Iron and Blood: We Dear Sisters

Nocturnal animals sang their melodies to the star-filled sky as the full moon shined upon the earth, dully illuminating the surrounding landscape. Maud took a deep breath and hung her head out the putter-wagon’s passenger window. She enjoyed the cool desert night air washing across her face as she watched the stars shimmer against the midnight black.

Obsidian drove the vehicle at a steady pace to their destination. He looked at his wife, studying her wonder-stricken expression. “The stairs are impressive tonight.” He, too, looked at the stars.

“Yes, they are.” She looked at her husband. “It’s amazing how they look like tiny grains of silica.” Seeing his confusion, she blushed. “Sand.”

“I knew what you meant.” He laughed. “Granted, I don’t know the science, just how to make them look beautiful…. Like you.” Maud rolled her eyes. “What? Was that a little corny?”

“A little.” She smiled as she took off her bridal veil.

He smiled as he turned his eyes to the dirt road. “But it’s true, you are beautiful.”

She blushed and quickly looked out through the windshield. Seeing the hotel coming into view, she let out a slight hum and stared at it with her usual dull eyes. “It looks rustic and comfy.”

The four-story hotel sat atop a hill overlooking the Moaning Boulder Valley. In the distance, Salt Rock Plateau’s silhouette could be seen in the star-filled sky. Maud eyed the hotel’s exterior. She liked its simplicity. Something built with a grandness like a hotel in Manehattan would’ve been a sight for sore eyes in the high desert landscape.

Parking the putter-wagon, Obsidian turned it off and stepped out. The chill of the night air made his fur stand on end. Shivering away the cold, he walked up to the passenger side and opened the door. “Hello, ma’am, need a hand?” Maud shook her head at took his hand. “Let’s not get that dress dirty.” He teased as he lifted her in his arms.

“What about the bags?”

“They can wait….” He kissed her on the cheek. She giggled as she kissed him, wrapping her arms around his neck.

An earth pony mare sat at a receptionist's desk, reading a book with dull eyes. The grandfather clock behind her was ticking a soft melody that slowly put her to sleep. She rubbed her eyes and let out a yawn.

Hearing the bell over the door ring out, the mare looked up and saw a newlywed couple lost in blissful affection. Playfully rolling her eyes, she sat down her book and coughed.

“Oh….” Maud blushed. “We’re here to check-in.”

The mare laughed. “No worries, you love birds.” She opened her bookkeeping folder. Maud and Obsidian gave sheepish smiles as they stepped up to the desk. “What are your names?”

“It’s under Obsidian.” He said as he handed her his ID card.

“Ah, here it is.” She smiled. “A room booked for three nights.” She looked up at the pair as she took his ID card. “How was the wedding.”

“Perfect!” Maud grabbed her husband’s hand.

“Even though you were worried.” Obsidian teased.

“I wasn’t that worried….” Maud blushed and looked away.

The mare laughed. “That’s good to hear all went well.” She handed Obsidian his ID and the keys to the room. “I love the dress. Did you get it made?”

“No, this is my mother’s. I just had a few things added to it.” Maud held up the dress’s skirt to show off the blue stitching.

“How beautiful.” The mare eyed them up and down. “Well, you two have a wonderful night.” She gave them a wink.

They blushed as they walked up the stairs.

Maud sat on her bed and looked out her hotel room’s window at the rocky landscape surrounding the humble little building atop the hill. As she eyed the desert landscape, she fidgeted with her bridal veil and ran her fingers through its silky fabric. Her mind mulled over the wedding. It seemed like it went by in a blink of an eye. It didn’t feel like five hours.

She sighed as she placed the veil on the nightstand. She smiled. All her worry had seemed to vanish. Her status was official. She was no longer Maud Pie but now Maud Flint. Though she would always still be a Pie at heart. She looked at her wedding ring and studied it in the yellow glow of the ceiling fan above her head. ‘Maud ‘Pie’ Flint.’

Hearing the door to the room open, she looked over her shoulders and saw her husband entering with the luggage in his hands. He walked up to the corner of the room and dropped the bags on the floor beside the radio with a grunt. “Colt, that was a trek.”

“Are you sure you’re ready for the hike tomorrow?” Maud asked in a monotone fashion.

Obsidian looked over at his wife and could see the smug look trying to work its way onto her face. “Yeah, I think so…” He walked up to the bed and laid down, spreading out his arms. He wrapped an arm around her waist. “But are you?” He gave her a smirk.

Maud rolled her eyes as she stood up. “Yes…” She walked up to cupboard beside the radio and placed her vail on it.

“What are you doing…” Obsidian felt his cheeks get hot as he watched his wife unzip the back of her wedding dress, letting it fall to the floor.

Maud looked over her shoulders and saw her husband’s flustered appearance. She felt her cheeks get hot as she walked up to him. “Like what you see?” She got onto the bed and crawled on top of him. Obsidian’s answer was a kiss on the lips as he wrapped his arms around her.

He lifted her up and flipped her around on her back. He pinned her arms as he stared into her eyes. “You love me?” She said with a heavy breath.

“Let me show you…” He kissed her neck and worked his way down to her vagina. He hovered over it and stared at her womanhood. He imagined what it would be like with a mare. He knew one day he would have sex with her, but here he was nervous about taking the first steps. He didn’t want to hurt her… Disappoint her… Letting out a heavy sigh, he slowly ran his tongue across her vagina.

Maud shivered as his tongue licked her clitoris. She let out a gasp as he gave it a kiss and a quick suck before exploring her vagina with his tongue. Without thinking about it, her legs wrapped around his head to keep him locked in place. Her fingers dug into the bedsheets. She arced her back, pressing herself into his face. Her mind was flooded with emotions she never felt before. She had imagined what sex would be like. With a stallion she loved… She felt a chill ran through her body as he stuck his tongue inside her. It was nothing like she imagined.

Obsidian let out a moan as he sucked on her vaginal lips. His mind was in a foggy haze of lust as he explored. Wrapping his arms around her legs he lifted her pelvis in the air and increased the speed of his licking.

Maud let out an intense moan of pleasure as she tried using her arms to find a suitable support for the posture, she found herself in. Finished, Obsidian let her drop onto the bed. He smiled at his handy work. “You, okay?” He teased as he took off his shirt.

Breaking from her haze, Maud lifted herself up and crawled up to him. She didn’t say a word as she undid his belt and opened the fly of his pants. Seeing his erect penis, she slowly pulled it out from its cave and gave it a timid lick. His precum was quite salty, but it wasn’t unpleasant. Nervousness and excitement overwhelmed her emotions. She felt hot, but she pushed through and slowly slid it in her mouth. She gave it a few soft suctions and ran her tongue around its head.

Obsidian looked down at his wife and watched her explore his penis. He threw his shirt on the floor and ran his fingers through her mane. Her humming sent shivers through his body. “Damn…” He hissed as he ran his hands down her back.

An audible pop sounded off as Maud let go of his penis. Looking up at him with ruby red cheeks, she laid down on her back and showed herself to him. With no words spoken, Obsidian took off his paints and got on top of her and slipped his arms under her shoulders, cupping the back of her head in his hands. She let out a soft groan as she felt him slide into her. Her legs crisscrossed over his as he kept thrusting.

Maud rested her head on her husband’s chest. The cold air seeping into their room washed over their hot bodies. She let out a soft sigh and rubbed her face into his chest fur. Obsidian stared up at the slow-moving ceiling fan. Hearing the howls of wind blowing across the desert landscape, he gently ran his fingers across her back. “That was….” He let out a heavy sigh.

“Something.” She replied dully. She hummed as she rubbed her cheek against his chest. “Not what I imagined it would be like….”

He studied her calm demeanor. “Did…. Did you enjoy it?” He felt his cheeks blush as he thought about their session of lovemaking.

Maud felt her cheeks get hot. “Yes… Of course. It was just…. Unlike what I thought it would be like, that’s all….”

Obsidian smiled as he scratched the back of her ear. “Same….”

A small flash of light twinkled in the distance. Maud squinted her eyes and stared at the ball of light through their bedroom window…. An explosion rolled across the land and washed over the hotel with a thunderous clap. The room shook as the mild shockwave reverberated through the walls.

“What was that?” Maud jumped out of bed.

“I’m not sure?” Obsidian stood beside her as they stood by the window, staring at the distant ball of fire. They could see several flickers of tracer rounds flying across the sky.

The phone on the nightstand rang. Maud quickly ran over to the nightstand and picked it up. “Yes?”

“Hello, this is the front desk….” The mare over the phone stopped as another explosion rocked the hotel. “There is no need to worry. The battle is far from us.” Maud could hear the mare swallow. “All we ask is you pray for our stallions as they fight for our freedoms.” The mare hummed.

Maud looked over at the window and saw the distant fighting. “We will….” The mare ended the call, and the dial tone rang in her ear. Hanging up the phone, Maud let out a sigh as she sat on the side of the bed. Obsidian saw his wife’s solemn mood and sat beside her. Maud stared at the phone and rested her head against his chest. “I’m glad you’re not a soldier…. This war is pointless. Why are our fellow ponies fighting us?”

Obsidian kissed the top of her head and stared at the wall behind their bedpost. “Because they think we’re different, because… Because we are….” He kissed her again. “Let's try to get some sleep. We have a busy day tomorrow.” He gave her a flirty smile as he rubbed his snout against hers. She hummed a tune, wrapping her arms around him, pulling him into another kiss.

Maud slowly tied her bonnet as she eyed the Earthen soldiers mulling about the courtyard through her hotel’s room’s window. Obsidian studied his wife’s dull eyes as he finished packing their saddle bags. “Are you alright?” He asked as he zipped the bags shut.

“Yeah.” Maud finished tying her bonnet as she sat on the window seal. She eyed a group of Earthen soldiers standing around their parked putter wagon chatting and smoking the day away. “Feels strange being so close to the front lines.” She noticed a few of them were looking up at her.

Obsidian sighed as he picked up their saddle bags. “We didn’t know they would be this close several months ago.” He handed her, her bag. “Ready to go on our hike?”

Maud nodded as she took the bag and slipped her arms through its straps. “Ready.” She grabbed his hand as they left their room.

Seeing Maud step away from the window, Nickel took a drag of his cigarette. Letting out a sigh, he tossed the used stick of tobacco onto the ground and leaned against the putter wagon.

“Damn she’s cute.”

Nickle looked over at his comrades and raised his brow. “Really?”

“Really?” Vector laughed. “You don’t think so?”

“No, I do think she’s cute.” Nickle sighed. “But she’s married.”

“How the hell can you tell?” Flint wondered as he looked up at the window.

“You didn’t see the wedding ring?” Seeing Flint shrug his shoulders, Nickle rolled his eyes and crossed his arms. “Of course, you didn’t.”

“Like that matters?” Flint laughed. “I’ve been with plenty of married mares.”

“Kind of dickish though.” Birch, a stalky earth pony stallion commented as he lay against the front driver-side tire of their putter wagon.

“Oh, fuck you!” Flint huffed “You have no right to say that! You took one of those mares for a spin as well.” Birch rolled his eyes and sighed as he looked down at his hooves. Nickle shook his head at his fellow soldiers. Looking towards the front of the hotel he saw Maud and Obsidian exit. “Aw shit.” Flint laughed. “Somepony is going to be disappointed.”

Maud stepped onto the porch of the hotel. Looking out at the gravel parking lot she noticed the mulling of Earthen soldiers was a lot larger than what she saw from the window. “There is a lot of them?”

Obsidian nodded. “Yeah, they might be a relief force for the front lines.” He led her by the hand to their putter wagon, but before he could open the passenger side door for his wife, a commanding officer walked up to them.

“Hold it civies!” The officer said with a low huff as he held up a hand, “Hotel residents are not allowed to leave until we vacate the area.”

Maud looked at the rather large tan-colored earth pony. “Why?”

“With this many Earthen’s soldiers in one area, we are a prime target for an enemy airship.” He sighed as he saw the look on the young couple’s faces. “I understand you want to leave the premises, but in the meantime, all hotel residents are to head into the cellar until further notice.” He frowned. “You should’ve known that. The front desk should’ve told you?”

Obsidian remembered the call from the front desk. He also remembered hanging up when he got the news. Maud looked at her husband and rolled her eyes. Of course, he would’ve done such a thing. Looking back at the soldier she crossed her arms. “We are wanting to go on a hike for our honeymoon, and it would be very un-stallion-like of you to deny a newlywed mare from such a request.”

The officer chewed on his cheek as he stared into Maud’s determined eyes. “Mrs, I understand, but with the frontlines only fifty-eight miles from our current location, I’d highly advise that you stay here…” He winced at the look Maud was giving him.

“Sir?”

The commanding officer, Maud, and Obsidian looked over at Nickle who was standing at attention. “What is it private?” The officer asked.

“My stallions and I can escort them to the hiking trail.” He glanced over at Maud and Obsidian. He saw their eyes light up. “We won’t be long, no more than two hours. That should be enough time for their hike, Sir.”

The officer sighed as he stared off at the horizon towards the frontlines out in the distance. “Fine, escort the young couple. But at any sight of enemy aircraft, you find a place to hide and lay low, understand?”

“Yes, sir!” Nickle replied.

“Good…” The officer looked at the young couple. “You heard that?” Maud and Obsidian nodded. “Good, get going before I change my mind!” He walked away and into a nearby tent.

Maud looked over at Nickle and gave him a small nod as she and her husband got into their putter-wagon. Nickle softly smiled and waved at his men to pile into their putter-truck. Looking at Nickle and his men getting into their truck through the side mirror, Maud let out a sigh. “I’m glad he spoke up.” She looked at Obsidian. “Such a brave pony.” She hummed dully at her own joke.

Obsidian couldn’t help but laugh. “Very,” He started up their vehicle. “Let’s make these two hours count.” Maud gave him a nod. With a smile, he put the putter wagon into gear and headed to their destination.

Loud pinging echoed out as a small pickaxe broke away several rocks from their home along the banks of a drying creek. Maud sat on her knees as she picked up the mound of dirt and washed it in the shallow water of the creek. Taking it out of the water she rubbed her thumb across the stone's smooth surface. “Look at what I found.” She looked over her shoulder to show her husband.

Obsidian looked up from his own excavation and pondered the stone in her hands. “What did you find?”

“A Bloodstone.” She hummed to herself as she studied the stone.

Nickle and his stallions stood by their putter wagon, watching the young couple digging for rocks. Nickle studied Maud’s dull expression. She was good at hiding her emotions, but he could still see her happiness through her eyes. A smile came to his face as he remembered his girlfriend back home. His smile faded however as he scolded himself form not marrying her. ‘My brother had to marry before me….’ He talked to himself.

“This is one way to spend a honeymoon,” Birch stated as he lazily smoked his cigarette.

“Typical for miners to find this stuff fun.” Vector rolled his eyes as he kicked a stone across the desert floor.

“I’m from a mining town, what are you saying?” Birch raised his brow.

“You know what I’m saying, a special type of miner… Dumb…” Vector smiled. “But the dumb ones are the best. Submissive whores they are.”

Nickle ignored Vector as he pulled out his service pistol to give it a quick clean. Something to pass the time. “Hey you two, what are you looking for?” Nickle looked up and saw Flint and Vector walking up to the couple.

Maud kept silent as she worked on pulling out more Bloodstones. Obsidian however put his small pickaxe over his shoulder. “Looking for precious stones.” He held up a turquoise. “Like this, even though it's not good quality, it’s still fun to find them.”

“Are you a miner?” Flint asked as he put his hands in his pockets, staring at the stone.

“No, a jewelry maker.” Obsidian rubbed the stone.

“And your wife?”

“I’m studying geology so I can teach it…”

“Hey missy, the stallions are speaking,” Vector said in a condescending tone.

“My wife can speak for herself, pal!” Obsidian got in Vector’s face.

“Vector, knock it off!” Nickle stated.

Vector ignored him, as he looked over Obsidian. “Yeah, maybe if you did a real job, your words would hold more weight.” He laughed.

“And what job would that be?”

“Joining the army for one,” Flint said in a low tone. “You think you’re special, while we fight for the future of our country and race!” He stepped up closer. “You know what those Unicorns do to us earth ponies when they capture us? Heaven forbid if the pegasi get to us first?”

“I said stop it!” Nickle got in between them. “There is a reason he’s not in the army.” He looked at his comrades. “If you’ve forgotten, there are laws in place.” He kept his stern eyes on them.

“Yeah, stupid laws,” Flint mumbled.

“Well, those laws are to prevent family lines from dying out as well as making sure our population stays healthy.” He huffed as he stood closer to Vector. “And not everypony can be a soldier you numb nuts!” He smacked him upside the head. “A country can’t run on just soldiers.”

Vector’s only response was the gritting of his teeth.

“Now the both of you, back to the putter-truck!” Nickle pointed. His comrades reluctantly rejoined Birch, who just shook his head as he lit another cigarette. Letting out a sigh, he rubbed the back of his head as he looked at Obsidian and Maud. “Sorry about that, the war changes some ponies.”

“It’s alright,” Maud stated dully as she stood up. “We’re just glad you were able to get us out here, it means a lot.” She handed him the stone in her hands. “And we do thank you for your service, all of you.” She gave him a small smile.

Nickle looked at the stone and rubbed it several times. “Thanks…” He studied the glossiness of the stone's natural sheen. “Bloodstone, correct?”

“Yes.” Maud nodded as she jumped back down the small embankment with her husband.

Nickle looked at the stone once more and smiled.