with his forehooves.

“Good choice!” Marybelle says as she snags her sandwich in her forehooves and starts to devour it.

The two ponies eat quietly for a few minutes before Guyrin starts to tear into one of his tarts aggressively, but he stops after two bites and looks at Marybelle nervously.

“I already told you it’s okay to be savage with your food little batpony!”

Guyrin squints his eyes and start to eat slowly and tentatively as Marybelle giggles.

She can tell this annoys him. She imagines he doesn’t really want to be vicious, but it’s in his nature. This thought only makes Marybelle smile as the batpony picks up his other tart and she takes another hearty bite out of her sandwich before chasing it with her smoothie.

After their meal, Marybelle is drinking what’s left of her smoothie as Guyrin gently sips his coffee. She finally says, “So I guess you don’t have to work tonight then? When do you have to go back in?”

“Tomorrow at 9!” Guyrin jots down on his board.

Marybelle frowns and says, “Okay so after our date here, what are you gonna do?”

“Home lonely or with U? Don’t matter!”

Marybelle grimaces as she says, “Oh I see! Telling me you’re gonna be lonely just so I might take pity on you and keep you around? Is that it?”

“Um, no?”

Marybelle giggles and says, “Sure Guyrin! I’ll “tolerate” your presence near me if it so pleases you!” before smiling at Guyrin.

Guyrin squints his eyes and mouth as he stares at Marybelle.

“Hey! You were a huge butthole earlier and wooed me! It’s about time I got some payback!” She says as she smiles at the batpony.

“U act like u dont want?”

Marybelle frowns and says, “Oh I’m just teasing you Guy!” She takes a deep breath and says, “Okay fine! I would love it if you would spend some more time with my Guyrin!”

Guyrin looks down at the table before writing out, “I know. I luv U too!”

“Is anything the matter Guy?”

“Nothing. Just lonely.”

“Yeah I know how that goes. Hey look! Since um, we’re together and everything, I guess we can spend more time together?”

Guyrin writes out frantically, “Yes please!” on his chalkboard.

Marybelle giggles now because she knows she has him at this point.

The teal unicorn walks up to the side of the table and floats a check down on it. She smiles, “Here’s your bill, Guyrin and marefriend!” (Marybelle frowns)

Guyrin picks up the bill with his forehooves before using his mouth to fetch 6 bits from his top harness pocket and set them all neatly down on the table. Marybelle began to wonder how he kept so many things in there as he fetched a final bit for Bob, and set it down next to the stack, all with his mouth.

He scoots his chair back and gets down onto the patio on all fours before trotting over to Marybelle’s side and offering her his right forehoof to help her down.

Marybelle grabs his forehoof with hers and uses it to help herself down. When she gets back on all fours, she looks at Guyrin and says, “You don’t have to be so nice to me you know?”

Guyrin starts and gets on his haunches with his chalkboard and writes out, “Yes I do! Luv U!”

Marybelle sighs and looks at the ground as she says, “Yeah I uh, I love you too Guy!”

“What wrong?”

“I already told you! I’m just not used to this, okay? I just need time.”

She sees Guyrin nodding before he gets down to his hooves and faces his body towards her house in the distance. He looks back at her tentatively.

She smiles and trots towards him before looking at him and saying, “Lead the way my handsome stallion of the night!”

Guyrin starts at this point and looks at her as she giggles slightly although she can’t really make out his face at this point.

He turns back and starts to slowly trot towards Marybelle’s house. Marybelle starts trotting next to him seconds later and catches up.

She then says, “Well since it’s dark, I can’t read your chalkboard anymore? Gosh it sure is desolate here at night?”

She hears a grunt from Guyrin which she can only assume is an affirmative as they both trot in silence.

A few minutes later, she sees the familiar light of her porchlight in the distance. She starts to trot a bit faster and Guyrin speeds up to match her.

They eventually reach the front of her porch and she stares at him and says, “Okay you’re spending the night here tonight. But remember the two rules from earlier you horny little batpony!”

Just then Guyrin moves his face closer to hers. She starts and asks him, “What are you doing Guy?”

He begins to nuzzle her and purrs softly. Her knees begin to weaken before she quickly regains composure and asks him again more firmly, “Guy, what are you doing?”

And then an almost electric shock runs through her body has he softly presses his lips to hers in a gentle kiss. She can only let air out of her nose as he trots closer and embraces her with his forehooves.

She feels her knees weaken once more, but she also feels his hooves holding her up, so she knows it’s okay. She now feels safe and secure with this pony of darkness and soon begins to understand that he is very serious about them.

She gasps for air once they stop kissing and says, “What is wrong with you?”

He softly giggles and nuzzles her some more before gently nibbling her upper lip.

Marybelle soon realizes that he’s also making moves and that this will certainly be more interesting.

He begins to kiss her passionately and she slowly opens her mouth to invite in his forked tongue once more and soon, both tongues dance in their mouths as he holds her tightly.

He stops kissing her and pulls back to look into her eyes with his jet-black slits.

He looks so alien to her and yet familiar at the same time. Marybelle cannot understand why though? She nuzzles him and says, “Wanna go inside and snuggle each other to sleep on my bed?”

The batpony frantically nods his head as she smiles, knowing that she has control of the situation once more.

He lets her down gently and she trots to her door and retrieves the key from her saddlebags with her mouth and uses her lips to turn it in the keyhole.

The door clicks and she kicks it open with her left forehoof once more as Guyrin starts. He suddenly thinks about how he will soon be used to that.

She trots in and says, “Well come on in Guy! Let’s go to sleep!”

Guyrin trots in and shuts the door with his right forehoof and walks up to Marybelle who’s facing towards her room away from him.

She trots towards her bedroom door, kicks that open with her left forehoof as the batpony flinches slightly and says, “I had a good fight and now I’m tired! And my cheek and back both hurt…” Then she walks inside with the batpony close in tow.

Guyrin closes the door and stares at her now in the darkness of her bedroom.

She can just make him out trotting towards her bed and waiting for her there before she herself trots over near him and gets in. She looks at Guyrin and smiles as she says, “Well here it is lover! Snuggle time!”

Guyrin is smiling once more and once more, Marybelle can’t really tell. He softly gets in the bed and gets close to her. She feels the night pony’s body heat next to hers as he embraces her, and she closes her eyes in safety and security at last...

As Marybelle slumbers in Guyrin’s loving embrace, she finally feels at peace. She knows he’s there and this suddenly brings her great joy. She felt she was unlovable after what happened earlier, and yet this batpony loved her anyway! The nerve! The gall of this night creature! And yet, here he was! Holding her and nuzzling her softly in passion as she lightly giggles in her sleep…

Marybelle wakes up by herself on her purple sofa the next morning. She suddenly starts to look around and calls out, “Guyrin! Butthole! Where are you?”

She suddenly hears a screech coming from the foyer outside of her bedroom door. She shakes her head and takes a breath before starting to get off the sofa at the edge when suddenly, her door opens to show a batpony balancing a plate on his muzzle. He slowly trots in and sets it on her little table in front of the sofa.

She looks down as it and sees that it’s potato pancakes! She snorts and says, “Oh of course! He has a steady job, is a perfect gentlepony, is always nice to me, and he knows how to cook!” before looking down.

Guyrin stares at her wide-eyed before she looks back up at him and says, “Sorry Guy! I just can’t get over how perfect you are!”

Guyrin softly giggles once more when Marybelle then feels a sharp pain in the lower section of her neck. She starts and says, “Ow! Maybe I was more hurt than I thought?”

(To be continued)