Breaking Boundaries

"That was better than I thought it would be," Chocolate complimented Blazing's cooking as she leaned back in her seat while rubbing her full belly.

"Glad you liked it," Blazing said as he picked up the dishes. "I learned from my mom. She's the best cook in Equestria."

"Zecora?" Chocolate asked as she watched Blazing carry the dirty dishes to the kitchen.

"No, my adopted mother, Autumn Leaves," Blazing answered as he started washing the dishes. "She would drag me out of bed every morning after cooking breakfast for us, and I loved her cooking." Chocolate relished in the amount of love energy coming from Blazing for the woman who raised him.

"Where is she now?" Chocolate asked.

"She lives in Canterlot with her wife now," Blazing answered as he put the washed dishes in the dish rack to dry.

"Her wife?" Chocolate asked.

"Yeah, she met a gryphon when we lived in Canterlot," Blazing answered.

"A gryphon?" Chocolate asked. "That's surprising. They never leave Gryphon Stone. Not to mention their bad attitudes."

"Well, Gallow is different from most gryphons," Blazing explained as he walked back to the table. "She's kind, loving, good with kids, and doesn't take shit from anyone." Chocolate smiled at the respect Blazing had for the gryphon. "I admit, I was hesitant about her at first because I had no idea what she was or anything like that, but she quickly earned my trust. Gallow and mom got along so well; they got married. They've been together ever since."

"Interesting," Chocolate observed before she looked to the window.

"What is it?" Blazing asked.

"I sense panic," Chocolate answered. Blazing got up and walked to the window to find nothing out of the ordinary.

"Nothing's going on out there," Blazing observed.

"Someone in the library is freaking out about something," Chocolate explained as she walked beside Blazing while in her pegasus form.

"The library?" Blazing asked. "Okay, then we don't want to worry about it."

"Really?" Chocolate asked. "Isn't that where Twilight lives?"

"That's why I'm not worried about it," Blazing answered with a smile as he walked to the couch. Chocolate looked confused.

"But, isn't Twilight like some sorta protector or something?" she asked. "She did help stop my hive from attacking Equestria, after all."

"Yeah, but if only she's the one panicking, then it's nothing serious," Blazing explained. "When she freaks out, it's usually about some kinda scheduling issues or something that's not threatening to Equestria." Suddenly, a loud bank, followed by a quick earthquake, shook the house. Chocolate jumped as Blazing raised an eyebrow. "Though, that's never happened before." Blazing got up and walked to the window to find leaves scattered all around the library, and it looked like the roots were ripped from the ground.

"Should we be concerned now?" Chocolate asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Might as well go see what's going on," Blazing answered as he walked to the door. Chocolate followed Blazing out of the house. They walked to the library, and Blazing opened the door to find Spike sitting on the floor covered in pillow armor with a helmet on while looking like he just got struck by lightning. Applejack, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie gathered around with mixed shock, confusion, and concern expressions. Twilight frantically ran back and forth, collecting books, scrolls, ink bottles, and quills while the others watched.

"Uh, what's going on here?" Chocolate asked.

"Oh, hey guys," Rainbow greeted the two.

"Twilight here got a letter from the princess telling her to go to Canterlot to take some kinda test," Applejack explained as she straightened her hat.

"All this over a test?" Chocolate asked as she looked at the mess within the library.

"Trust me," Blazing began. "Twilight Sparkle does not take such things lightly, especially from the princess."

"Tell me about it!" Rainbow added as she hovered over Blazing and Chocolate. "Just earlier this year, Twilight made the whole town go crazy because she missed sending a letter to the princess."

"Say what, now?" Chocolate asked as she watched Twilight running.

"Don't ask," Blazing answered before Rainbow could.

"Enough chatting!" Twilight yelled as she ran between Blazing and Chocolate, with Spike levitating in her magic. "We have to get to the station, now!"

"Nice to see you too!" Blazing called out through the door.

"Hello! Goodbye, Blazing!" Twilight called back as she continued running.

"We better get goin' too," Applejack said as she walked by. "Spike said the princess wanted us to be with Twilight on this one."

"So sorry to rush off like this, darling," Rarity said as she followed Applejack.

"Maybe we can have tea later to make up for it," Fluttershy said while hiding behind her long hair. "If you want, that is."

"That'd be nice, Flutters," Blazing warmly answered.

"Not before I kick your butt in another race, Stripes!" Rainbow called as she flew out of the door.

"Stop calling me that!" Blazing cried out in vain.

"Aw, don't be such a sower pony," Pinkie said as she bounced by them. "We'll have a big party when we come back!"

Blazing and Chocolate watched the seven leave for the train station as Blazing closed the door to the library behind them. When the girls and Spike were gone, Chocolate turned to Blazing, who looked at the clouds in the sky as he took a breath or two to help ease his frustration at Rainbow's nickname for him.

"They all care for you, you know?" Chocolate said, pulling Blazing from his thoughts.

"I know," Blazing replied with a warm smile. After a minute, Blazing looked back at the clouds before kicking off the ground to fly to one of them.

Chocolate watched Blazing as he flew up while thinking about how much the equines unconditionally cared for each other, or at least those she met. Even Blazing's adopted mother found love with a woman of another race. Changeling's never should such care towards each other. When it came to the changeling hive, you either stand tall or get stomped on. Even if a changeling helped another, there is something to be gained.

"Would you like to join me up here?" Blazing called, pulling Chocolate out of her thoughts to look at the cloud, of which Blazing perched himself. Blazing waved at her from the cloud, earning a smile from her before she kicked off the ground. Chocolate stepped on the cloud, losing her balance at the softness before settling her rear down. Blazing chuckled as he sat next to her. "Comfortable?" Blazing asked as he watched her while she felt the white fluff under her.

"I've never felt anything so soft," she observed.

"You've never sat on a cloud before?" Blazing asked.

"I've never had the chance," Chocolate answered as she continued testing the softness. "I always strived to please the queen. Always at her beck and call, doing everything she asked, never faltering."

"Sounds harsh," Blazing observed as he watched her. "Princess Celestia always let us have time to ourselves." Chocolate looked at Blazing. "It didn't matter what position you were in, be it royal guard or scribe; she would always give you personal time."

"How could someone so powerful be so generous?" Chocolate asked. "To rule an entire country with the power to control both the sun and the moon and not use it to control the population?" Blazing watched Chocolate.

"Look around," Blazing said as he gestured to the town below. Chocolate followed his hand and looked at the equine roaming the streets, laughing, playing, shopping, etc. "Every one of us under Celestia's rule has the freedom to live as we want. To may who we choose. To go where we please. Can you say the same about the queen?"

"I can't," Chocolate answered as she stared at the cloud. "But, what about those who get out of line? Those who commit crimes or even betray the princess?"

"Well, no one in Ponyville would do such things," Blazing answered. "But, I've heard the princess has severely punished the wicked. She turned a draconaquus to stone, banished an alicorn to the moon, and has sent many creatures to Tartarus." Chocolate blinked.

"She banished creatures to Tartarus?" Chocolate asked. Blazing only nodded in reply. "I knew Celestia was powerful, but I never knew she would do something like that." she thought to herself. Suddenly, she felt something drape over her back, and she looked to find Blazing's wing over her shoulders before looking at him. "What are you-?"

"Oh, sorry," Blazing said as he pulled his wing away from her. "I don't know why I did that." Chocolate watched Blazing sit there with a blush on his face as he looked at the horizon. Chocolate could sense his embarrassment shoot through the roof as he sat there. After a minute, she tenderly grabbed his wing and pulled it over her shoulders, making Blazing look at her in surprise. Then Chocolate rests her head on Blazing shoulder. Blazing watched her in amazement for a few seconds before he wrapped his wing around her as though he wanted to protect this moment.

"Why am I doing this?" Chocolate asked herself as she rested in Blazing hold, finding a comfort she had never felt before. A comfort she never wanted to fade away. She closed her eyes so she could relish this moment as time seemed to stop. "Why don't I want this to end? This isn't me. This isn't what I want, is it?"

"Chocolate?" Blazing's voice called, pulling Chocolate from her thoughts as she looked at him. "Are you okay?"

"I-" Chocolate began. "I don't know." She looked at the cloud they sat on. "I've never felt so at peace before." Blazing watched her as she observed the events. "I find myself not wanting this to end." She looked at him. "You've done more for me than anyone ever has, without reservation."

"I'd even risk it all to save the queen of the changelings," Blazing stated as he looked into her eyes.

"Why would you do such a thing?" Chocolate asked. "You'd save someone who attacked your capital; threatened your kind-"

"Everyone deserves a chance," Blazing interjected. "Even if it kills me, I'd rather die saving lives than save myself at the cost of another." Chocolate stared into Blazing's eyes in disbelief.

"Blazing," Chocolate began, only to pause, unable to find the words.

"Yes," Blazing said as he tightened his wing over Chocolate's shoulders. "When I first found you in the forest, if I had to do it all over again, I would in a wing beat." They silently stared into each other's eyes for several seconds.

Chocolate found herself in complete disbelief at what Blazing had just told her. She did not doubt that if Chrysalis found her in the forest, the queen would think her weak and leave her to die. She reached out with her senses to find Blazing held nothing back in his statements. The energy coming from his body radiated with truth and conviction. This equine showed dedication to his pursuit of saving lives, no matter what.

Chocolate could not hold it back any longer. She found herself wanting to return the same care Blazing showed to her. She leaned in and locked her lips with Blazing's, catching him by surprise. Blazing's eyes went wide for a few seconds before he leaned into the kiss as he reached up to caress her cheek. Several seconds passed before they gently broke the kiss; Chocolate sat there with her eyes closed while her lip hung open; Blazing opened his eyes to see her face. Soon, Chocolate opened her eyes to meet Blazing's gaze.

"I-" she stuttered. "I don't understand." Blazing looked into her eyes as he rubbed his thumb against her scaly cheek. "Why did I do that? What's wrong with me?"

"Nothing's wrong with you," Blazing softly answered.

"Changelings feed on love; we don't fall in love," Chocolate countered as she looked away. "And even if we did, I only just met you. We barely know each other."

"What's wrong with that?" Blazing asked as he pulled her chin to face him. "We can get to know each other. Take our time."

"It's not possible," Chocolate countered.

"And why not?" Blazing asked.

"Because I'm a changeling, and you're an equine," Chocolate stated. "We're just too different."

"My mother married a gryphon," Blazing countered. "Interspecies relations aren't impossible." Chocolate opened her mouth before Blazing placed a finger over her lips. "I'm not going to push you into anything you don't want. If you don't want this to go anywhere, that's fine."

"How can you be so kind?" Chocolate asked.

"Loving mothers, good friends, the good feelings I get from helping others," Blazing went through a checklist with a slight smile on his face. Chocolate rolled her eyes before looking over the cloud. Blazing watched Chocolate as she stared at the white smoke. They lay there in each other's hold as the peace slowly pulled them into a drowsy state, and they both fell asleep on the cloud.